Chapter 565

Judging from these scenes and objects, this is clearly not reality.

"Phew... it's over!"

After finishing her battle with Xiao Qiu, Chen Xiaoxia lay sprawled on the ground, wiping away her sweat as she sighed:

"Xiao Qiu is getting stronger and stronger. She's becoming more and more adept at using Chain Magic. Once we're bound by Xiao Qiu chains, we can basically consider surrendering."

"... Yes, that's right."

Xiao Chun wasn't very talkative. She deactivated her Magical Girl Form and, recalling the Chain Magic used by Xiao Qiu, fell silent.

After a while, Xiao Chun said, as if changing the subject:

"I never expected that Dongdong would be able to create a place like this after his Upper Rank."

"Yeah... the 'Room of Requirement'! When I watched the Harry Potter movies, I really wanted a room like that. I never imagined Dongdong could recreate it! Dongdong, you're amazing!"

Chen Xiaoxia gave a thumbs-up to Song Niandong, who was controlling the Room of Requirement not far away.

Song Niandong, holding Youyou, pulled his oversized wizard hat down further and whispered:

"... This is no big deal."

"Dongdong is too modest. With this 'Room of Requirement', we don't have to pick and choose the time and place for every training session anymore."

Chen Xiaoxia said with a smile.

Song Niandong, however, did not react.

Seeing that the atmosphere was about to become awkward, Nino, who was in charge of watching the game, suddenly asked:

"Speaking of Harry Potter, my cousin also wrote it... Ouch!! You stinky rabbit, what are you doing?!"

Before Nino could finish her sentence, she was slammed to the floor by Youyou's control of a giant book.

"Stupid cat!"

Youyou glared coldly at Nino, and muttered a curse.

Nino was about to retort when he suddenly noticed the strange atmosphere in the room becoming strange again, and immediately realized what was happening.

She... just now seemed to have inadvertently mentioned someone she shouldn't have...

"..."

The Magical Girls in the room suddenly fell silent. Chen Xiaoxia faded slightly, Xiao Chun bit her lip, as if trying to avoid something, and said:

"... Let's train again. We need to improve our skills as soon as possible."

Murong Xiaochun said this, she walked back to the open space in the center of the arena, intending to continue her sparring with Yu Muqiu.

But Yu Muqiu suddenly raised his hand and shouted:

"I need a break! I need to take a break!"

"Huh?"

Xiaoxia and Xiao Chun were both stunned.

When Dongdong raised her head slightly and looked at the cheerful Yu Muqiu, her usually calm purple eyes rippled with emotion.

As if oblivious to everyone's gaze, Xiao Qiu walked over to them and said with a grin:

"Practicing the same thing every day won't lead to much improvement, no matter how much you practice. It's better to take a good rest and then train again when you're well-rested. Who knows, your strength might suddenly skyrocket!"

"It's also important to balance work and rest!"

"..."

Xiaoxia and Xiao Chun exchanged a glance.

Those who knew Xiao Qiu well could tell that Xiao Qiu current state was definitely not fake or forced; they hadn't seen her exude that reassuring aura in a long time.

Xiaoxia gazed at Xiao Qiu in front of her. In her eyes, the world, which was somewhat monotonous in color, was suddenly filled with pink, the color that belonged to Xiao Qiu.

Looking at Yu Muqiu like this, Chen Xiaoxia was slightly dazed.

It seemed like a long time had passed before Chen Xiaoxia suddenly laughed and said:

"Haha, Xiao Qiu is right, it's important to balance work and rest! Let's skip training for the next few days! Let's quit and go have some fun!"

"... Xiaoxia?"

Xiao Chun stared blankly at Xiaoxia.

She didn't expect Xiaoxia to agree with Xiao Qiu's suggestion to 'be lazy'.

But it was too late for her to refuse. Seeing Xiaoxia agree, Xiao Qiu's smile grew even brighter. She ran over and said to the two of them with a beaming smile:

"Then it's settled. I'll make a travel itinerary and contact you later... Who knows, I might even have a surprise for you."

Yu Muqiu said mysteriously.

Looking at Yu Muqiu's pure smile, now free of any impurities, just like before, Xiao Chun finally smiled helplessly as well:

"... Sigh, I can't do anything with you then... take a few days off."

The July sun was too scorching. After finishing their training for the day, Xiao Chun and Xiaoxia stayed at Dongdong's house, eating popsicles, enjoying the air conditioning, and sitting on the balcony watching the different shapes of white clouds in the sky.

Yu Muqiu was dragging Dongdong along to plan a trip. Although Dongdong clearly refused, she couldn't resist Yu Muqiu's persistence. The two of them, along with Youyou and Nino, went to the study next door to discuss where to go for a trip.

In the room separated only by a wall, Xiaoxia and Xiao Chun couldn't help but look at each other again as they listened to the noise from next door, before finally looking away.

"Xiao Qiu... seems to have changed a bit."

Suddenly, Xiao Chun, who was standing to the side, said softly.

Xiaoxia, sitting on the floor and leaning against the French windows of the balcony, smiled slightly and said:

No, it's us who have changed.

