Tongmen Central Plaza, 6:30 PM.
The sun had slipped behind the mountains, and though dusk was settling in, the plaza was packed with people.
On the already constructed circular stage, the giant LED screens on both sides looped promotional clips of the Magical Girls in battle.
The crowd around the stage was tightly packed—children waving glow sticks, reporters holding cameras, and police maintaining order.
Backstage in the dressing room, Lu Yuan wore a dazed expression.
“I… I can’t do this…” she whispered nervously. “There are at least five thousand people down there! Five thousand!”
Lu Yuan knew she was somewhat of an internet-famous Magical Girl, but having nearly five thousand people at her debut performance was just ridiculous.
Lin Wan was adjusting her stage outfit in front of the mirror and said, “You weren’t like this during yesterday’s special training.”
“Is that the same? There was only Captain Su Li under the stage during training!”
Chen Lianxue shyly handed her a cup of warm water. “Senpai, drink some water. It’ll help a bit…”
Lu Yuan took the cup, her hand trembling so much she nearly spilled it.
Her pale face reflected on the water’s surface, framed by the black lace stage costume, dark red eye makeup, and her black twin tails curled into waves.
Even though she was all dressed up so dazzlingly, a block of ice seemed to have settled in her stomach, tightening painfully with nerves.
What if she messed up?
What if she forgot the moves?
What if—
“Lu Yuan.” Lin Wan suddenly grabbed her face. “Look at me.”
Before Lu Yuan could react, Lin Wan cupped her face firmly with both hands.
“Ouch! Lin, what are you doing!” Lu Yuan muttered.
“Focus.” Lin Wan leaned closer. “Listen, you’re our captain. If even you’re chickening out, what are Lian Xue and I supposed to do?”
Lu Yuan opened her mouth but had no comeback.
Right, I am the captain now.
Outside, a staff member’s voice called out: “Girls! You’re on in five minutes!”
“Okay~” Lin Wan responded.
***
Amidst deafening cheers, the stage lights suddenly went dark.
“Up next, please welcome—the new Magical Girl group, Nightingale!”
Under the cover of darkness, Lu Yuan and the other two swiftly took their positions center stage.
Lin Wan stood to her left, Chen Lianxue to her right, their hands tightly interlocked.
“Phew…” Lu Yuan took a deep breath, trying to relax her tense shoulders.
With a loud “bang,” the stage lights blazed on.
Thousands of eyes flooded toward her like a tidal wave.
The blinding spotlights made her instinctively squint.
Through the blur, a silver-haired figure in the front row stood out—Captain Su Li, softly waving with a smile.
Captain Su Li…
“It’s starting!” Lin Wan’s voice whispered in her ear.
The music’s prelude began.
Lu Yuan instinctively struck her opening pose.
Turn left, raise her hand, smile—
She followed the rhythm mechanically, catching a glance from Lin Wan.
The blue-haired girl winked at her, silently mouthing, “Relax!”
That idiot… Lu Yuan smiled bitterly in her heart, but her gaze drifted again to the front row.
Su Li watched her intently, her hands tapping rhythmically in sync with the music.
Something strange happened.
Suddenly, the noisy crowd seemed to fade from Lu Yuan’s perception.
The huge stage felt like their familiar training ground with just the four of them.
The familiar rhythm flowed through her body again.
Lu Yuan began to smile genuinely.
As the music reached its climax, every move she made was smooth and effortless, just like during rehearsal.
Great, I can do this.
The performance went smoothly.
Only the final bow remained.
But during the last chorus, disaster struck.
Lu Yuan’s high heel caught in a gap on the stage.
Oh no!
She lost her balance, about to fall forward on stage.
This fall would be a total disaster.
Not only would the performance be ruined, but if she fell backward at this angle…
Her panties would be on full display for five thousand people to see!!
No way! Absolutely not!
Showing panties on stage… someone would definitely record it! Then Magical Girl Xiao Heimao would become some sort of lewd meme! She’d be banned across the entire internet, left with no options but to take desperate measures to make a living!
That would be the end!
Lu Yuan was already imagining a lifetime of ruin after such an exposure.
Suddenly, two figures—a blue and a pink silhouette—flashed to her sides at once.
Lin Wan supported her waist with one hand, while Chen Lianxue skillfully used her skirt to shield the imminent exposure.
Lu Yuan was momentarily stunned, then the three exchanged smiles and struck a perfect Ending Pose.
Lin Wan’s military cap was tilted at a jaunty angle, Chen Lianxue’s fluffy skirt flared out, and Lu Yuan kicked her leg back, leaning into her teammates’ embrace, her spear pointed straight at the sky.
“Bang!”
A gunshot rang out, the bullet shooting straight upward before exploding into a brilliant firework.
Golden ribbons rained down like a shower as the music cut abruptly.
The crowd fell silent for a second, then erupted into a roaring applause.
“Nightingale! Nightingale!”
The cheers were deafening.
Lu Yuan stood center stage, breathing heavily.
Her chest heaved from the intense dancing, sweat trickling down her cheek.
The crowd’s cheers rolled like waves, the sea of glow sticks flickering in the darkness.
Lu Yuan grabbed her companions’ hands, bowing deeply together to the audience.
“Thank you, everyone! We are—Nightingale!”
The golden ribbons drifted around them.
Lu Yuan suddenly felt a lump in her throat.
She had never imagined a day when she could stand on stage, basking in the crowd’s cheers.
Never imagined it.
The stage spotlights went dark again, and everything returned to black.
Lin Wan quietly wrapped her arm around Lu Yuan’s neck. “See? What did I tell you?”
Chen Lianxue’s eyes sparkled. “Senpai, you were amazing!”
Lu Yuan smiled, about to reply, but as she straightened up, her gaze froze.
At the edge of the surging crowd, a small figure stood quietly.
A blue dress, braided hair, clutching a worn-out soccer ball.
…Qianqian?
Lu Yuan’s breath caught.
The girl lifted her head and smiled faintly at her.
Exactly the same as when they’d met at the cemetery.
Lu Yuan was momentarily stunned.
***
Backstage, a staff member handed Lu Yuan a bouquet with a card attached.
“From an anonymous fan.”
Lu Yuan took the card and opened it.
There was only one line:
“I’m waiting for you at home.”
A chill ran through her.
It was obvious who had written the card.
“Lu Yuan? What’s wrong?” Lin Wan noticed her change in expression and looked at the card along with her. “Is it someone you know?”
Lu Yuan didn’t answer.
Before she could think further, her body moved on its own.
Without removing makeup or changing clothes, she ran straight out from backstage.
“Wait! Lu Yuan!” Lin Wan called after her.
Lu Yuan stumbled out of the venue, right into the dispersing crowd.
“It’s Nightingale’s Lu Yuan!”
“Oh my god! It’s really her!”
The crowd immediately stirred.
Countless phone cameras aimed at her, flash after flash.
Hands reached out to grab her skirt.
Fans pressed forward, holding autograph boards and shouting.
The strong perfume, the screams, the countless touches—all made Lu Yuan feel suffocated.
“Sorry… please let me pass…”
Her voice was drowned out by the noise, having no effect.
This couldn’t continue.
Lu Yuan pulled out a notebook and quickly signed her name, then threw it into the crowd.
“Whoever catches it gets it!” she shouted.
The crowd scattered instantly.
Taking advantage of the gap, Lu Yuan dashed toward the street and waved down a taxi.
She closed the door too quickly, tearing a slit in her skirt.
“Where to, miss?” the driver asked.
“Jinhua Community, fast!”