After locking the room door, Ling Feng could not help shuddering.
"Probably some Astral Mark Girl you beat up."
Transfer Student? Magical Girl?
By the afternoon, Ling Feng and the others continued their café part-time job journey. It was the same on both Saturday and Sunday.
This should have been Ling Feng's wonderful time to relax. What a shame. But as time passed, she had gradually gone numb. Put simply, she had gotten used to it.
"Finally back to normal."
Lying on the bed, Ling Feng sighed repeatedly. This time, the effects of a single Voice-Changing Pill had lasted a full two days, something that had never happened before.
She still had school tomorrow. If she was still like this, Ling Feng would rather die. Final exams were approaching, and if she skipped class or had someone attend in her place, her homeroom teacher would definitely beat her to death!
Ling Xiaoyu did not seem worried that Ling Feng would suspect anything. Any normal person would find something as beyond common sense as a Voice-Changing Pill strange, right?
In truth, it was precisely because Ling Xiaoyu saw how calm Ling Feng had been that she became even more excessive. Earlier, when she heard Ling Feng say his deskmate was a Magical Girl, Ling Xiaoyu did not know whether to worry or be happy.
For Ling Feng's safety, Ling Xiaoyu did not want her getting involved in those disputes. But she would never have imagined that her younger sister, who normally went to and from school every day, was actually an Astral Mark Girl!
Early the next morning, Ling Feng went to sell tea eggs as usual. Life had to go on, after all. If she wanted to have fun during Spring Festival, did she not need to save up more money? Thinking about how Ling Xiaoyu would deduct her share again, there would basically be only a few bucks left.
"Ugh, is she really my sister?"
"Xiaofeng? Why didn't you come yesterday? Why was it a little girl instead?" The moment Old Wang saw Ling Feng, he asked.
"Huh? I had something to do yesterday and couldn't come, so I asked my cousin, who recently came to Linzhou City for a visit, to help out."
Ling Feng smoothly came up with an excuse and chatted with Old Wang for a few more sentences.
There were crowds coming and going at the intersection now, mostly office workers and students. Ling Feng was also getting ready to pack up and head to school.
After taking care of the last customer, Ling Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief. When the customer had walked several meters away, a sentence drifted over from afar.
"Hey, why isn't it that little girl from yesterday? What a letdown."
"Damn it." Ling Feng staggered and nearly fell when she heard that.
Sitting in the corner of the classroom, Ling Feng consciously reviewed her textbooks, while most of the others chatted about interesting things from the weekend.
Hearing several girls standing not far ahead talking about magic and points, Ling Feng slightly poked her head out, then lowered it again. She was already used to such things.
"Brother Xiaofeng, you didn't go out with Zhao Ping and Yuwen over the weekend?"
"Couldn't help it. I had something to do."
"What could make you give up gaming?"
"Cross-dressing."
"..."
The person talking to Ling Feng was Zhao Lei, who sat in front of her. He was rather fat, and everyone usually called him Big Fatty Zhao. He had been Ling Feng's best friend since middle school. He was honest and straightforward, but not particularly well-behaved.
Zhao Lei barely believed a word Ling Feng said. After they chatted casually for a bit, the class bell rang.
Zhao Lei had originally wanted to confirm with Ling Feng where they would be going during the Spring Festival break, but in the end, he could only sigh resentfully and turn around. Damn this class bell.
As the bell ended, Tang Ling also returned to her seat. Seeing Ling Feng, Tang Ling gave a wicked smile. Who knew what she was thinking, but Ling Feng knew it definitely was not anything good.
The homeroom teacher entered the classroom, briefly swept her gaze around, and only began speaking after confirming everyone was present.
"Students, a new classmate will be joining our class today. Make sure you all get along well from now on. Xiaohua, come in and introduce yourself first."
After speaking, the homeroom teacher looked toward the door, while the students below the podium had already burst into discussion.
"A new student this close to finals?"
"Guess if it's a boy or a girl? If it's a girl, is she pretty?"
Amid the students' discussions, a girl about five feet tall slowly walked into the classroom.
Ling Feng did not know why, but the girl wore a confident smile. She had on a green dress and her hair was tied into a single ponytail.
The girl had fair skin, light-colored brows, pale red lips, and a strange pride seemed to shine in her bright eyes.
