novelraw Chapter 18 Water Talk
Chapter 18 Water Talk
Exam week is over just like that.
Prayer Academy, Friday morning, in the psychological counseling room.
"Although I told you to give it your all, you know the gap between us, can't you just put on an act for a little while?"
Tao Zhuo slumped on the sofa, her face contorted with accusatory indignation: "I've lost all my points! If I do this again, I really, really, really, really don't deserve to play with you, Dong-mei!"
"I'm very sorry." Dongchun sat on the other side of the sofa, her tone calm, but her slightly low voice seemed to reveal her genuine apology.
At this moment, Gu Bai pushed open the door and entered, carrying a kettle that had just been filled with hot water. Seeing the scene before them, he paused and said, "Weren't we supposed to have an exam for half a day this morning? Why are you here so early?"
"Teacher, you're late today!"
Tao Zhu shook her head and sat up. As she explained, she pointed at Dong Chun and said with a pained expression:
"The first two matches were randomly paired, but in the last match you can find your own opponent, or even a teammate. I originally thought it would be a matter of camaraderie and mutual support, but a certain magical girl showed me no mercy—"
"—You said you would witness everything about me." Dongchun calmly interrupted Taozhuo's speech.
Gu Bai placed the kettle on the base, pressed the switch, and the water hummed. He casually remarked, "I was thinking there might be cheating involved."
"Teacher, we're all cultured people, what are you talking about cheating?" Tao Zhu smiled, twirling her index finger in the air: "Of course, someone who wants to become an excellent magical girl can't be without the ability to find companions."
Then, she looked at Dongchun beside her and complained, "Gentle and lovely Dongchun, don't you think so? Sigh, it seems my wish to rise in the rankings has been shattered again."
"You don't need to pay back the money I borrowed from you the other day." Tao Zhuo reached out and patted Dong Chun's head.
Love exists.
Upon hearing this, Tao Zhuo promptly lay down on the sofa, feigning a weak appearance: "Indeed, the frail Tao Zhuo likes you the most—but let me clarify first, I'm not gay!"
Her fleeting sympathy vanished completely, and Dongchun abruptly pinched Taozhuo's chubby calf: "No need to emphasize that!"
"It hurts!" Tao Zhuo said, feigning death.
"I went too easy on her." Gu Bai poured himself a glass of hot water, then glanced at Tao Zhuo on the sofa, and muttered, "But you magical girls are really quite strange."
"Which one?"
Intrigued by these words, Tao Zhuo quickly pressed for an answer: "Is it Wang Sheng, who wields the Hundred Soul Banner? A ghost spirit that can possess other people's bodies? Or are you referring to those emerging magical girls whose core is external magical weaponry?"
"Huh?" Gu Bai was greatly shocked.
No, there are so many amazing magical girls! Did I miss too much because I didn't watch more of the battles yesterday?
Wait a minute, wait a minute, it must just be Tao Zhuo talking nonsense because he doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut.
Tao Zhuo didn't care about that much and had already gotten into her own rhythm: "But my opinion is the same as yours, teacher. There are a few prospective magical girls who really have potential."
"Trying to get involved in investments again?" Dongchun, who was watching from the sidelines, understood Taozhuo's unspoken meaning.
"Didn't the savings go to zero?" Gu Bai added, temporarily putting aside the magical girls.
"Hey, hey!" Tao Zhuo jumped up from the sofa, her face contorting in anger. "Are you two an old married couple? How come you're suddenly on the same side when you're criticizing me?!"
Gu Bai ignored the nonsense, feeling the water in his teacup had cooled slightly, and took a sip to moisten his throat: "So?"
"Foolish mortals, it is the past that is reset to zero, not the future!"
Seeing that both of them were looking at him, Tao Zhuo adopted a solemn expression and said, word by word, "Remember, if you don't gamble, you're actually gambling that you'll lose!"
"The words of the dead."
"Thank you for the compliment." Tao Zhu puffed out her chest: "When I become a Seven-Star Magical Girl in the future, these words will indeed be included in the collection of famous quotes."
Gu Bai was too lazy to correct this aspiring magical girl's fantasies anymore: "So, what are you planning to do?"
"It's a secret." Tao Zhu waved her hand and smiled mysteriously, "I believe I'll soon pay off all my debts, and I'll even repay tenfold for the consultation room rental fee!"
"You actually still remember that."
"Of course, I'll spend a fortune then, so please remember to thank me, teacher—"
—Knock knock.
