The body of a magical woman is beautiful.

“Xingyue, have you seen my sister? She won’t answer my calls.”

“No. She said she was going to meet someone today.”

“I see…”

Jiemeng hung up, her youthful face showing clear worry.

She had already called Liyun four or five times, but none of them were answered.

Probably just not paying attention, she tried to reassure herself.

At the moment, she stood waiting at a bus stop in Huahai City.

“Jiemeng-jie!”

“Zining, you came so fast… Eh? Even Aunt’s here too? Zining, the surprise you mentioned was this?”

Seeing Luo Zining with Ji Yue, Jiemeng blinked in surprise. Ji Yue looked a little absent-minded, as though she hadn’t even noticed Jiemeng approaching.

“Auntie?”

“Hm?” Ji Yue snapped out of her reverie, her expression softening as she saw Jiemeng.

“Mengmeng, you didn’t say you’d be coming. We’ve just finished dinner.”

“It’s fine, I’ve already eaten.”

“It feels like it’s been ages since I saw Auntie and Jiemeng-jie together,” Zining beamed.

“Not that long…”

It was true though—having all three of them together was rare. Everyone had their own lives, and they were each magical girls in their own right.

What a coincidence.

“Where’s Youyou?” Jiemeng asked.

“She went out to meet someone. Forget about her.”

Zining waved dismissively, throwing that shameless old flirt into the rubbish heap, and instead grasped Jiemeng’s hand.

“Jiemeng-jie, perfect timing. It’s almost your birthday. What do you want?”

“Birthday? Ah!”

Only then did Jiemeng remember—tomorrow was her birthday.

And Liyun’s, of course—they were twins.

Could the reason my calls didn’t go through… be that she’s preparing a surprise party for me?

Her little heart beat wildly at the thought.

Seven years—year after year, she was the only one who ever celebrated for Liyun. Back then, Liyun carried the pall of her lost aura, everything weighed down by distorted gravity. Every birthday had ended in gloom.

But now… she had finally stepped out of that shadow.

Surely, now, she wanted to make up for those wasted years, to give her sister the birthday she deserved.

“Jiemeng-jie, you’re that happy? You’re smiling so bright.”

“Eh? Am I?”

“Come on then, let’s pick your gift. I’ll pay, choose whatever you like.”

Family words were always the warmest. For Jiemeng, this felt like the happiest day she’d had in her life.

If only Liyun could mend her relationship with them too… then it would be perfect.

But still—even if things stayed as they were, wasn’t this already enough to be grateful?

No need to ask for more.

Tomorrow’s birthday was something to truly look forward to!

“Mmhm, Big Sis, you’re just that much of a scrub, huh?”

Inside the photography set, Luo You sneered.

“No—! I can’t help it! Those tools were terrifying!”

Face pale and shaking, Liyun gulped down water.

Luo You, acting like a nagging old aunt, fed her water and gave her shoulder pats, but her eyes communicated only contempt.

“Can you not look at me with such scorn, like I’m the biggest scrub under heaven?”

“But that’s what you are. Truly disappointing.”

Her disdain dripped with venom.

Just one lash of the whip and she had already screamed like the end of the world.

If this one were ever captured by an evil organization, she’d betray the Alliance before the night was through.

“I… do I even stand a chance at revenge anymore?” Liyun’s voice was pitiful.

“Mostly not. You should give up already. Become Herrera’s star-s*ave. Forget being a magical girl—you’d be a simple, happy little woman.”

“That’s going too far!”

“Then you can be my star-s*ave instead.”

Luo You smiled playfully, curling against her like a tempting serpent.

“Plenty of benefits. You’ll get to lick my feet every day… wake up with ‘love’ written across your skin, and at midday we’ll—”

“Stop! Stop! I don’t want to hear this!”

Liyun clapped hands over her ears.

This damn brat… why does she even have this kind of appeal?

Thinking it over, her mind filled with frustration—why frame it as her star-s*ave? Wasn’t she taking herself for Herrera?

Yet deep down, a dangerous thought whispered—if she truly abandoned revenge, would locking up Luo Youyou and keeping her all to herself really be such a bad trade?

The idea made her bark out an embarrassed laugh.

“You’re even laughing, Big Sis? After that pitiful performance?” Luo You’s eyes narrowed resentfully.

Liyun turned rigid, forcing herself upright. Her heart whispered fearfully—is my carefully written script really going to miscarry on the very first rehearsal?

“Just look at the footage. I couldn’t even watch.”

“F-footage?!”

“Of course. I record everything. To study areas for improvement after. Though in your case… there’s no point.”

She shoved the camera into Liyun’s hands, the speakers set to maximum humiliation.

Onscreen, her own sobbing, whimpering self appeared, caving instantly under the faintest lash.

Liyun’s face blazed crimson. She turned her face, ashamed beyond measure.

“I-it’s hopeless. Against Herrera, I’ll be utterly destroyed…”

The despair dripped from her voice.

“Without Youyou… I can’t do anything at all!”

Luo You yanked the camera back.

“Simple. If you don’t want this uploaded online, then give me a real performance next time.”

“Y-you wouldn’t! Right? Right?!”

No assurance came.

Desperate, Liyun blurted out flimsy excuses.

“It’s cause I can’t immerse myself, Youyou! Tomorrow, in the real shoot, I’ll do—ten times better! No, five times! No, at least… two…”

“Stop shrinking the number by the second,” Luo You muttered.

“Anyway! This is just rehearsal! I can’t fully immerse when I know it’s practice!”

