Small, early days, no worries, no worries

These so-called “tokens of deep exchange” varied from handcuffs to lingerie—each magical girl received something different.

For Ji Yue, when she awoke after that night, Herrera had tossed her a… well, something so obscene she still didn’t want to speak of it.

What Luo You had received was also undeniably a token—but she hadn’t actually been assaulted yet. That meant only one thing.

Herrera had already set her sights on her.

If Ji Yue wanted to protect her, then she had no choice but to bear it herself.

“Give it here.”

Ji Yue snatched the anklet from Luo You’s hand.

“Ah! Auntie, what are you doing?!”

“This was meant to be passed to me through you. Don’t ask why. Did she leave any other message?”

“Mm… ah, yes. She said if Auntie doesn’t want to suffer too much, you can come to me for… help.”

“Come to you?”

Ji Yue paused, then understood instantly.

What a sick sense of humor… she cursed inwardly.

“You’re coming with me. Now. Don’t ask questions.”

Without explanation she hoisted Luo You onto her shoulder, called a taxi, shoved her inside, closed the door, and gave the driver an address—all in one smooth move.

“Uh—eh?”

Why’s Auntie so aggressive all of a sudden? Luo You thought blankly, slumped in the back seat.

The car left Huahai and—coincidentally—arrived at the same abandoned school where she and Liyun had filmed yesterday.

Perfect.

But Ji Yue didn’t drag her down to the dungeon set. Instead, she brought her upstairs—to an old classroom studio.

“And… what exactly are we doing here?”

Ji Yue produced a school uniform from who-knew-where.

Probably rented it from staff… huh, I’ve never worn one before.

Curious, Luo You slipped it on. But it was a midriff-baring top—and clearly a size too small.

Still, once dressed, the effect was startling. On her slender frame it somehow radiated a mature allure, particularly paired with long black knee socks—it was straight out of an anime cliché.

“Not bad…” she mused, snapping a few selfies and posting them online.

“Now,” Ji Yue said firmly, “you’ve met Herrera. Speak to me as her. Mimic her tone, her posture.”

“Haa… it’s not like I can’t try…”

“Wait. Put this on first.”

Out came a mask, slipped over her face.

“Good. Perform.”

“Ahem! Big—no, Sister… what fun shall we have tonight~?”

“A forbidden romance?”

“Mm. Indeed.” Ji Yue’s voice was flat.

“Then is it… that you want to play at a taboo student-teacher affair? After all, you’ve dressed me up like this~.”

Ji Yue didn’t answer. She only studied Luo You’s face—and shook her head slightly.

The expressions weren’t quite right.

Herrera, for all her bratty arrogance, bore a seasoned calm. She moved like a master who had seduced hundreds before, every gesture crafted to entangle.

Luo Youyou, on the other hand, was just a pure-blooded little rascal—her teasing words enough to stiffen fingers, but otherwise no different from any cheeky girl.

“Forget it. Good enough.”

“Good enough… for what?” Luo You blinked. “What do you mean by that?”

“Turn around.”

“Again…?”

Annoyed, but intrigued at what might come this time—surely not spanking again?—she obeyed, heart racing.

Arms wrapped her waist from behind.

“Auntie…? Finally ready to awaken? No more being a coward?”

“Don’t call me Auntie. Call me… Director.”

“…M-Mistress?”

“That works too.”

She pressed her forward, making her lean over the window ledge. A pointer ruler appeared in her hand.

Smack!

“Aaaaaghhh! Ow, ow, ow! Auntie—what are you—?!”

“What do you call me?”

“Director! Director!”

“That’s right! For always seducing! For mouthing off so arrogantly! For scorning your elders! Now I’ll correct you properly, as an adult should!”

After the first hard whack, Ji Yue eased up, but the sting remained.

In stunned disbelief, Luo You’s mind screamed.

This is backwards! I was supposed to be the one teasing, driving her to beg me! Now it’s just plain discipline like when my parents beat me as a kid!

So Auntie’s heart is this dark, huh? Always wanted to do this to me?

“Admit your mistake!”

“Yes, yes, I’m sorry! I won’t mock elders again! I know my wrongs!”

