I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

"Oh yes, yes, you're absolutely right... Here's the sheet music, you should practice it more often when you have time!"

"Are you underestimating me? I could catch up with you with just a little practice... Oh wait, that probably won't work."

Hen hesitated for a moment, but still didn't say that "boast".

"Oh~ Daddy is the best!"

"That's right! Little Gretchen can watch Daddy's performance from the audience with her mom!"

"You're not taking me, the lead singer, seriously at all... Oh well~ Gretchen, you'd better make sure to document Hen's figure properly later, okay?"

"Yes! And Xiwang's too... I'll make that too."

Greta gently touched Xi Wang's cheek with her head, her sky-blue hair brushing against his skin, making him feel a little ticklish.

"That would be wonderful!"

Xi Wang affectionately rubbed against Gretchen's little face... Perhaps because of the fusion warrior surgery, Gretchen's face was soft and tender, and very cute.

"Sigh... Seriously, why is Gretchen so clingy to you? I didn't even know... Hey, wait a minute, where are you going?"

"Hmph~ Hen, and Blanca, I have something to ask little Gretchen for help with, so..."

"It's alright, as long as Gretsch is willing."

Before Xiwang could finish speaking, Blanca nodded and said with a smile, then turned her gaze to Gretchen, who still had no intention of getting off Xiwang.

"If it's Brother Xiwang, I'll help."

Greta blinked, then nodded, without refusing.

"Thank you so much~ So... please~ Hen, this is my lifelong request, please entrust Gretsch to me~ Well, for now."

"??? You brat?!"

"Haha~"

…………

………………

"Hey, big star, what brings you here to call me? Oh, it's nothing~ You can come over to me directly, I'll show you my new magic trick... huh? I'll show you now, even if you can't see it very clearly, it's okay! Vivi's magic trick will definitely amaze you!"

"Yes, I believe your magic will always be like that, or rather, it always has been."

"That's right! I am the [Great Magician] Velvi! Oh, by the way, big star, don't you still owe me a song?"

"Vilvie...you've taken no less than a hundred songs from me, and every time you see a different 'you,' you bring it up...you're just trying to squeeze every last drop out of me, aren't you?"

"Oh dear, I'm showing you my new magic trick too!"

"I remember you promised me that I wouldn't need a ticket to watch your magic show, right?"

"Really? Oh... I think I did say that... Oh dear, this is terrible, how is Vilvie going to compensate you, a big star?"

"Make me some jewelry... and some souvenirs. In exchange, I'll sing you a song."

"Is that all? And... the accessories? Who are you planning to give them to? Let me think... Eden, and Sakura? Right~ Haha... As for the song, no need for that~ After all, this is a debt that Velvet owes, and as the [Great Magician], I naturally have to repay it!"

"Ha...no need. This song is a gift specifically for you...so I hope you will accept it, and...the jewelry is for you."

"us?"

"Ah, sorry, I might need to be a little more precise with you... It should be a gift for everyone, um."

Xi Wang said this with a smile.

…………

………………

Thus, during the preparation phase of the "concert," besides the staff arranging the venue, Xi Wang himself was also busy with various tasks. He was instructing the fusion warriors he had invited, preparing the songs to be performed, and sending invitations to the people who had made reservations, such as Klein, Mebius's assistant, Imer, Qian Jie's deputy, and... Sakura's sister, Ling.

In addition, he would occasionally take Gretsch along, and with Möbius by his side, he would secretly do some things... He would also need to contact Velvi from time to time, saying that he wanted to discuss some [details].

He even needed to do some vocal exercises with Eden in his spare time, which also helped Sakura regain her playing feel...

For a time, Xi Wang seemed busier than everyone else... Alicia wanted to help him, to solve some of his problems and reduce his fatigue, but he refused.

“Only in this way can I have some sense of reality, some… definite sense of reality, a sense that I am changing something.” — This is how Xiwang responded to Alicia.

In the end, even Eden and Sakura, who had always indulged Xiwang's actions, couldn't stand it anymore and half-forced Xiwang to rest for a while.

"Alright, Xiwang... that's enough."

Eden gently pulled Xiwang, along with Ying, and half-forced him down, then gently lifted his head and placed it on her soft thighs.

"You've already done enough... Take a short break."

"...Yes, I'm sorry to have worried you."

Xi Wang paused for a moment before nodding and responding softly.

"Why don't you take a nap?"

Sakura also spoke in her softest voice possible.

Originally, she and Eden had planned to prepare a lullaby for Xiwang... but after careful consideration, they felt that this might actually pique Xiwang's interest and make her play along with them, which would defeat their purpose, so they gave up on the idea.

"Okay~"

As they expected, Xi Wang did not refuse. Instead, she smiled and reached out her hand with her fingers spread, as if asking for something.

"uh-huh?"

She didn't speak, but let out a soft hum, her star-like eyes blinking, looking somewhat adorable.

