Chương 200: The Sober Observer and the Whispers in His Ear

--ha?!"

Faced with Xingxian's high-spirited "declaration of war," Yinxue's mind went blank for a moment, and the expression on his face became extremely interesting at this moment.

She stared blankly at the pale purple-clad girl in front of her, who looked serious and seemed completely oblivious to the seriousness of her words. She even blinked a few times unconsciously, seriously wondering if she was hallucinating from being too angry.

While Ji Ying was being held tightly in Xing Xian's arms and pretending to be asleep, her heart was also in turmoil.

She almost jumped up from the ground, pointing at Xingxian's nose and shouting, "What the hell are you talking about?!"

Fortunately, her remaining rationality and deeper fear of Su Yuqing, this little devil, ultimately allowed her to suppress the impulse and maintain that "peaceful" sleeping face, as if all the disturbances in the outside world had nothing to do with her.

After a brief glitch, Yin Xue finally recovered her voice from extreme shock and asked Xing Xuan in an incredulous tone, "You—what did you say? You want to—become the most special person in Xiao Ying's heart?"

"You bastard, do you even know what you're saying?!"

Xingxian looked at Yinxue's exaggerated expression, as if she had seen a ghost, and tilted her head in confusion, but still nodded calmly and firmly, her composed demeanor as if stating a self-evident fact.

"Of course I know."

After receiving Xingxian's affirmative answer, Yinxue's vigilance towards her instantly reached its peak.

"How long have you known Xiaoying?! What gives you the right to say such things?!" she demanded excitedly, her tone filled with hostility and almost instinctive rejection.

"No, absolutely not! Are you serious? Xiaoying is—" She stopped abruptly before she could finish speaking.

Xiaoying is—my favorite Ache!

She couldn't say those words, because once she uttered the name "A-Che," it would be tantamount to completely exposing Xiao Ying's true identity and gender to this inspector she had only recently met.

Like Xiao Li, Yin Xue didn't want Xing Xian to affect the hard-won cooperative relationship between them after learning about this. Dealing with Jing Jue was the most important thing, and she understood that as well.

However, Xingxian clearly misunderstood Yinxue's sudden pause and hesitation.

Looking at Yin Xue's complex expression—a mixture of anger and anxiety, as if she were worried about something—she assumed that Yin Xue was concerned that the overly intimate feelings between people of the same sex would not be accepted by others, or that it was simply out of possessiveness towards her partner.

So, in order to dispel the other party's concerns and to show her unwavering determination, this frank inspector said something even more explosive: "I know that it doesn't matter if Xiaoying is a girl."

She smiled slightly, her silver-gray eyes sparkling with a sincere and ardent light.

"I think—I've fallen for her."

"6 This time, Yin Xue was completely stunned.

If the previous "declaration of war" only shocked and amused her, then this even more explosive and direct statement, "I like her," made her feel that her cognitive system had been subjected to an unprecedented and enormous shock.

Yin Xue opened her mouth, but all the questions and rebuttals she had prepared were stuck in her throat, and she couldn't utter a single word.

She could only stare blankly at Xingxian, who was looking at her with an incredulous gaze, as if he were an alien, and at Jiying, who was being held in her arms and pretending to be asleep.

"What did you just say?"

After a long while, she finally managed to squeeze out this dry question.

"I said, I've already fallen for Xiaoying, and it doesn't matter even though she's a girl."

Xingxian patiently repeated it, then slightly raised his chin, his silver-gray eyes flashing with confidence, and said with a hint of provocation, "I am now very clear that Xiaoying and you are close partners."

"But—that's all there is to it, isn't it?"

"If you can maintain a close relationship with Xiaoying, why can't I?" Xingxian looked at Su Yuqing's wary expression and smiled slightly.

"You're so nervous, is it because—you lack self-confidence?"

"However, it's normal to lack confidence, right? After all, the relationship I want with Xiaoying isn't just limited to being 'close partners'."

Xingxian's confident declaration completely "woke" Yinxue from her second daze.

Yes, she finally understood.

The powerful inspector in front of her, this self-righteous "love rival," was completely unaware of everything and still thought Xiaoying was just a junior high school student.

She didn't know that Xiaoying's true identity was Lin Che, that Xiaoying's true gender was male, or that there was an unbreakable bond between her and Lin Che that spanned two lifetimes.

All her current confidence is based on the mistaken belief that she is "winning the heart of a cute girl".

Thinking of this, the shock, anger, and wariness that Yin Xue felt when she first heard Xingxian's declaration instantly dissipated, replaced by a calm composure that understood everything.

Looking at this naive inspector who had launched a challenge despite the severe information asymmetry, she felt as if she were watching an ignorant child trying to challenge a dragon with a wooden sword.

From the very beginning, I was already in an invincible position in this war!

