Two days later, an utterly ordinary noon.
Because the teaching building of Xizhao Middle School was being used as a test center for a social exam in the afternoon, even on a weekday, Lin Xiaolu and Xia Liang were granted the rare treat of a half-day break.
On an ordinary day, such a half-day holiday might have been frittered away in the girls' idle routine, but this day was different; Lin Xiaolu had a different plan.
"So, I'm off then, goodbye."
Accompanied by the sound of Hong Siyu's voice at the entryway, the girls together faced the secret base's door, watching her leave until the sound of a dull "thud" from the doorway, at which point they exchanged glances.
"Let's go."
With a solemn face, Lin Xiaolu gestured towards the door, "Follow her."
"Do you really want to do this?"
Xia Liang felt an ominous premonition in her heart and was completely unwilling to endorse such an unreliable plan, "Didn't we already fail when we tried to tail your dad last ti? Maybe we should just let it go this ti?"
Xia Liang was a girl accustod to keeping her worries to herself, and the reason she was openly showing her true intentions and resistance this ti was that she genuinely believed the plan was unfeasible.
Her pessimism wasn't just because she found the plan unrealistic, but mainly because she was genuinely in the know.
She knew the real identity of Erald Sparrow and could guess the relationship between Erald Sparrow and Hong Siyu.
Over the past few months of interaction with Hong Siyu, it had beco clear to even Lin Xiaolu what the latter's intentions were, so she was certainly no exception.
"Hong Siyu likes Lin Yun" had beco an unspoken fact amongst the girls.
That was precisely why Lin Xiaolu always had a considerable degree of wariness towards Hong Siyu, while Xia Liang followed the developnt of events with curious anticipation.
This progress had co to a standstill after entering November, as Hong Siyu suddenly took sick leave and vanished from the girls' sight abruptly.
Now, she had regained the powers of a Magical Girl and returned to Fangting in such a manner; she also returned to Erald Sparrow's world like this. From Xia Liang's perspective, this should be an excellent opportunity for Hong Siyu.
If she were Hong Siyu and wanted to pursue "Lin Yun," she would take advantage of this period to try to demonstrate her importance and feelings to him in search of a romantic breakthrough.
As for the entanglents between Hong Siyu and Erald Sparrow, Xia Liang didn't have any subjective opinions—after all, she wasn't Lin Xiaolu; she didn't need to guard against an imagined "stepmother." If anything, her stance was more observational.
Firstly, it was not her place to ddle; secondly, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
If Hong Siyu's feelings could co to fruition, it would be beneficial not only for her but also for "Lin Yun." It might be sowhat hard to accept for Lin Xiaolu at first, but in the long run, it would be more advantageous than detrintal.
However, if Lin Xiaolu insisted on interfering by tracking Hong Siyu's movents, then the chances of botching things up would greatly increase.
Just how doting Erald Sparrow was toward her daughter might not be apparent to her or to Lin Xiaolu, but Xia Liang could see it very clearly.
If Lin Xiaolu truly discovered sothing by following Hong Siyu and pierced through that layer of window paper, even if the relationship between Erald Sparrow and Hong Siyu grew warr, she would probably put it on hold due to her daughter's opinions. At that ti, the relationship between Hong Siyu and Lin Xiaolu might also turn sour.
This was not what Xia Liang wished to see.
She didn't mind if the relationships within their small group improved due to certain reasons, but she was very reluctant to see them worsen as a consequence.
If the so-called tailing led to Lin Xiaolu and Hong Siyu falling out, everyone becoming resentful of each other, and Erald Sparrow caught in an unhappy middle, it would be a loss not worth the gain.
Only, these were reasons Xia Liang couldn't voice.
Telling Lin Xiaolu these truths here and now could certainly dispel Lin Xiaolu's doubts and make her drop the idea of tailing. But while it would be fair to Lin Xiaolu, it would be a betrayal to Erald Sparrow, and Xia Liang herself would end up being the one caught in the middle, which she didn't want, lest she beca disliked.
Therefore, she made such a clear display of her opposition.
"Failure is the mother of success; we must rise where we fall."
Unfortunately, Lin Xiaolu was completely unaware of her thoughts, only shooting her a glance before solemnly declaring, "After the failure last ti, I took it seriously to heart and have thoroughly reviewed it many tis. I have found where things went wrong, and this ti we absolutely will not make the sa mistakes."
"And the crux was?"
"Magic Power Perception." Lin Xiaolu stated resolutely.
—"Huh?"
Magic Power Perception, who had been watching the fireworks from the side, suddenly beca unhappy, "It was clearly because you guys got too close and were discovered! How can you bla this on !"
"Ultimately, it was because you were too slow to send the signal! And you abandoned your post at the crucial mont, causing us to lose our key source of information!"
Lin Xiaolu pointed at Magic Power Perception, "Anyway, this ti you stay at ho, and we will move on our own!"
"Hmph, you think I want to play house with you?"
Magic Power Perception huffed and turned around, "If you don't want to go, then I won't. The Seeder has her own matters to handle, you can have your tantrum!"
