Off Work, Then I Become a Magical Girl
Chapter 57: After Lunch

Lin Yun never would have thought that the wedding anniversary he had originally planned to spend alone, reminiscing with a touch of sorrow, would end up turning into a lively family outing with two kids in tow.

Instead of standing alone at the counter, listening to the store clerk’s endless explanations, he found himself chatting and laughing alongside two other people.

Though Lin Yun wasn’t great at socializing, he was precise in communicating his needs. Lin Xiaolu disliked talking to people, but her adorable looks and easily flustered personality made her irresistible to tease. Meanwhile, Xia Liang was the most talkative of the three, always managing to charm the store clerks into cheerful conversations, helping them all warm up to each other quickly.

Shopping became a relaxed and enjoyable experience.

At one point, someone even misunderstood their relationship, assuming they were a family. A passerby complimented Lin Yun, saying, “Both your daughters are so cute.” Lin Yun had to offer a quick correction, while Xia Liang looked quite pleased, and Lin Xiaolu—though she didn’t seem exactly angry—wore a small frown, her true emotions unclear.

They wandered through several stores before finally finding the perfect gift in a jewelry shop called Shikuiqi.

It was a crystal necklace with a silver chain and a pendant made of rose quartz. The gem was cut into a shape resembling a cherry blossom, framed by a delicate gold trim, giving it a fresh and elegant charm.

Lin Xiaolu liked it but couldn’t explain why. Xia Liang thought the design was a bit old-fashioned but, sensing the mood, kept quiet. In the end, Lin Yun made the final decision and bought it—not for any particular reason, just because of that cherry blossom on the pendant.

The moment he saw it, it was as if a voice in his heart told him: This is the one.

With the gift settled, the three of them continued browsing the other floors. Lin Yun suggested buying clothes for Lin Xiaolu, but she refused. Eventually, they went along with Xia Liang’s idea and headed to the movie theater instead.

They watched a popcorn flick, and by the time they stepped out, it was nearly 1 PM. Afterward, they picked a trendy tea restaurant for lunch.

Lin Yun played the role of an ordinary parent, while Xia Liang acted as Lin Xiaolu’s studious classmate. Both of them were aware that the other was hiding something, yet they stuck to their roles, engaging in a half-truthful conversation. Meanwhile, Lin Xiaolu sat beside them, dozing off from boredom.

Halfway through lunch, around 2 PM, just as they were at their most relaxed, a sudden boom echoed in the distance.

“Thud!”

It was the sound of something massive crashing down—like a collapsing building—drowning out the bustling noise of the shopping mall.

For a moment, silence fell. Then came confusion. And right after that, panic.

People in the restaurant grew restless. Some pulled out their phones to contact the outside world, while others immediately left their seats to check out the source of the noise.

But at one particular table, where a man and two girls sat, there was an unusual sense of calm.

“Xiaolu, Xia Liang, we need to move—fast!”

From a perspective unnoticed by ordinary people, Moko spoke in a serious tone, “I can sense it—there’s a Ravager nearby!”

Moko thought it had been subtle, but the other three at the table had heard it loud and clear.

Not that it mattered—because even without Moko’s warning, they had already guessed the cause of the explosion.

It must be a Ravager.

The problem was, none of them knew how to say it out loud.

Lin Xiaolu and Xia Liang still believed Lin Yun was just an ordinary person—at best, someone with some knowledge of the magic side of things, maybe even aware that his daughter was a Magical Girl. But the unspoken barrier between them remained intact. Suddenly bringing magic-related matters to the surface felt… unnatural.

Lin Yun, on the other hand, had a simpler reason for his silence.

He was thinking.

As Lin Yun, exactly how much should he know about Magical Girls?

There was no time to waste. The timing might be suspicious, but the Ravager was already here. Fangting City only had three Magical Girls, and all of them were currently sitting at this very table. That was not okay.

Not only did the two rookies need to head out, but he also had to find a way to slip away, transform into Veronica, and provide backup—just in case the Ravager turned out to be too strong.

So… should he be the one to bring it up?

Looking at the two girls, both hesitant yet on the verge of speaking, he made his decision.

Ever since this morning, when he realized Lin Xiaolu had been following him, he knew that at least some secrets could no longer be hidden.

They already knew he was acquainted with Hong Siyu, which meant it would be hard to deny knowing about Magical Girls.

But… should he outright admit that he already knew they were Magical Girls?

He thought about it for a moment. There was a better way.

First, he needed an excuse—something to explain how he knew this was a Ravager attack.

Without a word, he pulled out his phone and casually tapped through the screen. A few moments later, just as expected, a notification from the Countermeasure Bureau popped up.

Since the attack had taken place in a crowded shopping center, there were plenty of witnesses, and the Bureau’s response was quick. Mere seconds after the explosion, a city-wide alert had been sent to all citizens, warning them to stay away from the area or evacuate immediately if they were already inside.

As more people in the restaurant received the same notification, panic spread further. Many stood up in fear, scrambling toward the exits.

“A Ravager? That’s dangerous!”

Lin Yun furrowed his brows and held out his phone, showing the girls the alert while putting on a worried expression.

“It looks like we can’t stay here. We need to leave—now.”

To make his act more convincing, he didn’t give them time to respond. He grabbed his jacket from his chair, stood up, and waved them along.

“Ask the staff if there’s another way out! The main entrance is already packed!”

His acting was a bit over the top. If not for the chaotic situation, it would’ve been easy to see through.

But his plan was simple—rush into the crowd with them, then pretend to get separated. That way, the girls would have room to act while he could find a place to transform.

To make it believable, he’d call Lin Xiaolu’s phone twice to show concern. After the fight, he’d contact them again, pretending they had just gotten lost and arranging a meeting spot.

That way, they wouldn’t have to expose their identities, and everything would have a reasonable explanation afterward.

Perfect.

Except, the two girls didn’t know his plan.

Though the details were different, their thoughts were the same—

As Magical Girls, when faced with a Ravager attack and innocent civilians in danger, running away wasn’t an option.

So even after hearing his words, they remained seated, wearing complicated expressions.