The entire BABYQUEEN group ran out of the room and leaned against the wall, breathing a sigh of relief as if they had just escaped an interrogation.
Serena put her hand on her chest, half-joking, half-serious:
"My heart is beating faster than when I was on stage..."
Lilia chuckled, but still not relieved of her tension:
"Damien looked at Layla as if he wanted to... freeze the whole room."
Layla was silent, her arms hugging her coat. But her heart was not quiet at all. The beating was rapid, burning hot in her chest as if it wanted to burst out. The image of that cold gaze kept appearing in her mind, a gaze that was both distant and had something hidden.
She swallowed her saliva, saying to herself in her heart:
"Why is that gaze...?"
BABYQUEEN's manager appeared, tapping the wall beside her:
"Come on, everyone, it's time to get ready. Today is a special stage, there are more than 100 thousand fans waiting outside. And the group will perform with their seniors VIVID, remember to coordinate well."
Sara blinked in surprise:
"VIVID? It's our first time performing with them!"
Jennifer chuckled, her voice calm but still a bit excited:
"This will be a big test for BABYQUEEN."
Layla took a deep breath, trying to push all thoughts about Damien aside. But she didn't know, behind her, Damien's eyes were still silently following her every step from afar.
"But... where's Sofia?" the manager turned to ask.
Before anyone could answer, a cheerful voice rang out from the end of the hallway:
"Here I am!"
Sofia ran over, her tied-up hair fluttering. She smiled brightly, but her eyes were a little shy. Unexpectedly, Sofia walked straight to Layla and took her hand.
"Layla… and everyone… I'm sorry. I spoke inappropriately last time. I promise… it won't happen again. I hope you will forgive me."
The entire BABYQUEEN group was momentarily surprised, but Sofia's sincere eyes softened the atmosphere.
Jennifer smiled, speaking in a joking but warm tone:
"Hit the one who runs away, no one hits the one who runs back… except for knives, of course."
Everyone burst out laughing, even Sofia blushed slightly at Jennifer's witty remark.
Serena crossed her arms, smiling with determination:
"Our group must be united. Only when our hearts connect with the hearts of our fans, will today be truly successful."
Lilia raised her fist high, her eyes sparkling:
"Do your best!"
Sofia bowed her head once more:
"I'm sorry... and thank you everyone. I will do my best."
No one said anything more, they just walked forward and hugged each other. Five hearts now became six, beating as one.
However, at that warm moment, Layla suddenly realized... Astrix had been standing at the end of the hallway for a while. The entire group of men stood still, their eyes cold, as if BABYQUEEN's unity had nothing to do with them.
Damien... still had that face. No emotion. Not a word. But Layla knew, he was listening and watching everything.
Backstage
The atmosphere behind the stage today was hotter than ever. The MC's voice echoed through the speakers, the audience outside cheered in waves.
BABYQUEEN had just finished checking the microphone when they suddenly saw a group of four women walk in. Shiny hair, smooth skin, confident eyes, they were VIVID, the legendary girl group that had just officially made a comeback after 7 years of absence.
Mia (leader, smiling gently):
"Oh, you guys are BABYQUEEN, right? I've heard a lot about you guys."
Layla (eyes lit up, bowing slightly):
"Yes, we're big fans of you guys! I didn't expect to meet you in person today."
Calria (with a husky, seductive voice, chuckling softly):
"You guys are so cute. Looking at you guys reminds me of my debut days… I was so nervous back then."
Jennifer (with sparkling eyes, looking at their skin in surprise):
"You guys… are still as young and beautiful as when I watched your debut clip more than ten years ago. I can't believe it!"
Laulika (laughing loudly, squinting her eyes):
"The secret is… laugh a lot, eat well, and don't let anyone extinguish your passion."
Sara (nodding):
"We'll remember this. It feels like you guys haven't aged at all…"
Liluna (hugs Lilia's shoulder affectionately):
"You guys are the future of K-pop and the world. But remember, the glory will mean nothing if you forget why you started."
Serena (smiling confidently):
"We won't forget. Today… we will perform our best, so as not to disappoint the audience."
Both BABYQUEEN and VIVID burst into laughter, their laughter blending with the bustling sound of the stage. The atmosphere became warm, like a connecting thread between two generations of idols.
Mia (winking at Layla):
"Remember, let the music speak. And… don't forget to enjoy every moment."
Backstage, while BABYQUEEN was still chatting animatedly with her VIVID seniors, a silent gaze from behind crept into the space. Damien stood not too far away, his eyes slightly narrowed when he saw Layla smiling brightly, her clear voice ringing out as she told Mia that she had practiced dancing to VIVID's debut song when she was 9 years old.
He didn't know why his heart ached slightly. Maybe it was because Layla's gaze at this moment… was too far away from him, too natural with others, and no longer had any tension like when she was standing in front of him. A faint, vague jealousy, like a thin layer of ice, crept into the stream of emotions he was trying to suppress.
Without saying anything, Damien quietly turned away, walking towards the audience seats reserved for other groups. The other ASTRIX members were also there, each wearing an icy cold expression, their eyes indifferent but secretly containing discomfort. Julian folded his arms and leaned back in his chair, Lucas stared at the stage that was being prepared, Elio was silent, Rayden only glanced at BABYQUEEN without saying a word.
Everyone looked like they didn't care, but the atmosphere between them was much heavier, as if each person was holding an unpleasant mood.