"Let me... be with Youxi?"
"Yes, yes!"
Xia Yuan asked excitedly, "Don't you like Youxi, Ah Fang?"
"… "
Mei Fang did not rush to answer this question, but showed an expression of dissatisfaction with Xia Yuan with a frown.
"Did you plan to do this from the beginning? You said you wanted to fulfill Youxi's wish... but that was actually what you were aiming for."
"Hey, Ah Fang, just tell me, do you like You Xi or not?"
"What do you think?" Mei Fang raised his eyebrows.
"Yeah, I think you like it."
Xia Yuan's eyes sparkled, "I've never seen Youxi rely on someone so much, um... except me."
She smiled again as she spoke, "Besides, since I'm already dead, I also hope to see you two take care of each other."
"Youxi lacked family love since she was a child, and she has never had any friends since she grew up, so you are also very important to her, and she relies on you a lot."
"As for you, Fang, I don't think you're a very brave person... But you can empathize with others, and you want to protect Youxi. If you want to protect Youxi, you will have the courage and strength. The two of you complement each other..."
Xia Yuan lowered his head as he spoke. Mei Fang
"So what if you come out after fulfilling your wish?"
"What...what should I do?"
Xia Yuan suddenly blushed and muttered, "Please don't change the subject! Let's just talk about Youxi."
"I won't confess to Youxi."
Mei Fang shook his head, "Because I know that's not your true wish."
Seeing Mei Fang's determined expression and his gaze looking straight at Xia Yuan without any wavering look, Xia Yuan slowly compromised hesitantly.
"Since Ah Fang has said so... Well, I won't force you."
Xia Yuan thought about it and said, "Well, maybe I still have a wish that may not be fulfilled."
"What's your wish?"
"Celebrate Youxi's birthday."
Xia Yuan lowered her head and muttered, "I promised Youxi that I would spend her 10th birthday with her, but I broke the promise."
"Youxi's birthday... I remember it shouldn't be these days, right?"
Mei Fang pondered, "I remember Youxi said before that it should be the birthday in winter."
"Yeah, her birthday isn't until February."
Xia Yuan lowered his head and muttered, "But my birthday... should be in the next few days, so we can use my birthday as an excuse to hold a birthday party, but in reality, we'll be spending the day with Youxi."
"Can."
Mei Fang nodded, "Then I'll prepare it."
"Oh, oh, don't buy too many things! Just buy the cake. I can find other birthday hats, candles, firecrackers and other things at the mall. You don't have any money."
Xia Yuan held his chin with his hand, revealing a regretful expression, "If only I could bring the things from the mall out to you, then you could rely on me to make a fortune."
Xia Yuan tried to pass items from the mirror world into Mei Fang's world, including Xia Yuan's own hands, but that was impossible. Xia Yuan began to feel resistance as soon as Mei Fang pulled him out slightly.
"This is nothing, what kind of cake do you want to eat?"
"Strawberry cake!" Xia Yuan said, "I like sweet strawberries, but it would also be nice if there was chocolate..."
"Okay, then let's buy a strawberry chocolate cake." Mei Fang reached into the mirror with a doting look on his face and patted Xia Yuan's head. Xia Yuan was so happy that he danced with joy.
"Okay, I can finally celebrate my birthday! I want to spend this birthday with Youxi. What birthday present should I give Youxi?"
Mei Fang shook her head and warned Xia Yuan, "Why did you give Youxi a birthday present? Youxi will be able to sense your intentions."
Xia Yuan was startled when he heard this, and quickly patted his chest, "Oh, yes, yes, Ah Fang is smarter and more cautious, I completely forgot about it."
"You better be more careful, you idiot."
"But... if I don't give Youxi anything, then wouldn't it really just be a birthday celebration for me?"
Xia Yuan looked at Mei Fang expectantly, "Master Fang, how can I give Youxi a gift without her thinking I have ulterior motives? Please teach me!"
Mei Fang pinched Xia Yuan's cheek, and then said, "Let me think about what to do first... Anyway, I still need to discuss the birthday party with Youxi."
"Well, wait until Youxi comes over this afternoon! We'll talk about it together!"
