The 30-Year-Old Magical Girl - Chapter 14

…Huh?

Is Uncle busy?

Why isn’t he answering…?

Dummy…

Holding her phone, You Xi quietly muttered to herself as the call continued to ring unanswered.

Meanwhile…

Tidal could clearly feel her own phone vibrating inside the small crossbody bag hanging at her waist.

Despite the noisy crowd around them…

The ringtone sounded unbearably loud.

“Senior.”

You Xi looked toward her.

“Your phone’s ringing.”

“…Aren’t you going to answer it?”

W-What do I do?!

In that instant…

Countless excuses flashed through Tidal’s mind.

Each one was immediately rejected.

Technically…

She could still explain everything.

But if You Xi lost patience and hung up…

And the ringtone from Tidal’s own bag stopped at exactly the same moment…

Suspicion would be unavoidable.

I’ve got it.

She made her decision instantly.

She would excuse herself first.

Step away from You Xi.

Hang up the call herself.

Then send a quick message.

“In a meeting. I’ll call you later.”

As for an excuse…

That part was easy.

Magical girls weren’t required to reveal their civilian identities to one another.

Some trusted their companions enough to be open.

Others valued their privacy.

Both choices were perfectly acceptable.

Since she was here as Tidal…

She had every right to keep her personal life separate.

Stepping away to answer a private call wouldn’t seem strange at all.

Just as Tidal prepared to leave…

A familiar voice suddenly called out.

“Huh?”

“Aren’t you…”

“You Dong’s niece?”

“You Xi?”

“Little Xi!”

The moment she heard that voice…

Tidal’s face twitched involuntarily.

Slowly…

Almost unwillingly…

She turned around.

Standing only a few meters away…

Was Chen Xi.

Her ex-girlfriend.

The woman she had personally forced away.

“Xianjie!”

“What a coincidence!”

“What are you doing here?”

You Xi immediately smiled brightly.

Almost instinctively…

Her thumb tapped the screen.

The phone call ended.

At exactly the same moment…

The ringtone inside Tidal’s bag stopped.

Fortunately…

You Xi’s attention had already shifted completely toward Chen Xi.

She noticed nothing.

“I work nearby.”

Chen Xi smiled.

“I sometimes come here after work to grab dinner.”

“What about you two?”

“Out shopping?”

Only after asking did Chen Xi finally notice the petite blue-haired girl standing beside You Xi.

Her eyes immediately widened.

Her first impression…

Was that she’d stumbled upon a perfectly crafted porcelain doll.

Beautiful.

Delicate.

Yet strangely…

There was an indescribable stillness about her.

She seemed alive…

Yet somehow almost unreal.

Transparent.

Untouchable.

Chen Xi found herself unable to look away.

“…Who’s this?”

She asked absentmindedly.

Her gaze never left Tidal.

“Oh.”

“This is my friend.”

“Xiao Lian.”

“We’re just hanging out.”

“We were about to get dinner.”

As she introduced her…

You Xi secretly glanced toward Tidal with an apologetic expression.

Tidal gave the slightest nod.

It’s fine.

“Perfect!”

Chen Xi immediately smiled.

“Then let’s eat together.”

“My treat.”

The moment she finished speaking…

She couldn’t help stealing another glance toward Tidal.

Deep down…

She quietly hoped for some kind of reaction.

A smile.

A thank-you.

Even a shy nod would have made her happy.

Anything.

Instead…

Tidal remained completely expressionless.

Her face was as calm as a perfectly still lake.

It wasn’t the expression of a child.

Yet…

Somehow…

It suited her perfectly.

That contradiction—

The innocence of her appearance…

Combined with the composure of someone far older…

Created an irresistible sense of mystery.

Chen Xi’s curiosity immediately ignited.

I want to know more about this girl…

That single thought stayed with her throughout the walk to the restaurant.

She tried every conversation trick she knew.

Casual questions.

Friendly small talk.

Even subtle probing.

Yet…

Tidal effortlessly avoided every attempt.

She answered…

Without truly answering.

Protected every secret.

By the time they reached the restaurant…

Chen Xi had learned almost nothing.

Only one thing.

The girl’s name…

Was Chao Lian.

Whether that was her real name…

Or merely an alias…

She had no way of knowing.

Considering You Xi’s age…

Chen Xi chose a popular Western fast-food restaurant.

A place suitable for children…

Teenagers…

Families…

Or simply chatting together over a meal.

“Xianjie.”

While eating…

You Xi suddenly asked,

“Can you contact my uncle?”

“I tried calling him to tell him I wouldn’t be home for dinner…”

“But he didn’t answer.”

The moment those words were spoken…

Both women sitting across from her stiffened simultaneously.

It was almost frightening how perfectly synchronized their reactions were.

“Your uncle…”

Chen Xi forced an awkward smile.

“You mean…”

“You Dong?”

“I…”

“I can contact him…”

“But…”

“…It’s a little inconvenient right now.”

She nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Then fidgeted with her phone.

“Oh?”

You Xi tilted her head.

“Judging by your reaction…”

“You two had a fight?”

As expected from a perceptive teenage girl…

She immediately sensed something unusual.

Chen Xi didn’t deny it.

Instead…

She laughed helplessly.

“Haha…”

“You’re really observant.”

“Was I that obvious?”

The smile quickly faded.

“…Actually.”

“We broke up.”

A french fry slipped from Tidal’s fingers.

It quietly fell onto the floor.

For a brief moment…

She wanted to duck beneath the table.

Or pretend she needed the restroom.

Anything…

To escape this conversation.

But…

She stayed.

Silently listening.

Watching.

Like nothing more than an unrelated bystander.

Because…

She desperately wanted to know.

Had Chen Xi…

Truly moved on?

“…I see.”

You Xi lowered her eyes.

Looking genuinely disappointed.

“I always thought you two got along so well.”

“I never imagined you’d actually break up.”

Chen Xi smiled bitterly.

“Adult relationships are like that.”

“If something isn’t working…”

“It’s better to separate.”

“It’s kinder for both people.”

“…That sounds awfully rational.”

You Xi frowned.

“I always thought loving someone meant accepting all of them.”

“The good parts.”

“And the bad.”

Chen Xi chuckled softly.

“That’s how it works in novels.”

“And TV dramas.”

“Reality isn’t nearly that romantic.”

“If romance doesn’t exist in real life…”

“Then what’s even the point of dating?”

While the two discussed love…

Tidal quietly sat beside them.

Like a tiny hamster…

She mechanically ate one french fry after another.

“…Enough about that.”

You Xi suddenly leaned forward.

“So…”

“What exactly happened?”

“Why did you two break up?”

In the end…

The conversation inevitably returned to the one subject Tidal feared most.

The very thing she had been desperately hoping to avoid.

If You Xi learned…

That her uncle had been caught cheating…

In a hotel room…

With another woman…

She didn’t even need to imagine the look that would appear in her niece’s eyes.

Disgust.

Contempt.

Disappointment.

Until now…

Their relationship had merely been strained.

Ordinary teenage rebellion.

Cold wars.

Arguments.

But after learning something like that…

Given You Xi’s personality…

She might never willingly look at her uncle again.

…Perhaps…

This is my punishment.

During the brief pause between conversations…

Tidal quietly let out a silent sigh.

Then she simply waited.

Motionless.

For the final judgment…