You wouldn't want them to be bullied, would you?

Page 5

"Madam, since this is a charitable act, the number of students eligible for free schooling is limited. We are aware of your family's situation, so we came to see you first."

The researcher's attitude remained unchanged; he was still kind and friendly.

Celine's mother bit her lip, caught in a fierce dilemma.

Should we give up this opportunity, or send Sirin to the Babylonian Laboratory?

“Madam, you must understand—the other children are waiting for us to come over, and you don’t have much time to think about it.”

The researcher's words were like the last straw that broke the camel's back, completely crushing the hesitation in Xilin's mother's heart.

Please wait a moment.

"Say it respectfully," said Xilin's mother, then slowly closed the door.

Upon hearing this, the researcher's smile grew even brighter, tinged with an ambiguous emotion.

The door had already closed, and Celine's mother was unaware of the change in the researcher's smile.

"Sirin!"

"Hey? Mom, is there something you need from Celine?"

Xilin immediately closed the fairy tale picture book, put on her shoes lightly and skillfully, and ran into her mother's arms.

Celine's mother hugged Celine tightly, then whispered in Celine's ear, "Celine, do you want to make friends?"

"Yes! My big brother told me that magical girls all have many friends, so Sirin wants to make lots and lots of friends too!"

"There are some uncles outside who will take you to meet a lot of friends. Do you want to go?"

"Yes, yes! Celine wants to meet lots and lots of friends!"

"Then you must be a good boy and listen to me. Mom and your older brother will come to see you often."

"Yes! Celine is a good girl, she'll definitely behave!"

Although Celine was young, she had vaguely guessed where she was going by being influenced by what she saw and heard.

—The legendary "school"!

Celine's mother smiled affectionately, then reached out and carefully combed Celine's hair, whispering various instructions, such as listening to the uncles and getting along well with the other children...

Xilin kept responding to her mother, saying that she would be obedient and get along well with her.

"Cilin, Mom and your older brother will visit you often, and we'll take you out to play when you're on vacation."

"Yay! Sirin wants to go to the amusement park too!"

Celine's joyful shouts and silvery laughter were infectious, greatly easing her mother's tension and anxiety.

After Xilin goes to school, only she and Qiu Bi will be left in the house. When a man and a woman are alone in a room, it is inevitable that they will spark an ambiguous relationship, or even "go too far".

Maybe by the time Xilin comes home for vacation, "big brother" will have become "dad".

Thinking this, Celine's mother took Celine's hand, led her to the door, and reopened the door.

Upon seeing the door reopen, the researchers immediately stopped talking and looked at Sirin's mother and Sirin, who was holding her mother.

"Madam, your daughter is so cute."

"Thank you. This child's name is 'Cirin,' I'll leave her in your care from now on."

"Please rest assured and leave the child to us. We will have someone tell you the specific holiday schedule after the child officially starts school."

"Okay, please."

Celine's mother bowed sincerely to express her gratitude, but the researchers avoided her.

"Madam, you don't need to be so polite. This is simply a charitable act."

"But I still want to thank you for giving Celine the opportunity to go to school."

As Celine's mother spoke, she gently stroked Celine's head.

Then, Celine obediently let go of her mother and bravely walked towards the researchers.

"Hello, uncle!"

Hello, Sirin.

A researcher reached out and touched Celine's hair, then asked with a smile, "Isn't Celine afraid of us?"

"Don't worry! Sirin is a good girl, and she's going to be a magical girl in the future!"

"A magical girl of the future... that's really something."

The researcher smiled and then took Celine's hand. "Madam, we'll take Celine away now."

"Okay. Sirin, you have to be a good girl."

"Mom, Celine is a good girl!"

Celine smiled proudly yet innocently, then waved goodbye: "Mom, Celine's off!"

Celine's mother nodded silently, then watched the researchers leave with Celine.

Even after the group disappeared from sight, Celine's mother still did not look away.

