Chapter 51.2

Xu Heran hopped off the car, flipped her coat behind her with her finger, and chuckled, “It’s all small stuff.”

“Ha.”

A faint, cold sneer echoed in her ear.

Xu Heran immediately turned her head, a brilliant smile on her face, “Nuo Nuo, what do you want to eat tonight?”

“I want to eat pearl meat.” Xin Nuo’s gaze was sharp like a knife, staring at her.

The two girls locked eyes, their ears turning red simultaneously, and they looked away at the same time.

Xu Heran touched her nose, “Sure, you can have it.”

“Hmph.” Xin Nuo lifted her hand and angrily patted her arm, “Just eat this!”

“Do you want me to give it to you? Can I sleep with you tonight?” Xu Heran followed behind Xin Nuo closely as they walked towards the villa.

Haya leaned on the car roof, wearing an expression of “that’s it.”

“That’s it?” Jiang Qiong exclaimed in surprise, “Nuo Nuo isn’t angry?”

“She was mad the whole way here,” Jian Yueyin said, “but after all, it’s Nuo Nuo… She didn’t think Ran Ran wouldn’t dodge.”

“Why would Little Pearl dodge? Little Pearl is so beautiful!” Haya burst into laughter.

“Then Little Pearl kissed her again, and yet Nuo Nuo still talked to Xu Pearl. I thought they were going to be in a cold war for a few days.” Jiang Qiong scratched her head, “I don’t get it. Is Nuo Nuo so easy to kiss?”

Several people fell silent. Song Fenghua raised an eyebrow and asked her, “Want to try?”

“…”

“…”

A chilly and sinister atmosphere swept over them, and all six of them shivered involuntarily.

“Cough, forget it. What should we eat tonight? How about hot pot?”

“Finally, we have a break. Let’s play games all night!”

“No thanks, I need to catch up on sleep today. Tomorrow, we can form a team of five!”

“…”

Watching the lively figures of everyone talking and laughing, Song Fenghua put down her arms that were crossed in front of her chest and let out a gentle sigh. Beside her, Jian Yueyin raised her hand and comforted her, “Don’t be angry.”

Song Fenghua’s gaze dropped, and she shook her head.

“I’m not angry.”

There was no reason to be angry, just a bit uncomfortable.

“It’s okay. First love, or a crush, they mostly come to nothing,” Jian Yueyin said softly, “Want to go to the music room? I can play a few sad songs for you?”

“Sis- Yueyin….” Sadness in Song Fenghua’s heart was replaced by helplessness, “Don’t console people like this.”

Jian Yueyin touched her face, “I’m not very skilled at it.”

“Take your time. Time will take care of everything. You need to learn to let go.”

“Let go…” Song Fenghua’s gaze became distant. She squinted her eyes, “Let’s talk about it later.”

After SGS’s eight girls debuted, they were on a non-stop whirlwind, everything turned upside down, and finally, they got a few days of rest. Everyone first slept soundly, sleeping away the exhaustion of the entire month. Then they immediately bounced back, playing games, watching movies, writing songs, and… attending classes.

“I think I can play a game before attending online classes. I’m really good with shooters now!” Xu Pearl earnestly attempted to reach for her phone.

A slender hand reached out from behind her and mercilessly pressed onto Xu Pearl’s phone.

“Confiscated,” Xin Nuo said, “When you get into college, then you can play games.”

Xu Pearl was shocked, “College students don’t have to attend online classes?”

Jiang Qiong chuckled, “Wait until the end of the term, and let us all demonstrate to you how to learn six months’ worth of material in six days.”

“Be good, study hard,” Jian Yueyin brought two large suitcases and handed them to her and Laurel, “These are the comprehensive teaching materials we collectively spent a lot to buy for our two juniors for their three years of high school. They are of high quality and excellent content, absolutely a great companion on your journey through life.”

“Who needs this kind of companion?” Laurel’s face turned gray, and she touched her forehead, “Wait, how do you write ‘companion’ again?”

Everyone burst into laughter.

“Anyway, study hard. We’re going downstairs to discuss the live broadcast for Xin Nuo’s birthday.”

Xu Pearl’s eyes lit up. She was about to speak when Xin Nuo’s fingertip descended and tapped her nose, “Study well.”

“Oh…”

Xu Pearl looked displeased at their departing figures and recited loudly, “E ban den!”