“Oh? Then…”

Her fingers teased at the hem of her own skirt—one twist and it slid to the ground. Her lips curved, eyes gleaming hungry.

“Tomorrow we’ll shoot naked, then. No excuses left.”

“Yes! That’s fine… wait, WHAT?!”

But Luo You’s hands were already unfastening her blouse.

“Why not? You’d better perform, Big Sis. Otherwise, maybe it’s time I give up on you.”

“N-no! You’ve already sacrificed too much, I can’t let you—!”

Panicked, Liyun actually grabbed her wrists, forcing her garments closed again.

If this girl really stripped for the part… then what choice would I have left? Even my dream of revenge would collapse.

“Ugh, you scrub,” Luo You sighed.

“Say whatever you want!”

Her temper flared. But Luo You’s sigh turned calculating.

“If this continues, you’ll never immerse properly. Unless—unless you can picture me as Herrera herself.”

“Yes! Exactly! That’s it, Youyou, you’re brilliant!”

Liyun yelped, quickly latching onto the suggestion.

“Just agree with her, anything to escape…”

“Then we’re done for today. Tomorrow you’ll tell me all of Herrera’s clothing details, and I’ll imitate her 100%. Training starts then. Meeting adjourned!”

Off she swept, skirts swaying like banners.

The thought lingered in Liyun’s mind.

Tomorrow—seeing Youyou walk in as Herrera.

The very idea made her cheeks burn.

“Maybe… I can look forward to it?”

Her thoughts flicked then to her sister.

Tomorrow was her birthday.

Of course she remembered.

Family before everything—even if Youyou looked breathtaking as Herrera, she could not possibly abandon her sister’s big day.

I’ll leave enough time, get her gift ready… but tomorrow’s tight. Maybe I’ll ask Youyou to push it back a little…

She dialed, explained.

“No problem~” came Youyou’s sweet purr. “But you’ll still swing by the studio at noon. Alone. I’ll show you something special~”

The tease in her voice set Liyun’s face aflame.

“What does she want me to see? Probably her costume test, right? Perfect Herrera form!”

Tomorrow: a new Youyou, and her sister’s birthday. Double the happiness.

Inside the cab home, Luo You smirked out the window.

“Celebrate your sister’s birthday? Hah. First you’ll pass my inspection. Otherwise…”

Her voice dripped with malice.

“I’ll save you the trouble and send the precious birthday girl your rehearsal tape instead. What a gift! Perhaps Xingyu would faint straight away.”

Sighing with glee, she added under her breath,
“So perfect. All of them gathered together under one roof. Sisters, aunt, niece. A whole happy family. Everyone would believe it.”

Jiemeng had even invited her outright:

“Youyou, you’ll come to our birthday dinner tomorrow, right?”

Luo You paused, thrown off balance.

She hadn’t expected Jiemeng had come to Huahai as well.

“Fine. In the evening I’ll come. I’ll even bring you a three-tier cake. You just make preparations.”

Zining bristled.

“Off on another trip even on your day off? Careful not to run into another fire, Youyou.”

“Fire?!” Jiemeng spun, alarmed.

“Oh yes, yesterday. She got caught in one, another magical girl saved her. And the savior was—”

Her words triggered silent awe in Jiemeng.

“Really…? Is it fate? Perhaps even Heaven is speaking—that everything is mending.”

Luo You hid a grin.

Your sister’s humiliation video is already in my pocket. Make no mistake, everything is going perfectly. But only for me.

Alone in her room, Luo You mulled.

Two Ten Seats in Huahai?

Is this because of my proclamation at the Realm Pass? If they want action, why here?

Her sharp instincts prickled.

Something wasn’t right.

“Looks like I’ll need to squeeze Auntie for details. Or perhaps Liyun. One of them will talk.”

Smirking, she placed another call.

“Yes, Youyou?” Liyun answered. “I already sent you all Herrera’s outfit details. Need more?”

“Not that. I just wanted to know—any Ten Seat movement recently?”

“W-why ask that?” Liyun stuttered.

With wide-eyed innocence, Luo You cooed,

“I thought I saw Xingyu today. Just a glimpse, but I recognized her!”

Liyun choked.

“S-so you did…”

“Big Sis’s sister really is completely different. She looked so calm. Reliable. Steady.”

“Uuugh—” Liyun winced at the comparison.

Yes. She was well aware her sister outclassed her. But hearing it from someone else—unnerving.

“Anyway! Look at this photo. How’s the footed stockings? If they’re okay, I’ll wear them tomorrow.”

She sent a pic.

Liyun gasped.

“Perfect! Exactly like Herrera! …So alluring…”

She had never cared for such things—but seeing it on Youyou, her heart pounded and eyes refused to look away.

Then Youyou asked again, casual as anything:

“So, Ten Seats are moving, right?”

“…They’re planning to act against Herrera. I came to Huahai to report to Xingyue, my sister just wanted to meet me personally…”

Damn! Liyun cursed inwardly. Why did I let that slip?

“You’re terrible, Youyou. Distracting me like this! Don’t you dare tell anyone!”

“Xingyue’s here too?!” Luo You’s smile shifted, real shock crossing her face.

Three Ten Seats.

Xingyu, Xingyue, Liyun herself.

The Alliance had truly marked this city.

“Uuu… no more questions, Youyou. Please.”

“Oh don’t worry. Tomorrow, dressed as Herrera, I’ll interrogate Big Sis properly. I’ll hang you up, spread your legs, and lash you down. If you’re tougher than the heavens, maybe you’ll hold out~”

Chilled to her bones, Liyun shuddered violently.