Male, 30 years old, magical girl (Part 1)

“Xixi? What are you doing…”

—Smack!

Before You Dong could finish his sentence, a heavy slap landed on his face.

On the second floor of the love hotel, at the entrance to room 206.

A passing cleaning lady seemed to have seen such scenes too many times to be surprised.
She stifled a laugh, pushed her cleaning cart, and hurried past the chaotic scene.

…It hurt, a fiery, stinging pain.

‘The last time I was slapped this hard was probably when the old man was still alive.’

You Dong zoned out appropriately, preparing to face the wrath of his girlfriend… no, what was likely about to be his ex-girlfriend.

“You Dong, you… you bastard!”

Like all women who have suffered emotional betrayal, Chen Xi screamed, cried, and then swung her fists, haphazardly hammering You Dong’s bare chest.

He didn’t resist, nor did he lash out.
He simply endured the assault while silently starting to get dressed.

On the other side of the bed, a disheveled woman was also getting dressed.
In her haste, she only managed to throw a coat over her body, her curvy figure faintly visible.

After a while, as if tired from hitting him, Chen Xi’s arms dropped limply.

“…Why?”

Her trembling lips futilely swallowed the empty air before her.

“…I don’t get it.”

After those fragmented words came tears, sliding down her cheeks.

“Xixi.”

You Dong lit a cigarette and said unhurriedly:

“You see the situation now. Even if I explained, you wouldn’t listen, would you?”

Despite being caught red-handed, his face showed not a single trace of panic or guilt.

This man either fundamentally lacked humanity, or he had long anticipated this outcome.

‘An explanation, could it be…’

In that instant, Chen Xi felt like a drowning person clutching at a life-saving straw.

‘That’s right.’

‘You Dong… How could You Dong possibly betray me? There must be a hidden reason, someone must have forced him!’

Holding on to this hope, she waited for You Dong’s defense.

“Xixi. Even so, I still love you,” You Dong said.

“But, don’t you think your old man is too strict, too twisted? Until the wedding day, this is forbidden, that’s not allowed…”

As he spoke, his emotions clearly became agitated.

“I’m a man, a hot-blooded man. But after getting with you, for three whole years! I kept my promise and never touched you, nor any other woman.”

“Now, I can’t hold it in anymore. I satisfied my urges just once, what’s wrong with that? Is it really so outrageous?”

“…”

Seeing her boyfriend’s righteous and self-assured expression, Chen Xi was momentarily speechless.

In that brief silence, all her good feelings for this man, all her trust, and all her hopes and fantasies for their future were incinerated and evaporated by the flames of rage surging in her chest.

A minute passed, maybe five.

The light in Chen Xi’s eyes slowly dimmed.

The vibrant color that had painted them from her intense emotions had now turned to the white ash left after a fire burns out.

“…What I don’t get now is why I ever fell in love with a man like you.”

Now, her eyes held only confusion.

“Of all the things you’ve said to me, how many were actually true?”

Leaving him with that question, Chen Xi left the room without a backward glance.

He gazed at Chen Xi’s retreating back.

He realized this might be the last time he ever would.

In the very end, You Dong still let out a quiet sob.

‘Xixi.’

‘You asked how many of the things I said to you were true.’

‘I admit I lied to you.’

‘Sometimes, I was out entertaining clients and singing karaoke, but I lied and said I was working overtime.’

‘Sometimes, I was just afraid of spending time with your bureau chief father, so I lied and said something urgent came up, and I’d slip away right after dinner.’

…

‘But, when I just said that I still love you.’

“…That’s the only thing I can swear is true.”

Facing the empty doorway, You Dong silently made a vow destined to be unheard.

The air gradually grew cold, and the room became very quiet.

He felt as if he had been abandoned in a lonely, cold basin.

“…Brilliant.”

Just as You Dong was feeling lost, applause timely sounded from behind him.

The curvaceous, beautiful woman was lounging casually on her side on the bed.
Having witnessed everything that had just happened, she finally couldn’t resist offering her thoughts.

“Dongzi, it’s not me nagging you. But your girlfriend is young and pretty. Saying she’s a match for you isn’t just unsuitable, it’s a bit of a waste. I can’t figure out why you pulled a stunt like this.”

“Old Lin.”

You Dong continued to stare into the empty space before him.

He was afraid that if he looked away, he would quickly forget the sight of Chen Xi’s back.

“I’m 30 this year. Chen Xi, she’s only 24.”

“So you’re just six years apart?”

The woman called Old Lin raised an eyebrow disdainfully.

“That’s supposed to be a big deal?”

“I don’t know what six years means to you people. But for us.., let’s not talk about it. Anyway, thanks for your help this time, Old Lin.”

“Don’t be so formal. It’s been a while, but my shapeshifting is still pretty good, right? How about it, want to have a feel?”

The woman leaned toward You Dong.

“Get lost, get lost.”

You Dong waved his hand in disgust.

“Tch, what a waste.”

As she spoke, the woman’s figure suddenly vanished, her clothes scattering to the floor.
In her place, a strange creature shaped like a lucky cat crawled out from the coat that had fallen to the ground.

“I helped you out, so shouldn’t you thank me?”

“I’ll repay you another day.”

“There’s no day like today. How about we sign the contract now?” the lucky cat said with a sinister grin.

“Are you insane?”

Realizing its intentions, You Dong cursed irritably.

“How many times have I told you? I can’t do this job. I’m a thirty-year-old man, and you want me to be a—”

At this point, he glanced warily toward the door.
After confirming no one was there, You Dong continued:

“Thirty years old, male, magical girl… Is that a combination a human being can even come up with?”

“Don’t get so worked up. I’m not trying to criticize, but why are you so agitated?”

Old Lin sighed and said, “You humans are really strange. You leave early and come back late every day, working yourselves to death… You’re fine with being beasts of burden, so what’s wrong with being a magical girl?”

“…”

You Dong’s defenses were almost shattered.

“Anyway, I have my principles,” Old Lin paused, then continued:

“I won’t force anyone, including you. Even though your potential is ridiculously strong, so strong that I can’t comprehend it, if you’re not willing, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll just have to come back again, and again, and again…”

“It doesn’t matter how many times you come. What can’t be done, can’t be done,” You Dong rejected.

“Don’t be so quick to decide. Take a look at this first.”

Old Lin pulled a brown file folder from somewhere and tossed it next to You Dong.

“These are photos our [Connectors] recently took in the airspace over Shangjing City. After you see them, you might become interested in my proposal.”

“…Alright. I still have to keep searching for other suitable candidates, so I won’t keep you company. Call me if you need anything.”

After saying this, Old Lin disappeared from the window just like an ordinary cat.

Before it left, it also swiped a pack of cigarettes You Dong had left on the nightstand.