### Chapter 45: The Singing Figure
Night Lan aimlessly walked around the Night Watcher Base, her head hung low in deep thought.
For some reason, she felt like things were a bit different now.
But after much reflection, she still couldn’t pinpoint what was off.
Everything seemed normal, so normal that no one noticed anything amiss.
“Is it just my imagination?”
As Night Lan walked around with her head down, suddenly bumping into a tall figure, she looked up and saw it was none other than Bai Yuan, the father of Baiyu and Bailan—Silver-gray short hair, an imposing man.
“Oh, Uncle Bai Yuan! Sorry about running into you!”
“No problem.”
Bai Yuan shook his head, his original frosty expression softening into one of kindliness.
The more he looked at the girl in front of him, the cuter she seemed to him, reminding him of Baiyu who always had him wanting to pet her head and spoil her.
At this moment, Night Lan seemed to recall something and asked, “Uncle Bai Yuan, when did you wake up?”
“I woke up just yesterday. A guy named Chi Hao, a Sunlight Night Watcher from Shanghe City, used the Stars to remove the Star Eclipser powers from the fallen Night Watchers, allowing me to regain consciousness.”
“So that’s how it is~” Night Lan put two and two together. That fire night had truly made quite an impression. Chi Hao sure knew how to make a scene.
She found it cool.
Spinning fireballs was amazing!
Bai Yuan continued, “However, my Stars haven’t fully recovered yet. It seems the Tragic Shadow Theater has some kind of ability to seal the Stars. I believe it must have been done by the new Audience Performer.”
Bai Yuan decided to tell Night Lan all this because he believed she deserved to know; after all, she was considered the bright future of the Night Watcher ranks, even though she was still growing into it.
Her displayed power far eclipsed any other Night Watcher’s; sometimes it was utterly irreplaceable.
“Audience Performer?”
Night Lan froze in astonishment.
Wait, when did she get the power to seal stars?
Even if she did, she never wished for such a thing, nor did anyone.
What on earth is going on?
Seeing Night Lan’s bewildered face, Bai Yuan asked, “Have you checked the current info on the Tragic Shadow Theater?”
“Well…”
“All the group leaders, Gentlemen, Cheats, Puppeteers’ Star Eclipses are known, but the Audience Performer hasn’t been exposed yet. If that’s the case, then most likely, the Audience Performer messed with our stars back then.”
“Oh… Is that so…”
Night Lan’s thoughts scattered chaotically in her mind.
No, this was very off!
This wasn’t her doing at all!
She didn’t possess that ability. Could it be the other theater members?
From what she knew, no other member seemed to have such an ability. Or…did she forget something crucial?
Night Lan’s breathing quickened, her chest feeling tight.
It was so suffocating, so unbearable.
Noticing Night Lan’s discomfort, Bai Yuan quickly grabbed her shoulder, his eyes filled with concern.
“Night Lan, what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing… just feeling a bit unwell…”
“Why don’t you go rest? Thank you for being here for Baiyu. With my busy work schedule, I’ve had little time to spend with her. If you need anything, I’ll do whatever I can.”
“Yeah…”
Night Lan didn’t pay much attention to Bai Yuan’s words; her already jumbled thoughts prevented her from thinking any further.
Soon, Bai Yuan left.
Night Lan wanted to find somewhere to cool down and compose herself.
Just then, she suddenly heard a song so melodious and beautiful, her soul quivered ever so slightly, as if she was just about to reach for something.
She looked toward the source of the voice and saw two men, Cai Xun and Bu Jie, lounging nearby, watching something on a projection screen.
“Seniors Cai Xun and Bu Jie?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Night Lan approached them.
Cai Xun and Bu Jie noticed the little black-haired loli approaching, their expressions full of shock.
“Little Night Lan, why are you here?”
“Mm, just wandering around. What are you two doing here?”
While speaking, Night Lan kept her gaze fixed on the screen in front of them.
A blue-haired, blue-eyed girl was singing there, radiating an aura of brilliance.
Now, she recognized this as Qing Liao the Songstress, the world-famous songbird.
Looking at Qing Liao, Night Lan’s mind flashed back to a blurry figure, someone who also loved to sing and had equally enchanting vocals, yet was not Qing Liao.
Who could it be?
Before she could continue thinking, Cai Xun interrupted her.
“We’re just killing time after losing our stellar powers on the job. The powers-that-be gave us a break. So Bu Jie and I thought we’d rewatch Qing Liao’s concert. You want to join?”
“Live concert? Eh, sure.”
Then, Night Lan sat down next to Cai Xun and Bu Jie, joining their viewing session.
Qing Liao’s incredible performance echoed through the speakers, but it made Night Lan lose focus.
Because in her mind, another voice played against Qing Liao’s, contrasting her melody.
At the same time, a faint image emerged in her mind, a slender figure standing alone on a stage, the audience silent and empty, yet the figure was singing incessantly, as if performing for only herself.
Ah…
Just as Night Lan was about to grasp the memory, that voice disappeared in her mind, as if suppressed by a forceful power.
Ugh, she hated that feeling!
But it didn’t matter; she remembered the stage from the scene, which was the Rising Sun Theater’s stage!
…
Night Star stood in the Rising Sun Theater.
Lianhua was performing a newly adapted puppet show about Bai Yu’s story.
Night Star needed to observe once again before giving suggestions or pointing out missing pieces.
But now, she rose and interrupted Lianhua.
“Hold it, Lianhua.”
“Huh? What’s up, Night Star? Is something wrong?”
“Not exactly. I have a question, and it’s not about the puppet show…”
On hearing this, Lianhua collected herself, not blaming Night Star for interrupting, but smiling slightly.
“Go on, what’s Night Star’s question?”
Night Star took a deep breath, then asked, “Does our group have any members who sing?”
Lianhua lifted her head in thought and shook her head.
“I don’t think so.”
“Mmm… but somehow, I can’t shake the feeling that someone sang on the stage of our theater…”
“If that’s the case, let’s ask the group leader, shall we?”
“The group leader…”
Before she finished saying it, a tall figure emerged from the shadows, precisely the group leader.
Instant response time, pretty reliable.
“Is there something you need from me, Auditor?”
After hesitating, Night Star replied, “The Rising Sun Theater has a member who sings, correct?”
“To my knowledge, there isn’t.”
Hearing the answer, Night Star’s brain went blank, thoughts slipping away like sand through fingers.
