Transform into a magical girl after getting off work

Under the clear light, the porcelain white plates faintly reflected a sheen from the oil. Scattered across the wooden dining table, the cutlery lay either neatly arranged or in disarray. Emerald Sparrow leaned against the chair's back, her arms crossed, her right fingers tapping slowly at the crook of her arm.

Across the table, Lin Xiaolu and Xia Liang sat properly in their seats.

In between them, the table was set with several dishes of homestyle food that still retained their warmth and seemed to be tasty based on their appearance. However, much of the food remained untouched, clearly undisturbed. The expressions of everyone around the table were tense, even Nini sat upright and proper, while only Magic at the corner of the table seemed to be enjoying the food without a care.

After dinner, Emerald Sparrow had required the two girls to recount the entire matter in front of everyone. Upon learning that all the tutoring money she had given had been misused, she pursed her lips and remained silent for a long while.

This made Lin Xiaolu, who was already feeling guilty, even more nervous. Although she maintained a proper posture, her gaze continuously fixed on her knees as if there were treasures on the ground; Xia Liang, though not as frightened as Lin Xiaolu, clearly knew she had done wrong as well, her face sporting an ingratiating smile, filled with pleading in her eyes while looking at Emerald Sparrow.

Emerald Sparrow's gaze swept back and forth over the two girls' faces, and after a long moment, she closed her eyes and let out a resigned sigh, "So, what you're telling me is that you both used the tutoring money I gave you, but didn't buy any books."

The two girls didn't move, nor did they utter a word, clearly admitting it by their silence.

"What more can I say? You're both big kids now, and the basic principles of using money responsibly don't need to be taught by me."

She narrowed her eyes, her tone gradually softening, "I'm your senior, not your parents, and I have no obligation to instruct you on right and wrong for these kinds of things, although I am a bit dissatisfied and disappointed, it's not enough for me to criticize and blame you harshly."

"I am just a little helpless, after all, I'm also half a teacher to you when it comes to studies, but you've completely forgotten what I entrusted you with."

"Perhaps I have given you too heavy a burden? After all, you didn't have to patrol on your own before, now you have to go to school during the day, patrol for safety after school, and I still press you to study when you come home. It's a bit too tough compared to your peers, shouldn't I give you a bit more personal time?"

"If you have any complaints about this, feel free to tell me, I can reduce some of your work... Hmm? What's wrong, Bai Mei?"

Before Emerald Sparrow could finish, she noticed that the expression of her daughter in front of her seemed off.

Lin Xiaolu's shoulders began to tremble slightly, and soon her eyes and nose turned red. After two sobs, tears started to stream down profusely.

"I... sob sob, I didn't mean to..."

She seemed to want to explain, but her words were choked off and couldn't finish.

This reaction drew the attention of the other girls nearby, with Xia Liang wearing a "I knew it would happen" resigned smile, and Bai Jingxuan's face full of confusion and misunderstanding.

"What's going on?"

Emerald Sparrow, who had been serious just a couple of seconds earlier, suddenly felt flustered, quickly hopping out of her chair and running over to Lin Xiaolu, turning to face her and asking, "Why are you crying? What reason do you have to cry? Did I speak too harshly?"

"It's not that... I, I didn't forget what you said, Emerald Sparrow, and I didn't mean to complain. How could I not take seriously or dislike the things you've said, I've never thought that way, not in the slightest..." Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire

Lin Xiaolu, covering her mouth and nose, unable to stop the shaking of her shoulders, stammered, "I really just clicked wrong by accident, I'm sorry..."

"Really just an accident? Then fine, I misunderstood you."

Emerald Sparrow tried to soften her voice, "I understand now, I won't blame you anymore, just stop crying, okay?"

"I, I didn't mean to cry..."

Lin Xiaolu tried to suppress her sobs, "I just, just can't help it."

"It's okay, if you can't help it then cry a little, it's alright."

Emerald Sparrow opened her arms slightly, waving them a bit, "Don't hold it in, go ahead and cry, I don't mind."

"Crying is so ugly..."

"Not at all, Magical Girls look cute even when they cry."

"I don't want to do bad things, please don't hate me," Lin Xiaolu sniffled twice.

"I don't hate you, you don't have to worry about that," Emerald Sparrow strived to make her response sound earnest enough.

Half coaxing and half comforting, Emerald Sparrow finally managed to stop Lin Xiaolu's tears, but even after the crying had ceased, she still clung to Emerald Sparrow's sleeve, as if afraid she would run away.

After such chaos, the dining room finally regained some semblance of peace. Having soothed Lin Xiaolu, Emerald Sparrow remembered that she hadn't finished speaking, but the atmosphere had shifted to the point where putting on a stern face was difficult.

All she could do was look around wearily, eventually setting her gaze on Xia Liang, "Bai Mei has explained herself. Do you have anything to say?"

"Sorry, little senior, I won't dare to do it again," Xia Liang immediately put her hands together and bowed her head, "Please spare me."

"...Sigh, let's just leave it at that."

Emerald Sparrow sighed, turning her gaze toward Bai Jingxuan and pointed at Xia Liang, "Do you see? Make sure you never follow their example."

Bai Jingxuan nodded obediently, looking every bit the enlightened one.