Chapter 566
"..."
Yu Muqiu's words made Xiaoxia freeze, but Xiaoxia quickly smiled again and said, "Yes, because of Brother Fang Ming."
"..."
"..."
The sound disappeared again, and the two girls looked at each other. Finally Xiaoxia added:
"You see, Xiao Chun likes Fang Ming, so... well, that's it."
Is that how it is?
Chen Xiaoxia's words sounded puzzling, but incredibly, Yu Muqiu understood what Chen Xiaoxia was talking about.
However, while Yu Muqiu could understand Xiao Chun's psychological changes, he didn't quite understand Chen Xiaoxia's.
A small, silver figure would appear in his mind, a figure that seemed to give Yu Muqiu courage.
The question that Yu Muqiu hadn't dared to ask Chen Xiaoxia for a long time was now spoken by Yu Muqiu:
"Xiaoxia, I've wanted to ask this for a long time."
"What?"
"Do you... like Brother Fang Ming too?"
Chen Xiaoxia suddenly froze, staring at Xiao Qiu for a long time as if in a daze, finally uttering a questioning syllable:
"... ah?"]
(Why would Xiao Qiu ask that?)
(Because Xiaoxia was also in a bad mood after her cousin passed away.)
(Oh, speaking of Xiaoxia and her cousin don't seem to have a very close relationship?)
(I also argue with Xiao Bai every time we meet; our relationship seems really bad...)
(No, no, no, you don't understand. People who argue but still fight side by side are often the ones with the best relationships!)
(I think Chen Xiaoxia likes Xiaobai more than Fang Ming, Xiao Bai?)
(Long live the 'Summer-Bai' Party!)
(... Why do you all always assume that Xiao Bai is 'right-handed'?)
(Emmm, is it because she's not very proactive?)
(Hilarious, after all, adults can't just take action against their juniors...)
(In fan comics, Xiao Bai is mostly on the right...)
(By the way, haven't you guys gone off-topic?)
"... Xiaoxia?"
Xiao Chun's gaze suddenly fell on Xiaoxia.
Chen Xiaoxia, as if she had been prepared, immediately replied:
"It's a misunderstanding! Xiao Chun, you have to believe me! I've told you before, right? My feelings for Fang Ming!"
"What about Xiao Bai?"
Xiao Chun pressed him for answers again.
Chen Xiaoxia looked away, blinked, and explained, "Xiao Bai... Xiao Bai... um, the girl next door?"
"Suspicious..."
"Really, really! It would be strange if I actually liked Xiao Bai! I have no interest in that kind of thing!"
Chen Xiaoxia defended herself loudly.
Xiao Chun retorted confidently, "Why not! Both Brother Fang Ming and Xiao Bai are incredibly charming! Everyone would fall for them!"
"... I don't dislike your trust in Fang Ming's charm! But you have to believe me, my feelings for Fang Ming are really pure! Really! I swear--!"
Xiaoxia raised her hand, attempting to prove her innocence by 'swearing'.
However, at this very moment, as if by sheer bad luck, dark clouds gathered outside, and thunder rumbled as if it had been timed perfectly.
"..."
At that moment, the Magical Girls were all stunned.
Chen Xiaoxia fell silent instantly, gazing speechlessly at the sky.
Damn you, God... you did this on purpose, didn't you?!
Xiaoxia stared at Xiao Qiu for a long while before suddenly bursting into laughter:
"Hahahaha! I can't take it anymore... Hahaha... Xiao Qiu, how could you think like that... Hahaha...!"
"Seriously! My question wasn't that funny!"
Seeing Chen Xiaoxia bursting into laughter, Xiao Qiu blushed and said with dissatisfaction.
Chen Xiaoxia leaned against the wall with a laugh, then her smile faded slightly as she answered Xiao Qiu's question:
"To be honest, if I had to say I like someone... well, I think I like Fang Ming- gege."
Under the Sky Screen--
"Xiao--Xia--!"
Xiao Chun glared angrily at Chen Xiaoxia.
Chen Xiaoxia immediately shouted back, "Let me finish! Let me finish!!"
"Of course, it's the kind of affection I have for my older brother."
Chen Xiaoxia explained.
"..." Chen Xiaoxia, who was below the Sky Screen, breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
But at the same time, he was also secretly complaining.
It seems I must always finish my sentences in the future, and never leave anything unsaid, or someone will die!!
Xiao Qiu looked at Xiaoxia, tilted her head, and asked:
"That's all?"
"That's all." Xiaoxia nodded.
But then Xiaoxia added, "But Xiao Bai... my feelings for Xiao Bai are different..."
She leaned against the wall by the window, looked outside, and whispered:
"At first, I disliked Xiao Bai. I thought she was arrogant and conceited, always acting like an adult and lecturing us with the air of a senior. Although... she was more mature in demeanor, in appearance, she was about the same age as us, wasn't she?"
"I think she's really bad, and at the very beginning, she was always going against us, so I... hate her."
"But as time went on, I realized that she was... not a bad person. After all, no matter what kind of enemy she faced or what kind of difficulties she encountered, she was always the first to rush to the front."
