The concert

The second-floor stands were very spacious, with only a handful of people seated far apart.

Looking down at the sea of people below, Gu Nian'an could not help marveling at just how popular Yu Songqing was.

After a wait of over an hour, the stage curtain suddenly drew back.

Yu Songqing wore a stage outfit covered in blue and white sequins, with a fiery red rose pinned to his chest. His slightly curled hair was dyed light blue, and his phoenix eyes seemed to sparkle as he slowly stepped down from the rising platform.

The moment Yu Songqing appeared, the fans below began shouting his name nonstop.

Yu Songqing merely raised his hand slightly and put a fingertip to his lips in a shushing gesture.

The fans below immediately erupted in screams.

As the music began, Yu Songqing slowly raised his microphone and began singing with feeling. Stirred by him onstage, the fans below could not help humming along.

The shouts, humming, and cheers filling the venue could not help getting everyone excited.

Yu Songqing's performance was like a spell. His voice brimmed with emotion, every note carrying a unique magic that made people hum along involuntarily, their emotions rising and falling with the music.

Gu Nian'an, too, was won over by the music's charm. He felt as though he were immersed in an ocean of music, completely swept up in the feverish atmosphere.

Watching the blue figure onstage, Gu Nian'an could not help losing himself in the music as well. He seemed to understand why Yu Songqing was so well loved both inside and outside the book.

He only had to stand there to seem as though he were shining.

Two hours soon passed. Yu Songqing's forehead was covered in beads of sweat as he addressed the crowd below. "Thank you all for coming to my final concert. To close, I'll be performing 'Butterfly Dream' for you."

This was his debut song, so now he would use it to bring things to a close for himself, too.

As the music began, everyone below suddenly raised their glow sticks, the expanse of azure blue resembling waves upon waves.

This was his fan support color, and also the color of the butterfly in the original "Butterfly Dream" that kept fluttering until it finally broke free of its cage.

Yu Songqing gazed at the Sea Wave below, tears seeming to rise in his eyes.

This was a declaration of love from hundreds of thousands of people, and their farewell to him as well.

The concert finally ended, and everyone reluctantly left. Perhaps one day in the future, they would meet again...

Holding his bouquet, Gu Nian'an slowly made his way backstage. After looking around, he finally found Yu Songqing sitting in a corner.

He strode over and pushed the flowers into his arms.

Somewhat excited, he said, "Songqing, you were amazing onstage just now! It felt like your whole body was glowing!"

Looking at the young man before him, whose excited eyes held a smile, Yu Songqing could not help feeling his heart quicken, his gaze flickering. He touched the bouquet in his hands and said softly, "Thank you. The flowers are lovely."

Their eyes met, and the atmosphere instantly became a little strange.

Yu Songqing was the first to look away. He rubbed his nose, momentarily unsure what to say, then glanced at the flowers in his hands and asked quietly, "These flowers are beautiful. Where did you buy them?"

Gently stroking the soft, pure white buds, he could not help having a thought: These flowers are like him.

"I picked them out at a flower shop I passed. They said they're called magnolias." Seeing that he liked the flowers, Gu Nian'an could not help feeling very happy as well, and told him where they had come from.

He added by way of explanation, "The shopkeeper also said they mean everlasting friendship in the language of flowers."

At the words "everlasting friendship," Yu Songqing's eyes suddenly dimmed a little. A moment later, he smiled again and said gently, "They're beautiful."

"As long as you like them." Gu Nian'an smiled softly.

Looking at the young man's smile, Yu Songqing's heart seemed to skip a beat, then began pounding rapidly like a drum. Somewhat flustered, he raised the bouquet in his arms to shield himself, trying to conceal his emotions.

They had not talked for long when a phone suddenly chimed with a notification. Gu Nian'an opened it and saw a message from Fu Xiuyuan.

"If the concert's over, hurry home. We're going to Sulan City tonight."

Remembering that Fu Xiuyuan had said last time that he would take him to meet some friends, Gu Nian'an hurriedly said goodbye to Yu Songqing, telling him that he had something else to do and that they could get together another time.

Yu Songqing nodded and said goodbye as well.

Watching him leave, he thought of the message he had glimpsed just now and could not help stroking the magnolias in his arms. As though sighing to himself, he said, "Everlasting friendship, huh..."

Hurrying out from backstage, Gu Nian'an collided head-on with someone, and they both fell to the ground.

Gu Nian'an rubbed his aching lower back, glanced at the person he had collided with, and immediately stood up to help her to her feet.

The woman before him was around forty, with wine-red curls falling over her shoulders. Her looks were ordinary, but she had a composed air that made her memorable.

Seeing that the woman seemed to be getting on in years, Gu Nian'an asked worriedly, "I'm sorry, I was walking too fast. You didn't hurt yourself in the fall, did you?"

"I'm fine. I wasn't watching where I was going either." Zhao Yali looked up at the young man before her, his eyes full of concern, and froze for a moment before waving a hand to indicate that she was all right.

Suddenly remembering something, she looked up and scanned the young man's face, asking in a low voice, "Do you know Yu Songqing?"

As soon as she spoke, she remembered where they were. Wasn't asking that question the same as asking something she already knew the answer to?

Instead, she said, "I'm Yu Songqing's mother. I've heard your name from him, so I thought I'd ask if it was you. I'm getting old and muddle my words."

Gu Nian'an smiled gently and said, "Hello, ma'am. I'm Gu Nian'an, Yu Songqing's friend."

Then he asked in puzzlement, "Did you come to see Songqing's concert? Why aren't you with him?"

Zhao Yali paused slightly, an unreadable emotion flashing through her eyes. She sighed helplessly and said, "Ah, I got here too late and missed it."

"He sang beautifully, didn't he?"

Looking at the woman before him, whose eyes seemed to gleam with pride when she mentioned Yu Songqing, Gu Nian'an replied softly, "Yes, beautifully. He looked as though he was glowing onstage."

Hearing him praise her child, Zhao Yali could not help smiling slightly. Then she glanced at her phone again, and, seemingly reminded of something, her expression instantly turned worried.

Her tone held a hint of impatience. "Did he? Haha, I can't chat anymore. I have something to take care of. See you again if we get the chance." With that, she waved and turned to leave.

Watching the woman leave, Gu Nian'an thought back over the original novel's plot. He only remembered that after Yu Songqing's father died, his mother remarried and had another son. The book did not seem to have mentioned anything else.

He shook his head, then went outside to hail a taxi.

By the time he got home, it was completely dark. Fu Xiuyuan sat in the living room, quietly leafing through a book.

"Sir, I'm back!"

Hearing the sound from the doorway, the man slowly closed his book and looked up.

Still a little excited after the concert, Gu Nian'an walked toward the man, an unconscious liveliness in his voice.

Fu Xiuyuan glanced over the young man's expression and unconsciously clasped his hands together. "Had a good time?" he asked mildly.

There was a hint of irritation in his eyes that even he had not noticed.

Gu Nian'an looked toward him at his words and nodded excitedly. "An amazing time! Sir, let me tell you, the atmosphere at Songqing's concert was incredible. During the final song, his fans even spontaneously formed a blue 'Sea Wave.' You have no idea how stunning it was!"

The young man kept talking excitedly, wishing he could tell the man everything he had seen and heard that day.

Looking at his happy expression, Fu Xiuyuan felt a trace of irritation keep welling up inside him, followed by a measure of helplessness.

After a long while, he merely sighed softly and said, "As long as you had fun. Get your things ready. We'll head to the airport in a bit."