Celine's mother clasped her hands together in front of her chest, a sense of unease creeping into her heart without warning.

"Nothing should happen, right?"

For some reason, Celine's mother suddenly had a premonition that she had done something wrong.

However, this feeling was unfounded, and she simply took it as an illusion caused by the first separation between mother and daughter.

……

at the same time.

Qiu Bi strolled out of the cake shop, carrying a bag of seasonings and a three-inch cake.

At his insistence, a chocolate plaque was added to the three-inch cake, which read "Magical Girl Sirin's Little Cake".

"Sirin will be very happy to see this cake, right?"

As if anticipating the smile on Xilin's face when she saw the three-inch cake, Qiu Bi couldn't help but chuckle.

Then, he smiled and shook his head, putting those distracting thoughts behind him, before embarking on his return journey.

Not long after, a bus came from the front and passed by Qiu Bi.

In a daze, he seemed to hear Celine's joyful shouts.

"Ah! It's my big brother!"

Almost instinctively, Qiu Bi turned around abruptly, only to see the bus's receding silhouette.

"Illusion?"

Qiu Bi frowned, staring intently at the back of the bus.

At the rear of the bus, he saw a familiar sign – Destiny.

"Fate... Oh no! Could Sirin have been taken away?!"

Qiu Bi was terrified and immediately ran to Xilin's house.

Chapter Seven: A Timely Rain After a Long Drought

When Qiu Bi arrived at Xi Lin's house, Xi Lin's mother was standing at the door of the old house, her hands clasped over her lower abdomen, staring blankly into the distance, not even noticing Qiu Bi standing next to her.

Qiu Bi knew perfectly well that the direction Xilin's mother was looking in was the direction the Destiny Bus had left.

"Madam, I've already bought the seasonings... Where's Sirin? I specially bought her a 'magical girl exclusive' cake."

Qiu Bi smiled and picked up the three-inch cake, placing it in front of Xilin's mother and shaking it slightly.

In an instant, Xilin's mother snapped out of her reverie about their first separation and returned to reality.

"Qiu Bi, you're back."

Celine's mother wore a gentle smile, lightly brushing back the stray hairs from her ear, exuding the charm of a mature young woman.

"Just arrived. What are you doing standing at the door? Where's Celine?"

"Regarding Sirin... there's something I need to tell you."

"whats the matter?"

Qiu Bi's unease grew stronger, and he vaguely guessed the truth of the matter.

However, he still couldn't understand why, even though Xilin's eyes had clearly recovered, Xilin's mother still wanted to send Xilin away.

"Come in first."

Xilin's mother turned and walked into the old house, with Qiu Bi following closely behind, not forgetting to close the door behind her.

Qiu Bi placed the seasonings and cake on the table, then followed Xilin's mother to the bedside.

With her back to Qiu Bi, Xilin's mother said in a low and uneasy voice, "Qiu Bi, I'm not sure if I did the right thing, but it should be for Xilin's sake, right?"

Qiu Bi was suspicious and quietly waited for Xilin's mother to continue.

After a brief pause, Celine's mother recounted what had happened.

Upon hearing that researchers from the Babylon Laboratory had taken Celine away under the guise of a medical check-up and free schooling, Qiu Bi knew it was a complete lie.

If what the researchers said is true, Sirin would not have become the second Herrscher of the Void, who later started the Second Honkai War and destroyed cities such as Siberia, Moscow, and Los Angeles.

"Madam, please remain calm in what you are about to do."

Qiu Bi pressed down on Xilin's mother's shoulder and continued earnestly, "The researchers' identities should be fine, but what they said is very problematic!"

"Then...then if I hand Sirin over to them myself, wouldn't that be the same as pushing Sirin into a fire pit?"

Celine's mother's tone was less somber and more terrified.

Qiu Bi exhaled and then said solemnly, "Madam, I will bring Xilin back—bring her back safe and sound!"