“Accident — “
“Maybe…”
Sakura Onodera’s warning, filled with trembling and unease, was like a stone cast into a deep pond.
Although it only stirred a weak ripple in Su Yuqing’s exhausted heart, it quickly sank to the bottom.
However, the sharp warning contained in that phrase, “There will be an accident…” was like black ink spreading underwater, silently staining all her thoughts.
Su Yuqing stood frozen in place and began to look back with an almost cruel objectivity.
She wondered what kind of self-deceiving mindset she had used to view Kasahana Chiai’s almost self-destructive training intensity during this period.
‘She is a cat.’
That thought popped up first, carrying a helpless excuse and a trace of pathetic comfort.
Su Yuqing emphasized this to herself repeatedly, as if reciting a fragile protective spell.
‘That’s right, you have to remember this clearly. Deep down, this girl is a cat. Cats have nine lives, cats have amazing recovery power, and cats can take a nap after being extremely tired and be as good as new… so… so she probably won’t really collapse from exhaustion, right?’
‘No.’
Another clearer, calmer voice immediately rejected that naive idea. She could no longer continue to deceive herself.
‘The accurate description should be: at the very least, under her current state of high-intensity training — which is only “slightly” beyond the scope of normal human understanding — she might… she might still be able to barely hold on. She should be able to force herself to adapt to this exhaustion… she should be… able to survive this extreme pressure with great difficulty… right?’
That final “right” revealed all the uncertainty and deep-seated fear in her heart.
This attempt to use rational analysis to cover up her unease was like walking on thin ice; every step was accompanied by the loud sound of cracking.
“Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say!”
Seeing Su Yuqing’s suddenly changing expression, Sakura Onodera realized she might have said something she shouldn’t have.
She hurriedly found an excuse, clutched her documents, and practically fled from the center of this low-pressure zone.
“Senior, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go and get started on my other work!”
“Oh, okay.”
Su Yuqing responded absently, her gaze not focused on her fleeing junior.
“Go ahead, get to your work.”
The empty temporary workspace returned to silence, leaving only the low hum of the air conditioning system and the somewhat erratic sound of her own heartbeat.
The air was thick with the complex scent of the music hall’s backstage — a mixture of old wooden floor wax and expensive perfume.
After a moment of difficult hesitation, Su Yuqing finally couldn’t resist that powerful pull.
She slowly turned her gaze toward the heavy, closed soundproof door at the end of the corridor —
That was the Rehearsal Piano Room exclusive to Chiai.
At this moment, it was like a silent monster, swallowing all the sounds inside.
“Xiao… Zhi…”
A name rolled almost imperceptibly between her teeth, carrying an indescribable emotion she hadn’t even noticed herself.
Her feet moved almost involuntarily toward that direction, even if it was just to take a look at the situation inside through the small window on the door.
However, the moment her toes turned, the cold memory of being “invited” out of that piano room only 30 minutes ago flooded back into her brain like a tide, instantly freezing her movements and her blood —
That was the ultimatum Chiai had given her before starting her final sprint of practice.
At that time, there was no room for negotiation in Chiai’s glass-colored eyes, only total control and a hint of impatience at the possibility of being disturbed:
“I know that! This is the precious final time before the performance! So — you need to give me a 100% guarantee! In this most critical preparation time, absolutely, absolutely no irrelevant people or things are allowed to come and disturb me! Do you understand, meow?!”
Her voice was sweet, but it carried a bone-chilling coldness.
“Hurry up! Did you remember what I just said…!?”
Seeing that Su Yuqing didn’t answer immediately, Chiai took a step closer.
Her tone suddenly grew heavy, carrying the threat of a feline whose territory had been encroached upon.
She remembered that under that powerful pressure, she could only nod repeatedly like a hypnotized machine:
“Okay, okay, I remember. I’ll make sure no one disturbs you.”
“Just remembering isn’t enough! Swear to me! Guarantee that you’ll do it!”
Chiai was relentless, demanding a firm promise.
“Okay, okay, I promise. I promise I’ll absolutely do it.”
Su Yuqing had almost blurted it out, using the same self-referential style Chiai often used, showing a submissiveness born from a desperate need to appease her.
Su Yuqing understood perfectly well that this wasn’t just a reasonable request for a working environment from a cooperating Idol.
It was an explicit command that had to be obeyed unconditionally, given by the “Master” who had once been “abandoned” by her and had now returned as an Avenger to her “incompetent property.”
What she understood even more was that if she violated the Master’s orders now, even if it was out of well-intentioned concern, the “consequences” that would fall upon her probably wouldn’t be something that could be lightly summarized by the phrase “not very good…”
The suffocating feeling of the collar seemed to faintly wrap around her neck again.
So —
After an internal struggle and weighing of options that felt as long as a century, Su Yuqing finally made her choice with a bitter heart.
She slowly moved her slightly raised foot back to its original position.
‘Never mind… forget it.’
She told herself, as if responding to some sort of expectation from the heavens.
‘Nothing will happen to her.’
Su Yuqing tried to use this thought to calm her racing heart, repeating it over and over like a mantra.
‘Nothing will happen to Kasahana Chiai. She is so strong, so stubborn, and in control of everything… How could she allow anything to happen to her on a stage she values so much?’
