A Coincidental Encounter

Su Mu had no further involvement in the events that unfolded after that day. With Saint Lily successfully ‘blooming,’ Red Spider Lily’s mission was completed ahead of schedule.

As for rescuing others afterward, what was he thinking? How could he possibly go along with them?

He only acknowledged Saint Lily.

Even so, he wouldn’t force himself to interact with people he disliked, not even for her. It was already a kindness that he didn’t impede their rescue efforts.

Indeed…

“Thump!”

Once again, his mind wandered, causing him to trip in his rental apartment. Su Mu rubbed his reddened nose, tears of physiological pain welling in the corners of his eyes, as he watched Su Xiaoqian giggle mischievously.

He truly wanted to move.

“Move?” Su Xiaoqian blinked. “Speaking of which, didn’t we send Miss Lily back home before, Host?”

“What about it?”

“It’s just that we saw a rental ad in that neighborhood.” Su Xiaoqian produced a small whiteboard and a mini projector, displaying the previous scene.

“‘South-facing, with a balcony, one bedroom, one bathroom, one living room, Wi-Fi, water heater, air conditioning—all essential amenities included. 800 yuan/month,’” Su Mu recited. The price and amenities were certainly appealing. Below the description, a phone number was listed.

He tapped the screen, feeling a stir in his heart.

“Host, it’s better to act on an impulse than let it fade. Otherwise, your procrastination will kick in, and you’ll just lie down again.”

“What kind of talk is that?” Su Mu shot her an annoyed glance. How could she read him so accurately?

After a moment of thought, he conceded her point. He pulled out his phone and dialed the number.

–Hello, I saw the house for rent, the one for 800 yuan/month. Huh? That neighborhood? Ah… over by Yuhu District.

–It’s vacant, still vacant, you say? Can I come take a look? If it’s suitable, we could finalize it right away.

–Okay, okay, mhm. I should arrive in about an hour. Just call when I get there, right? Understood, understood, mhm, that’s all!

….

The call ended.

“Host, you sound so humble~”

‘Tsk, is it my fault? Who asked life to bend my back?’

“Well, let’s go then~”

Su Mu stretched lazily. Since it wasn’t work, he hesitated, then decided against his work uniform, opting instead for a black casual jacket.

At the bus stop in front of the neighborhood, he used his phone’s navigation to find the correct bus route.

“Vehicle departing. Please be seated or stand firmly. Next stop: Yucai Middle School.”

****

Bai Ruoruo, thirteen years old, was a middle school student.

The math teacher’s lessons were the best lullaby, and the afternoon dismissal bell was the most invigorating music.

At precisely three in the afternoon, the bell rang loudly.

Having just blown a snot bubble, Bai Ruoruo shot upright, instantly revitalized. Battle time had arrived.

“Huh?” The teacher was quite startled.

“Goodbye, Teacher! Take care! Be safe on your way home!”

“Ah… oh! You too~” Truth be told, though a bit alarming, this child was surprisingly polite.

Watching Bai Ruoruo ‘pat-pat’ her way out of the classroom, the teacher, who had intended to say a few more words, turned to face forty-odd pairs of expectant eyes. Helpless, she waved her hand. What else could she do?

“Be safe on your way home~”

“Yay!”

….

“Hmph, I told you Sister Lily must have had her reasons!” Once on the bus, Bai Ruoruo, on her way home, proudly lifted her head, her expression on her phone screen clearly saying, ‘I knew it.’

‘Shocking! Saint Lily’s actions were all for…’

‘White Rose, Hero Resurrected!!!’

….

Bai Ruoruo clicked on a video posted by ‘Lucky Garden’s’ official account. It featured Saint Lily and the three individuals successfully unfrozen from their petrified states.

Saint Lily briefly explained that recent events were her efforts to rescue White Rose and the others. The reason for the sudden increase in efficiency was due to the help of a senior.

She apologized for the trouble caused by recent events and stated that such situations would not happen again. Moving forward, ‘Lucky Garden’s’ operations would continue to center around White Rose and her two companions, returning to normal.

“Ehh~ What a shame, is Sister Lily stepping down again? But it’s also good, this way no one can find a reason to scold Sister Lily~”

Bai Ruoruo sighed, feeling both regret and relief. In her mind, she recalled Saint Lily’s valiant and awe-inspiring appearance from that year.

Her small face flushed crimson.

‘When will I be able to become like Sister Lily?’

‘And…’

‘What exactly is this thing?’

Bai Ruoruo held the crystal in her hand, a beautiful blend of white and red, sparkling brilliantly in the sunlight.

‘Should I ask my sister? She writes novels and reads a lot of books, so maybe she’ll know?’

….

The innocent little girl was lost in her whimsical fantasies, unaware that she had already been targeted. And the one who targeted her was a terrifying entity, perched at the pinnacle of the villain list, capable of shaking the entire world.

‘What are you even saying?’

“Host, Host, this child is also a flower seed girl~ It seems she just awakened, still just a seed!”

Su Mu glanced at her, his expression placid, largely unchanged. Yet, inwardly, he pondered, ‘Could it really be such a coincidence?’

‘Do magical girls attract each other?’

It was incredible.

Then…

They both disembarked at the same bus stop.

Bai Ruoruo eyed Su Mu warily. “Uncle, I advise you not to harbor any ill intentions. You’ve been staring at me this whole time. My sister is very powerful, she… she’s a third-degree black belt! And she has incredibly strong superpowers! Someone like you, she could easily defeat! Really!”

“….”

“You like Saint Lily?”

“Is there a problem? Don’t tell me you’re one of those brain-dead trolls from online? Because if you are, I’m going to hit you! Sister Lily taught me, and I’m really strong! Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~”

She even provided her own sound effects for her punches—a truly dedicated individual.

“I like her too. She saved me once.” Su Mu smiled, scratching his head. “I was staring at you, little sister, because I kept hearing her being slandered online before, you know? She didn’t do anything wrong, and it just felt really uncomfortable! They even called her unforgivable. I just can’t understand it. Am I living in a different world than the people online? Is there something wrong with my brain, or with theirs?”

“It’s definitely them! Their brains are filled with crap!” Bai Ruoruo immediately declared, then looked at Su Mu again, her guard dropping a little. But then she shook her head. “No, that’s not right. Why did you get off the bus with me? I know this area very well, and I’ve never seen you here. Sure enough, you’re attracted to my beauty and want to abduct me, right!”

“Ah…” Su Mu ruffled his hair. “I’m here to meet the landlord to view an apartment, Building 63, Unit 3, Room 301. Little sister, since you’re familiar with this area, do you know which way to go for Building 63?”

….

Bai Ruoruo looked at him, not answering, but instead asked another question. “What abilities does Sister Lily have? Someone who truly likes Sister Lily would definitely know, right?”

“‘Seal,’ ‘Protection,’ and ‘Barrier’?”

“You even knew ‘Seal,’ and put it first! Mhm, you’re an old fan!” Bai Ruoruo broke into a bright smile. “Anyone who likes Sister Lily isn’t a bad person! My house is also in Building 63! Uncle, I’ll take you there!”