She first swept her gaze over the entire class, then her eyes settled on Ling Feng beside Tang Ling. Ling Feng's heart tightened in fright, as if the girl were saying, I know about you.
She quickly walked up to the podium. Then, under the homeroom teacher's and students' astonished, puzzled, and barely suppressed amused gazes, the girl began her introduction.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Tang Xiaohua. I'm a transfer student from Tiannan High School, Tang Ling's cousin, and a Magical Girl. My sister is also a Magical Girl. We are all here to protect the love and peace of this world!"
What was with her saying that so proudly? Ling Feng was completely stunned.
The Waters Here Run Too Deep; You Can't Handle Them
"Magical Girl?"
If there was one topic that had been most popular recently, it was undoubtedly Magical Girls. Nowadays, Magical Girls could be found among idol stars and idol singers alike.
Legend had it that they really could use magic. Once the girl finished speaking, the classroom immediately filled with gasps and murmurs.
Most people did not take it seriously, assuming the girl was merely joking. But some wore grave expressions, uncertain and shaken.
That included the boy who had seen a Magical Girl before. He had personally witnessed a Magical Girl fly over his house. Upon hearing this, he became even more convinced, and the way he looked at Tang Xiaohua grew increasingly worshipful.
The homeroom teacher, Liu Yan, was merely stunned for a moment before quickly recovering.
"Our new student's introduction is certainly unique. Go find any empty seat and sit down first."
Tang Xiaohua walked toward Tang Ling, then sat in the empty seat beside Zhao Lei. Zhao Lei had been delighted to have a beautiful girl as his deskmate, but Tang Xiaohua's next sentence left him completely dumbfounded.
"Fatso, don't sit too close. Standing before you is the noble Lady Mage. If my sister weren't here, did you think you deserved to sit beside this Magical Girl?"
Tang Xiaohua was Tang Ling's cousin to begin with, so Ling Feng did not pay much attention to it. Instead, Tang Xiaohua directly turned around and gave Ling Feng a warning.
"Classmate, don't think being a little handsome means you can chase my sister. My sister is a great Magical Girl. She is destined to save the world alongside people like me. The waters here run too deep; you can't handle them. Take this sister's advice and know your place."
"Huh?" Ling Feng was utterly baffled and had no idea what she was talking about.
"Heh, don't play dumb, or I'll let you witness great magic."
Although Ling Feng still looked confused, Tang Ling beside her was already covering her mouth and laughing.
Faced with this unprovoked warning, Ling Feng felt rather displeased.
What did she mean, chasing her sister? Her sister was pretty, sure, but she was not Ling Feng's type. A great mage? Ling Feng was a great Astral Mark Executor too!
Though Ling Feng felt indignant inside, none of it showed on her face. Instead, she remained calm and smiled.
"Classmate Tang Xiaohua, you're really overthinking it. There's nothing between us."
"Hmph, it had better stay that way."
Class still had to continue, and the homeroom teacher soon began arranging the recent coursework. But after hearing what Ling Feng had just said, Tang Ling felt a little uncomfortable too. They clearly had a deal, okay?
During break, Zhao Lei began worrying about Ling Feng. He said he found it extremely regrettable. He had finally gotten a deskmate, and she was even a beauty, but sadly she had eighth-grader syndrome.
Though Zhao Lei advised Ling Feng like that and told her to be more careful in the future, Ling Feng did not care. What, could Tang Xiaohua transform into a Magical Girl and beat someone up in public?
As soon as the break bell rang, Tang Xiaohua was surrounded by her classmates.
"Xiaohua, are you really a Magical Girl?"
"Xiaohua, I love Magical Girls! I'm your number one fan now!"
"Xiaohua, can you transform for us? Let us see it with our own eyes."
All kinds of voices rose one after another, filled with cheers and excitement. As Tang Xiaohua received the admiration of her classmates, she grew smug and proudly took out her transformation key, waving it around.
She explained the purpose of the key necklace. During it, she smugly glanced at Ling Feng, her eyes seemingly saying:
Look, only great Magical Girls can possess this. You're just an ordinary person, so know your place.
"Tch." Ling Feng almost could not stop herself from making a move, but she knew it was because of the hostility Astral Mark Girls felt toward Magical Girls, so she quickly calmed down.
Seeing Ling Feng make no move, Tang Xiaohua was actually a little dissatisfied, but she still put on a smile and continued talking with her classmates.
