The final note faded. The curtain fell.
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience, thrilled by the spectacular show.
Su Yu slung the guitar over his shoulder, palms slick with sweat. He’d faked his way through the entire song—yet nerves still gripped him tight.
He stepped into the rest room, set the guitar on the table, and let out a long, weary sigh. *Finally. Over.*
“Impressive! I step out to haul some gear, and you’re already on stage? Since when do you play?” Gu Chuan punched Su Yu’s chest lightly, grinning. “Way to shine! Get ready—admirers incoming.”
“Shine? If you hadn’t dragged me here, would I be sweating like this?” Su Yu tugged off his mask and hood. Dressed like this, even his mom wouldn’t recognize him. “I was just filler up there. Faking it.”
“Um… Su Yu?”
“Hm?”
A soft tug on his shirttail. He turned. Luo Xiaoxiao stood behind him. “Thanks for today. I’ll treat you sometime.”
“Why wait? Now! I’ve got friends nearby—”
At “food,” Gu Chuan perked up—then froze under Luo Xiaoxiao’s sharp glare. He chuckled awkwardly and shut up.
“You skipping too, Su Yu? Don’t say I didn’t warn you—this chance won’t come again.”
“I ate. Tired. Heading to bed.”
Su Yu shook his head, glancing at Gu Chuan’s pale face. “Ease up on the drinks. Rehearsal tomorrow.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Gu Chuan waved and vanished with his group.
Outside, the gala wound down. The rest room emptied, leaving only a few students tidying up.
An awkward silence settled. Su Yu had never been alone with Luo Xiaoxiao. He took two steps toward the door, sighed, then glanced back. She was wrestling with the drum kit—tall as she was, the set looked heavy.
He watched. She peeked up at him. Said nothing.
“Can’t… just leave the drums here?”
“This set? No. Not safe. Gotta take it to my dorm.” Her eyes hid beneath dark shadow. Or was it his imagination? Her voice softened, almost coaxing. “Gu Chuan brought it over earlier.”
“Then let’s go together. My dorm’s probably empty anyway.”
Su Yu crouched, helping her pack each drum. They debated the tiny handcart’s space for ages, finally borrowing a second one.
Squeezed in the elevator, both sweating, they stumbled outside. Su Yu exhaled at the flat cement path.
“How *did* Gu Chuan carry all this?”
“He drove it from my place,” Luo Xiaoxiao said casually.
“Oh, so *I’m* sorry for not owning a car?” Su Yu rolled his eyes. “Fine. One cart each.”
“Hm?”
Luo Xiaoxiao watched him nearly trip, lips curling into a mischievous smile. “Sure. One cart each.”
Her cart rolled closer. *Thud. Thud.* High-top Dr. Martens on pavement. A familiar, delicate fragrance drifted near—same perfume as last time. Nice. He just couldn’t name it.
She plopped onto his cart, slender legs dangling over the other. Waved a hand. “Go!”
“What’s this act?”
“I’m tired.” She blinked up at him. Her outfit clashed with the playful tone. “I was lead vocalist today! Sang an extra song—*so* high. You have no idea.”
“Heh. That excuse works once.” Su Yu chuckled, pulling toward the girls’ dorm.
“Hey, you looked legit on stage. Practiced before?”
“Something like that.”
“Join our band? I just formed it. You’d be perfect stage presence.”
“Nah. Not interested.”
“No thinking? *Please* reconsider?”
“Hey! Su Yu, jerk! Don’t ignore me!”
…
She couldn’t hold it back anymore. This was *her* show. The applause still echoed in her bones. The cool stage persona melted away. Questions tumbled out like popping beans—nonstop.
…
“Here. Hop off.”
Su Yu yawned wide, eyelids heavy. Sleep pulled hard. He pointed at the drum cases. “Call your roommates down?”
“On it. Thanks again.”
Luo Xiaoxiao hopped off, brushed dust off her jeans, and texted. Two girls burst downstairs—not for the drums, not for her. Straight for Su Yu.
“High school friend? Guy bestie? *Boyfriend*?”
“Wait—isn’t he the guitarist? Cute without the mask!”
“Contact info, handsome?”
Their chirping buzzed in his skull.
“You two! Grab the gear and go!” Luo Xiaoxiao herded them upstairs, then shot Su Yu a fierce look over her shoulder. “Ignore them. *Don’t* get ideas. I’ll treat you next time. Bye.”
…
Su Yu watched them vanish, shrugged, and turned to leave.
“Who… is that girl?”
A cold whisper slithered into his ear—like a slick snake coiling his neck, teeth sinking in. Drowsiness shattered.
He spun around.
Xia Qian’ge smiled softly, head tilted. Curiosity sparkled in her wide eyes. So gentle, the earlier chill dissolved—*just exhaustion*, he told himself.
“Xia Qian’ge? You… live here too?”
“Across from her building.” She repeated gently, “Who is she?”
“A new friend. Gu Chuan’s high school classmate. Met while drinking. Today’s lead vocalist—you watched, right?”
“I did. No wonder she looked familiar. Pretty.”
Xia Qian’ge’s eyes crinkled with a sweet, playful smile.
“She’s… lively.”
“Today… I saw someone on stage who looked *exactly* like you. For a second, I thought it was you.”
“Heh. Must’ve been a trick of the light.”
Su Yu smiled faintly. *Some things stay between us.* A quiet distance—close enough, not too close. Just right.
“Yeah… must be.”
“You look exhausted. Pale.” Su Yu softened his voice. “Go rest. I’ll head out.”
“Okay.”
He walked a few steps.
“Su Yu…”
He turned. Wind tangled her long hair. Bangs shadowed her eyes, but that fragile, tender smile remained—pitifully charming.
Her whisper rode the evening breeze, lingering like an unbroken spell.
“See you tomorrow. Good night.”
