A Calculated Encounter

Before long, it was already morning of the next day, and the gentle sun shone faintly.

Having largely recovered, Bai Muxue rose early, and she now stood before a milk tea shop, scrolling through the messages Shen Jingyi had sent the previous evening.

–Did you happen to catch the news just now? They’re reporting the appearance of another magical girl. Do you know anything about it?

–Oh? No, I don’t. Something unexpected came up for me this afternoon. And what about Teacher Shen? Have they found any leads?

–I’m not sure. Since you didn’t show up this afternoon, I returned to the convenience store. I only caught the news when I arrived home this evening.

–Hmph, it’s merely a magical girl, hardly a matter of great import. I’m going out with someone else today, so let’s grant Teacher Shen a day of respite. Just remember to keep an eye on your messages, or else, *hehe*…

–Understood.

‘A new magical girl… Could it be Amber? Has her investigation advanced? Or did she merely happen to resolve an incident caused by some 怪人 (TL Note: A ‘怪人’ often refers to a monster or villain, common in tokusatsu or superhero genres.) causing a stir in Wangdu?’

Bai Muxue thoughtfully stroked her delicate chin.

‘Alas, I wonder if she’s uncovered anything! I should have been more assertive then, insisting she leave me a way to contact her. Yet, given that young girl’s temperament, she likely would never have agreed, would she?’

The very thought of Amber’s mischievous, enigmatic nature made the young woman’s teeth itch with vexation!

‘Never mind, why waste thoughts on that one!’

Bai Muxue let out a soft huff, her gaze drifting to the extensive queue inside the milk tea shop.

Despite the early hour, every seat within the milk tea shop was occupied, and a considerable number of patrons even waited outside the entrance.

“It appears this shop is hosting some sort of promotion today, a ‘buy one, get one free’ deal, perhaps? No wonder the crowd is so immense…”

Observing the girls inside and outside the establishment, all chatting and laughing, Bai Muxue nodded in contemplation.

‘Hmm, it seems modern youth are quite fond of milk tea. Xingwan enjoys it, Xiyao does too, and Miss Shen… well, she likely lacks the disposable income for such indulgences.’

However, her early morning visit was certainly not for the purpose of purchasing milk tea.

Bai Muxue’s cheeks puffed out ever so slightly, her eyes gleaming with a cunning light, and a sly smile playing upon her lips, betraying the machinations within her mind.

In truth, after returning to the Bai family estate the previous evening, she had still been contemplating a return to the amusement park with Shen Jingyi the following day for a thorough investigation.

However, the detailed dossier on the owner of the construction company that had initially contracted the amusement park’s construction, which arrived that morning from the assigned investigator, prompted Bai Muxue to alter her plans.

–Liu Li, fifty-two years old. She was once the proprietor of a construction firm operating under the Bai family’s umbrella. Several years prior, a scandal involving mismanagement led to a bitter falling out with the Bai family, and her husband subsequently divorced her. At present, her sole living relative is a daughter.

After reviewing the information that had been sent to her, Bai Muxue’s eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze settling upon the seemingly ordinary young woman bustling about the shop.

‘A daughter, indeed… how interesting…’

Still standing outside the entrance, Bai Muxue suppressed a smile, retrieved her phone, and opened her chat history with Qin Xiyao from that very morning.

–Xiyao, are you awake?

–Oh? Xiaoxue, you’re contacting me so early in the morning? Is something the matter?

–Uh, no, nothing terribly important, actually… It’s just that the weather isn’t as stifling today, so if Xiyao happens to be free, perhaps we could go out for a stroll later?

–Oh, absolutely! For busy Xiaoxue to personally invite me out to play, this humble girl simply must accept the invitation. Shall we perhaps grab a meal together afterwards?

–That should be fine, I think? Oh, right, I also have two tickets for a band performance. How about we catch the show together this afternoon?

–A band? A *band*? I never would have imagined Xiaoxue would be interested in such things! Though, I suppose it’s not entirely unexpected…

After all, given Miss Bai’s penchant for entertainment, attending a band concert hardly seemed a surprising endeavor.

In truth, however, Bai Muxue held little interest in girl bands.

With a psychological age nearing forty, she genuinely struggled to comprehend the appeal of things favored by the younger generation.

The true reason she had invited Qin Xiyao to this performance, however, was because…

Bai Muxue pursed her lips, and this time, she deliberately opened… Tang Xingwan’s chat history.

–Yoo-hoo! Xiaoxue, Xiaoxue, are you there? Are you there!

–I’m here. Do you need something from me?

–Yes! There’s a very important favor I need to ask my good friend!

–Go on?

–Well, you see, I bought two tickets for a band performance I absolutely adore… but I’ve got something to attend to this afternoon and won’t be able to make it. Xiaoxue, could you go in my stead? Otherwise, they’ll simply go to waste!

–Uh, but I know absolutely nothing about bands or such performances…

–No worries, no worries at all! Just going to soak in the atmosphere is perfectly fine! I’ll send you the e-code shortly!

****

Given all these circumstances, Bai Muxue opted to discard the entirety of the elaborate plan she had formulated the previous night, choosing instead to start anew.

As for the inaugural step of this fresh strategy, it would commence right here, at this very milk tea shop!

Naturally, Bai Muxue harbored no intention of joining the queue; after all, she hadn’t come here for milk tea.

Slipping her phone back into her pocket, she began to wander around the perimeter of the shop, feigning aimlessness.

The young woman’s striking, beautiful features, coupled with her impeccably stylish attire, rendered her undeniably the most conspicuous presence within the throng.

Her very appearance seemed to eclipse the other girls in the milk tea shop, causing them to fade into obscurity.

–Is that girl some kind of celebrity? She’s absolutely gorgeous…

–I couldn’t say. Perhaps an internet celebrity streamer, or a young lady from a prominent family, I suppose?

‘Alas… possessing such an exceptionally striking appearance truly isn’t always a blessing…’

Having grown accustomed to being the focal point of any crowd, Bai Muxue sighed, then retrieved a pair of sunglasses from her bag to shield her exquisite features.

Only after waiting outside the shop until every other customer had dispersed did Bai Muxue finally stride directly towards the ordering counter.

–Hello, and welcome! What can I get for you?

The attendant, observing that the beautiful young woman who had been lingering outside, yet never approaching to order, had at last entered the shop, offered her a polite smile.

‘If she was simply avoiding the queue due to the crowd, she could have just scanned the QR code, couldn’t she?’ the young attendant mused silently to herself.

–Uh…

Upon hearing the question, Bai Muxue, who genuinely knew little about milk tea, revealed a troubled expression.

She cast a cursory glance at the shop’s menu, then, after a brief hesitation, declared: “Two cups of bubble tea will suffice.”

–Would you like any toppings?

–Hmm… no, thank you.

–And for ice and sugar?

–Uh, a little less of each, please.

–Alrighty then! Two bubble teas, light on ice and sugar. Please bear with us for just a moment, esteemed customer!

After confirming the order with Bai Muxue, the young attendant offered a polite nod, then turned to begin preparing the milk tea.

‘Tsk, my rhythm has been completely thrown off…!’

Bai Muxue gritted her teeth, watching the young woman’s slightly hurried back, and mentally rehearsed the lines she had painstakingly prepared.

–Excuse me…

–Yes? Is there anything else I can help you with, customer?

Upon hearing Bai Muxue’s voice, the young woman turned her head, a flicker of confusion in her gaze.

Bai Muxue let out a delicate cough, then removed her sunglasses, revealing a profoundly meaningful smile to the young woman behind the counter.

–If I’m not mistaken, you must be Ms. Liu Li’s daughter, correct?