She no longer simply acquiesced to her parents' words as before.

Magong Zhen felt a mix of joy at the change, but there was also an inexplicable complexity of emotions.

Magong Xing's voice rose,

"Perhaps this is the paradoxical parental mindset of 'wanting the bird to soar high yet also wanting it to return to the nest from time to time'?"

Magong Xing tilted her head onto Magong Zhen's shoulder, her tone tender, "But in reality, no matter how things change, Tong is still our daughter... this is one thing that will absolutely never change."

Magong Zhen held Magong Xing's hand and didn't dwell on this problem for too long. He gave it some thought and asked, "By the way, when did Tong begin to change?"

The old Magong Tong didn't know the first thing about dressing up, always had bangs too long, her complexion was perennially pale, and she only had a few outfits at home, looking just like a female high school student.

But the current Magong Tong was different.

She knew how to dress up, could read people's expressions, and didn't speak as weakly as before.

All these changes, from when did they start?

"Perhaps... it all started when she met Beichuan," Magong Xing said with a chuckle as she glanced at Magong Zhen, "I remember Tong mentioning that boy to us, but you were so busy with company business at the time, you didn't pay much attention, did you?"

Cough, cough...

Magong Zhen coughed somewhat embarrassingly and didn't hide the truth, "That's exactly what happened. There was too much going on at the time; I didn't notice my daughter's changes, and that was my mistake. But—"

He stroked his chin and thoughtfully turned to look in the direction Beichuan Si had just left from.

"Beichuan...huh?"

...

At that moment, at Beichuan's house.

Because of Magong Tong's situation, Shen Gu Mirai didn't manage to buy any underwear, and out of concern for Beichuan Si, she specifically stayed over at his place.

As soon as she saw Beichuan Si return, Shen Gu Mirai naturally rushed to stand up, ran to his side, and asked with particular concern, "Mr. Temple, when did you leave the spiritual realm?"

"...A little after seven in the evening."

Beichuan Si glanced at Shen Gu Mirai as he changed his shoes.

Why is this girl suddenly asking about this?

"Look at the time I sent you the message!" Shen Gu Mirai pouted.

"I know you sent me a message." Beichuan Si didn't check his phone.

He knew that Shen Gu Mirai had sent him a message, but because Magong Zhen and Magong Xing were nearby, he felt awkward bowing his head to use his phone. As for on the car ride...he'd done something else, so he never got around to replying to Shen Gu Mirai.

In response, Beichuan Si's actions were very straightforward.

He openly admitted his mistake to Shen Gu Mirai.

Seeing Beichuan Si admit his mistake, Shen Gu Mirai's expression immediately lightened up a lot, while she also became somewhat preoccupied.

Beichuan Si said he went to do something else after getting in the car...but what was that something else?

'I'm very curious.'

Her thoughts were as clear as if they were written on her face, and Beichuan's reaction was to shake his head.

He hadn't seen that expression on Shen Gu Mirai in quite some time.

Beichuan Si directly addressed Shen Gu Mirai's question, "I went to your house for a bit."

This answer took Shen Gu Mirai by surprise. Her eyes blinked in astonishment, and her tone was strange. "...To my house? Mr. Temple, you went to my house? What for?"

"To fetch you some clean clothes to change into."

Beichuan Si replied as if it were the most natural thing.

Hmm???

Why would you fetch clean clothes for me?

I'm not dirty, and I don't need to change clothes—

Wait a minute!

Shen Gu Mirai blinked again.

She was a smart and cunning girl.

Combining what Beichuan Si had said before with his usual actions...

Shen Gu Mirai seemed to understand.

She looked at Beichuan Si uncertainly, "You mean... I'm staying over here tonight?"

"That's correct," Beichuan Si affirmed her statement.

Hmm????

Shen Gu Mirai gaped, utterly confounded, "But I hadn't thought of that at all!"

"I had."

Beichuan Si stated indifferently.

His overly natural expression even gave Shen Gu Mirai a feeling that 'things are meant to be this way.'