Just as Su Yuqing took a deep breath, trying to force down that strange sense of unease and guilt as she prepared to turn and leave this suffocating place —
A voice that was part playful, part curious, and exceptionally clear and pleasant sounded very close behind her without any warning, like a ray of sunlight piercing through thick clouds:
“Hey~ what are you doing hiding here and dazing off all by yourself?”
That voice…!
Su Yuqing’s spine stiffened instantly, and her blood seemed to freeze for a moment before suddenly boiling! She turned around in disbelief, as if afraid that if she moved too fast, this illusion would shatter.
What greeted her eyes was that long blue hair, as clear as a summer sky and meticulously cared for, tied neatly into a vibrant ponytail that swayed slightly with the owner’s tilted head.
Those eyes, currently looking at her with a smile, sparkled with an elfin light.
There was no mistake!
Even though they hadn’t met in years, it was impossible for her to be mistaken!
It was Minazuki Ruri!
The blue-haired girl who had once illuminated her youth and then personally pushed her into an ice cellar was now standing right in front of her, in this surreal corridor backstage at the Concert Hall!
“Liuli…!?”
Su Yuqing’s voice cracked due to extreme shock and sudden panic.
She even had to instinctively take a half-step back to steady her weakening legs.
“Ta-da~ Surprise!”
Minazuki Ruri winked playfully, a smile blossoming on her face that was bright enough to dispel any gloom.
Then, she waved her empty hand in front of Su Yuqing’s eyes.
“How is it? I kept my word. Just as we agreed on the phone, I’ve arrived right on time!”
She intentionally drew out her words with a hint of intimate teasing:
“Lit-tle Yu-qing~”
As soon as she finished speaking, even before Su Yuqing could fully recover from the massive shock, Ruri naturally reached out her free hand.
With the sensation of cool fingertips, she gently pinched Su Yuqing’s cheek, which was stiff from shock.
This sudden intimate gesture sent a jolt through Su Yuqing’s body like an electric current, making her flinch.
As she instinctively batted Ruri’s fingers away, an uncontrollable blush crept onto her cheeks.
“What… what are you doing! Don’t get all touchy!”
“Oh, are you shy?”
Ruri pulled her hand back casually, her smile remaining, though a faint, imperceptible trace of scrutiny flickered deep in her eyes.
She quickly changed the subject, her gaze scanning the busy surroundings.
“So, tell me, my Great Manager. At this critical time with the performance about to start, you’re not out front coordinating everything. Instead, you’re standing alone in this remote corner… just what are you doing? Could it be… that you’re secretly planning some shameful ‘little secret’?”
Su Yuqing’s heart tightened, and she denied it almost reflexively:
“No, I’m not! What secret could there be!”
She was desperate to move away from the topic, and her curiosity was also genuinely piqued.
“What about you! Liuli, at this time, the audience should have only just started entering. Security backstage is so strict… how did you bypass all the checkpoints and find your way here?!”
It was too illogical, unless…
Hearing this, a proud “it’s simple” expression appeared on Ruri’s face.
She intentionally leaned closer to Su Yuqing and lowered her voice, speaking in a mysterious tone:
“That~ is because this young lady is incredibly skilled. I just gave those big but actually stupid-looking guards at the door a hand-chop each. Bang! Bang! I knocked them out easily and then walked in grandly, as if no one else was there~”
She even mimicked a hand-chop movement.
“What!?”
Su Yuqing’s eyes widened in shock, almost believing her.
“Are you crazy?! How is that possible!?”
“Pfft — I’m teasing you! Little Yuqing, you’re still so easy to fool~”
Seeing Su Yuqing’s shocked expression, Ruri finally couldn’t help laughing out loud.
She wagged her finger and elegantly pulled a card with a special texture from her small bag, waving it in front of Su Yuqing’s eyes.
“VIP, see it clearly? I’m an audience member with the highest-level, exclusive VIP Pass that allows me to go anywhere for this performance~ Did you forget? Since I could get that front-row ticket, I naturally have the corresponding permissions to enter specific backstage areas early. You little dummy~”
“Oh, right! Look at my brain…”
Su Yuqing finally realized the situation and slapped her forehead in embarrassment.
The continuous mental tension and the high pressure brought by Chiai had caused her to lose her basic judgment.
Ruri’s sudden appearance was like a depth charge dropped into the chaotic sea of her heart.
“Alright, alright, don’t just stand there like an idiot!”
Ruri seemed very satisfied with Su Yuqing’s reaction.
She spoke cheerfully and reached out her hand again.
This time, instead of pinching her face, she naturally grabbed Su Yuqing’s wrist with a strength that brooked no refusal!
“Since your big star’s performance hasn’t officially started yet, and the backstage looks pretty interesting, hurry up and take me around for a tour! This is my first time seeing the backstage of an idol concert so close! It’s bound to be fun~!”
“Wait, wait! Liuli! I’m still on the clock! I can’t just leave my post…”
Su Yuqing instinctively tried to pull away, her tone anxious.
She was being pulled along, following Ruri’s steps against her will.
Still, she couldn’t help but turn her head back desperately before leaving, casting one last glance toward the rehearsal room at the end of the corridor that was cut off from all sound.
The heavy soundproof door remained tightly closed, like a silent secret.
In her heart, she repeated that fragile belief to herself once more, almost like a prayer:
‘Xiaozhi… nothing will happen to her… I’m sure of it…’
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