They are in the music show, but I am a stranger to them

Chen Qi looked at the phone that kept displaying "The other party is typing". He couldn't help but smile at the frequency of Goto Ichiri's replies that seemed like a text message bombardment, as well as the long conversations about guitars and performances.

It’s just... Xiao Gudu is obviously the same as most netizens. He is a little bolder because of the screen, and he can’t stop once he starts bragging.

The most obvious manifestation was when Chen Qi asked her if she had any experience in a band, intending to use this opportunity to start the topic of getting her to join the band, but the girl's answer was...

[Of course, I have also been the lead guitarist at a campus festival. Although I have never officially joined a band, my guitar skills are definitely not a problem.]

...To be honest, if Chen Qi didn't know that Goto Ichiri was a socially anxious person who couldn't even make friends, he might have really been deceived.

But Chen Qi was not angry because Goto Ichiri did not tell him the truth. Instead, he only felt that "this child is so pitiful that he can only find a sense of identity through this kind of self-deception."

Chen Qi had experienced this kind of emotion before.

Everyone has his or her own protective coloration, and you cannot force someone to take off his or her protective coloration.

This is why Xiangzi refused to tell his friends about his misery.

Some protective colors involve a person's dignity in order to survive, while others are insignificant and do not need to be exposed.

This kind of loneliness of Xiao Gu was just a harmless protective color, so Chen Qi did not expose her. Instead, he went with the flow and began to pave the way for "luring" her to the performance and joining the ending band.

So, Chen Qi moved his fingers slightly and wrote:

"Really? That's amazing! Thank you for telling me so many guitar techniques. I think I can use them in future performances."

[No, it’s nothing, just some common sense tips for beginners, I figured it out by myself, it may not be suitable for everyone.]

I'm being praised... On the other side of the computer, after seeing Chen Qi's admiring words, Goto Ichiri typed out words so modestly, but in fact, on the other side of the computer, Goto Ichiri still looked unsatisfied, with a happy smile still lingering on her cheeks, driving her to continue writing:

[Besides, you are actually much better than me. You have already found a band, but I have never joined a band and have never experienced the feeling of facing the public on a big stage...]

It appeared, and the inferiority complex unique to people with social phobia and poor communication skills inadvertently leaked out.

Chen Qi witnessed the message sent by Goto Ichiri. Based on his years of experience in encouraging Takamatsu Deng, he knew that he must not show any boastful tone at this time. He must empathize with her in order to make her feel happy.

Therefore, Chen Qi chose to take the initiative to reveal his scars to encourage the lonely girl. He moved his fingers slightly and immediately said to Goto:

"No, actually my former band has disbanded, so now I am just like you, Guitar Hero, a guitarist without a band."

[Eh? Um, um... I'm sorry...]

Oops, I said the wrong thing!

Goto Ichiri was a little at a loss as to what to do when this was his first time unintentionally hurting someone else.

She is a sensitive person on weekdays, and is always hurt by many harmless and untargeted voices from the outside world. Now she has become the "abuser"?

Could it be that after all the hard work of finding an online friend with similar interests, he would leave me because of my gloomy nature and inability to talk? !

In panic, Goto Ichiri, who didn't know what to do, couldn't help but start to sketch out this little drama in his mind...

A sloppily drawn version of myself, wearing prison uniform, was standing in the defendant's seat in the court.

In front of him, the judge who stood high above him, representing justice and strictness, was making the final judgment on his crime...

"Goto Ichiri! Cyberbullying your best friend! Another death sentence!"

"boom!"

The hammer of judgment had already fallen, and Goto's seductive body turned into ash and drifted away in the wind...

Goto Ichiri, who eventually sentenced himself to death in his heart for cyberbullying others, died at the age of sixteen...

"No, no! We must clear up the misunderstanding now! I didn't mean it, I just..."

But in the end, it was the crisis of reality that forced Goto Ichiri to break away from his fantasy.

Just as she was trying frantically to repair her relationship with this new online friend, she didn't expect that before she could even type her words, Chen Qi's reply had already come.

