“What are you suddenly talking about?”
Liu Li paused, momentarily stunned, then sighed.
He shrugged off Zhou Huanan’s grasp, casting a peculiar look at him before tearing open the ice cream wrapper and biting into its chocolate shell.
Zhou Huanan observed Liu Li’s gaze, finding no trace of delight, only utter helplessness and the sort of expression one might reserve for a pathetic man.
While a hint of disappointment surfaced within him, he also conceded that he was likely overthinking the matter.
With such a minuscule probability, how could he possibly have stumbled upon it so easily?
Regardless of anything else, Liu Li was indeed unlikely to be Magical Girl Grey Moon.
What Zhou Huanan didn’t realize, however, was that after Liu Li had become Grey Moon, maintaining a taut, expressionless demeanor was a skill he had perfected.
Though he couldn’t fathom why Zhou Huanan had suddenly confessed his admiration for Magical Girl Grey Moon, Liu Li nonetheless felt a warmth spread through his chest upon hearing it.
This was especially true when it seemed the entire world despised him, yet he knew there was still someone who genuinely cared.
‘How I envy that Magical Girl Grey Moon,’ he thought.
‘Even in this state, someone still loves her.’
Liu Li’s thoughts drifted without a clear reason, and he smiled faintly, his heart filled with an inexplicable, profound emotion.
He chose to follow silently behind Zhou Huanan.
****
Eventually, they managed to find a small eatery that was still open late.
As Liu Li and Zhou Huanan ate their stir-fried rice noodles, Liu Li felt an inexplicable distance, as if the table separating them stretched for miles, despite their physical proximity.
Once their stomachs were full, Zhou Huanan observed Liu Li, whose spirits had clearly lifted considerably.
Nonetheless, a thread of worry still lingered in his mind.
“Liu Li, don’t go back tonight. Stay at my place for a few days.”
Liu Li paused, his mind slowly processing Zhou Huanan’s meaning before letting out a soft “Oh.”
“Never mind, your sister isn’t exactly fond of me…”
“That was ages ago,” Zhou Huanan explained earnestly.
“She was just a kid back then, didn’t know any better.
Now, she feels really bad about it, so you don’t need to dwell on it.”
He continued, “Besides, she’s not even home tonight.
She’s spending the weekend at a friend’s place, and my parents are abroad on a business trip.”
Liu Li quipped, “You’re certainly a trusting older brother, aren’t you?”
“Ah, you wouldn’t understand,” Zhou Huanan sighed.
“If I, as her older brother, say even a word too much, I’m accused of being overbearing.”
He called the owner over to pay the bill, then looked at Liu Li, whose expression was still somewhat melancholy, and continued, “Come on, I wouldn’t feel right letting you go home alone this late.”
“Mm…”
As if possessed, Liu Li found himself agreeing.
The two stood up, watching as Zhou Huanan hailed a taxi.
Seated in the backseat, Liu Li gazed out at the rapidly receding streetlights, a sense of bewilderment clouding his heart.
After they got out of the car, they arrived before the familiar two-story detached house, which looked just as he remembered.
He calculated that he hadn’t visited Zhou Huanan’s home since that incident.
Zhou Huanan took out his keys, unlocked the door, and led Liu Li to the entryway.
It was customary to change shoes in the foyer of Zhou Huanan’s home, and Liu Li used to visit so often.
He hadn’t expected that after a year or two of absence, his own pair of slippers would still be waiting in the shoe cabinet.
Liu Li slipped into them, a bittersweet feeling welling up inside him.
Next, he used Zhou Huanan’s bathroom, where the water heater provided an endless supply of hot water, allowing Liu Li to shower for as long as he pleased.
After his shower, he emerged, realizing it was nearly bedtime.
Zhou Huanan led Liu Li to his sister’s room.
As soon as he pushed open the bedroom door, the faint, feminine scent of perfume wafted out, startling Liu Li and causing him to recoil slightly.
Gazing at the light blue decor and fresh, minimalist style of the room, Liu Li pondered two things simultaneously.
Could he truly stay in such a lovely room?