Having figured this out, the tension and hostility on Yin Xue's face vanished, replaced by a demeanor brimming with the confidence of an "official wife."

A sweet and radiant smile.

"Alright," she said with a smile, her voice light and composed, "Since you've put it this way, then I'll accept your challenge."

She paused, then extended a slender finger and gently waved it in front of Xingxian. With a tone that carried a hint of a senior instructing a junior, she added with a smile, "But don't cry if you lose to me, Miss Inspector~" This confident declaration of challenge startled Xingxian slightly, but she immediately returned the same confident smile.

"I won't lose. Xiaoying will definitely choose me in the end."

"Oh? Is that so?" Yin Xue raised an eyebrow, looking Xing Xian up and down. Her beautiful emerald green eyes held a hint of disdain, as if she were examining a worthless item.

She then crossed her arms over her chest, naturally accentuating her curves, and slowly said, "Where exactly does your confidence come from that you think you can compare to me?"

"Don't think that just because you're a little bit tall, you can do whatever you want."

"Xiaoying only likes my type."

Xingxian was slightly taken aback when she heard Yinxue's words, but she immediately discerned the other's thoughts from the gesture and said with realization, "Oh~ so you care about this? It's okay, I understand."

As she spoke, she smiled and provocatively hugged Ji Ying even tighter, making the soft touch even clearer to his senses.

As Ji Ying, who was pretending to be asleep, heard their increasingly bizarre conversation and felt the growing pressure on their faces, her inner roar was almost uncontrollable.

What's so important about that?! What kind of riddle are you talking about?! I don't understand a single word!

And what are you two doing? Are you two elementary school kids fighting over a toy?

Xingxian's seemingly "well-intentioned" "I understand," and her subsequent actions, were nothing short of blatant boasting and provocation to Yinxue, completely igniting her anger.

"You shameless woman!"

Hit where it hurt, she was so angry that she jumped up and down, unable to maintain her composure any longer. She rushed forward and swiftly and forcefully pulled Ji Ying, who was "playing dead" in Xing Xian's arms, out of his arms.

After successfully reclaiming her "possessions," she immediately followed suit, tightly hugging Ji Ying's petite body and burying her face in her arms.

Immediately, she bared her teeth at Xingxian like a cat with its fur standing on end, adopting a posture full of vigilance and hostility.

At this moment, Jiying, who was forced to change her "pillow", finally understood the true meaning of Xingxian's previous words, "So you care about this." After personally experiencing this comparison, she instantly understood the true meaning of Xingxian's words.

Oh, so that's what it is?! You two—you actually have to compete in a place like this?!

"Huh?!"

Seeing this, Xingxian instinctively reached out to pull her, but Yinxue's movements were too fast, and coupled with her current weakness, she ultimately failed to hold on.

Her right hand hovered in mid-air for a moment, as if trying to hold onto the warmth she cherished so dearly, but soon she let go of it gracefully.

Looking at the "wonderful" expression on Yin Xue's face, she showed no sign of discouragement. Instead, she revealed a confident and composed smile and said frankly, "Alright, since you want it so much, then I'll—let you have Xiao Ying for a while."

"It's not just a little while!" Yin Xue retorted immediately, puffing out her cheeks, and hugged Ji Ying even tighter.

"She'll only choose me from now on! You have no chance!"

"That's not necessarily true." Hoshino's silver-gray eyes gleamed with high spirits.

"From now on, I'll work hard, so—you'd better watch out, Gin-snow."

"Hmph! Talking to you is infuriating!" Yin Xue snorted and turned her head to the side, not wanting to pay any more attention to this "shameless" rival.

"Learning to control your emotions is a required course to become an excellent magical girl. It seems that you still have a long way to go in this regard compared to me," Hoshizuru added, delivering a sarcastic remark.

"----you!"

Liuli stood quietly to the side, watching the farcical battle over the ownership of "Xiaoying," and sighed silently in her heart.

If—if this were merely a contest over Xiaoying's adorable form, she might genuinely stand with her friend Yinxue without hesitation to confront Xingxian, this sudden outsider.

But the core of this struggle is clearly not just that petite and cute exterior, but the unique soul hidden beneath it that belongs to "Lin Che".

She knew very well that she had no right or qualification to participate in this struggle over his ownership.

but---- Her gaze fell on Ji Ying's peaceful sleeping face, which was being held tightly in Yin Xue's arms, and she sighed helplessly again.

The thing I was worried about in the old school building that afternoon has actually come true so quickly.

She knew from the very beginning that the gentleness and the selfless care never belonged to her alone, but rather stemmed from the nature of "Lin Che".

Whenever he sees someone around him in trouble, whenever he senses someone's vulnerability and loneliness, he will step forward without hesitation or expectation of reward to pull that person out of the mire and give that person the warmest protection.

