"Thank you, Xiang Wan... and your leg."
Yang Xinyu wiped the tears from his face with a tissue as he spoke to Xiang Wan, who sat beside him in the back seat, giving a nod of gratitude to her mechanical leg as well.
The light strips on the mechanical leg flickered three times, as if saying, "You're welcome."
Ji Nian hadn’t taken the passenger seat either, choosing instead to sit in the back with the other two, sandwiching Yang Xinyu between herself and Xiang Wan.
Xiang Wan didn’t know about Yang Xinyu’s condition, but Ji Nian feared he might be pushing himself too hard.
"How are you feeling? If you’re not up for it, you don’t have to perform. Don’t force yourself—we still have time to find a replacement," Ji Nian said, her eyes lingering on his trembling hands, half-hidden in his sleeves.
His grandparents weren’t home, and in the dead of night, Yang Xiong had barged in, dragging Yang Xinyu—who had gone to bed early for the next day’s performance—out of bed.
Then, he pressed a chloroform-soaked cloth over his mouth and nose, taking him away.
As a result, Yang Xinyu had spent the entire night in a basement, still in his pajamas.
Now, wrapped in Gu Xiuyuan’s coat and sitting in the warmth of the car, his lips remained pale as he recalled the terror of being locked away.
Time had blurred into nothingness. He had curled up in a corner, whispering apologies—it was all his fault. Because of him, they might miss the performance, wasting all the effort they’d put into rehearsals.
It was all his fault...
Wasn’t there anyone who could save him? He was so scared... Mom...
The cold wall against his back only reinforced his despair. His breathing grew ragged, his hands shaking uncontrollably.
Just when he thought he might die there, he heard someone calling his name.
At first, he thought it was a hallucination—until the voice grew louder, more urgent.
Then, he realized...
Someone had come for him.
No blame, no complaints about his sudden disappearance. They had simply come to find him.
Tears still streamed down his face, but this time, they were tears of relief.
Clenching his left hand around his right, Yang Xinyu turned to Ji Nian with determination. "Captain, I can do it."
"Let me perform. I won’t hold everyone back."
His eyes were red-rimmed, but his gaze was steady.
Ji Nian studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Alright. I believe in you."
Yang Xinyu immediately broke into a smile.
Beside him, Xiang Wan quietly added, "Me too."
"Honestly, we really feel like a main character squad right now," he joked, trying to lighten the mood. "This kind of last-minute crisis before a big performance only happens in anime, haha."
...
With three band members missing, Shen Qingtang was growing anxious. Even the scheduled rehearsal time had passed, and there was still no sign of them.
Fortunately, she soon spotted the trio sprinting toward them from a distance.
Ji Nian, slightly out of breath, waved off their concerned looks. "Long story. Did we miss rehearsal?"
Shen Qingtang nodded.
Yang Xinyu lowered his head.
"It’s fine," Ji Nian reassured him. "We’ve practiced so much—there’s no way we’ll mess up now."
Then, in a quieter voice, she added, "Besides, remember what we are."
Yang Xinyu’s head snapped up. Fists clenched, he exclaimed, "A main character squad facing a crisis before a big event means—"
"—this is in the bag!" Ji Nian finished with a grin.
Yang Xinyu pumped his fist. "Exactly!"
Xiang Wan chuckled to herself. Who knew Ji Nian had such a dorky side?
But she didn’t realize—Ji Nian wasn’t just being comforting.
After all, with Shen Qingtang, the story’s heroine, on stage, and Gu Xiuyuan, the male lead, watching from below...
They really were the main characters.
"We should go change. Time’s running out," Shen Qingtang reminded them once she confirmed everyone was unharmed.
Ji Nian glanced around. "Where’s the little prince?"
He Xiang, who had been silent until now, answered, "He went to check the instruments."
Since they’d missed rehearsal, Lu Jinghuai had taken it upon himself to test every piece of equipment, standing guard to prevent sabotage.
Surprisingly reliable.
...
The arts festival was in full swing.
After a morning of activities, the students were starting to drag—especially with the overcast skies weighing on their energy.
But even the gloomy weather couldn’t dampen their excitement.
"Top Five Looks’ performance is coming up, right? Let’s hurry!"
Amid the chatter, speculation ran wild.
"Do you think Ji Nian’s dad will show?"
"I’m more curious about how good they actually are. They’ve been so secretive, practicing off-campus, skipping rehearsals..."
"Am I the only one who thinks Ji Nian looks like she’d be tone-deaf?"
Laughing and gossiping, the crowd streamed toward the venue.
Green Hair, weaving through the crowd, caught snippets of conversation. The sheer number of students heading in the same direction piqued his interest.
"Hey, this amateur band seems pretty popular."
"Old Wei, say something, will you?"
Wei Junze glanced at the sea of youthful faces before looking away, unimpressed.
"Whoa, the stage setup is legit!"
"Gotta hand it to our alma mater—they never skimp on budget."
Green Hair whistled at the sleek, black-and-pink stage, complete with a massive screen.
"It’s packed! Old Wei, over here—there’s space!"
As they settled in, a tall, expressionless boy approached, handing them glow sticks and a banner.
Green Hair frowned. "Huh. Feels like I’ve seen him before."
"The Calf Brigade? Pfft—that name gets me every time."
From the VIP section, Gu Xiuyuan’s sharp gaze snapped toward them, eyes narrowing.
Green Hair blinked. "Damn, kids these days are intense. Why’s he glaring at me?"
"Maybe because you won’t shut up," someone teased.
Wei Junze, visibly uncomfortable in the crowd, was about to leave when the host’s voice boomed over the speakers.
"Good afternoon, students and guests!"
"Though the skies are gray, nothing can dim the fire of youth! Let’s give a warm welcome to our next performers—The Calf Brigade!"
The applause was thunderous.
Wei Junze scoffed, turning to leave—
Then, the stage lights dimmed.
Ironically, the overcast weather worked in their favor, making the vibrant stage lights even more striking.
A soft, melodic piano intro floated through the air, instantly calming the restless audience.
Then, a rich, soulful voice—like aged wine—filled the space.
"Embed the secret night’s emerald—"
"Into my heart."
Wei Junze froze.
His head whipped toward the stage.
On the giant screen, a girl in a studded beret gazed into the distance, her wavy hair cascading like seaweed. Light blue liner accentuated her eyes, and shimmering sequins on her right cheek caught the light like mermaid scales.
Clutching the mic, she sang with heartbreaking tenderness:
"Memorize every tremor,"
"Compose them into a serenade of longing."
Wei Junze’s chest tightened.
The crowd erupted.
A single name roared through the venue:
"JI NIAN!!!!"
