Chapter 92: I feel at ease with you around.

After NOVA took the stage, the discussions in the audience didn’t stop—instead, they grew even more animated.

“Which girl group is this? Why do they sound kind of familiar?”

“I think I saw their videos on Douyin. I have to say, they look at least ten times better in person than on screen.”

The planned sequence was to perform a song first, then introduce themselves, and then continue with two more songs.

So, as soon as they stepped onto the stage, they immediately took their prepared positions, waiting quietly and earnestly for the music to start.

The first group dance they had prepared was “To the Bright Moon.” It was a performance with a spectacular effect, featuring fan elements, and the song itself was also quite well-known.

Almost as soon as the backing track began, understanding smiles broke out across the audience, followed by a flurry of soft, excited chatter.

“‘To the Bright Moon’? I just listened to that a couple of days ago.”

“Hey, what’s painted on their fans? It’s pretty nice.”

By the way, the merchandise for sale this time included fans, badges, shikishi, and more, all featuring ancient-style character illustrations carefully designed by Xu Nuo, which were unanimously praised by everyone.

As Bai Xue, acting as the lead-in, opened her mouth and sang the first line, the previously noisy audience suddenly quieted down, almost as if they spoke in unison—

“Damn, they’re singing live?”

“This is impressive, I can even hear them breathing.”

After more than two months of performing experience, the NOVA members’ singing and dancing abilities had improved rapidly. Including Jiang Ling, everyone’s skills, if not way ahead, were at least at a solidly competent, if not excellent, level.

Although there was some backing audio, this genuine live singing instantly drew the attention of many people in the venue, who started clapping along to cheer them on.

“Hey, hey!”

The song continued in this lively atmosphere. Since there were only five of them, they had reworked the distribution of lines, movements, and formations, so everyone’s parts were balanced.

When it was Lin Xiaoyu’s turn, she immediately began to sing, only to realize her microphone seemed to have malfunctioned—no sound came out.

She froze for a moment, then quickly adjusted the mic at her mouth, but still, no sound.

This led to another round of murmuring in the crowd.

“There’s no sound—did she not sing?”

“No way, look, she opened her mouth. It’s probably a broken mic?”

“What if she’s lip-syncing?”

Although Lin Xiaoyu didn’t hear these doubts from below, her brows couldn’t help but knit together, especially since her upcoming solo part lasted quite a while.

If they were using handheld microphones, she could have borrowed someone else’s, but they all used headsets clipped near their mouths.

Everyone also noticed Lin Xiaoyu’s predicament. Jiang Ling, while maintaining her perfect smile, glanced over discreetly at the situation.

What should they do?!

That solo was long; if there was no sound, it would definitely impact the overall impression.

If, because of this, Lin’s mother gave a negative review, wouldn’t Lin Xiaoyu have to leave NOVA?

Jiang Ling subconsciously pressed her lips together and began to brainstorm furiously.

While everyone’s thoughts were in disarray and filled with worry, Lin Xiaoyu’s solo part inevitably arrived.

Although Lin Xiaoyu was a bit flustered inside, she tried her best to stay calm. Just as she was about to force out her voice, she suddenly saw Jiang Ling, who had been standing a bit to her right, striding quickly toward her.

Hurriedly, Jiang Ling leaned in toward Lin Xiaoyu’s head, adjusted the curve of her own mic, and then held her own mic close to Lin Xiaoyu’s lips.

The moment their eyes met, Lin Xiaoyu’s heart instantly settled. She turned her head slightly and, into the microphone, began to sing her part steadily.

Jiang Ling’s hair brushed against Lin Xiaoyu’s ear, a little ticklish, and Lin Xiaoyu could even feel her quickened breath.

This scene, in an instant, lit up the atmosphere in the venue.

“Damn, this is actually kind of shippable.”

“Who was saying she was lip-syncing? She’s singing so loud, it was clearly a broken mic.”

“I’ve always been a Bai Hetun stan!”

Screams mixed with all sorts of banter erupted one after another. Lin Xiaoyu finished her part smoothly, and as the song drew to an end, everyone arranged themselves into formation for the ending pose, beaming with joy.

According to the planned choreography, Jiang Ling lifted her fan slightly in front of her face as a shield, but her eyes couldn’t help drifting over to Lin Xiaoyu beside her.

She shifted her fan and whispered, “Are you okay?”

Lin Xiaoyu, who had been gently pressing her lips with her folded fan, smiled at Jiang Ling’s question, tilted her head, and hid her face behind the fan Jiang Ling was using as a cover.

The audience erupted in excited cheers at this move.

“Ahhh, are they secretly kissing behind our backs?!”

Come on, we’re all bros here, what are you hiding from me for!

Amid the noise, Lin Xiaoyu leaned close to Jiang Ling’s ear and whispered, “Thanks to you.”

Jiang Ling’s ear turned half-red in response. She quickly lowered the fan that was shielding their interaction and bowed her head, lining up behind Fang Wannian for the group’s greeting formation.

“Hello, everyone, we are NOVA!”

As usual, Bai Xue led everyone in a greeting. After their performance of “To the Bright Moon,” the atmosphere in the audience became even more heated, with everyone shouting in support.

“Ohhh!”

“Thank you all for your support~”

Mo Ran blinked and flashed a bright smile. “Up next, we have another dance performance…”

She continued, smiling as she guided them through the program, while Jiang Ling scanned the audience, searching for Lin’s mother.

As soon as her eyes fell, she met a teasing gaze—Song Meng waved at her slowly and deliberately.

Seeing this, Jiang Ling also waved back, her small gesture looking very happy.

This made Song Meng smile even more, but she didn’t do anything to distract Jiang Ling further and simply blended into the crowd to keep enjoying the show.

The next was an otaku-style dance. For the sake of stage effect, they didn’t sing and dance at the same time, just performed the dance. Still, this got the audience even more fired up, and what was a not-so-crowded venue instantly became packed with people.

As the atmosphere continued to rise, Fang Wannian spoke as planned: “And next is our last song. Please give us a couple minutes to prepare—about two or three minutes. Thank you, everyone.”

Offstage, Lin Xiaoyu and Jiang Ling were hurrying to change their outfits.

Right before they were about to go on again, Jiang Ling hesitated for a moment and grabbed Lin Xiaoyu’s hand.

After all, this was about whether Lin Xiaoyu could stay. She took a deep breath and said sincerely, “You can do it! You practiced so hard—there’s no way we won’t make it!”

Seeing Jiang Ling so nervously trying to comfort her, Lin Xiaoyu felt a wave of warmth well up inside her. Her usually cool expression softened into a gentle smile, and in a certain, tender voice, she said:

“With you here, I feel at ease.”