The next morning I sat in the living room, staring at Xia Shu's door. I was so nervous that I almost forgot to breathe, and I just wanted him to come out of that door immediately and tell me his answer and choice.
It wasn't until the wall clock hit 9 o'clock that Xia Shu's door made a sound. With the sound of the door opening gently, Xia Shu's gloomy face appeared in front of me. There were faint dark circles under his eyes.
Seeing him like this, I felt a little uneasy. My eyes dropped to his hand holding the phone. His fingers tightly grasped the phone, and one hand pressed the green button. The screen of the phone was still on, and I could vaguely see a number on it, but I didn't dial it.
"Xia Shu." Seeing him, who had never been so absent-minded before, I walked quietly to his side and sat down, putting one hand on the back of his hand, hoping to give him some warmth.
His hands were cold, no matter how tightly I held them, I couldn't get any warmth from them. My palms were against the back of his hands, and I couldn't help but tremble.
Is his heart also so cold?
I shuddered, and he slowly turned his head to look at me, and covered my hand with his other hand, as if absorbing the last bit of warmth. A faint smile suddenly appeared on his lips, a little trance-like, making his haggard face suddenly full of life.
"Youye, thank you." I was confused by his words. Just as I was about to ask a question, I heard him continue, "Thank you for persuading me last night. You let me know that some things cannot be avoided, but need to be faced bravely."
I stared at the smile that spread across his face, unable to believe he would say such a thing.
"Natsuki, so you've decided to meet Mizuho?"
"Yeah." Xia Shu nodded at me firmly.
The heavy stone in my heart finally fell to the ground: "Xia Shu! You scared me to death just now, do you know that? I thought you had been thinking about it all night and still couldn't figure it out, so my efforts were in vain!"
"I just didn't sleep well last night and I'm a little tired. Look, I'm planning to call her. Doesn't that mean I've figured it out?" Xia Shu waved the phone in his hand.
I clearly saw the string of numbers on his phone and the word "Mizuho" displayed below. Although I told myself that I should be happy, the fluorescent screen in front of me looked so dazzling.
"Xia Shu, have you really made up your mind?" My heart was beating fast, with an indescribable feeling. I just felt a kind of discomfort flowing in my heart, penetrating every cell in my body.
"I have really made up my mind. I won't avoid it this time. There are some questions I have wanted to ask her for a long time, and she must have a lot to say to me. Just like you said, if I can't seize this opportunity, I may regret it for the rest of my life." Xia Shu said while looking at the phone thoughtfully.
I forced myself to suppress the uncomfortable emotion, and my eyes flashed with encouragement: "Xia Shu, come on, I will always support you!"
I stretched out my hand and made a "come on" gesture, trying to straighten my back and look at him.
But even though I tried hard to smile, I still felt like crying and my eyes became hot unconsciously.
Xia Shu, after meeting Mizuho today, you will understand your feelings for her, and you will return her and live happily. Will you still remember me, your little wishing elf? But no matter what happens in the future, I still have to push you out firmly now. I know that this is the best for you!
I watched him slowly put the phone to his ear through blurry eyes, trying not to blink and make tears fall. I pursed my lips, lowered my head slightly, wiped the tears from my eyes with my sleeve when he wasn't paying attention, and quickly raised my head to look at him.
I saw his brows slightly furrowed, and he slowly lowered his hand. When I looked at the screen, the call had ended, and only a sad black pattern was left on the screen.
"What's wrong?" Looking at his expression, I suddenly felt a little uneasy. I looked into his eyes nervously, not wanting to miss any change in his emotions.
A hint of regret flashed in his deep black pupils, and his low voice reached my ears: "No one answered the phone. I wonder if she doesn't want to answer my call." He lowered his head slightly, and his long bangs covered the expression on his face, but I could feel the depression emanating from him.
"No, no, it must be that the airport was too noisy and she didn't hear it. Xia Shu, don't think like that, she definitely didn't do it on purpose. Since she informed you of her departure time, she must want to see you again." Seeing him like this, I became a little anxious and reached out to comfort him, but my hand hung in mid-air.
"She informed me? Who told you that she informed me? I heard the news from my classmates. Mizuho didn't contact me." Natsuki said softly.
