“Shut up!”
Jiang Ling’s face flushed red instantly, her voice low and gritted through clenched teeth.
“Hm? Too scared to say it loudly because you don’t want others to hear?”
Seeing this, Song Meng craned her neck and started shouting:
“Cu—te—wan—mmph mmph mmph…”
Before she could finish, Jiang Ling swiftly tore open a chocolate wrapper and stuffed it into Song Meng’s mouth, glaring at her angrily.
“Even food can’t shut you up!”
“Mmm… tastes good.”
Song Meng chewed and gave an honest review, then pointed to the onlookers nearby.
“There’s more people over there, and I checked—no weirdos. Hurry up and hand out flyers, or you won’t complete the master’s task, y’know?”
“It’s the captain’s task!!!”
After pointless bickering, Jiang Ling took several deep breaths, finally mustering the courage to head toward the direction Song Meng indicated.
Almost as soon as she approached, gasps of admiration erupted around her.
“Isn’t she, like, too cute?”
“Wow, up close she’s so tiny, no wonder she has to jump to reach things…”
“…”
Jiang Ling felt her whole body burn with embarrassment.
She could only force herself to extend a flyer to a passerby, her voice barely audible.
“Um, could you please take this?”
The person stopped was a white-collar woman who looked at Jiang Ling with mild confusion, politely shaking her head.
“Sorry, I’m in a hurry.”
She was about to leave when she noticed the small, pale hand holding the flyer trembling slightly.
This made the woman cautiously observe Jiang Ling’s expression.
Seeing her lips pursed and eyes red-rimmed, the woman’s heart twinged, and she stammered, “Uh… maybe I’m not that rushed…”
“Really?”
Jiang Ling’s head shot up, and she happily handed over the chocolate and poster with both hands, beaming with a radiant smile.
“Thank you, big sister!”
Her cheerful tone and adorable demeanor.
The white-collar woman felt like Cupid had shot an arrow straight through her heart.
What is this inexplicably cute creature… so adorable…
She couldn’t help but glance at the poster: a street performance to hype up an upcoming official show?
Tickets cost about the price of dinner, with optional handshake tickets for close contact with such a cute being!
She’d never encountered something like this before.
Weren’t idol groups usually more geared toward male fans?
This one specifically noted it was for women only, which made her oddly intrigued.
“You better come, okay?”
Jiang Ling gazed earnestly at the woman lost in thought, letting out a sigh of relief as she turned away.
Phew, finally handed one out!
Her mood brightened, and she stepped lightly to the next spot.
“Hello…”
At the meet-up, everyone’s faces showed slight fatigue but were lit with breezy, spring-like smiles.
“All handed out?”
Bai Xue scanned the group, noting no one had posters or chocolates left, and praised sincerely, “Great job.”
Hearing the compliment, Jiang Ling’s mood soared.
She felt she’d done pretty well today.
Though she hadn’t fully overcome her shyness, being an idol meant facing all kinds of people eventually—might as well practice now.
“Ah… I hope everyone shows up,” Mo Ran sighed, slumping into a seat.
“Tomorrow’s a holiday. Even without flyers, there’ll be plenty of curious onlookers,” Bai Xue said with a smile.
After all, watching a spectacle was practically in everyone’s DNA.
Finally, the street performance day arrived.
They’d prepared two group dances, individual talent showcases, and an interactive segment, totaling about an hour.
An hour…
Jiang Ling hung her head, fingers fidgeting nervously.
Could she really do this?
She’d joined impulsively, driven by her love for music, but the more she did this, the more she felt being an idol was completely at odds with who she was.
As she mulled, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
She pulled it out.
[Good luck, I believe in you. I’ll treat you to dinner Monday.]
A message from Song Meng.
Unlike her usual teasing, it was gentle, giving Jiang Ling strength.
Her tense expression softened.
She tapped her phone.
[Okay, I’ll do my best.]
“Time to go on stage!”
Bai Xue was checking everyone’s mics, looking for last-minute issues.
When it was Jiang Ling’s turn, Bai Xue gently lifted her drooping head, her gaze soft.
“I don’t expect perfection, but just do your best and have no regrets.”
Jiang Ling felt immense trust from her and nodded shyly.
Check complete.
Jiang Ling followed the group, clenching her teeth as she stepped onto the stage.
Being a street performance, the stage wasn’t great—creaking underfoot with a noticeable texture.
She gripped her fingers anxiously, flinching as a spotlight hit her, stinging her eyes with hot tears.
Then came a cascade of voices.
“Wow, it’s really NOVA! I saw them online a few days ago and loved them!”
“I got their chocolate, so of course I had to show up!”
“Forget everything else—wow, this group is dazzling, all total beauties!”
Jiang Ling felt overwhelmed by the waves of sound crashing toward her.
Everyone’s eyes brimmed with anticipation.
This novel experience churned her stomach, giving her the urge to vomit.
Realizing it was nerves, she pinched her fingers red to stop the thought.
Her mind still wandered until Bai Xue’s voice rang beside her—
“Hello, everyone, we are NOVA!”
Jiang Ling bowed reflexively, a greeting they’d drilled all day yesterday, now muscle memory.
She couldn’t resist sneaking a glance around.
The crowd, regardless of age or gender, watched eagerly, awaiting their next move.
She even caught faint whispers about herself: “Isn’t the one on the end that cat-eared maid girl?”
“Yeah, that’s her! I got her chocolate…”
Jiang Ling didn’t catch the rest as the group dance’s intro music started.
She quickly moved to her position, lifting her eyes nervously.
She met her teammates’ encouraging gazes.
A shy smile crept onto her face, and she began dancing to the music.
After the music started, the crowd fell briefly silent, then erupted into rhythmic applause mixed with excited shouts.
Dance done.
Jiang Ling held the ending pose, gasping for air, cheeks flushed, body heaving from exertion.
“Ohhh—”
The crowd’s murmurs surged, coalescing into an undeniable roar of cheers beside the small stage, sprouting like new buds in spring.
Jiang Ling stood dazed, soaking it in.
Three minutes ago, she was insignificant.
Three minutes later, she was someone earning such fervent cheers?
Immense satisfaction filled her chest.
She noticed her fingertips whitening from clenching.
Before she could dwell, Bai Xue spoke again.
“Now it’s time for the members’ talent showcases! First up is—”
“Jiang Ling!”
Since she was performing a lyrical piano ballad, she was first, which put immense pressure on her.
But the moment she sat at the piano and touched the keys, the world went quiet.
Fragments of memories flashed through her mind.
Steadying herself, Jiang Ling looked up and spotted Song Meng in the crowd, standing out with her distinct aura.
Song Meng smiled, watching her, and slowly mouthed something.
Jiang Ling instinctively followed: “Idiot, you got this.”