Chapter 117.2: (Extra)

In the second year after Xu Heran and Xin Nuo’s relationship was publicly revealed, everyone began intensive training for the concert. A group accustomed to performing concerts adapted well to the high-intensity training, until the third year, in September.

By then, Xin Nuo had risen to international fame, even standing on award podiums with Lady Diana. Xu Heran, an internationally renowned singer, appeared as a guest performer in major shows and even made guest appearances as a model. Haya suddenly became interested in runway shows, participating in many. Song Fenghua had become a regular in movies and TV dramas, Jian Yueyin was a recurring contestant in annual hit song competitions, Lin Weining was making great progress in music, acting in two TV dramas after attending acting classes, with positive feedback. Laurel released albums every year, Jiang Qiong was not only the host of Universal Entertainment’s flagship variety show but also continued to release singles.

Each member of SGS could hold a solo concert on their own, but on September 15th, amidst the gentle autumn breeze and twilight, eight shining stars gathered, illuminating the night in Sea City.

“It’s such a familiar place.” Holding a blue-purple microphone, Xu Heran waved to the fans below the stage with a smile. At that moment, the 100,000 fans in the audience along with the crowd gathered outside the venue shouted in unison.

The Universal Entertainment building’s LED screen broadcasted the concert live. On this night, the sky was filled with stars.

“Hello, friends,” Xin Nuo chuckled. “I’m very glad to see all of you.”

“Ah—”

With tears of emotion, the fans who had accompanied SGS for a decade were overwhelmed. They had journeyed with SGS from their youth, and now some had successful careers while others had become parents. However, tonight they all shared a common identity – they were fans of SGS, they were friends of SGS!

In the audience, the family and friends of the eight girls were also present. In Ji Songyu’s arms, a baby pointed at the stage and next to her, saying to Yu Wan, “Auntie, the pretty sister.”

Yu Wan pinched the baby’s tiny hand. “I’m a pretty sister too!”

“On this night, it belongs to SGS and to all of you!” On stage, the girls raised their index fingers. “Join us—”

“Bang!”

Fireworks burst into the sky, and a roadside band slowly rose on a lift. The drummer’s drumsticks struck wildly as Xu Heran shouted, “Welcome Mei Jie, welcome Zhang San, Li Si, Wang Wu, I’m Xu Liu!”

The fans burst into laughter.

For a period of time, Xu Heran had collaborated with the roadside band and gave herself the name Xu Liu.

Music and singing echoed through the sky of Sea City. The eight girls sang and danced on the stage, as joyful as when they first debuted. Tonight, fireworks and golden confetti showered down again and again.

Five hours later, the sweaty girls stood on the stage. Xu Heran put down her water cup and raised the microphone.

“We have a special segment today, something the concert director suddenly told us during the concert.”

“Yes, we didn’t know either.” Jiang Qiong said, pointing her finger at the audience below. “But I noticed that Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu had a mysterious smile on their faces.”

Xu Heran cautioned, “They’re not suddenly going to play some game, right?”

Director Liu waved his hand.

At this moment, the entire stage suddenly dimmed. The large screens surrounding the venue and the one suspended above the stage began playing the familiar music engraved in everyone’s minds.

“Let’s run together towards the sun…”

Ten years ago, the theme song and opening dance of Starry Girls played on the screens.

Caught off guard by seeing their past selves from ten years ago, the SGS members on stage exclaimed, “What?”

Jian Yueyin immediately said, “No way, weren’t we supposed to avoid sentimental stuff?”

Xu Heran suddenly turned her head and locked eyes with Xin Nuo, who shook her head.

“Hello, everyone.” The assistant director of Starry Girls back then, now a well-known director at Universal Entertainment, Director Xiao Liu, addressed the remaining 21 girls who had survived numerous eliminations. “Please write a letter to your future selves, anything you want to say.”

“Ah!” Not just the fans, but also the eight members of SGS on stage were stunned, looking at each other in disbelief. Memories of ten years ago suddenly resurfaced in their minds, recalling their younger selves.

“What should we do? I’m about to cry,” Lin Weining said.

Just seeing their selves from ten years ago made them unable to hold back tears.

“Don’t cry,” Xu Heran said, “Whoever cries loses.”

Haya smiled and patted Lin Weining’s head.

“Did you all receive it?” Laurel asked the members of Shu Guo Tang and FYU in the audience. The beautiful girls nodded with smiles, raised their hands, and made crying expressions by cupping their cheeks with fists.

