Time arrived at five in the afternoon. The venue at "Two-Dimensional Home" was mostly cleaned up. Qing Luo had arrived at four and had been sitting, conserving her strength, directing her sisters in decorating and setting up.
By now, the empty main hall had been furnished with chairs, arranged in a perfect arc, like a coastline embracing a vast azure sea, winding gracefully, or like stars revolving around the moon, encircling the stage.
The background embroidery on the stage was a Bai Mei Ao Xue (Plum Blossoms Defying the Snow) painting she had painstakingly embroidered over nearly a year, fueled by late nights and urgent self-study. It exuded a pure, aloof, and elegant aura, with delicate green lines outlining patches of verdant grass. Distant mountains were painted at the farthest reaches of the design, with mist swirling through them, ethereal as a dream.
Above, the ceiling was adorned with shimmering meteor-like light screens. A crescent moon shyly revealed half its face from behind pale clouds, its ethereal beauty enhanced by wisps of clouds, as if conveying unspoken emotions and flying wishes, elevating the serene atmosphere to another level. This entire lighting setup was not part of Qing Luo's original design but was arranged by Ye Lan's acquaintance, adding a touch of brilliance that made everything exquisitely beautiful.
Qing Luo, as usual, checked the lighting. The cold spotlights cast arcs of light that scattered like clear moonlight. When combined with the dry ice, the stage effect would surely captivate all two-dimensional enthusiasts, reminiscent of the moon palace. She firmly believed this would be an unparalleled performance, and she and her sisters had poured an immense amount of effort into it.
The sounds of applause rose and fell, seemingly piercing her eardrums, while all sorts of flattering words poured from their lips. She suddenly froze. The gentle breeze of early summer wafted in through the aisle, and she felt an unexpected chill.
This sensation clearly originated from the outer passageway.
Even though her back was turned, she could still smell the perfume of that arrogant woman.
"Yo, busy as bees, aren't you?" The woman strode into the main hall, followed by about a dozen strapping young men who slowly followed her in.
She glanced around. The stage setup, seating arrangement, lighting, and backdrop were all ten thousand times superior to their "Explosive Girls," igniting a blazing inferno of jealousy in her heart!
"This kind of quirky style won't appeal to those otaku. I advise you to stop struggling and just pack your bags and leave."
Without waiting for Qing Luo's reply, the woman waved her hands, and the dozen or so burly men began kicking the arranged chairs!
"What are you doing? Li Li!"
Qing Luo stood up but was immediately pushed back into her seat by Li Li.
"I don't have time for you right now. I want that scumbag kid from this afternoon to stand up!"
Qing Luo had already heard from Guan Ying about what happened that afternoon. She had expected Li Li, having encountered someone like Ren Yuan Hao, would have learned her lesson and wouldn't return to cause trouble. To her surprise, Li Li not only failed to learn her lesson but had also brought over a dozen burly men to wreck the place.
And, of all times, Ren Yuan Hao wasn't present!
However, even though Ren Yuan Hao was absent, Ye Lan was on the stage at that moment. Seeing Qing Luo in trouble, she leaped down from the stage in one smooth motion, her movements as light and swift as a gust of wind.
Although Ye Lan was wearing a mask, her eyes alone sent the burly men into a state of daze, making them forget their task.
"Useless fellows!" Li Li scolded the group of burly men, but she too was struck by the opponent's beauty. Such an ethereal, transcendent woman undoubtedly had a significant background. Yet, it was precisely that face, which filled her with jealousy, that reignited her rage.
Ye Lan had been training with Shen Lan Ni recently, learning some of the "Blue Sea Tide" cultivation techniques and basic combat skills. Coupled with the enhancement from the grayish-black pill, she now possessed preliminary combat strength.
Her gaze was like that of a clear, cold pool, exuding a chill that penetrated to the bone.
"If you're looking for Ren Yuan Hao, please wait for him to return before settling accounts. Don't take your anger out on these chairs. You might not be able to handle the audience's wrath later."
Ye Lan's expression was ashen, her voice as cold as ice, her eyes sharp as knives, striking a chilling fear into people's hearts.
To her surprise, Li Li burst into laughter upon hearing this.
"You're still expecting someone to come? Don't you know the manager is preparing to fire you all? They haven't even bothered to distribute promotional flyers, and you're still dreaming of people showing up? Save yourselves the trouble!"
As she spoke, the manager indeed emerged slowly from the passageway.
"See, here comes the manager. If you don't believe me, you can ask her."
Li Li stood her ground, haughtily looking at the manager as if expecting a greeting. After all, she was now the "star" of "Two-Dimensional Home," or rather, its popularity queen. Even the manager, who held the power of life and death, had to consider her feelings.
"This scene is quite magnificent. Very good, very good." The manager walked briskly towards Qing Luo, staring intently at her face for a moment before speaking again, "Qing Luo, you seem a bit pale. You must have put in a lot of effort for this performance."
The manager's words left Qing Luo uncertain. She was caught between their words, unsure of whom to believe. Hesitating to ask, she finally said, "Manager, we heard that you are internally preparing to dismiss us?"
Upon hearing this, all the members of "Han Zhi Yun" immediately stopped their work and gathered around, seemingly seeking an explanation and, at the same time, extremely concerned about their fate.
The manager pondered for a while, without even lifting her eyes, and merely sighed before finally speaking, "You know, Qing Luo, I've also put in a lot of effort for you all. However, your attendance rate has been steadily declining. Our company really can't afford to keep you on. But since this performance is something I promised you, I will definitely let you complete it."
Qing Luo didn't listen any further. The sisters from the girl group lowered their heads, as if they had heard the most brutal verdict. Their future prospects seemed as dim as a car driving at high speed with its headlights off, shrouded in darkness and on the verge of breaking down.
"Since the decision was made long ago, why didn't you tell us in advance? Do you know how we've been living this past month?" Qing Luo was losing control. Usually gentle, she almost pointed directly at the manager's nose and said, "You know how much effort we've poured into this, yet you wouldn't even send someone to distribute flyers. What is your intention?"
Li Li, after hearing this, laughed unrestrainedly. "Does the company, knowing you're all trash, still have to be responsible for promoting trash?" She turned to Ye Lan and laughed arrogantly, "Hey, didn't you say this place would be packed later? Where are the people?"
Just then, a clamor of voices erupted from the entrance. Ren Yuan Hao waved towards Ye Lan and Qing Luo, saying, "Damn it, what are you still chatting about? The entrance is almost blocked. Hurry up and come out to check tickets!"