Song Meiqi tightened her grip on the mic, steadying her breath beneath the blazing spotlights. Then she drew in a shaky breath, gathering every fragment of strength left within her—and began the final chorus.
It was only the sound of her voice drifting across the stadium—smooth and tender, carrying a pain that was both familiar and strangely foreign. It reminded her how fragile trust could be and how quickly happiness slips away.
And with her eyes closed and hands clenched, she poured every ounce of feeling into the performance. Every gesture, every expression told the heroine's story—falling in love, only to be betrayed by a lover driven by his own ambitions. Her voice, soft yet aching, made the pain feel real, as if the heartbreak she sang of were her own.
The fans were captivated, amazed that someone so young could convey such powerful emotions, drawing them into her song and letting every feeling resonate within them.
Then, as the guzheng's final note echoed softly, she sang one last high note—revealing a heroine torn apart and drained of all emotion, just like her.
Slowly, she lowered her mic, her eyes shimmering with the bittersweet ache of the story she had just sung. Yet, no one noticed the hidden pain she carried, lingering in the air like a faint whisper.
For a brief moment, the arena fell silent, every fan caught up in her performance. Meanwhile, Wang Zi Rui stood still, his gaze unwavering as he saw past the bright lights and the flawless act—he saw her. The tremble of her fingers, the hitch in her breath, the slight tightening of her jaw—each subtle motion betraying the emotions she tried to conceal.
It was as if the music carried all the words she couldn't speak, all the feelings she couldn't show. Zi Rui saw it all. For a fleeting moment, the calm composure on his face faltered as he wondered what thoughts had left her looking so quietly drained.
At once, the arena exploded with applause and cheers, pulling Zi Rui's thoughts back to the present. Then, the lights went out, plunging everything into darkness and leaving only the echoes of the fans and the haunting trace of her voice lingering in the air.
Zi Rui's expression slowly settled back into its usual calm composure as the concert continued…
"Encore! Encore!" the Bloomis roared, their voices echoing through the arena, eyes shining with excitement. And soon after, Everbloom stepped back onto the stage in casual clothes—a striking contrast to the glittering costumes they had worn just moments before.
"Bloomis!!!" Xiuying shouted, raising her mic toward the crowd. "Are you ready for one last round?!" Her voice rang out, sending the crowd into another frenzy of excitement.
From there, the concert continued for three more songs. Bloomis jumped up and down, matching the group's energy, while Zi Rui, calm and composed despite the pounding music, kept his eyes fixed on Meiqi.
And, as they finished the third song, Lina stepped forward, a playful glint in her eyes. "But… Bloomis," she began, her tone light and teasing.
"Today is also a special day for our dearest Everbloom member…" A playful smile spread across her face as she shared a knowing look with the others.
Meiqi's brow furrowed in confusion, not expecting Lina to say that, while the crowd erupted in cheers—as if everyone already knew who she meant.
Hearing the cheers, Lina's eyes lit up as she said, "Yes… it's our Little Qi's birthday!" Her excitement spread through the crowd, making them cheer even louder.
Then, staff came on stage carrying a three-tiered black cake decorated with lavender roses. Meiqi froze for a moment, her hands clasping together. The cheers, the cake, and the warm smiles from her members hit her all at once, and a shy smile appeared on her lips.
She had never celebrated her birthday on stage like this before—surrounded by thousands of cheering fans, it was a first. A warm feeling filled her chest, bringing quiet happiness.
All at once, the whole stadium sang "Happy Birthday," their voices wrapping around her like a wave. Meiqi stepped toward the glowing candles, heart fluttering as she closed her eyes, leaning in to make a wish.
I wish this pain would vanish… that my heart could be strong enough to face tomorrow, and bold enough to chase every dream without fear,
she thought silently, before leaning in and blowing out the candles.
The fans erupted in applause—and so did Yixiao, her smile widening as she watched Meiqi on stage, admiring how far she had come and the happiness she had brought into her life.
As the candles flickered out, Meiqi's gaze swept over her members, all beaming at her, before finally resting on Zheng Mengyao, whose face shone with a smile full of nothing but genuine happiness for her.
For a fleeting second, Meiqi's smile faltered. If you were truly my friend… why did you do it? she thought, feeling a small ache in her chest. But, she brushed it off as she heard Si Yu called out, "Photo time, everybody!"
The five huddled together, each striking a pose, as fans cheered behind them and cameras flashed to capture the moment. For the fans, it was a memory to treasure; for Meiqi, it was a momentary happiness before everything came crashing down.
Confetti rained down, filling the stage with glittering colours, as Everbloom performed their final song, "Shout Out," bringing their world tour to a close.