Chapter 70

During the Spring Festival, all SGS members participated in the Universal TV’s first Spring Festival Gala, celebrating the first day of the Lunar New Year with the audience watching the live broadcast.

At twelve-thirty, eight girls wearing down jackets left the Universal Entertainment building and strolled in the park.

Xu Heran stopped a patrolling Qiuqiu No. 23, sat on the small bench behind it, held onto the armrest, and waved to the people behind her with a smug expression.

“Where’s my magic wand?” Jiang Qiong began searching her pockets.

“Ta-da.”

A jumping flame ignited the long magic wand. At the moment the stars danced, the girls burst into laughter.

“Magic wand, magic wand, who is the most beautiful fairy in this world?” Xu Heran asked with a grin, her fireworks wand pointing to a smiling girl.

“In the new year, Fairy Sister, do you like me more?”

The magic wand immediately nodded.

“Wow, that’s so accurate!” Xu Heran exclaimed with surprise.

Xin Nuo immediately grabbed Xu Heran’s hand, trying to throw the burning firework into the water.

“You’ll offend the fairy like this!” Xu Heran threatened.

“That’s not something you, this little pearl, should worry about,” Xin Nuo chuckled, and the two of them chased each other down the brightly lit path.

At one in the morning.

SGS official account and the social media platforms of the eight girls uploaded photos: one with a star made up of burning magic wands, one with a sumptuous New Year’s Eve dinner, and one with a joyful group photo.

SGS: Happy New Year, wishing joy and happiness year after year.

In March, as spring returned to the land, posters featuring the eight SGS girls quietly appeared in every corner of the city, on subway advertisement boards. The blue-purple girls with their lips curved were extending their hands towards the direction ahead.

“This March, are you coming?”

“Absolutely!!!”

A girl excitedly leaned against the wall, reaching out to touch Xu Heran’s hand.

“Ah, finally, I can see you, Mom!”

Passersby paused in their steps, shocked by the girl holding up her phone, snapping photos with a “click click.”

“Is this the legendary ‘social cow’?”

《Girl’s Game Workshop》 had been recorded by FYU since the New Year. The SGS members were fully preparing for their concert. Among the eight, except for Lin Weining who had a relatively harder time, Xu Heran appeared in public less frequently than the others. Apart from the concert, she had one very important event this year.

The college entrance examination.

“Sister Cui said that after the concert, she wants me to focus on my exams.” In the dressing room, Xu Heran stood in the center, obediently allowing the costume designer to put on her accessories.

“There are a total of three concerts, and they’re coming up quickly.” Jian Yueyin took a sip of water and looked at Xu Heran. “Ranran, how tall are you now?”

Xu Heran spread her palm and gestured to about five.

“Sss.” Jian Yueyin took a breath, “What did you eat?”

Haya sat on a stool and spun around. “A few Xin Nuos for a meal?”

A girl who had changed her clothes walked out, raising an eyebrow at the comment.

“Wow, Ms. Nuo.” After the previous purple hair, Xin Nuo’s hair once again challenged other colors, with its soft lavender tone complementing the sense of detachment she naturally exuded. She seemed to radiate a gentle glow.

Xu Heran proudly stretched her arms, “I’ve found my true self!”

“I’m just a speck of darkness in the midst of a sea of flowers on stage!”

Because it was spring, the weather in Hai City wasn’t very warm yet. Everyone was wearing slightly thicker clothes, but the eight of them had been controlling their weight for the concert, so they still appeared slender.

“Well, you’re a black pearl.” Jian Yueyin said, taking another sip of water.

Xin Nuo lifted her hand, pinched Xu Heran’s waist, felt someone exerting a subtle force, and smiled as she let go. Xu Heran reached through the costume designer and playfully chased Xin Nuo’s fingers, only to be caught by her.

“Yueyin, you seem a bit nervous,” Xin Nuo remarked.

Jian Yueyin, in a veteran manner, sipped her tea. “Do I?”

Lin Weining leaned over, glancing at Jian Yueyin’s water cup.

“Sister Yueyin, you’re drinking so much water. Will you be okay on stage?”

Jian Yueyin put her hand down in silence.

“This is my first concert.”

Everyone nodded.

“I hope I can sing through it well.” Jian Yueyin took a deep breath and stood up straight.

The seven girls gathered together, hands intertwined, looking at each other.

Haya smiled and said, “As long as we’re happy.”

“Let’s have fun!”

Xu Heran chuckled lightly, “Let’s light it up! Let’s ignite it! But this time, no running.”

“Or we could still do a little run. I’m afraid someone might steal pearls,” Jian Yueyin laughed.

Xin Nuo bit her lip playfully. “You can’t, oh.”

