The 30-Year-Old Magical Girl - Chapter 3

Only You Dong and You Xi remained standing inside the faculty office.

“Let me confirm one more time,” the homeroom teacher asked politely. “What exactly is your relationship with student You Xi?”

“Oh, I’m her adop—”

The words adoptive father nearly slipped out.

But just as he was about to say them, You Dong caught sight of You Xi glaring at him with murderous intensity.

He immediately swallowed the words back down.

“I’m her uncle… and currently her legal guardian.”

Teacher Li nodded hesitantly.

“I see…”

Although she responded calmly, she couldn’t help finding the situation rather unusual.

The young man before her looked no older than his late twenties or early thirties, yet he was acting as a high school girl’s guardian.

There was clearly more to this family’s story.

Still, prying into a student’s private affairs was inappropriate.

There were far more urgent matters to deal with.

“I’m sorry for asking you to come on such short notice.”

Teacher Li sighed softly.

“As I mentioned over the phone, You Xi got into a fight today.”

“…She hit another student quite badly.”

“There was even blood.”

“What?”

You Dong’s eyes widened.

“There was blood?!”

His voice echoed throughout the otherwise quiet faculty office.

Teachers working nearby all looked up from their desks and turned curious gazes toward the three of them.

“What are you yelling for?”

You Xi frowned impatiently.

“Are you an idiot?”

“You Xi!”

Ignoring her complaint, You Dong immediately walked over.

“Are you hurt?”

“Did you get injured anywhere?”

“None of your business.”

“How can it not be my business?”

Without paying attention to her cold response, he carefully examined her from head to toe.

Fortunately, apart from a little dust staining her school uniform skirt, she appeared completely unharmed.

Only then did he finally let out a sigh of relief.

“That’s good…”

Then his expression became serious.

“But fighting isn’t right.”

“You’re a girl.”

“You shouldn’t solve problems with your fists.”

“What does that have to do with you?”

“Everything.”

“I’m your guardian.”

“Hmph.”

“I’ve never acknowledged that.”

“It isn’t something you can acknowledge or reject.”

His voice remained calm, just as it had countless times before.

“Your mother was my biological sister.”

“That makes me your biological uncle.”

“Legally and morally, I’m responsible for taking care of you until you become an adult.”

“You understand that, don’t you?”

The moment her mother was mentioned, You Xi’s face darkened.

“Don’t talk about Mom!”

She glared at him fiercely.

If looks could kill, You Dong would already have died several times over.

“Then the day I turn eighteen…”

“You’d better disappear.”

“I never want to see you again.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

You Dong gently shook his head.

“Why not?”

“You’re so annoying!”

“I can’t stop looking after you until you’re capable of standing on your own.”

“I promised I’d raise you into an outstanding adult.”

“What?”

You Xi nearly exploded.

“Who do you think you are?”

“Why are you always interfering in my life?”

“I already told you.”

“I’m your uncle.”

“And your guardian.”

“Go to hell!”

“You can say that to me if you want.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“But don’t ever say things like that to other people.”

“It’ll only create trouble for yourself.”

He sighed.

“Honestly, your temper is probably the biggest reason you keep getting into fights.”

“I’m going to kill you.”

“You Xi.”

This time, You Dong’s expression finally hardened.

“I’m starting to get angry.”

“I don’t remember your mother ever teaching you to speak like this.”

“Who exactly did you learn it from?”

“I said…”

“It has nothing to do with Mom!”

Her fists tightened.

Her teeth ground together.

At that moment, it looked as though she might throw another punch at someone’s face.

“You two…”

Seeing the atmosphere becoming increasingly explosive, Teacher Li hurriedly stepped between them.

“I invited you here to solve a problem.”

“…Could you please stop arguing?”

“I’m sorry.”

You Dong immediately apologized with an embarrassed smile.

“Still…”

“If we’re discussing today’s incident, shouldn’t we invite the other student as well?”

“We should all sit down together.”

“If there’s a misunderstanding, we can clear it up.”

“If there’s a conflict, we can resolve it peacefully.”

Teacher Li shook her head.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”

“Why?”

“The student’s parents have already taken her to the hospital.”

“Huh?”

You Dong froze.

He slowly turned toward You Xi.

She had already folded her arms across her chest, proudly lifting her chin with a victorious expression.

“I didn’t expect you to be this fierce.”

“Hmph.”

“She’s just weak.”

“…”

You Dong rubbed his forehead.

“Well…”

“At least you weren’t the one who lost.”

“What are you saying?”

Teacher Li immediately shot him a stern look.

“Winning or losing doesn’t matter.”

“Fighting is wrong.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

Realizing his mistake, You Dong repeatedly bowed his head in apology.

“My apologies.”

“What good comes from fighting?”

“It hurts people.”

“It damages friendships.”

“And in the end…”

“It even empties the parents’ wallets.”

“Classmates should get along peacefully.”

Only then did Teacher Li explain the entire incident.

According to several witnesses, You Xi had attacked a classmate named Mo Li.