Mizuho didn't contact Natsuki? Didn't she say she would call Natsuki yesterday? Could it be that she still doesn't have the courage to face Natsuki? I sighed in disappointment. No, if this goes on, Natsuki will definitely retreat back into his protective shell, and his confidence, which he had finally built up, will collapse again.
"You haven't told me yet, how do you know about Mizuho?"
"That's not important! Xia Shu, let's go straight to the airport to find her! I know she will leave on the 11 o'clock flight, maybe she just turned off her phone before getting on the plane. There's still time now, we can still make it."
I didn't want him to know about Miyue, so I avoided the issue.
Xia Shu seemed to have not expected me to make such a suggestion, and a look of hesitation appeared in his eyes again.
"Xia Shu! It has come to this, you can't give up!" I persuaded him anxiously.
He seemed to be awakened by my shouting, and finally made up his mind:
"All right!"
My mood was suddenly very complicated, I didn't know whether I should be happy or sad, but I still smiled happily at him and urged him to get ready quickly. I pulled him out of the apartment as fast as I could, hailed a taxi, and rushed to the airport.
The car was driving very fast. I looked at my watch and it was only 9:30. We would definitely be able to make it to the airport. Xia Shu beside me seemed very worried. He clenched his fists, frowned, and stared out the window without moving.
"Don't worry, we'll catch up!" I put my hand over Xia Shu's fist to comfort him.
When he looked back at me, I was about to smile at him, but suddenly the taxi stopped. I looked ahead in confusion, but was speechless at the sight before me.
"What happened?" Xia Shu looked at me worriedly.
"There's a traffic jam! I guess the jam is quite far away, and you can't see the end at a glance." The driver in front sighed.
"Why is there a traffic jam? This road to the airport should be smooth." I looked at the motionless convoy in front of me and became as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
"I don't know. I've been driving for so many years and have never encountered a traffic jam on this road. But today I saw it." The driver complained helplessly.
Why is there a traffic jam today on a road that has never been congested before? I had an ominous feeling in my heart. Could it be Milie? I remembered what Miyue said to me yesterday. She wanted me to help stop Mizuho and Natsuki from meeting. Even if I refused, she would ask Milie to help. It must be Milie's doing!
"What should we do? Are we really unable to catch up?" Tears of unwillingness flowed from my eyes.
"No, we still have a way." Xia Shu suddenly said beside me, "Get out of the car!"
I stared in amazement as he handed the fare to the driver and then pulled me out of the car. We shuttled through the road crowded with various vehicles and finally came to the grass on the side of the road.
"Xia Shu, what are you doing?" I shouted at the top of my lungs amid the blaring horns.
"Yuzuha, can you use magic to move us to the airport?" Xia Shu asked me in a low voice.
"Of course. But according to the rules, I cannot use magic on humans at will, unless this person is my master and I cast the spell to fulfill his wish." I told him the rules of the elf world.
I remember Xia Shu once said that he disdains to use my wishes, because they are something he despises because of his pride. Is he going to break his pride for Mizuho now?
"Okay, my second wish is for you to take me to the airport to meet her." Xia Shu looked into my eyes and said firmly.
The sound of breaking glass rang in my heart again, and I couldn't stop being jealous of Mizuho's position in his heart, but the smile on my face was still perfect.
"Okay, my master, I will fulfill your wish." After saying that, I waved my right hand and began to chant the spell calmly. Although at this moment, my heart was extremely melancholy.
Just then, Xia Shu suddenly fell down in front of me.
"Xia Shu, what's wrong with you?" I stopped quickly, and the white smoke that was rising around me dissipated in an instant.
I knelt on the ground and helped Xia Shu up. I saw that he was pale and his handsome face was distorted in pain.
"Xia Shu, are you okay? Is your head hurting again?" Seeing him not saying a word and looking in so much pain as if he was about to die, my tears kept falling and I reached out and held his hand.
His head moved slowly, as if answering my question. My other hand fumbled in his shirt pocket and finally found his cell phone. I took it out like a life-saving straw and dialed the hospital's emergency number.
