“Mimi, don’t you think so?”
The girl’s voice was light, as if afraid of startling something.
“Standing in the center of everyone’s attention like a star, the whole world listening to her sing… how wonderful…”
Her tone couldn’t hide the envy.
“Actually, I’ve already posted a few songs on Second Station using a virtual avatar. No one will ever know it’s me.”
She paused.
“No one will ever know that Shengxia is a disabled person with a limp.”
Her voice grew even softer.
“Isn’t it strange? I have hair like spring, and my virtual name is Shengxia. But in reality, I’m a gloomy Xiqiu.”
She let out a laugh.
“Xiqiu, Xiqiu… what’s there to cherish about autumn? The leaves are almost all gone.”
The white cat meowed twice, as if responding.
Ye Xiqiu was startled for a moment, then shook her head.
‘Why did I think a cat could understand me?’
“Alright, goodbye, Mimi.”
She gently set the white cat on the ground, then used her crutches to climb back to the railing.
The traffic below was still flowing—car horns, voices, and distant music all mixed together, buzzing.
She took a deep breath.
Her hands were trembling.
Fingertips icy, palms drenched in sweat.
“Actually… I’m still a little scared.”
She said it softly, as if talking to herself.
“But when I think about how Mom and Dad won’t have to work so hard after I’m gone… it doesn’t seem so scary anymore.”
She closed her eyes, leaning forward—
Just then, she sensed something and abruptly turned her head.
At the spot where the white cat had been, a white light flickered.
Not the blazing intensity of the sun, but a gentle, breeze-like soft glow.
The white cat was gone.
In its place stood a person.
A tall woman with long white hair cascading down her back like a waterfall. She wore a pale white dress, loose-fitting but unable to hide her full figure.
Her features were soft and delicate, her eyes carrying a reassuring, warm strength.
The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, like a spring breeze brushing a lake.
Ye Xiqiu opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.
No matter how she looked at it, a cat turning into a person right in front of her was too shocking.
So there really were gods in this world?
But then she shook her head again.
‘It’s just a fantasy before death…’
Contrary to her expectations, the woman stepped forward and reached out to embrace her in the wheelchair.
It wasn’t a grab or a pull—it was a hug.
Very light and steady, as if holding something fragile.
Ye Xiqiu fell into a warm embrace. The heat seeped through the thin fabric, wrapping around her entirely. She felt dazed for a moment—so this wasn’t a dream?
It had been so long since she’d been held like this.
Not the careful, afraid-to-touch-her-legs kind of hug, but a sincere, wholehearted one that pulled her completely into the arms.
“Nice to meet you.”
The woman’s voice came from above, low and gentle, like the soft vibration of a cello string.
“No, for you this should be your first time seeing me. But I’ve been watching you all along. I know your pain, and I know your dreams.”
Ye Xiqiu looked up, staring at the face so close to hers.
It was a face so beautiful it left her speechless—fair skin, long eyelashes, eyes reflecting the color of the sky.
She looked into those eyes and suddenly felt the light there was very warm, warm enough to make her want to cry.
“You… who are you?”
The woman smiled but didn’t answer.
She let go of the hug and crouched down.
“Actually, I’ve always been curious what a disabled beauty’s legs feel like to touch.”
“Huh?”
“Since I have the chance now, let me try.”
“Huh? Huh?”
Before Ye Xiqiu could react, the woman reached out, gently lifting the thick fabric sewn onto the skirt for warmth.
Since it was too troublesome to wear pants underneath, the legs were directly visible.
Too thin, yet still fair.
The woman just pinched them once, then covered them back up.
“It’s a lot different from what I imagined.”
There was a hint of disappointment in her voice.
“I thought a disabled beauty’s legs would be soft and squishy.”
‘What exactly are you disappointed about?! Do you want a disabled person’s legs to be as springy as an athlete’s?’
Ye Xiqiu felt offended.
This woman in front of her was really an abnormal character. Most people would avoid looking at her legs, carefully tiptoeing around her fragile nerves. But this one? She actually complained that her legs weren’t soft enough?
‘Sorry I couldn’t satisfy Lady Cat Demon.’
Cursing internally with a meow, Ye Xiqiu still maintained a polite smile on her face.
Then the white-haired cat demon pinched her cheek.
‘Hey, don’t push your luck.’
“My name…”
The cat demon thought for a moment.
“Just call me Dongxue.”
She lowered her head, looking seriously at the girl in her arms.
“Miss Xiqiu.”
“Would you be willing to form a lifelong band with me?”
Spring, summer, autumn, winter.
The most lively woman had taken the name Dongxue.
Ye Xiqiu wondered if this was some elaborate prank. Maybe if she agreed, a dog demon, fox demon, or some guy with eyes like two salted eggs would jump out of the sky and laugh at her.
“Why me?”
She voiced her inner doubt.
“Cat Demon… Miss Dongxue, if you’re looking for a singing partner, couldn’t you easily find a top-tier star with demonic power? Or, ahem… with your figure and looks, finding a female celebrity with unique tastes shouldn’t be a problem.”
Her eyes glanced at the imposing sight right in front of her, and the girl unconsciously added honorifics.
‘If all demons are this well-endowed, I won’t even be able to hold my head up as a ghost after I die.’
“Because there are too many demon students graduating from the Demon Realm recently, and the good singers have all been contracted by them.”
Dongxue casually made something up.
“Huh? So even fairies have trouble finding jobs because of too many graduates?”
“That’s right, fairies have to eat too… In any case, little Xiqiu is my carefully chosen target. I’ve already decided to form a contract with you to become a magical girl.”
‘Wait, even fairies use the Japanese term for magical girl?!’
The point was obvious, but Ye Xiqiu had no energy for a retort.
Carefully chosen… target?
Her face turned bright red.
The girl instinctively averted her gaze, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt. As a veteran otaku who’d surfed Second Station for years and devoured three hundred yuri works, her mind uncontrollably started playing various scenes.
‘Maybe Dongxue is approaching me with ulterior motives? A hopeless girl and a lost fairy—wait, Dongxue isn’t lost? Ah, whatever.’
‘Anyway… should I accept?’
Her heart was in turmoil, like a cat scratching inside.
‘It’s better not to accept, right? After all, forming a band with a cat demon I just met is a bit… too casual?’
‘A girl should be reserved.’
‘Yeah, I need to be reserved.’
Having made up her mind, the girl looked up at Dongxue, opened her mouth to perform a triple refusal—
But Dongxue pressed a finger to her lips.
Shh—
She made a gesture for silence.
‘What’s happening?’
The girl grew tense, but before she could ask, a fierce wind blew from behind Dongxue.
Her white hair was whipped into a wild dance, like snow defying gravity.
The girl’s eyes widened.
Through the gaps in the strands of hair, she saw—
White doves.
Countless white doves.
They rose with the gale, fluttering to fill the entire sky.
‘Where did they come from?’
The girl suddenly remembered there were many pigeon breeders nearby. In fact, white doves flying here were a common sight, and she’d used to take them for granted. But… after the car accident, she’d never seen them again.
“You don’t need to give me an answer now.”
Dongxue straightened up, lifting her chin to look at the white doves overhead.
“After midnight tonight, I’ll come find you again.”
Ye Xiqiu heard Dongxue’s words but didn’t feel confused.
All her attention was drawn to something else.
She watched Dongxue’s white dress fluttering in the wind, her long white hair dancing, and only felt—
Dongxue, like a white dove.