Unexpected Interruption

“That concludes my presentation. Thank you all for listening.” Shen Xian bowed slightly to the audience.

Zhuang Xun, seated in the back row, applauded softly.

“Excellent. Next up.”

Shen Xian unplugged her USB drive and walked towards Zhuang Xun’s seat. She settled beside her, leaning in to whisper, “Want to grab a meal after class?”

Zhuang Xun tilted her head, nodding. “Sounds good.”

“What are you two planning to eat?”

A familiar voice drifted from behind them. Zhuang Xun and Shen Xian turned in unison.

Shen Xian’s face immediately twisted with distaste. “What are you doing here?”

Zhuang Xun gave a polite, slight nod. “Senior Ning.”

“Little Shen Xian, why can’t you learn from Zhuang Xun’s attitude? Look at how she treats her seniors. You’re truly breaking my heart~” Ning Qi prattled on, her tone completely devoid of any genuine emotion.

Zhuang Xun, accustomed to such antics, merely smiled.

Shen Xian rolled her eyes. “We’re not in a senior-junior relationship, and you’re only two months older than me. Yet you constantly act like my big sister.”

“How rude. But I’m not here for you this time anyway. Zhuang Xun, I wanted to ask you…” Ning Qi leaned forward.

Zhuang Xun observed Ning Qi’s movement, sensing she was about to whisper something. A premonition of trouble washed over her. She had a feeling Senior Ning was about to ask an unanswerable question.

“You and Shen Xian… What exactly did you two—”

Ning Qi had barely begun when Shen Xian clamped a hand over her mouth, pushing her back. Shen Xian shot her a serious glare. “We’re still in class. Ning Qi, do you want us to fail?”

Ning Qi raised an eyebrow, her voice muffled against Shen Xian’s palm. “Mmph…”

Zhuang Xun’s gaze flitted between the two. She quickly interjected, “Senior Ning, I’ll answer your questions after class.”

After speaking, Zhuang Xun carefully watched Ning Qi’s expression, fearing she might be displeased. It wasn’t until Ning Qi relented that she finally relaxed.

“Hmm… Alright then.” Ning Qi leaned back.

The moment Zhuang Xun turned around, Shen Xian leaned close, whispering urgently into her ear, “Just play dumb no matter what she asks you. That one definitely wants to steal my only team member!”

Zhuang Xun smiled, nodding. Senior Ning’s intentions for seeking me out surely aren’t what you’re imagining, Senior.

Zhuang Xun stood before the vending machine, her gaze sweeping from top to bottom.

“So, you two last night…” Ning Qi started.

Zhuang Xun abruptly pressed a button. Since no money had been inserted, the machine let out a sharp, loud BEEP.

The sound completely drowned out Ning Qi’s words.

Zhuang Xun tilted her head politely. “Senior, is there anything you’d like to drink?”

“Hmm…” Ning Qi, who had been leaning against the wall, stepped beside Zhuang Xun and scanned the vending machine. She pointed casually. “This one, I suppose.”

“Alright.”

As Zhuang Xun inserted the change, Ning Qi calmly continued, “So, you really didn’t do anything?”

Zhuang Xun squatted down, retrieving three drinks from the machine. She handed one to Ning Qi. “Senior Ning… I have no intention of taking advantage of anyone.”

Ning Qi popped open the can with one hand and took a sip. “If it wasn’t that, did you two do something else? The toxin disappeared faster than I expected.”

Zhuang Xun, holding the two remaining cans, leaned against the adjacent wall. “We just played some games together. Senior and I were also a bit surprised by how suddenly the toxin vanished.”

Ever since they arrived in the hallway, a scorching gaze had been fixed on them from nearby.

“I see… well, let’s assume that’s the case then.” Ning Qi seemed indifferent. She chugged her drink in one go, then tossed the empty can perfectly into a nearby trash bin.

“Senior Ning, may I ask your real reason for coming here?” Zhuang Xun asked. Concern for Senior Shen Xian was one part, but traveling from her own school to theirs would take over an hour. There had to be another reason.