Xu Heran lowered her eyelashes, a smile filling her eyes.

“SGS!”

“Go for it!”

“A star falls, and the world gains me.”

“Born as a human, my existence is rare. Holding onto too much, I stand here and tell you that I have no regrets living!”

The moment the stage lit up, the adapted version of 《Stellar Catch》 ignited the hearts of thirty thousand fans in the audience.

Black-haired Xu Pearl stood on the raised platform, gazed upon by thirty thousand fans.

“It’s the radiance of starlight that illuminates the sky, the desolate galaxy is lit because of me.”

“I’m a star and should have been born above the Milky Way.”

Seven beams of light descended, seven-colored girls harmonized and sang, awakening the first song of the night.

“My steadfast belief—”

“I am starlight!”

“My belonging is in a farther direction.”

“I still shine brilliantly, I am starlight, I will shine brilliantly!”

“Ah ah ah!!”

“Xu Heran!”

“Xin Nuo!”

“Yueyin—”

“Fenghua, I love you Fenghua!”

“Haya!”

“Ning Ning!”

“Laurel!”

“Jiang Qiong!”

The names of the eight individuals were shouted by the crowd of thirty thousand, like a surging wave, lifting up eight shining stars. On the stage, the girls tilted their heads back, their eyes slightly reddened, bowing amidst the cheers.

“Hello everyone, we are—”

“SGS!”

Tonight, Hai City doesn’t sleep. The cold spring night was dispersed by the scorching songs. Starlight and stage lights twinkled together, reverberating in the depths of everyone’s eyes.

For the first concert, the guest was the unbeatable top artist of Universal Entertainment, Ji Songyu. For the second concert, Lu Qian was invited. And for the third concert, the guests were the three mentors of 《Starlight Girls》. FYU was considered a guest appearance since they’re insiders and not strictly guests.

Three concerts in a month, each ending successfully. Xu Heran finally sang 《Let’s Go See the Cherry Blossoms Together》 a song she had missed singing on stage before, but how could a certain pearl possibly sing it alone? Well, it’s better when everyone joins in.

As for whether the eight girls in the venue were happy or not, the fans didn’t know, but one thing was certain—they were all content.

From early March to the end of April, it was a fruitful period for SGS.

The day after coming off the stage, Xu Heran, who had left the main group to prepare for exams, felt the pain of final exams that all students experienced. She apologized to all the students she had once teased.

In early June, Xu Heran, who hadn’t tasted her birthday cake, entered the exam room amid everyone’s anticipation. The news of SGS’s Xu Pearl taking the college entrance exams quietly trended. Although not holding high hopes for her own child’s results, the mama fans hoped that Pearl could smoothly enter university, leading to various supporters reposting the news.

To avoid adding pressure to Xu Heran, several SGS members acted as if everything was normal. Only on the last day of exams, during the final exam, did they sit in Sister Cui’s car to pick up Xu Heran.

Outside the exam center, it was packed with parents waiting for their children taking the college entrance exams. Everyone eagerly looked on as a black car slowly pulled up behind Sister Cui’s extended luxury car.

“Hmm?” Sister Cui looked surprised as she glanced at the rearview mirror, her expression somewhat flustered.

Xin Nuo was currently looking down, checking the score cutoffs for various universities. Upon hearing Sister Cui’s voice, she quickly asked, “Is Pearl coming out?”

In the back seat, everyone holding their phones suddenly became alert.

Sister Cui raised her hand and rubbed her eyes, “No, but…”

“Thump, thump.”

The car’s door was knocked twice, causing Sister Cui to instinctively press the unlock button.

In order to be the first to get out and welcome Xu Heran, Xin Nuo was sitting on the right side of the car door. Sister Cui’s car was parked on the left side of the road, and the door opened towards Xin Nuo’s side to the right.

A beautiful figure stood outside the door.

The woman wore a form-fitting red maxi dress, her figure excellent. Her face, not much larger than a palm, was adorned with large sunglasses, and her crimson lips formed an exquisite curve.

“Hi.” Her deep voice reached everyone’s ears.

Xin Nuo’s pupils slightly contracted, her fingers subconsciously gripping the fabric of her clothes. A name formed on the tip of her tongue.

“Are you…” Sister Cui grew more familiar with her as she looked, “President Xu?”

The girls in the back row sat up straight, tilting their bodies and widening their eyes as they looked at the beautiful woman, mouths agape.

Xu Menglan took off her sunglasses, her smile deepening.

“Good day, children.”

The overwhelming female charm made the young girls laugh dizzily, “Good day, mom—no, I mean, good day, auntie!”

