Chapter 381: Xiao Yuan!
August 31st, 7:30 PM.
The Seoul Olympic Theater, inside and out, was occupied by fans of Zhang Yuanying and IZONE.
Inside the theater, thousands of people sat in their assigned seats, taking photos with their phones. Spending this memorable day, Zhang Yuanying's birthday, with their idol was undoubtedly a wonderful experience.
As the clock struck 7:30 PM, the lights dimmed, and the light sticks in the fans' hands quietly lit up. The entire Seoul Olympic Theater was covered in a sea of stars, and a sweet, happy scent filled the air. The emotions of thousands of people converged into an excited ocean.
The sudden quiet after the lights went out was breathtaking. The dreamy pink light sticks of "IZONE" formed a gently undulating galaxy.
In the darkness, fans softly called out Zhang Yuanying's name. The low whispers gradually converged, and the collective cheering transformed into a muffled roar in the silent ocean.
Suddenly, beams of light, like golden rain, fell directly onto the colossal throne at the center of the stage.
Amidst a swirling mist of light, the throne split open from its top, like a brilliant cocoon shedding its layers. And at its center, Zhang Yuanying stood gracefully, like a rose bathed in morning dew.
The hem of her pure white princess dress flowed around her feet like moonlight. The patterns on her collar, delicately outlined with silver threads, depicted cool floral designs that shimmered with the changing light.
Zhang Yuanying tilted her face slightly, a beauty mark on her brow like a drop of blood about to fall. Her dark hair was meticulously styled, and a delicate tiara quietly sparkled, making her look like a princess who had gracefully stepped out of a scroll from a distant land, drawing everyone's gaze.
The moment Zhang Yuanying appeared, the audience erupted, as if a long-suppressed volcano had finally broken through all barriers, its spewing lava scalding every corner.
"Happy Birthday! Our Yuan Ying!"
"You're an adult! Be happy forever!"
"Ah ah ah ah! Yuan Ying!!!"
"Happy Adulthood, Yuan Shen!!!"
Every name carried a fervent heartbeat.
Every wish transformed into a blazing wave of sound that swept through the entire theater, hitting the heavens.
The diamond staircase of the stage unfolded step by step, and Zhang Yuanying, holding the hem of her dress with both hands, walked down with composure.
When she reached the front of the stage, Zhang Yuanying paused slightly, her gaze falling on a drawing board held high.
The drawing depicted her slightly childish, baby-faced appearance when she first debuted on stage four years ago.
And the person holding the sign…
Zhang Yuanying's gaze fell upon the person holding the sign.
Jiang Shu looked at the dazzling Zhang Yuanying on stage, holding the sign with one hand and waving with a smile with the other.
Zhang Yuanying took a soft breath, a barely perceptible ripple of moisture flashing in her eyes, and then she gently and solemnly bowed to Jiang Shu.
At this moment, the director also showed Zhang Yuanying on stage and Jiang Shu in the audience.
When the two appeared in the same frame, the venue immediately erupted in a second wave of shouts and screams.
Zhang Yuanying stood up, took a deep breath, and continued walking forward, occasionally winking playfully in a certain direction in the audience, instantly igniting an even more fervent response.
Reaching the very front of the extended stage, Zhang Yuanying sat down on a chair that had been prepared.
Her coming-of-age birthday party officially began.
Jiang Shu sat in the front row, turning his head to watch Zhang Yuanying, who was singing with a half-playback track.
Her singing was quite average, but at this moment, none of the fans present cared about that. Spending this wonderful evening with Zhang Yuanying after arriving was enough for them.
The song performance segment quickly passed, followed by the true theme of the birthday party—idol-fan interaction.
The director then selected several fans, asking them to write questions for Zhang Yuanying to choose from.
Soon, the first question was selected.
Zhang Yuanying leaned against the white high-backed chair, looking at the question card in her hand.
"Your wish for coming of age?"
The starlight in Zhang Yuanying's eyes shimmered slightly.
"I hope that in the future, I can be like a big tree, growing tall and always standing here, so all my fans can always see me."
As she spoke, Zhang Yuanying suddenly stood up and waved to the audience in the back rows.
"Friends in the back seats need to see me too."
This sudden action drew screams from all the fans in the venue.
Jiang Shu, in the audience, also smiled at Zhang Yuanying's "little trick."
It must be said that the saying "born idol" truly fit her.
How many people could have such excellent on-the-spot reactions?
The birthday party continued to progress.
Compared to concerts that often last two or three hours, fan birthday meet-and-greets usually only last a little over an hour, and soon this birthday party was nearing its end.
The screen switched, freezing on a scene of Zhang Yuanying as a trainee when she first arrived at DM Entertainment, standing innocently in front of the camera, and the entire venue fell silent in unison for a moment.
Zhang Yuanying gently walked back to the center of the stage under a solitary main light, holding an unfolded letter.
The light only enveloped Zhang Yuanying's slender figure and the thin piece of paper in her hand.
"Dear fans…"
Zhang Yuanying's voice was like clear spring water pearls falling into a calm pool, steady and pure.
But as the content of the letter progressed and emotions accumulated, when she read the line, "I often worry that my shortcomings are not worthy of your every care," her voice suddenly trembled, and her trailing syllables broke off abruptly in mid-air like a snapped string.
Zhang Yuanying suddenly stopped, tightly pressing her trembling lips together, her gaze fixed on the paper, her eyes reddening.
In the audience, some people couldn't suppress soft sobs.
After a long while…
Zhang Yuanying lifted her head, taking a deep breath towards the sky, light glinting where her eyelashes were tightly closed.
When she lowered her head and smiled again, the weight of a born idol's resilience and tenderness had firmly settled.
"No matter what, being able to meet my fans has made my past eighteen years sparkle!"
As Zhang Yuanying's voice faded.
"Happy adulthood! Xiao Yuan!!!"
Amidst cheers and cries, several beams of light exploded like a descending galaxy, and colorful confetti instantly floated down everywhere in the clamor.
Zhang Yuanying closed her eyes, the lights dancing on her young face, like a halo crowning her.
Eighteen-year-old ribbons flew through the theater, and golden rain, mixed with ribbons, swirled down.
The intimate and warm shouts of fans from the audience penetrated every inch of space.
"Wuli Xiao Yuan!"
The age of eighteen will eventually pass, but this is far from the end of her blossoming, but rather the beginning of her more genuine handshake with the world.
It turned out that growth meant understanding that she was both a blessed gift and the brightest blessing given to the world itself.
Zhang Yuanying lowered her head, meeting a pair of smiling eyes from afar.
A brilliant smile bloomed on her face.
Today!
Tonight!
At this very moment!
Xiao Yuan… is an adult!!!