As the sun dipped lower over H. City, its golden glow stretched across the skyline, fading into twilight. Outside North Wing Stadium, the air buzzed with excitement. Fans hurried in from every direction, their voices rising into a steady hum. Lightsticks flickered in shifting shades of rose and lavender, glowing brighter as the sky darkened, swaying together like gentle waves.
Everyone was on edge, hearts racing, all wondering: When's Everbloom coming out?
Meanwhile, behind the roaring crowd, Everbloom sat under the bright dressing-room lights. Makeup artists moved like dancers, brushing cheeks and lips, smoothing hair, adjusting costumes—every detail honed to perfection. A tense hush settled—the calm before the storm.
Meiqi stared at the woman in the mirror—bright, wide eyes, cherry lips, rosy cheeks, hair cascading down her back. And the woman stared back. It was her own reflection, yet somehow it felt like someone else—poised, radiant, ready to step into the lights.
Yet, despite the carefully applied makeup, her eyes lacked their usual spark—the shine that always appeared before a stage performance.
Lina and Si Yu watched from the corner, curiosity and concern glimmering in their eyes.
"Little Qi's acting… different," Si Yu said, her gaze darting toward Meiqi.
Lina leaned closer, murmuring, "Probably because of that Echo post. They didn't say who, but most comments point to Si Haoran. And yesterday… didn't President Yang call her to his office?"
Si Yu's voice softened, worry threading through it. "Do you think she'll be okay?"
"Of course," Lina said gently, a small, reassuring smile tugging at her lips. "I believe in Little Qi."
Si Yu met her gaze and nodded, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little as they both watched Meiqi prepare, poised yet quietly nervous, for the stage ahead.
Zheng Mengyao, sitting just beside them, overheard the conversation and her gaze drifted to Meiqi. Over the past few days, she hadn't spoken much to her. The guilt she had hoped confessing to Haoran would ease only grew heavier each time she saw Meiqi.
Every glance reminded her of her betrayal, a weight she couldn't shake no matter how she tried. She kept her face neutral, hands gripping the stool, heart pounding with regret and anxiety.
Xiuying also overheard them and glanced at Meiqi, her expression remaining stoic. Her sharp eyes softened slightly as they lingered on Meiqi, taking in the subtle tension in her posture.
Just then, a voice cut through the busy hum of the room. "Girls, get ready. We're starting in ten minutes."
The members exchanged quick glances before giving themselves one last check, making sure every detail was perfect. Meanwhile, Meiqi lifted the water bottle to her lips, taking a small sip to warm her throat, her fingers lingering on the bottle as if gathering courage.
As she stood, a message lit up her phone. It was from Haoran:
Good luck. I'm cheering for you.
The words, meant to comfort, felt strangely cold. She stared at the screen for a long moment before slowly looking away, letting the glow of the message fade as the weight of the stage pressed in.
Moments later, all five members of Everbloom gathered beneath the stage, a hum of excitement and tension surrounding them. For Meiqi, the weight felt even heavier—she couldn't afford to lose control, not now, not on their final stage.
Xiuying gathered them into a circle. "Okay, everyone. Let's give the best performance, like always," she said, her voice cutting through the hum of the backstage music. One by one, the members placed their hands together, forming a single, unbroken connection.
"Everbloom! Light it up!" Xiuying shouted.
Then, their hands shot up, fingers splayed and trembling like fireworks ready to burst across the night sky.
The stadium above buzzed with energy, fans' hearts racing in eager anticipation. Then the lights went out, and darkness swallowed the arena, leaving only the hum of excitement hanging in the air.
In an instant, the LED screens blazed to life, flooding the stadium with waves of brilliant color. The lights pulsed in perfect rhythm, teasing the crowd, heightening the tension in the air. The stadium seemed to hold its breath—Everbloom was coming, and the stage was ready to erupt.
And moments later, five silhouettes appeared, sending fans into a deafening roar. Rose-coloured lightsticks swayed and shimmered across the arena, rippling like a glowing ocean beneath the evening sky.
The five members moved across the stage in perfect sync, performing "Shine On," a fan-favorite from their previous album. It began with a gentle, calm melody, pastel lights washing over the stage, before bursting into an electrifying, upbeat tempo. Fireworks erupted, sparks cascading over the cheering crowd.
Each member danced flawlessly, voices carrying across the stadium, movements sharp yet fluid. Spotlights followed them, casting gleams off their sparkling red outfits, making every motion glitter. Bloomis leapt and waved their lightsticks, their shouts blending into a roaring wave of excitement that filled every corner of the arena.
From the center of it all, Meiqi's heart tightened and soared with the music. The cheers of Bloomis—leaping, waving rose-colored lightsticks, shouting in unison—washed over her. Every jump, every clap, every cheer reminded her of the bond they had built. For a moment, her nerves melted, replaced by the exhilarating rush of being on stage, under the lights, exactly where she belonged.
"Meiqi's high notes, Lina's voice—so pretty!!" one screamed.
"Si Yu's presence is fire, Mengyao's gorgeous!!" another shouted.
"Xiuying's killing it, Meiqi's smile—blinding!!" a fan yelled.
"All their talents—this is insane!!" another cheered.