"Mmm..." Yun Mengxi replied, falling silent for a moment. Her gaze looked through the mirror as if seeing somewhere further away.
"Actually, I just have a... feeling I can't quite describe."
She felt that tonight was exceptionally important. This feeling couldn't be described in words; it wasn't even strong, just a faint "intuition" of sorts.
She paused, her voice softening, carrying a gentle firmness. "I just feel that tonight, it's not just the moment my own dream comes true."
Liu Zhuohua's movements paused slightly. She met Yun Mengxi's eyes in the mirror, her eyes revealing understanding and relief.
She naturally knew the unspoken meaning in Yun Mengxi's words—the secret about the dream passed between her and Yun Feng.
"I understand, Mengxi," she said softly, her tone full of encouragement. "So, you need to be in your best state even more, don't you? Let him, and everyone else, see the most shining you."
Yun Mengxi nodded vigorously. In the mirror, her eyes became bright and powerful again.
At this moment, there was a knock on the dressing room door, and Chen Shicheng poked his head in, holding two exquisitely packaged milk teas, with his usual slightly teasing smile on his face.
"Yo, how's our superstar getting ready?" He walked in and placed one of the milk teas, which obviously had more toppings, on the dressing table in front of Yun Mengxi.
"Your brother 'ordered' me to bring this, saying it's to replenish energy. He also repeatedly told you not to be nervous and just perform as usual." He imitated Yun Feng's feigned seriousness, but his expression was as goofy as could be.
Yun Mengxi chuckled at this "clumsy" imitation, and also cooperated by complaining: "Really... he knows I've been watching my weight recently."
Though she said that, she had already picked up the milk tea, inserted the straw, and took a small sip. The sweet taste melted on the tip of her tongue, bringing an inexplicable sense of security.
The sugary sweetness spread across her tongue, completely dispelling the uneasiness in her heart.
"Brother Chen," she looked up, her eyes earnest, "tell my brother not to tire himself out too much. Work is endless... And, remember to come watch tonight."
Chen Shicheng gasped exaggeratedly, showing an "I knew it" expression.
"I say, you siblings, is there anything that would embarrass you to death if you said it face to face? Do you have to treat me as a human megaphone every time? Isn't it cheesy!"
"Brother Shicheng~"
Chen Shicheng shuddered visibly and waved his hand impatiently. "Alright, alright, I got it, okay?"
He looked away with a disgusted face, but then seemed to suddenly remember something. He lowered his voice and spoke in a mysterious tone.
"But seriously, Mengxi, you have to stick close to us after tonight is over. Don't run around. I heard Sapphire City isn't peaceful lately. It seems a group of rampant human traffickers has entered."
Yun Mengxi held the milk tea sent by her brother, just staring at him, her eyes only saying, "You're kidding me, right?"
"Hey! It's true this time!" Seeing her disbelief, Chen Shicheng immediately tried to increase his credibility.
"I heard that there was a little girl from the Far East who came here for medical treatment in the hospital. She disappeared inexplicably a few days ago! Her family is worried sick! Isn't that pitiful?"
From the Far East... a sick child?
Yun Mengxi's heart moved slightly, and an indescribable concern flashed across her mind. That image made her feel a little uncomfortable.
However, before she could think about it carefully, Chen Shicheng had already quickly changed the subject, pointing at the milk tea in her hand and grinning mischievously.
"So, you have to enjoy this cup of 'Love Weight-Gaining Milk Tea.' Every pound of meat you gain next is your brother's heavy 'love'!"
"Chen Shicheng! You're annoying!" Yun Mengxi was instantly ignited, that inexplicable concern immediately thrown to the winds. She angrily picked up the powder puff at hand and made a gesture to throw it at him.
Taking advantage of Yun Mengxi's puffed-up state, Chen Shicheng slipped out of the dressing room like a loach, not forgetting to close the door, leaving Yun Mengxi facing the mirror, looking at her slightly flushed face from the laughing and playing just now, and the cup of "undeniable evidence" milk tea in her hand.
She looked down at the exceptionally "sumptuous" breakfast today and this cup of sweetened milk tea, and couldn't help but really start to worry.
With a little regret, she began to mutter softly: "It's over, it's over, the calorie intake today definitely exceeded the limit... What if I really gain weight..."
Liu Zhuohua, who was organizing makeup brushes behind her, couldn't help but chuckle.
"Don't worry, even if our Mengxi really becomes round, your brother will definitely love you the most. He might even think you're cuter."
"Sister~ Liu~!" Liu Zhuohua's "don't worry" didn't reassure Yun Mengxi, but her comfort made Yun Mengxi feel truly chilled.
But her mind involuntarily began to "put herself in his shoes," vividly imagining what Yun Feng would look like if he became round—
Wearing a serious suit, but with a round face, trying hard to keep a straight face...
That image made her burst out laughing, thinking that her brother looking like that would definitely have a contrasting cuteness.
With the initial makeup and hairstyling completed, time had slipped into the afternoon.
Yun Mengxi stood up, ready to stretch her waist and shoulders, which were stiff from sitting for a long time. Just then, the dressing room door was pushed open again.
It was Yun Feng.
He was holding a few exquisite lunch boxes that looked like takeout from a restaurant, but the expression on his face was somewhat incongruous with this thoughtful act.
It was a mix of exhaustion, solemnity, and even a hint of... indescribable anxiety.
His brows were slightly furrowed, and his eyes were not as steady and certain as usual. Instead, they seemed to carry something too heavy, appearing somewhat absent-minded.
"Brother?" Yun Mengxi keenly caught her brother's abnormality. She stopped stretching and looked at him with concern. "What's wrong? You don't look too good. Is the company... facing some trouble?"
Yun Feng seemed to have just come back to his senses. He quickly hid the complex emotions in his eyes, squeezed out a smile, and put the lunch boxes on the table.
"Nothing, just a little tired."
"I brought you some food. You must be hungry after rehearsing for so long. Eat while it's hot." He avoided his sister's question.
Yun Mengxi didn't give up and asked tentatively again: "Is everything really okay? You seem... to have a lot on your mind."
"Really nothing," Yun Feng's tone became slightly heavier, carrying an imperceptible evasion.
He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then raised his hand to rub his sister's hair. The action was still gentle, but appeared somewhat hasty.
"Don't overthink it, focus on preparing for tonight's performance. I... I'll come see you later."
He paused, his gaze lingering on his sister's carefully made-up face for a moment. There seemed to be a thousand words deep in his eyes, but in the end, they only turned into a simple instruction.
"Good luck."