The figure walking toward the center of the stage was all too familiar to Xie Chuchu...
It was Xue Jiamin, who always seemed to go against her.
Xie Chuchu's pupils contracted for a moment.
"Isn't he only the second?"
Xie Chuchu looked to Chi Xiuke, seeking confirmation from her friend.
Chi Xiuke nodded.
"Mm."
"Xue Jiamin is the second one to compete."
Xie Chuchu pressed her lips together.
Hadn't this kid always been pretty lucky?
Whenever she'd competed against him before, she'd been the unlucky one.
She'd even cursed God for being blind over it...
Ahem.
That had all been in the past.
What she meant was, in her impression, he was one of those people who were quite lucky.
What was going on this time?
Should she be glad... at least Xue Jiamin wasn't the first one onstage?
But he was the second...
It was fine.
Xie Chuchu told herself.
Was this kid confident...
or arrogant?
He had no idea what it meant to be nervous.
So the order he went on probably wouldn't affect him much.
It was fine...
Though she tried to reassure herself, Xie Chuchu's hand still tightened involuntarily.
Her nails dug slightly into the back of her hand.
The faint pain eased the tension in her heart.
Chi Xiuke glanced at her friend.
She said nothing.
She understood how her friend felt right now.
Back when she'd watched her older brother compete from the audience, she'd felt much the same.
Maybe there were some differences?
She had absolute faith in her brother.
She was certain he could win the championship.
She was there to witness a champion being born.
She loved seeing her brother shine onstage.
He was dazzling.
The piece wasn't especially long, but it wasn't short