“Then show sincerity!”

“W-what kind of sincerity?”

“Say it! ‘Director Ji Yue, forgive me, I was wrong! I’ll never challenge the adults again! I’ll remember I’m just a cheeky brat!’ And add anything else you think proper!”

“Ah… I get it.”

Studying her expression, Luo You realized the truth.

This wasn’t about her. Ji Yue was imagining Herrera.

This was her desperate fantasy act before going to her death—enjoying one last substitute moment before finally facing the real witch.

Hah. Still too soft, Auntie.

If this was her “final indulgence,” at least make it bolder! What’s a few strokes of a cane?

If you really want sincerity—then smother me with your flesh until I sob. That would wring true confession out of me…

Such timid substitutes. No wonder you’ll never taste the real prize.

Still, Luo You let Ji Yue continue however she liked.

Two hours later—

“Enough. No need to keep playing the role.” Ji Yue set aside the ruler.

Relief washed her features. The pressing weight in her chest was gone; in its place, a rare calm.

Going to meet Herrera now—she felt truly ready.

And hadn’t Herrera herself promised? After filming, there would be compensation. Even if it was only making her admit defeat… that too she could bear.

Watching Luo You’s half-baked performance had helped. In the end, she could picture submitting. And in that honesty, she found unexpected motivation.

“My butt hurts, Auntie…” Luo You whimpered, pigeon-toed, rubbing her sore hips. “To do this to such a cute Youyou… doesn’t your conscience ache?”

“It doesn’t even leave marks. And I played gently.” Ji Yue’s expression was unaffected. “Or… do you want me to rub it?”

“N-no need!”

She denied instantly, terrified she’d provoke another round. She trusted her allure too much to gamble.

“You don’t even ask why I did this?”

“Well… I don’t understand, but it must’ve been for my own good, right?”

“…Heh. You’re strangely perceptive sometimes.” Ji Yue sighed. The hardness in her face softened. She pointed toward the podium.

“Lie down. I’ll rub it for you.”

“No thanks. Auntie, you were hurt by that… ‘Herrera,’ right?”

Silence.

“Exactly.”

So it was her—so the one who assaulted Auntie was Herrera.

She couldn’t hide it anymore. Why bother.

“She wants me to play in her film. That’s the only way to protect you.”

“Huh? That’s great!”

“Great your head! She wants me to star in one of those filthy films!”

“Hah…”

Luo You smirked. Time to step in closer.

“If I can help, Auntie… I could act with you—”

“No. I’ll handle it. Alone.”

“But acting—”

“My acting is fine! Don’t condescend to me. I graduated from a university of arts. I can nail any role—even her lewd ones. The one who’s unprepared is Herrera herself.”

“Oh-ho? Auntie is bold, huh?”

“You think it’s funny? According to the script, I’ll be performing as myself. Who could play me better than me? Certainly not her.”

“Well… if Auntie says so. Then I’ll save my energy for others.”

And honestly? That suited Luo You fine. Dealing with Liyun was exhausting enough; if Ji Yue insisted on handling her part alone, great. One less problem.

As the night wound down, Ji Yue pocketed her phone.

“That’s enough for today. I’ll take you home.”

“No, I’ve got another meeting.”

“Oh? Herrera?”

“No, no. Yesterday’s coward.”

Luo You even made a point of apologizing, recalling how she’d compared them both the day before.

“Sorry, Auntie. You’re not a coward. Liyun’s the coward.”

At that very moment, somewhere else—

“Ah-choo!”

Liyun sneezed violently the moment she got into the cab.

“You okay?” Jiemeng, waiting at the door, handed her a tissue.

“I’m fine, Sis. You must be busy, don’t worry about me.”

With a polite word, Liyun waved her off, climbed in, and gave the driver her destination.

Jiemeng casually checked—

A photography studio?

Curious, she looked up its details.

Her eyes widened.

…Could it be a cosplay shoot? For me?

She imagined a glossy photobook, her twin in all sorts of costumes, treasured secretly in her room.

Her heart raced with delight.

“What a creative gift!”

Compared to that, what she had prepared felt painfully plain.

“I need to… prepare something far more striking,” she whispered to herself.