More urgently, Zhou Huanan’s sister already disliked him; what if she found out he had spent the night in her room?
“This is your sister’s room, isn’t it? I-I don’t think this is appropriate.”
Liu Li, seized by a sudden shyness, stammered, “I-I can just sleep on the sofa downstairs in the living room.”
“Oh, come on, don’t be shy.
What if you catch a cold sleeping on the sofa?” Zhou Huanan said, pushing Liu Li into his sister’s room without further ado.
Liu Li couldn’t shake the feeling that Zhou Huanan was doing this on purpose, with a hint of mischievous revenge.
‘Ah, this guy really is something…’ Liu Li thought, a wry smile playing on his lips.
‘Well, it’s not like it’s forbidden for me to sleep in a girl’s room after I transform into Magical Girl Grey Moon, is it?’
Liu Li comforted himself with this thought.
Then, he looked up and saw the shelves in the room, filled to the brim with Magical Girl figurines, and his eyes immediately lit up with excitement.
Figurines of Magical Girl Tri-color’s four members adorned the shelves: Magical Girl Violet, Black Iris, Golden Tulip, and Orange Bellflower.
Even the ancient, legendary Magical Girl Empress Yellow, hailed as the strongest of all time, was proudly displayed.
‘These are genuine limited editions…’
Liu Li eagerly examined each one, but then a realization struck him.
The shelves were almost entirely filled with Magical Girls from every generation, including figurines of those who had been captured or had fallen in battle.
But…
“Why isn’t there a Magical Girl Grey Moon?”
“Aren’t you Magical Girl Grey Moon’s number one fan?” Zhou Huanan asked, explaining after hearing Liu Li’s question.
“How can you not know? Magical Girl Grey Moon hasn’t authorized the publication of her likeness, so there are no official figurines.”
‘Oh, really? That’s how it is!?’
Liu Li turned back in surprise, seeing Zhou Huanan already dozing off, having changed into his pajamas and ready for bed.
He was abruptly pulled from his excitement over the Magical Girl figurines back to reality.
“Why…”
“Why are you so good to me?”
Zhou Huanan looked over but remained silent, making Liu Li feel a little uneasy under his gaze.
It was then that Zhou Huanan finally explained.
“Don’t overthink it.
All you need to do today is get some good rest and sleep.”
“Besides, I know that if I were facing difficulties like yours, Liu Li, you would certainly go above and beyond to care for me, wouldn’t you?”
“Isn’t that what friends do? We help each other.”
“Alright, it’s getting late, so I won’t say much more.
If you really feel guilty, just remember to transform into a catgirl in your next life and let your brother here have some fun, hmm?”
Zhou Huanan, feigning nonchalance, deliberately let out a yawn.
Liu Li, however, was utterly shaken by what he heard, his eyes wide with shock, and his voice, in turn, rose by an octave.
“You! What are you saying?! You pathetic man!”
“You don’t want to? If not, then just turn into a catgirl and give me a blowjob.
You’re not that stingy, are you? Not even that?”
“Scram, just scram! You disgusting pervert!”
Liu Li forcefully pushed Zhou Huanan out of the room.
Seeing Liu Li shouting loudly and regaining his spirits, Zhou Huanan’s face broke into a wide smile.
Having achieved his goal, he gave up resisting and allowed Liu Li to push him out the door, which then slammed shut with a bang.
“Honestly, what was that guy talking about…”
Liu Li, his face flushed, pressed the light switch beside the door, plunging the room into darkness.
Leaning against the door, he looked at the now dim room, where the half-drawn curtain allowed a sliver of bright moonlight to stream in, illuminating the blue desk.
He listened to the footsteps in the hallway, which lingered for a long, long time before finally fading away.
Placing a hand over his chest.
“Transform.”
Her figure shrank, and her hair transformed into a beautiful silver-white.
Magical Girl Grey Moon, radiating a faint starlight, appeared in the room.
Her tender, flawless face opened crimson eyes, yet they no longer held their usual cold, indifferent gaze.
A hot mist appeared in her eyes, forming shameful, hot tears that welled at the corners.
“It’s just… a blowjob or something…”