Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl
Book 2: Chapter 127: Candy and Mirror

Vol 2 Chapter 127: Candy and Mirror

Xia Liang’s chocolate was finally devoured amid a chorus of praise.

Even though biting into chocolate shaped like their Heartstone Seed felt a bit weird, once they took the first bite, both Bai Jingxuan and Lin Xiaolu quickly let go of that hesitation and gobbled it up without a second thought.

Veronica, on the other hand, nibbled slowly and thoughtfully, as if soaking in the cheerful atmosphere around the table. Her calm expression gave away nothing of her thoughts.

And so, with the other three already having handed out their chocolates, it was finally Lin Xiaolu’s turn to take the stage.

She fidgeted a bit before dragging out three large paper boxes from under the table. Placing them on top, she reached into the ribbons tied around the boxes and shuffled through them, her expression growing troubled.

“Ah... I forgot to label them.”

She flipped through the boxes for a while, probably trying to tell what was inside from the packaging designs, mumbling things like, “Which one was for who again?” But she soon gave up and declared, “I forgot which chocolate is for whom, so I’m opening them again before giving them out!”

So, under everyone’s silent gaze, Lin Xiaolu began to unwrap her own chocolate gifts.

Thankfully, even though her boxes were much larger than Xia Liang’s, the wrapping was simple—just a few ribbons wound around the outside. So unwrapping them wasn’t a hassle. With a couple of quick moves, Lin Xiaolu opened the first box and revealed her chocolate creation:

—A tray of chocolates shaped like wrapped candy bows.

In terms of craftsmanship, Lin Xiaolu’s creations were clearly a step below Xia Liang’s. Not only were they rough around the edges, even the relatively simple shapes had bumps and dents. But no one at the table seemed to care about that—they were all just waiting for Lin Xiaolu to say something.

“Ahem.”

Clearing her throat under their gazes, Lin Xiaolu pushed the tray toward Bai Jingxuan. “This one’s yours.”

“This is for me? It's candy?”

Bai Jingxuan picked one up curiously to examine it, then looked at Lin Xiaolu with a puzzled expression. “But why?”

“Why? Even if you ask me that kind of question...”

Lin Xiaolu pursed her lips, clearly wanting to say something, but she was so awkward under everyone’s eyes that she blurted out stiffly, “No reason! I just got inspired to make it like this!”

“I see...” Bai Jingxuan’s face immediately showed visible disappointment.

“Hey, hey.”

Sitting beside Lin Xiaolu, Xia Liang reached out and poked her in the arm. “Don’t clam up at a time like this. If you don’t take this chance to speak your mind, when are you planning to do it?”

“What do you mean, clam up?”

Lin Xiaolu shot Xia Liang a displeased glance. “Didn’t you say that the shape of the chocolate should be a secret between the giver and the receiver? That only the two involved should understand it? Wouldn’t explaining it ruin that?”

“But look at Xiaoxuan. She clearly didn’t get it.”

Xia Liang poked Lin Xiaolu again. “Don’t be so cryptic—just explain it already.”

“Ugh. Tsk.”

Lin Xiaolu glanced at Bai Jingxuan, who was also looking at her with hopeful eyes, and couldn’t help but suck in a breath through her teeth.

She paused, folded her arms, swayed her head as if organizing her words, and after a long moment, finally began to speak:

“So, um...”

“Mm.” Bai Jingxuan nodded while holding the candy-shaped chocolate, showing she was listening.

“It’s just... I always eat the candy you give me, right?”

Letting out a breath like she had given up on something, Lin Xiaolu looked at Bai Jingxuan. “I did a rough count—from the very first one you gave me to the one I ate a few days ago—I’ve gotten quite a lot from you.”

“Mhm.” Bai Jingxuan hummed in agreement.

“So I thought, we both really like that candy, so maybe this shape best represents our relationship.”

Lin Xiaolu’s voice got smaller and smaller. “And as for why it’s shaped like a bow... I thought you never really wear accessories, and this shape might suit you—maybe even work as a hair clip or something...”

“Hmm... like this?” Bai Jingxuan held the candy up to her brow like a hairpin, then brushed aside her bangs to mimic how it would hold her hair.

“Something like that?” Lin Xiaolu blurted out everything on her mind like spilling beans, clearly embarrassed to her limit, but still glanced toward Bai Jingxuan. “This shape... should be pretty cute, right?”

“It is. I think it’s really cute,” Xia Liang nodded.

“Cute.”

Veronica also gave her thoughts. “Maybe you should really get a hairpin like that.”

The compliments instantly lifted Bai Jingxuan’s mood. She ran over to Lin Xiaolu and gave her a hug. “Thanks, Sister Xiaolu!”

And with that, everyone at the table had been hugged by Bai Jingxuan at least once.

“Don’t touch my clothes with those chocolate-covered hands.”

Lin Xiaolu grumbled, looking reluctant as she returned the hug, but her poker face cracked within three seconds. “Geez... you really are such a clingy little thing.”

