After dropping out of school, I chose to join a girls' band.

"No...it's not like that." Xiaodeng swung her katana with all her might, the sudden force completely catching Su Shi off guard. Her voice was firm and urgent, as if she were expressing the deepest regret and determination in her heart.

A hint of surprise flashed in Su Shi's eyes; she hadn't expected Xiao Deng to suddenly unleash such power. Her twin swords swung uncontrollably backward, losing their balance.

Takamatsu's sharp blade swiftly sliced ​​through, tearing Su Shi's sleeve and revealing her fair skin.

Su Shi felt her sleeve being cut and was slightly startled, but she quickly stepped back to keep her distance. A complex emotion flashed in her eyes, a mixture of anger and some hesitation.

Xiaodeng was panting heavily, her body trembling slightly from the intense exercise, but she did not back down. Instead, she moved even closer to Su Shi.

“Su Shi, I…I have never forgotten Crychic…” Xiao Deng said firmly, her voice choked with emotion, but her eyes were fixed on Su Shi without flinching.

Hearing Xiaodeng's words, Su Shi's eyes trembled slightly. She so wished it was a lie, but looking at Xiaodeng's firm gaze, she knew that Xiaodeng would never lie.

Gao Songteng continued to recount her innermost thoughts, her voice trembling with unease: "Going forward was terrifying... I lost my way at the crossroads. At that time, I was afraid to go forward, unsure which road was the one we needed to take, so... I chose to stay put and run away."

A flicker of pain and regret crossed her eyes, her gaze lowered slightly, as if recalling that difficult time. Her body was still trembling, but the resolve deep within her grew stronger.

"But thankfully, I had friends who got lost with me: Yue, Aine, Riki, Ronai... and you, Su Shi." Xiao Deng's voice gradually softened, tears glistening in her eyes. She raised her head, looking directly at Su Shi, her eyes filled with gratitude and deep affection.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Su Shi's eyes. Looking at Xiao Deng's firm yet gentle gaze, a complex emotion welled up within her. Her hands trembled slightly, and her twin swords paused in mid-air for a moment.

"With you all by my side... I'm finally able to make up my mind to move forward," Xiaodeng continued, her voice filled with determination and hope. Her eyes shone with an indomitable light, as if declaring the deepest belief within her heart.

"Although I don't know if the road ahead is the right one, I can't stand still. Even if I get lost, I have to keep going," Xiaodeng said firmly, her voice full of courage and determination. Her gaze remained fixed on Su Shi, unwavering.

When the performance begins: Chapter 192 The Curtain Falls

"Little Lamp..." Su Shi murmured softly, her eyes trembling slightly. Her gaze lingered on Little Lamp, a complex emotion welling up within her.

After a moment, Su Shi took a deep breath, trying to calm her inner turmoil. She gripped the hilt of the knife tightly again, feeling the cold touch return to her palm, as if reminding her not to waver easily.

“Words and actions alone cannot persuade me.” Su Shi’s voice was low and firm, her eyes sharpening again as she stared intently at Xiao Deng. Despite the turmoil in her heart, she tried to mask it with calmness and reason.

“Yes, I know.” Takamatsu Akari nodded, her eyes shining with determination. She took a deep breath, gripped her katana tightly, and prepared to meet Suze’s challenge.

Both sides resumed their stances, the air thick with tension. Su Shi launched the first attack, her long blade once again cleaving through the air, a crescent-shaped slash accompanied by a sharp whistling sound as it hurtled towards Xiao Deng.

Xiaodeng reacted swiftly, swinging her katana to precisely deflect Su Shi's attack. The sound of metal clashing echoed in the air, sparks flying. Xiaodeng's movements were exceptionally fluid, her eyes gleaming with an indomitable light.

Su Shi's offensive remained fierce, but Xiao Deng, now determined, benefited from the stage setting. She wielded her katana with ease, her movements no longer hesitant or flustered, making it increasingly easy for her to block Su Shi's attacks.

With each collision, Xiaodeng felt herself becoming more and more adept, as if the stage itself was giving her power.

