Song Meiqi lifted the mic to her lips as the delicate sound of a guzheng floated through the air. The stage lights cast a soft glow over her, drawing every gaze as silence settled across the arena.
Then she began to sing—her voice flowed through the stillness like a warm breeze over a quiet river, soft and gentle, wrapping around everyone in a comforting embrace. For a moment, the crowd fell utterly still, captivated by the rare beauty of her voice.
Eventually, Bloomis raised their lightsticks in unison, a shimmering sea of colour pulsing with the song's rhythm.
Meiqi was singing the hit theme song of a classic drama—a story of a young girl's journey from innocence to love, and the pain that follows. It was a challenging love song, weaving joy and sorrow, one that nearly everyone in Country C would recognize. Yet, Meiqi sang every note effortlessly, letting her expressions convey every nuance of emotion.
The fans were mesmerized, eyes glimmering beneath the bright lights as they swayed to the music, feeling the wonder and ache of first love as if it were their own.
Wang Yixiao froze, heart racing, hands gripping the railing as she leaned forward. She was completely lost in Meiqi's performance—the sight of her favourite idol performing such a difficult and emotional song live left her exhilarated and breathless.
Meanwhile, Wang Zi Rui's eyes never left Meiqi. Their golden shade flickered beneath his glasses as the lights traced the curve of her face, illuminating her with a quiet radiance. His chest tightened, heartbeat quickening, as her voice reached him—tender, warm, achingly familiar. It tugged at something buried deep inside him, a memory he thought long forgotten.
It was the same feeling from ten years ago—watching a girl in an oversized white shirt and red cap, strumming her guitar and singing as if the world existed only within her song. Back then, his world had been grey, drained of all colour. And then he saw her—so full of life.
His fingers tightened at his side, heartbeat stumbling.
Could it really be her—the girl from all those years ago? He tried to dismiss the thought, yet something deep within him already knew.
As the song reached its bridge and her notes soared higher and higher, the platform beneath Meiqi lifted, carrying her gracefully into view.
Her voice then softened, gradually fading to silence along with the music in the background, while the lights highlighted the pain etched across her face. She stood there in a dazzling white dress—radiant, yet achingly vulnerable.
In that moment, the ache in her chest surged, unrelenting. Memories of Haoran flooded her mind—his smile, their moments together, the warmth that had once felt like home—only to twist into sharp pain as she remembered the betrayal.
Then her thoughts shifted, flickering to Mengyao, to the years of friendship they had built, the laughter, the secrets shared, the trust that had once felt unbreakable. And yet, knowing she had been the "other woman" in that picture, all of it—the love, the friendship, the betrayal—weighed on her heart, leaving her trembling under its weight.
…
Three days ago, the night Echo posted their teaser photo, Meiqi, after calming herself down, decided she had to confirm the truth about Haoran herself. So, she asked her uncle, Han Yichen, to help identify the woman who had been with him.
At first, Yichen had been confused—it was the first time Meiqi had ever asked him a favour, and it was about a man. Still, knowing how rare it was for her to request help, he agreed and instructed his subordinates to investigate immediately.
The next day, just as Meiqi was about to leave for practice, her phone buzzed.
Her hand tightened around it, nerves twisting with fear—she hadn't expected an answer so quickly. The room suddenly felt colder, quieter, as if holding its breath along with her. She paused, taking a slow, steadying breath, trying to unknot the tension coiled in her chest.
Then, summoning every ounce of courage, she opened the message, knowing that in that instant, she would discover the truth—the identity of the other person—and confirm that Haoran had indeed been with another woman.
Then her hand froze. On the screen were images her uncle had sent—Haoran with the woman her stalker had been pointing out, the same woman from Echo's post. Her fingers trembled, lips pressing tightly together, a cold weight sinking into her chest. Disbelief and heartache twisted through her. The woman in the pictures was none other than Mengyao.
Her breath caught. She had expected it might be an actress Haoran had worked with, or a model he had met—but she had never imagined it would be her own friend. The air around her seemed to thicken, pressing in with the unbearable weight of betrayal.
Then another message appeared.
"Pretty boys are not to be trusted. Tell Mengyao to check carefully." Her uncle Yichen's words had always been playful—but now, they felt like a cruel joke, mocking the pain that tightened her chest.
Betrayal, disbelief, and denial washed over her, leaving her momentarily paralyzed. Then, a sharp sting of anger sliced through the haze, making her hands tremble and her heartbeat racing. She wished, desperately, it had been any other woman—anyone but Mengyao.
Her heart ached, yet no tears fell; it was as if the world had sucked all feeling from her, leaving only a hollow echo of loss.[1]
[1] So sad :(