Song Fenghua repeated Xu Heran’s words, “Whoever cries loses.”

“Be careful, okay,” Xin Nuo chuckled softly.

Everyone took a deep breath immediately, adjusting their emotions.

“Write a letter to your younger selves?” Jiang Qiong muttered.

The staff immediately reminded, “Later, later!”

“Oh, oh!” Jiang Qiong with her red hair sat behind a table, holding a feather pen in a motion of writing, her wrist spinning wildly. She pretended to write on the pink paper and loudly exclaimed, “Achieve fame and success!”

“Pfft!”

The fans in the audience and the video production staff burst into laughter together.

“Truly you,” on the stage, the members teased one after another.

“That red hair is truly unforgettable,” Xu Heran tsked, “At that time, we believed in Jionger’s superstitions.”

Jiang Qiong chuckled mischievously.

“To the Jiang Xiaoqiong of ten years later, I don’t know if you’ll receive this letter, or if you’ve already debuted. But being able to join Starry Girls and make so many good friends, it’s truly wonderful. You’ve worked really hard and done well. If everything goes smoothly in the future, that would be great. Jiang Xiaoqiong, keep up the good work!”

“Of course, if you can debut together with your friends, it’s simply unimaginable.” Jiang Xiaoqiong, who was writing and reading her letter, suddenly looked up and said embarrassedly to the camera, “Just writing this feels incredible.”

“There’s nothing much to say, friendship lasts forever! Jionger becomes super wealthy!”

On the stage, Jiang Qiong gave a thumbs up to her younger self from ten years ago, pretending to be cool.

“Cry,” Song Fenghua poked her shoulder.

“Cry,” Lin Weining, whose eyes were slightly red, poked her from the other side.

“Hurry up,” Haya urged.

Just a moment ago, Jiang Qiong, who had a hint of tears, was immediately pressured. She turned around indignantly, raised her microphone, and complained, “Who does things like you guys!”

Laughter filled both the stage and the audience.

The screen switched to show Laurel with blonde hair, her expression cold as she wrote.

“World peace, everlasting fairness, wealth and leisure, I hope Mei Jie can find her own happiness.”

A staff member asked quietly, “Who is Mei Jie?”

Laurel paused while capping her pen, “My sister-in-law.”

“Huh?” The staff member was puzzled, “Your brother…”

“Passed away.” Laurel’s face remained expressionless. She put down the pen, nodded to the staff member, and left.

Silence fell over the screen, and the stage was equally silent. Everyone extended their hands and embraced Laurel, who tilted her head up.

“Thank you, I’m very happy now.” Laurel took a deep breath, suppressed the tears in her eyes, and revealed a brilliant smile to the audience below. Suddenly, she turned her head and looked toward the direction of the band.

Mei Jie raised her hand, wiped away the tears on her face, and smiled at Laurel, silently mouthing the words.

“I’m very happy.”

To be able to witness your success on behalf of your brother, I’m very happy.

As the scene was about to turn into a sea of tears in the audience, the focus shifted to Haya. The alluring woman sat down confidently, and with a puzzled expression, she asked, “Write a letter to your future self, about what?”

A staff member replied, “You can write about anything.”

Haya asked earnestly, “Really?”

The staff member nodded.

Haya immediately grabbed a pen, “Quickly find a partner!”

The staff member exclaimed, “No—”

“You said anything goes, didn’t you?”

“But you’re going to be an idol!” The staff member was exasperated.

Haya thought for a moment, crossed out her previous sentence, and made a change.

“Haya, I hope that in ten years, you can find a partner. Best wishes.”

The staff member from ten years ago: “…”

SGS members ten years later: “Hahaha!”

Fans in the audience laughed through their teary eyes, someone shouted, “Haya, did you achieve your goal?”

Haya suddenly raised an eyebrow, lifted her index finger, and brought it close to her lips.

“Shh…”

Fans: “Huh?”

Huh!

Sss—

Next to her, Lin Weining immediately averted her eyes, blushing, and pretended to earnestly look at the screen.

In the scene, a beautiful and aloof girl sat down and wrote very seriously: “Song Fenghua, if you can’t have the sun, I hope you become a star. You don’t need to shine brightly, just enough to radiate like the sun. You have very little, but in ten years, if you’re better off than now, it’s enough.”

When Xu Heran placed her hand on Song Fenghua’s shoulder, she suddenly started laughing, tears streaming down her face as she laughed.