"Hello, is this a hospital? Someone here is about to faint." As soon as the phone was connected, before I heard the other party's voice, I spoke hurriedly.
"Hello, miss. Please don't be anxious and tell me where you are first!" A kind older sister's voice came from the other end of the phone.
"What... where is this place?" Hearing the other party's question, I was as anxious as an ant on a frying pan. I quickly turned my head to look at Xia Shu, but found that he seemed to have fainted. Fortunately, God was kind to me. There was a road sign next to me. I hurriedly reported the street name written on the road sign, hung up the phone, and stood on the side of the road, holding Xia Shu's phone and looking anxiously.
How to do how to do?
Although this was not the first time I encountered such a situation, it was the first time I saw Xia Shu's head hurt so much that he fainted.
"Xia Shu, wake up and say something to me!" I shook his body hard, but his eyes were still tightly closed and he curled up into a ball.
As I cried helplessly, the ambulance arrived, and I quickly helped the paramedics carry Xia Shu into the car.
"Wait a minute, Yuzuha...airport..." The unconscious Natsuki suddenly grabbed my hand, muttering something.
"Xia Shu, are you awake? Xia Shu!" I called his name in surprise, but he still didn't open his eyes, but just kept repeating my name and the airport.
"I understand. You want to go to the airport to see Mizuho, ​​right? Don't worry, I will definitely fulfill your wish. Don't worry." I held his hand and assured him loudly.
The ambulance drove away, and I watched it go until it completely disappeared from my sight, still worried. I wanted to be with Xia Shu and help him defeat the curse. But I was his spirit, and I had to fulfill every one of his wishes.
I whispered a spell and in a flash I was at the airport. I walked out of the corner and saw my reflection in the large floor-to-ceiling mirror next to me. It was Xia Shu's appearance.
There is only one way to fulfill Xia Shu's wish, that is to turn myself into Xia Shu, go to see Mizuho on his behalf, and keep Mizuho on his behalf! I will definitely fulfill Xia Shu's wish, because she is my last hope to save Xia Shu.
Arriving at the boarding gate, I soon saw a tall figure wearing a beige coat not far away. Mizuho was so perfect, and seeing her again, I couldn't help but feel inferior. She was the one who should stand next to Xia Shu, and I was just an elf of a different race, just a passer-by in Xia Shu's life.
For Xia Shu's perfect love, I held back the sadness, took a deep breath, and slowly walked towards her. The closer I got to her, the more nervous I felt, and my heart was beating hard in my chest.
"Mizuho..." I tried my best to imitate Natsuki's tone and called out from behind her.
Mizuho's body trembled slightly, then she turned back suddenly, her eyes full of disbelief and surprise.
"Natsuki..." Mizuho called the name softly, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly, "Why are you here?"
"I heard that you were leaving." I spoke awkwardly, a little afraid to look her in the face. But in order to prevent her from suspecting anything, I still mustered up the courage to look at her.
Mizuho suddenly looked at me and smiled. There was a sense of relief in her smile, but also seemed very sad: "That's great, Xia Shu, it's so great to see you again before I leave. I have been afraid to contact you. Even yesterday when I wanted to tell you that I was leaving, I still didn't dare to call." Mizuho said with some self-blame, her voice trembling with excitement.
"Actually, I feel the same way. I thought about it for a long time whether to come to see you, but in the end I decided to come because I really like..."
"I know you feel the same as I do!" Mizuho suddenly interrupted me, "I should have told you these words a long time ago, but I was too cowardly and only knew how to escape, thinking that I could pretend that I had never hurt you by not seeing you. I'm really sorry. In fact, the reason I broke the appointment that day was not because of family reasons, but because I suddenly realized that I didn't love you." Mizuho seemed to have used up all her strength to say these words. After she finished speaking, her face suddenly turned pale and she looked at me with guilt.
"You, you said you don't like me?" I was completely stunned. How could Mizuho not like me? No, she didn't like Natsuki? Impossible, absolutely impossible! If that was the case, wouldn't Natsuki be too pitiful?
"I'm sorry, Xia Shu. This year I finally figured it out. I don't like you, and if I'm not mistaken, your feelings for me aren't that deep either. That's why I waited so long for your confession, and you never contacted me again after I left."
