Chapter 128 – Backup Girlfriend

After school that day, Lin Xi finished rehearsing in the clubroom but didn’t go home. Instead, she headed straight to the Safe House to find Shi Yu.

Since Sister Lin still hadn’t arrived, Shi Yu remained in her “battle-damaged” state.

The moment she saw Shi Yu, Lin Xi got straight to the point. “We have a problem.”

“You only ever come to see me when something happens, don’t you?” Shi Yu said.

Lin Xi fell silent.

“Don’t even start. I’ve been ridiculously busy lately.”

“Busy cuddling with girls?” Shi Yu asked. “Lu Yi told me you weren’t just cuddling-you had three of them at once.”

“They’re the ones who wanted to stay the night,” Lin Xi protested. “I’ve been busy with school and the band, not cuddling.”

“Fine. Let’s get down to business. What happened?”

“They tested your blood and muscle tissue and discovered you’re an artificial human. Do you think they might follow the clues and identify you?”

“It’s possible.”

“What?! Then aren’t we screwed? If the Countermeasures Bureau and the Guard Corps find you, they might unearth the rest of us too.”

“When I said it was possible, I didn’t mean the Countermeasures Bureau or the Guard Corps would find me. I meant Shuguang Technology might.”

Lin Xi thought it over and quickly realized what Shi Yu meant. “Oh, right. This is Z City, not C City. Human experimentation is illegal here, so Shuguang Technology can’t ask Xia Xun and her Captain to help them again.”

The realization that she wouldn’t have to fight Xia Xun immediately put Lin Xi at ease.

“All Shuguang Technology has to do is search through old accident records, and they’ll discover that my parents secretly created me,” Shi Yu said. “Knowing how they operate, they’ll definitely send a strike team to kill me and retrieve the core.”

“Shuguang Technology really does think it’s above the law,” Lin Xi said. “But it shouldn’t be a big problem. Even if they figure out it’s you, they won’t be able to find this place.”

“They probably won’t find me, but I’ll go find them.” Shi Yu smiled. “Don’t forget our promise to fight our way through Shuguang Technology together.”

Lin Xi fell silent again.

One of their upcoming missions was to eliminate all the scum in Shuguang Technology responsible for its inhuman activities.

Shi Yu planned to launch the operation as soon as Sister Lin arrived and repaired her.

Seeing Lin Xi spacing out, Shi Yu asked, “While I was gone, there was no one around to push you. Don’t tell me you spent all your time cuddling with girls and didn’t work on improving your strength at all?”

Lin Xi smiled faintly. “I’ve gotten just a teeny, tiny hundred-million bit stronger.”

“I think I could destroy the entirety of Shuguang Technology by myself now.”

Shi Yu fell silent.

“Since when did you start bragging so much?”

“Believe me or don’t.” Lin Xi shrugged. “If only everyone in Shuguang Technology were evil. Then I could just head over, drop a Fireball on them, and settle everything in one go.”

Shi Yu couldn’t help asking, “Did you really get stronger during this time? Did you recover your old memories?”

Lin Xi had previously used amnesia as an excuse, claiming that losing her memories had left her unable to wield her powers as a witch.

Therefore, as far as Shi Yu was concerned, if Lin Xi’s strength had improved, it meant her memories had returned.

Lin Xi gave an evasive answer. “I’ve recovered a few memories, but there’s no question about my strength.”

Now that she had the Mega Fireball Spell, even Lin Xi found it hard to be modest.

Shi Yu still looked doubtful. “No matter how strong the monsters created by Shuguang Technology are, they probably can’t compare to a Magical Girl.”

“If you’re really that powerful, then there’s nothing to worry about.”

Lin Xi fell silent once more.

“But I’m a glass cannon. One bullet hits me, and I’m dead.”

The Cuddle Witch had been killed by a single gunshot. Lin Xi therefore knew that this witch’s body possessed practically no defensive ability of its own.

“I’m not afraid of bullets,” Shi Yu said. “When the time comes, I’ll protect you.”

“Heh. How thoughtful of you.”

“Of course. We are a couple, after all.”

“Oh, if you hadn’t brought it up, I’d almost have forgotten. I think we should end our ‘contract couple’ arrangement.”

“Why? Did you confess to someone? Or did someone confess to you?”

“Neither. I only agreed to become a contract couple and help you draw lovey-dovey comics because I wanted half your pay. But now I’m planning to earn money doing something respectable. With the connections I have, I’m not worried about finding a proper job.”

Shi Yu fell silent.

“So becoming a contract couple with me and helping me draw lovey-dovey comics isn’t respectable?”

Lin Xi nodded. “Nope. You’re a pervert, while I’m becoming more normal by the day.”

“Are you?” Shi Yu smiled. “I joined your fan group chat. If anything, you’ve only gotten more unhinged.”

Lin Xi fell silent.

“They’re the unhinged ones. It has nothing to do with me.”

“Perverted Witch, quit pretending to be respectable,” Shi Yu said. “Tell me honestly. Is there someone you like?”

“No,” Lin Xi said. “To be honest, I don’t intend to fall for anyone, nor do I intend to accept anyone’s feelings. I’m a witch. If the outside world ever discovers my identity, wouldn’t I only drag down anyone who cared about me?”

“I’m not afraid of being dragged down,” Shi Yu suddenly said.

Lin Xi stared at her in bewilderment.

Shi Yu continued bluntly, “So be with me. When it’s time to go on a killing spree, we’ll do it together. When it’s time to flee with our tails between our legs, we’ll do that together too.”

Her words gave Lin Xi quite a scare.

“Wait, what? Shi Yu, do you actually like me?!”

“You’re trying to mess with me again, aren’t you?!”

“I’m not trying to mess with you,” Shi Yu said. “Don’t you think you’re all alone? Aren’t you afraid of dragging someone else down?”

“I’m alone too, and I’m not afraid of being dragged down. Why don’t the two of us just make do with each other?”

Lin Xi’s face flushed. “Y-you… Do you really like me?!”

Never in her wildest dreams had Lin Xi expected her first confession to come from Shi Yu, the person she hated most.

“Why?”

“Why now, out of nowhere?”

“Not even a novel would dare pull a twist like this!”

Shi Yu said, “We’re both lonely souls. Aren’t we a match made in heaven?”

“Shameless! Who says we’re a match made in heaven? I might be afraid of dragging others down, but I’m not lonely. I have tons of friends.”

“But aren’t you afraid to fall in love? You don’t have to worry about any of that with me. Go ahead and love me as wildly as you want.”

Lin Xi fell silent.

Her brain was starting to overheat.

Shi Yu, that Scum of Humanity, that Demon in Human Form, truly had no such reservations. She wasn’t afraid of liking someone, much less being liked by someone else.

The problem was…

“Who the hell would ever like a bastard like you?!” Lin Xi snapped. “Seriously, tell me what you like about me. I’ll change it. Right now!”

“I like everything about you,” Shi Yu said point-blank. “How are you going to change that?”

Lin Xi fell silent.

“Shi Yu, I get it now. You have a split personality, don’t you?”

“I do not have a split personality,” Shi Yu said. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t respond to my confession.”

“Until you find someone you truly like or accept someone else’s confession, let me be your backup girlfriend.”