Ningfeng Harbor.
Snowflakes drifted outside the window, carving frost patterns on the glass. The unheated ho felt chilly, and Hibiscus, who was packing things, couldn't help but breathe on her hands to warm them, then suddenly realized she wasn't actually cold. Physical sensations aside, she was actually burning with vitality, completely unaffected.
After experiencing the Arctic war at minus 50 degrees Celsius, this level of cold in a southern coastal city was nothing—probably even snow couldn't settle.
Her body was evolving toward the next stage of life.
One marker of a magical girl's Growth Stage was that "survival instinct environntal indices" for ordinary animals basically beca useless—polar regions, deep seas, deserts were all trivial. Once reaching "permanent transformation" mode, she'd take the step of no longer being human. Then reverting to original appearance without transformation would actually feel uncomfortable.
Ring!
The phone chid with a 7:00 alarm reminder. Seeing this, Hibiscus went forward to cancel it.
Personally experiencing her company's new product wasn't bad. Currently, calling, texting, alarm functions were quite impressive—worthy of otherworld strong recomndations.
Hibiscus withdrew her thoughts and continued with her tasks: a sester's worth of lab reports, howork, second classroom activities all categorized and compiled. The thickness rivaled a book, making the girl frown as she wondered if she was still in high school.
But thinking it was a sester's worth, she felt relieved. Besides, teachers had been very accommodating—never attending class yet still getting credits.
She checked once to confirm everything was fine for submission.
Then she glanced at various dical textbooks full of professional terminology, bright as new. Actually, during her busy days, Hibiscus had read through several, but not taking notes or doing problems left no reading traces. In high school, she liked filling textbooks with dense annotations, looking like a model student. Starting university, her busyness led to "textbook cleanliness obsession"—completely unwilling to take notes or mark anything. After several months, they remained pristine.
The girl casually flipped through a few pages, finding no trace of "clinical trials" or anatomy—her professional knowledge was full of gaps since she'd been busy from start to finish.
But familiarity with human bodies was decent.
Hibiscus had several lives on her back. Friends who often killed knew that this inevitably led to understanding human anatomy.
She carefully placed various materials into a handbag and stood before the mirror arranging her black hair.
Even in non-transford original form, her celestial beauty was evident. The girl, already delicately featured with pale skin, had evolved through magic power to a height of 1.7 ters, with proportioned curves concentrated in her full chest, long limbs, and golden ratio figure. Wearing a custom school uniform jacket with a windbreaker looked clean and efficient.
Her entire outfit bore no logos—all handcrafted. Finally putting on the souvenir wristwatch Jin Ruochu brought back, she looked lively yet dignified.
Hibiscus actually found it troubleso, but the principal insisted on so outstanding alumni speech...
She was just a freshman underclassman.
Considering how he'd smoothed over so many academic troubles and provided talent for the company's peripheral business, face had to be given. Besides, circles where "face" could serve as currency were unusual. Having mingled with all walks of life recently, she naturally understood reciprocity. So she rarely dressed up carefully—usually relying on natural beauty.
Half a year of tempering gave Hibiscus the greatest change in temperant: steady and restrained, eyes like torches, straight-backed with a crane-among-chicken's brilliance, graceful bearing.
Then she surveyed her surroundings, glancing at the sowhat empty ho.
Near New Year's, Jin Ruochu went back to accompany her father. Besides, such a massive enterprise as Changfeng Group had year-end workloads incomparable to the Church. As Jin Changfeng's most trusted daughter, she had to handle important affairs.
According to her: "Good training, then bringing knowledge to the Church"—apparently the world pharmaceutical giant only served as experience farming.
As for Jin Yulu, she'd replaced the forr at Los Angeles subsidiary since many magical girls were on ho vacation in North Arica. With rcenary companies everywhere and low friendliness, soone needed to be stationed there. Of course, thanks to spatial relic convenience, she actually commuted between Ningfeng Harbor and Los Angeles.
One person remained waiting for her.
Hibiscus walked to the residential area entrance and saw a black Porsche sedan waiting, with Nan Zhiyi leaning beside it.
The housekeeper miss, usually imposing, now wore a similar uniform-style jacket with a light blue scarf and knit hat. Seeing Hibiscus approach, she imdiately smiled and waved. The weathered journey hadn't aged Nan Zhiyi—still youthfully vibrant and energetic, seemingly returning to those middle school days, warming the heart on this winter day.