Lin Youxi comes to Mei Fang's house a little later recently because she has to organize Xia Yuan's study lesson plans in the morning. She really wants to improve Xia Yuan's academic ability to the level of a high school student.
So when Teacher Lin came to Mei Fang's house and heard about Xia Yuan and Mei Fang's ideas, his first reaction was quite surprised.
"Yuanyuan, don't you want to study anymore? Are you just thinking about this?"
"No, no! My birthday is coming soon! Hehehe..."
Xia Yuan scratched his head and said, "I just want to eat birthday cake. It's tiring to cook for myself all the time..."
"Then I can cook for you every day."
Lin Youxi said, "Fang can give you the food."
"But then we can't take the dishes back, right?"
"Use disposable bowls, and you have chopsticks and spoons right there."
Lin Youxi said gently, "I can bring you food every day."
Xia Yuan muttered and waved his hands, "Alright, alright, let's talk about the birthday first! I just want to celebrate my birthday together. You guys are going back to school soon, so you can't stay with me like this forever."
"… "
Lin Youxi shook her head. "It's not like we won't see each other every day. Why are you suddenly so sad?"
"Ahh... That's because—"
Xia Yuan immediately winked at Mei Fang and asked him to save her. Mei Fang immediately tried to smooth things over and explained, "Okay, okay, Yuanyuan just wants to have a good birthday. Don't make it too hard for her."
"You just dote on her so much that you just know to follow her wishes."
Lin Youxi frowned and said, "No wonder Yuanyuan likes to stick close to you so much."
Although she looked angry, it didn't make people feel aggressive, and there was even a hint of anger in her expression.
After agreeing on some details of the birthday party, Xia Yuan was also very emotional.
"Hahaha, I feel like we are going to become a family of three... Just like when we were kids playing house, mom, dad, and daughter..."
"It's different. How is it the same?"
Lin Youxi shook her head and said, "Before, you played the mother and I played the daughter."
"Okay Youxi, you want to say that it's the other way around now, right?"
"You admitted it yourself."
Upon seeing this, Xia Yuan immediately banged on the mirror in anger. Seeing Lin Youxi's calm expression, Xia Yuan hummed and acted coquettishly towards Mei Fang:
“Afang Afang! Help me pinch Youxi’s face and avenge me!”
"Ah Fang, do you want to listen to Yuanyuan or me? Go and help me pinch Yuanyuan."
"Ah, please don't make it difficult for me..."
"Useless Afang!" Xia Yuan in the mirror made a face at Mei Fang.
"That's right." Lin Youxi also nodded.
The tacit understanding between the two made Mei Fang a little annoyed. He reached into the mirror with one hand to pinch Xia Yuan's face, and pinched Lin Youxi's face with the other hand.
Xia Yuan was made to scream by Mei Fang, and Lin Youxi did not hesitate to bite Mei Fang's hand directly, causing Mei Fang to scream in pain.
After much preparation and preparation, the day that Xia Yuan had booked for his birthday soon arrived.
Mei Fang and Lin Youxi went out early to pick up the cake they had ordered.
It is still a hot and humid summer day, but the cicadas' chirping has decreased a lot and the streets are no longer so noisy.
Lin Youxi sat sideways in the back seat of Mei Fang's car, leaning naturally against Mei Fang's back, looking at the sparse flow of people on the street.
Suddenly, Lin Youxi poked Mei Fang's waist, forcing Mei Fang to make an emergency brake, then stop the car and look back at Lin Youxi who was looking at him.
"Ah Fang, what birthday present did you prepare for Yuanyuan? Let me see."
"Ah? A birthday present?"
"You don't even prepare a birthday present? You're just as active in preparing for the birthday party as Yuanyuan."
"When we boys celebrate our birthdays, we usually treat everyone to a good meal and drink. We don't really prepare birthday gifts. We just give money and call him dad."
Lin Youxi didn't care about Mei Fang's explanation, but stared at him.
"You really didn't prepare a birthday present?"
"Really not—" Beads of sweat appeared on Mei Fang's forehead.
"If you suddenly give out a birthday present, you know what the consequences will be, right?" Lin Youxi looked at Mei Fang coldly.
