Hearing Deng's words, Aine was stunned. Huh? What Tomorin meant by this was... that she was afraid I'd get jealous? Is that so? But with Tomorin's understanding of love... could she really mean that? Or did she really not want to lose me as a friend? Hmm... that was more likely.

Seeing Deng's hesitation, Aine shook her head and put her hand on Deng's shoulder: "It's okay, Tomorin, I won't do that. You know, Sakki and I have a good relationship, so it's okay."

After receiving Aine's affirmative answer, Deng nodded and finally extended his hand to Xiangzi: "Xiao Xiang... welcome back."

Xiangzi was not dissatisfied with Deng's behavior just now. Rather, if Deng insisted on accepting her, it would make her sad.

Judging from Deng's performance, she also values ​​Xiao Ai very much... So what she said about forming a lifelong band must be true. Xiao Ai can happily join this band...

Thinking of this, Xiangzi smiled slightly: "Well, Deng, I'm back."

After saying that, Xiangzi turned his head and looked at Mu, who was standing aside with his head bowed and silent: "Mu, talk to Deng and the others."

"Oh." Mu raised his head, his golden eyes sweeping over everyone present. "Um...back then...what I said about never feeling happy about forming a band, what I meant by that was..."

Mu lowered his head, clenched his hands, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

Aiyin came up to Mu, put her hand on her shoulder, and encouraged her, "Mumu, don't be nervous. Just tell everyone, they'll understand."

Feeling the strength on his shoulders, Mu nodded: "Yes, I understand, Aine-chan."

"Aine-chan?" Deng's eyes moved back and forth between Mu and Aine. "Aine-chan is also good friends with Mu?"

“Uh…that’s it, Tomorin.” Aine scratched her head awkwardly.

Li Xi put down the drumstick in his hand: "Mu, what... do you want to say?"

"I... never felt happy forming a band... because... I felt like I was too bad at playing, and I couldn't make the guitar sing..." Mu lowered his head and finally told them what was in his heart, "I... like being with everyone... that feeling... is wonderful."

"Xiao Mu..." Deng looked at Mu blankly. She didn't expect that this was the reason why Mu said that.

"Mu..." Li Xi lowered his head, with a hint of guilt on his face.

"If only we could talk it out back then," Sushi put her hand gently on Mu's shoulder. "But... if we had talked it out then, I wouldn't have met Aine-chan... It's not bad the way it is now, right?"

Mu nodded, the corners of his mouth slightly raised: "Su Shi is right... If I had spoken up at that time... I wouldn't have met Aine-chan."

"Perhaps, we should be grateful to our past selves." Xiangzi moved between the two of them and smiled with his hand covering his mouth.

Looking at the three people laughing and joking, Aine fell into deep thought.

Do you think you play the piano badly? Is that what Mumu just said? I...if Mumu plays the piano badly, then what about me? Not a sister?

"Aine-chan... you're amazing." Deng walked up to Aine, holding a notebook, smiling broadly. "Thank you, Aine-chan. If it weren't for Aine-chan... we, Xiaoxiang, and Xiaomu would never have been able to resolve this conflict."

“Eh?” Aine said a little embarrassedly, “No, I didn’t do anything.”

"Tsk, you can't even lie. I didn't contribute much... As for going to the hospital..." Li Xi said, and suddenly realized that the light was still there, so he quickly shut his mouth.

Deng had roughly guessed what Riki was about to say: "Riki... I know Aine-chan went to the hospital."

"Uh... Really, Deng." Li Xi was silent for a moment, then turned his gaze to Xiangzi. "By the way... if you want to call our band members out in the future, at least get our consent. I don't want to wrongly accuse others without knowing the truth."

Xiangzi felt very sorry: "I'm sorry, Rikki...I won't do this again in the future."

"Eh? Are you embarrassed, Rikki?" Aine approached Rikki with a smirk on her face, observing her reaction.

"You... stop being so irritating."

"Well, Li Xi, stop talking about Aine-chan. She's been worried about us for a long time, right?" Su Shi quickly stepped forward to ease the atmosphere.

Hearing this, Li Xi snorted coldly and turned to look at Ai Yin: "By the way, Hai Ling wants to talk to you. It should be the day after tomorrow. She has to go to another band tomorrow."

"Oh, sure, but... I don't have her contact information."

"I have it, I'll give it to you."

After saying that, Li Xi opened his phone and pushed Hai Ling's contact information to Ai Yin.

After Aine finished applying for friends, she put her phone back in her pocket: "By the way, Rikki, why did Hailing want to chat with me?"

"She... thinks very highly of you and is quite interested in you."

As soon as Li Xi finished speaking, she felt several pairs of eyes staring at her. She turned her head and met three pairs of eyes. For a moment, she felt a little scared: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Su Shi crossed his arms and habitually clamped his throat: "Nothing."