I was shocked. Mizuho actually said the same thing as Natsuki! So, what Natsuki told me was true? His feelings for Mizuho were not that deep...
But that's not right. If Natsuki doesn't like Mizuho, ​​then who is the person in his mind? Maybe they both think they don't like each other, but they actually do?
"By the way, Xia Shu, I just heard about your car accident when I came back this time. How are you now?" Mizuho suddenly thought of something, walked out of the sad atmosphere and asked.
" Car accident ?" I was stunned. Has Xia Shu ever been in a car accident before? Why didn't I know about it?
"I... I'm fine now. Look, am I not fine now?" Faced with Mizuho's inquiring eyes, I had to answer in a panic.
That should be correct, right? I've never heard Xia Shu mention his car accident, so it shouldn't be serious.
"That's good." Mizuho nodded reassuringly.
Oops, now is not the time to talk about the car accident. I should have persuaded Mizuho to stay.
"Flight AF421 to New York is now boarding at Gate Six."
At this time, the announcer's voice came from the radio. Mizuho raised her wrist to look at the watch on her hand, smiled slightly and looked at me: "Xia Shu, I'm leaving. I'm really happy to tell you what's in my heart before I leave. Thank you for seeing me off."
"Wait! Mizuho, ​​I came to the airport to see you not to say goodbye to you. I want to tell you that I still like you very much and I hope you stay." Seeing that Mizuho was about to leave, I panicked and forgot my current identity. I hurried over to hold her hand and begged her.
Mizuho seemed frightened by my actions, and then a trace of doubt flashed in her eyes: "Xia Shu, what did you say? You like me? Are you really Xia Shu?"
Oh no, with Xia Shu's personality, he would never be so rash as to stop Mizuho and yell at her! I forgot about it in a moment of haste. I quickly let go of her hand and looked at her with a serious face: "Mizuho, ​​I just lost control because I was too excited. Doesn't this prove my feelings for you? Mizuho, ​​please stay, I really want to start over with you."
Mizuho was a little surprised at first, but then she laughed: "If you really like me, you wouldn't have kept me out of contact. Remember the last time I called you? When I knew you were not at home, I was actually relieved. I wanted to know if you would take the initiative to contact me, but you never did. At that time, I thought that you must have doubts about our relationship like me, so you didn't contact me. Xia Shu, you must have been impulsive in doing this today. I have moved on from that relationship, and I hope you have too."
"That's not the case, Mizuho, ​​listen to me..."
Mizuho's hug interrupted my unfinished words. Her hug was so light that I couldn't feel her love for Natsuki.
"Natsuki, maybe you haven't gotten over what happened in the past, but I've left. I'm sad for hurting you, and I sincerely hope that you will stop living in your own world and feel everything with your heart. I wish you happiness." After saying these words in my ear, Mizuho gave me a frank smile.
Mizuho...
"I'm leaving, Xia Shu. I'm glad you can come and see me off." Mizuho's last words put an end to their relationship. In the end, I still couldn't keep her.
I didn't know what else to say, I could only stare at her as she walked towards the boarding gate. People were passing by, but the noisy sounds didn't attract my attention at all.
Is this the ending Xia Shu wants to see? I have no way to control Mizuho's feelings. She no longer likes Xia Shu, so she can leave freely. But what about Xia Shu? If Mizuho leaves, where can I help Xia Shu find his "true love"? How can I remove the curse on him?
By the way, Xia Shu is still in the hospital, I don't know how he is doing. I looked at Mizuho who was about to leave my sight, and I could only clench my fist unwillingly and turned to leave the airport.
Xia Shu, I'm sorry, I didn't fulfill your wish, I failed again...
With a nervous mood, I rushed to the hospital where Xia Shu was. After hurriedly asking about Xia Shu's ward, I pushed open the door and walked in.
Everything was white before my eyes.
Xia Shu, who was lying on the white bed, also had a pale face, and his lips were bloodless and tightly pressed together. I walked gently to his side and sat down, slowly stretched out my trembling hands, gently stroked his eyebrows, trying to wipe away the sadness on his face.
