Emerald Sparrow finished pouring the hot water and carried a few teacups back to the living room, just in time to see Xia Liang, draped in a bathrobe, walking out from the direction of the bathroom.
"Found it in the kitchen."
To avoid any misunderstanding, she explained this as she arranged the freshly brewed tea on the coffee table.
Setting down the cups, pushing the teapot, she returned to the sofa, picked up her tea, and Emerald Sparrow was silent for a moment before she lightly began:
"Why did you run away from home?"
When she asked this question, she did not look at Xia Liang because she didn't want to put too much pressure on her.
Although it was just a hunch, she could feel that Xia Liang might be harboring quite a few secrets.
"Ahaha, this... can I just gloss over it?"
Facing this question, Xia Liang's voice sounded somewhat husky, with a tinge of probing in her tone.
Emerald Sparrow's eyebrows raised slightly, "What would be a good excuse to gloss it over with?"
"Let me think... the usual squabble with family, how about that?" Xia Liang looked around hesitantly and smiled as she raised her right index finger.
"Sounds pretty believable."
Emerald Sparrow neither confirmed nor denied and sipped gently from the edge of her teacup before she said, "Is that what you told Bai Mei as well?"
"Xiaolu hasn't asked me yet."
Xia Liang shook her head, looking somewhat disappointed, "She agreed to let me stay at her home without knowing anything, and I had prepared so many interesting reasons."
"That child, although she won't admit it, is indeed a bit stubborn, so don't bully her too much."
Emerald Sparrow set her teacup down, her profile turned towards Xia Liang, "But, this 'Xiaolu'... did she tell you her real name?"
"Huh? She mentioned it when we first met."
Xia Liang was clueless but detected something else in Emerald Sparrow's tone, "Is there a problem?"
"There is. When appearing in public as a magical girl, it's customary to address each other by code names."
Emerald Sparrow's eyes lowered, "I am Emerald Sparrow, you are Little Jin, Lin Xiaolu is Bai Mei. When you transform into a magical girl, the code name is your name."
"It's not just with enemies and strangers. Even among magical girls, revealing one's real name and true identity is something that comes after mutual trust has been established."
"Don't expose your vulnerable side to those you don't trust, unless you're strong enough."
With these words, Emerald Sparrow looked up, her hands clasped together, "That's why I will always use your code names when you're transformed. It's not just because I've only shared the code names with you—relationships need to be reciprocal. It's also because it's a good habit."
Xia Liang nodded in understanding and then suddenly clapped her hands, "Can I apply to change my magical girl code name to 'Xia Liang' now?"
"Don't ask foolish questions."
"But I've already told Xiaolu my name, what should I do?"
Emerald Sparrow sighed, "Among companions in the same city, real names are bound to be shared eventually. But when you leave Fangting City and meet magical girls who are not your companions, that's when you need to be mindful of this."
Muttering this word, Xia Liang's eyes flickered, then she narrowed her eyes and bowed her head, wrapping her bathrobe around her more tightly, "So, am I now just glossing things over with a companion?"
Emerald Sparrow, not noticing Xia Liang's small gesture, or rather, pretending not to care, stood up and patted her skirt, "Being cautious with enemies and strangers, and offering trust to companions as much as possible, is the policy for magical girls."
"Bai Mei is a naïve child; she will believe you. I know you're a good kid, and I'm willing to believe you too. No one will force you to say anything you don't wish to say."
"So, when you feel you trust us enough, then you can share what's on your mind."
After all, every Magical Girl from the material world, to varying degrees, has her own inner confusion.
She did not voice this thought.
Emerging from a subtly somber mood, Xia Liang lifted her head as if touched by something.
She slowly began to speak, as if wanting to say something, then pursed her lips, hesitated, and once again lightly opened her vermilion lips—
—"I'm done with my bath, sorry to keep you waiting, you can go in…"
Xia Liang's words were interrupted by a brash voice. Lin Xiaolu, dressed in casual home clothes and with a towel around her neck, emerged from the bathroom still wreathed in steam.
Halting her speech midway, she entered the living room and saw the two sitting there, meeting their somewhat odd gazes, and couldn't help but stop her original line of talk, widening her eyes: "What's up? Were you talking about something just now? The atmosphere feels a bit strange…"
Emerald Sparrow glanced at Xia Liang, who similarly turned her gaze. They looked at each other for a moment, one closing her eyes, the other showing a somewhat helpless smile.
It seemed the previous conversation could not continue.
"Just simple chatter, nothing much."
Emerald Sparrow casually brushed away Lin Xiaolu's question, took a sip from her tea cup, set it down, and walked toward the balcony:
"Well, since you all are settled here, I'll take my leave now, there are other things to take care of."
She really couldn't stay longer, after all, she had slipped out during her lunch break, and the afternoon still held work for her. Now, already delayed by an unexpected hour, if she didn't return soon, it might cause problems.
"Eh, you're leaving already? Stay a bit longer, Emerald Sparrow."
Hearing that Emerald Sparrow was about to depart, Lin Xiaolu reflexively wanted to persuade her to stay, her eyes darting around in search of a reason for her to linger. Finding none, however, she caught sight of the several cups of hot tea on the table: "...what's with the water there?"
"Couldn't sit still, found it in the kitchen."
Without breaking stride, Emerald Sparrow walked to the edge of the balcony, looked back at the living room: "Was thirsty, so I took the liberty of making tea, but it's a bit hot, remember to let it cool a bit before drinking."
"See you tomorrow." That was her final remark.
With that, she did not linger, leaped from the railing, and disappeared into the air with a stream of azure Magic Power.
Leaving Lin Xiaolu and Xia Liang behind, staring at the now empty balcony.
After Emerald Sparrow left, Lin Xiaolu stood in place, frowning, staring blankly ahead, muttering to herself.
"I actually don't think it's anything?"
Guessing she was displeased with Emerald Sparrow's hasty departure, Xia Liang smiled wryly and waved her hand, trying to smooth things over: "Little senior always speaks her mind, so she probably really has things to attend to, and isn't just making excuses. There's no need to be upset with her, right?"
"So cool!" Lin Xiaolu lifted her face, her eyes sparkling with stars.
"Huh?" Xia Liang was taken aback once she understood what Lin Xiaolu was saying.
"Did you see it? You saw it, right?"
In a complete turnabout from her typical distant attitude toward Xia Liang, Lin Xiaolu pointed to the balcony, her zeal reminiscent of some street-corner preacher, her hands gesticulating: "Did you see it? That move, talking while jumping off the high point and then flying away with a burst of Magic Power. Don't you think Emerald Sparrow's moves were super cool? I want to learn that too!"
Watching Lin Xiaolu buzz with excitement over this strange occurrence, Xia Liang managed a polite smile while internally recalling the words Emerald Sparrow had said before:
Single-minded, huh? Seems about right.