Zongman: Please stop destroying the worldview!

After saying that, Xiangzi pushed the door open and left as if fleeing. Chen Mo stood there, thinking for a long time, and a little doubt came to his mind:

"Doesn't she want me to move out?"

Chapter 40 Heart-to-heart with Hong Xia

The next day was Sunday, and Chen Mo arrived at RING early in the morning.

Chen Mo is very busy today. His residence was attacked by an evil spirit yesterday. He must act quickly to catch the evil spirit, otherwise he will forget about living a peaceful life.

Arriving at RING, I first checked on the band's rehearsal, then planned activities for the Flower Girls' Three Musketeers. After securing these two mana sources, I quickly finished up today's work. I also had to go to Shinjuku that afternoon. There was a suspicious shrine there that needed to be checked out, and I stopped by FOLT to see if there were any new bands that might be suitable. Finally, I had to meet a client at the Yorozuya—I usually don't see clients, but now, in the midst of all the hassles, I heard a client contacted me for help, but I still had to go.

-

“The effect is very poor.”

This was Liang's ruthless evaluation after the band finished their rehearsal.

Indeed, after the astonishing first rehearsal, Chen Mo and the band thought the performance was almost certain.

However, the recent few joint training sessions have been getting worse and worse, from the harmonious rhythm at the beginning to the current disintegration.

Chen Mo: "Don't worry, you guys definitely have the ability. There must be something wrong with the training results."

Liang replied: "I have no problem anyway."

The devastated Pochi collapsed into a ball again: "I'm so sorry, it's all my fault. I'll disappear into the trash can now..."

"Pochi-chan, come out quickly!" Kita hurriedly pulled Pochi out of the trash can: "Pochi-chan, you're fine! Don't have a seizure now!"

Hong Xia, who used to either participate in the show or make sarcastic remarks, said nothing and looked down at the drumsticks in her hand.

The pressure in the air grew heavy. Not to mention Pochi-chan, whose brain would freeze when faced with a tense atmosphere, Kita and Ryo looked at each other, hesitating whether to speak or not.

In the end, it was Chen Mo who spoke the truth: "The problem lies with you, Hongxia. It feels like your drumming today was weak and you couldn't keep up with the rhythm at all."

Hong Xia's voice was muffled: "I'm sorry."

Kita approached Hongxia worriedly and said, "Ijichi-senpai, you look unwell. Is something bothering you?"

Hong Xia looked up, tried her best to force a smile, and answered in her usual cheerful tone, "It's okay, I just have a cold recently, and my hands are not very strong."

Kita: "Ah, that's not good. Did you take your medicine, Senior? If you're sick, just rest more and don't push yourself!"

Liang took out his phone and searched: "I heard that sticking a green onion into your butt can cure a cold."

Chen Mo: "What a mess of folk remedies!"

Hong Xia: "It's okay, I just feel a little uncomfortable. I'll be fine soon. It won't affect the performance!"

Although that's what he said, Hong Xia's performance today was so bad that even Chen Mo, a music novice, could see that she was in a very bad state.

There was no way to continue rehearsing like this, so the four members of the band ate something in the cafe and prepared to leave.

At the door of RING, Hong Xia forced herself to cheer up and waved to Chen Mo: "Goodbye!"

She stood at a busy intersection, waving goodbye. Her small figure seemed to be swallowed up by the huge city. Chen Mo suddenly felt the unconcealable sadness in her.

"Hongxia, wait a minute!"

Chen Mo called her and quickly walked up to her:

"If you encounter any unsolvable problems, or if you encounter any supernatural events, be sure to tell me and I will solve them."

He recalled the recent sharp increase in the concentration of evil spirits due to the evil god. Could it be that Hong Xia encountered some supernatural event, like seeing a child?

Hong Xia hesitated for a moment, but still gave the answer:

"It's okay, I just have a cold and I'll be fine soon. You really don't have to worry about me."

"Really?"

",,real."

Chen Mo sensed that Hong Xia was in good health except for being a little depressed. Her claim of having a cold was obviously a lie.

He reached out and grabbed her wrist: "Fake, I can see that you are in a very bad mood now, what is making you so painful?

If you don’t want to worry everyone in the band, just tell me.”

Hong Xia is still saying: "I didn't, just, a little bit"

But she was immediately pulled away by Chen Mo with a firm attitude: "Let's go, have a drink and chat slowly."

-

Chen Mo pulled Hong Xia to a secluded vending machine, pressed the button, took out two cans of drinks from the bottom, and handed one to her:

"Drink some water first. There's no one here. Take your time."

Hong Xia took the drink and hesitated, but finally breathed a sigh of relief, no longer maintaining her usual cheerful and sunny demeanor:

"I'm sorry, Brother Chen Mo. I...I want to go back to Fanxing to perform."

Chen Mo: "Returning to Fanxing? Is it because you can't adapt to RING? No, everyone is a gentle person, there is nothing to adapt to.