Laurel: “?”

SGS’s first album release was scheduled for Xin Nuo’s birthday. To promote the album, SGS members would be hosting a livestream on October 18th, lasting until midnight, which was Xin Nuo’s birthday.

“I feel like there’s not much special preparation needed. Let’s just focus on the album,” Xin Nuo said in a gentle tone.

“How can that be? Turning eighteen is a coming-of-age, isn’t it? How about I gift you a pony?” Haya playfully asked.

Xin Nuo: “…Kept in the backyard? No need, thanks.”

“Haya is right. Enjoy it,” Jian Yueyin said, “The most important thing is to have fun. Everyone eat, drink, play, and cherish this last beautiful day. After all, once the album is released, we’ll be back to the happy cycle of performing, promoting, and preparing for the next album.”

“Suddenly got a headache!” Jiang Qiong held her head, “Master, please stop, master!”

Everyone burst into laughter.

“Do some small games, sing some songs,” Jian Yueyin said, “Chit-chat while eating.”

Xin Nuo: ok.

They began to discuss the game content. Before long, Laurel came rushing out, pale-faced, hands on her waist, shaking her head in the living room. Everyone looked surprised.

“What’s wrong?”

Xin Nuo looked behind Laurel, “Is there a problem? Where’s Xu Pearl?”

“No problem.” Laurel covered her heart, “I can’t attend classes with Xu Pearl.”

“She annoyed you?”

Laurel nodded, then shook her head, “Her thoughts are disturbing me!”

With clenched teeth, Laurel collapsed onto the couch.

The others had never seen her like this and touched her head in surprise.

At that moment, a little pearl walked out leisurely, hands behind her back. She had put on a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, complete with a pearl chain hanging down. Adjusting her glasses, she spoke in an extraordinary tone.

“As a refined pearl like me, I don’t even need to study hard. Knowledge just loves to drill into my brain. What can I do?”

Laurel clenched her fists tightly.

Others: “???”

“Alas, I don’t know what’s going on either. I see those questions- I’ve seen this question before, and that question, too. It’s a one-on-one match with the questions. What can I do?” Xu Pearl opened her hands with a helpless expression.

Others: “…”

“Xu Pearl, how many slaps do you want?” Xin Nuo asked her coldly.

Xu Pearl stuck out her tongue, took off her glasses, and hung them around her chest.

Laurel said with a tearful voice, “What’s painful is that what she said is true.”

Everyone: “!!!”

Xu Heran blew at her bangs and sat down beside Xin Nuo. “I think I’m eligible to participate in this discussion.”

“You’re not eligible. After your college entrance exams, we’ll take you everywhere,” Xin Nuo said, pulling Xu Heran’s arm to get her to study.

Xu Heran protested, “Then I’ll take the college entrance exams next year!”

“I support you!” Laurel said, “We can’t take the exams together. I’ve already envisioned the trending topic at that time: Shocking! Two hot female group members taking the college entrance exams simultaneously. One’s scores are sky-high, the other’s are underground. Why is there such a huge difference between two members of the same group? Click to find out!”

Song Fenghua looked at Laurel in surprise. Aside from hearing her sing, they rarely heard her talk so much.

“Well, maybe everyone in the Pearl family knows how to study hard,” Xin Nuo consoled.

Everyone couldn’t help but think about Xu Heran’s little brother at Peking University, her vice-president sister, her CEO mother, and the hierarchy going up… It’s not just studying, they’re probably making money too!

“So, if you’re taking the college entrance exams next year, you’ll need to review even harder, you know?” Xin Nuo said with a smile, “I want to see Pearl get into Peking University.”

“I want to see that too!” Everyone raised their hands together.

Xu Heran pouted, “The way you all are talking makes me feel uneasy.”

“Go, go, go, go study!” Xin Nuo waved her hand.

Xu Heran slowly opened her eyes wide—exactly this tone!

A few days passed in the blink of an eye. Soon, it was the night before Xin Nuo’s birthday, and the live stream hadn’t started yet, but the room was already filled with SGS fans.

“So, Sister Liu, why are you here?” Xin Nuo looked puzzled at the room full of staff members.

“We’re doing a live stream and also recording a group variety show while we’re at it. You’re about to get busy with your schedule again, so I’m preparing an extra episode,” Director Liu said with a smile.

Xu Heran felt something was off.

