Magical Girl Heavy Dependence

Chapter 52, Acting Skills

Zhong Ai completely ignored the gossipy classmates around her and grabbed Cheng Chen's hand, dragging him outside.

Everyone saw the two of them leave together, including Yan Xi.

Cheng Chen let her pull him along, his gaze calmly fixed on the back of the girl's head.

This unexpected turn of events aligned perfectly with his original plan, and she had truly done him a great favor.

The two walked to the corner of the stairs, and only after the wall completely blocked all sight did Zhong Ai finally stop.

Cheng Chen thought she would throw a tantrum like Yan Xi, but to his surprise, she simply let go of his hand, turned around and looked at him quietly, then sighed helplessly.

"Xiao Ai?"

"elder brother."

Zhong Ai met his gaze calmly, lowered her head slightly, and said in a muffled voice, "I was wrong yesterday, I'm sorry."

Cheng Chen glanced at the rabbit doll hanging on her bag, its long ears creased from being rubbed: "Why are you apologizing?"

Zhong Ai whispered, "Brother was a demon a long time ago, right?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"But you used to be so good to me and to Dad." She looked up, her tone serious as if she were making a self-criticism. "I've thought about it carefully, and I shouldn't have treated you like a bad person just because of this identity."

At this point, she repeated herself very politely, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, I..."

"So, brother."

Cheng Chen was interrupted by Zhong Ai before he could finish his polite words.

The girl before him instantly forgot her earlier apology. She looked him straight in the eye, her gaze clear and sharp, and demanded, "You went to all this way to see me, is there anything else?"

Cheng Chen's expression stiffened slightly. Having spent so much time with Yan Xi, that easy-to-bully coward, he was actually a little unaccustomed to suddenly encountering a magical girl with a different style.

However, he reacted quickly, switched to work mode, took out his phone, and opened a pre-prepared document.

"I used company channels to do some research on you."

Zhong Ai's eyelashes trembled.

"You've been very proactive since you became a magical girl: you don't join any wild clubs or magical girl organizations, and you act on your own; you systematically hunt monsters within your capabilities to obtain 'Nightmare Stones' for rapid advancement; you've rejected all offers from magical girl companies and haven't managed any social media accounts."

Cheng Chen calmly examined her. "It's an extremely rare style of old-fashioned magical girl these days, but surprisingly—it's quite popular."

"Brother, just say what you want to say."

Zhong Ai remained composed and spoke calmly.

"cooperate."

Cheng Chen turned his phone screen towards her and said, "Just like the previous invitation, I hope you can join Yinfu Entertainment and become one of our idols. In exchange, we will provide you with the additional resources you need to advance to a higher level."

"Moreover, the logistical support during combat, the higher rewards, and the greater intelligence support are all far more efficient—and safer—than your actions alone."

Zhong Ai did not take the phone that was handed to her. She simply shook her head and replied, "Thank you for your kindness, brother, but I currently have no intention of joining any faction."

"It's not just for you," Cheng Chen interrupted her, "it's also for your father."

The girl was touched.

"I don't need to teach you how dangerous it is to fight demons and calamity beasts. Two months ago, you appeared alone near the airport to fight 'Calamity Beast - Sand Power'... If someone else hadn't passed by, you would probably be dead."

Cheng Chen bent down slightly and brought his face close to hers.

"I don't know how you view your life, but what will Old Deng do if you don't make it to the end of your career?"

Chung Ai avoided eye contact: "I'll be careful."

After a brief silence, Cheng Chen didn't dwell on the topic and changed the subject.

"And then what?"

"after?"

"After you cease to be a magical girl and shed this aura, have you thought about what kind of life you want to live?"

Zhong Ai fell silent again. She looked down at her toes, thought seriously for a moment, and then slowly said, "Dad is a good teacher. In the future... maybe I'll take the teacher qualification exam and become a teacher too."

lie.

Cheng Chen shook her head almost imperceptibly, but did not expose her.

He glanced at the corner of the corridor not far away and saw a dark figure peeking out with half its head sticking out furtively.

Realizing that the prey had taken the bait, it was no longer appropriate to continue the conversation.

"Think about it carefully."

He said seriously, "I don't want to put pressure on you. I came to you more out of personal motives—you are very suitable to be an idol."

……

On the other side, Yan Xi was clinging tightly to the wall like a gecko, cautiously peeking out.

What exactly were the producer talking to Chung Ai about? How did they meet?

Damn it, it's too far away to hear anything.

Just as she was straining her ears like an antenna to eavesdrop, she suddenly heard the sounds of several boys behind her, arms around each other, playing around without any restraint.