"Besides, you said so yourself, didn't you?"

"I said what?"

Shen Gu Mirai scratched her head, becoming even more puzzled by what Beichuan Si was alluding to.

"Next time show me... wasn't that what you said?" Beichuan Si asked with an unchanged tone.

Next time show you...?

Shen Gu Mirai suddenly remembered.

She had indeed said something like that to Beichuan Si this afternoon.

Next time to show him her underwear... But—

"Isn't that next time?" Shen Gu Mirai's cherry-pink lips quivered.

She was now completely confused.

"Isn't now the next time?" Beichuan Si asked, looking at her strangely.

Uh...

If the afternoon was the last time, then now really seemed like the "next time" as Beichuan Si said...

But I never thought of it that way! I was just concerned about Mr. Temple's situation!

Why did it turn out like this?

Shen Gu Mirai scratched her head.

Just as she was utterly confused, a girl in a pale white kimono floated out from the Shinra Bell.

A teardrop mole adorned her eye, and she looked at Beichuan Si with a gentle gaze, "Mr. Temple, isn't it about time you stop teasing Miss Mirai?"

Teasing?

Shen Gu Mirai's mouth hung open, and she turned to look at Beichuan Si in astonishment.

The young man with an expressionless face waved his hand nonchalantly, "It's fine, Yongshi, Mirai knows I'm joking."

Uh—

This heavy trust made it impossible for Shen Gu Mirai to give the lecture she had planned for Beichuan Si.

So Mr. Temple was just joking after all.

But I didn't know he was joking!

This is my own negligence.

Shen Gu Mirai's fervor deflated in the face of Beichuan Si's few words.

"Really? Does Miss Mirai know you're joking...?" Magong Yongshi furrowed her brows slightly, looking at Shen Gu Mirai with a puzzled expression.

Faced with Magong Yongshi's doubtful gaze, Shen Gu Mirai felt a pang of conscience but still managed to keep her voice even and forcefully uttered the conscience-betraying words, "Haha... of course, I knew Mr. Temple was joking with me, haha... how could I possibly not know?"

Shen Gu Mirai's eyes showed a hint of guilt.

"Really?" Magong Yongshi just observed for a moment before smiling with an understanding look, "That's right, it is Miss Mirai. It's natural for you to understand Mr. Temple's thoughts. I was overthinking it."

Beichuan Si also chimed in from the side, "Yeah, after all, it's Mirai. And the joke I made is so easy to understand. In fact, I should say it this way, the joke I made is very easy to understand, everyone can easily get it... I am aware of this in my heart."

Saying this, he even patted his chest as if to show he was certain.

"..." Shen Gu Mirai.

Stop it, Mr. Temple, I'm begging you to stop.

Shen Gu Mirai just felt her conscience aching.

"Just as Mr. Temple said, someone as clever as Miss Mirai, it's impossible not to understand you were joking just now," Magong Yongshi commented, sounding approving.

All this back and forth left Shen Gu Mirai at a loss for words.

She could only shrink her neck, occasionally stealing glances at Beichuan Si.

A while later, Beichuan Si spoke again.

"By the way, Mirai, this is for you."

In front of Shen Gu Mirai, a small cloth bag suddenly appeared.

Shen Gu Mirai instinctively caught the thing that was thrust at her, her tone confused:

"What's this...?"

"Change of clothes for you."

Beichuan Si took on a matter-of-fact demeanor once again.

Ah???

I thought it was a joke?

Shen Gu Mirai opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to ask.

But she was afraid Beichuan Si was joking, so she covered her mouth instead.

I don't know anything, I'm afraid to ask.

Luckily Beichuan Si didn't conceal anything; he explained:

"The thing about showing me your underwear... that was a joke, but you still have to spend the night at my house today. It's already very late."

"????" Shen Gu Mirai.

She clutched the small cloth bag in her hand, completely confused.

Beichuan Si... which statement was a joke and which wasn't?

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