Tang Xin’s footsteps echoed through the dark corridor.
Posters of idol girls were plastered along the walls in layers, stained with yellow grime, looking as if they hadn’t been cleaned in ages. Beneath a folded corner of one, an advertisement for a gynecological hospital was visible.
On the stage, blue and purple lights intersected back and forth. Dozens of audience members below held their lightsticks high.
Above the room, colored lights from spherical crystals showered down, illuminating their obsessed faces.
"Can your love give us our tomorrow?
"Yesterday was like a flickering point of light, memories frozen, disappearing~"
A beam of white light fell on the girl at the center of the stage. She had long, pale pink hair.
Her eyes were like falling cherry blossoms, and her youthful pleated skirt rose and fell as she jumped. The people below were immersed in the girl's lighthearted singing.
Beside her was a girl band—the Gloomy Girls. Two bassists, one taciturn and one providing backup vocals; behind them, a girl sat at a drum kit, striking the rhythm in time with the beat.
"Ai! Ai! Ai!"
The audience cheered in unison, raising their light-up boards.
"Ai, you’re the best idol in the world!"
"Ai, we love you!"
"Protect the world’s best Ai!"
The background music came to an abrupt halt, and the cheering gradually subsided. The girl in the center stopped, every move followed by countless fanatical yet suppressed gazes.
The girl named Ai seemed to struggle with herself for a moment. Finally, she gripped the microphone, her gaze resolute.
"I love everyone too!"
"Thank you all for your constant support of our Gloomy Girls Band. We wouldn't be here today without you. Starting tomorrow, we will officially debut and no longer be underground idols!"
"Ohhhhhh!"
"Gloomy Girls!"
"Is it true? Ai, which media company signed you? When is the first concert planned? And what about the fan signing event everyone’s looking forward to—will Ai shake hands with the fans? What about photos?"
A pudgy figure in the crowd shouted, wearing an oil-stained T-shirt and square-rimmed glasses while holding a camera.
The crowd echoed his excitement.
Ai gave a sweet smile. "Of course we will. The fan signing will be right after the first public performance. I’ll let everyone know when the time comes. Everyone from Gloomy Girls will be there, and we’ll even have some personal little gifts for you!"
When she mentioned the gifts, she intentionally elongated her tone, her voice full of mystery.
Another commotion broke out among the audience.
Ai waved enthusiastically to the crowd, gripping the microphone, her eyes sparkling like stars.
Behind her, the backup vocalist bassist rolled her eyes so hard they almost went into the back of her head. The other taciturn girl also showed a look of disgust, letting out a barely audible huff.
Only the drummer silently stood up, packed away the instruments on stage, and walked toward the back of the stage. From beginning to end, she drew very little attention.
Everyone’s eyes were focused on that dazzling girl with the light pink hair.
Full of youthful energy and possessing a lovely face—they all loved a girl with that much spirit.
In the corner, a blue-haired girl watched the scene quietly. After the performance ended and the people around her began to filter out, Tang Xin didn't look up, only plucking at the strings of her bass with a plectrum.
Neither her appearance nor her temperament was particularly outstanding. She lacked Ai’s vibrant energy and didn't have a beautiful singing voice. She was just a backup bassist in the band. From the day she joined the Gloomy Girls until now, she hadn't said more than a few words on stage.
Naturally, not many band fans had an impression of her.
Under her blue denim jacket, she wore a white short-sleeved shirt with the word "World" printed on it, paired with light blue denim pants and ordinary white shoes. It was an outfit that easily allowed one to be buried in a crowd.
It wasn't until almost everyone had left that a voice of surprise came from beside her.
"Eh? Xin-xin, what are you doing here? Why didn't you perform today?"
It was also a girl, her nose dotted with freckles, wearing a pink velvet hat that completely wrapped around her head.
The girl was very ordinary-looking and didn't really know how to dress herself. In her plaid long coat and thick cotton pants, she looked like a simple girl from the countryside.
Tang Xin blinked, not expecting anyone to call her name at a time like this. She looked up and recognized the girl’s face, her voice clear.
"What’s wrong, Xiao Yi?"
"Hehe, I thought I wouldn't get to see you today!"
The girl lunged forward, hugging and nuzzling against Tang Xin’s face.
"Xin-xin’s face is so soft, and you smell so good. You’re like a blueberry spirit."
There was a strange smell on the girl—a thick medicinal scent. It wasn't herbal medicine, but the smell of white pills mixed with a faint scent of disinfectant.
Tang Xin didn't mind, only feeling a bit helpless. "Alright, Xiao Yi, you don't have to hug so tight. I’m not going to suddenly disappear."
"Yes, you might! I haven't seen you for several days. I’ve been waiting here every day, I thought..." The girl blinked. "Did something happen?"
"No," Tang Xin waved her hand.
"Did you have a conflict with the others in the band? Is Ai being too willful and bullying you?"
"How could she? Since I joined this band, she’s been quite caring toward me."
After everyone had left, the two girls picked up brooms and began cleaning the messy venue of their own accord, sweeping away the discarded lightsticks and various packaging bags on the floor.
"It’s so strange. Xin-xin is clearly so pretty and works so hard, why does everyone seem so indifferent to you?" Xiao Yi said.
Tang Xin let out a light laugh. "Since I was little, I’ve only ever heard the word 'pretty' from you."
"I still have some self-awareness."
"No way!" The girl’s eyebrows perked up, and Tang Xin saw a flash of protectiveness in her expression.
"Your temperament is great. You look elegant, and your eyes always look like they're stubbornly set on achieving a dream."
"The eyes are the window to the soul, and a gentle, firm gaze is more moving than anything else."
"Stop it, you’re making me embarrassed," Tang Xin said, waving her hands quickly.
"You look really cool in this outfit today."
Xiao Yi suddenly became serious.
Tang Xin looked herself over but didn't see what the girl meant by "cool."
"I think it’s cool, and that’s enough," Xiao Yi said.
"Stop talking nonsense."
After they finished cleaning the room, the two found a step and sat down.
Xiao Yi’s physical strength wasn't good. Even simple labor had caused beads of sweat to form on her forehead, and her face had paled significantly.
At this moment, she finally seemed like a quiet girl. If eyes were the windows to the soul, then her heart must be a peaceful lake right now, with a small wooden cabin by its side, its door slightly ajar, letting the sadness hidden deep within her heart quietly flow out.
"Has your health been better lately?" Tang Xin asked.
The girl didn't respond, her gaze fixed on the stage as if a blue figure was standing up there, dazzling and brilliant.
"Being able to firmly chase your dreams... it’s so nice," the girl said. "No matter what setbacks you encounter, you won't be defeated."
"I have a feeling that Ah Xin will definitely achieve her dream in the future. You’ll stand on the highest, grandest stage, like a star that everyone can see."
"It would be great if I could see that day too. I’m really looking forward to the scene where everyone is shouting Ah Xin’s name."
The girl spoke softly, taking off her velvet hat. Her hair was completely gone.
"It's like a treasure I’ve been keeping to myself is about to be discovered by everyone."
Pointing at her bald head, she gave a tranquil smile.
"Actually, I came to find you today to say goodbye, Xin-xin. I’m having my final surgery tomorrow."
"The doctor said the surgery only has a ten percent chance of success."
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