Seeing Takamatsu's blocking becoming increasingly easy, Nagasaki Motoyo panicked. Filled with anxiety and unease, she swung the two scissor blades faster and faster, but her frantic movements became increasingly chaotic. Each rapid swing exhausted her strength, making her attacks more and more disorganized.

Su Shi gritted her teeth and tried to swing the scissors in her hand, but each swing became weaker and weaker. Her breathing became rapid, sweat kept sliding down her forehead, and her vision gradually blurred.

"Why, why are you only being so persistent now!" Su Shi roared, her voice choked with sobs.

Su Shi continued to swing the scissors in her hand, but the force gradually weakened. Her movements became increasingly sluggish, and each attack seemed pale and powerless.

Xiaodeng didn't answer Su Shi's question with words. Instead, she seized the opportunity and launched a swift counterattack. She infused her emotions into her weapon, and each clash carried immense power, forcing Su Shi to retreat step by step.

Her movements became increasingly skillful, her attacks more and more swift, as if each strike was an expression of her inner determination and conviction. The katana drew sharp arcs in the air, each swing filled with power and speed, carrying an overwhelming sense of pressure.

A flicker of surprise and uncertainty crossed Su Shi's eyes; she hadn't anticipated Xiao Deng's rapid progress. Her twin swords continued to parry, but her strength seemed to be waning. Each clash brought a sharp pain to her arms and a rapid drain on her stamina.

"Clang!" The sound of metal clashing rang out continuously on the stage, sparks flying everywhere. Each of Xiaodeng's attacks carried a firm force, gradually dismantling Su Shi's defenses.

——————————————————————————————————————

"Takamatsu! Go for it!" Shiina Riki shouted loudly in the audience to cheer for Takamatsu, showing no sign that she had just been thinking of going offstage to replace Takamatsu and Suze to start the Revue.

"Is Xiaodeng's potential really that great?" Yue looked at Xiaodeng's wonderful performance with surprise in her eyes.

“Lights, interesting!” Lena stood to the side, a smile playing on her lips, her eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation.

————————————————————————————————————————————

The battle on stage continued. For the past sixteen years, Takamatsu Akari had never handled any weapons, including knives, and knew absolutely no fighting techniques. Yet, at this moment, she displayed astonishing strength and determination.

The determination she displayed earned her the approval of the stage and the audience. The stage lights focused on her, as if adding brilliance to her every move. Her movements were no longer hesitant and flustered; she wielded the katana with increasing ease, as if guided by an invisible force.

With each swing of her blade, she felt the power the stage bestowed upon her. That power flowed from her arm to the blade, and then into the air, forming sharp arcs. Her eyes shone with unwavering determination, filled with hope and faith in the future.

The stage guided her movements, guided her arms as she wielded the blade, and guided the story's development in the direction everyone wanted to see.

Faced with this huge disparity, Su Shi's offensive gradually crumbled, and her movements became increasingly powerless.

"This is impossible..." Su Shi murmured softly, her voice tinged with uncertainty and surprise. This momentary hesitation caused her twin swords to pause in mid-air for a split second.

In that instant, Takamatsu's attack arrived. Her eyes were filled with determination and resolve, and the katana in her hand drew a sharp arc, striking directly at Sose's twin swords. The sharp blades mercilessly slashed at the pair of scissors that were inscribed with "Crych岜三另IX玲（七）咎吴吧ic".

"Clang!" The sound of metal clashing echoed on the stage, sparks flying. This time, Su Shi's weapons could no longer withstand Xiao Deng's power. His twin swords were violently knocked away by Gao Song Deng's katana, tracing a graceful arc before finally crashing heavily to the ground with a dull thud.

Looking at Nagasaki Motoyo, who had lost a weapon, Kodama said, "Motoyo... we are all waiting for you, so... let's get lost together."

Su Shi remained silent, turning her head to glance at the "Crychic" that Da Fei had thrown out and stuck into the floor.

