The 30-Year-Old Magical Girl - Chapter 18

“…Um.”

“Hm?”

“Let’s say…”

“You really hate someone.”

“But one day, that person joins your company and becomes your coworker.”

“What would you do?”

“What made you ask something like that all of a sudden?”

You Dong kept both hands on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

The Clover sped smoothly along the elevated highway.

Today, they were on their way to visit Mo Li’s family.

Their purpose was to offer a formal apology and express their condolences.

“It’d be miserable, wouldn’t it?”

“You hate seeing her.”

“But you still have to work together.”

“You’d have to face her every single day.”

“There’s no avoiding it.”

You Xi rested her chin against the car window as she gazed outside.

On both sides of the overpass, skyscrapers of different heights stretched endlessly into the distance like an unfolding scroll.

The sky hung unusually low today.

It felt close enough to touch.

Shangjing truly was a beautiful city.

The thought that she was helping protect it filled her with quiet satisfaction.

But…

The thought of becoming teammates with Mo Li…

That girl…

That bully…

Made her chest feel unbearably heavy.

You Dong naturally knew exactly what was troubling her.

Unfortunately…

He couldn’t reveal that he knew.

All he could do was offer advice from the perspective of an ordinary adult.

“I don’t know exactly what’s bothering you…”

“But I do have some experience with something similar.”

He thought for a moment before continuing.

“To be honest…”

“There’s someone at work I really can’t stand.”

“I hate his attitude.”

“I hate the way he does things.”

“But…”

“I also have to admit he’s exceptionally capable.”

“If I were putting together a project team…”

“I’d choose him without hesitation.”

He glanced briefly toward You Xi.

“So…”

“What’s your real goal?”

“Are you working with someone because you want them to like you?”

“Or because you want to like them?”

“Probably neither.”

“It’s perfectly fine to dislike someone.”

“You don’t have to approve of everything they do.”

“When you’re working together…”

“Just think of them as a tool.”

“Focus on getting the job done.”

“If you let too much emotion get involved…”

“You’ll lose sight of what’s truly important.”

“Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

“…You’re so boring.”

You Xi rolled her eyes dramatically.

“That’s exactly why I hate listening to your lectures.”

“You’ll understand one day.”

“You’re still too young.”

“I’m not a child anymore…”

She puffed out her cheeks unhappily.

At that moment…

She suddenly felt incredibly lonely.

She wanted someone to confide in.

Yet…

Whether it was her classmates…

Her friends…

Or even her own family…

No one knew she was a magical girl.

No one could possibly understand the burden she carried.

For just a moment…

Her heart wavered.

She almost blurted out the truth.

After all…

The two of them lived under the same roof.

Keeping such an enormous secret from her uncle had become exhausting.

But after several seconds of hesitation…

She quietly swallowed the words.

She knew You Dong too well.

He worried about her enough already.

If he discovered she was risking her life fighting Aberrations…

He would lose his mind.

He’d do everything in his power to stop her.

“…By the way.”

“You said you fought Mo Li because she was bullying your friend.”

“What exactly happened?”

You Dong deliberately asked as though hearing about it for the first time.

He simply wanted to keep the conversation going.

Opportunities like this…

Where they could actually talk without arguing…

Were incredibly rare.

“Oh.”

“So you don’t even know the full story?”

Remembering Senior Tidal’s advice from the previous night—

Listen to the adults in your family.

—You Xi found herself surprisingly willing to explain.

She carefully recounted everything.

Just as she had done the night before.

How Bai Mian had been bullied.

How Mo Li had humiliated her.

How she couldn’t stand by and watch.

You Dong quietly listened the entire time.

Occasionally nodding.

“…I understand.”

“So that Mo Li really did go too far.”

“Exactly!”

You Xi’s eyes immediately lit up.

She stared at him in disbelief.

She had never expected her usually rigid, overly rational uncle…

To actually take her side.

“…However.”

You Dong sighed.

“Fighting someone was still the wrong choice.”

“I heard from your teacher that she was bleeding.”

“Where exactly did you hit her?”

“Relax.”

You Xi waved dismissively.

“I avoided all the vital areas.”

“I didn’t even touch her face.”

“So they were all superficial injuries?”

“Just a few scratches.”

“They actually took her to the hospital.”

“Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill.”

She folded her arms with obvious disdain.

“…Just don’t say that in front of her parents.”

“Haha.”

“Yeah.”

“I know.”

The rest of the drive passed peacefully.

For once…

There were no arguments.

No cold silence.

Just an ordinary conversation between uncle and niece.

After arriving at Mo Li’s apartment complex…

They took the gift bags from the trunk before heading upstairs.

Mo Li lived in a high-end residential community.

Each floor contained only a single apartment.

The family was obviously well-off.

Although…

Considering Xinwang High was an expensive private school…

That wasn’t particularly surprising.

The door opened.

You Dong immediately activated one of the essential survival skills every office worker eventually mastered.

Instant expression management.

In the blink of an eye…

The sturdy man over one hundred eighty centimeters tall transformed into a polite, smiling gentleman.

“Hello.”

“I’m You Xi’s uncle.”

“We’ve come to apologize to Mo Li.”

“No matter what happened…”

“Violence is never the right solution.”

“I sincerely apologize.”

The man who answered the door was likely Mo Li’s father.

He appeared to be a refined middle-aged intellectual.

His demeanor was calm and courteous.

He welcomed them inside before calling toward the kitchen.

“Honey.”

“Please bring some tea.”

“…Ugh.”

“The gorilla’s here.”

The first person to react…

Was Mo Li.

Dressed casually in comfortable clothes…

She immediately shot You Xi a mocking look.

She was actually quite pretty.

Her skin had a healthy sun-kissed glow.

Light makeup complemented her lively features.

Completely different from the ruthless bully You Dong had imagined.

At first glance…

She looked like an energetic, cheerful teenage girl.

“…Who are you calling a gorilla?!”

The insult instantly ignited You Xi’s temper.

“You.”

“Who else?”

“Say that again.”

“I’ll say it as many times as I want.”

“You want another beating?”

“Go ahead.”

“I was careless last time.”

“This time I’ll flatten you.”

Just as the two girls lunged toward one another…

Both adults reacted instantly.

You Dong grabbed You Xi.

Mo Li’s father restrained his daughter.

Another fight was barely avoided.

“…Oh.”

“So you’re the family.”

At that moment…

Mo Li’s mother emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray of tea.

The first thing she saw…

Was the two girls glaring at each other like sworn enemies.

She immediately frowned.

“Hmph.”

“When you said you wanted to apologize…”

“I thought perhaps you were sincere.”

“If so…”

“We could have settled this peacefully.”

“But judging by this attitude…”

“There’s nothing left to discuss.”

“We’ll leave everything to the school…”

“And the police.”

Without another word…

She turned around.

Clearly unwilling to continue the conversation.

…

This…

Was the worst possible beginning.

You Dong felt his heart sink straight to the bottom.