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

QFinally, like the calm after a storm, when Chen Qi, whose cheeks were flushed red and whose bangs were scattered due to the violent movement, suddenly stood up, crystal clear beads of water, who knew whether they were tears or sweat, slid down his face.

However, before everyone calmed down, Chen Qi, who turned slightly, unconsciously cast his gaze towards Toyokawa Shoko, who lowered her head and gently plucked the keys of the piano. The music, which was still a little hoarse, sounded again.

NThis time, the lyrics and Chen Qi's singing voice seem a bit more desolate than the last time.

: "Life seems so pathetic..."

"But I still have to make a promise with you again."

"We just drift along, at the mercy of time."

"Continue to bury your tears and pretend to live a happy life——"

Toyokawa Shoko clearly did not raise her head to respond to Chen Qi's gaze, but the slightly heavier pressure of her fingers on the keyboard proved her inner unrest.

Although Xiangzi had heard Chen Qi sing this song many times, and although every time he heard the lyrics, his heart would resonate and he would feel a pain in his chest unconsciously.

But this time, facing Chen Qi's every word, as if he was singing out the pain in her heart, Xiangzi couldn't help but shed tears.

But she didn't let the tears fall weakly.

On the contrary, she bit her lower lip tightly, and faced the lyrics that depicted the sad beauty of her life with a strong attitude.

Xiangzi understood that he was not the only one who was miserable, and he was not the only one who felt the same way.

All she could do was to play the piano keys accurately, and then sing the heartbreaking lyrics with Chen Qi in harmony.

"Say goodbye to the memories."

"Walking alone towards the skyscraper."

"The story called "I" is the final chapter -!"

"Crying is not about sadness!"

"Just because I'm alive, my tears can't help but flow out! ! ! "

……

"Xiao Qi...seems to be in a lot of pain."

"He has so much sorrow that he wants to talk about?"

Inside the lounge, someone's faint murmur was echoing softly, but no one present could answer it.

But, although I didn't feel the same way, I could still hear the sadness and pain of the girls wailing in Chen Qi's song "Winter Flowers", and their faces showed more or less moved expressions.

However, there were still people who were deeply touched by Chen Qi's hoarse roar.

"Eh? Tsuzuki-senpai, you—"

However, Shirasagi Chisei, who was sitting next to Maruyama Aya and had light yellow hair, inadvertently noticed Tsuzuki, who was staring at the big screen silently, but his eyes were wet without him noticing.

But at this time, Tsuzuki did not have the leisure to respond to Qiansheng's horror.

A little girl who is not well-versed in the world may not understand the surging emotions in this song.

However, Tsuzuki, who had almost lived his entire life and had experienced too many ups and downs, even heart-wrenching pain, could feel the sadness in this poem "Winter Flowers".

It is a kind of pain that feels like losing love and having your heart torn apart.

But what is even more sad is that this kind of pain, no matter how you scream or how you wail at the top of your lungs, cannot be vented from your heart. It will only turn into a scar that can never be erased and remain in your heart forever.

However, this is not the only emotion that this song wants to express.

Tsuzuki could tell that in addition to the pain, there was also an extremely tenacious strength in Chen Qi's torn voice!

That strength was driving him to overcome this extremely difficult high note, and it was also becoming a part of his voice that suppressed the pain and allowed him to keep moving forward!

"Bloom brightly in this cold winter season!"

"Ah - I will never admit defeat -!"

No matter what kind of pain or loneliness you have experienced.

I will never bow to this miserable fate!

After a passionate interlude, Chen Qi calmed down and straightened his waist again. At this time, he was already extremely tortured by this difficult song. He couldn't even hold back his breathing, and his chest was heaving violently.

The next second, under everyone's gaze, Chen Qi roughly ripped open the buttons on his clothes, letting them fall to the ground, and then unbuttoned the top few buttons of his lining.

The white suit dress that was as white as moonlight now became a restriction that affected Chen Qi's performance. Chen Qi took off the suit without saying a word and then threw it off the stage.

