She extended her fair and flawless hand, signaling for everyone to quiet down. The crowd hushed as if hearing a divine decree, with only the glow sticks continuing to wave and flicker.
"I believe everyone, like me, has an inextricable fondness and reverence for Han culture. Today, my several little sisters will bring you a visual feast. I hope you will offer them your support. Everyone, are you ready?"
Under the swaying glow, the entire venue erupted in cheers and affirmations!
At the opportune moment, the spotlight on Ye Lan dimmed instantly. Ye Lan was led backstage by Ren Yuanhao, and the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments, redolent of Han dynasty aesthetics, quickly filled the air!
The audience's applause thundered, and just then, a faint, moon-like light screen suddenly illuminated the stage. The "Proud Snow Painting," meticulously embroidered by Qingluo herself, slowly unfolded before them. The soft light from the sky seemed like scattering snow, cold and lofty, with green grass swaying.
As the audience was captivated by the scene on stage, they suddenly felt a chill rising from beneath their feet. Subsequently, dense fog slowly billowed from below, extending onto the stage like a smoky screen.
Just as they were pondering in confusion, a brilliant celestial light broke through the clouds on the sky curtain!
Pure moonlight, soft and abundant, cascaded down. Veil-like clouds rapidly flowed, the moon waxing and waning in alternation. The audience had forgotten the glow sticks they were waving, as if transported into the long river of history, experiencing the changes of the tides, feeling a fleeting sense of falling into a vortex of time and space.
At the end of the vortex was a vast, azure sea. Golden sunlight slowly rose from the boundless horizon, like a sharp sword cleaving the heavens and the earth, captivating the eye.
White waves then stacked and surged, rushing towards the shore one after another, like charging horses. The crowd watched intently, and within the tide, a figure appeared. Her robes fluttered like smoke and mist, her hair coiled elegantly, her three thousand dark tresses dancing in the wind, her fair skin as pure as returning wind and flowing snow. Her delicate, small golden lotuses seemed to tread upon the waves, her silk ribbons fluttering and swirling, truly like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens.
That person was undoubtedly Qingluo. She was suspended by wires, giving the impression of riding the wind. Following her, six more figures arrived on the "waves" and "mist," their movements graceful as dust, their robes billowing, their hair styled elegantly, vermilion adorning their brows. They were truly exceptionally beautiful, giving the feeling of the Seven Fairies lost to the mortal realm!
The waves surged, their momentum growing more astonishing. Qingluo danced gracefully in the moonlight sea like an ocean spirit, her flame-like crimson feather robe unstained by dust. The other six "fairies" also danced along, and the crests of all the waves eagerly leaped up, attempting to kiss her cheeks.
With a leap, she spun her graceful form. The pure moonlight gently draped a gossamer robe over her. She stood suspended in mid-air, her red sleeves like a fiery cloud-cape. The entire person plunged like a blazing flame into the "white plum blossoms" formed by the six figures, as if igniting the plain Hanfu on them with fiery colors!
And just as the audience was about to erupt in cheers, the fiery red "white plum blossoms" instantly transformed into a vibrant green hue. The six figures, like stars surrounding a moon, raised their hands. As if white plum blossoms were blooming, Qingluo, in an instant, changed into a green Hanfu, standing elegantly like jade.
The sound of silk and wind instruments gradually ceased, but the audience had forgotten to wave their hands and shout, as if their souls had been captured by the performance, leaving behind only empty shells. Someone, perhaps, was the first to react to the lingering resonance. The applause was as thin as paper. The crowd blinked, as if pulled back to reality by this applause, and then a continuous wave of applause and cheers erupted from all around.
"Qingluo, I think we succeeded!"
"That's right, we… we actually succeeded!"
…
The performance continued amidst the audience's calls for "Encore" until almost midnight before slowly concluding.
"Our culture is profound and extensive. Today, I was fortunate enough to witness it. If there are performances again in the future, I will definitely bring my friends from the Hanfu club."
"The stage presence of those seven girls was incredible. Five hours flew by without me realizing it. I can't remember the last time I watched a performance so intently."
"As expected, this team was recommended by Goddess Ye Lan. So, have you posted on your朋友圈 yet?"
"Of course, I posted! Such a beautiful performance, and it promotes Han culture. Not posting wouldn't be human!"
The dispersing audience continued to discuss the dreamlike performance. Perhaps, they would remember this one clearly throughout their lives, the performance in such a crowded environment, the seven fairylike figures like smoke and dust, and of course, that unforgettable goddess, Ye Lan.
Once the audience had completely departed, Qingluo and the other six were exhausted on the stage.
"It feels like a dream," Qingluo said, sitting beside Ren Yuanhao. First, she looked at the descending light curtain of the stage, then turned her head, looking at Ren Yuanhao with gratitude.
"It felt like a dream to me too. I watched your entire performance without blinking."
"You're just saying that. How could you not blink?"
"Hey, if you don't believe me, look. My eyes are bloodshot."
Ren Yuanhao pointed to his slightly red and swollen eyes, but his face was filled with a warm smile.
"Thank you, Ren Yuanhao. Without you, this performance would have likely been cut short. Of course, also your girlfriend, the esports goddess, Ye Lan."
There was no trace of mockery in Qingluo's smile, which made Ren Yuanhao flustered.
"It seems you already know," Ren Yuanhao said, twisting his neck and looking at the empty venue. "I'm just a salesperson for DiDi dating service. I could never reach a goddess like her."
Qingluo gave him a sideways glance. "As a woman, I understand a woman's feelings. When that sister Ye Lan looks at everyone, her eyes hold a certain coolness, but when she looks at you, it's so tender it's almost overflowing."
Now it was Ren Yuanhao's turn to stutter, "Is… is that so…"
"However, today, you are my boyfriend. Lastly, I have one small request."
"Tell me," Ren Yuanhao suddenly felt a pang of guilt, as Ye Lan was changing clothes backstage.
"Can you give me a hug? As friends, can you?"
Although Qingluo said this, her face was already flushed, and the dim light in her eyes was gradually replaced by tenderness. Ren Yuanhao did not hesitate, leaning in to embrace her.
"Thank you for letting me experience a flutter of the heart, for weaving me a dream. But this dream is about to end. We are not people of the same world after all."
Ren Yuanhao suddenly felt a sense of unease, as many clients had said these words. Sometimes, he wondered if, after experiencing a relationship, these girls could truly emerge from their various negative emotions.