The Mighty Mage
Chapter 524: Mimi

Chapter 524: Chapter 524: Mimi

Gu Jin’s heart skipped a beat as she remembered the girl.

"Oh no..." she said, suddenly worried. "I told her to wait outside!"

Without another word, she turned and ran out of the building. Her boots hit the ground with sharp sounds as she hurried through the dark alleyways. She rushed toward the spot where she had last seen the girl.

As she turned the corner, she stopped cold.

The girl was still there—but something was wrong.

A man was holding her by the arm, pulling her roughly. The girl stood stiff and frozen, her face pale. Her eyes looked empty, like she was too scared to even move.

Gu Jin’s expression darkened. Her red eyes began to glow again, cold and dangerous.

She stormed toward them.

"Let go of her," she said, her voice low and sharp.

The man turned and froze when he saw her eyes. Something about the way she looked at him—like he was nothing but a bug under her shoe—sent a chill down his spine.

"I-I wasn’t doing anything," he stammered. But his hands were still on the girl.

Gu Jin didn’t move, but her power gathered around her.

"I won’t say it again," she said.

The man quickly let go and backed away. He didn’t know who Gu Jin was, but his instincts screamed at him not to fight her. Her killing intent was strong—it felt like death was watching him.

He turned and ran down the alley, not daring to look back.

As soon as he was gone, the girl rushed into Gu Jin’s arms and started crying.

"I-I was so scared..." she said between sobs. "Please... please don’t leave me. I have no one... I don’t trust anyone else but you..."

Gu Jin held her gently and patted her back.

"It’s okay now," she said softly. "I’m here. No one will hurt you."

The girl hugged her tightly, still crying into Gu Jin’s chest.

Not long after, Jin Mu and Pei Ke caught up. They stopped when they saw Gu Jin and the girl.

"Is she the one?" Pei Ke asked.

"The one who helped us?" Jin Mu added.

The girl looked at them carefully, still holding onto Gu Jin like a scared kitten.

Before the girl could say anything, Gu Jin nodded.

"Yes. She’s the one who told me where you were."

Jin Mu stepped forward and crouched in front of the girl with a grateful smile.

"Thank you," she said gently. "You saved our lives. I don’t know how to repay you."

The girl looked a bit shy, but she smiled back.

"It was my duty," she said. "I couldn’t let those bad men hurt you. You don’t deserve that."

She sounded honest and brave.

Jin Mu and Pei Ke looked at her with respect.

A little later, Gu Jin found a nearby hotel. She used her skills to help Jin Mu and Pei Ke cover their faces so no one would recognize them. Then she rented two rooms—one for Jin Mu and Pei Ke, who were tired and needed sleep, and one for herself and the girl.

Once inside the room, Gu Jin helped the girl sit down on the bed.

"Try to rest," she said. "I’ll bring some food."

Gu Jin went out and came back with a plate of warm food—bread, soup, and some fruit.

But the girl didn’t even look at it. She just stared at Gu Jin with big, watery eyes.

"I don’t want to eat," she whispered. "Can you... can you adopt me?"

Gu Jin froze, surprised. She didn’t expect that.

"Adopt you?" she repeated. "I... I’m only 22."

The girl’s eyes filled with tears again.

"Then... you don’t want me?" she asked in a broken voice.

Gu Jin panicked a little. "N-No! It’s not that. I just... I need to know more about you. I can’t adopt someone without knowing anything."

The girl sniffed and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

"I understand," she said softly. "My name is Mimi."

Then she looked at Gu Jin and asked, "What’s your name?"

"Gu Jin," she replied.

Mimi smiled and repeated the name softly like it was something precious.

"Gu Jin... Gu Jin..."

Gu Jin felt a strange sadness inside her heart as she watched the girl. She pushed that feeling aside and sat down beside her.

"Do you remember your family?" she asked. "Do you know their names? Their surname?"

Mimi looked down, holding her hands in her lap.

"I... I don’t remember much. I think my mother called me Mimi before she disappeared. I don’t know my surname. I don’t know where I’m from. I just know that I was always alone after that."