Xin Nuo followed suit in a soft voice, “Good day, auntie.”

Whether it was a misunderstanding or not, she felt that Xu Heran’s mother had been looking at her for quite a while.

The girls stiffly put away their phones, trying hard to display gentle smiles.

Cui Qi quickly got out of the car, and the others followed suit, standing behind Cui Qi.

“We didn’t receive news of your arrival and weren’t able to pick you up. We’re truly sorry,” Cui Qi said with a smile.

Xu Menglan waved her hand, “I wasn’t able to come before because of Junran’s college entrance exams, and I could only come to pick her up for the last one.”

The woman’s smile was gentle, “Besides, Pearl’s birthday is this month, so we’ve come to celebrate her birthday.”

A small question mark floated through Xin Nuo’s mind.

We?

The group of people stood in the shade of a tree, surrounded by plainclothes bodyguards. Almost all the parents were only concerned about their children, and no one paid attention to them.

In the midst of their conversation, another black car stopped.

The cold-faced Xu Jiamu and Xu Junran got out of the car and walked over.

Excitement appeared in the eyes of the SGS members.

Wow!

It’s Pearl’s older sister and younger brother!

“Is the cake ordered?” Xu Menglan asked.

Xu Jiamu nodded, raised her gaze, and looked calmly at Xin Nuo and the others.

Xu Junran lowered his head to look at his phone. After confirming his target, he raised his head and glanced at Xin Nuo and the others.

Caught in the focus of their gazes, Xin Nuo: “…”

Xin Nuo: “?”

Xu Menglan pointed her finger at her chin and chatted with everyone with a smile, “Pearl turns seventeen this year.”

Cui Qi chuckled, “Yes, but seventeen is still quite young, she’s a child.”

Xu Menglan immediately waved her hand, “Oh no, at seventeen, she’s not young anymore. If we round it up, she’s practically twenty, right? If this were ancient times, children would already be two years old.”

She suddenly turned her head and asked Xin Nuo, “Isn’t that right?”

Xin Nuo: “… Yes, I guess.”

Pearl’s math skills were indeed taught by her mom.

^_^

Taking the opportunity, Xu Menglan asked her whether Pearl was well-behaved in general, whether she had upset anyone, whether everyone liked Pearl, and whether Nuo Nuo liked Pearl.

Xin Nuo licked her lips and nodded slightly.

Seemingly sensing the girl’s unease, Xu Menglan didn’t press her further. She turned her head to talk to others. Her voice was gentle, causing the previously tense group to relax and chat with her, smiling.

Xu Jiamu looked at Xin Nuo, then looked away.

“Hello,” her cold voice greeted Xin Nuo.

Xin Nuo smiled, “Hello, long time no see.”

Xu Jiamu nodded.

Xu Junran immediately followed, “Hello.”

Xin Nuo: “…Hello to you too.”

Xu Junran nodded in satisfaction.

The atmosphere between the three of them was a bit odd, and the watching girls giggled.

Before long, sounds came from the direction of the entrance. Some examinees were already coming out.

When Xu Heran emerged from the crowd, wearing a mask and glasses, and saw the people standing at the designated spot, the smile on her face gradually disappeared.

“Mom?” Xu Heran was pulled into the shade by Xu Menglan, who then took off her glasses and hat. The “why are you here” expression on her face was completely transparent.

“Mom came to pick you up. Why do you look so disapproving?” Xu Menglan proudly stated.

“Do I?” Xu Heran countered, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t come?”

Xu Menglan proudly said, “I wasn’t lying, I wanted to surprise you.”

“How childish.” Xu Heran shook her head, “Even Xu Junran doesn’t do things like this anymore!”

Xu Junran: “?”

“Please be aware, from now on, I’m your senior.” Xu Junran immediately said.

“Hmph.” Xu Heran coldly chuckled at her brother.

To prevent any sibling squabbles, Xu Menglan quickly redirected Xu Heran’s attention.

“I just greeted your friends. This Nuo Nuo girl is so pretty. She said so many good things about you,” Xu Menglan said with a smile to Xu Heran.

Sure enough, Xu Heran perked up her ears, her face showing an expression of “What did she say? Let me hear.”

Xin Nuo took a small breath.

Xu Menglan chuckled lightly, “Nuo Nuo said you’re pretty, cute, smart, witty, sing well, dance well, and have a good figure. She said she likes you.”

Xu Heran heard that and smiled.

She turned slightly and exchanged a glance with the slightly blushing Xin Nuo.

“Well, of course. She really likes me!”

The author has something to say:

Xin Nuo: …Okay.

Xu Menglan: ???

Xu Menglan: Did I teach you to talk like that?

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis
Proofreader: Ruu

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