"Okay, okay! I have prepared a birthday present." Mei Fang surrendered.
"I knew it..."
Lin Youxi reached out to Mei Fang and asked, "Let me see the birthday present you prepared."
"Not now, I don't even have it with me!"
"What exactly is it?" Lin Youxi asked.
"Won't you know later on your birthday?"
Mei Fang thought about it, then changed the subject and asked, "Why are you so interested in my birthday present?"
"I'm afraid your gift is too expensive and too good, and it will outshine my birthday gift."
Lin Youxi said in a gentle voice, "I don't have much pocket money, so there aren't many choices for gifts..."
"But as long as it's from you, Yuanyuan will definitely like it."
"She likes the one you gave her more."
Lin Youxi's words were full of jealousy, and Mei Fang just laughed it off after hearing it.
I got the ordered cake from the cake shop, it was the chocolate strawberry cake that Yuanyuan wanted.
The pink cream is dotted with colorful fruits, adding a dreamy touch. The rich chocolate crust wraps the decorations on the cake, with the words "Happy Birthday" written on it.
Xia Yuan on the other side of the mirror was extremely happy when he saw this. He hurriedly put on his birthday hat, shouted that he wanted to light candles and start making a wish.
"Wait a minute!"
Mei Fang stopped Xia Yuan and said softly, "Let's take a look at the birthday present first."
Mei Fang took out a small gift box from the cabinet. Xia Yuan looked at it with joy and said softly:
"Ah Fang, help me dismantle it."
"good."
Mei Fang followed Xia Yuan's instructions, slowly untied the ribbon, and showed Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi the birthday gift she had prepared -
It is a very fine silver bracelet, hanging on the bracelet is
Mei Fang slowly pulled up the bracelet, and at this time Lin Youxi noticed something strange about the bracelet.
"Two?"
“Uh… yes.”
Mei Fang explained, "I think Yuanyuan will like the style of this bracelet, but when I bought it, the clerk said that this kind of bracelet is called a girlfriend bracelet, which is used to strengthen the relationship between girls. If I want to buy it, I have to buy two."
"You're obviously being ripped off, idiot."
Lin Youxi criticized Mei Fang, "If you want to buy one, just buy one. Who else can tell you?"
"Hey, Fang has already bought everything, don't spoil his fun!"
Xia Yuan waved her hand to stop Lin Youxi from continuing, and then asked Mei Fang: "So, the other one is for Youxi? After all, it's a best friend bracelet..."
"You bought it for yourself, Fang, you bought a couple's pair." Lin Youxi said calmly.
"No, no, I bought it for you."
Mei Fang showed another bracelet to Lin Youxi, "Look at this little brand."
The two words "缘" and "兮" are engraved on the silver bracelet respectively.
"Yuanyuan is holding the bracelet with the word 'Xi' engraved on it, and Youxi is holding the one with the word 'Yuan' engraved on it." Mei Fang said, "The clerk said that this can deepen the connection between best friends. Maybe one day you will be able to touch each other."
"You also... you also believe this kind of words, I really admire you."
Lin Youxi was about to complain a few more words that this mysterious thing was just a trick to cheat people out of money, but when she thought of Xia Yuan's miracle happening right here, she didn't say anything more, but took the bracelet from Mei Fang.
"Ah Fang! Since it's a gift for Youxi, just help her put it on. Don't be silly."
At this time, Mei Fang also looked at Lin Youxi under Xia Yuan's reminder: "Is it okay?"
"Um."
Lin Youxi did not refuse, but just raised her hand.
So, Xia Yuan stood on the other side of the mirror, watching with great joy as Mei Fang put the bracelet on Lin Youxi and fastened it with the buckle.
"It looks very nice, Yuxi!"
"It's just so-so."
Lin Youxi said it was normal, but after Mei Fang's sight left her, she dangled the bracelet in her hand, looking at the small jade pendant engraved with the word "fate" swaying in her hand.
When Mei Fang's gaze returned to her, she moved Mei Fang's face away again.
"Okay, it's time to put it on Yuanyuan."
"Here I come."
So Mei Fang took the bracelet and put it into the mirror. Xia Yuan was more cooperative than Lin Youxi and reached out early to help Mei Fang tie the bracelet.