Gu Jin looked at her quietly. She felt a deep pity for the girl.

"Let’s talk more tomorrow," Gu Jin said. "I haven’t rested at all, and you need sleep too."

Mimi nodded. "Okay."

Gu Jin helped her lie down on the bed, then lay down next to her. The room was quiet and warm.

Mimi turned her head and looked at Gu Jin’s peaceful sleeping face. Her long eyelashes, her soft lips, the way her hair fell slightly over her eyes—it made Mimi’s heart beat faster.

She’s so beautiful, Mimi thought.

She slowly moved her finger, wanting to touch Gu Jin’s cheek. But just before her finger reached her skin, she stopped.

No... Gu Jin is sharp. She’s kind, but not foolish. If she thinks I’m trying something strange, she might get angry.

With that thought, Mimi pulled her hand back and closed her eyes.

Just as she did, Gu Jin opened her own eyes and looked at the girl for a moment. Her red eyes glowed softly in the dim light. Then she slowly closed them again.

...................

The next morning, the sun shined through the curtains. Mimi opened her eyes slowly. Her stomach growled loudly. She looked around with sleepy eyes.

Then her gaze landed on the plate of food Gu Jin brought last night. It was still there—bread, soup, and some vegetables.

Mimi scrunched her nose. "Ugh... veggies..." she muttered.

She wanted meat. Real meat. Juicy, hot, delicious meat.

She got off the bed and quietly walked to the door. Her hand reached for it. Just as she was about to step outside, a voice stopped her.

"Where are you going?"

Mimi turned around fast. Gu Jin was standing behind her with her arms crossed. Her red eyes were calm but sharp.

Mimi quickly put on her most innocent look. "I was just... I’m really hungry," she said. "I... I want to eat meat. I’m craving meat..."

Gu Jin frowned. "You just went through something scary. You should eat something light, not heavy meat."

Mimi pouted and shook her head. "But I really, really want meat. I only get to eat it once a year. Just once..."

Gu Jin was stunned. "Only once a year?" she repeated, shocked.

Mimi nodded. "Yes. When I used to work, they only gave meat on festival day. It was the best thing ever..."

Gu Jin’s heart ached. So pitiful... She’s still so small, yet she’s lived such a hard life.

She let out a soft sigh. "Okay," she said. "Wait here. I’ll go buy some meat for you. Don’t go anywhere."

Mimi nodded happily and watched Gu Jin leave.

As soon as the door closed, the smile on her face faded. She looked up at the ceiling with an annoyed expression.

"What do you want?" she asked coldly.

There was silence, but it felt like she was listening to someone speak.

"I know what I’m doing," she replied in a sharp tone.

More silence. Then she spoke again. "I want Gu Jin. No one else."

A long pause. Her face stayed serious. Then her voice dropped lower.

"I don’t care what you say. I want her. She’s not like the others. She will not think I am useless."

Suddenly, her face changed. Her eyes turned darker, like someone had said something she didn’t like.

With a wave of her hand, a strange feeling in the air disappeared, like a silent connection had been cut.

Mimi sat on the sofa and hugged her knees. Her face looked very sad now. She stared at the floor with empty eyes, as if remembering something horrible.

Half an hour later, Gu Jin returned. She was holding a plate, and on the plate was something golden brown and steaming.

"Steak!" she said with a small smile.

Mimi’s nose twitched. The smell of cooked meat made her eyes sparkle. She jumped off the sofa and followed Gu Jin like a puppy following its owner.

Gu Jin chuckled. "You really like meat, huh?"

Mimi nodded eagerly, her eyes glued to the steak.

Gu Jin placed the meat on the table. "Here. Eat slowly," she said.

Mimi sat down quickly and started eating. Every bite made her smile. Gu Jin watched her with soft eyes.

"Poor girl..." she whispered in her heart. "What kind of life have you lived, Mimi...?"

Of course if Gu Jin knew the true identity of the girl, she might not have such sympathy for the girl.