Chương 116: Let's try again under a different guise

Facing Liuli's icy blue eyes that were fixed on him, Jiying nodded slightly and did not continue to deny it.

"Your judgment is correct," she said with unusual composure.

"I do know Xing Shuang."

Upon receiving this affirmative answer, Liuli's expression suddenly softened, and the corners of her tense lips turned up slightly, revealing a faint, relieved smile.

"Thank you—for telling me all this," she said softly, her voice filled with obvious joy.

"I'm so happy."

However, to Liuli's surprise, after admitting that he knew Xingshuang, Jiying did not end the topic there.

She looked at Liuli, a complex light flashing in her deep, dark red eyes, and her tone became serious and solemn: "But, Liuli, there is one thing I hope you can understand."

She paused, then spoke each word clearly and firmly: "My care and concern for you are unlike anything anyone else could ask of me."

It doesn't matter.

These words caused Liuli's smile to freeze slightly, and a hint of confusion appeared in her eyes: "But you just said that you know Senior Xingshuang, isn't that right?"

Jiying gently shook her head, interrupting Liuli's words: "The reason I came to this city and appeared in front of you is indeed because Xingshuang needs to leave Jiangchuan City for a short period of time."

"She was very worried about the two of you newcomers being responsible for dealing with the potential infiltration of the virtual world without sufficient support, but that was only one part of the reason."

"More importantly, she was worried that the Void Apostle Mirror Lord, who was lurking in this city, would take advantage of her absence to attack you."

"That's why she asked me to protect your safety to the best of my ability until she returns."

After listening to Ji Ying's detailed explanation, Liu Li's confusion did not lessen at all, but instead became even more intense. She looked at Ji Ying, her clear, ice-blue eyes filled with bewilderment.

"Since—you were entrusted by Senior Xing Shuang to take care of us and protect us—." She tried hard to organize her thoughts and make sense of the logic behind it.

"Then why do you say that your concern and care for me has nothing to do with anyone else's requests? Isn't that a contradiction?"

Jiying sighed softly to herself. She knew that Liuli would definitely ask this question, since her answer did sound full of inexplicable contradictions.

But she also knew that if she wanted to truly enter the heart of this sensitive and insecure girl in her current identity, and if she wanted her to truly accept her kindness without any conditions attached, then there were some things she had to tell her clearly, even if it required a lot of extra explanation—she wanted Liuli to understand that this concern and care stemmed from "Silent Shadow's" own will, and was not merely to complete the task assigned by "Star Frost".

"If my only goal was to fulfill Xingshuang's request, to 'take care' of you all, then I have many simpler and easier ways."

"I can act like a qualified 'bodyguard' when you're in danger, appearing promptly to resolve the trouble and then leaving quietly, without you even knowing I exist."

"I can also act like a strict 'instructor,' pointing out your shortcomings and urging you to improve while you're fighting, and then—when you no longer need me—I will disappear."

She paused, then said softly, "But I didn't choose to do that, did I?"

"What I've done isn't something a simple 'trustee' would do, nor is it the price someone would pay simply to complete a 'task'."

"I did that not because anyone asked me to, nor because I had any mission to complete, but simply because I was willing."

"It's just because, from the bottom of my heart, I wanted to do it that way."

Liuli was completely stunned. She stared blankly at Jiying, not knowing what to say for a moment.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, she opened her mouth, wanting to ask, "You don't understand me at all, you don't even understand us, so why would you have such thoughts about me?" But the words stuck in her throat, and she couldn't utter a single one.

Ji Ying seemed to see through her doubts, and a faint, knowing smile appeared on her face: "Xing Shuang has indeed told me a lot about you, and I also know a little about your past experiences."

"To be honest, it hasn't been easy for you to get to where you are today."

Upon hearing Jiying mention "their past experiences," Liuli's eyes dimmed considerably. The slight warmth she had felt from being treated with sincerity seemed to be replaced by a deeper sense of guilt and self-reproach.

She almost immediately recalled her extremely hostile attitude and the barbed words she had uttered during her previous meetings with Senior Xing Shuang.

She lowered her head abruptly, her voice filled with undisguised shame and regret, and whispered, "What I did to Senior Xingshuang before was anything but honorable—" Seeing Liuli suddenly start to doubt herself again, Jiying shook his head helplessly: "What I was talking about was you and Yinxue, how you bravely stood up time and time again to fight against those Void Beasts and protect this city and those innocent citizens. What are you thinking?"

Standing to the side, Yin Xue immediately chimed in, "That's right, Xiao Li, Xiao Ying was definitely talking about positive things. Why did you suddenly think of that?"

Liuli shook her head stubbornly, unconvinced by their comfort: "But what happened is an undeniable fact. You really shouldn't have treated me like that—."

Her subtext was clear: since you know Senior Xing Shuang, you must have learned from her about your past dishonorable, even despicable, deeds.