"Transforming is possible, actually. I'll let you ordinary people witness the Magical Girl who combines cuteness and wisdom in one!"
That's Right, I'm a Magical Girl!
The surrounding students all turned to look at the girl after hearing her words.
They were all quite curious. After all, the entire internet had recently been spreading rumors about whether Magical Girls were real, and the trend was growing more intense by the day, making many people begin to waver.
But before seeing one for themselves, most people did not believe it. The boy who had seen a Magical Girl before had his heart in his throat, his eyes unwilling to leave Tang Xiaohua even for a moment.
Earlier, Tang Xiaohua had said Tang Ling was also a Magical Girl, so the students began viewing Tang Ling differently as well.
Class monitor Liu Yinxuan and vice class monitor Lan Yuxin had originally been maintaining order. Upon hearing this, they became nervous too, afraid Tang Xiaohua might really transform on the spot.
Liu Yinxuan gave Tang Ling a look, telling her to keep an eye on her cousin.
Tang Ling nodded slightly. She still believed Tang Xiaohua knew her limits.
If Tang Xiaohua truly revealed everything, the entire school would probably be turned upside down. It might even shock the whole country, and she could possibly be captured for human experiments! At that point, it would not be something Tang Ling could control.
Knowing this, Tang Ling smiled in relief. Then, in the next second, she was stunned by Tang Xiaohua's very first sentence. It was not just her—Lan Xinyu, Liu Yinxuan, and the other Magical Girls hidden in the class were the same.
Ling Feng also stared over in shock. The meaning in her eyes was obvious: Don't tell me you really plan to transform in public?
Tang Xiaohua brought her hands together, and the key on her necklace shone with a gorgeous light, floating in midair between them. That alone had already shocked the entire class.
"O key that conceals the power of darkness..."
Tang Xiaohua slowly closed her eyes, and the necklace's light grew increasingly brilliant.
"Reveal your true power before me. I now command you in the name of your master..."
"Bang!" Before she could finish, Tang Ling lunged over and tackled Tang Xiaohua to the floor. Even Tang Xiaohua herself was stunned.
"Big Sis?"
"You still know I'm your sister? Are you trying to die? Don't you know the Magic Association's rules?"
"O-Okay."
The students were disappointed at first, but then they erupted into a frenzy.
"Magical Girls are awesome!"
"Awesome, my sister!"
"And Tang Ling too! Let us see it all! Don't be so stingy!"
"Just based on that move, I believe you're a Magical Girl."
All sorts of discussions sprang up one after another. Tang Xiaohua had still been confused, but now she beamed with joy.
"That's right, that's right. This lady is a proud and proper Magical Girl."
Ling Feng sat there blankly, while Zhao Lei in front of her had already gone wide-eyed in shock, as if he could not believe what he had seen. But when he saw Tang Xiaohua make what appeared to be nothing more than a slightly fancy necklace glow and float in midair, his last remaining fantasies instantly shattered.
Just then, Qiu Yun'er entered through the back door. She also noticed the group gathered over there, but she paid them no attention and walked straight to Ling Feng.
Normally, the moment Qiu Yun'er entered the classroom, the students would start discussing her. After all, she was the beauty of the neighboring class, and someone as stunning as her would immediately draw attention. Yet today, no one noticed her at all.
That was good too. It suited her intentions perfectly, since she could have a proper chat with Ling Feng.
If this continued, the people from Qiu Yun'er's class would soon be unable to hold themselves back and charge over to start a war. The reason was actually that someone from this class had dared to steal their class beauty away?
Standing beside Ling Feng, Qiu Yun'er saw her sitting blankly and asked.
"What are they doing over there?"
Duel!!!
Hearing the voice, Ling Feng could not even be bothered to raise her head. She had already identified who it was from the voice, then leisurely began explaining.
"Oh, that? She's a new transfer student in our class. She says she's a Magical Girl. Just now, she even gave us a demonstration and was about to transform."
Ling Feng continued as though she did not care. "The people gathered around her have all seen her magic already. She's so amazing. I never thought magic really existed in this world. If only I could use magic too."
Toward the end, Ling Feng deliberately put a hint of excited envy into her voice. If she acted too calm, Qiu Yun'er would inevitably suspect something.
Hearing that, Qiu Yun'er frowned slightly. Magical Girls were all enemies!
Before you continue