Chapter 36: Commemoration
After getting ready, Night Star pulled out some special drawing paper and gripped her paintbrush tightly.
Now in her serious mode, she’d eliminated all distractions from the outside world—even convinced headquarters’ Night Lan to take a break and hang out in the resting room, focusing all her energy right here.
As time ticked away, dusk was approaching.
Night Star remained in the art studio, showing no signs of leaving.
Night fell.
The art studio was still lit up, with just a petite figure sitting in front of the easel, vigorously dancing her paintbrush.
Though their time together had been short, Night Star had stealthily observed the personalities and charms of many theater members, and after seeing their stage performances, each member’s image was deeply ingrained in her mind.
For this reason, Night Star felt she must capture their essence in her artwork, her understanding of them adding to this being the best commemoration she could muster.
But this type of painting was time-consuming.
Trying to portray someone from memory was way harder than just copying their likeness.
Plus, with Night Star’s quest for perfection, finishing quickly was never going to happen.
Soon enough, midnight struck.
Night Lan had long since drifted off to dreamland, leaving only Night Star toiling away in the studio.
Night Star worked tirelessly, not stopping for food or rest.
As dawn began to lighten the sky, the next day arrived right on cue.
Night Star had pulled an all-nighter for the first time in ages and she’d completed about half of her work.
At this moment, she paused and glanced out the window, noticing the horizon was hazy—it seemed the new day had arrived.
“Hmm… Has a whole day passed? Time flies…”
After this sigh of realization, Night Star didn’t even think about resting; she was ready to power through.
She wanted to finish everything in one go because once she paused, it would be hard to get back into the groove.
Night Star was determined to avoid procrastination—she just wanted to complete it as fast as possible.
As another dusk settled in, Night Star finally exhaled.
“Phew… Done.”
After finishing, an overwhelming wave of fatigue hit her, nearly toppling her over.
But she couldn’t collapse yet.
There was still one important task left to do.
She picked up her phone to contact Mo Qianmeng, stating her request.
Soon, Mo Qianmeng arrived at the studio, a hint of confusion shadowing her face upon seeing Night Star’s condition.
“Wait… have you been painting non-stop for two days?”
“Uh-huh, but it’s nothing major.”
“No food? No drink? No rest?”
“Not a problem at all!”
“No, that’s a big problem! Painting requires attentiveness and a good state of being. Rushing through it can’t result in good artwork. Sure, Star Holders have higher stamina than most, but I recommend keeping a regular schedule.”
Night Star shook her head gently, having full confidence in herself.
“Not a worry, don’t mind me. I just called you over to help frame my paintings, is that okay?”
“Let’s see what you’ve drawn lately.”
At this, Night Star nodded enthusiastically and revealed the canvases for a professional critique.
As Mo Qianmeng observed the artwork, she quickly became dumbfounded.
At first glance, she could tell these paintings were something extraordinary, contrasting sharply with the portrait the Audience Performer had painted for her earlier.
These pieces seemed to embody the ultimate work of the Audience Performer, each canvas infused with deep emotions—one of nostalgia that only a sensitive artist could truly grasp.
For instance, as a Sunlight Night Watcher and a master painter, Mo Qianmeng could feel the profound essence of these creations, leading to her surprise.
No doubt, the Audience Performer’s works had reached the point of being suitable for an exhibition, far exceeding any standard.
In comparison to the previous portrait done for her… it was like the difference between heaven and earth—indeed a vast disparity.
This left Mo Qianmeng speechless, feeling a twinge of mild resentment.
But reflecting on how the depth of these portraits was tied to the people she wished to paint, lacking any strong emotional connection made her realize there was no need to infuse them with feeling.
“Audience Performer, were the people in these portraits close to you?”
“Uh-huh… Sort of. They are people I admire, and I wanted to commemorate them, which is why I tried to capture them from my memories.”
“What you’re saying implies…”
“Yep, they’ve passed away.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. So, you want to frame these portraits in their memory?”
“Exactly, it’s something I must do, and it’s the only thing I can do.”
Hearing Night Star’s tone, Mo Qianmeng guessed just how important these people were to her.
Although Mo Qianmeng didn’t know the individuals in the paintings, that didn’t stop her from assisting the Audience Performer.
Together, they began to work, carefully framing each piece one by one.
After some time wrestling with the frames, they completed ten in total.
Mo Qianmeng let out a gentle sigh.
“Is this good enough?”
“Yep, that works. Thank you!”
“No problem! If you want to show gratitude, just make sure to take your time next time you paint my portrait. No more half-hearted efforts!”
“Uh… I’ll do my best.”
“I’m really looking forward to it. So, anything else you need my help with?”
“Nothing else.”
“Alright, I’ll head out then. If something comes up, feel free to contact me.”
“Uh-huh.”
With that, Mo Qianmeng left.
Night Star turned back to gaze at the framed artworks; it would be nearly impossible to haul them back to the theater all by herself.
But she could make use of other powers within her.
“Doll Threads.”
With her thoughts, her inner Doll City quickly responded, conjuring fine threads that wrapped around the larger painting frames and lifting them into the air.
This didn’t require any strenuous effort from Night Star—just enough focus to direct them.
Once that was set, Night Star opened the theater entrance and brought the paintings inside.
As the scene shifted, Night Star’s figure appeared in the dimly lit theater.
She didn’t pause her steps upon entering; instead, she marched straight backstage, arriving at a simple wall.
This was typically where theater members prepared before going on stage; it felt like the perfect spot.
“Here will do…”
Making her decision, Night Star got busy, hanging each frame one by one on the wall, neatly lining them up until they were ready.
“Hmm…”
As she gazed at the portraits on the wall, seeing those familiar faces made her nose tingle with emotion, almost bringing her to tears.
She remembered them all.
The identities of everyone in those pictures.
A Makeup Artist, an Enthusiastic Singer, Thousand Faces, a Musician, a Dance Fairy, a Narrator, and four other versatile performers—each and every one a fantastic artist.
Though they had long since succumbed to the passage of time, Night Star believed there should be ample proof of their existence within the theater now.
After all, they were once members of the Rising Sun Theater Group!