A knock came at the door.
Soon, the door was pushed open.
Xia Zhi stood at the door, holding an orange insulated lunchbox in her hand.
She glanced at Tao Zhuo, who was sprawled on the sofa pretending to be dead, and Dong Chun, who was expressionless beside her. Her steps paused almost imperceptibly for a moment, but her expression remained calm and composed: "Teacher Gu, lunch."
Tao Zhuo's playful expression froze instantly.
She slowly turned her head, looked at Gu Bai, then at Xia Zhi, and finally clutched her chest and fell backward: "It...it's actually true..."
"Beep, the quasi-magical girl Tao Zhuo has died from a mental attack."
Dongchun, who was standing nearby, suddenly added a lame joke that wasn't exactly lame.
Gu Bai glanced at the lunchbox on the table, then at the 'deceased' on the sofa, and slowly spoke:
"I'm not very hungry today. If no one helps me with lunch, it'll probably go to waste. Xia Zhi, is it okay if I don't eat it?"
"Of course," Xia Zhi replied seriously, then quietly stood aside.
The treatment was remarkably effective.
"My food! My food!" The words had barely left her lips when Tao Zhuo performed a medical miracle on the sofa, sprawling back into a sitting position, her eyes shining as she rubbed her hands together. "And so, since that's the case, let's begin the classic tradition of Qi Xin Academy—the Magical Girl Tea Party!"
"There is no tea."
Dongchun pointed out, "There's only water here."
Tao Zhuo was stunned, and pointed to the cup that Gu Bai usually used in front of her: "Teacher, do you usually just drink plain water from a teacup?"
"What else?" Gu Bai retorted, "Next time, will you bring me some of Qi Xin's signature magical girl drinks?"
"Alright, alright, next time I'll bring the teacher some 'Super Aphrodisiac Wife-Soothing Water'!"
With a wave of her hand, Tao Zhuo announced with a pained expression, "Then, the Magical Girl Water Party is officially open!"
"For the first chapter, Sister Xia, please tell me about how you and your teacher got to know each other, okay? Please, I really want to hear it! I promise I won't tell anyone!"
"..."
Xia Zhi probably knew that Tao Zhu was this kind of magical girl, but now that she's encountered one, she's really having a hard time dealing with her.
Too lazy to deal with Tao Zhuo, Gu Bai started unpacking the lunchbox.
Steam rose from the food. It lacked the cloying sweetness of the "Rejuvenating Essence" unique to the Qixin Canteen's nutritional meal sets; instead, it offered the purest aroma of fresh food.
Dongchun's nose twitched slightly, and her cool gaze instantly locked onto Xiazhi:
"It's not the standard cafeteria meal, it tastes like home cooking... Xia, did you make this yourself?"
Upon hearing this, Tao Zhuo, who had just picked up disposable chopsticks, froze.
She glanced at the exquisite side dishes in the lunchbox, then at Xia Zhi, and gasped, her intelligence instantly taking over:
"Wait, wait, wait! Sister Xia, you specifically asked Sister Dong to switch shifts last week, could it be just to make time for learning to cook?!"
A fleeting, unnatural expression crossed Xia Zhi's usually calm and composed face.
But things quickly calmed down: "The school's meals focus on magical nutritional supplements, but the taste is not good. In order to ensure Ms. Gu's mental health and dining experience, cooking for herself is the best solution after comprehensive evaluation."
She paused, then forced herself to add, "This was a task assigned by Deputy Zhang; I was simply carrying it out strictly."
"Wow—"
Tao Zhuo clasped her hands behind her cheeks, revealing a knowing, smug smile: "Such terrifying execution! Hmm, it's alright, it's alright, Sister Xia, I understand~"
Stared at by Tao Zhuo's sticky gaze, Xia Zhi's ear tips finally turned slightly red.
She decisively ignored Tao Zhuo's gossip radar, quickly turned her attention to Gu Bai, and forcefully steered the conversation back on track:
"Ms. Gu, I'd like to make a final confirmation regarding your trip this afternoon. Is it sufficient to arrange a regular car for you?"
"No problem." Gu Bai nodded.
However, Tao Zhuo continued to fuel the fire, saying, "Don't change the subject, Sister Xia! Just tell me something, please! I promise I won't tell anyone!"
Dongchun's fingers tightened slightly, as if she was thinking about something.
—Knock knock
Just then, there was another knock on the door.