“I’m doing very well now.”

Lin Weining and Xin Nuo opened their arms and hugged Song Fenghua.

“Fenghua, don’t cry! Crying means you lose!” Fans shouted, even though they had teary eyes themselves.

Song Fenghua wiped away the tears from her face with a smile, whispering, “I didn’t cry.”

Xu Heran raised the microphone and chuckled, “It seems the star has experienced a rain shower.”

Jian Yueyin gently raised her hand, touched Song Fenghua’s head, and heard her whisper softly, “It’s enough.”

To be a star, it’s enough.

“Weining, please write a letter to your future self.” A staff member smiled gently at the girl who had entered the room.

“Okay.”

Lin Weining obediently sat down, her handwriting elegant.

“Hello to the Lin Weining of ten years later. I hope that by that time, you’ve become a qualified artist. You’ve put a lot of effort into the stage, firmly believing that the stage won’t let your hard work go to waste. I hope you won’t be hindered by obstacles along the way and will keep moving towards your sole goal. Of course, the most important thing is that I hope you remain kind and brave. Keep going!”

“I’m done writing.” In the camera, the Lin Weining from ten years ago stood up, smiled, and handed the letter to the camera.

The Lin Weining of ten years later raised her hand, catching a falling petal, her eyes curved into a smile.

“Hello to the Jian Yueyin of ten years later. I don’t know if you’re still making music, but I don’t regret participating in ‘Starlight Girls.’ Seeing my songs appear on stage has only strengthened my dedication to music. If you’ve given up on music for various reasons in the ten years since, and if you read this letter, I hope you find the courage to start anew. If you’re still persevering, whether in brightness or darkness, I want to tell you, Jian Yueyin, you’re amazing.”

Onstage, Jian Yueyin raised the microphone with a confident and bright smile. “To the Jian Yueyin of ten years later, I want to tell the Jian Yueyin of ten years ago that you’re also amazing.”

“Up until now, I’m still grateful for ‘Starlight Girls,’ for everything from the beginning, and for this group of teammates who might seem odd but have always supported me. Each and every one of us is great.”

She raised her hand, and those around her approached, high-fiving.

“Don’t mind the ‘odd,’ though.” Xu Heran laughed, licking her lips and looking at the screen, her blue-purple eyes bright.

The Xin Nuo from ten years ago was like fresh bamboo after rain, pure and beautiful, her deep black eyes profound. Despite the screen separating them, her distant aura reached everyone’s eyes.

“To Xin Nuo, may your mother be healthy, and may your path be clear.”

Xu Heran suddenly turned around, smiling as she asked, “No mention of me?”

Xin Nuo tilted her head. “Well, it’s a letter to my future self.”

As her words trailed off, the Xin Nuo in the video, who had already stood up, suddenly paused and added, “I hope that by then, I’m still friends with Xu Heran.”

Fans and the others on stage chimed in, “Oh~~”

“Friends~~”

Xu Heran didn’t turn around, just chuckled. “Hello, friend.”

The fans’ “wow” grew louder.

Xin Nuo also didn’t look at Xu Heran, her eyes gently fixed on her past self.

“Hello.”

After the black-haired girl in the video left, not long after, a girl with pink hair hopped into the frame, capturing the attention of those in the audience, outside the stadium, and in front of the LED screens.

“Ah—Pink Pearl!”

“Ah ah ah, it’s Pink Pearl!”

“Oh my god! The ZhuZhu from ten years ago looks so tender! So much smaller than now! It feels like she could squirt water if you pinch her! Ah ah ah, she’s so cute, my goddess is so adorable!”

Onstage, Xu Heran made a disgusted expression, opening her hands and shrugging, a “can’t help it, born so likable” expression that begged for a beating.

“Writing a letter to my future self.” Sixteen-year-old Xu Heran sat down, writing with ease.

“The show suddenly asked us to write letters to our future selves. It’s so cheesy, but I’m so well-behaved, I definitely went along with it, right?

Xu Heran, have you succeeded ten years from now? Are you a big singer? Have you held concerts? Are you getting along well with the sisters?

Is everything good with everyone? Did we all debut successfully? Hehe, most importantly, Xu Heran, have you taken good care of NuoNuo? She’s definitely still your favorite person, right?

Hahaha, of course, I should understand you well.”

