That night, Huatianli Community in Rong City.
The community was as quiet as ever.
Hua Ling sat at her desk, glancing out the window at the community garden below. She could only sporadically see a few passersby, most of whom were carrying large and small plastic bags.
After all, it was already ten o'clock, and some early sleepers were already preparing to bathe and go to bed, so it was quite normal for the community to be so quiet.
Shifting her gaze from the night view outside the window, Hua Ling lowered her head to look at the nightgown she was wearing, then cast her gaze towards Bai Ling, who was lying on the bed nearby, scrolling through videos.
When school ended that afternoon, Xiaofeng invited her to her house, saying there was something to discuss.
“What kind of private matter needs to be discussed at home?” Hua Ling murmured to herself.
Bai Ling also heard the girl's murmur, put down her phone, looked at her, and spread her hands.
“I don't know either. Xiaofeng, logically speaking, shouldn't have anything to hide from you guys.”
“Even you, Bai Ling…”
Hua Ling was completely bewildered now.
She hadn't been friends with Xiaofeng for very long, but in her perception, Xiaofeng and Bai Ling, the Observer, were very good friends, almost talking about everything.
If there was something even Bai Ling had to be kept from, it must be a very serious secret.
Thinking of this, Hua Ling couldn't help but straighten her back.
She would talk to Xiaofeng when she came back. She wondered what it was she wanted to say—
“I'm back!”
Before her internal monologue finished, the bedroom door suddenly pushed open, and Nan Xiaofeng walked in from outside, carrying a takeout bag, showing the food in her hand to the two of them.
“The late-night snack I bought is here!”
“Xiaofeng, what delicious things did you buy?”
Bai Ling immediately went over, pulled out a skewer of grilled pork belly from the bag, and happily started gnawing on it.
“Barbecue, and delicious grilled eggplant. Hua Ling, you should eat it while it's hot too. I think this place's grilled eggplant is especially delicious!”
“Hmm, thank you.”
The girl politely thanked her and didn't hold back. After Nan Xiaofeng brought the takeout bag to the desk, she immediately went over and started eating.
Not long ago, the three members of the squad had just finished an intense battle with a Monster summoned by Xin Yuehu. Hua Ling also felt her stomach empty, so having a barbecue to fill her belly was quite satisfying.
But Lin Muyao, the boarding student, would not be able to enjoy this barbecue. She felt sorry for her.
After a brief moment of silent repentance, Hua Ling swallowed the grilled pork belly in her mouth and tilted her head to look at her companion beside her.
“Speaking of which, Xiaofeng, you said this afternoon that you had something to talk to me about. What exactly is it?”
“Uh-huh! Yes, what exactly is it that even I don't know?”
Bai Ling quickly came closer, looking as if she wanted to lean in and listen.
Nan Xiaofeng was about to put a skewer of grilled chives into her mouth, but hearing Hua Ling's words, her movements immediately slowed down.
The girl also hesitated in her heart.
—Tianqing Jie knows I am Hyacinth.
Although she is a trustworthy confidante, a bright and angelic Fox Fox, this matter should still be told to her companions.
Moreover, Tianqing Jie was the catalyst for her gaining Star Shadow! So, it should be confessed truthfully even more!
“Hua Ling, Bai Ling, what I'm about to say is very important.”
“…Hmm, go ahead.”
Hua Ling immediately became serious, sat up straight, put down the barbecue in her hand, and looked at Nan Xiaofeng earnestly.
Even the Observer, who was engrossed in human delicacies, reluctantly put down the grilled ham sausage, pulled a tissue to wipe her paws, and sat on Hua Ling's lap, looking up at Nan Xiaofeng.
Silence.
The three looked at each other for a moment, and Nan Xiaofeng nervously clutched the hem of her nightgown.
“You two, don't look at me like that. I'll get nervous.”
“What's there to be nervous about? Just tell the truth,” Bai Ling said, spreading her hands helplessly.
“Hurry up and say it, we're still waiting to eat barbecue.”
