### Chapter 3 – The Duet
The concert at the Night Watcher Base kicked off.
Night Lan and White Fish had already made their way to the front row, eagerly watching Kun Yu Bai perform.
Everyone below the stage was silently enjoying the music. It looked pretty nice overall.
But not everyone, like Cai Xun and Bu Jie, was enthusiastically waving their support paddles. Most of the Night Watchers were a bit cold and reserved. Since they often interacted with Star Eclipses, they needed to stay emotionally stable. While they enjoyed Blank Songstress’s singing, they didn’t show much more support than that, making the atmosphere less lively than a real concert.
After all, Blank Songstress was performing for a different group – one with very few people.
Rather than saying most Night Watchers were cold, it would be more accurate to say they were hard to excite. Getting them enthusiastic was incredibly difficult; after all, they were Night Watchers.
They not only faced abnormal beings contaminated by Star Eclipses but also had to prevent their own stars from becoming corrupted. Over time, they naturally became rather calm and collected.
“Thank you all!”
At this moment, Blank Songstress had finished singing, and the applause from the Night Watchers filled the air, showing their support.
Night Lan felt a bit dazed when she saw this.
Once upon a time, Singers were despised as Star Eclipses, destined to be enemies of the Night Watchers.
But now, she was standing in front of them on stage, being cheered and applauded by the Night Watchers.
Isn’t this what Night Lan wanted?
If only the other members of the theater group could do the same.
Kun Yu Bai smiled on stage and said, “Next up, I will invite a lucky guest to sing together with me? Who will it be?”
She then directed her gaze toward Night Lan in the front row.
Night Lan: “?”
A black-haired loli suddenly got an ominous feeling.
Kun Yu Bai pointed at Night Lan and smiled, “It’s you, come up.”
“Yes, indeed!”
Night Lan had no place to vent her frustration anymore.
Although she had performed on the main stage before, singing loudly in front of tens of thousands of spectators, it didn’t mean she was unaffected. And now, all the audience were Night Watchers – people she would work with closely.
Night Lan didn’t want to d*e in social media disgrace!
But she also didn’t want to disappoint Kun Yu Bai, so she reluctantly went up on stage.
Seeing a cute little loli walk up onto the stage, the Night Watchers watching from below looked surprised.
Was there such a cute loli among the Night Watchers?
Just by the way, Night Lan, as one of Cloud Chang City’s secret Night Watchers, didn’t have much presence in the base, except among the higher-ups where she was well-known. Many other Night Watchers didn’t even know Night Lan.
So, when these Night Watchers saw an unfamiliar girl walking onto the stage with the dazzling figure of Blank Songstress, they grew curious.
Most Night Watchers weren’t friendly folks. Their analytical and observation skills were honed through countless confrontations with Star Eclipses.
Calm and thoughtful, they noticed something odd.
For instance, the black-haired loli seemed to have a great relationship with Blank Songstress. The songstress’s smile was truly joyful and her tone felt different as well, suggesting a possibly closer bond with other watchers.
The lucky guest?
Maybe not.
Some Night Watchers had already guessed it out.
Before, Blank Songstress mentioned that tonight’s concert was celebrating someone.
Considering the current situation, it couldn’t be just anyone else but the black-haired loli, right?
Birthday perhaps?
Opening a concert in the base to celebrate a good friend’s birthday—indeed, this was something the kind and gentle songstress would do.
White Fish on stage stared, surprised, at Blank Songstress holding hands with Night Lan and couldn’t help tilting her head.
“Ah, ah, they seem to be quite close, indeed, thisBlank Songstress lady was charmed by Night Lan’s allure, right?”
Indeed, no one who faced Night Lan’s genuine approach could remain emotionally distant; they would unknowingly fall in love with this little loli.
White Fish herself, Lian Hua, and even that Eypar were no exceptions.
Switching the perspective back to the stage…
Night Lan reluctantly tugged at Kun Yu Bai’s sleeve, afraid of facing the audience’s gazes.
Kun Yu Bai bent down slightly, allowing the small Night Lan to whisper into her ear.
“Is this really okay?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Because I might mess up if we sing together.”
“No way! You did a great job on stage before, facing tens of thousands of spectators without hesitation.”
“No… It’s different now.”
Night Lan felt a bit wronged.
Back then, she managed because she was willing to go all in for someone important.
Being so gutsy made everything possible.
But now it was completely different.
Night Lan felt like she was stripped of her courage, unable to face the Night Watchers.
To sing perfectly in front of colleagues felt impossible!
Not to mention, next to her was the World Songstress. Singing duets with someone of that caliber increased her anxiety.
How about summoning Qing Lin Liu instead?
Having two World Songstress perform together would be explosive.
Thinking this over, Blank Songstress nodded, her lips forming an enigmatic smile as she turned to the audience, “Hey everyone, my little darling here says she lacks the courage. Can any one of you give her some courage? Just a little applause would work.”
Hardly had she finished when thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
Night Watchers would give maximum respect and assistance to their own. And for their cuter ones, they gave even more support.
That’s the Night Watchers in spirit—especially those who knew Night Lan like Cai Xun.
“This is brilliant! Singing with Blank Songstress… I’d be too excited if it were me,” Bo Jie drooled while Cai Xun grimaced.
“Don’t bother. I’m afraid your wails might scare the Songstress, or worse, make someone come to punch you out. So, enjoy her performance.”
“Yeah, whatever!”