And now, it is clear that Xingxian, this powerful and proud inspector, has also been completely captivated by this gentleness that comes from the depths of his being.

There's another person just like me, and she even said something shocking like, "It doesn't matter if Xiaoying is a girl."

But Liuli also knew very well that Xingxian's goal of "becoming the most special person" was destined to be unattainable.

Of course, she could enjoy that unconditional care and attention, just like me, and she could indulge in that warmth that was enough to make one feel intoxicated.

However, the "most special" position she wanted would only ever belong to one person.

That was—his best friend, who was holding "him" tightly in his arms, proudly showing off his victory to Xingxian.

Thinking of this, Liuli looked at Xingxian, who was saying "I'll give you a break" but whose eyes were full of unwillingness and competitiveness, and felt a strange sense of sympathy for her.

I wonder if this proud inspector, after learning the whole truth, will cry in sorrow?

Just as Liuli's thoughts were drifting away, her gaze inadvertently caught an extremely subtle movement.

Xiao Ying, who was being held tightly in Yin Xue's arms and should have been fast asleep, actually opened her eyes a tiny crack with extreme care.

Those dark red eyes quickly scanned the surroundings before closing tightly again with lightning speed.

The whole process was so fast that if Liuli hadn't been watching her face the whole time, she wouldn't have noticed at all.

"————" Liuli was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized what was happening and felt somewhat taken aback.

—Was she just awake? No, she clearly didn't look like it.

So, was she awake when Yin Xue and Xing Xian were fighting over her? Or—even earlier, in Xing Xian's arms—had she already woken up?

Thinking back to the "heavyweight" conversation and declarations between Yin Xue and Xing Xuan just now, it's clear that this guy, pretending to be asleep, heard every single word.

Knowing that the other person was currently trapped in an extremely awkward situation, afraid to wake up and face this chaotic scene, he could only continue to pretend to be asleep, secretly observing his surroundings in this cute yet clumsy way.

"Pfft" Liuli could no longer hold back and let out a light laugh with a hint of mischief.

"Huh? Xiao Li, what are you laughing at?" Yin Xue, who was still exchanging words with Xing Xuan, turned around and asked with some confusion when she heard her friend's laughter.

"It's nothing."

Liuli immediately suppressed her smile, gently waving her hand. She looked at her friend, then glanced at Jiying in her arms, who was still trying her best to play the role of a "sleeping beauty." A subtle smile curved her lips as she suggested, "Yinxue, didn't you want to have a proper discussion with Miss Xingxian? It's so inconvenient to keep holding Xiaoying like this."

"How about... letting her stay here with me for a while?"

"Hmm—that makes sense!" Yin Xue thought about it and felt that her friend's suggestion made a lot of sense.

So, though somewhat reluctant, she carefully handed the petite girl, who was still pretending to be asleep, to Liuli.

While pretending to be asleep, Ji Ying's heart was already on high alert when she heard Liu Li's "well-intentioned" suggestion. She had a vague sense of despair, as if she had fallen from one wolf's den into another tiger's lair.

Liuli naturally hugged Jiying in her arms, gently rubbing her soft cheek against his, feeling the delicate touch, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

She carried Jiying to a nearby broken wall and sat down, taking advantage of the moment when Yinxue and Xingxian started arguing again about "who is Xiaoying's favorite person"— She slowly lowered her head, gently bringing her lips close to Ji Ying's delicate ear, and whispered, "Xiao Ying—"

"How long are you planning to keep up this act?"

"！！！！"

A warm breath brushed past her ear, causing the feigning-sleeping Ji Ying to stiffen abruptly.

—We've been discovered?! When?!

She tried her best to control her body, not daring to make any unnecessary movements, but her long eyelashes, which trembled slightly uncontrollably, had already betrayed the turmoil in her heart.

Looking at Jiying's adorable appearance, which was clearly exposed but still stubbornly pretending, Liuli's icy blue eyes flashed with a triumphant smile.

Instead of pressing her for answers, she gently blew a breath into Jiying's ear.

"Waaah—" 1' Seeing the other person's cheeks and ears turn bright red at a visible speed, Liuli finally withdrew her gaze with satisfaction, revealing a sly yet tender smile tinged with doting affection.

She didn't continue to expose or tease the other party. She simply adjusted her position to make the girl in her arms more comfortable, and then held Ji Ying with a satisfied expression, enjoying this moment of peace that belonged only to her.

Yes, she wouldn't try to steal the most special place in his heart, the one that belonged only to Yuqing.

but---- Liuli looked down at the cute girl in her arms, who was trembling slightly with shame and embarrassment, but was still trying her best to play the role of "Sleeping Beauty". Her smile became more and more gentle.

It's okay for someone to occasionally do something a little "bad," right?

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