The beautiful bracelet sparkled brightly on Xia Yuan's fair arms, and the small jade pendant engraved with the word "Xi" was also very bright.
"But I always feel like something is weird."
Lin Youxi frowned at this time, which also caused Xia Yuan to panic:
"Ah? Is it weird? I think it's great!"
"It's not that there's anything wrong with the bracelet, but the act of giving me the bracelet as well."
Lin Youxi complained, "It's like they're celebrating my birthday as well."
"Hahahahaha! Just think of it as your birthday!"
Xia Yuan was so excited that she could hardly hide her excitement and regret. "I had promised to celebrate your birthday with you, but I couldn't keep it later—"
Mei Fang had no time to stop him. When Lin Youxi heard Xia Yuan say this, he raised his head alertly.
Xia Yuan also broke out in a cold sweat after meeting Lin Youxi's gaze, and hesitantly said, "I, I only have the memory in the mirror, and I don't know if I spent your birthday with you later."
"No, you went abroad after the fourth grade." Lin Youxi said, "You went to the Windmill Country, there are many big windmills, and the grasslands all over the mountains are full of cornflowers."
"Yes, yes, I have some impression... My father once asked me if I wanted to live in the Windmill Country and show me how beautiful it is—"
"How did you answer? Did you say you wanted to go?" Lin Youxi asked.
"I, I said I'd like to travel there. The world is so big, I want to go out and travel."
Xia Yuan paused, "But, if it's about life, I still... I still want to live by your side and grow up with you—"
"You're lying."
Lin Youxi frowned, and his eyes, which had finally become gentle, gradually turned cold.
"… "
"Why did you leave me, Yuanyuan?"
"I, I, I... I'm back, right? Now..."
Xia Yuan tried hard to put on a gentle and cheerful smile, but Lin Youxi's expression was like a precursor to a coming storm, which made the cheerfulness that Xia Yuan tried so hard to show become gloomy.
"What you are thinking about today is not Yuanyuan's birthday, but my birthday."
"Ah, Youxi, what are you talking about? Youxi, it's just Yuanyuan's birthday, I just happened to—"
Mei Fang tried to ease the tense atmosphere between Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi, but was slapped away by Lin Youxi.
Lin Youxi's cold palm touched the back of Mei Fang's hand, making Mei Fang feel powerless and heavy, making it difficult for him to do anything.
"Because you feel that not celebrating my birthday is against your wishes."
"Rather, it's your last wish."
"Right, Xia Yuan."
Lin Youxi stared coldly at the person in the mirror who was extremely nervous. Her lips trembled, and then she adjusted her birthday hat and tried to put on a hypocritical and stiff smile.
"Oh no, I've been discovered."
"I didn't mean to hide it from you, Youxi..."
"You have done many things without telling me. I have been giving you chances. I pretended not to see them. I was waiting for you to tell me instead of hiding it from me."
Xia Yuan's voice was as thin as a mosquito: "If I tell you, I know you won't agree..."
"So you want me to leave without even saying goodbye, and abandon me once again?"
Lin Youxi's angry questioning then turned into an emotion filled with despair.
She didn't want to care about anything anymore.
The confused mood turned the environment in sight into something dim and turbid. The brain dominated by emotions could no longer restrain the desperate, gloomy and collapsed mood.
"You really are a bad person, Xia Yuan."
Lin Youxi said something harsh to Xia Yuan that she had never said in her life.
Xia Yuan in the mirror was completely stunned.
"I can't stand it any longer."
"I can't stand you anymore."
"I'm done."
Lin Youxi slowly stood up, her disheveled hair covering her
"You want to achieve your last wish and become a Buddha, but I won't let you succeed."
"Let's break up."
"I don't care about you anymore."
"I don't want to care about you anymore."
"Wait, wait, don't make it so serious... Actually, trying the wish might help Yuanyuan get out of the mirror, right?"
Mei Fang's pulling did not stop Lin Youxi. She even roughly pulled off the jade silver bracelet with the word "fate" engraved on it that Mei Fang had just given her and threw it in Mei Fang's face.
