The Cuckoo in the Magpie’s Nest

Luo You returned to the hospital, stepping out of the bathroom.

She spotted someone rushing through the entrance and quickly ducked her head, pretending not to notice, hoping to slip away.

“Ah! Found you!”

“Tch!”

Luo Zining locked onto her in the crowd, sprinting over and grabbing her hand excitedly.

“I heard Dad’s gotta be hospitalized, can’t even take care of yourself?”

Luo You glared.

“Do I look like I can’t take care of myself?”

“Huh… no hospital stay? You’re fine?”

“Why do you sound disappointed?”

“Do I? Do I?” Luo Zining reined in her expression.

The thought of bathing and changing Luo You for days had gotten her a bit too excited.

“Alright, alright, let’s go. I’m hitting the hot springs again. What a mess this was.”

“No doctor visit?”

“Nope, I’m fine. That magical girl dragged me here without asking.”

Her attitude irked Luo Zining.

She was brought here by Lady Xingyue! Be grateful, you!

But Luo You had no time for that.

Her mind was on one thing: how to take down Xingyue and thoroughly conquer her.

This needed careful planning.

Xingyue’s overwhelming magical aura when subduing those kidnappers showed she wasn’t like other magical girls—easy prey.

That unique, commanding presence reminded Luo You of someone unsung by the world.

“Zining, ever heard of a magical girl named Chiyu?”

“Huh? Nope…”

“What about Blood Rose? Her alias.”

“Nope. Was she a famous magical girl? Did she do idol events or something?”

“…” Luo You’s tone dripped with faint disdain.

“That’s the problem with you mortals…”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Tell me who she is, then!” Luo Zining’s brows shot up.

“Forget it. No point.”

Luo You shook her head.

Her daughter, a magical girl, didn’t even know what Chiyu represented.

The Magical Alliance must’ve buried that history deep.

“Ow!”

Luo You turned to see Zining glaring, her hand pinching her waist.

“…Ugh, she’s long dead. Happy now?”

“That’s it? That’s not enough! People will think I’m clueless. Spill more!”

“If you really want to know, don’t ask me. Use your own skills to dig into it. Someone like her shouldn’t be forgotten.”

—Especially not by a magical girl like you, who should honor the one who brought hope to us all.

Luo You thought darkly.

“Hmph! You old hag, if I find out you’re messing with me, I’ll wreck you!”

Luo Zining filed it away, planning to investigate later.

More pressing was the ongoing Level 3 dimensional beast alert.

Should she head to the scene to help?

With Xingyue there, she’d likely just get in the way, but she really wanted to see the strongest magical girl’s fighting style up close.

“Damn it! I ditched that chance to come nurse this old hag, and it was for nothing!”

Luo Zining gritted her teeth.

Hope Aunt Ji Yue recorded Xingyue’s heroic moves for me!

Time passed quickly.

By the third day, news of the King-level dimensional beast near Jiuming Sea being defeated hit the headlines.

Most details were negligible, but two stood out: minimal damage and zero magical girl casualties.

In the past, King-level beasts caused heavy losses and casualties among magical girls.

This time, it was different—the beast was obliterated effortlessly.

All thanks to Xingyue.

Someone recorded it on their phone.

Xingyue’s performance was terrifying—not for her devastating magic, but for her flawless teamwork.

The beast had no chance to fight back, controlled to death without landing a single effective strike.

It was so pathetic that viewers felt sympathy for the creature’s frustration.

And this was Xingyue holding back to train her team.

After all, she was the one who could solo Dragon-level beasts!

Never rash, her strength restrained, she conserved power for when it was needed.

With teammates, she leaned on their strength; alone, she turned the tide herself.

Her “royal” fighting style thrust her back into the global spotlight.

“Today’s trending topics are all about Lady Xingyue… She’s incredible.”

Luo Zining’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

“Stop gawking at your phone and help with the luggage!”

“Fine.”

Today was the day Luo You’s family headed back.

Before getting in the car, Luo You noticed Zhou Xi was missing.

“Where’s Zhou Xi? Not coming back with us?”

“Senior Zhou Xi’s busy. She said we should head back first.”

Luo Zining loaded the luggage into the trunk, slammed it shut, and hopped into the passenger seat, buckling up.

