Girl Band, Gravity Capture

Page 52

No longer just regarding the other person as a senior to be respected, but more like facing an elder with earnest expectations for the younger generation, the boy's eyes softened.

But in the end, he lowered his eyes and shook his head firmly.

"Please allow me to refuse."

"I didn't join the band to perform for anyone or to gain anyone's attention."

He patiently laid out his thoughts.

"For me, CryCHIC is more like a family than a path to achieving my ideals."

"Music is what brought the six of us together, but it won't be the only thing that keeps us connected."

"I'm very satisfied with my life now... So, I'm sorry, Tsuzuki-senpai."

Not wanting to disappoint the old man's kindness, Won Heo-doo spoke at length, a rare occurrence for him, while also displaying sincerity.

"...Family?"

"Hmph, you're so young and you already say things like that. I bet those five girls in your band are completely infatuated with you."

"Senior Tsuzuki..." Not knowing what expression to make, Genji looked somewhat helpless.

"Fine, since this is your own decision, you'll have to bear the consequences yourself."

Tsuzuki Shisen, somewhat moved by the boy's words, snorted coldly, but quickly suppressed his unyielding attitude and spoke calmly.

Slightly surprised, the boy blinked.

"...I thought you would say a few more words to persuade me to stay."

"You little brat, do you think I'm the kind of person who likes to pester others?"

Yuan Xudou remained silent, simply gazing at the old man. His dark, deep pupils, like a still pool reflecting the world, were serenely frozen in time.

Although there was a significant gap in life experience between him and Shisen Tsuzuki, and Shisen was indeed a very shrewd and sophisticated elite, he couldn't easily see through her thoughts as he could when interacting with peers, but he could still deduce her general personality.

The old man in front of me is probably the kind of stubborn person who can get to the bottom of something.

"Hmph... I'm too old, I don't have the energy for that anymore."

Noticing the boy's gaze, Tsuzuki Shisen snorted coldly again.

If she were young and carefree, even if it meant resorting to any means that crossed the line, she would definitely have captured Yuan Xudou and exploited him ruthlessly, determined to make the boy the superstar she envisioned, the one who could suppress everything.

But now... the old man no longer has the energy and drive to shake up the industry like he used to. Time inevitably leaves its mark, and even the most defiant person will eventually encounter a moment when they feel powerless to change their ways.

Therefore, unlike when they were young, they didn't blindly rush to the end. Now, Tsuzuki Shisen has also prepared a second-best option.

"Xu Dou, you little brat, have 200 million yuan!"

"You can just call me Xu Dou."

"...What I said before, that I could use resources to pave the way for you, still holds true."

"But it's no longer unconditional."

Having finally revealed his true purpose, Tsuzuki Shisen narrowed his eyes, his stern voice now carrying a hint of the cunning of an elder.

“I have a granddaughter who is a year younger than you.”

“She loves music, but because of some things that happened in the past, she hasn’t touched an instrument in a long time.”

When this matter was mentioned, Du Zhushichuan's tone became slightly lower.

Noticing this detail, Yuan Xudou noted it down and continued to listen silently to the old man's conditions.

"Her personality is different from that of ordinary people, and it is difficult for the average person to take good care of her."

"But for you, it shouldn't be a problem."

"By the way, I remember you were the top student in your grade at Dongdu High School, right? You were a candidate with the potential to get into Dongda University, so you were quite well-known."

How come it seems like everyone knows about this?

The boy nodded silently, guessing what the old man was about to say, and helplessly pursed his thin lips.

Seeing this, Duzhu Shichuan nodded in satisfaction.

“That’s great, that’s perfect. I’ve been worried about the child’s studies.”

“That child’s name is Yao Lenai. You can teach her to play the guitar and also help her improve her grades.”

"I don't expect you to go to such lengths, but at least let me see her progress and not worry me. I can give you any resources you need."

Did they hire him to be their granddaughter's nanny?

　Wojiuqi⑹Jiuyaoshan（8）Lianyuan Xudou’s eyes twitched involuntarily.

Unbeknownst to him, the atmosphere of his conversation with the old man had changed from a serious and earnest senior guiding a junior to a somewhat strange scene that resembled a family meeting.

However... at least the sense of distance has indeed been reduced.

Tsuzuki Shisen's tone softened considerably, and the young man was able to view this serious yet approachable old man with a more relaxed attitude.

"If you agree, I'll bring her over in a few days."

"……Row."

Yuan Xudou thought about it and realized that right after the CryCHIC performance, everyone was busy with their own studies and he didn't need to participate in rehearsals, so he had time to take care of his child.

There was no reason to refuse, and after a little consideration, he readily accepted this wonderful request.

“Senior Tsuzuki, then I will…”

"Just call me boss r⑴淋气⑧X司⒎咝wu榴."

Yuan Xudou was stunned for a moment, then realized that the old woman was expressing her goodwill and acceptance to him in her own way, as an elder.

He lowered his eyes, his dark eyelashes trembling slightly, and slowly exhaled a light breath.

When he raised his head again, the boy, now with his usual composure, nodded.

"Yes, boss."

Chapter Seventy-Five: Revealing the Audience's Identity

The footsteps of late spring quietly stepped into the uneven play of light and shadow.

As spring draws to a close, the farewell piece "Spring Shadows" unexpectedly resonates with the changing of the seasons.

As if things had reached their extreme, the temperature, which had been rising, briefly subsided today, just before the start of summer. The blazing sun was obscured by drifting clouds, with only warm, shimmering light streaming through the gaps. A cool morning breeze, from the moment it appeared, swirled through the intricate streets, carrying away any lingering heat.

A bustling crowd poured into the gates of RiNG, followed the signs that had been set up the day before into the performance hall, and took their seats while exchanging pleasantries with their companions.

"……Well."

"Ah, sorry."

Before the performance began, Yuan Xudou arrived at the performance hall to observe and estimate the number of audience members. He walked around the venue a few times and found that the scale of the crowd was even more spectacular than he had expected.

In the bustling crowd, he even spotted the faces of some well-known band members.

Upon discovering this slightly unexpected situation, Yuan Xudou, who intended to give the girls a heads-up, pondered for a moment before absentmindedly turning back towards the backstage area.

Distracted by the crowd and jostling around him, he accidentally bumped into a passing spectator.

Their shoulders bumped, but the boy didn't budge, while the girl in front of him stumbled and let out a low growl.

Coming to his senses, Yuan Xudou immediately stopped, turned around, and looked at the other person with a hint of apology in his handsome eyes, softly apologizing in a gentle voice.

"……fine."

Wearing a dark leather jacket and light gray hot pants, the black-haired, blue-eyed girl covered her slightly numb arm and responded calmly in a flat voice.

Seeing that the other party was indeed unharmed, Yuan Xudou nodded and turned to leave.

...They're really strong.

Hachiman Kairin rubbed her shoulder, which felt like she had been bounced back as if she had hit an unshakeable wall, leaving her no room for cushioning the impact. It was now slightly aching.

Even though she looks quite slim, she's so much more stable than someone who works hard to maintain their body fat percentage and exercises. When they bump into each other, it seems like she doesn't feel anything at all—even considering the differences between men and women, this is just too exaggerated.

And... even though it was just a fleeting glimpse, this boy was really handsome.

Are they celebrities from somewhere? I did just see a real idol duo pass by, I think their name was "sumimi"?

With this thought flashing through her mind, Hachiman Kairin looked curiously at the boy's back.

Then, watching as the other person walked into the backstage area unnoticed by anyone around them.

...Wait, could he be a performer?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Yuan Xudou pushed open the door and entered the preparation room.

In the corner, Wakaba Mutsu was checking and adjusting her guitar. Her delicate and tender face showed no expression, but she lowered her eyebrows gracefully and carefully stroked each string.

Toyokawa Shoko stood before the mirror, intently combing her long, delicate, sky-blue hair, silently reciting her opening remarks before going on stage. Her wavy hair cascaded down, like water, covering the girl's soft shoulders.

Nagasaki Motoyo, standing nearby, hurriedly reviewed the sheet music one last time. Having learned of her upcoming performance, her mother had squeezed out some time from her demanding work schedule to come and see them. Therefore, even though she had little interest in music, Nagasaki Motoyo was now extremely focused, not allowing herself to make any mistakes.

Shiina Ritsuki helped Takamatsu Akari straighten her clothes. The girl's serious expression made her seem more concerned about Takamatsu Akari's image than the slightly naive Akari herself.

Instead of the school uniforms they used to wear during practice or the casual clothes they wore for their first performance, they wore formal team uniforms with similar styles, designed by industry professionals.

The overall theme is based on the starry sky, featuring long dresses in black and white with exquisite patterns. Each dress was also subtly adjusted according to the different requests of the girls. For example, the confetti stripes on Xiangzi's chest and the asymmetrical lace on Su Shi's arms.

Wearing matching team uniforms, they clearly exuded the air of a professional band. The predominantly black background added a touch of maturity to the youthful girls, while the white patterns, set against the backdrop, stood out like bright stars.

Even the boys who don't play have their own team uniforms—plain Western-style trousers and a black and white shirt, making their upright figures look more like elegant conductors than students.

Hearing Yuan Xudou push open the door, they all put down what they were doing and looked at the boy's face.

"Xu Dou, are there many people outside?"

Shoko Toyokawa, who simply gathered her hair and looked slightly tense, pursed her lips and spoke first.

Even though she had experienced many grander events with even larger attendances... the girl couldn't help but feel a little nervous when it came to her beloved band.

"Yes, there are quite a few familiar faces."

Yuan Xudou nodded slightly and walked towards the crowd.

"Xiangzi, all five members of your favorite Morfonica band are here."

"M-Mashiro-senpai and the others actually came?" Toyokawa Shoko covered her mouth in surprise, her bright golden eyes blinking incessantly.

"And the staff at Yuzawa Cafe we ​​went to before, I think she was also a member of some band..."

"Afterglow's seniors are here too!?"

Shiina Tatsuki's sudden raised voice interrupted the boy's words.

Her face suddenly became anxious, and she didn't even bother to continue tidying Gao Songdeng's clothes. She hurriedly lifted her skirt and ran to Yuan Xudou.

"Besides Yuzawa-senpai, did the others come too?... Also, why didn't I know you guys went to Yuzawa Cafe?"

After a moment of excitement, Shiina Tatsuki, who was almost running up to him, suddenly came to his senses and noticed the suspicious point in his words.

Xiangzi and Xu Dou... those two actually sneaked off to Yuze Cafe without telling her?!

"...So Lixi, you're a fan of Afterglow."

Unfazed by her rising emotions, the boy calmly held down the girl who was about to bump into his chest and spoke softly.

Upon hearing this, the other four girls also unexpectedly turned their gazes to Shiina Ritsuki.

The girl, who belatedly realized that she had revealed her preferences in her haste, blushed instantly.

"I...I'm not a fan, I just think their music style is pretty good!"

Such a classic example of Li Xi's stubbornness; this confirms the diagnosis.

Everyone tacitly looked away, avoiding the topic, so as not to provoke Shiina Tatsuki, who was blushing like a child with unbearable shame at having his little hobbies exposed, and to prevent him from getting angry at this crucial moment and interfering with the performance.

"Xu Doujun, did you see anyone else?"

Nagasaki Motoyo tilted her head, gently pressed her fingers against her rosy lips, and then asked softly.