Her reason was simple.

She believed Mo Li had been bullying another student.

“In short,” Teacher Li concluded, “this incident could either become very serious or end quietly.”

“It depends entirely on the other family.”

“If they choose not to involve the police or file a complaint, then You Xi will probably only receive a minor disciplinary punishment and be suspended for a few days.”

“So…”

“Your sincerity is extremely important.”

“I understand.”

You Dong nodded.

Teacher Li handed him a phone number.

“I’ll send you the parents’ contact information.”

“Take You Xi to the hospital.”

“Visit the injured student.”

“Offer a sincere apology.”

“As for school…”

“She doesn’t need to attend classes for the next few days.”

After a brief pause, Teacher Li glanced at both of them with a complicated expression.

“Regarding whether Mo Li was truly bullying another student…”

“The school will conduct a thorough investigation.”

“An investigation?”

You Xi looked puzzled.

“Isn’t it already obvious that she was bullying someone?”

Teacher Li sighed.

“Our school values its reputation very highly.”

“Bullying is considered an extremely serious matter.”

“We need sufficient evidence before making any official conclusion.”

“We still need evidence?”

You Xi’s voice immediately rose.

“There were dozens of classmates watching!”

Then her eyes suddenly widened in realization.

“Oh…”

“I get it.”

“You’re just afraid that exposing this will damage the school’s reputa—”

Before she could finish, You Dong swiftly pressed one hand onto her head.

Forcing both of them to bow at the same time, he interrupted loudly,

“Thank you very much, Teacher!”

“We truly appreciate everything you’ve done!”

“It’s You Xi’s good fortune to have such a responsible teacher!”

“Hey!”

“Stop touching my head!”

“So annoying!”

No matter how hard she flailed, the difference in their height and reach meant she couldn’t push him away.

After leaving the faculty office, the two silently walked toward the parking lot.

You Dong unlocked his red Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio.

Without saying a word, You Xi opened the rear door and climbed into the back seat.

The engine roared to life.

Releasing the handbrake, You Dong slowly drove out of the school grounds.

As he drove, countless thoughts filled his mind.

How am I supposed to face Mo Li and her parents?

Their daughter was beaten badly enough to be hospitalized.

They must be furious.

What should I say?

How can I apologize?

How can I make this right?

He had absolutely no answers.

Looking into the rearview mirror, he noticed You Xi leaning against the back seat.

Surprisingly, she wasn’t scrolling through her phone as usual.

Instead, she stared silently at the roof of the car, lost in thought.

Is she reflecting on what happened?

That would be nice.

You Dong understood better than anyone why she’d become like this.

After losing both of her parents, her personality had gradually become withdrawn, sharp, and difficult.

Now sixteen years old, she was also deep in the middle of adolescence.

She instinctively resisted everything adults said.

Although they lived under the same roof, genuine conversations between them were rare.

Most of the time…

They only argued.

Fortunately, the deep growl of the Quadrifoglio’s V6 engine filled the silence, preventing the atmosphere inside the car from becoming unbearably awkward.

“You Xi.”

“We’re almost at the hospital, so—”

“W-Wait!”

Before he could finish speaking, she suddenly sat upright.

Her expression had become unusually tense.

Holding her phone tightly, she stared at the screen as though something had happened.

“What’s wrong?”

“Pull over.”

“I need to get out.”

“What?”

“Aren’t we going to visit Mo Li?”

“I know…”

She bit her lip.

“I…”

“I have something important I need to do.”

She couldn’t seem to finish the sentence.

Seeing her conflicted expression, You Dong misunderstood completely.

“You Xi.”

“I know you’re scared.”

“It’s normal.”

“You’re afraid of facing Mo Li.”

“You’re afraid of facing her parents.”

“But when we make mistakes…”

“We have to take responsibility.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No matter what happens…”

“Your uncle will always stand beside you.”

However, You Xi slowly shook her head.

“I really can’t go.”

“I have something extremely important to deal with.”

For the first time that day…

You Dong genuinely felt anger rising inside him.

He wanted to shout.

He wanted to slam his fist against the steering wheel.

But he also knew that losing his temper with a rebellious teenager would only make things worse.

He forced himself to remain calm.

“Does it have to be right now?”

“…Yes.”

She nodded.

“Can I help?”

After several seconds of silence…

She quietly shook her head.

Then, in an unusually gentle voice, she spoke.

“Uncle.”

Not “Hey.”

Not “You.”

For the first time in a long while, she called him by that title.

The unfamiliar word made You Dong freeze for a moment.

“Can you…”

“…trust me just this once?”

His hands tightened around the steering wheel.

A moment later, he slowly guided the car to the roadside.

Screeeech—!

The six-piston brakes clamped down on the carbon-ceramic discs, producing a sharp metallic cry before the Quadrifoglio came to a smooth stop.

You Dong looked at her through the rearview mirror.

“Keep your phone on.”

“And if anything happens…”

“Call me immediately.”