Volume 1 Chapter 54: The So-Called Fated Person
“I have to say, compared to your powers, your acting skills are far worse.”
Although Bai Muxue had already guessed it in her heart, when she saw that the person before her was truly this “old acquaintance,” she laughed softly. The hidden caution in her heart relaxed, and she directly sat down across from the girl.
If this silver-haired girl truly wanted to harm her, then when Bai Muxue had that car accident before, she could have simply done nothing and watched her die.
Why go through so much trouble?
At least... until her true intentions were shown, they were not enemies yet.
Heh, but she had made such a grand dream world, even disguised herself as Xingwan. Bai Muxue did not know what her goal was...
Yet because of such poor acting, she had been exposed without mercy.
Really...
After hearing Bai Muxue’s teasing, the gentle smile on the girl’s face stiffened slightly. Her bright blue eyes even showed a little grievance. Lowering her head, she softly defended herself.
“I clearly read many books on purpose before this. This was the ideal father-daughter relationship... It’s only because you was too clever.”
Her meaning was obvious.
She had fully prepared everything, so if anyone was to blame, it was only because Bai Muxue was too sharp and saw through her careful setup.
Hey, hey... is that praise or an insult?
And what kind of books did you even read?
Eight Wisdoms for Raising Children?
Good Parents Make Good Children?
Hearing the girl complain, Bai Muxue did not know whether to laugh or cry.
Before this, Bai Muxue had only met the silver-haired girl a few times. She had always acted mysterious and hard to understand, which made Bai Muxue very cautious around her.
But now, seeing the girl puffing her cheeks and acting upset...
Where was that mysterious feeling anymore?
Still, complaints were complaints. Whether the girl was cold and distant or playful and lively, Bai Muxue’s guard did not lower at all.
She shook her head and said softly,
“That may be the ideal father-daughter relationship, but it is definitely not the relationship between Xingwan and me. I don’t like it and I believe Xingwan wouldn’t like it either.”
She had taken care of that troublesome little girl for more than ten years.
There had been many small troubles. Sometimes they argued. Sometimes the age difference caused a gap between them.
But none of that had ever hurt their feelings for each other.
Back then, Bai Muxue would sometimes complain that it would be nice if her daughter caused less worry...
But the illusion the girl had created just now, even though it looked like loving father and filial daughter on the surface, the polite distance between them was absolutely not what Bai Muxue wanted.
“Is that so...”
The girl supported her chin with one hand and thoughtfully looked at the large bowl of noodles and the stir-fried meat on the table.
Yes, strangely enough, although the beautifully carved round table was covered with a white tablecloth, and silver tea tools and delicate snacks were placed on it, the noodle soup Bai Muxue had cooked earlier was still sitting there.
It looked completely out of place.
The girl took another small sip of soup and said in confusion,
“But it really is delicious... In this kind of situation, shouldn’t praise be expressed?”
“I’m telling you... forget father and daughter, even normal friends eating together wouldn’t seriously judge every dish like that!”
Not wanting to continue this topic anymore, Bai Muxue weakly held her forehead.
“Now that I think about it, this is really our first proper meeting, right?”
She continued, “So who exactly are you? Why did you approach me back then? Why did you make me absorb the negative emotions of magical girls? Why are you looking for me now? And what kind of place is this?”
Bai Muxue threw all the questions in her heart at the silver-haired girl in one breath.
This was not the Disaster Management Bureau where she used to work, where every sentence needed careful social handling.
She had no interest in playing word games with the girl. If there was something to say, just say it directly.
Hearing Bai Muxue’s long list of questions, the girl only smiled and shook her head.
She slowly wiped the corner of her mouth, then gracefully stood up, lifted the sides of her skirt with both hands, and gave Bai Muxue a polite bow.
“Welcome to the Garden, my lady. My name is Sylvia.”
“This place lies between reality and dreams. It is also the source of the power of magical girls.”
Bai Muxue could not help being stunned for a moment.
“So you’re saying this place is... the Garden? And also the source of magical girls’ power?”
She really did not know how Shen Jingyi, Amber, and the others became magical girls. After all, that was their most private secret, so she would never ask on her own.
She instinctively looked around.
Other than the tall black tower, everything in sight was barren and empty. There seemed to be no other buildings at all.
The dark sky was filled with heavy clouds. Lightning flashed and thunder roared inside them. The lifeless feeling of an approaching storm was so heavy that it almost made breathing difficult.
“Yes, this place is beautiful, isn’t it? Just as beautiful as the hearts of magical girls~”
But the girl named Sylvia clearly had no intention of explaining more.
She simply smiled, nodded, and calmly picked up the small teapot beside her, pouring Bai Muxue a cup of sweet black tea.
Uh... no matter how I look at it, this place has nothing to do with the word “beautiful.”
And why did she suddenly mention “the hearts of magical girls”? Was that some kind of hint?
Confusion flashed across Bai Muxue’s pretty face, but before she could speak, Sylvia continued,
“As for me...”
The girl’s bright blue eyes gave off a faint glow.
Then she elegantly picked up a small spoon, added two spoons of sugar into Bai Muxue’s tea, and only then handed the cup to her.
“My duty is to guide you toward salvation, to change you, and even change the fixed fate of this world. And in return, you must complete your own duty as well, make more magical girls become your captives.”
Sylvia returned to her seat, took another small bite of noodles from the bowl, and smiled gently at Bai Muxue, her eyes curving slightly.
“In other words, my lady, you may simply think of me as your destined person.”
Uh...
It felt like she said a lot... and yet said nothing at all.
Ignoring the girl’s teasing last sentence, Bai Muxue leaned back in her chair and took a sip of the tea in front of her.
This Sylvia seemed to say many things...
But they were all vague words with no real answers.
Heh. Even if I keep asking, I probably still won’t get the answer I want.
Because of Sylvia’s two spoons of sugar, the tea was so sweet it was almost sickening.
Still, Bai Muxue drank it calmly and said with a slight frown:
“Fine then... Miss Sylvia, can you at least tell me why you brought me here this time?”
...You’re not going to keep speaking in riddles again, right?
Bai Muxue silently added that in her heart.
“Ah, it’s nothing important.”
Sylvia placed her hands behind her back and walked lightly to Bai Muxue.
“I only wanted to remind you of something, so I created this scene. The scene from your dreams, my lady...”
“Uh, let me correct you. I do not want that kind of scene.”
Bai Muxue’s mouth twitched slightly as she silently stepped back.
Sylvia choked for a moment. The smile on her face clearly faded a little.
Then she lowered her head and muttered softly,
“That can’t be my fault... clearly it’s my lady’s own problem... ahem!”
Coming back to herself, she coughed twice, raised her head as if nothing happened, and returned to her usual smile.
“Right now, my lady has already successfully built feelings with magical girls... and even with some future magical girls. This is a very good beginning. But...”
Sylvia suddenly became serious and reached out both hands, gently holding Bai Muxue’s small hands.
“But if too much kindness is given to someone who should not receive it, she will wrap around you like chains. She will tightly hold onto you and never allow anyone else to step in.”
What does that mean?
What is she talking about?
The howling wind rushed past Bai Muxue’s ears. She wanted to ask more, but Sylvia clearly had no intention of saying anything else.
She only solemnly lifted Bai Muxue’s hand and placed a kiss on the back of it.
“By the way, my lady, your cooking really is very good.”
Sylvia’s smiling words became the last thing Bai Muxue heard before losing consciousness.
Along with the soft touch on the back of her hand, Bai Muxue’s vision blurred, and the world before her shattered once again.
Then she fell into darkness.