A Familiar Face on Stage

On this summer afternoon, the sun, though not scorching, adorned the horizon, casting a faint golden glow.

A gentle breeze caressed her cheeks.

An inexplicable restlessness permeated the air.

The chattering clamor of young girls around them, and the pre-show music echoing from the stage, pierced Bai Muxue’s ears.

Feeling a stirring in her heart, she instinctively closed her eyes slightly, immersing herself in this unique din.

Qin Xiyao sat beside Bai Muxue, her beautiful eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Being a girl of delicate sensibilities prone to overthinking, Qin Xiyao’s heart subtly stirred upon seeing Bai Muxue suddenly close her eyes.

She seemed to sense the subtle shift in the other girl’s emotions.

Though she couldn’t fathom what Xiaoxue was thinking, Qin Xiyao’s intuition told her not to disturb her at this moment.

It was better to simply remain quietly by her side.

“Hey, hey, I just took a look, and it doesn’t seem like their group has a huge number of fans.”

“But here at the venue, they feel so incredibly popular!”

“You wouldn’t understand, would you?”

“While their group’s popularity might not be sky-high, their fan loyalty is incredibly strong!”

“After all, these are the die-hard fans who’ve watched them grow every step of the way!”

“This is their first live performance in Wangdu!”

“And every member is fantastic!”

“Let me tell you, especially the lead singer—she’s truly beautiful and has such an incredible stage presence!”

“She could easily be an idol!”

“Her eyes are so captivating, it feels as if my heart is being tightly squeezed!”

The slightly excited whispers of the surrounding girls faintly reached their ears, but Qin Xiyao paid them little mind.

She was discreetly observing the girl beside her, whose eyes were closed as if lost in thought, her gaze flickering with uncertainty.

Seeing no reaction from Bai Muxue, Qin Xiyao’s courage slowly grew.

Her gentle gaze lingered on the girl’s profile.

Her waist-length black hair, petite and slender frame, skin fairer than snow, and delicate, doll-like features combined to evoke a sense of tenderness in anyone who caught even a distant glimpse.

‘I feel like I could just… keep looking at her like this forever.’

Qin Xiyao, momentarily lost in her observations, found herself staring intently at Bai Muxue.

Before she could avert her gaze, Bai Muxue suddenly opened her eyes, a faint smile gracing her lips.

“Heh, how very interesting…”

Bai Muxue’s soft murmur drifted into Qin Xiyao’s ears.

When she looked up and saw Bai Muxue’s mischievous smile, Qin Xiyao’s heart couldn’t help but flutter slightly.

Sensing the girl’s sudden shift to a joyous mood, Qin Xiyao instinctively asked, “Xiaoxue, did you think of something amusing?”

“Oh? Not at all.”

Hearing this, Bai Muxue snapped back to reality, shaking her head gently.

She then playfully winked at Qin Xiyao: “I just think it’s wonderful to be here watching the performance with Xiyao.

It makes me very happy.”

Eh…!

Upon hearing those words, Qin Xiyao froze for a moment, instantly forgetting all the playful teasing she had prepared.

A faint blush spread across her cheeks.

She truly had no defense against such words.

Even though an irrepressible joy blossomed in Qin Xiyao’s heart, she feigned a demure expression, pouting softly, “Did I?”

“Of course,” Bai Muxue nodded earnestly, her youthful face etched with sincerity.

“Didn’t I just say? I asked you out because I wanted to make Xiyao a little happier.”

“Xiaoxue…”

Qin Xiyao opened her mouth, a flicker of emotion passing through her bright eyes.

She then quickly composed herself, gently patting the girl’s arm with her small hand, and huffed softly:

“Hmph, always picking out such sweet words to coax me…”

“Xiaoxue was clearly thinking about something else just now; don’t think I didn’t notice.”

Yet, despite her words, she secretly wished for more such compliments.

It was always better to hear them than not.

“Alright, alright.”

Bai Muxue let out a helpless chuckle, then turned her gaze back to the brightly lit stage.

“I was just thinking… even though the performance isn’t on a grand scale, everyone seems to be putting in so much effort.

It’s truly fascinating.”

‘Heh, she even sensed a strangely familiar magical fluctuation… now isn’t that interesting?’

“Oh, Xiaoxue, you think so too…?”

Qin Xiyao blinked in surprise, then said nothing more, following Bai Muxue’s gaze to the stage.

The microphone stood solitary at the center of the stage, as if awaiting the soul that would soon awaken it with sound.

The other instruments lay quietly in their respective places, patiently anticipating the start of the performance.

‘I think I just heard the girls next to us say that the band’s lead singer is a girl with a very strong presence.

What kind of person could she be…?’

Qin Xiyao clearly observed that a significant portion of the audience wore matching fan merchandise, held uniformly colored light sticks, and sat together in coordinated hues.

Unlike casual spectators like herself and Bai Muxue, these were well-prepared fans.

Like Bai Muxue, Qin Xiyao knew little about rock music.

However, perhaps influenced by the live atmosphere and touched by the elaborate stage design, a spark of curiosity ignited within her.

—What kind of person was that lead singer, and what charisma did she possess to draw so many people to spend money and gather beneath such a small stage, waiting with such eagerness?

As the performance time drew near, the fervent discussions among the audience gradually gave way to an expectant silence.

In unison, their gazes turned toward the central stage, awaiting the lights that would signal the start of the show.

Their wait did not last long.

As the pre-show music faded, the band members, one by one, stepped onto the stage.

“How’s everyone doing—!”

With the energetic greeting from the assembled girls, the audience below responded in kind, raising their light sticks and fan boards.

The entire stage instantly ignited with excitement, the roar of the crowd threatening to blow the roof off the venue.

Bai Muxue’s gaze, however, did not linger on the other band members.

Instead, it fixed directly on the most prominent figure: the girl at the center of the stage, cradling a guitar.

The girl had shoulder-length black hair, with strikingly vibrant blue highlights cascading down, partially obscuring her clear, star-like right eye.

She wore a simple black jacket, and her long, slender legs were encased in black stockings.

The deep hues of her attire, combined with her cold, refined features, created an astonishingly powerful aura that made it impossible to look away.

Tracing down from her swan-like neck, one found the girl’s exceptionally tall figure.

At a glance, she possessed a standard model’s physique.

Gazing at the girl whose face radiated a confident smile, Bai Muxue was suddenly struck by a wave of familiarity from the past.

She remained stunned for a moment, then a look of understanding dawned on her face.

‘Heh, to think I’d run into an old acquaintance here.

No wonder this girl stubbornly refused to let me know her true identity back then… What is this? A fated encounter?’

Bai Muxue narrowed her eyes, a playful smile curling her lips.

‘What a coincidence, Miss Magical Girl in the cowboy hat.’