"Xia Shu, she's gone..." My fingers slowly slid across his cool cheeks, and I was surrounded by guilt and self-blame. "It's all my fault. I couldn't persuade her to stay. I'm so useless. I can't do anything right. I watched you being controlled by the spell but couldn't save you. Now I can't even fulfill such a simple wish for you. I don't have the ability to be your wish-granting elf at all."
By the end of my speech, I was sobbing and my vision was blurred by tears.
"Silly girl, why are you crying? I'm not dead yet." Suddenly, Xia Shu's low voice sounded in the empty room.
I immediately wiped my tears and looked at him, only to see that he had opened his eyes and a gentle smile bloomed on his pale face.
I immediately rushed over happily: "Xia Shu, how do you feel? I'll ask the doctor to check you out."
"No, I'm fine. Why were you crying just now? I finally fell asleep, but I was woken up by your crying. You are really troublesome." Although Xia Shu was complaining, he looked very happy.
"How would I know you were sleeping? I just cried because I felt useless and couldn't help you keep Mizuho. Oh, I shouldn't have said anything irritating at this time. Just pretend you didn't hear it. I'll tell you when you get better." I quickly covered his ears and said in panic.
If we tell him that Mizuho is gone at this time, he will definitely faint again due to the excessive stimulation.
"It's too late. I've heard it." Xia Shu took my hand away, looked into my eyes and asked me, "What did Mizuho tell you? I want to know now."
I shook my head like a rattle: "You should have a good rest now. I will talk to you when you wake up."
"No. If you don't tell me, I will definitely not be able to sleep. Tell me, I'm not that fragile." Xia Shu held my head, which was dizzy from the shaking.
I lowered my head in embarrassment, but finally couldn't resist his insistence and whispered: "Mizuho said she doesn't like you, and your feelings for her are not that deep, so you have been missing each other and haven't confessed to each other. I told her that you like her very much and asked her not to leave. But she said I was impulsive and she doubted my identity. Xia Shu, am I a failure?"
"It's a complete failure." Xia Shu frowned and lowered his voice.
Woohoo, I knew he would think this way, but I still feel sad when he said it.
"I told you a long time ago that my feelings for her are not that deep, so why do you insist on keeping her? Even Mizuho knows what I'm thinking, and you don't believe what I say. Isn't this a failure?" Xia Shu touched my head soothingly, his tone very helpless.
Huh? Natsuki really doesn't like Mizuho?
I looked into his eyes suspiciously, but I saw sincerity and calmness in his dark eyes, without any sadness at all. So, he really didn't lie to me.
"But, since you don't like Mizuho, ​​why do you insist that I go to the airport to meet her?" I was a little confused.
"Didn't you say so? I should meet with her and make things clear, otherwise there will be eternal regrets. I just want to tell her what I think and put an end to our relationship." Xia Shu looked up at the sky in silence, "Mizuho must be very embarrassed by your behavior!"
My face immediately turned red, and the scene of me begging Mizuho at the airport just now reappeared in my mind. I seem to have messed up again, and I completely misunderstood what Natsuki meant. It was a failure among failures...
"Xia Shu, I'm sorry. After I made such a fuss, Mizuho will definitely think that she hurt your heart and she won't dare to contact you in the future."
"Forget it, I'll explain it to her again. Besides, you're not such a failure. At least you have resolved her knot, and I know what she's thinking. Now both she and I can put aside the shadow of the past!" Natsuki also showed a relieved expression like Mizuho.
"Really? Xia Shu, I didn't completely mess things up. Have I still made some contribution to you?" I held his hand with great joy and asked eagerly.
"Well. You have fulfilled my second wish for me, and I want to thank you." Xia Shu stopped joking and said sincerely.
"Very good!"
Hearing his answer, my depressed heart was instantly filled with energy, and the pineapple elf Yuye was resurrected again! Moreover, hearing that he didn't like Ruihui, my heart was secretly happy! I lowered my head and looked at him, and suddenly realized that my hand was still holding his hand. My face turned red and I immediately let go.
His hands softened and fell heavily onto the bed with a dull thud. He groaned softly.
"Ah, are you okay?" Seeing that I had hurt him again, I looked at him with some remorse and lowered my head, "I'm sorry."
