Cupid's Assistant

Extra: Those Two

"Ugh, I'm done for the day," MengYao said to herself and stretched her arms up. 

"MengYao, are you sure you don't want to come along?" a classmate once again asked, stopping MengYao.

"Nah, I'm good. I have somewhere else to go, but thanks for asking," MengYao said, turning her head back. MengYao left the art room and disappeared.

__

"Welcome," Xiaodan greeted, putting some flowers away as she heard the doorbell jingle. "Oh, MengYao. What brings you here?" Xiaodan asked, looking back to see MengYao entering the shop.

"I haven't visited you for a while and wanted to stop by and see how you are," MengYao said, leaning against the counter.

"Oh, I see. I thought you just came because you are bored," Xiaodan said with a smile.

"Sort of," MengYao said, leaning on her hand. "With you, being a mortal. I don't get to see you as much, and now I don't have anyone to talk to," MengYao added.

Xiaodan smiled and started pruning flowers. "How's your case going?" She asked.

"I feel like I'm getting close," MengYao answered. She watched Xiaodan arrange flowers into a bouquet.

"How's mortal life treating you?" MengYao asked, looking at Xiaodan.

"Pretty good. Mingze is taking good care of me," Xiaodan said with a content smile.

"Look at you," MengYao smirked.  Xiaodan continued to smile without feeling shy or embarrassed.

"Don't you have Senior Zixin to talk to?" Xiaodan asked.

"Why would I talk to the likes of him?" MengYao said, scrunching her eyebrows together.

"I still don't understand why you don't like him. Since you now know why he was able to get away with things or knew so many things," Xiaodoan said, looking at MengYao after she positioned the flower in the bouquet.

"Yeah... he's the new Cupid," MengYao said, crossing her arms. "But because of that, I don't get to see him as much," she added.

"Bummer, I always thought you two had a thing," Xiaodan said, tilting her head.

"What! You are mistaken," MengYao said, quickly uncrossing her arms and standing straight.

"Well, you two are always bickering with one another, so I thought...," Xiaodan tried to say.

"Get your head out of the clouds. Just because you fall in love, doesn't mean we all will. You were a special case," MengYao said, shooting a glare at her. 

"Sorry, I was just saying, Xiaodan chuckled.

"Well, don't try to pull me into your nonsense. Trying to corrupt me," MengYao said, leaning against the counter again.

"My mistake," Xiaodan laughed.

____

MengYao returned to headquarters to avoid living in those cramped dorm rooms. Once she arrived, she greeted her juniors and seniors as she walked by. It didn't take her long to spot Zixin.

"Speak of the devil," MengYao muttered under her breath, trying to go past him without him seeing her.

"Haven't seen you in a while," Zixin said, immediately noticing her.

"Yeah..., you must be very busy," MengYao said, crossing her arms.

"Don't tell me you missed me?" Zixin leaned over and smiled.

"Of course not," MengYao blurted, shoving his face away from her. She instantly remembered what Xiaodan had said and shook her head in disbelief.

"No...absolutely not," MengYao mumbled to herself.

"What's the matter?" Zixin asked, noticing her being weird.

"Nothing," she quickly responded, looking up at him. "Nothing at all," MengYao said firmly, getting rid of that thought.

"It's all Xiaodan's fault that I'm thinking nonsense. I will yell at her tomorrow," MengYao thought to herself.

"It's exhausting to work as Cupid. I should retire," Zixin sighed.

MengYao raised her eyebrow at him, "You just started, and you are already complaining, but I guess it makes sense. Now you can't escape and have to do the work."

"Not really," Zixin smugly said. "But I'm tired of everyone coming to me and meetings after meetings," he added.

MengYao rolled her eyes. "Then why don't you just make a new Cupid. An easy fix," MengYao said.

"I could," Zixin rubbed his chin, "but then I can't adjust your cases." Zixin smiled.

——-

MengYao officially completed her case and was back to report.

"Auntie Mo, I'm here to report my case," MengYao said, having her turn. "I'm surprised, you have a line today," MengYao added as a light flowed out of her bracelet and landed on the desk, turning into a white folder.

"Oh yes, with Zixin's new way of doing things. A lot of things are going smoother and faster, so it's been quite busy," Auntie Mo said, grabbing the white folder.

"Really," MengYao scoffed as she raised an eyebrow, not believing it.

"Yes," Auntie Mo nodded her head. "I shouldn't be telling you this, but Zixin had always helped you in getting good cases and even advocated for you," Auntie Mo whispered, leaning closer to MengYao.

"What..." MengYao was stunned, "Why?" she couldn't help but say.

"Because you are a good worker, of course! I would have advocated for you, too," Auntie Mo chuckled. "But here, let me give you your next case," Auntie Mo said, getting back to her job.

MengYao left the line and slowly walked absentmindedly. She soon bumped into Zixin.

"Hey, I heard you completed your case. Nice work," Zixin said with a smile.

MengYao didn't speak but looked at him. Zixin was expecting her usual smack-talk, but saw how quiet she was.

"What's wrong?" Zixin asked.

"Why did you help with my cases?" MengYao asked, looking up at him.

"Oh, you found out," Zixin said, a bit stunned, with his eyebrows raised. MengYao stared at him, waiting for him to give an answer.

"It's simple. You are a hard worker. Plus, it's my job as a senior to look out for my junior," Zixin said with a smile. MengYao stared at his smile and knew it was genuine, as she had known him for a long time and had seen plenty of his fake ones.

"Thanks," MengYao muttered.

Zixin's ears perked. He didn't expect her to thank him so easily. He assumed she would complain or argue with him.

"It's not a problem...," he softly said, looking at her as he didn't tease her as he would usually do.

______________________

"Don't come crying to me when you get into trouble for getting too emotionally involved with your cases," Zixin said, crossing his arms.

"Yeah, yeah, but doesn't their love story break your heart?" MengYao said, looking at Zixin.

"Mmm," the Zixin softly agreed and slightly nodded.

"Now it's up to them...," MengYao said as they both looked out of the window in the direction where a young lady had left.

"Their love story somewhat reminds me of Xiaodan's," MengYao said, thinking of Xiaodan, who is happily living her life with her husband and little daughter.

"Mmm," Zixin nodded his head. "Alright, let's shut this bookstore down," Zixin said, uncrossing his arms.

"Also, no more using me. I have plenty of things to do," he added.

"If not you, then who else?" MengYao raised her eyebrow and smiled. Zixin sighed but still smiled. Even though they couldn't feel love, they couldn't help but accompany each other.