Chapter 166 Rehearsal

Su Shi walked gracefully to her bass, and gently plucked the strings with her fingers, producing a low note that interrupted the playfulness in the rehearsal room.

She raised her head and looked at Lixi gently: "Lixi, should we practice?"

Su Shi's words brought Li Xi back to her senses. She nodded and reached out to grab the drumstick. However, when she gripped the drumstick tightly, her eyes swept over Lenai's position and she found that there was still no one there.

Li Xi sighed helplessly, his fingers tapping the drum unconsciously, with a hint of irritation in his tone: "The wild cat hasn't arrived yet."

"Well, that's how it is..." Su Shi felt relieved when he saw that the topic had been changed.

Hailing? Was that the Hachiman Hailing that Riki mentioned earlier? She seems to be moonlighting as the bassist for thirty or so bands, terrifying... Riki said she's also interested in Aine-chan... Why? They clearly haven't interacted at all... Did they meet when Aine-chan was replacing Xiaomu at Mujica?

The rehearsal room, which had suddenly become quiet, was interrupted again by a voice. Mu stood next to Xiangzi, tilting his head slightly, with a puzzled look on his face: "Wildcat? Is that the other guitarist in your band?"

Aine nodded, "Yeah, Mumu, the little Lena I told you about before."

"When Xiangzi and I first arrived, we saw her eating matcha parfait downstairs."

As soon as Mu finished speaking, Lixi stood up suddenly, her movements so fast that they almost made her feel like a gust of wind. She flung open the door and rushed out at full speed, her goal clear – to catch Lenai immediately. She couldn't let her get away again, otherwise today's rehearsal would be ruined.

Not long after, several people heard a noisy sound in the corridor behind the closed door. The next moment, the door was pushed open, and Li Xi walked in with Lenai's clothes in his hand, looking speechless.

"What I just told you, Wildcat, do you remember?"

"Huh?" Lenai looked at Lixi in confusion, "What?"

"This guy!"

Li Xi looked at Lenai's innocent expression, feeling like she was punching cotton with all her might, unable to release any energy at all. She sighed helplessly, pinching her brows with her fingers, as if trying to suppress her inner irritation. Helpless, she could only swallow all the pain and quietly sit back in front of the drum kit.

While Li Xi was upset, Le Nai staggered out of Li Xi's hand and ran to Aine, looking at her with sparkling eyes: "Aine, you said last week that you would bring me matcha candy."

"Wildcat, how do you remember this so clearly?" Li Xi clenched his fists.

No, no, if I get any angrier, she'll kill me sooner or later.

Reminding himself of this, Lixi sat down in front of the drum set, closed his eyes, took a deep breath and adjusted his mentality.

Aine laughed at Riki's sulking expression. She coughed twice to hide her smile, then pulled out the matcha candy she'd promised her. She tore open the bag and took out a candy.

"I brought it, little Lenai, come on, open your mouth."

Listening to Aine's words, Lenai opened her mouth obediently, like a small animal waiting to be fed: "Ah~"

Feeding the matcha candy in her hand into Lenai's mouth, Aine smiled slightly: "Alright, Lenai, let's rehearse. If you do well in the rehearsal, I'll give you another one as a reward."

"Yeah." Lena nodded happily and rubbed against Aine affectionately, like a spoiled cat. Then, she turned back to her familiar seat, picked up her guitar, and gently plucked the strings with her fingers, producing a few crisp notes, waiting for the other four.

Seeing this, Aiyin turned back to her seat and took out her guitar from its case, her movements smooth and expert. By the time she was done, the others had also finished getting ready.

Xiangzi was very harmonious. He had been sitting aside for a while, holding his chin with his hands, looking at the five people with anticipation.

In the center of the rehearsal room, Deng was holding the microphone, her eyes fixed on Xiangzi who was sitting beside her. She lowered her head, as if lost in some thoughts. Her fingers unconsciously stroked the edge of the microphone, and her eyes were a little wandering.

But Lixi didn't give Deng time to think. She raised her hands and gently tapped the drumstick. The crisp and rhythmic sound brought Deng back to his senses.

Today's rehearsal finally began with the dancing of musical instruments.

When the song ended, Xiangzi frowned and looked at Deng: "Deng, what are you thinking about? The rhythm has dropped many times."

"I..." Deng lowered her head, her fingers tightly gripping the microphone, her knuckles turning white. Her shoulders trembled slightly, like a little animal that had done something wrong. "I'm sorry."

"What were you thinking about just now? You're rehearsing right now." Xiangzi walked up to Deng, looking puzzled. "If you're in this state, what are you going to do with the live performance later?"

Seeing that the atmosphere was a little tense, Aiyin quickly interrupted Xiangzi. Her fingers gently plucked the guitar strings, playing a few scattered notes, trying to ease the atmosphere: "Uh... Sakki, don't be so harsh."