“I feel like I’m hearing ‘Water Episode.'”

Director Liu burst into laughter, and Xu Heran felt like she had just confirmed it!

At 10 p.m., the live stream room opened on time. The eight girls sat in the bright living room, waving at the camera.

“Hello, everyone, we are—”

“SGS!”

“I’m the team leader, Jian Yueyin.”

“I’m Xin Nuo.”

“…”

As the eight girls introduced themselves one by one, the fans in the livestream room sent their birthday wishes to Xin Nuo. She sat in the middle, her smile radiant, hands clasped together under her chin.

“In two more hours, it will be Nuo Nuo’s birthday! From now on, Nuo Nuo will be an adult!” Xu Heran clapped her hands. “I hope that from now on, Nuo Nuo will be happy every day!”

Xin Nuo chuckled, “As long as you don’t make me angry.”

“Oh wow~” The other six joined in teasing.

“It’s nighttime now. Let’s choose a couple of small games and chat together,” Jian Yueyin said. “By the stroke of midnight, as Xin Nuo officially steps into her eighteenth birthday, our first album of SGS will also go live for online sales. It will be available on various platforms, so please purchase it yourselves.”

“Please support us a lot~”

The living room was adorned with flowers, balloons, and on the table were fruit drinks, cakes, and snacks. Jian Yueyin pulled out a thick stack of cards.

“Playing cards?”

“Truth or dare.” Jian Yueyin asked the camera, “Everyone understands, right?”

The barrage of comments came in response, with someone saying, “Make Little Pearl lose and run an 800-meter race.”

“I exercise every day. Running 800 meters is underestimating me too much,” Little Pearl proudly said, snatching a card from Jian Yueyin’s hand with a “swish” and confidently tossing it onto the table.

“Ace of hearts.”

Xu Heran: “…”

“Hahaha!”

“Go run!”

“Run quickly!”

The barrage urged.

“I haven’t lost yet, okay!” Xu Heran immediately sat up straight and looked at Jian Yueyin’s hand that drew the game card.

Jian Yueyin casually pulled out a card, “On the field, two players with the same suit choose truth or dare… Huh?”

Everyone lowered their heads to look at their cards. Only Jian Yueyin and Jiang Qiong had two cards of the same suit.

Jiang Qiong rolled up her sleeves. “Come on, truth or dare.”

She decisively drew a card.

“Choose a friend and loudly exclaim while holding their hand, ‘I’m pregnant with your child.'” Jiang Qiong tilted her head, a disdainful look on her face. “Is that all?”

Jiang Qiong turned her head, on her left was Laurel, and on her right was Song Fenghua.

Jiang Qiong: “…”

The sound of barking and pouncing came as she jumped up and rushed towards the director sitting across, who was just watching the fun, “Director Liu! I’m pregnant with your child! You can’t let me down!”

“That night, it was my fault… but, but the child is innocent!” The livestream room echoed with wolf howls, demanding to see the director’s expression.

“Get away, get away.” The director pushed her aside with disgust.

The SGS members burst into laughter.

“My turn.” Jian Yueyin drew a card for truth and asked if she had ever been in love.

“Of course not, my love is music.” Jian Yueyin tossed the card aside. She raised an eyebrow and smiled at the audience in the livestream room, but she saw a few strange barrage messages.

“Sobs, aren’t SGS supposed to be good friends with Lingxi and Yueliang? Why did you choose a similar style song for your new release this time? You’ve suppressed them so much, can you bear it?”

“The innocent girls from Moe Girl had their debut song clash in style with yours, causing their music release to flop. Several pitiful girls were criticized by the company. Is this what you, as good friends, want to see?”

“You’re just fake friends, right?”

“Really disappointing for them.”

“Continue!” Xu Heran pushed the distracted Jian Yueyin and shuffled the cards for her to draw.

“Come out!” Little Pearl still exuded her bold spirit and slammed the card on the table.

Spade Ace.

Xu Heran: “???”

“Hahaha!”

“What’s going on?”

“Destined to be number 1.”

“Hit the bullseye!”

Xu Heran immediately said, “I choose truth!”

“Okay, this time’s question is for the person with the smallest card number. Do you still have your first kiss?” Jian Yueyin’s voice grew quieter and quieter.

After she finished asking, she bit her lip, moved her face away, and the expressions on the other girls’ faces also turned somewhat strange.

