Transform into a magical girl after getting off work

Chapter 61: Chapter 56 A Farce

She screamed and turned around, Lin Xiaolu first took a "thud thud" series of steps back, bumped into the railing behind her, and then, accidentally slipping, her head slammed straight into the glass pane by the railing.

"Ah!"

Her head throbbing with pain, she couldn't help crying out in pain, followed by falling down to the ground.

Luckily, Lin Yun was quick to react, bending over and reaching out to grab Lin Xiaolu's arm just before she actually fell, pulling her upright on the spot.

"Are you okay?"

Seeing Lin Xiaolu with a grimace of pain, he subconsciously reached out and rubbed the back of her head, and seeing apparently no wound, he breathed a sigh of relief, "Lulu, you should be more careful when you walk."

—"It's all because you scared me!"

Lin Xiaolu straightened up and removed his hand from the back of her head, saying somewhat indignantly, "Don't suddenly talk behind someone's back like that!"

"I saw you two here acting all sneaky, of course I had to come over and ask."

Lin Yun raised his eyebrows and said, "You've been crouched here on the third floor for so long, you really think I didn't notice?"

In fact, he indeed had not noticed; it's hard for anyone to imagine someone would be watching them from a high floor of a shopping mall. But now that he had found them, he needed some other reason to justify it.

This kind of reason would be somewhat far-fetched on any ordinary day, but fortunately, the two girls had been tracking him first and felt guilty about it, so they didn't question the excuse he gave.

"I'm sorry, Uncle, I was wrong."

Xia Liang reacted the quickest, immediately playing the good kid, with an innocent face saying, "I didn't mean to, I was just curious."

"Who's acting sneaky? I was standing here fair and square!"

Lin Xiaolu's attitude was not so friendly, and having just hit her head, she complained while holding the back of her head, "Can't I just see what you're up to?"

"Then why are you two here?" Lin Yun stared into her eyes.

Lin Xiaolu could only remain silent and look away.

She didn't answer, but as always was bad at hiding her emotions, her guilty expression was all too apparent, so Lin Yun had his answer and asked again, "You followed me here?"

"I was just a bit curious as well," Lin Xiaolu muttered.

"You're curious too?"

Lin Yun suddenly felt it a bit funny, "You two made such a fuss, standing here for so long, all because of this?"

"What's wrong with that? Aren't you the same, why would you go out alone on a day off dressed up like this,"

Having been exposed, Lin Xiaolu decided to go all out, admitting somewhat defeatist, "You're all dressed up so formally, I thought maybe this trip was because you were planning, were intending..."

Only then did Lin Yun understand why she was here.

He glanced at Xia Liang, who looked a little embarrassed, smiling apologetically, lowering her head with some guilt, clearly aware that tracking someone was not a good thing.

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Indeed, why was he making a fuss over children.

He chuckled to himself, decided to let go of the slight amount of dissatisfaction he had left, and looked back at Lin Xiaolu to confirm:

"You thought I was planning on finding you a stepmother?"

"What else?" Lin Xiaolu looked up at him, a trace of confusion in her expression.

"How could that be? Even if I were looking, I would definitely ask for your opinion first."

Lin Yun shook his head, then sighed somewhat, "You know, you probably don't remember clearly, today is actually your mom's and my wedding anniversary."

Lin Xiaolu couldn't help but widen her eyes.

"Wedding anniversary?"

She repeated the phrase to herself, suddenly feeling a bit tongue-tied, "Eh? But, but I'm sure that last year and the year before there was nothing..."

"This year is the fifteenth anniversary; your mom and I last celebrated this day on our tenth anniversary, when you were only nine years old."

Lin Yun continued, "Besides, you know that in a week we have to visit your mom, and I need to prepare some gifts for her."

"Ha..." Lin Xiaolu exhaled a dazed breath.

Releasing the hand from the back of her head, she gazed at Lin Yun, then looked down, repeating to herself again, "So that's why... I thought it was because..."

At the moment, she didn't even know why she felt relieved.

Her father was not out on a date with another woman, but simply commemorating her mother.

Although it still did not mean he had no connection with the woman named Hong Siyu, nor did it mean he didn't know Emerald Sparrow, but at least this proved that the wild thoughts in her head when she came...

Lin Xiaolu felt her cheeks burning.

Xia Liang started giggling to the side, gently nudging her arm, "I told you it might not be what you think, but you wouldn't believe me."

