The 30-Year-Old Magical Girl - Chapter 40

Ever since she was little, Mo Li had always been exceptionally good at winning people’s affection.

Or, to put it another way—

She possessed remarkably high emotional intelligence.

A born social butterfly.

Because of that, from elementary school all the way through high school, no matter which class or campus she attended, she naturally stood at the very center of every social circle.

Like a queen ruling her own kingdom.

During breaks and lunch periods, girls gathered around her like birds flocking to their leader.

The boys, captivated by her looks, eagerly volunteered to run errands or help her with anything she asked, hoping to earn even a little of her attention.

To the teachers…

She was the perfect student.

Excellent grades.

Good manners.

A pleasant personality.

True, she cared a little too much about fashion.

Dyed hair.

Pierced ears.

But Xinwang Private High School mainly served students from wealthy families, so its dress code wasn’t particularly strict.

Combined with Mo Li’s outstanding academic performance and naturally likable personality, most teachers simply chose to overlook those small issues.

They didn’t openly encourage them…

But they certainly didn’t interfere.

Mo Li loved attention.

She enjoyed being the center of everyone’s world.

Whenever countless eyes focused on her, she’d pretend to remain calm while secretly reveling in the admiration.

But if she ever discovered a circle that didn’t revolve around her…

Her mood would immediately sour.

She would begin plotting how to dismantle that group and diminish the people inside it.

After entering high school…

She continued carefully expanding what she privately called—

The Kingdom of Mo Li.

As expected…

Almost every student…

And nearly every teacher…

Eventually became one of her loyal “subjects.”

Almost.

Which meant…

There were exceptions.

Only two girls had remained outside her kingdom.

You Xi.

And Bai Mian.

That fact annoyed her immensely.

You Xi…

Was different.

The first time Mo Li saw her, her immediate thought was—

Seriously?

She’s ridiculously pretty.

Model-like proportions.

A beautiful face.

As another girl…

Even Mo Li had to admit it felt unfair.

But after interacting with her for a while…

She realized appearance wasn’t the only remarkable thing about You Xi.

If she had to describe the feeling You Xi gave people…

It resembled a quiet stream hidden deep within a winter forest.

Anyone passing by would admire its crystal-clear beauty.

But the instant someone carelessly reached into the icy water…

Their fingers would go numb from the cold.

No matter who stood before her—

Teachers.

Classmates.

Complete strangers.

You Xi never flattered anyone.

Never submitted.

Never tried to curry favor.

She possessed her own unwavering principles.

Compared to the countless spineless people who drifted wherever the crowd pushed them…

She existed in an entirely different world.

Because of that…

Mo Li classified her as someone impossible to tame.

Her solution was simple.

Avoid provoking her whenever possible.

The truth was…

She was somewhat afraid of You Xi.

Bai Mian, however…

Was a completely different matter.

She was timid.

Always avoided eye contact.

Whenever she spoke, her favorite phrases were—

“I’m sorry.”

“Excuse me.”

It was almost as though she felt guilty simply for existing.

Mo Li had spoken with her several times.

Her conclusion?

Ordinary.

Bland.

Completely lacking opinions of her own.

Just another average high school girl.

Someone like that…

Should have naturally become one of the citizens of the Kingdom of Mo Li.

So why…

Did she keep refusing?

To recruit Bai Mian into her circle, Mo Li repeatedly invited her out.

Karaoke.

Shopping.

Weekend outings.

Every single invitation received exactly the same polite response.

“I’m sorry…”

“I already have plans.”

From Mo Li’s perspective…

That wasn’t a refusal.

It was humiliation.

It felt as though her dignity as the “queen” had been publicly trampled.

Even if nobody openly laughed…

Surely everyone was mocking her behind her back.

She couldn’t allow that.

She had to teach Bai Mian a lesson.

Later…

After making a few discreet inquiries…

Mo Li discovered Bai Mian hadn’t been making excuses at all.

She truly spent nearly all of her free time drawing manga.

Completely absorbed in her own creative world.

Which only made Mo Li even more curious.

Someone this timid…

Someone who couldn’t even maintain eye contact…

What kind of manga could she possibly create?

Everything that happened afterward…

More or less unfolded according to Mo Li’s expectations.

Except…

For one variable she had never considered.

You Xi.

She never imagined that You Xi would pin her to the ground and beat her so thoroughly with what felt like professional grappling techniques.

Nor did she expect…

Several days later…

To be attacked again…

Inside her own home.

Of course…

You Xi paid the price.

She had been suspended indefinitely.

Barred from attending school.

Right now…

She was probably flying around the city as Magical Girl Raging Flame…

Patrolling the skies like an idiot.

Thinking about that…

Mo Li lazily yawned during class.

Her gaze drifted toward the endless blue sky outside the classroom window.

Ah…

I really want to brag about becoming a magical girl…

Given her personality…

She almost wanted to storm onto the morning assembly stage, snatch the principal’s microphone, and proudly announce her secret identity to the entire school.

Then transform before everyone’s astonished eyes…

Imagining all those looks of admiration…

Sent an uncontrollable thrill through her body.

She shivered slightly.

Her knees instinctively pressed together as she rubbed her legs against each other beneath the desk.

Still…

After carefully weighing the advantages and disadvantages last night…

She reluctantly concluded…

Now wasn’t the right time.

If her parents learned she’d become a magical girl…

They would undoubtedly forbid it.

Perhaps even lock her inside the house.

Force her to give up being Huangxing forever.

That…

Was absolutely unacceptable.

She couldn’t abandon that dazzling, radiant version of herself.

I’ll wait.

Wait until the perfect moment.

Suppressing her excitement…

Mo Li spent the rest of the school day acting like an ordinary high school student.

After classes ended…

She returned home.

Her mother was cleaning the living room.

After exchanging a brief greeting…

Mo Li headed toward her bedroom.

She planned to rest for a while before transforming into Huangxing and meeting Tidal and Raging Flame for patrol.

“Lili.”

Her mother’s voice stopped her.

“When you were at school today…”

“Did any teachers—or the police—come looking for you because of You Xi?”

“…The police?”

Mo Li blinked.

“Mom…”

“Why would the police come see me?”

“Oh.”

“You know…”

“After I reported the incident involving You Xi…”

“I figured the officers might visit your school to investigate.”

“So I was just wondering if they—”

“Mom.”

Mo Li suddenly interrupted.

“…Wait.”

The word reported made her heart skip a beat.

“Mom…”

“Are you saying…”

“You actually filed a police report?”

“Of course I did.”

Her mother looked at her in confusion.

“Why?”

“Is something wrong with that?”

Looking at her mother’s calm, matter-of-fact expression…

Mo Li felt countless emotions collide inside her heart.

Confusion.

Relief.

Uneasiness.

Guilt.

For a brief moment…

She couldn’t even tell whether she was supposed to feel happy…

Or devastated.