Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl
Book 2: Chapter 11: Lin Xiaolu's Determination

Vol 2 Chapter 11 Lin Xiaolu's Determination

"So this is your explanation? All those days whispering among yourselves—turns out you were discussing this kind of nonsense?"

The following evening, in the living room of the Secret Base.

Under the bright lights, Veronica crossed her arms and snapped, "You just jumped to a conclusion and ran off to blab to Bosetsu? Why not go the whole way and tell her I'm your mom, huh?"

"Huh? Is that actually possible?" Lin Xiaolu gasped in shock.

"Hmm?" Veronica glared.

"Ugh..."

Warned again, Lin Xiaolu slumped dejectedly onto the couch. "Alright, alright, I was wrong."

Just a moment ago, she'd been thoroughly scolded by Veronica.

Veronica had started by seriously questioning how Lin Xiaolu could’ve come to such an absurd conclusion. After listening to her explanation, she ruthlessly tore apart several logical flaws in her reasoning, leaving Lin Xiaolu totally speechless and full of shame.

Honestly, what Veronica said did make sense. Could it be… she really got it wrong? That’d be way too embarrassing.

Lin Xiaolu sulked.

While she was getting chewed out, the other two girls sat nearby. Bai Jingxuan had her eyes downcast, looking like she wanted to disappear; Xia Liang, on the other hand, was covering her mouth, her shoulders shaking as if she were about to burst into laughter.

"You, over there—don’t you dare gloat."

Veronica shot a sideways glance at Xia Liang, tilting her chin slightly. "You’re not like these two kids, so why are you joining in on their foolishness?"

"I’m older than her," Lin Xiaolu muttered under her breath.

"I wasn’t talking to you." Veronica gave her forehead a firm rub.

Lin Xiaolu shut her mouth with a pout.

"Foolishness? I don't think so."

Xia Liang beamed innocently. "I thought Xiaolu’s theory made a lot of sense. She totally convinced me."

"You were convinced?" Veronica’s normally icy tone flickered with disbelief.

"What? Could it be… you’re just shy, Junior?"

Xia Liang met Veronica’s eyes with faux naivety. "I don’t think you need to be. We all support you and the Director pursuing your happiness—ow!"

Before she could finish, Veronica flicked her forehead hard, cutting her off mid-sentence.

"You and White Rose are in cahoots now. Go sit over there."

Veronica withdrew her hand and pointed to the empty seat next to Lin Xiaolu. "Tonight, I’m going to set you all straight."

"Aww… I’m too dazed to move. I need hugs and comfort to stand again," Xia Liang moaned dramatically, still cradling her head.

"You want another one?" Veronica crossed her arms.

"Okay..."

Xia Liang obediently shuffled over and plopped down next to Lin Xiaolu.

Having dealt with Xia Liang, Veronica’s gaze finally shifted to Bai Jingxuan, who sat curled up like a helpless little animal.

Sensing Veronica’s gaze, Bai Jingxuan tucked her head even lower.

Only she knew that her mistake wasn’t just spreading a silly rumor—it was storming into the Countermeasure Bureau and causing trouble for the Director and everyone else.

Now that Veronica clearly knew what she had said to the Director, she definitely also knew how outrageously she’d acted at the Bureau.

Thinking about that, Bai Jingxuan didn’t dare lift her head to meet her gaze.

Seeing the girl's reaction, Veronica felt her frustration turn into a headache. Then a sigh—silent and heavy.

She truly didn’t know what to do with Bai Jingxuan. Because of the girl’s delicate state of mind, Veronica didn’t even want to scold her, afraid she'd hit a nerve by accident.

Veronica’s long silence didn’t go unnoticed—Lin Xiaolu and Xia Liang exchanged looks, sensing the unusual tension.

"Don’t follow in your seniors’ footsteps and go astray."

After a long pause, Veronica finally muttered, "Think about what you did."

"—What? That’s it? Totally biased!"

"Unfair! Discrimination!"

The two girls exploded in protest. Veronica’s words weren’t even close to scolding—if anything, they sounded like comfort. That tone made their protests louder.

Veronica, unbothered, gave them a look. "Do either of you think you're eleven?"

"Urgh..." Lin Xiaolu immediately went silent. She hated being treated like a little kid.

"If Junior acknowledges it, I’m fine with being eleven," Xia Liang said cheerfully, puffing out her chest with pride.

With the most prominent curves of the group, her pose instantly drew Lin Xiaolu’s attention. Eyes wide, she blurted out without thinking:

"Why do you get to be eleven?!"

"Why shouldn’t I?" Xia Liang shot back, eyes narrowing.

"You're all mature and pretending to be cute! Forget eleven, even fifteen would be a stretch!" Lin Xiaolu fired back.

"Oh? Someone’s jealous~"

Xia Liang smirked knowingly. "Well, I don’t look like someone who’s about to be outgrown by a real eleven-year-old."

"Hey! What do you mean by real eleven-year-old? Xiaoxuan is obviously tall for her age!"

"And you’re short for a normal fourteen-year-old." Xia Liang looked utterly satisfied.

"Height isn’t… there’s no standard for height!" Lin Xiaolu pointed toward Veronica. "She’s shorter than me! And she’s a full-grown adult!"

"Junior... huh, that’s true." Xia Liang looked conflicted.

"Alright, enough from both of you."

Veronica stepped in, voice calm but firm. "You’re forgetting your place. Even if I’m just your senior now, I still expect some basic respect when someone’s involved."

"Yesss—"

Xia Liang dragged out the word but barely held her tongue for two seconds before adding,

"One last question. After that, you can punish me however you want."

"I’m not some executioner. Don’t make it sound so dramatic." Veronica frowned. "Go ahead."