So, is it because of your sister? She is very unhappy with your evasion of scrutiny?"

Hong Xia lowered her head and said, "I'm not dissatisfied. I heard that the band's activities in RING are quite serious, but I can feel that my sister is very sad.

After all, Fanxing is where we have always lived. If possible, I still want to perform in my sister's livehouse.

But if that happens, our band won’t be able to reach the required level and won’t be able to perform.”

Chen Mo understood in his heart: "Even though she said it was strict, she still hopes that you can perform in her Starry Sky?"

Hong Xia: "Yes. And, my sister seems to hate you because you brought us to RING."

Chen Mo took a sip of his drink and replied, "Didn't you say it yourself? The store manager is just arrogant and proud. No matter how venomous his words are, he won't really hate me in his heart."

Hong Xia: "But, my sister seems to really hate you. She always uses very harsh words when talking about you. We even had a fight because of this."

Chen Mo shrugged: "What are you arguing about? You are sisters, don't quarrel because of me.

Don't worry about me. Even if she really hates me, I will still think she is a tsundere. This is called not changing your mood because of other people's attitudes!"

Chen Mo stared into Hong Xia's eyes, his tone becoming serious: "Besides, this is not what you really want to say. What really makes you so uncomfortable is not such a trivial matter as whether your sister hates me or not.

You're worried about whether your sister hates you, right? Don't you know if beneath her tsundere attitude, there's a hint of genuine dislike?"

There was a moment of silence. Chen Mo saw Hong Xia's fingers trembling, and she could hardly hold the bottle of drink. Her red eyes were almost filled with tears - but she still held them back.

-

"When I was young, my mother passed away very early and my father was busy with work and seldom came home.

When my sister formed a band at that time, she often took me with her to perform in exhibition halls because she was afraid that I would be lonely.

To me at that time, livehouse was such a shining and happy space.

Seeing my performance, my sister quit the band and opened a performance hall, which became my home - although she never said it, she knew it in her heart.

When I first formed the band, I had that dream in mind for my sister.

I want to fulfill my sister's dream, become a popular band, and make Fanxing even more famous.

But now that the band is formed, the first performance is not at Fanxing. Isn’t this hurting my sister?

"

Listening to the girl pour out her heartfelt past, Chen Mo put down his drink and asked his own question:

“So, you think it was because of you that your sister gave up her dream of forming a band.

And you, one of the reasons for playing in a band is to make up for your sister's regrets?"

Hong Xia: "My sister will never express her concern for me, and I know that there is no one in the world who loves me more than her.

I formed the band for my sister, but when everyone got together, I realized that ending the band was also something precious that I couldn't let go of.

My sister doesn't approve of our band, but I don't want to prevent everyone who has prepared new songs from going on stage. I don't want anyone to get hurt.

Brother Chen Mo, what should I do? "

Chen Mo: "It's a choice between sisters and the band, right? Back then, my sister chose you and gave up the band, and now you've chosen the band and abandoned my sister.

You are afraid, afraid that your sister still has feelings for the band, afraid that she hides a trace of resentment in her caring heart.

I'm even more afraid that I'm dragging down my sister's life and preventing her from ever reaching her dreams—right?"

Hong Xia silently shed tears. At this moment, she no longer needed to hide herself with a cheerful appearance. The vulnerable side of the girl that had never been revealed before was finally visible to others.

The long-lasting pain and sorrow were simply covered up, yet they still flowed beneath the surface for countless days and nights.

-

Chen Mo patted Hong Xia's shoulder vigorously: "Okay, no matter how sad you are, the problem still needs to be solved!

There's no point in just wasting time here. If you want to know what your sister really thinks, you have to ask her directly.

Sisters need to talk things through! You won't be able to connect if you just keep your feelings bottled up inside!"

"But my sister will definitely not admit it..."

"That's because you don't understand! Tell me loudly, what is the anti-tsundere?"

But Hong Xia still hesitated: "But, what if, what if..."

Chen Mo: "What if your worries are right? What if it's really because of you that my sister lost her dream of becoming a band forever? Then we have to find out the truth! Let's talk it out first, and then we can solve the rest of the problem.

If you don't speak up, will the problem disappear? You are her sister. If you don't care about what she thinks, who else will? Me?

Hong Xia finally made up her mind after Chen Mo's advice: "I understand, I will go and have a good talk with my sister.

If my sister refuses to speak her mind, I'll pester her! If she ignores me, I'll just burst into tears!

Chen Mo gave a thumbs up: "Well done! This is the courage to end the band leader! My love for you is not in vain!"

Hong Xia wiped away her tears, took a long breath, and bowed to Chen Mo:

"Thank you, Brother Chen Mo! Meeting you is one of the luckiest things in my life!"

"It's okay, no need for such a grand ceremony!"

Seeing Hong Xia finally regain her yang energy, Chen Mo finally felt relieved. He whispered to Hong Xia: