Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl
Chapter 3: Face to Face Interview

Lin Yun drove Hong Siyu’s car to drop her off at her apartment before taking the train home. By the time he stepped into the entryway, the clock’s hands were already pointing to ten.

Instinctively, he glanced at the shoe cabinet near the door and saw his daughter’s shoes carelessly left on the floor. He bent down to straighten them before heading to the living room.

If what Hong Siyu said was correct, there should be a TV interview tonight featuring the newly appointed Magical Girl.

Turning on the TV, he checked the city channel, only to see a low-budget nighttime drama playing. Realizing that the news segment had likely already aired, Lin Yun picked up his communicator and searched online for the city channel’s broadcast schedule.

It didn’t take long for him to find a replay of the evening news on the official website.

One of the segments covered the Ravager attack in the downtown area earlier that morning.

The news detailed the destruction and casualties caused by the Ravager before shifting focus to the Magical Girl who had taken it down. Although she was a rookie, she had already made an outstanding contribution to public safety.

Then, the screen transitioned to a live report, where the reporter announced that they had managed to find the new Magical Girl and would be conducting an on-site interview.

Soon, the mysterious Magical Girl made her first public appearance on the news.

What appeared on screen was a girl straight out of a fairytale.

Golden twin-tails, a light blue dress, a bright yellow corset tied into an oversized bow at the back, a round gemstone pinned to her chest, and a small top hat adorning her head.

“Hello, um… I’m the new Magical Girl. You can call me White Rose…”

Just from her outfit alone, she didn’t look anything like a combatant—if anything, she seemed like a little girl who had wandered out of a masquerade ball.

But this kind of attire was the norm for Magical Girls.

No matter how impractical their outfits appeared, their movements were never hindered in battle. That was just how things were.

Naturally, the first impression Magical Girls gave wasn’t one of overwhelming strength, but rather—cuteness.

Yet, as Lin Yun watched the footage of this Magical Girl, something felt off.

There was no concrete reason behind this sense of discord, but it was strong—so strong that he quickly realized what it truly was.

Familiarity.

He felt like he knew the Magical Girl on the screen.

Had he seen this girl before? The thought crossed his mind as he subconsciously compared her to his memories.

Deep down, he already had a vague suspicion. But he refused to entertain the possibility that came to mind—the one he least wanted to accept.

Yet, if he dismissed it, there was no other explanation for why she felt so familiar.

And so, when he finally hesitated and placed the most unwelcome answer before himself, Lin Yun froze.

Because he couldn’t accept it.

How could it be her? Why was it her? How could it possibly be her?

A flood of questions surged through his mind—confusion turning into frustration, frustration morphing into anger.

At nearly forty, it had been a long time since Lin Yun had felt this kind of burning rage. It boiled up inside him, ready to explode, consuming his thoughts until his mind went completely blank.

He couldn’t understand.

Why was the Magical Girl… Lin Xiaolu?

His daughter?

No longer in the mood to continue watching, Lin Yun put down his communicator, his thoughts in turmoil, unable to calm his emotions.

—He needed to talk to her.

That thought took root in his mind.

Even if he and Lin Xiaolu had been in a cold war for a long time, barely exchanging words on a daily basis, he still had a duty as her father. He needed to have a proper conversation with her.

If she had become a Magical Girl by choice, he had to make sure she understood the risks and let her reconsider.

With that resolve, Lin Yun abruptly stood up and strode toward his daughter’s room.

[Knock first.]

A note with those words was stuck on her door.

A familiar sight. When had she started putting that sign up?

In the two years since his wife’s passing, the rift between father and daughter had only deepened. He was never good at expressing himself, and things had deteriorated to this point as a result.

Two people who were supposed to be each other’s closest family barely spoke to one another throughout the day. And when they did, it was only to discuss the most basic daily matters—never anything from the heart.

Lin Yun hesitated for a moment, his fingers hovering over the door before he took a deep breath and knocked.

“Are you asleep, Lulu?”

Silence.

His heart sank slightly. He waited a little longer, steadied his emotions, and knocked again.

Still no response.

The soft knocking sound disappeared into the quiet like a stone sinking into deep water.

Lin Yun lowered his head, his expression darkening.

If it were any other night, he would have given up by now. He would have thought that their relationship was beyond repair and that keeping his distance was the only way to mend it over time.

But not this time.

Even if it meant worsening their relationship further, he had to say what needed to be said.

He wouldn’t stop.

Click.

Just as he was about to knock a third time, the door suddenly swung open.

A young girl in pajamas stood there, her face full of irritation as she shot him a glare.

“I’m awake. What do you want?”

Her guarded expression was like a cat with its fur bristled.

Seeing his daughter like this—so uncooperative despite his concern—only made Lin Yun more annoyed. He suddenly felt an urge to scold her for being so difficult.

But when he opened his mouth, the words caught in his throat.

What was he even supposed to say?

Ask her outright if she had become a Magical Girl? And then scold her for something that anyone would see as a noble act?

Or immediately lecture her about the dangers of being a Magical Girl and tell her to quit?

Even if he could back up his concerns with evidence, would bluntly confronting her like this only push her further away?

And after all this time, was the first real conversation they had in ages supposed to begin with him denying her choices? Would she even open up to him? Would a strict approach accomplish anything?

No matter how he looked at it, the answer was no.

Lin Yun found himself questioning—what did he truly want to say to her? Forget the conflicts, the past misunderstandings. What did he actually feel?

As he stood there, thoughts racing, everything else faded away, leaving him with only one simple truth.

“…I haven’t seen you in a few days, and I just wanted to check on you.”

That, beyond the anger, anxiety, worry, and guilt, was his only real feeling.

He might not be able to make her happy. He might not be able to fix everything between them. But at the very least, right now, he wanted to see her.

To make sure she was okay. That she wasn’t scared. That she was stable.

Hearing his words, Lin Xiaolu raised an eyebrow. Her expression softened slightly, a mix of emotions flashing across her face.

“Now? Just for that?”

“Yeah. I called for you earlier, but I figured you’d be mad.”

Lin Yun forced a small smile. “Now that I see you, I feel a little relieved.”

His daughter sniffed the air suspiciously before pursing her lips. After a brief pause, she muttered, “…Are you drunk?”

“Maybe? I did drink quite a bit tonight.”

Lin Yun sighed, speaking honestly. “But I’m really happy you opened the door.”

“…And now that you’ve seen me, what next?” she asked, still frowning.

“Nothing much. Just wanted to ask how you’ve been. Are you happy at school?”

Lin Yun waved a hand. “I won’t nag about your studies—you can handle that yourself.”

The conversation stalled.

His daughter seemed surprised by his question. She studied him for a moment before responding nonchalantly.

“…It’s fine. Nothing special.”

Lin Yun nodded. For now, that was enough.

But he wasn’t done.

Later that night, he opened a small, forgotten box.

Inside lay a Heartstone Flower—a jewel that only one kind of person possessed.

A Magical Girl.