It’s a dream, a dream, a dream~

” Dad, what are you writing? Still not asleep?”

“The gym wants me to draft a proposal on the future development of the fitness industry. I’m rushing to finish it.”

“Eh? Dad, really? With your… level of education, writing this kind of thing is too much for you. If it’s too hard, I can help you write it.”

“Bah, what do you know, you little brat? You haven’t even graduated high school yet and only understand physics, chemistry, and math. I’ve been around in society for years!”

Luo You lifted her smooth jade-like foot, and with a swift kick shoved Luo Zining’s too-short head out the door.

Of course, there was no “proposal.”

What she was writing was a script.

She had to hurry—she wanted to bring her aunt into this as well.

Rehearsals with Liyun would begin the day after tomorrow.

And she couldn’t let Aunt stay home lonely, could she? Good things had to be shared together.

According to Luo Zining, Ji Yue would be returning to Jiuming Sea tomorrow night.

That would be the perfect opening for her action.

But while Luo You was in the middle of writing, An Jiu’er unexpectedly sent her a message, asking if she was free to meet her at the gym tomorrow.

She declined.

The reason was simple—tomorrow was her day off. In fact, she had two days off.

As a woman who had secured her job at the gym purely on her looks, her benefits were top-tier, and a two-day weekend was perfectly normal.

But An Jiu’er pressed. Soon, she even started a video chat.

“Youyou, are you really not free tomorrow?”

“Mm. I’ve got things to do.”

“What things?”

“Working on my script.”

She set the phone flat on the table and continued drafting while chatting.

That call stretched for full two hours.

Why was Luo You willing to talk to her so long? Simple.

It was because Jiu’er offered to help.

And she actually had skills.

She knew about film theory, she said she was a student at one of Huahai’s local prestigious universities.

A real “educated one,” Luo You thought. A huge help indeed.

She even thought, Next time, I ought to teach her some “applied knowledge”… on the bed.

“So, if you want to convey humiliation—how do you frame it?” Luo You asked seriously.

“It’s simple,” Jiu’er explained. “You use contrast. For example, if your heroine was once a celestial fairy wearing priceless intimate garments, then during her humiliation, those garments should be stained and defiled. A slow close-up of the fabric at that very moment can magnify the sense of disgrace.”

“Ooh~ not bad! As expected of a cultured girl!”

Luo You marveled.

With Jiu’er’s help, the script was already 80% complete.

“Can I ask, Youyou, why exactly are you writing this script? Planning to sell it?”

“You even know about that? No, not selling. Just… for my own enjoyment.”

“Oh.”

Luo You didn’t care if she believed it or not. With a glance at the time, she ended,

“Go to bed, Jiu’er. For fitness, irregular sleep is the worst habit. I’m heading off too.”

“Mm.”

After ending the call, Luo You stretched in exhaustion, peeling off her clothes, ready for a shower.

But the very next moment, her aunt stepped into the bathroom behind her.

“Aunt!?”

“And I told you to stop calling me that—it’s a little violent, you know.”

Ji Yue calmly stripped down and joined her in the bath.

“Oh my?”
So… has Aunt finally sorted out her true feelings? Does she want to ‘compensate’ for past offenses right here in the bath?

Ji Yue quietly came to her side.

“Youyou, I need to talk to you.”

“Eh? Go ahead.”

“You remember, right? How I once told you I was assaulted by a depraved woman… that same freak has reappeared.”

“And?”

Luo You frowned in confusion.

Her aunt sat down nearby, lathering body wash without even glancing at her.

“I don’t know what game you’re playing lately, suddenly acting like you want to get close to me. But I’ll say this—

I’m not going to be close with you.”

“…?”

Not good!

The plan hadn’t even started, and her favorability dropped already?!

Trying to recover, Luo You asked quickly, “So what does that have to do with that lunatic you mentioned?”

“Straight to the point then. Your personality is too similar to hers. Whenever I look at you, I can’t help but see her through you. Deep down I…”

“What, want to pin me down in the sun?” Luo You interjected instantly.

“…Yes? No! Why would you answer for me!”