Today's dandelion girl gave off winter flower vibes—unmoved by harsh cold, still displaying transcendent beauty to Hibiscus.
They'd agreed to submit university assignnts today and clear up end-of-term affairs. Though by share valuation their average net worth was ten digits, they couldn't waste twelve years of academic effort.
They no longer cared about diplomas or future employnt—just being true to past efforts.
Regarding professional knowledge, both had encountered quite a bit.
Setting aside Hibiscus's several dical consultations and fighting, from the legal field perspective, Nan Zhiyi had encountered legal disputes in half a year comparable to a law firm's volu. Already experienced, she might not score high on exams, but industry routines held no surprises.
"You got a driver's license?"
"Yes, and bought this car a while ago, just no chance to drive it." Nan Zhiyi patted the lted snow on the hood. "Oil's almost freezing."
"Thanks for picking up, but Ningfeng Harbor only gets snow a few tis yearly. Want another look?"
Hibiscus looked up slightly at the heavy snow and smiled, gently touching the girl's cheek where snowflakes lted at warm fingertips, conveying coolness to both.
She knew the principal was waiting, but so what? Ti was precious.
Just as Nan Zhiyi was dazed, her companion made a snowball hitting her knit hat. Facing such childish invitation, she returned snowballs. After one round, their high-end tailor-made new clothes were snow-covered, but both were laughing joyfully and trembling with mirth, feeling like old tis had returned.
Only now did they feel truly relaxed.
"...Good, such ordinary simple things make feel disasters, rcenaries, and Church matters are far away."
The silver-haired girl stretched. "Indeed carefree, a long-awaited vacation."
"Hibiscus, you're the type who easily makes people feel relaxed and happy." Speaking, Nan Zhiyi looked deeply at her childhood friend. "Communicating with you isn't tiring—it's like enjoying life."
"Don't overstate my role. Quickly park your car, let's walk to school together."
Nan Zhiyi pulled out keys and shook them: "Doesn't matter if it's lost or broken—that person's bad luck. I just want to walk now."
They walked side by side on the crunching snowy road.
Since it was only 7 o'clock, Hibiscus and Nan Zhiyi simply walked toward the university town stepping on snow and having snowball fights. A dozen bus stops ant nothing to magical girl stamina. Reaching Seedling Stage, even without transformation they could compete with armored vehicles, running marathons easily.
They passed bustling comrcial streets and amusent parks. Though morning, people were already queuing endlessly, scrambling eagerly—or rather, hadn't stopped since the previous night.
For the whole world, 1990 wasn't a good year—truly disaster-filled.
Particularly concentrated in the second half:
Pacific region Disaster Beast cluster events triggered the Edo Battle, with the famous Magical Girl Hyacinth and her Salvation Church taking the world stage. Then Ningfeng Harbor rcenary attack cases again revealed magical traces, followed by the globally watched 24th Island strategy achieving certain results. Then Los Angeles battles, European frontlines against large-scale Disaster Beasts, entering catastrophic tis with various forces converging in Arctic historic events witnessed worldwide. Even after catastrophes receded, sporadic warfare continued—just one improvent amid difficulties.
But everyone was quite satisfied since various religions preached doomsday theories plus Aurora's performance made them think civilization would be destroyed.
After earth-shaking upheaval, we still breathed—truly good.
For a specific city, relatively lightly affected Ningfeng Harbor had no pollution cleanup, casualty rescue, or defense consolidation tasks, allowing wholehearted celebration of approaching holidays with thriving atmospheres.
Nan Zhiyi suddenly pointed at an empty roadside stall: "That newsstand beca a lottery store. I used to buy manga there often."
"Our high school seems to be renovating and expanding—heard they'll change to a plastic track playground."
"I graduated and this happens!"
"News reports said they secured major fiscal allocations. Don't worry, you contributed too." Hibiscus smiled and explained: "From what I know, among all Ningfeng Harbor private enterprises this year, our tax paynts ranked second. Only behind the Changfeng Group—consider giving back to society and alma mater."
"...Sorry, I don't understand tax law much—paid too much money. Should hire more accountants for reasonable tax avoidance."