Lin Xiaolu glanced at her, knowing in her heart she had made a fool of herself, but her nature was not to keep quiet and accept loss, instinctively wanting to retort.

But before she could say anything, she suddenly saw Lin Yun's somewhat sentimental expression, and it felt as though a basin of cold water had been splashed over her heart. The words that had reached her lips were swallowed back down.

"...I know, I was wrong."

She honestly admitted her mistake, muttering in a low voice, "If that's so, then I'll go home in a bit."

"After everything that's happened, why talk about going home now?"

Lin Yun let out a sigh, trying to muster a smile on his face, "Since you followed me here, come help me pick something out. Think of it as us choosing a gift for your mom together."

"I..." Lin Xiaolu hesitated, looking at him. After realizing she had made a mistake, she didn't know what to say.

"Let's go." Lin Yun patted the railing, pointing down at the courtyard, "Or are you not planning to go to the grave sweeping next week?"

"How could I not?"

As soon as they touched on this topic, Lin Xiaolu's spirits were roused again, and she murmured softly, "Even if you don't go, I will."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

Lin Yun took a couple of steps towards the elevator, then turned back to look at her, "Or do you want to keep standing up here, acting like a marshal on the command platform?"

"...Do you think I want to?"

"Then hurry up," Lin Yun urged.

"Fine, I got it."

"Is there anything in particular you want for lunch?"

"...Ice cream."

On the other side, having witnessed the whole scene, Xia Liang felt a sense of relief at the gradually harmonizing atmosphere between father and daughter.

Perhaps there was a small amount of envy, even jealousy, in her heart, but those feelings were secondary. What mattered more was that Lin Xiaolu was her friend, and she could genuinely share in the joy of her friend getting along well with her parents.

"So, Uncle, Xiaolu."

She waved at the two, with a bright smile on her face, "In that case, I'll head back on my own, okay?"

"You..." Lin Xiaolu frowned, wanting to say something.

But she had barely uttered a word when Xia Liang interrupted her, "Xiaolu, you go ahead and seriously consider the gift. Your mom will definitely be happy."

She didn't give Lin Xiaolu the chance to finish what she was about to say, even though they both knew that these words might have been meant as a plea to stay.

In her view, it was a rare opportunity for this father and daughter to communicate well, and there was no need for her to stand around like a third wheel, making everyone feel uncomfortable.

So, having said her piece, she turned around and quickened her pace, heading towards the crowd as if to escape. But before she could blend in with the crowd, she was stopped in her tracks by a voice from behind her.

——"Hey there, classmate."

The man behind her had said, "If you're not busy, why don't you come along with Xiaolu?"

"...No need, thank you, Uncle. I can get back by myself quite easily." And so she turned, declining with a smile.

"No need to be formal, you're Xiaolu's classmate, Xia Liang, right?"

Lin Yun tried to keep his tone and expression as gentle as possible, "Thank you for putting up with her antics, so I also owe you thanks."

He really didn't know what Xia Liang was thinking at that moment, but it didn't prevent him from remembering the words "Don't play favorites" that a vulnerable Xia Liang had said to Emerald Sparrow on that night.

Although he wasn't Emerald Sparrow now, and she wouldn't realize this, it wasn't an excuse for him to leave this girl by the wayside.

"Come with us, I'll treat you to lunch, and then drive you home."

He looked at Xia Liang, speaking with a certain earnestness.

Xia Liang looked at him, her mouth opening slightly, but she didn't know how to refuse further.

"Stop dawdling," Lin Xiaolu took the opportunity to finish her sentence, crossing her arms and looking away, "Isn't it what you said before? You hoped I'd treat you like family. Now you're playing coy?"

Xia Liang looked between Lin Yun and Lin Xiaolu, noticing a kind of concern in their gaze looking back at her.

Reason told her that she was just an outsider here, and seeing the close family relationship of others was only a question to her own heart.

Yet, emotionally, she yearned for that kind of relationship which she longed for but couldn't have.

"Should I get closer to them?" she asked herself, trying to hold herself back,

But at such times, the concern and invitation of the father and daughter in front of her cracked open a small gap in the barriers she had set for herself, bringing a warm feeling to her heart again.

Well, it's okay to be willful sometimes.

Recalling someone's teaching, she nodded her head, showing a smile that was somewhat reluctant, yet also genuine,

"Then, I won't stand on ceremony."