Bo Jie turned his attention to nearby Zero Meow and asked, “Little Kitty, are Night Lan and Blank Songstress really close? They appear to be good friends, isn’t it? Could she be the person this concert’s dedicated to?”
“Hmm… I don’t know. Not that I can recall. But I think they know each other.”
“You mean you’re not Night Lan’s best buddy enough to know?”
“Don’t tell me all friends share the same secrets… It’s not that I don’t care about Night Lan’s affairs.”
Cai Xun stood by observing the scene on stage.
“Jesting aside, does Nigh Lan really have no problems? Isn’t she under too much pressure?”
“With her cute looks and lovely voice, how could she not sing well?”
Bo Jie reasoned out loud as Night Lan began to tremble on stage due to Blank Songstress’s enthusiasm.
Her performance was bound, she couldn’t back out now.
She’d have to just wing it.
Worrying was useless. For now, she could just treat the audience as cute little Lolis. Perhaps that would make it better.
“Okay, then what should we sing?”
“How about ‘Don’t Forget Me?'”
“Eh? Really?”
“Because Night Lan sang it before. I heard it myself and it’s fantastic. Truly worthy of an excellent songstress.”
“Ugh, thank you.”
Night Lan appreciated such recognition from Blank Songstress, making her genuinely happy.
Then, the melody began.
Night Lan’s voice first echoed, stunning everyone present.
Despite knowing she was just a black-haired loli, whose song might be decent but not amazing, they found her voice remarkably good. She carried the emotional resonance found in Blank Songstress’s songs.
Xi Xia whispered to Uni, “Didn’t expect her voice to be this good. It almost rivals Blank Songstress and Qing Liao Songstress.”
Uni nodded in agreement.
“It really doesn’t sound messy to me—just the noise bothers me, and here’s your headphone back.”
They listened intently as the harmony intensified.
“If only today could laugh and remember, those memories will wake…”
“When silent tears flow in unnoticed places…”
“The foundation of your present self, leading through endless love…”
“Gratitude from my heart for you…”
“I wish you eternal happiness, forever loving you…”
As their voices harmoniously merged, the crowd burst into applause.
“Wonderful!”
“Not bad!”
Zero Meow gripped Bu Jie’s shirt fiercely and shook with excitement.
“Incredible! Too incredible! Meow, I’m moved!”
Bu Jie let her shake him, equally thrilled.
“She deserved! Just because she deserves it!”
“Pathetic, I recorded it. You want it?”
“Give me a copy! I’ll listen to it thirty times tonight!”
Backstage.
Listening to the applause, Night Lan blushed slightly and bowed in gratitude.
“Thank you.”
“Another song! You’re not worse than other songstress, so why not become a backup singer until you’re ready for missions?”
A night watcher suggested out loud.
Kun Yu Bai chimed in, “In fact, Night Lan is already a songstress, just lazy without much new material.”
Night Lan frowned deeply, wishing Kun Yu Bai could stop talking.
More leaks meant bigger social d*ath.
She didn’t want this torture!
Though she’s endured worse.
While researching Blank Songstress’s info, she checked her old account, formerly “Blank Songstress.” Her actual profile replaced it.
Now she was known as “Nameless Songstress,” virtually unknown.
Her account just had one track—a cover of “Don’t Forget Me.”
Night Lan found it fitting; maybe she’d never use the account again.
Singing would be for her alone in the bathtub. No online posting.
Before Kun Yu Bai could say the song’s name, Night Lan quickly stood on tiptoes to cover her mouth.
“No way!”
Blank Songstress could only nod and move her hand away.
“Alright then.”
Facing the audience, she grinned, “Looks like my little dear is surprisingly shy. Guess you’ll have to find it yourselves.”
At which point, disappointed murmurs rose from below.
Night Lan descended the stage and rejoined Bai Yu’s group, sighing in relief.
But as soon as she relaxed, she found several people gathered around.
“Your voice is amazing, any other works?”
Night Lan nervously responded, “None.”
“What’s your stage name?”
“Buddha Island.”
“Why not take the stage with us? We old-timers could use the motivation.”
“Nuh uh.”
Night Lan blocked all questions.
Avoiding embarrassment, she stood firm despite the intimidating figures. Everyone could only leave dejectedly.
Seeing Night Lan, White Fish curiously asked, “Did she really become a songstress? I wasn’t aware.”
“Well, lots of stuff happened…”
“Come on, spill!”
“Later, okay?”
“What about the stage name?”
“Same, later—”
“He he~ That’s fine.”
White Fish smiled happily.
Night Lan treated White Fish differently from others, easily noted.
After all, she was at least a friend of sorts.
The concert eventually ended, Night Watchers dispersing to their homes.
But the celebration gathering for Night Lan hadn’t concluded; they headed to a restaurant near the base afterward.
The evening restaurant was quieter compared to daytime with fewer patrons.
Arriving at the restaurant with fewer individuals around, they used the electronic screen at the door to book a booth.
Present were Night Lan, Kun Yu Bai, White Paint, White Fish, Zero Meow, plus Mo Tu to complete the scene.
Mo Tu seemed rather reluctant.
“Hey, why drag me into this?”
“Because you’re a witness, it’s natural.” Night Lan winked.
Mo Tu frowned further.
“Why not involve Xiao Jin, Bai Yuan, Wang Chao?”
“They don’t want to come.”
“I don’t want to either.”
“Hey hey~”
