A Sweet Tooth

"Don't you have anything you want to ask?"

"If that's all you're going to say, then there's no need for us to talk."

Youyue and Qingyin appeared in their Normal State and sat down in a café like ordinary people.

Youyue took a sip of coffee, seemingly trying to put on an air of mystery and take control of the conversation.

Now that she knew what Qingyin wanted, she could use it as bait to lure her into the Association.

Once Qingyin joined the Association, Youyue could shape her however she pleased.

However, Qingyin remained unmoved.

She had no desire to improve herself, nor any curiosity about magical girls.

In any case, she had no intention of becoming a magical girl. Perhaps after some time, she would forget all about the Heartglow Stone and transforming.

"I'm answering whatever you ask right now. Why bother with meaningless topics?" Qingyin asked in confusion.

"Since that's the case, I'll be frank. I sincerely invite you to join the Magical Girl Association."

Youyue studied her carefully. Unable to glean anything from that icy face, she could only suppress her scheming and speak plainly.

"No."

"Why?"

"I already have a job. I don't need to find myself another hard one," Qingyin replied.

Being a villain officer was a job.

Being a magical girl was also a job.

However, her living conditions were not bad, and she did not need more money to support her household.

When one already had enough money to live on, turning down an idle job only to take on another one was foolish.

"Is money all you seek from being a magical girl?" Youyue asked.

"That's how the adult world works. I have no reason whatsoever to join the Association and become a magical girl," Qingyin stated her intentions.

"I believe you won't see me again before long."

Youyue persuaded her, "Don't be in such a rush. If you join the Association and become an officially registered magical girl, the money you can earn will be beyond your imagination.

I don't know what your current monthly salary is, but it's entirely possible for a magical girl to earn more in a month than you do in a year.

And magical girls have plenty of free time. You only need to maintain order when villains attack or Spatial Rifts appear. The rest of the time, you can do whatever you want.

You don't even need to quit your current job. Just think of it as taking on another easy side job.

Be a magical girl for a few years, and you'll be set for life afterward. Isn't that nice?

You know it too, don't you? There are few Spatial Rifts and few villain attacks in this era. You could call it an age of peace. Aren't you tempted?"

This was the best and safest era, one that had only come about through the progression of the centuries and the sacrifices of countless magical girls.

If one had to choose the easiest era, it would be this very moment.

Lots of money and little work—it truly was tempting.

"But I refuse." Qingyin still refused without hesitation.

"I have my own unspeakable reasons. It's impossible for me to become a magical girl."

Humans were, in the end, creatures of experience.

Abandoning a good job one had personally experienced to switch jobs based solely on another HR representative's words was absolutely inadvisable.

The first lesson of entering society clearly taught that once one's basic needs were met, one should seek the most leisurely job possible and never consider taking on two jobs.

Aside from such reasonable considerations, Qingyin did not want to spend long periods moving about in the form of a magical girl.

"Well, don't be so absolute. Isn't leaving room for every possibility also the adult way?" Youyue took out her business card and slid it across the table to Qingyin.

"Those who can become magical girls are destined to possess something more precious than money and their own lives. Only such people become magical girls.

If you change your mind, you can come find me anytime. I was originally doubtful of you, but after what happened today, I believe you'll definitely become a magical girl."

"Let's hope so?"

Qingyin stopped adding sugar to her coffee, downed the drink—which was far sweeter than any ordinary beverage—in one gulp, and casually pocketed the business card from the table.

"See you around."

"Who knows? Maybe we'll see each other tomorrow." Youyue smiled and waved goodbye. Looking at the empty coffee cup and the sugar jar that was more than half gone, she said, "People with no desires won't become magical girls. Doesn't she hate bitterness? I'm really looking forward to the days when we work together."

"Little Qing, where did you run off to? I couldn't find you anywhere, and you didn't reply to my messages."

On a street some distance away from the mall where the sudden incident had erupted, Ye Yuyan stood with her hands on her hips and glared at Ye Qing.

"I was running away with the crowd the whole time. Who would dare look at their phone while fleeing?" Ye Qing lied without batting an eye, spreading his hands like a little bear as he defended his disappearance.

"What if I looked at my phone and suddenly died? I sent you a message the moment I reached the temporary safe zone. There was nothing I could do."

"I'll let you off this time." Ye Yuyan nodded.

"After all that, are we still going shopping?" Ye Qing asked.

Most of their enthusiasm had already been worn away.

"Of course we are! We're going back to see Mom and Dad tomorrow. Aren't we bringing them gifts?" Ye Yuyan tapped Ye Qing on the head with a finger.

"You idiot."

"Got it." Ye Qing kept tilting his head back along with the force.

"This place won't do. We'll take the subway to another mall later, but before that, I want some dessert!" Ye Yuyan excitedly pointed at the cake shop in sight.

"What about you? Cream puffs, cream, something sweet enough to make your throat ache?"

"Exactly." Ye Qing gave her a thumbs-up.

"Three should be enough. How about an egg tart?"

"Got it," Ye Yuyan replied, mimicking his tone.

With that, Ye Yuyan briskly headed for the cake shop, looking to be in a pretty good mood.

Surviving a disaster without any injuries truly was something worth being happy about.

A familiar face entered his view, and Ye Qing reflexively greeted her.

"Director Zhao? Good morning."

"Ye Qing? Good morning." Zhao Xueshan raised her head and replied weakly.

"It's rare to see you out on the street at this hour. Have you found a new direction for your research?" Ye Qing asked curiously.

"No."

"Then you..."

"It's all that damned magical girl's fault!"

Zhao Xueshan irritably scratched up her already messy hair. The dark circles beneath her eyes were heavy enough to make her look like a ghost, and the resentment radiating from her was like that of someone who had died a wrongful death.

"I don't know which magical girl dug straight through the foundation above the base. The noise from moving and repairing the base can't even be fully blocked out in the laboratory. It's so loud I can't think at all.

Don't let me find out who that magical girl that damaged the base is! I'll definitely, definitely develop a mech specifically designed to deal with her and make her embarrass herself in front of the whole world!"

"Ha... ha..." Ye Qing scratched his cheek guiltily.

"Ye Qing, who is this lady?"

Carrying a bag of desserts, Ye Yuyan rushed over in a few quick strides and wrapped herself around Ye Qing's arm, pressing close to him as she warily stared at Zhao Xueshan.

"A coworker I get along well with," Ye Qing turned and explained to Ye Yuyan.

"You get along well? Mm, we do get along well." Zhao Xueshan gave a polite, faint smile, then continued in a lifeless, emotionless voice.

"Your girlfriend?"

"N-No, it's not, it's not like that yet..." Ye Yuyan stammered at those words, her toe rubbing against the floor.

"I won't disturb you two. I'll be leaving first." Zhao Xueshan said no more and turned to leave.

Only magical girls could stir her emotions. Most of the time, she was like she had been just now—a zombie with the heavy aura of the dead.