Like a Little Lamb

The figure onstage began to move to the music, and the whole stadium erupted with Yun Huaizhu's name. It was Lin Meng's first time at an event like this. She copied the others, pulling a glow stick from the bag the fan had given her and waving it along.

She wasn't the type to shout, but this time, just to fit in, she shyly opened her mouth—only for her cry of "Zhuzhu" to come out sounding like a little lamb.

For as long as she could remember, Lin Meng had hated crowded places.

The very word "fitting in" was foreign to her. She didn't need to make a special effort to blend into any group, so every mandatory company team-building event had left her deeply uncomfortable. She'd hide in an inconspicuous corner and simply wait for it to be over.

Lin Meng's voice was soft, but after shouting, her face flushed red as if she'd been deprived of oxygen.

Fortunately, the cheering segment was over. Lin Meng took a deep breath, sat down, and continued watching the performance onstage.

Just as the novel described, Yun Huaizhu was a graceful beauty, and her stage performance was beyond reproach. Lin Meng was the type to fall asleep the moment a movie started, yet she watched Yun Huaizhu's entire performance from beginning to end.

To her, it wasn't about the singing or dancing—only about admiring a beautiful woman.

After all, she didn't understand idol performances. The beautiful woman she liked just happened to be holding a concert.

……

For the finale, Yun Huaizhu sang a melodious, slightly sorrowful love song titled *May the Starlight Shine on You*. She had written it especially for her fans. By the time she finished, many fans were so moved they wept on the spot.

When the song ended, the soft stage lights returned to normal. Yun Huaizhu gazed at the fans below, reluctant, and spoke with sincere earnestness: "To every fan in the audience, and to the little pearls who have always stayed by my side—thank you for coming to my concert today. Without your support, I wouldn't be where I am. You are the courage that has carried me this far!"

While everyone around her was still immersed in excited joy, Lin Meng frowned slightly at these words.

Yun Huaizhu's words didn't sound like a farewell address—they sounded more like...

Before she could finish the thought, a single clear tear slid down the face on the stage. "There's something I want to tell my fans. Starting today, I, Yun Huaizhu, will retire from the entertainment industry. This concert will be the last of my life. Thank you for your support all this time. I'm sorry!"

Hearing this, Lin Meng suddenly remembered: That's right. In the novel, Su Yutang didn't just see Yun Huaizhu differentiate after the concert and then force her into heat—before that, she had also forced Yun Huaizhu to announce her retirement in front of all her fans at the concert.

The fans had just been watching Yun Huaizhu's concert with excitement and joy, and now she was abruptly announcing her retirement. That feeling of plummeting from heaven to hell in an instant—no one could bear it.

"Huh?"

"Why, Zhuzhu?"

"Yeah, why? What's the reason?"

Questioning voices rose from the crowd, one after another. If not for the row of security guards surrounding the venue, some overly agitated person might have rushed the stage to demand answers.

Yun Huaizhu continued, "As for what comes next, I'll have my agency post a statement on Weibo. Thank you for accompanying me all this time. Truly, thank you!"

With that, the stage lights suddenly went dark, and Yun Huaizhu left the venue along with the fading light.

Then Lin Meng heard the person beside her break into sudden, heartbroken sobs: "Wh-why... why would Zhuzhu suddenly retire? There was no news in our group chat beforehand at all."

"Exactly. Our group normally gets first-hand news. Something must have happened to Zhuzhu for her to retire!"

Hearing them say that, Lin Meng quietly lowered her head.

They weren't wrong, actually. Yun Huaizhu had been coerced into retiring by Su Yutang. But that kind of insider information was something only she knew, because she had read the novel. Tomorrow, Yun Huaizhu's Weibo would probably announce that she was retiring for personal reasons.

As Lin Meng thought this, she fumbled for the exquisitely wrapped little gift box in her pocket... Since this was Yun Huaizhu's last concert, surely Yun Huaizhu would accept the gift she had prepared, right?

Then again, this concert wouldn't cancel the fan interaction segment, would it?

The thought made Lin Meng nervous, but she quickly relaxed—worst case, she'd sneak in after everyone left and give it to Yun Huaizhu herself.

Some fans in the venue sighed; some grieved; some couldn't accept it and kept asking why. After who knew how long, the people in the outer section had all dispersed, and those in the inner section began to leave as well. Only Lin Meng remained sitting with the heartbroken ones.

Just then, a young woman approached. "Pearls, Zhuzhu's manager just said that those of us who attended the concert can join Zhuzhu's farewell fan meeting. Anyone who wants to go can line up backstage now."

This was a chance to get up close to Yun Huaizhu!

Lin Meng couldn't believe it. She'd just been feeling guilty about her ulterior motives, and now, just like that, Yun Huaizhu had solved her problem.

Lin Meng wanted to be the first to raise her hand, but there were too many people around her; the crowd pushed her to the back. She figured she would definitely see Yun Huaizhu today anyway, so she didn't compete with the others—and besides, if she were the last to see Yun Huaizhu, she might get more time with her.

So Lin Meng quietly queued at the back for over two hours. By the end, her knees ached terribly, but at last she stood before Yun Huaizhu.

……

Over two hours of fan confessions had left Yun Huaizhu exhausted. When she looked up at the last fan coming to see her, her brows furrowed slightly. It was a fan in black-framed glasses, head bowed low, looking rather dull and wooden.