Chapter Thirty-Two: What Exactly Is the Relationship Between You Two?

Fu Linxing took a quick glance inside before slipping into the house and shutting the door behind him, fearful that she might change her mind or that someone from the outside might see them.

Xianxin Shi was sitting composedly at the dining table. Seeing him enter, she rose and greeted him with a curtsy: "Hello, Fu Linxing."

"H-hello, Xianxin Shi... do you know me?"

Fu Linxing asked a nervous, pointless question; since she knew Fu Lan, of course she knew him too. Mostly, however, he was rattled by her sudden curtsy. While it wasn't a grand gesture, it was certainly rare—he had only ever seen such a bow in European period dramas.

This only heightened the inherent sense of unreality surrounding a magical girl, though it felt perfectly in keeping with her persona.

This was the first time in his life Fu Linxing had observed a magical girl at such close range. Her long hair shimmered with a radiant glow, the sheer fabric on her arms was as ethereal as a dream, and the gold ornaments and gemstones adorning her attire seemed like stars in a galaxy. Her pale purple eyes gazed deeply into his; she was as dazzling as a holy spirit, making him afraid to look directly at her.

It wasn't until Xianxin Shi made a gesture of invitation that he shook off his trance, and the two sat down.

"I often hear your father speak of you," she said, pouring him a cup of tea.

The cup emitted a strange fragrance, unlike any plant he knew; it smelled like something from a distant dream. But Fu Linxing remembered that his family never kept tea on hand—his old man actually disliked it.

He guarded himself, refusing to touch the cup.

Xianxin Shi didn't seem to mind, stirring her own tea with a spoon. "I apologize for meeting you this way. I made a promise to Fu Lan that I would not disturb his family, but unfortunately, an accident occurred. I have an obligation to provide a full explanation for the situation. I am here today only to retrieve some items I left in his care. I have no malicious intent, and I guarantee that I will not let the Bureau of Magical Affairs cause you any trouble."

Fu Linxing stared at her blankly until she frowned slightly, at which point he realized his rudeness and snapped out of it. He processed the information and gave a dazed nod. He then glanced toward the bedroom and asked unexpectedly, "Is my dad not home?"

While loitering downstairs earlier, he had been keeping a close watch and was certain he hadn't seen the old man slip out. Now, there were no shoes by the door, nor any other signs of him in the house. Unless he was hiding in the closet... Fu Linxing stifled the thought; he didn't want to face that scenario. It would be too awkward.

"He isn't. I intended to wait here until he finished work, but it seems that is not convenient," Xianxin Shi said, setting down her spoon. "He didn't mention you would be coming."

"Er..." Fu Linxing cast aside thoughts of Fu Lan and asked cautiously, "You aren't here for that painting, are you?"

"No."

"Oh, good... wait, I mean—"

"You tore it up," Xianxin Shi said calmly. "I know. It doesn't matter; it was just a painting."

"Then... may I ask why it was in my father's possession?"

Xianxin Shi admitted it openly. "It was one of the items I left in storage. Your father kept them for me. That portrait was painted for me by a friend; it was a keepsake of hers."

"Ah! Then I have..." Fu Linxing was mortified, never expecting his past actions to be so heinous. "I'm sorry..."

"It’s fine. Your father explained it to me. If that friend knew why the painting was destroyed, she would have agreed with it. She painted a whole pile of them anyway." Xianxin Shi observed his guilt-ridden face with satisfaction.

Fu Linxing was silent for a moment before asking, "Um... did you know my father a long time ago?"

"Yes. We knew each other before you were born."

"Even before he met my mom?"

"I'm not sure. I never ask about his romantic life," Xianxin Shi said, lowering her head to sip her tea.

Fu Linxing plucked up the courage to ask, "So, what exactly is your relationship with my dad?"

"How should I put it... your father and I simply knew each other when we were young. We haven't been in contact for many years."

Fu Linxing made no effort to hide his skepticism. "But he kept your items for all these years?"

"Because I trust him," she replied, taking another sip. "We are friends, just not the kind who stay in constant contact."

Friends?

Fu Linxing looked down at the petals in his own tea cup. He didn't know how Xianxin Shi viewed the old man, but if Fu Lan had been keeping this secret for so many years, it was likely he considered her to be much more than just a friend.

Once the topic was broached, Fu Linxing grew bolder, feeling that the magical girl before him wasn't as terrifying as he had imagined. He asked her, "Does my mom know you exist?"

"She shouldn't. Since the Bureau of Magical Affairs took power, revealing my connection to him would bring Fu Lan nothing but harm. He wouldn't take that risk." Xianxin Shi crossed her legs, resting her chin on the back of her hand against the armrest. "As for whether he told his wife, that is Fu Lan's business. I neither know nor care."

In other words, she hadn't actively interfered in the marriage between his father and mother? No, it was too early to jump to conclusions; who knew if she was lying? Besides, just because she didn't act didn't mean she wasn't responsible.

"Are you finished asking? I cannot stay here too long, and I assume you don't want the Magic Police tearing your home apart?" Xianxin Shi spoke as if she were the mistress of the house, effectively dismissing him.

Fu Linxing sat up straight and cleared his throat. "Then, Miss Xianxin Shi, I have one last question. Can you tell me, as a magical girl, why you continued to maintain contact with my father even when you knew it would cause trouble for an ordinary person? Even if he volunteered to keep your things, you should know how dangerous this is. If you truly are friends, why would you let him fall into such danger?"

Xianxin Shi was silent for a few seconds before answering expressionlessly, "That is a matter between us, and it has nothing to do with you."

"But now it involves more than just the two of you. Because he has been harboring your secrets, the old man has clearly been unable to let go for all these years. With such a massive secret hanging between them, it was bound to affect his relationship with his family."

Thinking of Fu Lan’s persistent, hovering anxiety—his smiles that, even when happy, were fleeting and tinged with sorrow—and recalling He Yue’s face, occasionally overflowing with loss and loneliness... Fu Linxing felt he had finally found the answer to that long-troubling question.

"Are you implying that his unhappy marriage is also my fault?"

Xianxin Shi raised her pale purple eyes, and the air seemed to freeze in that instant.

Fu Linxing felt a jolt of panic, but he clenched his fists, bracing himself to continue. "I just want to confirm if it has anything to do with you. Did the old man ever... love you?"

Xianxin Shi gripped the handle of her teacup so tightly that Fu Linxing could hear it cracking. Under his astonished gaze, tiny ceramic fragments floated into the air, dancing between them.

"Love me?" Xianxin Shi laughed in extreme anger. "What the hell does that have to do with me?"

Cold sweat trickled down Fu Linxing's cheek—it itched, but he dared not move. "I... if it’s true, you should have rejected him earlier instead of... leading him on."

"That is complete and utter horseshit!"

Xianxin Shi slammed the teacup down, glaring at Fu Linxing until he shrank back.

"Do you know what I'm angry about? I'm not angry because you’re slandering me; I'm angry because your head is filled with nothing but petty romance, acting like some idiot woman who goes to curse the mistress when her husband cheats! Is this the kind of absurd son your father raised? How truly disappointing!"