"It doesn't matter. In fact, I'm relieved that such a skilled guitar hero doesn't have a band. We have to keep moving forward, right? We won't get a band if we stay where we are."

"Come to think of it, I may have received an invitation from a new band. Although I feel that the band is not very suitable for me, I feel that they are all great band girls."

"I also promised them that I would perform with them once, but sure enough, I always feel that this performance will be terrible."

[No, it's okay, don't be afraid. Even if your style doesn't match or you don't work well with the band, don't give up too quickly.]

[It's hard to find a band. No one knows if the next band will be better than this one. So if you can get along, then give it a try, right?]

In front of the computer, Goto Ichiri watched the words he had sent out, but his expression could not help but become a little sad...

Of course she knew that this was not helping others to find their way out of the maze. She had no relevant life experience at all and had never even joined a band. She couldn't even empathize with others, so how could she comfort the bitterness of others?

But in the end, Goto Ichiri said these words without hesitation.

She was comforting this friend whom she had just met online for a few hours, but also seemed to be comforting her timid and introverted self.

Yes, she knew very well that if she didn't take the first step, her dream of waiting for a band that suited her, and then completely changing herself to become a truly popular "guitar hero" would have little chance of coming true.

And now, she was looking at the other side of the screen, listening to the other person, whom she had only known online for a few hours, even though she didn't know his name or face, telling him stories about how his band broke up, how he fell into a low point, and how the invitation from a new band did not meet his expectations.

She couldn't help but offer her encouragement.

[Although I am not qualified to say this...but please be brave, be confident, and believe that you can do it. If you give up in your heart first, then even if you can do it, you may not be able to do it well because of hesitation.]

After posting this message, Goto Ichiri looked at this message which was totally inconsistent with his gloomy and socially anxious personality, and he couldn't help but smile with relief.

If I want to do it, I can do it.

But he didn't have time to maintain this emotion. Goto Ichiri, who had not yet received the familiar message "The other party is typing", couldn't help but start to worry.

Could it be that my words irritated the other party?

You've been found to be bragging, so you're not going to reply to me anymore? !

However, just as Goto Ichiri began to have such dark thoughts and was about to fall into autism again, the reply from Chen Qi on the other end finally came.

This time, Chen Qi's answer dispelled all the uneasiness in Goto's mind.

"Well, Guitar Hero, you're right. No matter what the final result is, at least we have to try our best this time on stage. Only in this way can we say that we have tried our best. Even if we fail in the end, it will be the best performance we can give!"

"Thank you, Guitar Hero. I think I will give it my all during the performance! Thanks for your guidance!"

Being, being praised.

As Goto Ichiri stared at the other person's heartfelt words of gratitude on the screen, he felt relieved, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel elated...

This was the first time she used words to motivate someone.

Although it is an online conversation, it is not a real face-to-face conversation.

But the feeling of using words to encourage someone to regain their confidence still makes Goto Ichiri feel particularly useful.

She couldn't help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction in her heart, and even laughed a few times...

——And Goto Ichiri didn't know that all her reactions and psychological changes were actually under the control of Chen Qi on the other side of the screen.

And just when she was feeling elated and began to think that she had changed a person's life, Chen Qi finally used his ultimate "killer move".

"By the way, Guitar Hero, you said you haven't joined a band yet, right? A great guitarist like you, how could you not have any band invitation? That's really strange."

[Ah, yes, I haven’t joined a band yet… and I’m not as good as you say.]

"Then if you don't mind, please come and take a look at our performance. Come and see our all-out performance, we will definitely be very happy!"

【……Why? 】

Go to the show?!

Doesn't that mean that this is the first time in her life that she has met fans offline? !

After a brief brain freeze, Goto Ichiri immediately realized how serious the crisis was!

I want to go to see my fans’ live performances as an idol who is admired!

But the problem is, I am a complete social phobia person!

I don’t know how long it has been since I last spoke to someone in the real world!

