Chapter 107 - The Girl Chasing Her Dreams

Tang Xin’s footsteps echoed through the dark corridor.The walls were plastered with advertisements of girl idols, layered and stained with yellow, looking like no one had cleaned them in ages. Under a folded corner was an ad for a gynecology hospital.

On the stage, blue and purple lights intertwined, with dozens of audience members below raising their support sticks high.

Above the room, the colorful lights from the spherical crystal lamp cast a glow, shining on their captivated faces.

"Can your love give us our tomorrow?"

"Yesterday was like a flashing point of light, the memory frozen, disappearing~"

The cast white spotlight fell on the girl at the center of the stage. She had long light pink hair, her eyes like falling cherry blossoms, and the jk skirt full of youthful energy bounced as she danced. The people below were immersed in her cheerful singing.

Beside her was a girl band, two bassists, one silent, the other a backup singer, and behind them a girl sat on the drums, rhythmically tapping along with the beats.

"Xiaomeng! Xiaomeng! Xiaomeng!"

The audience cheered, raising support plaques.

"Xiaomeng, you’re the best girl idol in the world!"

"Xiaomeng, we like you!"

"Protecting the best Xiaomeng in the whole world!"

The BGM abruptly stopped, the cheers gradually quieted, and the girl in the center stopped, every move followed by countless fervent yet repressed gazes.

The girl named Xiaomeng seemed to have a psychological conflict and finally grabbed the microphone, her eyes steady:

"I like everyone too!"

"Thank you all for your support for the Melancholy Girl Band, without you, we wouldn’t be here today. Starting tomorrow, we will officially debut, no longer being underground idols!"

"Ohhh!"

"Melancholy Girl Band!"

"Really, which media company signed Xiaomeng? When’s the first concert being planned, and there’s the fans’ most anticipated autograph session. Will Xiaomeng shake hands with the fans? And pictures and such."

A short, chubby figure in the crowd shouted, wearing a greasy T-shirt, holding a camera, and wearing rectangular glasses.

The audience below echoed in agreement.

Xiaomeng flashed a sweet smile: "Of course, we will, the autograph session will be after our first public performance. We’ll notify you by then, everyone from Melancholy Girl will be there, and we’ll have some little personal gifts!"

Speaking of the small gifts, she deliberately elongated her tone, her voice mysterious.

Upon hearing this, another stir rose from the stage below.

Xiaomeng waved enthusiastically to the people, holding the microphone, her eyes sparkling like stars.

Behind her, the backup singing bassist was almost rolling her eyes to the sky, while the other silent girl also showed a hint of disgust, clicking her tongue quietly.

Only the drummer silently got up, packed the stage equipment, and walked to the backstage, unnoticed by many from start to finish.

All eyes were focused on the dazzling light-pink-haired girl.

Full of youthful energy, with a lovely face, they all liked this energetic girl.

In the corner, a blue-haired girl quietly watched the scene. After the performance, the people around left one after another, but Tang Xin didn’t lift her head, just plucking at the bass strings with a pick.

Her appearance and aura were not outstanding, not as energetic and lively as Xiaomeng, nor had a beautiful singing voice. In the band, she played the bass accompaniment, and since joining the Melancholy Girls she hadn’t said much on stage.

Few band fans had an impression of her.

Under her light blue denim jacket was a white T-shirt printed with the word ’World,’ wearing black straight-leg pants, a pair of ordinary white sneakers, an outfit easily lost in the crowd.

Until almost everyone was gone, a surprised voice came from beside her.

"Eh, Xinxin, why are you here? Why didn’t you perform today?"

It was another girl, freckles dotted her nose, a pink velvet hat covering her entire head.

The girl looked very ordinary and didn’t really know how to dress up, wearing a plaid long coat, thick cotton pants, looking like a rustic girl from the countryside.

Tang Xin was stunned, not expecting someone to call her name at this moment, looked up to see the girl’s face, her voice clear:

"What’s up, Xiaoyi?"

"Hehe, I thought I wouldn’t see you today!"

The girl dashed over, hugging and cuddling Tang Xin.

"Xinxin’s face is so soft, and you smell so nice, like a blueberry essence."

The girl had a peculiar smell mixed with a strong medicinal aroma, not traditional medicine, but the scent of white medicine tablets mingled with a faint disinfectant odor.

Tang Xin didn’t mind, just a bit helpless: "Alright, Xiaoyi, there’s no need to hug so tight, I won’t disappear suddenly."

"You’ve been gone these days, I haven’t seen Xinxin, and I waited here every day, was it..." The girl blinked, "Did something happen?"

"No." Tang Xin waved her hand.

"Did you have a conflict with the others in the band, was Xiaomeng too willful, did she bully you, Xinxin?"

"Not at all, since I joined the band, she’s been looking out for me."

After people had left, the two girls picked up brooms, spontaneously started cleaning up the messy scene, sweeping away the support sticks and various packaging bags dropped on the floor.

"It’s strange, Xinxin is so pretty and hardworking, why doesn’t everyone seem to warm up to you?" Xiaoyi said.

Tang Xin chuckled, "Growing up, I’ve only heard the word pretty from you."

"I have some self-awareness."

"No way!" The girl’s eyebrows arched, Tang Xin saw a hint of anger on her face.

"You have a great aura, looks are clear, and your eyes always seem as though they’re determined to achieve a dream."

"Eyes are the windows to the soul, gentle, determined eyes can touch people’s hearts."

"Stop it, I’m getting embarrassed," Tang Xin quickly waved her hand.

"Today’s outfit is really cool."

Xiaoyi suddenly got serious.

Tang Xin swept her gaze over herself, not seeing what the girl called ’cool.’

"I think being cool is enough," Xiaoyi said.

"Talking nonsense."

The two finished cleaning the room and found steps to sit down.

Xiaoyi didn’t have much stamina, just simple physical labor made her forehead sweat and her face a few shades paler.

At this moment, the other really seemed like a quiet girl, if the eyes are the windows to the soul, then her heart must be a tranquil lake, a small wooden house by the lake, the wooden door slightly ajar, and deeply buried sadness flowing silently out.

"Is your health better lately?" Tang Xin asked.

The girl didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the stage, as if a blue figure was standing there, dazzlingly bright.

"Being able to firmly chase one’s dreams is wonderful," the girl said. "No setback would defeat you."

"I have a feeling that Xin will definitely achieve her dreams in the future. Stand on the biggest stage, like a star that everyone will see."

"I wish I could see that day too, really looking forward to seeing everyone shouting Xin’s name."

The girl spoke softly, taking off her velvet hat, her hair already gone.

"It’s as if a treasure, long hidden, is about to be discovered."

Pointing at her own bald head, she smiled serenely:

"Actually, I came today to say goodbye to you, Xinxin, tomorrow I’m having my last surgery."

"The doctor said, there’s only a ten percent chance of success."