“Band name… you want me to name it?”
Zuo Xi froze in place, her fingers unconsciously twisting together.
“Mm.”
Qin Huan nodded firmly, showing an encouraging smile.
“You’re the lead singer, Xi Jiang, and you’re going to become a big idol. You’re definitely better at naming things than I am.”
‘Actually, it’s just because I’m terrible at naming things.’
“Then, let me think…”
Zuo Xi lowered her head, her brows slightly furrowed, her lips pressed into a line.
Qin Huan stood quietly to the side.
“Got it.”
Zuo Xi looked up, her eyes sparkling.
“How about ‘Starfall’?”
“Starfall?”
“Mm.”
Zuo Xi’s voice carried a hint of barely noticeable nervousness.
“It means a falling star… Although a falling star is brief, in that moment, it’s the brightest thing in the entire night sky. I think… our band can be like a shooting star too. Even if we only have this one chance at the cultural festival, we will become the most dazzling light in everyone’s eyes.”
By the end, her voice grew quieter and quieter.
“A great name.”
Qin Huan praised sincerely.
“R-really?”
Zuo Xi’s eyes lit up, then as if realizing she was too excited, she coughed twice and tried to put on a calm expression.
“Mm, after all, it’s a name I thought up, so of course it’s not bad.”
[Qin Huan, Zuo Xi’s Affection Level has increased to 80 points, meow!]
The Miao Heavenly Emperor’s voice rang in her mind, carrying a hint of excitement.
[At this rate, you might finish the conquest soon, meow!]
Qin Huan rarely gave the Miao Heavenly Emperor a mental thumbs-up.
‘Indeed, sincerity is always the ultimate weapon. That compliment just now was absolutely from the heart. Although her naming taste is actually about the same as the Miao Heavenly Emperor, that doesn’t stop her from appreciating a good name.’
“So… Qin Huan, what do you think?”
Zuo Xi sneaked a glance at Qin Huan, then quickly looked away.
“Awesome!”
Qin Huan gave a thumbs up, smiling with eyes curved.
“Then our band is called ‘Starfall’!”
“Mm.”
Zuo Xi nodded lightly, the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifting.
The two walked side by side out of the school gate, slowly strolling along the street outside the school.
The afternoon street wasn’t particularly lively.
Occasionally a few students rode past them on bicycles, their bells jingling.
“Xi Jiang.”
Qin Huan suddenly spoke.
“Ah, here!”
Zuo Xi, like a child caught doing something wrong, abruptly straightened her back.
“Where do you usually perform?”
“Well… mainly a relatively remote tavern.”
Zuo Xi’s voice returned to calm.
“But recently the tavern seems to have something going on, and they haven’t called me to perform for a long time.”
Her tone carried a hint of disappointment, but she quickly perked up.
“But that’s okay! After the cultural festival ends, I’ll definitely get more performance opportunities!”
“Xi Jiang will definitely become a big idol.”
Qin Huan looked seriously at Zuo Xi’s profile.
“When that happens, I’ll be Xi Jiang’s number one fan.”
“Aren’t you already?”
Zuo Xi muttered softly.
“It’s different, it’s different.”
Qin Huan waved her hand.
“Right now Xi Jiang is still an underground idol. When you stand on a real stage and are seen by more people, I’ll get to say, ‘I’ve been supporting Xi Jiang since before she was famous,’ and then other fans will be so jealous.”
Zuo Xi was amused by her serious expression.
“What are you thinking about…”
“I’m thinking about a bright future.”
Qin Huan tilted her head, showing a mischievous smile.
“When Xi Jiang becomes famous, don’t forget me, okay?”
“Of course I won’t forget.”
Zuo Xi turned away, her voice muffled.
“Qin Huan is my… my first fan.”
[Zuo Xi’s Affection Level has increased again, meow. Now it’s 82 points, meow.]
The Miao Heavenly Emperor’s voice carried a hint of smugness, as if all of this was its doing.
Qin Huan rolled her eyes mentally, deciding to ignore this narcissistic orange cat.
The two continued walking along the street.
Zuo Xi occasionally pointed to shops on the roadside and introduced them to Qin Huan.
“The cheese cap milk tea at this shop is super delicious. I often come here to buy a cup to reward myself.”
“Oh, the owner of that bookstore is really nice. Sometimes I read books there without buying.”
“There’s a super delicious takoyaki shop hidden in that alley over there, but it only opens at night.”
Qin Huan listened quietly, occasionally chiming in.
She noticed that when Zuo Xi introduced these things, her entire demeanor relaxed, and she was just an ordinary girl.
“Ah, right.”
Zuo Xi suddenly stopped, turned around to look at Qin Huan.
“Qin Huan, why do you want to form a band?”
“Huh?”
Qin Huan was stunned.
“It’s just… you said before that you’ve had a band dream since childhood.”
Zuo Xi tilted her head, her light brown eyes looking seriously at Qin Huan.
“But I want to know the more specific reason. Is it because you like music? Or because you’ve seen some band performance?”
‘Of course it’s because I want to conquer you.’
Qin Huan naturally couldn’t say that out loud.
“Mm…”
She lowered her eyelashes, pretending to be lost in memory.
“Maybe because I think music is something that can connect people.”
“Eh?”
“You see, people who like the same band become friends. People moved by the same song resonate with each other.”
Qin Huan raised her head, her gaze landing on the distant horizon.
“My personality used to be very withdrawn. I didn’t have many friends. After I started listening to various music, I realized there were so many people like me in the world.”
“Even though we don’t know each other, as long as we hear the same melody, we can feel each other’s presence.”
“This feeling… is very warm.”
Qin Huan’s voice was very soft, as if speaking to herself.
Zuo Xi quietly watched her, something changing subtly in her eyes.
“So, I want to form a band.”
Qin Huan took a deep breath, turned to look at Zuo Xi, and showed a bright smile.
“I want to connect more people through music. And now I have Xi Jiang helping me. I’m really happy.”
[Qin Huan, Zuo Xi’s Affection Level has increased to 85 points, meow!]
The Miao Heavenly Emperor’s voice was full of shock.
‘Qin Huan smirked inwardly. She had been brewing this speech for a long time, blending the essence of all the band anime she had seen in her previous life, plus a pinch of sincerity. The impact was indeed astonishing.’
“Qin Huan…”
Zuo Xi opened her mouth as if to say something, but eventually closed it.
She lowered her head, her bangs covering her eyes, making her expression unreadable.
“Xi Jiang?”
“It’s nothing.”
Zuo Xi lifted her head, showing a bright smile.
“I’ll do my best. For Qin Huan’s dream, and for my own dream.”
“Let’s make Starfall the most dazzling light together.”
She reached out her hand, forming a fist.
Qin Huan understood, and also extended her fist, gently tapping Zuo Xi’s fist.
“Mm, together.”