“Now? Hmm.”
Jiang Yuelan was currently lying flat on the bed, leaning against the pillow with an IV in her hand. She tilted her head toward Su Bai and revealed an inexplicable smile.
In a teasing tone she said, “What’s this, Xiao Bai? So concerned about my opinion of White Iris?”
Su Bai was immediately a little creeped out by Jiang Yuelan’s smile and thought, My identity hasn’t been exposed, has it?
It shouldn’t be. If it had been exposed, a witch wouldn’t be acting like this.
“…Not really. We just happened to bring it up. Last time’s conflict was because of this too.”
Jiang Yuelan saw through it but did not call it out. Clearly she cared so much, yet she was pretending not to care at all.
“My opinion hasn’t changed, Xiao Bai.”
“But everyone says…”
“What does that have to do with anything? I simply trust her. What does it matter how others see her?”
“But…” There were true parts mixed into those rumors, such as the fact that she really had undergone a gender change and really had hidden it from her teammates.
“Xiao Bai likes White Iris a lot too, doesn’t she?”
“I… don’t… I…” Alarm bells rang loudly in Su Bai’s heart. She must not let herself be connected to White Iris in any way.
“Don’t deny it. Deep down you still like her—whether it’s magical girls in general or White Iris.
But now the magical girl you like is being attacked and smeared with rumors. You don’t dare say you like her, and you don’t want to say you dislike her either, so you can only claim you don’t care. That’s how it is, right?” Jiang Yuelan spoke in a speculative tone.
Sister, is Jiang Yuelan’s ability to fill in the blanks this strong? What is this even about?
She just didn’t want to get involved with White Iris, that was all.
Seeing that Su Bai did not refute her, Jiang Yuelan continued. “There’s no special reason for my trust. It’s simply trust—trust in a White Iris who has saved countless lives. That’s all.”
“But aren’t you afraid that everything is true? Aren’t you afraid she’ll let down your trust?” Su Bai could no longer suppress the fear in her heart and asked in a trembling voice.
Jiang Yuelan saw Su Bai’s slightly trembling hands and instantly understood what the other was thinking.
This little one is surprisingly kind. So what has been troubling her all along isn’t the harm those criticisms themselves have caused her.
What she truly fears is that she cannot respond to other people’s expectations, that she will let down people’s trust.
“Even if it’s true, what does that have to do with my choice to trust her now?
I am willing to believe in her. This is a judgment I made based on the information currently available. Naturally I will not take it out on anyone, including White Iris herself.”
“……” Su Bai fell silent.
She had never imagined someone would think this way.
“Moreover, White Iris herself is probably very troubled as well. Facing the surging accusations and abuse in online spaces, plus the Association’s almost completely cold treatment with no room to maneuver… All we fans can do is trust her.”
Su Bai looked at the gentle expression that appeared on Jiang Yuelan’s weak face. An unprecedented stirring rose from the bottom of her heart, making her face feel a little hot.
Jiang Yuelan continued. “If White Iris can hear what I’m saying, then I hope she can pull herself together.
Whether it’s resting, clarifying the rumors, or even doing things others don’t understand—we fans only hope that White Iris can become herself again.”
After hearing this, Su Bai’s expression solidified, and her eyes also became clearer.
These words had touched her deeply.
Yes. Ever since that betrayal, her will had been depressed the whole time. Her thoughts had been chaotic. She had been completely unable to calm down and think things through.
But now she seemed to understand. Those fans, Yu Xiaoyan, Jiang Yuelan—what they liked was not only the White Iris who possessed Super S-rank power.
More importantly, it was the belief she had held since becoming a magical girl, the will that had supported her in continuing forward. And she had almost thrown all of that away in her depression.
“Thank you, Sister Xiaolan. I understand.”
Su Bai had figured it out. Even without power, so what? She could still do the things she was capable of doing.
Jiang Yuelan nodded. It seemed she had taken another step into Su Bai’s heart.
Toward White Iris, toward Su Bai, that curiosity was growing stronger and stronger. Looking at it this way, the secrets on Su Bai’s body were far more numerous than she had imagined.
The Association, the “Tea Party” she herself had joined, the magical girls, and those little rats in the shadows—among all of this, every force seemed to be secretly pushing something.
The Association sending Su Bai to her side was definitely not a random arrangement.
Things were getting interesting.
While Jiang Yuelan was thinking about Su Bai’s matters, Su Bai was also thinking about Jiang Yuelan.
To be honest, she was shaken. Facing this person whose “motherly attributes” were maxed out, Su Bai simply could not connect her with those witches no matter what.
Of course all of this could be explained as a disguise, but was it really necessary?
A witch playing house with her every day?
No. Impossible. Looking at Jiang Yuelan’s somewhat pale little face from the heatstroke.
She denied that idea. No witch would debase herself just to put on an act simply to come find her and talk about these things.
Eliminating all impossibilities, there was only one conclusion left: the Association had made a mistake. Jiang Yuelan was not a witch at all.
Perhaps she was just an innocent person who had been dragged into this?
What on earth was going on?
She had not felt it before, but only now did Su Bai slowly react. Her brain began to race at high speed.
If one were to say it, everything was far too coincidental. There was a sense of déjà vu, as if a storm was about to arrive.
There was definitely some conspiracy in this.
Doesn’t that mean Jiang Yuelan’s current situation is very dangerous?!
An ordinary person inexplicably entering the conflict between witches and the Association.
Not good. She did not want the person who had just been counseling her to get hurt because of her.
“Sister Xiaolan, have you run into anything strange recently?” After a stretch of silence, Su Bai immediately began to ask.
Jiang Yuelan lay on the bed, tilted her head, and thought.
“Strange things? No. We’ve only been at school for a few days. What strange things could I have run into?”
“The only time I went a bit farther was the day of the exhibition. Why?”
“Nothing… Sister Xiaolan, if you run into anything strange recently, you must tell me. I’ll help you.”
“Pfft. Looking like that, how are you supposed to help me? You’re so short, so skinny, and still a little dummy.”
Jiang Yuelan was amused by Su Bai. What kind of madness was this, wanting to protect a witch.
“Don’t say I’m short or that I’m dumb. Today when you got sick, I was the one who supported you over here.” Su Bai was unwilling when Jiang Yuelan called her dumb.
“That’s right. Supporting me and nearly walking into the wrong room, ending up in someone else’s office.” Jiang Yuelan smiled brightly and recounted the little accidental episode from when Su Bai had supported her to the clinic earlier.
“That was an accident. I counted the floors wrong. Accidents are accidents!” Su Bai was a little annoyed and embarrassed, and she spoke while gesturing wildly in her urgency:
“Uwahhh, anyway, you don’t need to worry about it. I have a way to protect you. Trust me.”
“Alright, alright. I believe you. I’ll look forward to the day you protect me.” Jiang Yuelan laughed softly and spoke in the tone one uses to coax a child.
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