The livestream room immediately boiled over.

“What? Little Pearl lost her first kiss? Everyone knows?”

“Huh? ???”

“Xu Pearl! You lost your first kiss? How old are you? Why are you blushing so much? Have you secretly been in love?”

“Who’s been in love!” Xu Heran immediately said, “In my heart, there’s only studying!”

“As for the first kiss…” She glanced at Xin Nuo.

Xin Nuo’s ears turned slightly red as she gave her a glare.

“Cough, please watch the next group variety show.” Xu Heran said ambiguously.

All the livestream viewers: “????”

Explain it clearly!

You better explain it to me!

“Come on, let’s continue!” Xu Heran blushing, drew a card, “This time, it can’t be a 1 again, right? Yeah, six of hearts!”

“I have a nine of hearts,” Xin Nuo said.

Jian Yueyin immediately said, “The six of hearts and the nine of hearts can ask each other a question or make a request!”

Xin Nuo calmly stated, “I report that you didn’t draw a card.”

“I’m the host, I have the final say!” Jian Yueyin was unreasonable.

Xu Heran touched her face and asked Xin Nuo, “Do you have any secrets that I don’t know about, hidden from me?”

Xin Nuo twirled the playing card in her hand, glanced at the girls around her, the surroundings vibrant and colorful, but Xu Heran’s eyes were so bright that she couldn’t easily forget.

The gentle girl smiled, “Yes, I do.”

Little Pearl immediately pouted.

“What about you?” Xin Nuo retorted.

Xu Heran seemed to be lost in thought, her gaze drifting away.

“…Yes.”

Xin Nuo’s eyes narrowed slightly, her smile revealing no emotions, “I see.”

The game continued, and the cheerful chatter never stopped. During the breaks in conversation, Xin Nuo leaned her head on Xu Heran’s shoulder, “I want to know your secrets.”

“You tell me first.” Xu Heran blushed and said.

“Not me, I want this, as a birthday gift,” Xin Nuo lifted her eyes, gazing softly and warmly at her, “Tell sister.”

“No way!” Xu Heran refused, intentionally turning her head away, not succumbing to Xin Nuo’s sweet temptation, “I can only tell you… the time at the water amusement park, that wasn’t my first kiss.”

Xin Nuo raised an eyebrow.

In the livestream room, fans who had been paying attention to them were chatting excitedly.

“So fierce! Nuo Nuo’s expression is so fierce!”

“Little Pearl definitely made sister angry! Look, she’s feeding Little Pearl, but sister’s ignoring her!”

“What are they saying? Let me hear too?”

SGS’s livestream was gaining popularity, attracting not only their own fans but also random viewers and fans of other girl groups. Many trainees came into the livestream room to send them gifts, but the debuted members stopped them.

A few members from the “Fish Harmony” group were among the first to come and chat with them. However, this irritated their fans, so Mu Yueliang and Sun Lingxi quickly posted on Weibo, asking them not to disturb Xin Nuo’s birthday event and not to link stage rankings with friendship. The fans of “Fish Harmony” quieted down after that.

Inside the livestream room, Jian Yueyin drew a card.

“What difficulties have you faced in your life?” They all read together.

“Difficulties?” Jian Yueyin smiled, “My life is still quite short.”

“If we’re talking about difficulties… it should be the time before debut. Everyone knows some of it. In my previous company, I wanted to debut as a singer, but unfortunately, I never got the chance. I was even asked to be a stand-in.”

Jian Yueyin held the card and said with a smile, “After I refused, I ended up on the bench, five years passed in the blink of an eye. I always thought my future would be like this, unknown and unnoticed. But unexpectedly, things turned around, and now I can sit in a bright villa, chatting with so many fans. So, please don’t easily bow down to difficulties, they’ll pass.”

“Sister Yueyin, your good days are ahead!” Xu Heran immediately said, “Sister Yueyin is amazing!”

In the livestream room, praises for Jian Yueyin flooded in. Jian Yueyin quickly waved her hand, “This is Nuo Nuo’s birthday event, please focus on our main character!”

Xin Nuo smiled and said, “It’s okay, I enjoy listening.”

“As friends, I want to know everyone’s past.”

Friends.

Eight girls crowded together, their skin touching.

