Aotian Zhu Chooses the Blue Pill (lol)

Immediately, a look of disappointment appeared on her face.

Cong Yu glanced at him sideways... Do you think everyone is like you?

That look clearly said it all.

"..." Lantian Zhu, slightly embarrassed, kept her expression unchanged. She awkwardly turned her head and said, "Since things have come to this, let's eat first."

--

Back at the hotel they had booked before coming to the beach, the group changed their clothes and met up with Qili and her apprentice.

Qili and the others also knew about the strange attack.

However, they strictly adhered to the regulations of their jurisdiction, and would not launch an attack until a request for help was received.

"Let me tell you, that Shark Monster, if it kicks the sand, your clothes will end up in its mouth."

"Wow! That's so weird?"

Yaochuan Guang and the girl chatted enthusiastically.

"Finally, my swimsuit and Lantian Zhu's swimsuit were also bitten on the hands by that Shark Monster..."

"Huh? So you guys aren't completely naked?"

"No, thankfully we had already transformed by then, and Cong Yu- chan used Salamander's Thread to quickly cut off that monster's arm."

As he said this, Yaochuan Guang chuckled, showing off Cong Yu as if he were displaying his prized possession. "Impressive, isn't it?"

Wow! That's amazing!

"..." Cong Yu didn't know why the topic had turned to him again. He flipped through the recipe and asked the people around him for their opinions.

He wondered why, even though Yaochuan Guang was supposed to pay, he was the one ordering the food.

If the genders were reversed, it probably wouldn't seem so strange. Come to think of it, don't I seem to be seen as someone who's being kept by a sugar daddy/sugar baby in other people's eyes?

"How about the kaiseki yakiniku set meal? What do you think, Lantian Zhu?"

Cong Yu asked Lantian Zhu for her opinion, and Lan Tianzhu replied, "I want to eat Wellington steak."

Well...

It's not that it's impossible.

But this is a family restaurant... When I asked you before, you said you didn't want to eat at a Western restaurant, but now you say you want to eat Wellington steak.

"You bastard! You look like a steak to me!"

Cong Yu cursed, then ignored Lantian Zhu's satisfied expression and looked at Qili: "What about you? How about a barbecue set meal?"

Having relaxed somewhat, Qili, who could now interact with Cong Yu in a normal way, smiled and said, "Anything I say is fine."

Since it was Yaochuan Guang who was treating, there was naturally nothing to complain about.

"Yaochuan Guang! And the airhead... what do you guys think?"

Yaochuan Guang had no problem with it; she actually wanted to eat barbecue. The girl, however, was a little confused. "Barbecue sounds good, but does 'natural airhead' refer to me? Hmm... thank you for the compliment."

I wasn't complimenting you!

"Xiao Cui, what about you?"

As for Cong Yu...

"Xiao Cui will listen to Brother Cong Yu— "

"..." Xiao Cui is still the Xiao Cui obedient. Thinking this, Cong Yu looked up at Yaochuan Guang and prepared to ask her about the beverage arrangements.

Then I heard Yaochuan Guang bragging to the girl.

"Then, Cong Yu immediately reconnected his shark arm, and his aura instantly surged, surged, and exploded. What in this world could stop him?"

--"..."That's not true! I didn't connect anything! That's the Shark Monster, not Lie! The only thing I connected was my own swim trunks!!!"

Cong Yu's expression was somewhat distorted.

"..."well...

I'm tired, really tired.

Chapter 182 Lantian Zhu Chooses the Blue Pill (laughs)

Cong Yu slowly opened her eyes. In the pitch-black night, only the light from the moon and stars outside the window filtered in.

This world has a starry sky.

Whether when I first came into this world or now... there are always beautiful starry skies to see.

Air pollution is not serious.

Well, because there is very little land in this world that can be "properly utilized," and development is mostly limited to areas near the Spirit Vein Nodule.

Cong Yu picked up her phone and turned on the screen... It was 2 a. m.

The phone's lock screen is very clean, with no notifications.

What a peaceful and serene night.

... or in the early morning?

Unfortunately, Cong Yu couldn't fall asleep.

Cong Yu sat up, trying to calm his racing heart... He had undoubtedly been startled awake.

Clearly, he had a less-than-ideal dream.

Cong Yu walked to the window, gently pushed it open, and a refreshing sea breeze rushed in... Looking down, the beach and the sea were right next to the street.

The sea is much more beautiful at night than during the day.

Although the tourists and their enthusiasm were gone, the moonlight and starlight made the entire sea appear sparkling.

It even formed a silvery band of light.

Cong Yu, with nothing to do, strolled along the street... At this time of day, even the most diligent fishermen were not yet ready to go out to sea.