“…Then I'll be direct.”
Nan Xiaofeng cleared her throat and revealed the secret in her heart:
“Actually, someone already knows that I am Hyacinth.”
““Who??””
The two immediately became nervous.
Especially Hua Ling, her heart instantly almost jumped into her throat, and her face turned pale.
Someone knows Xiaofeng's identity!?
Doesn't that mean… her Iris identity will also…?
“Hua Ling, don't be nervous. That person is someone I trust,” Nan Xiaofeng quickly reassured her.
“This is not a small matter! Xiaofeng, what were you thinking?!”
Bai Ling angrily floated in front of the girl and tapped her head,
“Do you know how serious this is?! If your identities are exposed, you might not even be able to be Magic Girls anymore!”
“Of course I know! But that person…”
“Who is that person?”
“The person who knows my identity is Tianqing Jie.”
“No matter who it is—hmm? Tianqing Jie? Is she your sister's friend, the very cute one?”
Bai Ling, who was about to continue hitting her, suddenly stopped, and the fist she was about to swing froze in mid-air.
“Eh?…Tianqing Jie?”
Hua Ling said blankly,
“Why is it Tianqing Jie? Xiaofeng, you…what exactly…?”
“Probably a few days ago, Tianqing Jie invited me to Wanda Plaza to exchange merchandise. But when we were leaving, we ran into Cheshire Rabbit. She tried to attack Tianqing Jie at that time, and in my haste, I…”
“So you actually transformed into Hyacinth in front of Tianqing Jie at that time to block Cheshire Rabbit's attack for her?” Hua Ling said in surprise.
She only knew that Xiaofeng had transformed into Hyacinth at that time, but she didn't expect it to be in front of Tianqing Jie!
“Yes, that's right.”
Nan Xiaofeng said honestly,
“Tianqing Jie promised to keep my secret, and she indeed hasn't told anyone, not even Jiayu Jie.”
Bai Ling and Hua Ling exchanged glances, and their hearts immediately hesitated.
If one were to rank trustworthiness in everyone's hearts, besides their companions and Bai Ling, everyone would unanimously place a certain angelic Fox Fox at the forefront.
“In that case, she truly can be called a trustworthy person.”
After much deliberation, Bai Ling also had to come to the same conclusion as Nan Xiaofeng.
First of all, this Observer has not had contact with Su Tianqing!
But she has always silently supported the Hyacinth Squad, and Lin Muyao even successfully transformed into Nightingale to protect her. Everyone is well aware of this.
Even Hua Ling's transformation was triggered because Su Tianqing and Nan Jiayu were on the Ferris wheel at that time.
“Tianqing Jie has never revealed Mu Yao's identity, and she also promised me that she would definitely keep the secret. I think she can be trusted.”
Nan Xiaofeng stated her thoughts, looking at Hua Ling and Bai Ling with expectant eyes.
“Hua Ling, what about you? What do you think of Tianqing Jie?”
“Tianqing Jie…how should I put it, I…I also think Tianqing Jie is…a trustworthy person…”
Hua Ling was a bit incoherent.
Her emotions had experienced a drastic change from heaven to earth in an instant, so the girl could only speak her true thoughts.
“It seems that Tianqing Jie indeed played a crucial role in your process of becoming Magic Girls.”
Bai Ling nodded thoughtfully,
“Magic Girls need faith and something to protect. As long as you have something you want to protect, Star Shadow will favor you even more, bringing even greater power.”
“So this can also be considered a good thing, and I'm quite in favor of it.”
“In short, let's stop this topic here. Don't carry too much psychological burden, just interact with each other as usual!”
With that, the White Sable Spirit turned around and continued to pick up the grilled ham sausage she hadn't finished eating.
While eating, Bai Ling spoke with interest:
“Speaking of which, you two met that new Observer today, right?”
“Quick, tell me, is he male or female? What does he look like? Is he good-looking?”
The two Magic Girls exchanged glances.
Then they both let out joyful chuckles in unison.