The bracelet slid down from Mei Fang's face and fell to the ground, leaving a visible red blood streak on Mei Fang's face.
Lin Youxi's behavior also completely angered Xia Yuan, who had been holding back her emotions.
"Youxi, you're going too far! This has nothing to do with Ah Fang!"
Xia Yuan yelled at Lin Youxi, "If you want to break up with me, then do it! I'm already dead anyway, it's none of your business!"
"That would be best."
Lin Youxi slammed the door and left. Mei Fang ignored the scars on her face and quickly caught up with Lin Youxi without hesitation. She went downstairs with her and explained to her:
"Youxi, hey Youxi, don't go. It is indeed our fault for not telling you about this matter, but it is also because we know you will definitely not agree."
"Yuanyuan was also in great pain. She actually knew from the beginning that she had passed away."
"That's why she feels that you've shouldered too much..."
Mei Fang followed Lin Youxi as she explained. Lin Youxi kept her head down and didn't look at Mei Fang. She hugged her body with her arms and couldn't help shaking.
Although it is summer, my body feels as cold as if it were winter.
"Youxi! If I keep Yuanyuan trapped in the mirror and do nothing, is this what you want?"
As soon as they reached the street, Mei Fang grabbed Lin Youxi.
"Lin Youxi! Can you please listen to me and calm down!"
"We can't keep Yuanyuan trapped in the mirror forever."
"She's not one to show pain."
"We alone are not enough. Sooner or later she will be driven crazy by the lonely life in the mirror!"
"As you wish, go away."
Lin Youxi wanted to bypass Mei Fang, but was blocked by Mei Fang.
"I have already severed my friendship with Xia Yuan. Whether she lives or dies, becomes a Buddha or emerges from the mirror, I have no right to control her."
Lin Youxi said coldly, "Whether it's Xia Yuan or you, Mei Fang, I can't control it."
"But, Youxi, we—"
Lin Youxi pushed Mei Fang away when she came closer.
"Stop calling me that."
"Come on... who do you think you are?"
Lin Youxi's harsh words pierced Mei Fang's heart like a nail, and also stopped him from moving forward and getting closer to Lin Youxi.
"After all, I only came into contact with you because of Xia Yuan. We are not from the same world. I have never considered you a friend."
"If Xia Yuan doesn't want to live anymore, there's no need for me to have anything to do with her, and there's no need for me to continue talking to you..."
"Don't talk to me anymore."
"Just treat me as a dead person too."
"that's all."
"If you come any closer I will kill you. I can do it."
Lin Youxi showed Mei Fang the marks under her bracelet.
Mei Fang watched Lin Youxi turn and leave, and wanted to go forward and hold her hand, but his body was already filled with surging fear.
Yes, yes.
I originally had no way of getting to know Lin Youxi, I, I...
Mei Fang clenched his trembling right hand tightly and watched Lin Youxi's figure gradually disappear at the corner of the intersection.
Mei Fang did not chase after him.
He stood there in a daze for a while, then remembered that Xia Yuan was still at home with no one to accompany her, so he ran back home like a flash, quickly opened the door and returned to the bedroom. Xia Yuan in the mirror seemed to be concentrating on writing something again.
The birthday hat was also put aside.
"Yuanyuan."
Mei Fang called Xia Yuan's name softly.
Hearing Mei Fang's call, Xia Yuan rubbed his eyes first, then coughed a few times, and then turned around with his hands behind his back.
"As expected, they still had a fight..."
She raised her head, revealing her peach-like eyes that were red from crying. Then she raised her head and saw the blood streak on Mei Fang's face, and tears suddenly flowed out uncontrollably.
"Does it hurt, Ah Fang..."
"It's okay. I wouldn't feel anything if you didn't tell me."
Mei Fang smiled and said, "Youxi, let her calm down first. She said that because she still cares about you. Let's celebrate her birthday first."
"Ah Fang... come in for a moment... put your face in here."
"how?"
Mei Fang followed Xia Yuan's request and leaned into the mirror, and then Xia Yuan held her cheek. She gently rubbed the injured part of Mei Fang and applied a Band-Aid to Mei Fang.
"Oh, no need. You can't take this out..."
"I, I just want to do something for you..."
