"Splash, splash, splash..."
Li Kexin stood calmly in front of the showerhead, letting the hot water pour over her body.
The young girl's delicate ankles gleamed in the stream of water, and her fingertips curled slightly into her slippers, but quickly straightened out again, as she lightly tiptoed with a sigh.
"Is the water temperature suitable, Miss?"
"Suitable."
A somewhat weathered female voice came from outside the door.
Li Kexin didn't say much, silently taking a small sachet from the shampoo rack, carefully spreading it through her hair, and quietly enjoying this moment of solitude.
In a certain unknown luxurious mansion within the residential area of Sui City's Li Group Industrial Park, the lights were blazing.
Nan Xiaofeng lay on the living room sofa, playing on her phone with one hand, wearing only a nightgown and pajama bottoms, completely unconcerned about exposing her flat, youthful belly to the warm air of the living room.
Hua Ling and Lin Muyao huddled around the coffee table, eating the late-night snack on the table, their eyes glued to the program on the television:
"Magic Girl ☆ Red Rose: Starry Sky Aberrants Brawl"
This was a classic movie starring Red Rose herself, telling the story of Red Rose's battle against the evil organization 【Adding Assam Milk Tea to Tofu Pudding Worldwide】.
It was a very classic film, the introductory Magic Girl movie for many, with a large audience worldwide.
The actions and lines of Red Rose in the movie had become scenes many Magic Girls now eagerly imitated, and even her magnificent and dazzling magical show combat style was emulated by many Magic Girls.
"Click."
The bathroom door opened, and Li Kexin walked out in a bathrobe, immediately spotting Nan Xiaofeng and the other two in the living room, watching TV and eating a late-night snack, her eyebrows raising.
"Hmm? Why are you still eating at this hour?"
"After a big battle, you absolutely have to have a feast. This is how we celebrate victory!"
Nan Xiaofeng looked up at Li Kexin from the sofa and said with a smile, handing her a roasted chicken drumstick.
"Here, an Orleans roasted chicken drumstick, want some?"
"..."
Li Kexin silently looked at the chicken drumstick, coated in honey and sauce, the twitch at the corner of her eye intensifying.
"...Xiaofeng, I want to ask you something."
"What's wrong? Don't you like this flavor?"
Nan Xiaofeng asked in confusion, stuffing the honey-glazed chicken drumstick into her own mouth, then pulling out another braised wing root for Li Kexin.
The young girl sighed softly, waved her hand to indicate she wasn't eating, walked to the sofa, sat down, and took a sip of warm clear water.
"What I mean is, as a close-combat fighter, shouldn't you pay more attention to your weight?"
"This..."
Nan Xiaofeng paused, looking down at her belly, which was almost developing abs. Li Kexin also followed her gaze.
"It seems I don't need weight management for now."
"Yeah."
They both spoke. Li Kexin felt it might be a bit presumptuous to ask someone who could wield a greatsword with one hand and unleash a whirlwind sword dance about weight management.
So her gaze shifted to the television, just in time to see Red Rose strike a classic pose, and her heart trembled slightly.
"Oh, this move! I super love this!" Nan Xiaofeng suddenly became excited and said to everyone.
"I told you this looked good, Xiaofeng, you said no last time." Lin Muyao replied.
"Who, who said no? I said we should use a collective pose, otherwise..."
"Otherwise, it'll look like calisthenics." Hua Ling quietly interjected, showing everyone a postcard she had snapped during the Bai Lili Squad's rehearsal.
On the picture, four Magic Girls struck perfectly synchronized poses. While indeed energetic, it did give off the illusion of calisthenics.
"...Pfft."
Li Kexin looked at the picture expressionlessly, her mouth twitching violently. She tried to hold back her laughter but couldn't, and burst out laughing.
"Hahahahahahaha Hua Ling, where did you get this?!"
Nan Xiaofeng laughed so hard she almost sprayed the chicken drumstick in her mouth onto Lin Muyao's face, only to be blocked by the latter's magic barrier.
"Xiaofeng, just eat! Don't talk with your mouth full! Next time I'm definitely going to let Little Yu Sis beat you up!"
"Oh, sorry, but this is really hilarious!"
"Really? ...Hahahahaha!"
Lin Muyao looked back and let out a similar burst of laughter.
The girls' late-night snack chat didn't seem so pleasant after all, Li Kexin thought.
However, the young girl couldn't help but recall what Xin Yuehu had said to her:
"Miss Mai Sui, have you never had a late-night snack with friends?"
That was the taunt she had received the first time she met Xin Yuehu.
But at the time, she had been inexplicably overcome with anger—before today, she had almost never had a late-night snack at such a late hour, let alone with friends.
...She didn't even have any decent friends.
But now, she could not only laugh with Nan Xiaofeng and the others but also share a seemingly delicious late-night snack together...
The young lady gazed at the braised dishes and roasted meat on the plate, reached out, picked up a braised wing root, and carefully tore off a small piece.
It was fresh and delicious, with an inviting aroma, slightly salty, but the flavor infused into the meat was irresistible, making her bite off more.
"How is it? Bai Ling said she bought it from a shop Gray Cloud recommended. It's supposedly a famous old brand in Sui City."
"...Indeed, it's quite tasty."
Looking at Nan Xiaofeng's expectant smile, Li Kexin answered blankly.
"Heheheh, I knew you'd like it!"
Nan Xiaofeng still wore a bright smile.
Just as the four were about to elaborate on the topic, the White Sable Spirit flying in from outside the window suddenly shouted loudly:
"Oh, you! Xiaofeng! You're secretly eating again behind my back!"
"No way, we're just tasting it for you—"
Nan Xiaofeng nervously turned back with an awkward smile, suddenly noticing Observer Fox Fox following behind Bai Ling. She was wagging her tail and greeting her.
"Good evening, Xiaofeng, and also Hua Ling and Mu Yao."
"Eh, eh, eh! Little Yue!"
Lin Muyao exclaimed in surprise, greeting the Golden Fox who was carrying a bag of snacks.
Then Bai Ling flew in front of her and tapped her on the forehead.
"It's you! Still eating! Let go of my chicken wing!"
"No, no, this is mine!"
A burst of laughter.
Looking at the joyful atmosphere before her, Li Kexin's smile grew brighter.
The Golden Fox floated in front of the young girl and greeted her.
"Good evening, Miss Kexin."
"Good evening, Little Yue."
The young girl composed herself slightly, displaying the demeanor of a well-bred young lady, and calmly returned the greeting.
"Thank you very much for your and Miss Dandelion's support today. If it weren't for you, I might have already..."
"It's okay, we're friends, after all." Observer Fox Fox put her hands on her hips and chuckled.
"But speaking of which, Green Vine and the others are recovering quite well. Should we go visit them tomorrow?"
Bai Ling flew in front of Nan Xiaofeng and said to her.
"Tomorrow? Of course!" Nan Xiaofeng readily agreed.
"But then again, Kexin, didn't you have a conflict with them? Should we..."
"No need, I'll go with you tomorrow too."
Li Kexin said calmly.
"I did have a conflict with them, but they are also my companions."
"...I see."
Yue Tianxin smiled and nodded, saying nothing more.
The moonlight peacefully illuminated the silent Sui City, lighting up the girls' late-night conversations.