"I still have one more weapon." Nagasaki Motoyo lowered her body, gripped her last weapon, and looked at Kodama, her eyes burning with a final determination and fighting spirit. "Kodama, let me see your belief in getting me back to the team one last time."

Gao Songdeng read the determination in Su Shi's eyes. She nodded slightly, gripped the hilt of her sword with both hands, and her eyes were filled with firmness and resolve. Their gazes met in the air.

Blades clashed, and tension filled the air. Their heartbeats seemed to merge into one, and the entire stage trembled with their movements. Then, they charged at each other simultaneously.

The two figures intersected in mid-air, their blades flashing with a cold light, as if to freeze this moment forever.

"Clang!" The sound of metal clashing rang out again, sparks flying between them. Their figures intertwined in the air before they each stood still, back to back, a tense atmosphere filling the air.

A moment later, the cape tied to Nagasaki Motoyo's shoulders slowly fell off, announcing the winner of this Revue.

When the Stage Begins: Chapter 193 Daily Life After Revue

Looking at the familiar ceiling in front of her, Nagasaki Motoyo turned over in bed. A small chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the faint light shone into the room through the gap in the curtains, illuminating her pale face, which was a little pale from staying up late.

Today is the weekend, a day that should be enjoyed and relaxed, but for her, she would rather it be a workday.

She didn't want to stay in bed; at least if she went to school, she wouldn't have to think about how to face Xiaodeng and the others.

After tossing and turning in bed for a while, Su Shi finally had to get up. She stared at the ceiling, her thoughts in turmoil, but a slight feeling of hunger in her stomach made her realize that it wasn't for any particular reason, but simply because her biological clock was telling her it was time to eat.

She slowly sat up in bed, feeling a chill the moment her feet touched the floor. She shivered, reached for her slippers by the bed, put them on, and slowly walked to the window. She drew back the curtains, letting the morning light stream into the room. The warm sunlight shone on her face, causing her to squint.

Su Shi went into the bathroom and looked at her slightly haggard face in the mirror. She took a deep breath, trying to cheer herself up, and splashed her face with cold water to clear her head a little.

Entering the kitchen, Su Shi opened the refrigerator, where some ingredients were neatly arranged. She casually took out some eggs and bread and began preparing breakfast for herself. She took out milk and butter, then took a frying pan from the cupboard and placed it on the stove.

She lit the stove, and the frying pan slowly heated up. She cut a piece of butter and put it in the pan; the butter melted quickly in the hot pan, making a soft sizzling sound, and its aroma filled the air. Su Shi picked up an egg, gently cracked it open, and poured the egg mixture into the pan. The egg mixture spread quickly in the pan, making a crisp sound, and the aroma gradually intensified.

Preparing breakfast busily allowed her to temporarily set aside her thoughts about how to deal with Xiaodeng. The activity in the kitchen and the aroma of fried eggs eased her mind a little. She placed the fried eggs on bread and made a simple sandwich.

Su Shi placed the sandwich and a glass of hot milk on the table and sat down to eat breakfast. Every bite was filled with a warm aroma, but her thoughts were still wandering. She looked down at the sandwich, but her mind drifted back to yesterday's stage, to the fierce competition and Xiao Deng's determined gaze.

"Su Shi...we are all waiting for you, so...let's get lost together." Xiao Deng's words echoed in her ears.

"Ding-dong!" Just as Su Shi was lost in thought, her doorbell rang again. Her heart raced instantly, her brows furrowed slightly, and she hesitated for a moment before slowly walking toward the door.

Before she could even see who it was through the security camera at the door, that familiar voice rang out.

"Su Shishi!!! Open the door quickly!" Chihaya Aine's energetic voice came over. Her style of giving nicknames was still so tasteless, but it had an undeniable sense of familiarity and friendliness.

Su Shi paused for a moment, and the complex emotions in her heart surged up again. Her hand stopped on the doorknob, and her brows furrowed slightly.

The sounds from outside the door continued, and Ai-yin was clearly getting impatient.

"Su Shishi! I know you're home, open the door quickly!" Ai Yin's voice was tinged with urgency.

