Irene's heart felt like it was trying to escape her chest. Every step onto the stage made the stadium lights hit her like a wave of fire. Her hands trembled, her legs shook, and the roar of thousands of fans nearly drowned out her own thoughts. Bella squeezed her hand.
"Are you sure about this?" Bella shouted, laughing nervously over the screaming crowd.
"I—I can't back out now!" Irene gasped. "Look at them… look at her!" Her eyes locked on Luxiaomi, who smiled warmly, giving her a reassuring nod The stage seemed to pulse with every beat of the music. Kai's silver hair caught the lights as he stepped close, offering a friendly wink. Juno teased from the side, whispering something that made Irene snort despite the nerves. Ren watched silently, intense and unreadable, while Min made a funny exaggerated bow as if to welcome her. Calix gave a small, steadying smile that somehow made her feel safer.
"Okay," Irene whispered to Bella, "you've got to come up too. I can't do this alone."
Bella groaned, stepping onto the stage. "Do you know how many people are staring at us? My face will get stuck like this in a scream forever!" You'll survive! Just… follow my lead," Irene replied, dragging her along.
The music started. Luxiaomi's voice soared over the speakers, and the C-Boys Band kicked in. Irene tried to keep up with the rhythm, clumsily at first, but as the beat pulsed through her, she felt herself loosen. The crowd's energy was infectious. She sang the lyrics, stumbled over a few, then found her stride. Bella cheered beside her, waving her arms like a pro.
"Bella, we're doing it! We're actually doing it!" Irene laughed, hair plastered to her sweaty face.
"You better not faint on me!" Bella shouted back, barely keeping her balance on the stage.
By the end of the song, Irene's voice hit a note so clear and perfect that the stadium erupted. Luxiaomi gave her a thumbs-up, and Kai leaned over with a small grin. Irene felt like she could fly. She laughed, tears streaming down her cheeks.
But all the magic couldn't last forever. Irene could still feel the stage beneath her feet even after she stepped off it. Her heart refused to calm down, still racing like the music hadn't stopped. Her ears rang faintly with the echoes of screaming fans, flashing lights, and Luxiaomi's voice wrapping around the stadium like magic.
"Did that just happen?" Bella whispered, staring at her own shaking hands.
"We were on stage," Irene said, breathless. "We were actually on stage with them."
Before they could even fully process it, a staff member approached with a smile.
"Luxiaomi and the C-Boys would like to see you backstage."
Bella froze. "Backstage?"
Irene froze too. "…Backstage."
They looked at each other.
Then both of them screamed.
The backstage hallway glowed under soft golden lights, quieter than the chaos outside, yet somehow more intimidating. The walls were covered with framed photos of past performances, trophies, and posters. Irene's footsteps felt too loud. Her palms were sweaty again.
And then they saw them.
Luxiaomi stood first, her lavender ponytail cascading over her shoulder, her silver mic now resting on the table. Up close, she was even more unreal. She smiled when she saw them—warm, genuine, and kind.
"You did wonderful up there," Luxiaomi said gently.
Irene forgot how to breathe.
"Th-thank you," Irene managed.
Bella nodded rapidly beside her, too shocked to form words.
Luxiaomi picked up two posters and signed them with elegant strokes, writing their names carefully.
"To Irene. Keep shining."
"To Bella. Never lose your spark."
She handed them over personally.
Irene held it like it was made of glass.
"Let's take pictures," Luxiaomi added with a soft laugh.
Bella nearly dropped her phone trying to open the camera. Luxiaomi leaned in between them, her lavender hair brushing Irene's shoulder. Click.
Another. Click.
Another.
Irene stared at the photos afterward, her hands trembling.
This was real.
Then the C-Boys joined.
Kai approached first, effortlessly confident, his silver hair slightly messy now. He leaned closer to Irene, his voice low enough that only she could hear.
"You weren't nervous," he said.
"I was dying," Irene admitted.
He smiled. "Could've fooled me."
Her stomach flipped.
Juno slid beside Bella, flashing his perfect grin. "So," he said playfully, "are you always that cute when you panic?"
Bella choked. "I don't panic!"
He laughed. "Sure you don't."
Min suddenly appeared behind them and stole Bella's phone.
"Hey!" Bella protested.
He examined it seriously. "Confiscated. Evidence of illegal stage talent."
Bella stared at him. "Give it back!"
He laughed and handed it back, clearly pleased with himself.
Ren stepped closer to Irene, quieter than the others. His dark eyes studied her carefully.
"You didn't try to be anyone else," he said simply. "That's rare."
Irene didn't know why that meant so much, but it did.
Calix gave them both a gentle nod. "Most people freeze out there. You didn't."
Bella whispered, "That's because she forgot how to think."
Irene elbowed her.
Everyone laughed.
Luxiaomi watched them with a soft, approving expression.
"You both have something special," she said. "Don't let anyone make you believe otherwise."
Irene felt those words settle deep inside her chest.
More pictures followed. More laughter. More autographs.
For a moment, it felt like they belonged there.
Like they weren't just fans.
Like they were part of something bigger.
Eventually, a staff member gently reminded everyone it was time to leave.
Luxiaomi hugged them both briefly.
"I hope we meet again," she said.
Irene nodded quickly. "Me too."
Bella waved awkwardly. "Please don't forget us."
Min smirked. "Impossible."
Kai gave Irene one last glance as they turned to leave.
And just like that, it was over.
The parking lot was quieter than the stadium, the cool night air brushing against their overheated skin.
Bella grabbed Irene's arm.
"Irene."
"What?"
"We just met them."
"I know."
"We talked to them."
"I know."
"We took pictures with them."
"I KNOW!"
They both screamed, jumping up and down.
Bella laughed so hard she bent over.
"I'm never washing my hands again."
"That's disgusting," Irene said.
"I shook Kai's hand!"
"That's still disgusting!"
They laughed harder, their voices echoing into the night.
For once, everything felt perfect.
Too perfect.
Then Irene felt it.
A presence.
Watching.
She slowly turned her head.
A figure leaned against a black car under the dim parking lot lights.
Familiar.
Still.
Waiting.
Haoxiaoyi.
Her dark hair fell over her shoulder, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable—but her eyes…
Her eyes burned.
Irene's laughter died instantly.
Bella noticed.
"…Irene?"
Haoxiaoyi pushed herself off the car.
Her shoes clicked against the pavement as she stepped forward.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
A slow smile spread across her face.
"Well, well, well ".