“Zining, once we’re back, focus up. Study hard, got it?”

“Yeah, yeah, what are you, my mom? I’m always in the top twenty in my grade, okay?”

“Wait, your grades are that good!?”

Luo You was stunned.

She’d never paid attention to her daughter’s academics, assuming a kid like her would barely scrape into some no-name college.

To think she was… actually that good?

For context, Luo You herself only graduated middle school.

“Uh, well… do whatever you want at home. Don’t mind me.”

A twinge of inferiority crept in.

What’s so great about good grades? All that math, language, physics, chemistry—useless in the real world! Better to gain social experience now for a better life later!

[I’m just a middle school grad, but I’ve taken down a hundred magical girls! A bookworm like you could never match that!]

With that self-assurance, Luo You’s mood lifted.

Oh, and Xue was stashed in a suitcase in the trunk.

If they hit a security check, Luo You would definitely be arrested for human trafficking.

After a morning’s drive, Luo You dropped Zining off at their building.

“You head up. Leave the luggage in the car. I’ve got somewhere to be.”

“Huh? Where’re you going, Dad?”

Luo Zining’s alarm bells rang.

This old hag better not be sneaking off to meet some shady guy…

“An interview! At the old gym. I used my past identity to score a slot, and it’s today.”

“Oh…”

Seeing Zining relax, Luo You shut the car door and started to drive off.

But Zining spun back—

“There won’t be any interview ‘unspoken rules,’ right?”

“Of course not! Get going!”

“Dad, I’m serious. If there’s any shady stuff, say no! Don’t compromise!”

Luo You’s patience wore thin.

“I got it, I got it. If I don’t work, you gonna support me?”

I could support you! Just stay home and be a useless lump!

Luo Zining wanted to say it but held back.

She wasn’t just being paranoid—being a magical girl wasn’t unpaid.

Risking life and limb came with hefty rewards.

Not enough to be filthy rich, but more than enough to support a family.

“Gone!”

Luo You floored it to forty, speeding off before Zining could nag more.

“Xue, come out.”

“Pfft—!”

A small hand poked out of a crack in the suitcase, and Xue popped out.

“You, where we going?”

“First, finding a place to settle you.”

“Isn’t that like being a mistress?”

“Mistress, my ass! If anything, you’re a secret daughter, but you’re not even that!”

If she weren’t driving, Luo You would’ve kicked Xue’s mouth shut.

Even facing a kid like Xue, Luo You showed no mercy—true to her “equal treatment for all” villain creed.

Back in the rogue organization, she’d used her position to snag some perks.

She owned properties across the country, big and small.

In Huahai City, she had a modest hundred-square-meter place, fully furnished, perfect for dumping Xue in.

“Here we are.”

Luo You took her up the elevator, keys in hand.

But as she inserted the key, the door swung open on its own.

“Hm?”

A woman, about fifty, appeared.

“Who’re you? What’re you doing with keys at my door?”

“…”

Luo You stepped back, checked the door number—definitely the right place.

“This your house?”

“No shit, whose house would it be, yours?”

“No, who are you? Living in my house?”

“!?”

The woman’s face shifted, as if realizing something.

She slammed the door shut with a bang, yelling from behind it:

“Honey! Call our son back! Someone’s trying to steal our house! Oh, heavens, what a sin! My house!”

“Pfft~~” Xue couldn’t hold back a laugh.

Luo You’s face burned with embarrassment.

Her temper flared—this was some shameless squatter nonsense!

She’d heard of cases like this, cuckoos taking over magpies’ nests, but never thought it’d happen to her.

This was a headache.

Even with a deed, it wouldn’t be easy.

It’d make a big scene, and then the whole world would know she had a “secret daughter”… ugh, no way!

“How you gonna handle this?” Xue asked eagerly, ready to… do something.

Luo You snorted.

“Hmph, I’ve got plenty of ways!”

The simplest? Hypnotize them, make them off themselves, done.

She’d do it when their son showed up.

But…

Half an hour later, Luo You stood dumbfounded, facing a mob of the woman’s relatives and friends hurling insults.

“…”

What the hell! So many people!? I can’t make them all kill themselves!

Two or three could pass as an accident, but a dozen? That’s a full-blown case!