“There’s a strange magical fluctuation around here, so I came to investigate. Of course, I also stopped by to check on you two. You both made for quite an interesting sight, didn’t you?”

No sooner had she spoken than the owner of that scorching gaze, who had been standing by the classroom door, sprinted towards them. She stood in front of Zhuang Xun, her demeanor cool and defensive.

“Are you not leaving now that you’ve finished talking?” Shen Xian crossed her arms.

“How ruthless. I did save you and Zhuang Xun, and even provided free hot spring services,” Ning Qi feigned hurt.

Shen Xian twitched her lips. “Little Zhuang Xun even bought you a drink. I’m sure Senior Ning isn’t such a petty person, right?”

Ning Qi, who had been calm moments before, widened her eyes slightly, a smirk forming on her lips. “Of course not. I was merely reminding my junior, and you, to pay attention to your safety. Report any problems to me.”

This last sentence was directed at Zhuang Xun.

Zhuang Xun nodded. “Understood. Thank you, Senior Ning.”

“Here, take this.” Ning Qi tossed a small vial into Shen Xian’s hand. “Although the toxin is gone, it’s uncertain if there are any lingering traces. This is an antidote; have your junior inject it for you. I’m leaving.”

Zhuang Xun’s peripheral vision caught Shen Xian catching the antidote. She looked up at Ning Qi. “Senior, would you like to have lunch with us?”

Ning Qi waved her hand, walking away without looking back. “No. I have an appointment.”

Only after Ning Qi had departed did Shen Xian turn to Zhuang Xun. “What did that Ning Qi say to you?” She didn’t seem to find Zhuang Xun inviting Ning Qi to lunch awkward at all.

Zhuang Xun glanced at her wrist. “Senior, shall we talk as we walk?”

Shen Xian tucked the antidote into her coat. “Mm.”

“A magical fluctuation?” Shen Xian pondered for a moment after taking her seat at the restaurant.

She picked up her fork, twirled some spaghetti, and put it in her mouth. “Even though you and I are here, my superior still sent that Ning Qi over!”

Zhuang Xun pulled out a pack of tissues from her pocket and placed them on the table. “Senior, your body only just recovered today. Your superior probably arranged it out of concern.”

“I know that…” Shen Xian propped her face up with her hand. “But I couldn’t feel anything, even though it’s so close.”

Her expression was tinged with disappointment.

“Senior…”

Ever since her senior had developed her pheromones, her sensitivity to detecting monsters had significantly decreased. Her senior would rarely show such emotions, but she had to be feeling sad inside. The senior she admired had always been a proud, capable magical girl.

Before Zhuang Xun could utter a word of comfort, Shen Xian simply smiled dismissively. “Never mind. Since Ning Qi is here, nothing major will happen anyway.”

With that, she lowered her head and began to eat the spaghetti in front of her. She would occasionally look up, meeting Zhuang Xun’s gaze, and ask calmly, “Little Zhuang Xun, aren’t you eating?”

Zhuang Xun watched Shen Xian, her chopsticks wavering in her hand. “I am.”

She had barely taken a few bites when an urgent voice rang out.

“Shen Xian! What are you doing here?!”

She looked up. It was Senior Shen Xian’s friend—Ji Xiao—the only normal friend who knew Shen Xian was a magical girl.

Shen Xian looked up at Ji Xiao, who was panting heavily, and asked, “What happened?”

“Something big happened!” Ji Xiao’s gaze swept over Zhuang Xun, then she quickly rattled off, “You’re Shen Xian’s junior, right? I always hear her talk about you. Your name is Zhuang…”

“Zhuang Xun.”

Her senior actually talks about her to her friends…?

“Right! Zhuang Xun. Hello, hello. My name is Ji Xiao.”

“Hello, Senior Ji.”

“Let’s get to the point. What exactly happened?” Shen Xian quickly interrupted.

Ji Xiao immediately returned to the main topic, speaking with extreme seriousness and earnestness. “There’s a monster at the library!”