"... You know perfectly well what I'm talking about." Xiao Chun's voice was calm. "After discovering... the legacy left by Brother Fang Ming, we... we've all actually changed a bit, but now Xiao Qiu... it seems like she's changed back."

"Isn't it good?"

"Very good... but although it's very good... although it is very good... but..."

Xiao Chun hesitated and lingered for a long time before finally saying to Xiaoxia, "... But we can't stay innocent forever."

Although Xiao Qiu no longer possessed the same energy and vitality as before, the sense of security that came with her maturity allowed Xiao Chun to entrust many things to her with peace of mind.

But now that his smile has returned to its old form, Xiao Chun doesn't know what to do.

Now, all they can rely on is Xiao Qiu. If even Xiao Qiu becomes immature, what will happen to them? What will happen to this world?

Xiao Chun was a little worried.

But Chen Xiaoxia replied with a smile:

"What's wrong with being simple? This is the real Xiao Qiu. On the contrary... we were too serious before."

"..."

"Xiao Chun," Chen Xiaoxia said slowly, but her voice was very clear:

"Fang Ming likes and wants to protect... is precisely our 'innocence'."

Volume 6 <Magic Autumn> Season 4: Chapter 605 Actually, everyone was very sad

"... I... of course I know."

Xiao Chun whispered, "I know... more than you do, but... now that Fang Ming is gone, isn't he?"

Xiao Chun's voice suddenly grew louder at the end.

The room suddenly fell silent, and the sounds of conversation from the next room also ceased.

Chen Xiaoxia was silent for a moment, then responded to Xiao Chun's words:

"It is precisely because they are gone that we must continue to look forward."

"... Such grand principles are just empty words."

Xiao Chun's voice lowered again. She didn't want to continue arguing with Chen Xiaoxia. She turned and left the room, saying:

"I need to be alone for a while, and none of you are allowed to follow me."

After Xiao Chun finished speaking, her figure disappeared from the room.

Chen Xiaoxia didn't chase after her. She remained leaning against the balcony, eating her melted ice cream and muttering to herself:

"It's not just talk..."

Xiao Chun understood what Chen Xiaoxia was saying, or rather, no one in the world understood Fang Ming's intentions and what he wanted them to do better than her.

Because of her affection, she understands, but it is also because of her affection that Xiao Chun is still unable to move on.

"Actually... I've been regretting it all along."

In the background audio, Xiao Chun's monologue appears.

Her background turned gray, as if she were walking through memories, with countless past scenes emerging against that gray backdrop.

"After finding out that Brother Fang Ming was Xiao Bai, I've been regretting it ever since..."

"I regret not realizing Fang Ming's identity sooner, I regret saying such bad things to Xiao Bai, I regret..."

"I failed to confess my Fang Ming."

Xiao Chun looked at Fang Ming in her memory, then turned around and looked at herself, who had become increasingly busy over the past year.

"Every time I think about these things, it feels like something is piercing my heart, causing me Pain and discomfort."

"I've thought countless times, if only I had known Fang Ming's true identity back then, if only I had been nicer to Xiao Bai, if only I had... confessed to him sooner."

But there is never an 'if' in this world.

"I know Fang Ming doesn't like seeing us like this, but... I can't forget."

"His appearance, his voice, even... his scent... I can't forget them. The more I think about them, the more Pain it becomes, so I started to numb myself with everything I could think of."

"Work hard to become the Student Council, sign up for more extracurricular classes, and use every possible way to distract yourself and forget about these things."

"But--"

Xiao Chun stopped in her tracks, looked up at the sky, and murmured to herself:

"... Why is it that I can't forget it anymore?"

Xiao Qiu may have moved on, and although Xiaoxia's emotions fluctuate when she hears Fang Ming's name, they are at least not as intense as Xiao Chun's.

Xiao Chun alone couldn't get over it.

Of course, Dongdong might also be someone who hasn't been able to get over it, but Dongdong's feelings are completely different from Xiao Chun's.

Xiao Chun actually hated herself, hated her own powerlessness, hated herself for failing to discover Xiao Bai's identity, and for making the wrong choice at the most crucial moment.

So...

"... Go train."

Although Xiaochun agreed to go out with Xiao Qiu, Xiao Chun still couldn't muster any enthusiasm.

She hesitated, but finally decided to go back and practice more. She wanted to use high-intensity training to make herself forget about the things that were keeping her up at night.

After training, there's Student Council work and tutoring assignments to do. With so many things to keep her busy, Xiao Chun probably won't think about those things that bothered her anymore.

"... Xiao Chun is gone?"

After Xiao Chun left, Yu Muqiu peeked out from outside the door somewhat furtively and asked Xiaoxia inside the room.

Xiaoxia couldn't help but laugh when she saw Yu Muqiu's current appearance:

"Xiao Qiu, what are you doing? You look like a thief trying to steal something, it's hilarious!"

"Hahaha, after all, Xiao Chun is a bit scary when she gets angry, and she sounded quite agitated just now..."

Yu Muqiu awkwardly scratched his head as he answered.

Chen Xiaoxia laughed heartily, "Don't worry, Xiao Chun isn't angry. She's just... a little sulky again."

"... Because of Fang Ming's matter?"