"I just want to know—how exactly did this rumor get to you, Junior?"

Xia Liang rested her chin in her hands, her eyes curious. "Xiaolu only talked about it with me, Xiaoxuan, and Moko. I know Xiaolu and I didn’t spill. Xiaoxuan’s such a good girl, she probably wouldn’t either. So… was Moko the traitor?"

"Yeah! How did you find out?!"

Lin Xiaolu suddenly realized the issue and flared up. "That Moko! Betraying us just to kiss up to Veronica?! I’m gonna drag it upstairs and interrogate it right now!"

She stood up, ready to storm upstairs.

"Stop right there."

Veronica reached out and caught her. "Don’t go bothering Nini. It wasn’t Moko."

"It wasn’t Moko?" Lin Xiaolu froze, confusion overtaking her anger. She blinked.

Her gaze moved from Xia Liang, who shook her head, to Bai Jingxuan—but before the latter could react, she turned back to herself.

Then, her mouth opened in shock, tiger teeth peeking through. "Wait… don’t tell me—"

"Yes. It was me."

Bai Jingxuan raised her hand, cutting her off.

She lifted her right arm to make herself seen, and spoke softly but clearly, "I told my dad by accident."

At that, all eyes turned to her.

"D-Dad?"

Lin Xiaolu echoed the word, confused. She knew Bai Jingxuan had grown up in an orphanage, so hearing her call someone “Dad” didn’t quite make sense.

But as she put the pieces together, a lightbulb went off.

Her jaw dropped wider. "You mean your dad is…? Wait—you two already reached that stage?!"

Realizing how that sounded, she quickly covered her mouth—but her eyes still brimmed with shock. She looked at Veronica, mixed emotions flashing across her face.

So does this mean…

Veronica didn’t deny it.

Not because she didn’t want to—but because she was too stunned by Bai Jingxuan’s words to respond.

Calling him “Dad”... in front of Lin Xiaolu, of all people… The impact was far worse than back at the Bureau.

"…Explain. Why did you call him your dad?"

Veronica turned stiffly toward Bai Jingxuan. Her tone was meant to sound normal—but it wavered.

"B-Because! He didn’t say no when I called him that!"

Now speaking louder, Bai Jingxuan raised her voice so everyone could hear.

"He accepted it! He even asked me gently who told me to say it! So I told him!"

The content, the clarity, the volume—Veronica heard every word this time.

She stood frozen like a statue. Her face remained blank, but her body and eyes were clearly locked up.

After a long moment, she slowly turned her head toward Lin Xiaolu—and met her blazing stare.

"It’s not what you think." Veronica spoke woodenly.

"I get it! I totally understand!"

Lin Xiaolu looked strangely emotional. "You don’t need to worry about what I think—I support you!"

"Even though I don’t want a stepmom… if this is how you feel, then maybe—maybe I could accept it!"

"My mom came to me in a dream a few days ago! She handed me over to you—I think that means she supports you becoming my mom!"

——What the h*ll is this girl even talking about?

Veronica’s eye twitched. But she knew losing her temper wouldn’t help.

She tried to keep her voice steady. "No. Seriously—it’s not like that. I’m not even thinking about marriage—"

"It’s because you backed out back then, right? When you and my mom both liked Dad?"

Lin Xiaolu suddenly wiped her eyes, choking up.

"I understand now. You and Mom were teammates, both childhood friends with Dad, but in the end… you gave up."

"You gave up your own feelings and went to the Magic Kingdom. Then, after Mom died, you returned to the city to protect it."

"That’s why you’ve stayed single all this time… even though you’re already at this age… I really admire you for that."

"I might have some feelings I shouldn't, but I think… I should support you."

Then she grabbed Veronica’s hand, her tone full of emotion.

"So don’t worry about me anymore! Go chase your own happiness!"

As Lin Xiaolu held her hand, Veronica’s mind completely blanked.

What is this girl even saying? What is she trying to imply? Wait a sec… isn’t this starting to sound kinda familiar?

Her thoughts were a jumbled mess—but one thing was clear: now was not the time to back down. She had to remain calm and logically dismantle this growing misunderstanding.

What could she say to break this bizarre train of logic and convince Lin Xiaolu that nothing romantic was going on between her and Lin Yun?

Her brain fired into overdrive, calculating explanations—

——"Xiaolu, you’re missing the point. Junior isn’t struggling to confess her feelings—"

But before Veronica could respond, Xia Liang stepped in, smiling sweetly like a saintly Cupid.

"What she’s really afraid of is accepting the role of ‘Mom.’ She’s just not ready to take you in as her daughter."

"Take me in… as her daughter?"

Lin Xiaolu repeated slowly, like she was discovering a whole new world.

"And that’s a problem!" Xia Liang declared brightly.

"So you have to show her that being your mom wouldn’t be a burden. That it might actually be… wonderful."

Lin Xiaolu froze.

She understood what Xia Liang was hinting at.

She looked at the dazed Veronica again, and somehow… her throat went dry.

Her lips opened, closed, then opened again. Her little tiger teeth clicked as she spoke.

"M-Mom."

She just… said it. A word even she couldn’t believe came out of her mouth.

"Mommy!"

Bai Jingxuan suddenly ran over too, shouting at Veronica.

"Mommy!"

"Mommy!"

The two girls—one big, one small—gathered at Veronica’s sides, shouting the same word again and again like toddlers learning to speak.

Caught between them, Veronica said nothing. She didn’t look at Lin Xiaolu, didn’t look at Xia Liang, and didn’t look at Bai Jingxuan either.

Her gaze drifted to the far-off void—like she was staring into the vast stars above… or the endless abyss below.

All that remained… was emptiness.