“Did you really find a new person?”
The next day, somewhere in Rong City.
Nan Xiaofeng walked down the street, accompanied by Hua Ling and Lin Muyao. The three walked side by side, chatting idly.
They naturally started talking about the newcomer, Wang Xiaowang.
“Yes, Tianqing Jie even asked me to go meet her yesterday,” Hua Ling said calmly, nodding.
“Then, then, then, how is that newcomer? Is she cute? Has she successfully transformed yet? What’s her code name?” Lin Muyao immediately leaned in, asking excitedly, looking like she wanted to meet the junior right away.
Then she was pulled away from the smiling bitterly Hua Ling by the White Sable Spirit, who grabbed her shoulder.
“She hasn’t successfully transformed yet. Yue Tianxin said she just received her guardian star, so it won’t be that quick.”
Bai Ling explained this to Lin Muyao.
But this clearly didn't resolve the latter's confusion, who remained curious.
“Her name is Wang Xiaowang, and she’s a canine Beastkin,” Hua Ling interjected, answering Lin Muyao’s question.
“Eh—, a canine Beastkin!”
“Yes, her ears and tail are all fluffy. I heard she’s from the Bernese Mountain Dog tribe? I don’t really understand Beastkin tribes.”
Hua Ling sighed.
“And she’s also studying at Rongcheng Third College of Arts and Sciences, so she’s classmates with me and Nan Xiaofeng.”
“Ah? Classmate? Me?” Hearing this, Nan Xiaofeng blinked in confusion and pointed to herself.
“Yes, she just started her first year, so she’s our junior.”
“But speaking of which, I think Wang Xiaowang…” Hua Ling suddenly stopped mid-sentence, as if contemplating something.
After a brief thought, the girl softly said:
“…How should I put it, she looks cheerful and lively, but I feel like she’s actually quite lonely.”
“Lonely, huh… I remember Yue Tianxin also mentioned this to me this morning. So, should we go find her to play later?”
Bai Ling pondered, then suggested an idea that sounded less than ideal.
It was then swiftly rejected by Hua Ling.
“Let’s not do that yet. She hasn’t officially become a member, and a sudden crowd might scare her.”
—When Hua Ling met Wang Xiaowang yesterday, she sensed the canine Fox Girl’s apprehension.
“Hmm… Then let’s wait until she successfully transforms before we go play with her! We still have important things to do today!”
Nan Xiaofeng chuckled, sidestepping the topic, and looked at the maocai restaurant not far ahead.
“Today for lunch! Let’s eat maocai to celebrate!”
““Yay—!””
.
Eating maocai is a mysterious rule set within the Hyacinth Squad.
“The day after defeating Xin Yuehu, go to a maocai restaurant for a delicious meal” – this was the treat rule Nan Xiaofeng formulated after Lin Muyao joined the team.
Although the squad hadn’t eaten maocai many times, the recent battles had gone smoothly. Yesterday, they even broke through Xin Yuehu’s Monster arena, which was very encouraging.
“But did we really win yesterday?” Lin Muyao asked while eating bacon.
In last night's Monster arena, Xin Yuehu had already explained in her live stream that it was one of Alice’s New Year activities.
And while it was called a new creative Monster battle, the individual strength wasn't that impressive, which allowed Hyacinth and Iris to achieve a record of thirty consecutive victories.
“Why not! We defeated so many Monsters, of course we have to celebrate!” Nan Xiaofeng said confidently.
“How dare you talk about celebrating! Nan Xiaofeng, weren’t you just fighting the random Monster minions Xin Yuehu temporarily summoned yesterday?”
The White Sable Spirit didn’t indulge her, flying onto Nan Xiaofeng’s shoulder to complain.
“If Xin Yuehu had summoned her… what was it called? That team of Witches of hers seems to have a very cool code name?”
“Zodiac Twelve Witches.” Lin Muyao immediately chimed in.
As the chief moderator of the Magic Girl Fox Fox Official live stream, Lin Muyao could be said to know Xin Yuehu like the back of her hand; the exclusive gifts stored in her magic space were practically piled into a small mountain.
If discussing topics related to Xin Yuehu, besides Hellcat, Lin Muyao felt she probably had the most say.
Then Bai Ling looked at her with a peculiar gaze.
“I say, Lin Muyao, whose side are you on anyway? How come you’re so familiar with Xin Yuehu’s moves?”
“I feel like this question has been asked several times already.”
“That’s not important!”
Bai Ling stomped her foot angrily, nearly shaking the sausage off Nan Xiaofeng’s chopsticks.
“In short, Xin Yuehu didn’t even use her full strength against you yesterday!”
“Well, we didn’t use Star Shadow either… Ow, ow, ow, don’t pull my ear!”
Just as Nan Xiaofeng was about to retort stubbornly, the White Sable Spirit grabbed her ear, making her grimace in pain.
Everyone chuckled softly.
...
But regardless, today was a day worth celebrating for the righteous Magic Girls.
