In an instant, the atmosphere became unbearably awkward.

As luck would have it, a skit on stage delivered a punchline, causing the entire audience to burst into laughter, as if mocking the two people now staring at each other in silence.

Xue Lan was speechless. She had only read in novels about the male lead being late for a date due to unexpected events, but she had never seen the female lead send the wrong information.

In the past, giving false reports on the battlefield could land you in a military court!

But now, the situation was irreversible, and there was no time to change anything. Even if Yan Feng wasn't watching, Chen Xi would have to go on stage soon.

But...

Xue Lan looked at the young girl's hesitant, speechless expression and couldn't help but ask, "Xixi, what does that look on your face mean? It's already certain he won't come. You don't still want to postpone the performance, do you?"

Chen Xi didn't speak, just bit her lip and nodded.

Seeing this, Xue Lan could only shrug helplessly and sigh, "Alright, I've already told the person in charge... But if you ask me, you should just go on as planned. After all, you can't reach him, and it's better to finish early than to wait around foolishly..."

"He won't...," Chen Xi shook her head, tightening her grip on her arms. "He won't not come... I believe in him..."

Time flew by, and soon it was time for Chen Xi to take the stage. This time, it was Xue Lan who peeked at the audience from behind the curtain, while the main character about to go on stage sat in the back, holding a guitar in silence.

The sound on stage paused briefly, signaling the end of another performance, and also meaning it was her turn to go on.

The person in charge entered the backstage, looking a bit tired after working for hours, but still shouted, "Number 11! Number 11, get ready!"

Xue Lan heard the call and turned to look for Chen Xi in the crowd, only to see her take off the coat draped over her shoulders, revealing a pure white gauze dress. Holding the guitar, she ascended the steps like an angel.

"Xixi!"

From above, the angel glanced down at her as if looking at all beings.

Perhaps it was because she was exceptionally beautiful today, that one glance even made Xue Lan's heart flutter a bit. She took a deep breath and shouted to her:

"Xixi! Good luck!"

Chen Xi pressed her lips together, nodded, and then walked confidently onto the stage.

The white gauze dress concealed her slender figure, and the silver brooch on her left chest added a touch of nobility and purity. The cape draped over her shoulders shrouded her smooth, fair back in a veil of mystery. The long dress reached the ground, with only a hint of her calf peeking out, shining brightly.

Her steps were graceful, her movements causing the hem of her dress to sway gently. Holding Yan Feng's guitar, she entered the stage like a fairy.

No one applauded, for the moment she appeared, everyone in the audience was utterly stunned.

Her beauty was breathtaking, even without adornment, she was already stunning, not to mention the light makeup she wore for the performance today.

Her ethereal presence was almost otherworldly, and any words used to describe her would not be an exaggeration, except...

Her eyes were cold, devoid of any emotion.

She stepped onto the stage, bowed, and sat down with the guitar, the entire venue silent, no one daring to break the beautiful atmosphere.

The spotlight shone on the young girl's face, like a solitary moonbeam. Her solo performance elevated the show's effect to its peak. At this moment, no one cared about her playing skills; just this scene made her the uncrowned queen of this year's cultural gala.

Her delicate fingers moved, the strings resonated, and the melody was slightly melancholic.

— "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day" —

The young girl's brows furrowed slightly as she immersed herself in the music, holding the guitar, transforming the entire stage into her domain in an instant.

Below the stage, Xue Lan had already appeared in the audience, casting an encouraging gaze at Chen Xi.

Some murmurs reached her ears, coming from the actors of the skit that had just ended. They exchanged glances and smiled wryly, their helplessness evident.

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Chen Xi, of course, didn't notice, but Xue Lan saw it clearly, causing her to grin broadly.

On stage, the young girl continued to play, her gaze occasionally drifting to the audience, perhaps catching her friend's eyes, prompting a slight smile as she pressed the chords...

Midway through the piece, it suddenly paused.

The entire audience remained immersed in the slightly sorrowful atmosphere, and those quick to react couldn't help but admire the perfectly timed pause. No one even noticed that the performer had deliberately interrupted her own playing!

Gazing, hoping, like a dreamlike impossibility...

That man appeared at the entrance of the venue.

Sweating profusely and panting heavily, as if he had just exerted himself, he looked towards the stage, locking eyes with the young girl.

Yan Feng slowly straightened up, spreading his legs, supporting his waist, and revealing an exaggerated smile. Then, across the distance, he extended his arm towards Chen Xi on stage, giving a thumbs-up.

The young girl smiled.

In that moment, it was like an ice lotus blooming, as if snow mountains were melting.

With just a change in her gaze, her entire aura transformed.

If the earlier Chen Xi was an ice goddess untouched by the world, then now she was a rose blooming freely, for one person alone.

Yet this beauty lasted less than a moment.

The young girl on stage took a deep breath, her expression suddenly sharp, raising her head to stare intently at the man in the distant audience.

Her jade-like hands danced, the performance continued.

But almost everyone could hear it; though it was the same piece, the style of the first half and the second half differed significantly. It was as if the performer was proving something, her emotions growing more intense, the chords she pressed becoming increasingly restless.

Under the gaze of all, she actually...

Played it wrong!?

The first half was so perfect, without a single flaw, yet the second half had such a major mishap, and it wasn't just a small chord mistake, but the entire section...

No, that's not right!

She didn't play it wrong!

The audience quickly discerned a different flavor in the music. Incredibly, the young girl was playing her own rewritten version of "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day"!

No! That's not right either!

This couldn't be called an adaptation of the original piece. From the second half, from the first changed chord, from that deep breath, it had already become a piece belonging solely to the young girl!

"Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day" should have carried a sorrowful melody, but at this moment, it was tinged with added melodious notes, turning what should have been a hopeful reunion into a joyful and excited encounter!

And it wasn't over yet!

Chen Xi's eyes flashed, disrupting her rhythm once more. Under the spotlight, the melody was no longer sad or melancholic, but rather a joyous celebration...

Everyone's feelings varied to some extent, but everyone could hear the longing in the trembling strings!

The melody grew tighter, more cheerful, and then suddenly stopped at the height of excitement!

Chen Xi smiled brightly, looking at the audience, at the man who was also smiling.

Her left fingertips touched the strings again, the melody returned to normal, but it wasn't sad, only serene, like two people living ordinary and happy days after countless trials.

As the final notes faded, the young girl stood, bowing to the audience.

She was not sent off with applause, but with the man's gratified smile and his declaration of love.

Chen Xi stepped off the stage, the audience, realizing belatedly, exchanged glances, and then...

Thunderous applause erupted, echoing endlessly.