The two hugged for a bit, then it was time for Lin Xiaolu to open the next chocolate box.

She stood up, untied the ribbon on the second box, and brought out an oddly-shaped oval chocolate.

“What’s that?” Bai Jingxuan hadn’t returned to her seat yet and peered at it from Lin Xiaolu’s side. “A fried egg?”

“I think it’s a bush?” Xia Liang offered her guess. “Looks like the kind in the greenery strips by the roadside.”

“Probably a small animal, or a fairy’s face?” Veronica added while nibbling on her chocolate. “Look, those two raised parts look like ears.”

After everyone gave their guesses, they turned to Lin Xiaolu, waiting for the correct answer.

“It’s a mirror.” Lin Xiaolu turned her head away with a gloomy expression.

“...Ah, of course, it’s a mirror!”

Xia Liang immediately exaggerated her tone. “I saw it wrong just now—it really does look like a mirror!”

“Yup yup, totally looks like it!” Bai Jingxuan echoed.

“I’m sitting a bit far away, didn’t get a good look,” Veronica also quickly retracted her earlier comment. “Ignore what I said.”

“It’s fine. I know it doesn’t look like it.”

Lin Xiaolu sighed in defeat and placed the bumpy oval down in front of Xia Liang. She flipped it over, revealing the sunken shape inside.

“I was originally going to make a mirror surface, then pour a frame around it. But I used too much chocolate for the frame, and it ended up like this... Anyway, this one’s for you.”

“Oh, it’s for me...”

Xia Liang’s smile froze for a moment, but soon returned naturally. “Shaped like a mirror—does that mean it represents my Magical Armor? That’s a neat idea.”

“That’s part of it.”

Lin Xiaolu hesitated. “There’s more.”

“There is?” Xia Liang perked up. “What do you mean?”

“I mean...”

Lin Xiaolu glanced around and saw that everyone was still staring at her, clearly curious about what she had to say. She took a deep breath to steady herself and went on: “To me, you’re like a mirror, too.”

“Oh!” Bai Jingxuan gasped.

“Eh?” Xia Liang covered her mouth in surprise.

Even Veronica blinked in astonishment.

“Because, we became Magical Girls around the same time... though technically, you were two months later than me.”

Lin Xiaolu didn’t look at Xia Liang, instead staring at the chocolate on the table. “But your talent was clearly stronger than mine. After becoming a Magical Girl, your bloom and progress were both way faster than mine. So, at first, I was really envious—maybe even a little jealous.”

“But we studied together, did soul meditation together, trained in combat together... I saw everything—how you improved, how you got ahead of me. Watching you, I realized exactly what I was lacking.”

“You know how in literature class they talked about ‘using others as a mirror’? Whether it’s studying, being a Magical Girl, or just getting along with others—if I hadn’t met you, I probably would’ve never figured out my shortcomings, let alone become who I am today.”

Saying that, Lin Xiaolu finally looked up and met Xia Liang’s eyes. “So, thank you. I hope we can keep walking this path together.”

Everyone fell silent after Lin Xiaolu’s long speech.

Then Veronica and Bai Jingxuan began to clap, while Xia Liang lowered her hand and slowly stood up.

She walked over to Lin Xiaolu, arms open and head tilted slightly. “Come on.”

“What?” Lin Xiaolu looked at her, confused.

“A hug. Like you did with Xiaoxuan.” Xia Liang’s face was calm, even smiling, but her voice had a hint of a nasal tone. “I’m touched, so come on—limited-time hug session.”

“...No.” Lin Xiaolu took a step back. “That’s way too cheesy.”

“Don’t be difficult. You just said all that heartfelt stuff.”

Xia Liang didn’t stop and took a step forward with a grin. “I know you want one too—bestie hug!”

“Who’s your bestie! I already said I was jealous of you—are you dense?”

Lin Xiaolu backed away several steps. “Stop getting ahead of yourself! You’re not a grade-schooler—stop acting so cutesy!”

“You... after saying such touching things, now you’re running away again.”

Xia Liang sighed. “Fine, I’ll just do it myself.”

“What do you mean—hey, don’t come near me! I’m warning you!”

“Come on, hug time!”

“No!” Lin Xiaolu began running around the room.

“Don’t be shy! Come here!” Xia Liang chased after her.

And just like that, the two of them started playing a game of cat and mouse around the room.

“They really are close.”

Veronica popped the last piece of chocolate into her mouth, watching the two from a distance, feeling both comforted and a little wistful.

Exchanging chocolates during this kind of holiday wasn’t a new thing. Back when she had just become a Magical Girl, her team in Fangting City used to do the same.

Back then, since they were all still students, Aya and Su Shengzi would brazenly hand her chocolates in the classroom. In high school, that kind of thing always got a loud reaction—classmates would heckle and shout weird stuff like “Get married already!” Later, jealous guys would tease her relentlessly about it. Rumors like “That Lin Yun from Class 2 is a playboy heartbreaker” ran wild, much to young Lin Yun’s frustration.

Though, well, in the end... she did marry Aya.