Xiangzi turned his gaze to Aiyin, who shook her head gently: "Xiao Ai, I'm just stating the truth."

Xiangzi's voice was soft, but it carried an unquestionable firmness.

After saying this, Xiangzi turned his gaze to Deng again. Deng was timid at this moment and didn't dare to look Xiangzi in the eye. "Deng, I've said before that your singing is the cry of your heart. Now that you can't even be firm in your heart, how can you sing a song that satisfies everyone?"

"Xiao Xiang..." Deng slowly raised his head, and the once familiar Xiangzi seemed to reappear before his eyes.

Xiangzi's voice suddenly softened, like a gentle spring rain: "Even if you are confused, you must move forward. Isn't that what you said in the live broadcast?"

"Even if you're confused, you have to keep moving forward..." Deng repeated Xiangzi's words. She gripped the microphone tightly and turned to look at Aine beside her. Her eyes seemed to show some kind of determination. "Aine-chan, Ritsuki, Suyo, Lenai, can you do it again?"

Aine smiled slightly and placed her hands on the guitar strings again: "Okay."

Su Shi nodded: "I'm ready."

Lenai responded, "Yeah."

"Lights, shall we start?" Li Xi grabbed the drumsticks with both hands, his knuckles turned white from the force, and he looked a little impatient.

Deng closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, the confusion she had just felt had dissipated. "Begin."

The instruments danced once more, and this time, the breath and rhythm of the lights were steady.

When the song ended, Xiangzi and Hu applauded at the same time.

Xiangzi took a deep breath and walked to Deng. She grabbed Deng's hand and looked a little excited: "Sure enough, the lyrics of Deng are the cry of my heart."

"Xiao Xiang..." Deng's expression was a little dull. "Did I...really sing out the cry in my heart?"

"Yeah, it's sung, it's great."

Seeing Xiangzi nod, Deng turned her gaze to Mu, who slowly gave a thumbs up, expressing his approval of her song.

"Really?" Deng turned around and looked at the other four people. Aine, Su Shi and Li Xi all agreed, but Lenai just looked at Deng quietly without expressing her opinion.

Deng tilted his head, his eyes pleading, yet also excited: "Lenai?"

After a long while, Lenai chuckled and finally uttered a word: "Interesting girl."

Chapter 167: Putting Courage into Song

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the rehearsal was over.

Deng walked out of RiNG, and this time, she did not go home with Lixi.

She was walking alone on this busy street. There were crowds of people on the road, but she was the only one immersed in her own world.

Deng clutched the bag that carried him tightly, and walked as if he was about to die, like a human puppet, being pulled forward by invisible strings.

Her thoughts were in a mess...the scene in the rehearsal room just now was still in her mind.

Can my songs really express the cry of my heart? If so, why can't they hear the meaning I'm trying so hard to convey?

My lyrics… clearly wanted to express that although Xiaoxiang had abandoned me… but fortunately, Aine-chan pulled me out of the bottomless abyss, and I… wanted her to always be with me… always, always…

“Aine-chan…” Deng uttered these words briefly, leaning against the wall. “So… my lyrics still don’t convey the emotions I wanted to convey?”

You are so warm and you resolved all the conflicts between us and Xiaoxiang... What would become of us without you?

I...will probably still be the same as I was back then, lonely, cowardly and inferior...I will never get out of this situation again in my entire life.

Li Xi... probably won't pick up the drumsticks again...

Is Sushi still living the same life in the Moon Forest every day...

We...wouldn't have met Lenai...and we wouldn't have mygo and the wonderful life we ​​have now.

“I…Is there something wrong with me that’s why I can’t express my feelings? Aine-chan…”

She raised her head and saw that it was already dark. A few scattered stars were hanging in the sky, reflected in her eyes.

Or... go there by yourself, and your irritable and sad mood should be relieved.

Deng lowered his head and walked step by step towards that familiar direction...

Soon, the lights arrived at the planetarium, and she sat in her seat, quietly looking at the screen on the ceiling.

Are my lyrics...really the cry from my heart?

Just as Deng was worried, the sound from the seat next to her interrupted her thoughts. She turned her head and saw Chu Hua, who was wearing a black baseball cap and was struggling to adjust his seat.

Chu Hua met Deng's gaze awkwardly, scratching the back of his head sheepishly: "Sorry... the back of the chair can't be pressed down, I hope I disturbed you..."

"This seat..." Deng reached out and adjusted Chuhua's seat.

"Thank you, that helped a lot."

Leaving the planetarium, the lights were a little dim. She sat on the steps and looked up at the starry sky.

When I was sad before, I could just look at the stars and it would make me feel better... Why do I feel even sadder now?

"Um...are you okay?" Chu Hua's voice came from behind the lamp. "I felt that you were very sad just now...and now you look like you are about to cry."

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