Ji Yue flushed with fury. The atmosphere, already tense, was soured completely.

Luo You shrugged innocently. “I was just connecting the dots. That look on your face gave you away. You treat me like her substitute, don’t you?”

“I do not!”

“Then what is it?”

“…”

She gave no reply. Instead, she spread the soap slowly across her skin, the sight of which left Luo You’s mouth dry.

Ah, Aunt’s full-grown fruit really does drip, richer even than when she transforms into a magical girl.

Like a ripe tomato heavy with juice, just waiting to burst open…

“Maybe you’re not wrong.”

“Huh? Wait—you really are like a tomato?!”

“What tomato?”

“Nothing!” She dodged, changing the subject.

“You were saying? About how you see me?”

“You’re partly right. I often confuse you with that freak. That much is certain.”

Her voice softened.

“But if I stay around you… my hatred weakens. If that continues, by the time I face her again, I won’t have the resolve anymore.

One day, I will kill her. Until then, I… can’t stay by your side. We shouldn’t see each other again.”

She rinsed the soap off under the nozzle. The steam curled around her faintly glowing skin.

In that moment, she looked reborn, almost ethereal.

Luo You stared, dumbfounded.

Aunt… what nonsense are you spouting? You think you can just walk away from me now?

But those resolute eyes… they shook her.

[Maybe I was too confident.] Luo You thought bitterly.

She had believed that any magical girl she trained would eventually bend to her, perhaps even fall for her in the end.

But reality was harsher—many still burned for revenge.

Ji Yue before her was one of those.

“Fine then,” Luo You’s lips curled wickedly.

“If revenge is truly what you want, I’ll twist that revenge until it warps beyond recognition. No revenge, no obsession will survive. In the end… you’ll still be mine.”

“Aunt, isn’t that too harsh?”

“Not in the least.” Ji Yue’s voice was as firm as iron.

“And she—the pervert—has great power behind her. I don’t want you caught up in it. I’m warning you, rein yourself in, stop flaunting yourself. If she notices you… you know the consequences.”

“Fine. If you say so…” Luo You sighed dramatically, posing as if she yielded.

Meanwhile, in her heart she was already plotting.

Heading back to Jiuming Sea in the morning? Even better. That’s where I’ll corner you.

She laughed quietly, slipping beneath the water.

“Fufufufu—pftt, gah! (choked)”

The next day.

“Liyun, I’m sending you the script. Read it over.”

“Wow! Director, this is amazing!”

“Study your character carefully. I’m busy today. Won’t be chatting.”

After that message, Luo You left at once for Jiuming Sea.

Ji Yue had gone back in the morning. Afternoon was the perfect time to strike.

This time there would be no masks, no feigned reconciliations.

It was time to lay everything bare.

“Well, well. Enjoying the good life? I see you’ve found yourself a hot spring.”

She found her in a high-class hot spring inn, the very same Luo You once stayed in herself. Now Ji Yue sat soaking alone, blissfully at ease.

“Ahh~~” Ji Yue sighed contentedly, stretching her graceful limbs. Training and study had left her exhausted. This small reprieve was rare.

Her progress with First Magic was going smoothly. Soon, she only needed live combat to temper it. Her promotion to the Ten Seats was inevitable.

But her mind lingered on what she had said to Youyou last night.

[Did she really listen? Probably not.]

And that was fine. She had drawn her line.

Staying close to Luo You would only dilute the will for vengeance.

So she rested her head on the edge of the pool, eyelids growing heavy.

“If the day comes, when I have my revenge… what will become of me then?”

“May I join you?”

A clear, melodic voice rang by her ear.

“Mm? Sure, go ahead.”

She answered without thinking. As a slender figure slipped into the water beside her, even without looking she could sense something—an unusual, immense presence.

“This weather makes a hot spring feel like perfection, doesn’t it?” the woman remarked.

“…Mm, I suppose.” Ji Yue answered curtly.

Annoying. A talkative one. Maybe she would change pools later.

But several seconds passed… and the voice seemed so familiar.

With a sudden instinct, she opened her eyes and looked.

And froze solid.

“You—!”

Silver hair, draped to the shoulders. A mask concealing her face.

Skin glowing with icy luster, waist supple as willow caught in the wind. Every movement infused with unnatural grace and devastating allure.

The woman flicked a petal between her fingers leisurely.

“Herrera?”

Ji Yue shot upright from the water.

Her? Here?!

No—was she here for her?!

Herrera only flicked the petal away. “We haven’t met since the last duel, have we? I’ve been watching you ever since.”

“Herrera! Why are you here?”

“You tell me.”

Though her face was hidden, the weight of her gaze cut deep.

Ji Yue’s heartbeat spiked. No. She can’t recognize me like this. Not untransformed.

But then Herrera said the words that shattered her hope.

“Magical girl Feiyu. I still remember you.

You were… quite the experience.

I still like you very much, even now.”

Ji Yue’s legs visibly trembled.

“Ahh, so frightened already?” Herrera chuckled softly, brushing her thigh with her fingertips—only to have Ji Yue recoil violently.

“Don’t touch me!” she snapped, stumbling away. But her body betrayed her resolve. Memories of that complete domination resurfaced, choking her breath, clawing up her spine.

Herrera’s voice lingered like velvet poison.

“Sit back down, Feiyu. I won’t tell you a third time.”

…

Ji Yue’s body shook. But this time, she clenched her nails, forcing her mind to resist.

“I’m not Feiyu. You’ve mistaken me.”

“Ghmm~”

Herrera smiled, standing now, her height barely reaching Ji Yue’s chest, but her presence towering above.

“No, no. My ability lets me see through facades. You can’t hide from me. Give up, Ji Yue… Or should I call you Auntie?”

Ji Yue’s pupils contracted, heart seizing. She bared her teeth like a cornered beast.

“Who are you?! How do you know that name?!”

“Why? Simple. These few days—I’ve been watching you.”

In a blink, Herrera was astride her, whispering devilishly.

“That cute little Luo Youyou—oh, she looks so much like me! Not even a magical girl, yet I find myself wanting to make her my double.”

Ji Yue froze, panic hammering through her.

She had been tailed all along?!

“Herrera! This is between us. Leave others out of it!”

Her voice cracked—but beneath, she knew—it was too late.

Herrera only smirked.

“Come now. Don’t tell me you don’t remember what you did to bring me here? Or shall I remind you of your oh-so-dangerous little ideas?”

Ji Yue clenched her fists.

Her “anti-Herrera group.” Her whispered plan to poison herself just to finish Herrera off…

Did Herrera know it all?

“Fine. You want honesty? Stop playing! If you want to kill me, then kill me!”

Herrera reclined upon her chest, chin propped with deceptive elegance.

“Kill? What a waste. To me, you’re entertainment.

And as for this time…”

Her tone dipped low, velvety and cruel.

“I want you in my film. As the star.”

Ji Yue’s eyes went wide with fury. Film? Her obscene “films”?

“Never,” Ji Yue spat. “I’d rather die than help you!”

But Herrera only laughed.

“If you refuse, there are others. Like that precious Luo Youyou. Mmm… she’ll look so sweet, broken on camera.”

“You—!”

“Tsk, tsk. Poor girl, tied to you by fate. She’ll cry, beg, resist, but in the end—she’ll break. And I’ll capture it all.”

Ji Yue’s blood boiled. “Herrera! Not afraid of heaven’s retribution?!”

“Heh. Training myself doesn’t count as a sin,” Herrera rolled her eyes.

Ji Yue gnashed her teeth. But the witch pressed further:

“You won’t be alone. Another magical girl will stand with you. Suffer together, isn’t that easier?”

Her heart stopped. Purple Zining? No, not her niece… please!

“Don’t worry. It’s someone you know. But not her.”

Then Herrera crouched low, eyes glittering, voice dripping like venom.

“Auntie Ji Yue~ Dear Big Sis~ Please… say yes. And I swear—you may ask for any reward. Even… if you want me to kneel before you and beg: ‘Forgive me, Lady Feiyu! I was wrong!’… I’ll do it.”

Her words slid inside Ji Yue like a curse.

And in that instant… her last defenses shook.