Xia Yuan sobbed while leaning her cheek against Mei Fang's.
"Youxi is a very stubborn person. Ah Fang must have been wronged."
"No, nothing happened... She's just angry that we didn't tell her about this. It will be fine once she calms down."
Mei Fang said, "Don't take the harsh words Youxi said to you to heart."
"I didn't take it seriously! But you too..."
Xia Yuan said softly, "She cares about you too, really cares about you..."
"So, don't listen to the harsh words she says to you."
"When she said that, she must have been carrying more pain than you."
"She's just... she's just... that's just the way she is, you know."
"What you say and what you think are not the same thing."
Xia Yuan was very gentle when she whispered these words into his ear.
So gentle that Mei Fang's heart, which was originally broken by the hurt she had suffered from Lin Youxi, was broken.
It was at this time that it began to heal slowly.
Mei Fang didn't dare to respond to Xia Yuan, but just took the initiative to caress her tighter.
Because if I open my mouth, I will find myself choking.
Yes.
That's right.
He knew Lin Youxi was like this.
But after being hurt in person, he couldn't help but doubt himself.
Are you just being too sentimental
Is it just as Lin Youxi said
However, Xia Yuan's words made him put aside those distracting thoughts.
There's nothing to worry about.
Yes.
nothing.
Except for Xia Yuan in the mirror world, no one knows that child better than you.
But let her calm down now...
"Let's just continue celebrating your birthday, Alfon."
"Um."
Mei Fang picked up the bracelet that Lin Youxi had thrown away from the floor beside her and saw a small jewelry box rolling on the ground.
"Um, this is the birthday present that Youxi prepared for me, right?"
"I guess so."
"Open it and take a look, Ah Fang..."
Mei Fang gently opened the jewelry box, and there was also a piece of jewelry inside.
It's just a pendant.
A pendant shaped like a thousand paper cranes.
The thousand paper cranes are inlaid with several exquisite sapphires. They do not look like cheap accessories from a boutique, but rather carefully crafted jewelry.
For some reason, when Mei Fang saw the pendant, he suddenly felt a sense of familiarity and a dull pain in his chest, but the feeling quickly dissipated.
"What a beautiful pendant! Youxi must have spent a long time choosing it."
Xia Yuan asked Mei Fang to pick up the pendant and show it to Xia Yuan.
Before Mei Fang brought the pendant into the mirror world, Xia Yuan asked softly:
"Fang, do you know the meaning of the thousand paper cranes?"
"It's not very clear... you know?"
"The thousand paper cranes represent 'good wishes'."
Xia Yuan's voice was very gentle. "My mother once said that if you can't speak the words in your heart, you can put your feelings on a thousand paper cranes."
"Because Youxi has been an introverted and quiet child since she was young, I always encourage her to do this and tell the paper cranes what she wants to say."
Xia Yuan said softly, "In that case, the thousand paper cranes will convey what you want to say and the feelings you want to convey to the person you want to tell."
"So that's how it is."
Mei Fang nodded gently. "Come to think of it, the fact that we can touch and see each other is probably due to the power of the paper cranes."
"So that's what I'm saying..."
Xia Yuan pursed her lips and said, "The paper crane is my favorite handicraft. When I was in kindergarten, I loved folding paper cranes with Youxi the most."
"No wonder."
Xia Yuan stared at the pendant in Mei Fang's hand.
"Come on, Ah Fang... help me put on the pendant."
"good."
Mei Fang reached in and put on Xia Yuan the birthday gift from Lin Youxi.
He listened to Xia Yuan talk about many stories from the past and the good memories he had spent with Lin Youxi.
She just kept talking and he listened carefully.
When Xia Yuan said he was tired, Mei Fang began to light the candles and handed the cake to the mirror world where Xia Yuan was.
"Happy birthday, Yuanyuan." Mei Fang said gently, "Make a wish."
"good."
As Mei Fang hummed the birthday song, Xia Yuan closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, made a wish, and then blew out the candles.
At the same time, the thousand paper crane pendant hanging on Xia Yuan's neck suddenly flashed.
Sorry for the long wait. Tomorrow I will finish The Mirror.
(End of this chapter)