The 30-Year-Old Magical Girl - Chapter 26

“…If the school expels me…”

“…Does that mean my life is basically over?”

Staring absentmindedly out the car window, You Xi suddenly turned to her uncle and asked.

Since Mo Li’s mother had officially reported the incident…

The police had summoned You Xi to give a statement.

Right now…

The two of them were driving toward the police station.

“…Where did that question come from?”

Keeping both hands on the steering wheel, You Dong glanced sideways at the girl sitting beside him.

“My friend…”

“The one who got bullied.”

“She said she never wants to go back to school.”

“…But honestly.”

“My situation isn’t much better.”

As she spoke…

She absentmindedly wrapped a loose strand of hair around her finger.

Her voice sounded heavy.

“So first I get suspended…”

“Then I’m called in by the police.”

“Next comes expulsion…”

“Right?”

“If you add ‘dating’ to the list…”

“You’ll have unlocked every achievement for being a problem student.”

You Dong joked.

“…You still have the mood to joke?”

You Xi shot him an annoyed glare.

“Haha.”

“Sorry.”

“You looked so depressed.”

“I just wanted to cheer you up.”

“You probably say stupid things like this all the time.”

“No wonder Sister Chen Xi got so angry she broke up with you.”

Hearing Chen Xi’s name…

You Dong immediately remembered the dinner from a few days ago.

The dinner where…

As Tidal…

The three of them had sat together.

When You Xi asked about the breakup…

Chen Xi hadn’t exposed his disgraceful actions.

She had quietly protected his dignity in front of his own family.

For that…

He was deeply grateful.

Yet…

The moment he recalled the expression on Chen Xi’s face after catching him…

That hollow…

Heartbroken look…

Gratitude was quickly replaced by guilt.

He wanted to make things right.

But now…

The two of them lived like complete strangers.

That powerless feeling…

Made his chest ache.

Noticing the sudden pain on her uncle’s face…

You Xi immediately regretted mentioning Chen Xi.

“…Uh…”

Her tone became unusually cautious.

“…Actually…”

“I don’t think Sister Chen Xi hates you that much.”

“…Maybe…”

“You still have a chance.”

“…Let’s not talk about that.”

You Dong gently shook his head.

“I was the one at fault.”

“Everything that happened…”

“Was my responsibility.”

He quickly steered the conversation back.

“You were worried about getting expelled, right?”

“Don’t overthink it.”

“You’re nowhere near that point.”

“At worst…”

“You’ll receive a disciplinary record.”

“It won’t stop you from getting into college.”

“And it won’t affect finding a job later.”

“…Even if I can stay at school…”

“I don’t want to go back.”

“…Why?”

You Xi frowned.

A trace of anger returned to her voice.

“Because…”

“It just feels disgusting.”

“Do you remember what our homeroom teacher said?”

“It was obvious.”

“He only cared about protecting the school’s reputation.”

“He wanted to shift all the blame somewhere else.”

“And my classmates…”

“They all acted like Xiao Mian deserved what happened.”

“Nobody cared how she felt.”

“Nobody stood up when Mo Li was wrong.”

“Is that really okay?”

“That’s exactly why Xiao Mian refuses to come back.”

She spoke with obvious frustration.

Righteous anger filled every word.

Yet…

As the last sentence left her mouth…

She seemed to realize how powerless she truly was.

Her shoulders slowly drooped again.

“…Don’t you think…”

“A place like that…”

“Isn’t worth going back to?”

It sounded almost like a conclusion.

Or perhaps…

She was asking for her uncle’s opinion.

You Dong didn’t answer immediately.

Instead…

He quietly looked at the only blood relative he still had.

All this time…

He had always viewed You Xi as a child broken by tragedy.

Someone fragile.

Someone who needed his protection.

His guidance.

But now…

He realized he might have been completely wrong.

Yes.

After losing her parents…

She had indeed fallen into despair.

But…

She hadn’t allowed herself to be consumed by it.

Instead…

She had turned that suffering into nourishment.

Allowing herself to grow into someone kind…

Strong…

And compassionate.

Thinking that…

You Dong suddenly felt his nose sting.

His eyes grew slightly red.

The Clover continued driving forward.

Then…

He remembered something from long ago.

Something he felt he should tell her.

“When I was in high school…”

“There was a boy in my class.”

“He had difficulty walking.”

“I don’t remember exactly what illness he had.”

“Maybe it was a complication from polio.”

“Anyway…”

“His walking posture was a little unusual.”

“So…”

“Some stupid classmates would imitate the way he walked…”

“Just to make everyone laugh.”

“And…”

“I was one of them.”

“…You’re seriously a terrible person.”

“Haha…”

“Yeah.”

“I really was.”

Even after being called trash by his niece…

You Dong simply smiled.

“…Every time I remember it…”

“I regret it.”

His smile gradually faded.

“If I could go back in time…”

“And meet that version of myself…”

“The one who mocked someone else’s disability…”

“I’d kick him in the stomach without hesitation.”

“I’d help.”

You Xi nodded seriously.

“He definitely deserves it.”

“I’ve thought many times…”

“About why I changed.”

“I think…”

“It’s because of experience.”

“When I was in high school…”

“My only responsibility was studying.”

“I didn’t have any real worries.”

“And because I’d never truly suffered…”

“I couldn’t understand someone else’s pain.”

“But after entering society…”

“Everything changed.”

“Work pressure.”

“Interpersonal relationships.”

“Losing people you care about.”

“Being laughed at because of what you wear.”

“Being looked down on because your salary isn’t high enough.”

“After experiencing all those things…”

“I slowly understood…”

“How people grow from childishness into adults.”

“…So what are you trying to say?”

You Xi asked.

“What I’m saying is…”

“You can’t truly empathize with someone…”

“Until you’ve experienced similar pain yourself.”

“So…”

“Don’t be too disappointed in your classmates.”

“And don’t lose hope in school.”

“They’ve simply lived comfortable lives.”

“They’ve grown up happily.”

“So naturally…”

“They don’t understand what suffering feels like.”

“They’re like princes and princesses living inside castles.”

“As long as they never leave those walls…”

“They’ll never understand how dark the outside world can be.”

“But…”

“You’re different.”

You Dong turned toward his niece.

His eyes were filled with warmth.

“And pride.”

“You’re stronger than they are.”

“You understand more.”

“And you’re kinder.”

“S-Stop.”

“That’s disgusting.”

You Xi interrupted him immediately.

A visible shiver ran through her body.

“Quit saying such embarrassing things.”

“I’m getting goosebumps.”

“…Embarrassed?”

You Dong chuckled.

“Sometimes…”

“I actually think you’re pretty cute.”

“I hate you.”

“All the time.”

“You’re so fake.”

As they continued talking…

The Clover slowly pulled into the parking lot outside the police station.

Before getting out…

You Dong spoke one last time.

“It won’t be easy to convince them to withdraw the report.”

“You Xi.”

“If you have to sincerely apologize to Mo Li first…”

“…Can you do it?”

“Of course.”

Without hesitation…

You Xi nodded firmly.

Then she opened the car door.

Stepped out.

And walked into the police station ahead of him.

…She’s being awfully obedient today.

Watching her back disappear through the entrance…

A strange sense of unease quietly surfaced in You Dong’s heart.