However, perhaps because of the starlight, the streets, which had few streetlights, were surprisingly bright... But even if it were dim, it wouldn't matter.

Whether it's Cong Yu or a magical girl, they can easily glimpse the entire world from the darkness.

It's not that they can't perceive changes in light and dark, but rather that they possess the ability to see in the dark.

With this in mind, Cong Yu stopped in front of the vending machine.

"Ah... a tropical fruit mixed juice?"

Muttering to herself, Cong Yu sat down on the edge of the flowerbed, gazing at the various drinks. "Lemonade?"

Drinking something sour is indeed a good idea.

While pondering this, Cong Yu took out her wallet from her pocket, jumped off the flower bed, and went to the vending machine.

Then...

"Cong Yu, I want to drink too."

"..." Hearing the voice from the side, Cong Yu turned to look at Lantian Zhu, who was dressed in casual clothes. "Where did you come from?"

In response to his questioning, Lantian Zhu pointed to the hotel. "I was about to go find you, and then I saw you sneaking out."

And then they caught up...

Cong Yu squinted. "What do you mean by sneaking around... And what do you mean by 'preparing to come find me'? What are you planning to do?"

To this, Lantian Zhu immediately replied expressionlessly--

"Think."

"..."

"Get out! If you dare show your face in my room again, I'll kick your ass until it's red and swollen."

Cong Yu cursed, then, under Lantian Zhu's seemingly expectant gaze, asked her, "What would you like to drink?"

"Spinach juice."

"Ah?"

"I want to drink spinach juice."

"..." Cong Yu understood. His "Huh?" wasn't meant for Lantian Zhu to repeat himself. He said speechlessly, "I know what you mean, but what's spinach juice? I've never heard of it..."

As she spoke, Cong Yu's gaze swept over the machine in front of her, and she retorted, "Besides, I didn't think there would be... but there really are?"

I'm already speechless about how weird the drinks are in Japan.

The same goes for the aloe vera juice from before.

"..."

"Give."

Cong Yu tossed the spinach juice, packaged like boxed milk, to Lantian Zhu, and opened her own lemonade.

"Glug glug--"

"Ha..."

Cong Yu let out a sigh of relief and looked at the lemon juice in her hand, "Why is it apple-flavored... It's hard to describe, but it tastes pretty good."

Yes, the lemon juice label says it's apple flavored.

That's too bizarre.

Cong Yu sighed, looking at Lantian Zhu who was drinking the dark green liquid through a straw. "How does it taste? Spinach juice?"

"..." Lantian Zhu remained silent, simply continuing to drink. Only after she finished the spinach juice in one gulp did she speak calmly, "Too bitter."

Is that so? It's actually bitter.

But just thinking about it, you know that spinach juice and vegetable juice probably won't taste good... and in terms of health, they probably aren't that healthy either.

As Cong Yu nodded, Lantian Zhu continued...

Just like my life.

"..." After a moment of contemplation, Lantian Zhu followed behind Cong Yu and said, "I was born in Central City... My parents died when I was very young."

"But she didn't die from a monster, she died from a magical girl... That's all the old lady told me, I still don't know the specifics."

Then one day...

"On our way home, my grandmother and I encountered a wicked person... not a strange person, but a bad person. That person demanded that we hand over all the money we had on us."

"We did as instructed."

"Then, the other person approached me with a knife and forced me to take off my clothes... The old woman died protecting me."

"Then, a person named 'Magical Girl☆Crimson' appeared and saved me, so..."

Lantian Zhu spoke, looking at Cong Yu who was listening intently, she paused, ending the conversation about Hii-senpai. "Later, during an attack by a monster, I became a magical girl."

"And then, as if by fate, I too embarked on this path... this destined path of a magical girl."

She stretched out her arms and hugged Cong Yu's arm...

Cong Yu glanced at her but didn't shake her off... Lantian Zhu's expression remained indifferent, but there was a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"I wanted to follow in the footsteps of the magical girl who saved me, but I failed... After I joined the team..."

I realized how dangerous the magical girl profession was. So I started to be afraid, and even started to numb myself with alcohol.

"Until 'Magical Girl☆Crimson,' during an operation... she was swallowed up by Giant Serpent that fell from the sky right before my eyes."

As Lantian Zhu said this, Cong Yu couldn't help but reach out and stroke her head. "Don't worry, everything will be alright... Hmm, actually it's already much better now, isn't it?"

"..."

"Um."

After a moment of silence, Lantian Zhu responded, twirling a few strands of blue hair that had fallen beside her ear with her finger. "Indeed, life is wonderful now."

It was so beautiful that it terrified her.

I only hope that these sweet moments won't end with the baring of vicious fangs, declaring that it was all just a false illusion.