"Sometimes... I even have the feeling of 'It would be so good if she were here,' or 'It's so good that she's here,' even though I've never said it out loud..."
Chen Xiaoxia sighed and lowered her head as she said this, "If she weren't Fang Ming, I think I would have become very good friends with her... well... relatively good friends."
"..."
"But who could have imagined..." Chen Xiaoxia paused here.
She gazed into the distance, as if she could see Xiao Chun, who had long since left. Then she stood up, turned to look at Xiao Qiu, and said:
"... Xiao Chun is regretting, 'Why didn't I realize sooner that she was Fang Ming's brother?' Actually, I'm also regretting, 'Why didn't I realize sooner that she was forcing herself?' 'Why couldn't I... stick to my own ideas and continue to oppose her?'..."
"... If... if I had made her hate me earlier, perhaps she wouldn't have... given her life to us..."
Chen Xiaoxia said to Xiao Qiu.
Although she was smiling as she spoke, tears were already silently sliding down her cheeks.
Chen Xiaoxia liked Fang Ming like she liked a family member, and similarly, she liked Xiao Bai like she liked a friend.
The simultaneous departure of Fang Ming and Xiao Bai also deeply saddened Chen Xiaoxia.
Volume 6, Magic Autumn 4: Chapter 606 Stella Returns
"... Even if you make Fang Ming dislike you, he won't give up on you."
Xiao Qiu stepped forward, wiped away Xiaoxia's tears, and said softly.
"I know, but... I just can't help thinking like this..."
Xiaoxia was also wiping away her tears. She took a deep breath, swallowing back all her sadness, then smiled again and said to Xiao Qiu:
"That's how I feel about Fang Ming. That concludes my report!"
After saying that, she turned around, stretched vigorously, and said in a slightly expectant tone, as if nothing had happened:
"Oh dear, we're going on a trip in a few days! Should we pack more luggage? Ah, Xiao Qiu, have you decided where to go? I think the historical sites in the Central District are really nice!"
Xiaoxia seemed to have regained her usual energy. She asked Xiao Qiu with a smile, as if she wasn't the one who had just been crying.
Yu Muqiu didn't smile. She gazed at her close friend before her, then suddenly said to Chen Xiaoxia:
"I'll give you a surprise when we go on this trip."
"Wow! What a surprise! I can't wait!"
Chen Xiaoxia responded with a smile, but in reality, she probably didn't seem as excited as she appeared about Xiao Qiu's surprise.
Xiao Qiu didn't emphasize it further; she just looked at Xiaoxia very seriously and repeated:
"... I'll give you a surprise."
If only she could get in touch with Aurora.
That's right, Xiao Qiu actually planned to invite Aurora to go out with them.
Of course, the main purpose of inviting Aurora was to have Aurora bring Tsukinomiya Yuki along, and incidentally, to introduce the Magical Girls of the Eastern Ocean District to everyone.
Xiao Qiu believes that once everyone sees Tsukinomiya Yuki, they will understand that Fang Ming is not dead; he has simply lost his memory and exists in another region under a different identity.
Xiao Qiu still believes that everyone will definitely be able to help Fang Ming regain his memory.
They wanted their beloved Fang Ming to come back to them.
But before it's confirmed whether Aurora will bring Tsukinomiya Yuki, Xiao Qiu doesn't plan to tell everyone about it.
To avoid giving people hope only to disappoint them later.
Besides, since no one actually saw Tsukinomiya Yuki, and it was just what Xiao Qiu herself said, it's unlikely that anyone would believe it.
Even Xiao Qiu herself, if she hadn't followed Tsukinomiya Yuki and personally confirmed her identity, she probably wouldn't have believed that Tsukinomiya Yuki was Fang Ming.
After all, there Elena was even more like Xiao Bai. Who can guarantee that Tsukinomiya Yuki isn't a clone of the Aurora Society?
Therefore, we should wait until it's confirmed that Aurora will be bringing Tsukinomiya Yuki meet everyone before introducing her to them.
After Yu Muqiu finished speaking with Chen Xiaoxia, he started chatting with Xiaoxia about other things.
After expressing her innermost feelings, Xiaoxia seemed more relaxed. Perhaps at this moment, Chen Xiaoxia has truly let go of her attachment to the past and begun to truly look towards her future.
But... Xiaoxia and Xiao Chun aren't the only ones trapped in the past.
Song Niandong organized the travel guides she had on hand.
She gathered up all the travel guides that Xiao Qiu had just put down and placed them on the table, then turned to look at the bookshelf not far away.
This is Song Niandong's room, a small space that Fang Ming gave her, a space that belongs only to her.
The room wasn't very big, but it had almost everything you'd expect.
Besides essential furniture like a bed, wardrobe, and desk, there's a computer and TV specially set up for Song Niandong in the corner. There's also a bookshelf against the wall, displaying Song Niandong's favorite comics and various limited-edition autographed books with Fang Ming's signature.
In one corner of this bookshelf, there is an empty space without any books.
That empty space is filled with various figurines and models.
The model of Magical Girl Nicole is among them, but besides Nicole, there are two other models Nicole don't look very well made.
One was a girl in a black military uniform with long silver hair, wielding a scythe, and surrounded by chains.