She turned around abruptly and stared straight at the source of the noise. The boys were startled by her murderous gaze, and their playful noise stopped abruptly.

The boys bowed their heads in apology and ran off in a flash.

When Yan Xi turned around again, the producer and Zhong Ai, who had been there just moments before, were nowhere to be seen.

"hateful!"

She gritted her teeth in frustration, and was about to sneak over to check the situation when she was startled by a sound that came from her right without warning.

"Were you a bully at school?"

Cheng Chen arrived at some unknown time, and stood to the side with his arms crossed, watching her.

"!"

Yan Xi shuddered, swallowed hard, and casually greeted, "What a coincidence, I didn't expect to meet the producer here."

"Stop pretending, I came here specifically to see you."

Cheng Chen cut straight to the point, extinguishing any attempt by Yan Xi to gloss over the issue.

"Your resignation letter."

He raised his hand and magically produced a letter from his pocket. The next second, a flash of eerie green magic light appeared, and the letter turned to ashes at his fingertips.

"I disagree." He dusted off the ashes on his hands and declared condescendingly, "I am now officially informing you of the approval result: Magical Girl Ejaculator, you will be back at the company after class today, or you will be punished."

Upon hearing this, Yan Xi's stubborn streak kicked in, and she immediately and firmly replied, "I won't go back. Producer, I'm officially informing you as well, I don't want to be an idol!"

She had rehearsed this line countless times in her mind, and she had a whole bunch of reasons to explain why.

"Yes, that's fine."

Cheng Chen nodded in agreement with ease.

This time it was Yan Xi's turn to be stunned. The words she was about to list out came out as, "First of all, I... ah?"

Cheng Chen slowly straightened his collar, looked down at her, and said softly, "Since you don't want to be an idol, then come and be my servant."

"A servant...a servant!?"

Yan Xi's eyes widened, and she took several steps back as if she had been electrocuted.

"What servants? Producer, you must be joking!"

"You were the one who said you wanted me to 'play with you,' and now you're denying it?"

"I didn't say that."

Yan Xi stubbornly denied it.

The words had barely left her lips when she heard her own voice echo in her ears, "Give up on me, let me die. Or you can continue toying with my life, I don't care!"

The expression on that beautiful face froze completely.

"You...you...you actually recorded me! Despicable!"

The girl's face turned completely red, and even her earlobes were flushed with an unnatural red hue.

"A simple echo spell, Yanxi." Cheng Chen dispelled the magic from his fingers. "Besides the innate magic that comes with each lineage, there are many general-purpose spells that both demons and magical girls can learn and use. You should study them carefully."

He looked at the girl indifferently, "Are you willing to behave now? If someone still has a bad memory, I don't mind playing it a few more times in the school's broadcasting room."

Yan Xi was at a loss and retreated step by step.

Cheng Chen looked down at him, pressing closer and closer.

"Gulp... No matter what! I will not give in!"

The stupid trainee closed his eyes and turned his head away.

Then why don't you fight back? Why are you acting like you're being trampled on?

Cheng Chen sighed helplessly, not wanting to expose this two-faced guy.

"Do you hate me that much?" His voice suddenly softened.

Yan Xi, whose eyes were tightly closed, trembled and suddenly looked over.

Cheng Chen, who was standing so close to him, no longer had his usual composure and playfulness on his face. Instead, there was a faint sense of loss and a feeling of dejection. However, he concealed it well, and this emotion was fleeting. Soon, he returned to his usual self.

"If you dislike me, you should say it honestly. Otherwise, I'll foolishly think we get along well."

He took a half step back and apologized.

"sorry."

Yan Xi's mouth was slightly open as she stared blankly at him, speechless for a moment.

"No...no!" Realizing what was happening, the girl shook her head violently, her hands flailing wildly. "I didn't hate it, actually...how could I hate the producer...it's just...it's just that I don't want to be an idol...yes! That's all!"

Cheng Chen looked at her. "You really don't want to, no matter what?"

"That's right!"

Yan Xi nodded without hesitation.

After I finished speaking, I received no response for a long time.

The magical girl, who had been babbling incoherently with her eyes closed, cautiously raised her eyelids: "Producer?"

Cheng Chen took a step back and slowly raised her hand: "I understand. It seems I was indeed too hasty and neglected your feelings."

As she spoke, she placed the Raven Feather Wand that Yan Xi had handed over along with her resignation letter back into her palm.

Yan Xi stared blankly at the magic wand, pursing her lips.

"Thank you for making this..."

"In that case, let's end it here."

Cheng Chen turned around without any hesitation.

……