Off Work, Then Transform into a Magical Girl

The misty steam filled the bathroom, swirling under the heat lamp. Lin Xiaolu scooped up a handful of water and splashed it on her face, leaning back in the bathtub as her expression gradually shifted from blank to relaxed.

After spacing out for a while, her unfocused pupils regained their clarity. She slowly submerged her face into the hot water, and the bubbles she exhaled rose to the surface with a "blub blub" sound, popping with a "plop plop."

It was still the afternoon, but the time was nearing evening. Lin Xiaolu was washing off the grime from the battle in her home bathroom.

After several rounds of lathering with body wash and rinsing, and combing and washing her hair multiple times, she finally sat back in the bathtub with a sense of relief, able to properly relax her nerves.

There was no doubt that today's battle with the Brutal Beast, despite being full of problems and surprises, had brought considerable gains.

Besides gaining combat and cooperation experience, she also learned a bit more about the rare Melting Cavity type of Brutal Beast. At least after such a battle, Lin Xiaolu felt she had indeed learned something.

Cui Que's teaching methods were successful.

Her respect for Cui Que grew a bit more, and Lin Xiaolu couldn't help but close her eyes, fantasizing about the day she would become the ideal Magical Girl under Cui Que's guidance.

Surely by then, she would be mature, stern, powerful, and beautiful...@@novelbin@@

The daydream in her head made Lin Xiaolu unconsciously smile, her mouth curling up and her eyebrows raising, clearly in a good mood.

——"Are you done soaking?"

"Ah!" The sudden voice by her ear startled Lin Xiaolu.

Turning her head, she saw Xia Liang standing by the bathtub, wrapped in a towel, smiling at her.

Her wet black hair still had some moisture, clearly just out of the shower next door.

"No, not yet."

Lifting her face from the water, Lin Xiaolu complained, "Letting you shower while I'm bathing is already a huge favor. Finish up and wait outside; this is my house, and I'm not giving up the bathtub."

"But I also got drenched in dirty water and want to soak quickly."

As Xia Liang spoke, she moved closer to the bathtub, "How about letting me squeeze in? I don't mind."

"I mind! It's too crowded! You're so gross!"

Blocking the edge of the bathtub with her hand, Lin Xiaolu firmly refused three times, "Do you even know the difference between host and guest? Don't push your luck!"

"Please?" Xia Liang clasped her hands together, pleading with a wink.

"Lowering your attitude won't work! Get out now!"

"I'm coming in."

"Don't come over, and don't enter without permission! I said don't—"

The noise in the bathroom grew louder, and although the exact words were unclear, Lin Xiaolu's loud voice could be heard even from the living room.

Cui Que sat on the sofa in the living room, her legs to the side, staring at the object in her hand.

It was a half-damaged green disc-shaped metal piece, corroded and pitted, unrecognizable.

She had found this object in the remains of the Brutal Beast as she was about to leave the battlefield, bringing it back because it seemed unusual.

Staring at the disc, she felt it resembled a... valve?

Why would such a thing be inside a Brutal Beast?

Feeling like she had grasped a clue, some dormant memories in her mind were awakened. Cui Que leaned back on the sofa, pondering.

——Click.

The bathroom door suddenly opened, and the previously muffled noise became clear.

"Get out now!" Lin Xiaolu's angry voice followed.

"Ah! Don't pull so hard, my towel's going to come off!"

Then came Xia Liang's voice.

Ignoring her words, Lin Xiaolu pushed Xia Liang out the door, "You're so annoying!"

Bang!

The bathroom door was slammed shut.

Left outside, Xia Liang wrapped in a towel, walked out of the bathroom and passed through the living room, meeting Cui Que's gaze.

Unlike a few days ago, Xia Liang's appearance had changed significantly.

The highlights in her bangs had been washed out, her slightly curled hair had been straightened. Without light makeup, her youthful features were fully revealed, clearly showing she was just a middle schooler.

If Xia Liang had looked like a flashy, fashionable girl on Electronics Street, now her gentle smile made her seem like a well-behaved, quiet child.

Cui Que's previously unfocused eyes gradually gathered, and seeing Xia Liang wrapped only in a towel, she paused and suggested:

"Why don't you find a bathrobe to wear?"

"Hmm? That sounds good."

Xia Liang readily accepted but quickly encountered a new problem, "But are there any bathrobes here?"

"The clean bathrobes are in..."

Cui Que instinctively wanted to answer but remembered she wasn't Lin Yun. Although she was in her own home, she couldn't reveal her identity as the homeowner. On the surface, she was just a guest like Xia Liang.

So she changed her tone without revealing anything, "If there's a storage cabinet by the bathroom door, they might be in there. You could also ask Bai Mei."

"Bai Mei? Oh, hehe, I'll go ask her then."

For some reason, Xia Liang seemed eager to provoke Lin Xiaolu. Realizing she had another reason to bother Lin Xiaolu, she chuckled and walked back to the bathroom.

Maybe because Lin Xiaolu would react like a small animal getting riled up? It seemed fun?

Based on their personalities, Cui Que could come to such a conclusion.

A quick look at "pawread dot com" will leave you more fulfilled.

She didn't mind Xia Liang's clearly harmless teasing. As long as it didn't lead to hatred, it was just youthful playfulness.

However, watching Xia Liang's gradually receding figure, her development clearly ahead of her peers, made Cui Que feel a bit of parental concern for Lin Xiaolu.

Would her daughter end up being short?

Though 14 was still a hopeful age, with many years ahead for Lin Xiaolu to catch up and surpass, there was no sign of it now.

As Lin Xiaolu's parents, Lin Yun and An Ya's heights were above average. Lin Yun was over 1.8 meters tall, and An Ya was nearly 1.7 meters. Lin Xiaolu had no reason to be shorter than her peers, yet her current height was well below the average at 1.43 meters.

Why was that?

Cui Que placed the damaged disc aside, silently stood up, and walked towards the kitchen.

She tiptoed to rinse her hands at the sink, then opened the sterilizer and took out a few teacups.

Skillfully arranging the teacups in a row and adding tea leaves, she tiptoed again, her face expressionless as she reached higher, then picked up the hot water bottle and poured the boiling water.

Knowing Lin Xiaolu's personality, she wouldn't think of making tea for the guests, so it was up to her to do it.