Veins popped out on his forehead, but he still endured the pain and shook his head.
I immediately smiled at him. At this moment, I remembered what Mizuho had mentioned when she was talking to me about Natsuki’s car accident, and asked nervously, “Natsuki, have you ever been in a car accident before?”
As soon as I said this, the look in his eyes suddenly became complicated. His dark black pupils stared at me for a long time before he spoke: "Yeah."
"So what Mizuho said was true. Was the car accident serious? Mizuho asked about your situation, but I haven't heard you mention the car accident before."
"It's nothing. It happened shortly after Mizuho left. I've recovered well now. It's just that the injury to my head damaged the nerves, so my sense of taste is impaired." Natsuki said lightly, as if the car accident did not happen to him.
Loss of taste? Isn't that serious?
His words shocked me, and I suddenly recalled the times when he cooked for me and almost made me vomit. I still remember the first time I came to his house, when we were eating, I actually asked him if he deliberately cooked such a bad dish to get back at me. I didn't expect it was because of his loss of taste.
A deep sense of guilt spread from the bottom of my heart.
"Xia Shu, I'm sorry, I didn't know anything before." I thought of those exquisite and beautiful dishes. How could they be so beautiful if he hadn't prepared them carefully? I actually ignored his efforts and thoughts just because of the taste.
I always refused to eat properly and secretly threw away the food he cooked. I must have hurt him deeply! I always said that I would protect him and not let anyone hurt him, but the first person who hurt him was myself! Tears of guilt filled my eyes again, and I didn't even know how to face him.
"Now you know, let's see if you dare to waste the food I cook in the future." Xia Shu stared at my face fiercely, but gently reached out to wipe away my tears.
"No, never again. I swear, I will eat all the dishes you cook in the future!" I raised my right hand and swore solemnly, and suddenly I felt that being able to eat the dishes cooked by Xia Shu was the happiest thing in the world.
A bright smile spread across Natsuki's face, adding a touch of life to his pale complexion.
I tried to smile more brightly, but my eyes were still sour and I was moved to tears. Xia Shu also told me about his loss of taste. Was he no longer on guard against me and was willing to open his heart to me completely? Thinking of this, I felt even happier.
Losing the sense of taste must be a very painful thing. As Xia Shu's wish-making elf, I have the responsibility to maintain his health!
"Xia Shu." I thought of a way. Although I was reluctant to say it out loud, for Xia Shu's happiness, I still said it cruelly, "I can help you cure your disease and make you a healthy person. Just regard curing your disease as your third wish, okay?"
"The third wish..." His eyes suddenly changed when he looked at me. I thought he would agree after just a moment's hesitation, after all, who doesn't want a healthy body? But I didn't expect him to just pause for a moment, and then decisively refused, "No need."
"Why?"
Hearing his refusal, there was a hint of surprise in my tone.
"My body... is fine, I don't need it." Xia Shu refused without thinking.
Why? Doesn't he want to owe me a favor? A sad thought came to my mind. Are we still so unfamiliar with each other?
"After completing the third wish, you will leave, right?" Xia Shu suddenly said sadly, as if he knew what I was thinking.
What? He refused because he didn't want to be separated from me? My heart couldn't help but beat wildly. Did he not want to be separated from me just like I did?
"Xia Shu, don't you want to separate from me?" I asked tremblingly.
"Yeah, it's a shame to lose a pet that can be bullied." Xia Shu touched his nose uncomfortably and said in a low voice.
Pet? This is the first time I heard this word, I didn't get angry. Instead, I felt like thousands of fireworks were blooming in my heart, jumping with colorful and joyful colors. Xia Shu didn't want to be separated from me either!
I want to be together forever, and I don't want to endure a moment of separation. This is how I feel about Xia Shu. I want to suppress this thought in my mind as usual, but this time, no matter how I suppress it, this thought still fills every cell in my body and occupies me.
Outside the window, the sunlight became brighter, shining through the glass and onto Xia Shu's face. I looked at his perfect statue-like profile, so beautiful, as fascinating as the warm sunlight.
I seem to...really like him.
Hopelessly in love.