A Lonely Night’s Wait

As night deepened, a hint of fatigue flickered across Qin Xiyao’s lovely face after her bath. The steam, escaping from the bathroom, had veiled the mirror, coating it in a thin layer of mist.

Raising her hand, Qin Xiyao wiped away the mist, and instantly, her delicate features, faintly flushed, were reflected in the mirror.

She emerged slowly from the bathroom, releasing a soft sigh. As anticipated, the room was steeped in darkness and an unsettling silence. The space, already uncomfortably spacious on an ordinary day, felt several times larger tonight, appearing exceptionally desolate.

Only loneliness and a chilling solitude seemed to remain as her companions.

Qin Xiyao flicked on the light. Clad only in a thin silk nightgown, she could do nothing to conceal the soft, alluring curves that stretched from her high bosom to her flat stomach. Her fair skin, glimpsed beneath the fabric, shimmered like white jade under the lamplight.

A delicate pink glow graced her slender calves. The warm, ambient light from the living room lamps diffused gently, falling upon the girl’s feet, as though painting the floor beneath her with a variegated yellow.

Having dried her damp, long hair, Qin Xiyao returned to her room, but not, as was her habit, to immediately settle at her desk to read beloved poetry or essays, making notes to cultivate her literary appreciation.

Instead, she picked up the phone from her desk, her gaze searching for any new messages.

[I heard them say a Calamity Beast appeared in Wutong District? I’m so worried… Bai Muxue, how are you?]

[Bai Muxue… it’s already been an hour. The Calamity Beast seems to have been defeated by a newly appeared Magical Girl. If you’re safe, could you please reply to my message?]

[Bai Muxue… I was too impatient then. It was my fault; I shouldn’t have pressured you to make a decision. I’m sorry, truly sorry.]

[I won’t say things like that again. We’re still best friends, aren’t we? Please, just reply to me… just once…]

Ever since witnessing the appearance of a Calamity Beast in Wutong District, where Bai Muxue resided, Qin Xiyao, consumed by worry for her friend’s safety, had sent message after message. Yet, she waited an agonizingly long time, her sent words sinking into silence like stones cast into the deepest ocean, utterly devoid of a reply.

Could it be poor signal reception, a consequence of the Calamity Beast?

Or had Bai Muxue encountered some peril?

Or perhaps… she had grown tired of me, even disliked me, and simply had no desire to reply…?

Between Bai Muxue facing danger and Bai Muxue refusing to acknowledge her, if one absolutely had to come to pass, then perhaps the latter would be preferable…

Her small hands clenched into fists, her dark eyes swirling with a myriad of complexities and internal struggles. Slowly, she set down her phone and opened her notebook.

Facing the blank expanse of white paper, the girl desperately wished to enter a state of study. Yet, her mind remained utterly blank, as though all her thoughts and inspirations had been silently wiped away.

Qin Xiyao simply sat there, lost in a daze, her thoughts drifting aimlessly into the distance, with no clear destination.

Suddenly, the phone she had cast aside chimed, a sharp ‘ding-a-ling’ breaking the silence.

‘It was a call! She was calling!’

Qin Xiyao joyfully snatched up the phone, connecting the call without a glance.

“Hello! Bai Muxue! I’m so sorry I… huh?”

“Oh, it’s Mom…”

The girl’s lips, which had just curved upward, subtly drooped once more. Nevertheless, she quickly composed herself, her voice tinged with concern as she inquired:

“Speaking of which, Mom, your business trip should be ending soon, right? You should be back in a few days… huh?”

“Because there are quite a few signs of strange beings acting over there, the business trip might have to continue… I see.”

Her small hand, clutching the phone, trembled imperceptibly. The smile the girl had painstakingly managed to conjure slowly faded once more, leaving only her lips pressed into a tight, straight line.

‘But Mom, you’ve been on this business trip for almost a year. Is this really okay?’

Qin Xiyao uttered silently in her heart.

“Hmm, there’s nothing that can be done about it. Mom, you need to be careful over there too, after all, those strange beings are very cunning and terrifying.”

Yet, regardless of the turmoil within the girl’s heart, her mother on the other end of the line only perceived her daughter’s lighthearted tone of concern.

“Mhm, it’s fine, after all, work is important. And Bai Muxue usually keeps me company, so I’m not lonely at all…”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m perfectly fine by myself at home…”

As she casually uttered words of reassurance, Qin Xiyao found her vision blurring, a sharp pang of pain and bitterness blooming in her heart.

Yet, this ineffable emotion remained unexpressed to her mother, even after she ended the call.

She knew that if she truly broke down, weeping and confessing her weariness and loneliness to her mother, her mother would undoubtedly abandon her post at once, board a plane back to Wangdu, and rush to her side.

This, Qin Xiyao understood perfectly.

However, she could not allow herself to do so.

‘Because Mom, and her colleagues from the Anomaly Investigation Department, chose this job to protect everyone in this world.’

If she were to call and tell her mother, it would surely cause trouble for her, and for the other uncles and aunts in the Anomaly Investigation Department.

She could not be so selfish as to sacrifice the happiness of others for her own.

Yes… even for the happiness of others, she ought not to burden her mother with worry, but instead be a dutiful daughter worthy of her praise.

Qin Xiyao wiped her eyes, then slowly rose. Her exquisite, jade-like feet, truly works of art, stepped onto the floor, their backs like flawless jade pendants, revealing a faint, rosy blush amidst their pristine fairness.

Feeling utterly drained, she returned to the living room sofa and switched on the television.

“This afternoon, the Calamity Beast that appeared in Wutong District has been defeated by a Magical Girl. Specific casualties and damages are currently being verified. Citizens are advised to pay attention to safety, follow official guidance, and avoid entering dangerous areas…”

“According to personnel from the Anomaly Investigation Department, this black Magical Girl was not previously on record and may be a newly emerged Magical Girl…”

Witnessing the devastating scene in Wutong District on the television, Qin Xiyao, whose heart was already in turmoil, grew even more restless. She swiftly grabbed the remote control to change the channel.

“Recently, a series of child disappearance incidents occurring across various districts in Wangdu have drawn public concern. Parents should strengthen supervision over their children and enhance children’s self-protection awareness. Relevant departments are currently conducting further investigations…”

“Why don’t you love me! Why!”

“Welcome to Xiao Ming’s Kitchen today, today’s…”

As the television programs cycled through, Qin Xiyao paid no heed to their content. She merely sought the distraction of sound, as though its presence might infuse a sliver of warmth into the solitary house.

Just as the girl’s eyelids grew impossibly heavy, threatening to pull her into a deep slumber at any moment, the phone she had left in her room chimed once more.

“Huh…?”

Qin Xiyao groggily fluttered her eyes open, then swayed unsteadily into the room to retrieve her phone.

The very next moment, her eyes snapped wide open in utter disbelief, the lingering drowsiness instantly vanishing without a trace.

This time, it wasn’t a call, but a message from someone.

‘[Sorry, Xiyao, things were too hectic just now, and I didn’t have time to reply. How are you doing? Are you okay?]’

‘[It feels a bit inconvenient to send messages. Are you free right now?]’

Accompanying these messages was a video call request.

A video request from Bai Muxue.