“…Yes, I’m here.”

Eden understood, and gently took the outstretched hand in his, palms overlapping.

"...We are here."

Sakura paused for a moment, then spoke softly, her slender and long hand, like a falling cherry blossom, quietly landing in his hand and holding his.

"........."

Only then did he seem to temporarily put his mind at ease, slowly closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.

Chapter Sixty-Seven: At This Moment, Like Stars in the Night (8001)

Time flew by, and the performance day arrived as scheduled. On the specially cleared venue, the staff and soldiers of "Moths of Fire" came together with their comrades or their families. Please rest assured that everyone who came had a "ticket." Although it was free, the number of people was still limited.

After all, seats are limited. As for those who don't have "tickets," they can still come, but they'll have to stand. Although most people don't mind that.

And behind the scenes...

"Would you like to rest a little longer, Eden? After all, it only started in the evening, there's still some time left."

"No need for that. Rather, I'm about to return to the stage... This excites me quite a bit. I'm afraid even if I wanted to rest, I wouldn't be able to calm down."

Eden turned around and responded to Xiwang truthfully, but Xiwang's gaze was now elsewhere, or rather... it was on the wine glass in Eden's hand.

"You should drink less, okay? Even after becoming a Fusion Warrior, drinking probably won't cause any harm to your body, but... it's still better to drink in moderation, okay?"

"Yeah, I know... This is your 'concert,' and I don't want to miss it because I'm drunk."

Eden finished the remaining wine in his glass and spoke, his face slightly flushed.

"However, I am somewhat infatuated with this slightly tipsy feeling, and it also reminds me of the time when I was still standing on the stage... Of course, this also helps me to do some... bolder things."

He put down his wine glass, leaned forward, placed his arms on Xi Wang's shoulders, and gently pressed his body weight against him. His breath, slightly scented with wine, brushed against Xi Wang's face and then passed back to his own nose... The two were instantly brought to an extremely close distance.

"Once it's out in the open, it can't be hidden anymore, you know?"

"I don't need that in front of you, do I?"

Eden blinked, and without waiting for Xiwang's response, he pressed his lips to Xiwang's, leaving a trace of the wine in Xiwang's mouth.

"Hmm... Eden jumped the gun."

A soft sound, like cherry blossoms falling, came from behind Xi Wang. Along with it, he could feel a pair of hands gently grasping his shoulders, pulling him away from Eden's "shackles." Then... as if in a fit of pique, Sakura pressed her weight onto Xi Wang's back. Her pink hair, like cherry blossoms, intertwined with her white hair, like waves, and fell gently down, carrying with it a faint floral scent.

"Oh, I'm so sorry~"

Eden chuckled softly, his gaze unconsciously falling on the pair of slender, scarlet animal ears on Sakura's head, which trembled with delight.

"Sakura has become bolder and more honest."

"Well--"

A slight blush rose on Sakura's face, and the pair of slender animal ears on her head twitched twice before slowly drooping down a little, expressing her shyness. Then they quickly bounced up again, trembling happily.

"Sometimes it's okay to be bold, isn't that what you taught me?"

As she spoke, Sakura deliberately gave Xi Wang a quick kiss on the cheek. Before Sakura could straighten her face again, Xi Wang turned his head and left a light kiss on the corner of her mouth, which completely stunned Sakura. Only her pair of slender, scarlet animal ears trembled happily.

"Alright~ It's time to adjust your mindset, okay? And... if we keep going like this, someone might notice... someone's already here!"

Xi Wang said with a smile, and Ying hesitated for a moment before leaving Xi Wang's side... There was still a performance to be done later, and she couldn't let a moment of embarrassment ruin it.

"Oh right, Sakura, has Rin arrived yet?"

"Yes, I came over after I got her to her seat... Also, she asked me to thank you for arranging such a close seat for her."

"After all, it's my 'concert'~ It's okay to use a little power to satisfy my personal desires, right?"

Xi Wang smiled with satisfaction. Although the blowing wind had already conveyed this information to him, he still wanted to ask a question... After all, it would feel more real that way.

"Okay~ Next, let's go see how the others are doing~"

Xi Wang took the initiative to walk out, and Eden and Ying exchanged a glance, smiled, and then followed him.

…………

"Yo, Qianjie, you're here so early? But your piece is supposed to be the closing song, right? It doesn't have to be this early, or perhaps..."

"you shut up."

Qianjie subconsciously raised her voice, but immediately softened it, trying to maintain a calm tone as she responded to Xiwang. At the same time, she tugged at her collar, clearly uncomfortable with the restrictive dress.

"But Qianjie's outfit looks pretty good~ So handsome~"

"Yes, right? I spent a long time helping Qianjie choose this outfit. I also put in a lot of effort to get him to agree to change into it. Come on, say thank you, Alicia!"

Alicia skipped out from the side with light steps, leaned forward slightly, winked at Xiwang, and said.