Eden felt the starry sky tonight was brilliant and beautiful. Just like Altair and Vega, the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, so too were she and Li.
She was the Weaver Girl, and Li was the Cowherd.
Though they shared mutual feelings, they were unable to meet for various reasons, destined only to gaze at each other across an impassable sea of stars.
Although she couldn't touch him, Eden felt her heart leap in anticipation of their impending meeting.
Of all the Flame-Chasers, she was the second to establish a connection with Li. The pain of her lovesickness was second only to Mobius's.
Eden had been looking forward to this fifty-thousand-year reunion for a very, very long time. She yearned to see the face she had longed for day and night.
Unsurprisingly, she saw it. But at the same time, she also saw two people she did not want to see.
Eden felt a tightness in her chest, so much so that the moment the stage curtains fell, she almost broke character for a split second.
Why? Why did things turn out this way?
Eden gripped the microphone in her hand, listening to the orchestra's music as she wore the most perfect smile, delivering an unprecedented auditory and visual experience to the audience before her.
The moment her heavenly voice rang out, the audience felt as if they had entered the boundless deep sea, like small boats searching for the light of a distant lighthouse amidst the roiling waves.
The song Eden chose for tonight was titled "Wish". She had intended to use it to express how her fifty thousand years of waiting had finally seen the dawn of hope, but now, her heart was filled with nothing but sorrow.
Holding a concert for one person for the first time, seeing Li in the present era for the first time—two joyous occasions converging at once should have brought her even greater happiness.
But... why? Why had things turned out this way?
Recalling the moment she had looked up and met the eyes of Fu Li in the VIP seats, only to see the two familiar, smiling figures beside him, Eden couldn't help but grit her teeth inwardly.
She desperately wanted to abandon the concert, to rush to his side just as they had, to grab Li by the collar in front of them, and then, to lean down and give him a kiss that was fifty thousand years overdue.
Yes, Eden was certain that was what she wanted to do. But life rarely gives one so many choices.
Her absolute professionalism as a singer suppressed the impulse in her heart, allowing her to complete the concert with a performance that could only be described as flawless. Then, under the watchful eyes of thousands, she slowly exited the stage.
The smile beneath her veil froze and vanished the moment she stepped backstage. Her assistant was about to walk over and say something but was cut off by a gentle wave of her hand.
"I'm sorry, Miss Fujiwara. I'll leave the rest to you. I'd like to be alone for a while."
"Ah, but..."
Before the host, Miss Fujiwara, could say anything more, she saw the reigning superstar [Elysian Realm] depart in a hurry.
Watching the noble lady's receding back, for some reason, she thought she saw a hint of someone fleeing in disarray.
Sigh, forget it.
Miss Fujiwara sighed. This Miss [Elysian Realm] had a very powerful background. She always funded her concerts herself and never accepted investments from anyone.
It was for this very reason that Miss [Elysian Realm] had never been involved in any scandals. She was like a truly elegant artist, singing only for the things she loved, doing as she pleased.
If one had to point out anything out of the ordinary, it would be the time she pulled some strings to ensure that a white-haired girl named Kiana won three VIP tickets all by herself.
But in today's entertainment industry, something like that wasn't even worth gossiping about.
Miss Fujiwara straightened her clothes, mentally reviewed her closing speech, and then, putting on her most professional smile, walked back out onto the stage.
---o---
The moonlight was clear and bright.
Eden swirled the pure gold wine goblet she had taken from the lounge, closed the rooftop door behind her, and shut out the dazzling, flickering lights.
On the other side of the door, the music continued to drift up intermittently, a continuation of the grand concert from moments before.
Ah, what beautiful moonlight.
Eden gazed at the starlight, strolling across the deserted high platform. After letting her mind relax a little, she wandered over to the railing.
She leaned her hands on the railing, her golden eyes scanning the streams of traffic below as she took a gentle sip of the fine wine in her cup.
She loved the wine of this era, and she loved its musical style. She had to admit, she was still the same as her Previous Era self—disliking curtain calls, preferring to savor the final moments of an opera.
It was just that today's performance left a rather bitter aftertaste.
The crimson liquid slid down her throat, leaving a trace of burning pain. Eden looked up at the vast, starry sky and began to softly sing a ballad from the Previous Era.
Suddenly, her ears twitched, and the heavenly sound came to an abrupt halt.
She heard familiar footsteps at the door. Who could it be?
Eden turned her head, watching the handle of the rooftop door turn, her heart beginning to beat a little faster.
Pardofelis? Or Klein? Eden wasn't sure. She just quickly ran through various contingency plans in her mind.
Until the door opened. Seeing the familiar face, Eden subconsciously tossed the pure gold goblet behind her into a flowerbed, using the blossoms to hide it.
This golden cup was a treasured item she had commissioned, made according to Previous Era designs. Therefore, the person before her could not be allowed to see it.
She looked at the youth in front of her, using her superb acting skills to control her expression.
"Um, hello?"
Seeing the figure who had just been on stage, Fu Li raised a hand and greeted her with some awkwardness.
"Excuse me, do you know where the automatic coffee machine is? A staff member told me it was up here, but I've been wandering around for ages and can't find it."
An automatic coffee machine?
Eden tilted her head, a little confused.
There was indeed a coffee machine here, but it was inside her private lounge. It wasn't for public use. The public coffee machines were supposed to be in the common area.
The staff here should have known that. Why would they direct someone here? This was a restricted work area, off-limits to unauthorized personnel.
Shaking her head, a gentle smile formed on Eden's lips beneath her veil.
Although she didn't know what was going on, there was no reason to refuse a gift that had been delivered right to her door.
"Of course. There is indeed a coffee machine here. Would you like me to take you to it?"
"Huh? Is that okay? You're a celebrity, after all."
"Hehe, my friend, before I became a star, I was just an ordinary person. So..."
Eden smiled, proactively walking to Li's side and leading the way, leaving no room for refusal.
"Don't worry so much. Come with me."