"That's not what I ant. Actually, what's money? We can't be satisfied being wealthy—anyway won't always take this path. Paying more taxes isn't a loss."
Hibiscus lost reverence for money when using ti magic to devastate all casinos.
Just waste paper.
True value lay in power; most fundantal power was violence, with various derived orders crowned as collectivism, ideology, legal interpretations, etc. Always dealing with peripherals would eventually lead to stumbles.
As boss, she clearly knew how many covert obstacles Five-Color Narcissus Company faced. Not succeeding partly because they at least controlled coastal violent gangs.
Not clean at all—if investigated, definitely troubleso. But without so darkness, facing thods would be even more nurous.
Ultimately, having an overt powerful institution for mutual cover would be quite convenient.
Hibiscus put away miscellaneous thoughts, continuing to focus on accompanying Nan Zhiyi shopping. Though winter breakfast crowds were small, approaching New Year's liveliness helped. They grabbed quick snacks at breakfast stalls before continuing, arriving at the local university town area around 9 o'clock.
Ningfeng Harbor Political Science and Law University.
They arrived slightly late, causing substitute teachers to already be in classrooms. Though missed, the principal collected assignnts—actually more familiar with these connections.
Funny thing—actually Hibiscus and Nan Zhiyi hadn't even recognized all their major course teachers, yet were relatively familiar with principals, secretaries, etc. The latter group naturally didn't co for re academic grades.
At the office mahogany desk, Principal Zhang Yuanda smiled warmly while serving tea to three people, more solemn than last ti.
He seed thinner with more gray hair, face still kindly. Speaking of recent tis with exhausted expressions—apparently as Disaster Beast incidents intensified with generally tight finances, universities with certain revenue capabilities were given more autonomy. Seemingly autonomous but actually requiring earning more money yourself since everyone's belts were tight. When cannons roared, gold was worth ten thousand taels—converting catastrophic event war results to economics needed ti.
Anyway, the treasury lacked money—you should learn to share burdens.
Facing Principal Zhang's complaints, listening Nan Zhiyi and Hibiscus exchanged glances with ntal judgnts: seeking sponsorship, obviously managent was experienced.
Carefully noting the office displayed many "alumni donations," "outstanding graduates," "school visit activities" photos or certificates...
Dust accumulation varied—apparently arranged recently.
Second reaction: officials indeed had little money with tight national coffers. Even first-tier universities receiving budget cuts, breaking decades of continuous increases, served as strong signals. Currently news hadn't reported this, so the principal was actually sharing "insider information"—relatively sensitive.
True aning: next fiscal year budgets would be difficult, probably receiving certain insider tips.
Good news!
Anyway wouldn't affect the Church, plus the most budget-burning official military would face debuff periods. Including magical girls, hearts would definitely fluctuate. Get rich early, though most people watched each other waiting for charge signals.
Planning everything in a flash, Hibiscus smiled: "Indeed, our days are all tight. Speaking of which, I've also encountered so difficulties."
"Oh? Please elaborate."
"It's like this—our company has so foreign part-ti students, so under university age. In the future, could academic credentials be resolved through the international college?"
Beside her, Nan Zhiyi's eyes lit up, showing approval to her companion. Actually she'd thought of this too, just a beat slower. For quick thinking, imdiate response, and face-to-face communication, still needed their boss. Right—should give magical girls opportunities to improve education as socially aningful compensation.
Even though they no longer worried about employnt, could satisfy families with happiness feedback to children following the sa logic.
Principal Zhang imdiately understood conditions had co—whether this massive school survived the next fiscal budget round depended on now. Though two students' combined ages didn't equal his own, hearing about current unicorn pharmaceutical enterprises, he definitely didn't dare treat them as naive youngsters. Cautiously, the principal asked several more questions, then flipped through archive files. Monts later, he decided.
"Can handle it, absolutely no problem."
"We'll trouble you then." Smiling Hibiscus nodded, drawing a perfect conclusion to the transaction.
Nan Zhiyi tily interjected: "Aren't we all almost forgetting sothing? Can't waste the speech draft I racked my brains to write, and can't make teachers wait for unpunctual students again."
Three people imdiately stood laughing and shaking hands, atmosphere quite harmonious.
User Comments
0 comments from readers