In the silence, Laurel smiled and spoke, “Then I’ll share. In the past, there was just me, my grandma, and my brother at home. My brother loved singing. Even though people around him didn’t understand him and called him unserious, my grandma and I always supported him. I watched my brother form a band, and the band members treated me like family. They played with me, taught me music. Those were the happiest days of my life. Then my grandma passed away, and my brother left too. My world suddenly changed…”

The living room grew quiet, all eyes on the girl with her head lowered and dark hair.

“Fortunately, the band members were there. They’ve always been with me, and I’m grateful for them treating me like family. And thank you all for treating me like a friend. I really like the way things are now.”

Jian Yueyin reached out and hugged Laurel.

“You’ll have many more happy days.”

Laurel touched her face expressionlessly, “I will.”

“I’m somewhat similar to Laurel,” Song Fenghua whispered, “Since I was little, I only had my sister. I was her burden. She sacrificed a lot for me. Yet because of certain events, I enclosed myself in a cocoon. Joining 《Starlight Girls》 was because my sister’s dance troupe encountered issues. I thought I could help her a bit, but when I actually stood in front of the camera, I felt like a waste, weak, useless. It’s because you believed in me, were willing to guide me upwards, that you might not know, but when I’m with all of you, I feel brave.”

Xu Heran lifted her hand and patted Song Fenghua’s head.

“Our little Fenghua is beautiful, dances well, and sings wonderfully. You’re truly amazing.”

Xu Heran said.

Xin Nuo stood up and, together with Xu Heran, hugged Song Fenghua.

Beside them, Jiang Qiong pulled out tissues, her sobs filling the air.

“Weren’t we supposed to celebrate Nuo Nuo’s birthday happily? Why is it so sad now?”

Everyone fell silent simultaneously, then couldn’t help but laugh, some even cried while laughing.

“Then I’ll also say ‘wuwuwu.’ I always thought I was mediocre, just going with the flow, wherever life took me. But ever since I’ve been with all of you, I’ve had dreams! I want to stand on the stage forever, shining alongside all of you!” Jiang Qiong wiped her tears, “But you three made it so difficult for me, I feel so lucky.”

Everyone: “…”

“Shut up, you’re ruining the atmosphere!” Xu Heran couldn’t help but raise her hand and press the tissue against Jiang Qiong’s face.

“Actually…” Xin Nuo paused, her words took a turn on her tongue and ended up back in her stomach. She smiled and said, “As they say in ‘Forrest Gump,’ life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

“I’ve tasted the bitter chocolates too. Maybe I’ll still have some bitterness in the future. But right now, I believe there will be sweet chocolates that unexpectedly fall into my pocket.”

Xu Heran gently grabbed Xin Nuo’s hand.

But I hope that in every day that comes, I can taste sweet chocolates.

Amidst countless blessings and applause, Xin Nuo blew out the candles, once again stepping into her eighteen-year-old life.

Her birthday party ended with tears and laughter, imprinted in the hearts of many.

Back in her room, Xin Nuo found a gift box on her bedside table.

“Hmm?”

Weren’t the gifts from everyone in the living room?

Xin Nuo was a bit puzzled. She sat on the carpet, opened the lid of the gift box.

A thumb-sized blue-purple pearl lay quietly in the center of the box, carefully encased by a transparent cover. Just like her profile picture on social media, the pearl was a perfect blend of deep blue and rich purple, flowing with a mysterious color akin to a starry river under the light.

Xin Nuo’s gaze softened instantly as she picked up the handwritten letter from the corner of the box.

“To my dearest Nuo Nuo,

Wishing you a happy 18th birthday. Thank you for coming into this vibrant world, and thank you for crossing paths with me. Getting to know you is the most beautiful thing I can imagine right now. It’s so beautiful that I want to give you a small pearl.

Little Pearl came into my life sixteen years ago. It’s the color of my eyes and has accompanied me for these sixteen years. But I want it to take my place in the days to come, accompanying you through many more sets of sixteen years.

In the days ahead, if I’m not by your side, please let it convey to you: Good morning, good afternoon, good night.

If I’m by your side, please know that I’m willing to tell you every day: Good morning, good afternoon, good night.

I hope you wake up to blossoms every morning and enjoy sunsets every evening. I wish for vibrant flowers during every rainy season and a starry sky every summer night. May you be healthy and carefree.

Happy birthday to you.

I hope you’re happy.

I really like you.

Xu Heran.

Your 18th birthday, October 19th.”

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis

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