"Ai...is this not a good thing?" Gao Songdeng said timidly to Ai Yin. At this moment, she was completely unrecognizable as the same person who was on stage yesterday. She stood behind Ai Yin, her hands clasped together, her gaze somewhat unfocused, appearing a little uneasy.

Tsuki stood on the other side of Aine, with a "this is fine too" expression on her face.

She crossed her arms, shook her head slightly, and comforted Xiaodeng, "It should be alright... The Su family doesn't seem to have any neighbors." Her voice carried a hint of helplessness and relief.

Just then, the door lock made a soft "click," and the door slowly opened. Su Shi stood behind the door, looking at the three people in the doorway with a serious expression. Her gaze swept back and forth between Ai Yin, Yue, and Xiao Deng, her brows slightly furrowed.

“I said… don’t call me by that weird name.” Su Shi’s voice was low and firm, clearly displeased.

When Ai Yin saw Su Shi, she immediately flashed a bright smile, completely unconcerned about Su Shi's serious expression: "Su Shi, we really missed you!"

Xiaodeng stood to the side, her face showing a hint of unease and shyness. She lowered her head slightly, but her gaze never left Su Shi. She said softly, "Su Shi, I'm sorry about what happened yesterday... I was really worried about you."

Yue stood behind them, arms still crossed, a helpless smile on her face: "Sorry to bother you so early, Su Shi. Li Xi was going to come too, but Ms. Lin Lin sent her a message at the last minute and called her over."

"Tsk... I wish you guys hadn't come either, disturbing my sleep so early in the morning," Su Shi said, though her words betrayed her true feelings.

Ai Yin understood the implication in Su Shi's words and immediately said excitedly, "Su Shi, do you mean we can come in?"

Su Shi glared at Ai Yin and said in a serious tone, "I didn't say that."

“But Su Shishi, you didn’t refuse, did you?” Ai Yin didn’t wait for Su Shishi’s response any longer. She turned around and waved to Yue and Xiaodeng. “Yue, Xiaodeng, come in.”

"Why are you treating this place like your own home?" Su Shi seemed a little helpless about Aine's overly familiar behavior, but she didn't resist it too much.

"Because Su Shishi, you won't refuse us either!" Love seemed to have completely won over Su Shishi.

Ai Yin led the way into Su Shi's house, her steps light and quick, as if she were entering her own home.

Xiao Bashan, Lin Jiuling, Qi Jiuba, Ling Mengdeng followed closely behind. When she entered the house, she seemed a little uneasy. She said softly, "Su Shi, thank you for being willing to see us."

Yue was the last to enter the room and said to Su Shi, "Sorry... I disturbed you."

Su Shi watched the three of them walk into the house. She sighed softly, though she complained, her eyes revealed a hint of tenderness.

As Ai Yin took off her shoes, she looked around and said, "I had a feeling when I came here last time. Although Su Shi's house and Xiao Yue's house are about the same size, Su Shi's house feels completely deserted."

Upon hearing Aine's words, Yue's face showed a hint of helplessness. Although what Aine said was true, was it really appropriate to say such things in front of the person in question? She sighed inwardly, "Aine, aren't you afraid of being dragged to the underground theater for a Revue by Su Shi?"

Even Xiaodeng showed a hint of panic after hearing Aine's words, "Aine..."

When the Stage Begins: Chapter 194 I'll Shatter Your Illusions

Su Shi's expression stiffened slightly for a moment, but she quickly concealed her emotions and tried to remain calm. She knew that Ai Yin meant no harm, but these words touched a chord within her.

Su Shi felt her fist getting harder.

She forced a smile, her voice tinged with coldness: "You really are outspoken, Aine."

"Sorry, sorry!" Ai Yin quickly waved her hand: "Ah, Su Shishi, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

Fortunately, Su Shi did not pursue the matter further and welcomed everyone into the room.

As soon as Ai Yin entered the Su family home, she smelled the aroma of breakfast. She sniffed, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, and immediately looked towards the dining table.