They argued with each other unconcerned about whether their words were suitable while Bai Jingxuan quietly listened to Lin Xiaolu and Magic Power Perception's conversation, but her mind was already pondering sothing else entirely.
I need to find an opportunity to secretly tell Dad.
That was her thought.
The reason is simple: "Mom and Dad" said so.
Lin Yun had once cautioned her not to let slip that he was working at the Abnormal Strategy Bureau, especially to "Sister"; Erald Sparrow had also privately told her not to reveal anything about the incident at Lakeside Spring for the ti being.
Bai Jingxuan didn't quite understand why, but that didn't hinder her choice to be an obedient child. As such, she had been unusually tight-lipped around Lin Xiaolu these past few days. Even though her attempts were full of loopholes and anyone with clear eyes could see she was hiding sothing, Lin Xiaolu simply couldn't get it out of her.
Now, with Lin Xiaolu deciding to follow Hong Siyu, it was quite likely that Lin Yun's position at the Abnormal Strategy Bureau would be exposed. Bai Jingxuan thought this could potentially make things difficult for Lin Yun.
Given that, she felt it necessary to give him advance warning, to prepare him so that he wouldn't get caught out.
So, she had quietly waited on the side, and once Moka made his stance clear, she found a brief break in the conversation to interject sowhat awkwardly, "Um, Sister, I don't really feel like going out today. Since you said so, Sister, I'll just stay here with Moka..."
"You're coming with ," Lin Xiaolu said expressionlessly.
"Eh?"
Bai Jingxuan's shoulders trembled slightly, and she felt a sudden lurch in her heart, then blinked a few tis guiltily: "But if Moka is left alone at ho, there will be no one to play with it..."
"That guy is too clever. If there's no one else at ho, it will sneak out and ss around. You don't have to worry about it getting bored at all."
Lin Xiaolu stretched out her hands and placed them on Bai Jingxuan's shoulders: "As for you, among the three of us, you're now the one who looks most like a traitor. You're aware of the situation in Lixing District and haven't reported it, which has already raised my suspicions."
"I really don't know anything," Bai Jingxuan struggled to retort.
"No problem, you can know nothing, but today you must act together with us."
Lin Xiaolu lightly flicked her forehead: "I have to keep an eye on you, the little traitor."
"I'm not a traitor..." Bai Jingxuan mumbled, but ultimately she couldn't stand up against Lin Xiaolu and was pushed toward the entrance by the shoulders.
"That woman left about a minute ago; if we leave right now, we can just hang in her blind spot."
Standing at the secret base's entrance, Lin Xiaolu, while changing into her shoes and socks, instructed her two teammates: "Because our target is a Magical Girl and a Flower rank, we must not use any Magic Power during the operation nor transform, as her Magical Power Perception is likely stronger than ours. If any of you transform and use Magic Power resulting in the failure of this operation, then I will have to tag you."
"What if she decides to fly on the way? If we can't transform and follow her flying, we'll be thrown off. If we do transform to follow, we'll be discovered, which could easily expose us."
Xia Liang stood with her hands on her hips, sighing deeply without moving to change her shoes: "I finally have a day off, wouldn't it be better to just stay ho and watch TV? Didn't you say just a few days ago that there was an animation series you wanted to watch? If we go out now, won't we miss it?"
"We can watch the recorded broadcast online when we get back."
Lin Xiaolu pursed her lips, her gaze slightly lowered, clearly making a tough decision: "But the opportunity to follow that woman isn't plentiful, any day other than a workday is inappropriate!"
"Um, I suddenly have a stomachache."
Bai Jingxuan held the shoes Lin Xiaolu had handed to her, dragging her feet and speaking hesitantly: "How about you guys go first, and I'll catch up right away..."
"Stretch out your foot," Lin Xiaolu suddenly said.
"Eh?"
"Give your foot, I'll help you change shoes."
Lin Xiaolu bent down and grabbed Bai Jingxuan's ankle: "If you have a stomachache, I'll carry you out; either way, you're following, and don't even think about sneaking ssages to anyone."
"I, I wasn't planning to sneak any ssages."
Bai Jingxuan's gaze shifted evasively: "I really just have a stomachache."
"Is that so? Where does it hurt?"
Lin Xiaolu took the shoes from Bai Jingxuan's hands and started putting them on her feet: "Transform and heal yourself, it only takes a few seconds. I can wait."
"Transform, and heal a stomachache?"
Bai Jingxuan's voice suddenly rose, even a bit out of tune, obviously not expecting Lin Xiaolu to co up with that suggestion: "I don't think that will help..."
"Last month when I got hurt on patrol, didn't you heal ?" Lin Xiaolu finished putting on one shoe and reached for the other.
"The, the stomach..." Bai Jingxuan voiced faintly.
"Got any other excuses?"
"...No."
"Good, then it's unanimously approved. The Fangting City Magical Girl Squad's second special tracking operation begins now!"
Lin Xiaolu announced loudly as she pushed open the door, her face bearing a triumphant expression: "This ti, I will definitely unearth the truth!"
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