Celebrating the arrival of a newcomer, celebrating a brief victory, celebrating a new year.
But for Su Tianqing, things weren't so great.
“—Although it’s not Hell difficulty, how exactly can I awaken Doggy’s belief?”
The Fox Girl sat at the dining table in her nightgown, staring at her phone and muttering to herself.
“Hmm? Tianqing, were you just calling me?”
The Cat Girl's voice came from the kitchen, her dark blue cat tail opening the door, and a curious, twitching cat ear peeking out.
“I was just talking to myself while watching a video~ What are we having for lunch today, Jia Yu?”
The Fox Girl answered honestly, hopping off her chair and running to the kitchen doorway, peeking in to see the Cat Girl busy at the stove.
Wearing an apron, standing on a kitchen stool, she was using extra-long chopsticks to pick up noodles from a pot, placing them into a bowl already prepared with seasonings.
Then, scooping a spoonful of carefully simmered Nan family secret meat sauce and sprinkling some chopped green onions, a bowl of Nan family zha jiang mian was served onto the table.
“Is it good?”
“Delicious! The zha jiang mian Jia Yu makes is super delicious!”
Her fox tail wagged with a whooshing sound.
Leisurely lunchtime.
This morning, Nan Xiaofeng uncharacteristically got up early to go out and play. Nan Father also took the two elders to the hospital for a follow-up check-up and to get medicine, leaving only the Cat Cat Fox Fox at home with no daytime plans.
Isn’t this the perfect opportunity for Ben Hu to have a world of two at home? Ben Hu will definitely not miss this good opportunity!
After eating and washing the dishes, a simple lunch, Cat Cat Fox Fox naturally sat side by side on the sofa.
But while clinging to the Cat Girl, watching new anime and chatting, Su Tianqing was also having Yue Tianxin (Fox) ponder another question.
“How can a Magic Girl who doesn’t yet possess a belief successfully transform?”
Her usual method was to approach them beforehand and build a close relationship, then use Monsters to create a crisis, allowing the Magic Girls to unleash their guardian belief.
This method had been effectively validated on Hua Ling and Lin Muyao, but with Wang Xiaowang…
Should she personally go in?
Not really. The College of Arts and Sciences is too close to Nan Xiaofeng's side, and time is very tight.
A slight misstep could escalate into a major battle between the protagonists and antagonists, and Wang Xiaowang, as a newcomer, would definitely have no chance to intervene.
But if she were to rashly invite her out of the dorm…
Su Tianqing had a vague feeling that this canine Fox Girl’s inner world was definitely not as lively as it appeared on the surface; an extreme high-pressure method like the one used on Hua Ling would be difficult to succeed.
Not to mention they now have two Star Shadows. If even Hyacinth and Iris couldn't withstand that kind of pressure, how could a newcomer like Wang Xiaowang turn the tide like Hua Ling did during her first transformation?
“Rong City midday news, now broadcasting.”
The new anime finished playing, and the TV switched to the news channel. On the screen were two unfamiliar Magic Girls being interviewed.
Both Cat Cat Fox Fox froze simultaneously, their intertwined cat and fox tails standing erect at the same time.
“Hmm? Who are these two…?” Nan Jiayu asked curiously.
“Tianqing, do you know them?”
“They don’t look familiar… Ah, look at the subtitles below. This is London’s Fohn Squad, and these two are Fohn and Shuo Feng.”
Shuo Feng and Fohn? Why is the Rong City TV station interviewing them? Could it be…
Su Tianqing keenly sensed something amiss and reached out to turn up the volume.
“To track down a major criminal, the Magic Girl Fohn Squad from London has arrived in Rong City today and will be stationed here for a period, assisting the Hyacinth Squad in arresting Jack the Ripper.”
Oh, the Fohn Squad.
Upon hearing that name, the Fox Girl's mind whirred, and she almost immediately came up with a brilliant idea.
secret codex, you know what I mean, right?
“Quest Updated.”
As expected, the Fun secret codex also sensed the immense fun, almost immediately issuing such a quest:
“Quest Chain 8: Culture Shock.”
“Utilize the conflict between the Fohn Squad and Alice to guide Wang Xiaowang in establishing her guardian belief.”
Alright!
Su Tianqing almost wanted to loudly praise the secret codex’s brilliant idea.
Aurora and Wang Xiaowang are roommates, and she couldn't guarantee that they wouldn't know each other’s Magic Girl identities.
Since that’s the case, why not just let them know each other, and establish their mutual determination to protect each other? Wouldn’t that be a win-win situation!
Once they know each other's protagonist and antagonist identities, if she guides them a little more, she can even make them keep this secret!
If Ben Hu were to personally get involved and cunningly scheme against this naive Fohn Squad…
“Heh heh heh… My apologies, Fohn Squad.”
The Golden-haired Fox Girl revealed her usual cunning smile.
Please, cooperate with Fox Fox’s plan~