Alan checked the time and prepared to send Honne back to her hotel.

Along the way, Honne lingered, stopping and starting.

It took almost half an hour to reach their destination.

"Alright, go on up," Alan said with a smile, patting Honne’s shoulder.

"See you tomorrow."

"Okay, see you tomorrow." Akari Honne pouted, her eyes full of reluctance, and walked towards the entrance, looking back every few steps.

After watching her go in, Alan prepared to head back, feeling the warmth of the dinner he had bought for Nozomi Sakura.

It was still warm. Even though it was autumn, it wasn’t cold, and the plastic container would probably keep it from getting chilly on the way back.

He turned around, choosing the shortest route home on his map navigation.

He had only taken a couple of steps when a black minivan suddenly turned around the flowerbed and drove towards him.

Alan glanced at the car model, finding it somewhat familiar.

After a brief thought, he recalled that Akari Hojo had arrived in a similar car when she came to see him previously.

Thinking he shouldn’t disturb her performance tomorrow, he quickened his pace.

However, the car suddenly slowed down and stopped about ten meters in front of him.

A few seconds later, the car door opened, and Akari Hojo stepped out.

She walked while taking off her mask.

The gentle smile on the girl’s face gradually became clear, and she finally stopped in front of Alan.

Akari Hojo looked up, her gaze resting on his face for a few seconds, and said softly, "Long time no see, Alan."

Seeing her calm demeanor, Alan felt much more at ease and replied, "Long time no see."

Hojo nodded, then glanced behind him and asked, "Has Honne gone back?"

"Yes, she just went in."

He paused, then glanced at the manager and bodyguard who had also gotten out of the car, noticing the latter looking his way.

He raised his hand, checked the time, and said, "It’s getting late. You should go back and rest early today. Good luck tomorrow." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Mm." Akari Hojo raised a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, her dark, moist eyes sparkling with a serious expression.

"Alan, you must watch me closely. I won’t let you down."

"..." For some reason, despite her confident words, Alan felt an inexplicable sense of unease.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but Akari Hojo simply smiled gently at him and walked past him towards Kaguya.

***

"So, Alan, you just abandoned your girlfriend at the hotel to go see your ex-girlfriend?"

In the hotel room, Nozomi Sakura ate mapo tofu with rice, looking at the boy on the chair, her tone filled with an indescribable grievance.

Seeing Nozomi’s resentful expression, Alan frowned and explained, "You make it sound like I specifically went to see her. Didn’t I just explain that we just happened to run into each other?"

"Besides, weren’t you just waking up when I got back?"

Nozomi pouted and gave a dry ’oh’, her lips stained with red oil, even more vibrant than when she wore lipstick.

Seeing her still looking aggrieved, Alan remembered her kiss a few days ago, and for a moment, he couldn’t tell if she was acting or genuinely jealous.

He sighed and said, "If you’re feeling uncomfortable, get some good rest tonight, and we’ll go back tomorrow. It’ll be good not to miss your classes."

"Huh?" Hearing him say that, Nozomi Sakura’s peach-blossom eyes widened instantly. She quickly put down her chopsticks and whined, "I was just kidding! Why are you so serious? If I really didn’t want to come, I wouldn’t have worked so hard these past two days."

"Alright, I know you wouldn’t lie to me. After all, you didn’t even hide the matter with Hasegawa from me. I was just joking around."

She paused, then pursed her red lips, rubbed her eyes, and continued, "Thank you, Alan, for bringing me dinner. But after eating, I feel even sleepier, a bit of a carb coma..."

He knew Nozomi Sakura couldn’t eat much.

Japanese girls generally had small appetites.

Aside from Nino Kitagawa, of course.

Seeing her yawn, Alan stood up and said, "Then you get some good rest. If you can’t sleep, read the novels and scripts I sent you."

"Got it." Nozomi Sakura replied, watching him leave the room. Once the door closed, she couldn’t help but narrow her eyes.

Going back was out of the question. The other party had already declared war last time; going back now would make it seem like she was afraid.

Akari Hojo, you’d better perform in a way that makes me feel like I can never surpass you in this lifetime.

Narrowing her eyes, Nozomi Sakura glanced towards the concert venue outside the window... The following afternoon.

Nozomi Sakura had woken up at noon and spent a long time at her dressing table after eating.

Even though this was Akari Hojo’s home turf, she couldn’t just surrender without a fight.

At least in terms of looks, she couldn’t be worse than her.

Well, the only things she could really show off in front of her now seemed to be her figure and face.

However, even though she had departed with the courage of a warrior, it wasn’t until she actually arrived at the venue that Nozomi Sakura truly realized the immense gap between herself and Akari Hojo.

The giant posters and banners outside the venue, the various stalls set up to sell merchandise and albums, and the long queues of people waiting to enter...

When she entered the venue and looked down from the steps, thousands of people were waving glow sticks simultaneously, the chaotic noise almost deafening her, and Akari Hojo’s music video was playing on the big screen...

Nozomi Sakura couldn’t help but be stunned.

She had previously attended live events to support Akari Hojo, but... those scenes were mere child’s play compared to now, they weren’t even on the same level.

Her hands unconsciously clenched, her fingertips pressing hard into her palms.

"Let’s go." Alan’s voice sounded in her ear, and then she felt her wrist being held.

Nozomi Sakura snapped back to reality, her hands unconsciously relaxing.

She turned her head and gave Alan a stiff smile, then was practically pulled by him to sit in the VIP section.

However, as soon as she sat down, she suddenly saw a familiar figure sitting next to Alan.

The lights had completely dimmed by now. She leaned forward, turning her head to try and get a clear look at the person.

However, the other person seemed to sense her gaze and glared at her forcefully.

Seeing the arrogant expression on the girl’s face, Nozomi Sakura immediately remembered who she was.

Little bitch.

Nozomi Sakura bit her lip, then, as if in defiance, she linked her arm through Alan’s.

She had expected him to pull her hand away like last time, but this time, he merely frowned and made no further movement.

Nozomi’s eyes lit up, the corners of her lips curling slightly, feeling a touch of smugness.

What if you knew him earlier, what if you were dazzling on stage? The person by Alan’s side now was herself.

No matter how much you like him, there’s nothing you can do. At least in terms of status, she had won.

Nozomi’s mood improved considerably, and she even watched the MV on the big screen with relish...

After about ten minutes.

The lights in the entire venue suddenly dimmed, and the noisy chatter of the audience instantly vanished as if they had received some signal.

The spotlights on the stage swayed with the rhythm, and then a gentle, melodious music began to play.

The next second, a soft, beautiful female voice rose like a wave through the venue.

"Two elongated shadows lined up on the pavement"

"Walking with you in the twilight"

"I wish we could hold hands forever"

"If only I could stay by your side forever"

Listening to this melody and lyrics she had never heard before, Nozomi Sakura’s pupils suddenly constricted, and her mouth involuntarily fell open.

Could this be a new song?

Snow Flower?

Before her shock could subside, as the second line of the song ended, the spotlights on the stage, as if receiving a signal, simultaneously shone on the center of the stage.

A hazy, graceful figure slowly emerged under the lights.

As the song progressed, the girl’s appearance gradually became clear:

dressed in a pure white gown, she gracefully walked to the front of the stage in light gold high heels.

’Oh!!!’

The moment Akari Hojo became clear, the entire venue immediately erupted, glow sticks waving like a surging sea.

Simple, elegant, radiant... a face as holy and beautiful as an angel, and a voice as pure and clear as snow, accompanied by the cheers of the crowd, continuously struck Nozomi Sakura’s heart...