At this moment, the increasingly passionate interlude foreshadows that another inner roar is about to come.

This time, even though his vocal cords were starting to become hoarse, Chen Qi did not shy away from singing again, as if he was roaring against his bitter fate!

"Don't cry, my loving heart!"

"Tears don't suit you!!"

"Let's go, there's only one way to go! I've made up my mind to stride forward!"

"Ah, my heart is about to laugh--!"

"Although unknown, I still bloom with pride!"

"Ah, I am the Winter Flower!!!"

At the moment when the echo of the final roar against fate was still lingering in the air, Chen Qi's singing that suddenly stopped and his soft voice suddenly pulled all the people who were immersed in it back to their original state.

"——Tears are hidden in my heart, and smiles are spread on my face."

“Today, I will continue to move forward.”

It is no longer a lyric, but more like a monologue. It no longer carries the same sorrow as before, but on the contrary, it reveals a slight relief after breaking free from sadness, as well as a firm belief.

All the sorrows vanished like passing clouds.

In the end, no matter how unbearable the past is, everything has passed, and people must eventually turn their eyes to the distant future and keep moving forward.

Finally, until the last melody quietly stopped for a few seconds, the audience gradually woke up from the lingering sound, and bursts of rustling but extremely clear applause gradually sounded.

Soon, word spread from one to ten, and from ten to a hundred, and thunderous applause gradually filled the studio, giving the sweaty and breathless boy on the stage applause that was worthy of his shocking performance.

Even the audience who were sitting in their seats couldn't help but stand up and give Chen Qi a heartfelt round of applause.

And this time, Liang is no exception.

"Liang?" Hong Xia looked at Liang beside her. He was the first one to stand up and applaud after the band ended. Feeling slightly happy, she couldn't help but ask Liang.

Although Hongxia did not ask further, Liangye certainly understood what Hongxia meant.

"…Really, I have no choice but to admit defeat."

However, a hint of helplessness emerged on Liang's face. The applause never stopped from beginning to end, and she had no choice but to surrender under the gaze of Hongxia and her group.

Liang, and gradually understood the song "Winter Flowers".

"Let go of everything in the past and move on?"

"Qi, are you telling me that even if I hadn't met you, Hong Xia, and everyone who ended the band... I would definitely be able to continue to move forward firmly on my own?"

"What you shouted out was the voice of me that no one understands and no one accompanies me..."

Thinking of this, Liang couldn't help but smile bitterly. At this point, she had to admit that she actually didn't want to know at all how she would feel if she left Chen Qi and ended the band.

He believed in her determination and would move forward despite the pain even if no one supported her.

...Chen Qi guessed correctly.

But now, she no longer wanted to know what it was like, and she didn't want to experience what it was like.

"I'll go look for him backstage first."

Liang didn't hesitate at all. After leaving this sentence, he walked towards the backstage without stopping.

This time, before anyone could catch up with Liang, Hong Xia was the first to stand up. She stopped everyone with her petite body, and said softly with a considerate and sunny smile and a slightly pleading tone:

"Everyone, just this once, please don't bother Liang, okay?"

Liang, you must seize the opportunity. Hongxia's eyes unconsciously looked towards Liang's back. This is all she can do for her good friend.

……

"Everyone, thank you for your hard work."

"Qi, are you okay? Do you want some throat lozenges?"

On the other side, Chen Qi and everyone from Ave Mujica also walked down from the stage one after another. When Mujica noticed Chen Qi's hoarse throat, he took out the throat lozenges he had prepared long ago from his pocket and handed them to Chen Qi.

"Thanks, Mu, but don't worry too much about me. I'll be fine after a while."

Chen Qi's voice still hasn't recovered. This time, he was indeed trying too hard. It can be said that in order to sing the song "Winter Flowers" well, there was almost no technique in his singing voice, only emotion.

It's because he is still young and can withstand such ordeal. Otherwise, if it happened a few more times, he would probably collapse on the stage.

⑨ I hope that in the future, if I have the opportunity to hold a concert, in the fan interaction environment, no fans will say that their favorite song is "Winter Flowers"... Otherwise, it would be pure torture for me.

④However, just when Chen Qi was about to take a throat lozenge and have a good rest, a figure slowly approaching in his direction made Chen Qi stop all his actions.

⑧ "Liang? You're here too."

②Although his voice was hoarse, Chen Qi's tone was still slightly happy because of Liang's arrival. The other members of Mujica understood what was going on and left the scene tacitly after Liang arrived, leaving the space for Chen Qi and Liang.

④ Liang also walked up to Chen Qi silently. Under Chen Qi's slightly nervous gaze, he gradually revealed a faint smile.

③ “…I just have one question.”

③ "Hmm?" Chen Qi's heart skipped a beat. He didn't wait for Liang's evaluation, but waited for Liang's unexpected question:

０ "If, in the end, I did not choose to accept your confession, and on the contrary, I wanted to kick you out of the band and told you never to meet us again from now on, what would you do?"

⑤ “Do you really believe me, that you will suppress all your sorrows and move forward firmly, just like in the song you sang?”

"——I believe it." Chen Qi did not hesitate for this question. He looked directly into Liang's eyes and answered without hesitation:

"If there really comes such a day, then I also hope that you, Liang, and everyone who has ended the band can forget everything in the past and continue to move forward without stopping."

...Is this your answer?

It turns out that you are really willing to let go.

However, Liang, who did not get the answer she wanted, had not yet managed to suppress her regret and let out a long sigh before she felt her arms suddenly and gently grabbed by Chen Qi's hands.

Subconsciously, Liang's slightly startled eyes went straight to Chen Qi's sight. In the dark corridor, Liang only saw that pair of piercing eyes, staring straight at him and saying:

"But even if I believe it, I won't let Liang face it alone."

"Even if you think I'm being entangled or that I'm just wishful thinking, as long as you don't really hate me, as long as you still need me for a moment, I won't let you face everything alone."

"..."

For a moment, looking straight into Chen Qi's eyes, although Liang was a little frightened, the tenderness in her trembling eyes, like an iceberg gradually melting in the spring breeze, could not be concealed at all.

...That's it.

I really am defeated by you, this tangled black hole man, Chen Qi.

"...Throat lozenges, would you like some?" Dad

However, Liang did not tell Chen Qi about his feelings. On the contrary, under Chen Qi's anxious and expectant gaze, Liang chose to gently break free from Chen Qi's restraints, took the throat lozenge that Chen Qi had been holding in his hand, and poured out a lozenge.

"Thank you, Liang, I--"

However, before Chen Qi could thank him and took the throat lozenge from Liang's hand, Liang smiled slyly and put the throat lozenge into his mouth. ⑥

"It's mint flavored, not bad." Liang seemed to like the taste of the lozenges and ate a few more. After a while, he had eaten all the remaining lozenges.

The next moment, Liang finally glanced at the helpless Chen Qi, and the sly smile on his face became even more intense, and he deliberately said:

"Since you stopped practicing with us, no one has delivered my lunch. I came here hungry this time. I ate a few extra candies from you. Is that okay?"

"I don't mind." Chen Qi also shook his head helplessly, but looking at the empty box in Liang's hand, his throat felt a little bit hot, and he couldn't hide his hoarse whisper:

"But I have to go to the drugstore now. I hope there's some left."

"...you're singing very hard." However, Liang looked at Chen Qi, who was always pinching his throat unconsciously. The next second, under Chen Qi's gaze, Liang slightly raised his head and opened his cherry lips.

Before Chen Qi could react, in the dark corridor, Liang's cold and slightly trembling voice was heard softly:

"...Then, if you want throat lozenges...just take them from me, okay?"

Chen Qi: “…”

After a strange silence, the only sounds in the dark corridor were the gradually quickening heartbeats and increasingly heavier breathing of the man and woman.

After a while, I heard a slightly heavy sound of footsteps, and all the heavy breathing sounds gradually subsided at this moment, leaving only a few barely perceptible, ambiguous and anxious sounds...