Hearing Tendo, Jing Liuli first furrowed her brows, then anxiously bit her fingernails.
If someone else had said her singing was hollow, she would likely have pouted and argued back.
But when the words came from Tendo's mouth, the outcome was completely different.
Looking at Jing Liuli, who was deep in thought, Tendo continued with a serious expression.
"Liuli, music is a miraculous thing. It can transcend barriers of language and culture, delivering the deepest sound of the performer's soul and creating resonance with others."
"But I don't hear any of that in your singing. I only hear boring, hollow, and unrealistic, innocent fantasies."
"Therefore, no matter how precious the beauty you depict in your songs is, it ultimately fails to create that heart-stirring 'resonance' with me."
At Tendo's words, not only did the concert hall fall silent.
Even the bullet comments on Station 13 (China forum) slowed down.
A moment later, the comments began to scroll again.
'I see! Liuli's singing is too happy, so it lacks a bit of empathy?'
'Tendo is so knowledgeable. I feel like being a Stars is a waste of his talent; he should be the New Federation's real superstar!'
'Don't be sad, Liuli-baby, this is just a necessary step in growing up~'
After seriously considering the issue Tendo raised, Jing Liuli looked up again.
Her expression had shifted from hurt to genuine concentration.
"Tendo, then what do you think I should do?"
"Hold out your hand."
Jing Liuli obeyed.
The next second, Tendo placed his hand on hers, under her questioning gaze.
"Come on, use your ability to feel my dream."
"Feel the original 'truth' that belonged to you, the one I didn't change."
The touch of his fingertips made Jing Liuli's body tremble as if she'd been zapped, and her ears unconsciously flushed red.
His hand is always warmer than I expect...
With that thought, Jing Liuli glanced at Tendo, but found his expression completely serious.
This made Jing Liuli quickly suppress her fluttering heart and earnestly activate her Star Source: Daylight Dream.
The moment the Star Source was silently activated, countless images flooded Jing Liuli's mind like a tide.
At the same time, the movie screen also switched.
Allowing the dimensional audience, along with Jing Liuli, to experience the 'future' where even dreams turned bitter.
It was a timeline that neither the dimensional audience nor Jing Liuli had anticipated.
Because Tendo never appeared at all in this timeline.
This resulted in noticeable deviations between her memories and the reality experienced by herself and everyone else.
In the dream, Instructor Yun Meng stood in front of her, covered in blood, and finally pressed the detonation device with a smile.
Many others from the base, whose names she couldn't quite recall but who were on good terms with her, also died in the cruel great war, eventually being buried in the endless sea along with the exploding base.
Having gone through all of this, an indelible shadow was cast over her heart.
Negative emotions like fear and anxiety clung to her like an eternal nightmare every night.
They made her instinctively fear the outside world and worry that such things would happen again.
In such circumstances, to escape the 'nightmare' she had to endure every night, she could only rely on sleeping pills to fall asleep.
Even when she stood on stage, there was an almost imperceptible exhaustion hidden between her brows.
Although she knew these events were 'false,' seeing her weary self in the dream, Jing Liuli felt an unnameable tightness in her chest. She subconsciously wanted to break free, to escape this true but bitter 'dream.'
However, Tendo gently pressed down on the back of her hand at that moment, speaking: "Feel it."
Hearing this, Jing Liuli ultimately chose to suppress the resistance and anxiety in her heart, continuing to watch the cruel and true 'dream.'
As the last scene of the dream ended, Jing Liuli felt a sense of profound loss.
Was this what the world was like without him?
She had known for a long time that Tendo had made arrangements in advance to change this future.
But since Tendo had never shared his 'dream' with anyone.
Jing Liuli had never truly known the weight of the 'future' that Tendo had seen.
No wonder, no wonder Tendo never spoke of these things to anyone back then.
Because he had already made his decision and genuinely made the future into what he wanted it to be.
The reason she was able to avoid these things now was not just because Tendo had made changes early on.
It was also because of her deep-seated conviction that as long as Tendo was around, the so-called 'bitter dream' would never arrive!
'Wuwuwu, so the so-called change by Tendo was so heavy.'
'No wonder Meow Meow always says Tendo seems very overbearing but is actually extremely gentle... He lets Liuli see the pain, but won't let Liuli experience it.'
'This is a soul lesson from Tendo!'
As the dream, which was named 'Truth,' finally concluded, Jing Liuli abruptly opened her eyes.
She looked at Tendo, her eyes red, her voice slightly choked.
"Tendo, I think I understand what you meant by 'truth' now."
Hearing this, Tendo withdrew his hand, smiled, and arched an eyebrow, instantly returning to his usual provoking demeanor.
"It's good that you understand. Just don't let it turn into a children's song convention again."
Normally, Jing Liuli would have pouted and argued with Tendo.
But having just experienced that cruel nightmare, Jing Liuli not only refrained from bickering with Tendo.
She even nodded very meekly.
This, in turn, made Tendo a little uncomfortable. He cleared his throat twice and immediately changed the subject.
"I saw you were anxiously rubbing your throat just now. Want to go out for a walk?"
"Sometimes, appropriate relaxation can have unexpected benefits."
Hearing this, Jing Liuli instantly perked up, her eyes shining like stars.
"Where are we going?"
Tendo thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Let's go to Deep Blue Metropolis."
"Hmm? Why are we suddenly going there?"
"Because if we go now, we might run into something quite interesting."
Without any hesitation, Jing Liuli immediately said, "Okay, okay! Let's go quickly!"
With that, Jing Liuli immediately grabbed his wrist and ran out. Her pale purple skirt swept across the stage floor, leaving a fragrant breeze behind.
She showed no sign of the previous heavy emotions, only the childlike excitement of a child.
Tendo, who was nearly pulled off balance, smiled helplessly.
This Jing Liuli only gets truly energized when it comes to food and fun...
Meanwhile, on the deck of a ship heading toward Deep Blue Metropolis.
Caroline stood leaning on the railing, the sea breeze lifting her silver hair as she gazed at the distant Deep Blue Metropolis, which appeared as a minuscule black dot on the horizon.
A moment later, she looked down at the data terminal in her hand. The screen clearly showed the message Jing Liuli had sent a little while ago.
[Jing Liuli: Caroline, where are you? I found an absolutely delicious octopus takoyaki place! I'll take you there when we meet!]
The corners of Caroline's mouth involuntarily curled up. She then rapidly typed on the screen.
[Caroline: Already off the Star Rail train. Currently on a ship heading to Crimson Mist Capital.]
After sending the message, Caroline looked up again at the Deep Blue Metropolis not far away.
This place I've visited before... will it hold a different view this time?
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