“Writing to Xu Heran, it’s fine if you’re not a big star, it’s fine if you haven’t held concerts. I hope you can maintain your passion for music and enjoy singing happily. We won’t starve, right? (Here, let me confess my feelings for Jia Mu, how can there be such a kind sister who loves her sister so much, wuwuwu)”

Xu Heran covered her forehead, never expecting her tone from ten years ago to be so childish, unable to bear looking at it directly.

In the audience below, fans who were well aware of her and Xin Nuo’s relationship laughed.

Onstage, Xin Nuo with slightly reddened eyes raised her hand, covering her lips, tightly focused on the little pearl in the video. Not far from her, Xu Heran stood straight, gazing up at the big screen, a gentle smile playing at her lips.

“Writing to the NuoNuo of ten years later.” The little pearl sat upright, writing each word with utmost seriousness.

“NuoNuo, Xu Heran will always like you, for one decade, two decades, three decades… many decades!

If the 26-year-old Xu Heran hasn’t confessed her liking properly, it’s because she’s shy! Absolutely not because she doesn’t like you! Let me say it in advance for her.”

Twenty-six-year-old Xu Heran raised the microphone, her mature voice blending with the lively tone from when she was sixteen, melding together, indistinguishable.

“Xin Nuo, I like you.”

Amidst the stage’s radiant light and fans’ screams, the grown-up girl smiled, her gaze traversing ten years of time, fixated on the once indifferent and cool young girl.

Amidst the screams and the bewildered expressions of those on stage, a gentle music began playing.

“Surprise,” Xu Heran whispered, her voice harmonizing with the music as she started singing.

Xin Nuo looked around in bewilderment, her gaze shifting from left to right, apart from Xu Heran, everyone else wore equally surprised expressions.

“Did I come for you?” the twenty-six-year-old Xu Heran spoke.

The screen displayed an afternoon practice room, with the sixteen-year-old Xu Heran sitting on the floor, strumming the guitar hesitantly, singing in harmony with the Xu Heran on stage, “Did I search for the wind for you?”

“Can I hold your hand, and go to the next station?”

“Hey, don’t film, Sister NuoNuo!” The sixteen-year-old little pearl put down the guitar, her smile radiant, hopping and skipping as she chased after the girl who secretly filmed her.

The twenty-six-year-old Pearl turned around, walking toward the person she had loved for ten years.

Tears welled up in Xin Nuo’s eyes.

SGS members seemed to have noticed something, silently making way and watching their companion walk toward her heart’s desire with smiles.

“The carousel spins amidst the dazzling lights, the music is a bit sweet, many smiling faces in the crowd, I can’t see clearly, suddenly everything becomes simple.”

Xu Heran’s singing reverberated in the air that had quietly hushed, she stopped in front of Xin Nuo, suddenly bashfully lowering her eyelashes and singing softly.

“Your lips curve, your voice is light, disrupting everything about me.”

“In this distinct moment, there’s only one answer, the focal point of my gaze is at your fingertips, your hemline, as if I want to enter your heart.”

“Did you come for me? Did you chase the wind for me? Can you keep holding my hand? Towards perhaps the end of happiness. I think you understand this answer too, in the most beautiful year, on that moonlit day, as I looked into your eyes, my heart raced—”

Xu Heran suddenly looked up, gazing at Xin Nuo, and earnestly sang, “For you, my heart races.”

“Let’s take a walk, in the morning light or at night, stars fill the sky, sunlight radiates, because I really like both you and this.”

“I love your hair’s fragrance, love waking up with you by my side. You’re the only answer, the destination of my fate, your fingertips, your hemline, I want to be in your heart. I came for you, I searched the wind for you, I want to keep holding your hand, in the chapel’s chime, kiss you a thousand times.”

“I believe you’d agree with this answer, in every beautiful year, under the brilliant starry sky today, as I look into your eyes each time, my heart races—”

“For you, my heart races.”

“Only for you, my heart races.”

Onscreen, the sixteen-year-old Xu Heran pounced towards Xin Nuo, embracing her amidst a golden rain.

Onstage, the twenty-six-year-old Xu Heran knelt on one knee, holding up a ring prepared for this day over the course of two years.

Her voice was gentle, her eyes bright, her lips curved, her smile beautiful, like every dawn, every twilight, every night. Like every glance, the Xu Heran in Xin Nuo’s eyes.

“Sister NuoNuo.”

She knelt before her, amidst the gaze of countless people, uttering the world’s most beautiful declaration of love.

“Marry me.”

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis
Proofreader: Ruu

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