If that's the case, how could you possibly still have such kindness and protection towards yourself? Someone like you doesn't deserve to be treated so gently.

Looking at Liuli's slightly pale face and tightly pursed lips, Jiying sighed softly as he listened to the profound self-doubt in her words.

She stepped forward, and under the gaze of Yin Xue's slightly widened emerald green eyes, she stood on tiptoe and gently stroked Liu Li's soft, short hair.

"I do know those things, but Xing Shuang also once told me that you are essentially a very kind and very brave good child."

"Your previous somewhat sharp behavior was not from your true heart, but more of a self-protective mechanism when you were misunderstood."

"She has never truly blamed you, so why would I?"

Jiying's fingertips lightly brushed against Liuli's hair. She tilted her head slightly, gave a soft "humph" in a tone tinged with arrogance, and then continued:

"And let me emphasize again, although Xing Shuang and I do know each other, I am not her junior or subordinate or anything like that. She can't just order me around."

"So, no matter how I treat you, she can't affect me in the slightest."

Upon hearing these words, Liuli slowly raised her head.

She looked at the petite girl in front of her, who was standing on tiptoe, trying her best to adopt a "senior" posture to comfort her, and saw the genuine concern and care in her deep, dark red eyes.

She finally... truly and deeply felt it.

This kindness, this protection, this selfless dedication—it did not come from anyone's request, nor from any vague "sense of responsibility."

It was because she simply wanted to do it, from the bottom of her heart.

The moment she realized this, Liuli smiled with relief. She looked at Jiying, her voice soft yet filled with utmost sincerity, and whispered:

"Thanks-."

"Thank you so much, Xiaoying."

Seeing the genuine, relieved smile on her companion's face, Yin Xue breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at Ji Ying and asked somewhat cautiously:

"Um—" Xiaoying, judging from the tone you used when you mentioned Senior Xingshuang just now, it seems you were communicating with her on a completely equal footing?

"Does this mean you're an adult like Senior Xing Shuang? Should we start calling you 'Senior Xiao Ying' from now on?"

Ji Ying's smile froze slightly, and she sighed inwardly, "Sure enough, once you tell a lie, you need to tell more lies to cover it up."

The fact that "Xingshuang's true form is a mature adult" was a lie she made up on the spot when she went shopping with two juniors to avoid revealing her true identity. She never expected that Yinxue would bring it up at this time.

However, judging from Liuli's reaction just now, at least the existence of that lie was not entirely without benefit.

Returning to the question from before, Ji Ying knew that if he said he was an adult here, it would definitely make the two people in front of him feel uncomfortable, so he could only sigh helplessly in his heart again.

She tried her best to maintain a calm expression and replied in as natural a tone as possible, "I'm actually about the same age as you. I only look shorter because of the transformation."

Upon hearing this answer, Liuli asked curiously, "Then why didn't you address Xingshuang as 'senior' like we did?"

Ji Ying casually turned her head away, her tone slightly guilty: "Well, that's because I'm an apostle of the Void Realm. Since my system is completely different from your magical girl system, there's naturally no need for me to follow the so-called senior-junior rules of magical girls."

Upon hearing this, Liuli nodded slightly, seemingly accepting this explanation that sounded reasonable.

Yin Xue seemed to breathe a sigh of relief upon hearing this answer. She stepped forward and subtly pulled Ji Ying into her arms, affectionately rubbing her face against his soft cheek.

"Great! Thank goodness it wasn't what I thought." She let out a satisfied sigh.

"Xiaoying, who's about my age, is definitely the best!"

"Hey! You bastard!" Ji Ying struggled in Yin Xue's arms, but found that she could not break free from the seemingly weak but actually powerful restraint.

She protested loudly, somewhat exasperated, "I've changed my mind! What I just said doesn't count! Xing Shuang and I are usually on equal footing; strictly speaking, I'm your senior! You can't do such a rude thing to your senior! Let me go right now!"

Hearing Ji Ying's seemingly fierce but actually weak "protest," Yin Xue not only showed no intention of letting go, but instead hugged him even tighter, and the smile on her face became even brighter.

"Hehehe—Xiaoying pretending to be a dignified senior is so cute! I just can't bear to let go!"

Standing to the side, Liuli looked at her partner's "obsessed" expression and Jiying, who was being held in her arms. Although he was saying seemingly stern words, his face was secretly blushing. She couldn't help but find it a little funny.

When Yin Xue finally felt satisfied and "had her fill," she released the "Senior Xiao Ying" in her arms, who had been almost completely worn out from being rubbed and squeezed.

Liuli stepped forward and stood in front of the girl who looked somewhat weak. She looked at the girl and asked softly, "Xiaoying, I have another question for you."

"Since you and Senior Xing Shuang already knew each other, why did you hide this from me before?"