Moreover, he looked so sloppy and gloomy, with long unkempt hair, and he didn't even have a decent set of clothes to go out!

How can I go out and meet my fans when I am like this?

Wouldn't fans be disillusioned when they see this? This will definitely cause them to lose followers, right? !

No, you must refuse!

In order to prevent fans from seeing such a bad idol, I must reject him before it becomes irreversible!

However, it was as if Chen Qi on the other side of the computer screen had already predicted Goto's thoughts. Before Goto could type the three words "I'm sorry" with his trembling fingers, the message from Chen Qi came as fast as a flood from a dam, saying:

"This is our first time to perform together, and the song we performed is also my original song. If Guitar Hero is willing to come to the scene, we will definitely be very happy."

"By the way, I have a humble request. If Guitar Hero feels that our performance meets your expectations, would you consider joining the band if possible?"

"If there is a guitar hero, the band will definitely be even more powerful! So please really consider it! At the very least, please be sure to come and see our performance, we will definitely try our best not to let you down!"

No, such a sincere invitation is too dazzling! I have to refuse it. In order to prevent my fans from being disillusioned with my idol, I have to refuse it!

[…I will go.]

Oh, sorry...

If a person with social phobia can reject someone's sincere request, then it is not called social phobia...

For a moment, Goto Ichiri, who was completely disoriented by Chen Qi's combination of punches, was in tears.

She already had a vague feeling that tomorrow would be the most miserable and difficult day in her life...

……

"Phew, this is finally done."

After doing all this, Chen Qi let out a long breath and couldn't help but reveal a relaxed smile.

Based on his understanding of the characters in the original novel, Chen Qi was not worried at all that Xiao Gudu would break the appointment tomorrow.

People like her who are socially anxious often care more about what others think of them than their own feelings.

Therefore, Chen Qi believes that Xiao Gudu will definitely show up as promised at tomorrow's Live performance.

"Then, I can introduce Xiao Gu Du to Hong Xia and Liang, so that they will have someone to fill the guitar position."

"Then according to the development of the plot... Xiao Gu Du should bring Xi Duo to join the Ending Band, so that the lead singer position will be filled. Then I can stop worrying about anything and quietly get out of the Ending Band, right?"

However, all this will have to wait until the end of tomorrow's performance.

Just when Chen Qi was thinking about how he could move Xiao Gudu to tears like he did Xiangzi, a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts and made him look over there unconsciously.

However, just when Chen Qi had just thought that there was only one person who would visit him without an appointment at this time, the door of the cabin opened with the sound of keys colliding.

Outside the house, a small head with long, smooth pink hair popped in.

After a quick search, the other party's eyes quickly locked onto Chen Qi.

The delicate face revealed a natural smile, and the small canine teeth were faintly visible under the light. With a voice as sweet as honey, she smiled at Chen Qi and said:

"Brother Qi, I came to see you today too. Please teach me how to play the guitar~"

"Okay, come in, Aine."

After getting Chen Qi's consent, the girl with long pink hair walked into Chen Qi's cabin without any hesitation, took off her shoes, and walked in wearing white silk stockings.

Judging from her skillful and natural movements, it was obvious that this was not her first day to see Chen Qi.

This is also an important reason why Chen Qi is unwilling to reveal his residence to Xiangzi, Hemu, and others...

He didn't want people to misunderstand him and think that he rented the cabin because of this girl.

Especially since the girl was his landlord's daughter.

That’s right, this girl has a sweet voice, a happy family, excellent looks and talents, a cheerful personality… except for a little bit of pride and vanity, she is an excellent combination of almost all the good things in the world. She is Chen Qi’s landlord’s daughter.

Chihaya Aine.

And now, Chen Qi and Aiyin have another layer of relationship.

That is, he accepted Aine's request and is serving as her guitar teacher.

And accepted a long-term commission to "tailor a song for her"...

And today is the day when Chihaya Aine comes to "inspect the results".

Chapter 10: Chen Qi and Ai Yin's past and expectations