"Don’t leave..."
Even though the audience is reluctant to part, it can’t change the fact that ti is limited. When the spotlight dims, the six girls who have been struggling to hold on all breathe a sigh of relief, a mix of liberation and an indescribable feeling.
The lift restarts.
Just like the way they ca up, the UP girls descend the stage, and once out of the public eye, they no longer endure and begin to walk with a limp, awkwardly, making even the journey back to the backstage seem imnsely difficult.
It’s hard to imagine.
Their state, how did they endure the nearly twenty minutes just now?
Outside, the sounds pick up again as FOX continues their performance, while UP has no mind to care, only wanting to return to the dressing room as quickly as possible.
But suddenly, the six girls slow their steps, for soone erges from the makeup room ahead—a person who has long vanished from Korea’s entertainnt scene.
"Zhu Xuan-nim."
UP moves uniformly, bowing in greeting.
In Korea, hierarchy is everything. Although the person might not necessarily be older, they’ve debuted earlier and gained fa first; respect must be shown in public encounters.
"Hello, UP."
Jin Zhuxuan smiles warmly, without a hint of arrogance, like the mass-produced idol groups on a phone. She left Korea two years ago when these girls hadn’t even ford the group yet.
"I’m Kwon Su-ri, UP’s leader. I didn’t expect Zhu Xuan-nim would co to join the brothers’ stage."
The UP leader, dium in height among her mbers, speaks representing the team, with black wavy hair and as the main vocalist. Though not the visual face of the six, her presence before such a significant figure makes any comparison of beauty unnecessary.
Moreover, beauty is a subjective matter, without a standard definition.
"You just finished your performance, right? You’ve worked hard."
Jin Zhuxuan notices the sweat on the girls’ foreheads.
"So Zhu Xuan-nim is today’s mystery guest!"
The youngest mber of UP, Xu Yixian, couldn’t help but speak up. Despite her youth, she’s the tallest, with a baby face. Her pure looks contrast with her fishnet stockings and miniskirt, creating a conflicted dissonance.
In contrast, after being away from Korean dia for so long, Jin Zhuxuan’s attire is quite simple: casual bell-bottoms, sports jacket, black inside; it seems more suited for shopping than performing.
"I must thank FOX for giving this opportunity; it’s been so long since I perford dostically."
Jin Zhuxuan is humble, low-key, kind, and polite, breaking the traditional high-handedness of seniors, clearly winning UP’s admiration.
"Fans will definitely look forward to it."
Captain Kwon Su-ri finishes, and all six girls chant in unison, "Zhu Xuan-nim, fighting!"
Jin Zhuxuan nods with a smile, then notices soone clutching her skirt, legs unusually close together.
"What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
She asks with concern.
"No, nothing’s wrong."
The other hastily denies.
Seeing this, Captain Kwon Su-ri cuts the small talk, politeness tinged with perceptible urgency.
"Zhu Xuan-nim, we’ll head back to the dressing room first."
Jin Zhuxuan doesn’t ask further, nods, and steps aside.
The girls nod again, bowing as they eagerly proceed forward.
Jin Zhuxuan turns her gaze, watching their awkward posture.
There’s no mockery, no ridicule in her eyes; only sympathy and an indescribable sadness.
Just like —
A pet bought before being dragged into the slaughterhouse, watching its kind suffer inside.
Xuejing really couldn’t bear it anymore, forced to the breaking point, she summoned the courage to resist.
Who knows how many still choose to hold back in submission under the oppression of power.
Without comparison, there’s no hurt.
Happiness is never a definitive term, but a comparative one.
Knowing the dostic scene, she left for Shen Zhou, enduring all kinds of exclusion, bullying in variety shows and even being slapped without feeling bothered, not even wanting to tell Mr. Jiang, oh right, he’s "Oppa" now.
Compared to her fate in Korea, the grievances in Shen Zhou are trivial.
"Will Zhu Xuan-nim announce a coback?"
Back in the dressing room, the girls imdiately change all their clothes, from top to bottom, before truly sighing in relief.
There’s no blush, no awkwardness; sha gradually killed by repeated ordeals, leaving only numbness.
When there’s no ability to change the situation, there’s no other option but to accept fate.
"Not necessarily. I heard Zhu Xuan-nim and Liu Junxiang are good friends, knowing each other since childhood; maybe it’s Liu Junxiang who invited Zhu Xuan-nim."
"I’m so jealous of Zhu Xuan-nim, so beautiful and kind-hearted, that’s why she’s so lucky, right?"
Xu Yixian clasps her hands, her eyes still sparkling with Zhu Xuan-nim’s bright smile.
"Zhu Xuan-nim’s company is really powerful; otherwise, they wouldn’t have resolved her contract issues before, and now still able to perform dostically. Such companies are rare worldwide."
"So Zhu Xuan-nim should cherish it; since she left, don’t co back."
At this point, the usually silent Captain Kwon Su-ri furrows her brow, glances in a certain direction, and quietly warns everyone.
"Don’t say nonsense."
The mbers understand instinctively, glancing to different directions in the dressing room, then falling silent.
Only Xu Yixian, the youngest and tallest maknae, is bold enough to look at the captain and whispers, "Unnie, the surveillance can’t hear."
Surveillance cara.
No mistake.
She ntioned the surveillance cara.
This is the girl group’s dressing room; how could there be surveillance caras?
Yet the absurd reality is there.
This dressing room has caras, more than one, based on their glances towards different angles.
Furthermore.
The almost unthinkable thing is, even the popular girl group UP is fully aware!
"Empathy" is an abstract word.
When the needle isn’t sticking into oneself, how can one know the pain?
People can never comprehend worlds beyond their understanding. After leaving the stage, how they truly live, few know.
No.
It’s not just about leaving the stage.
Even on stage, it’s the sa.
It’s not that people don’t want to quit, but quitting isn’t within their choice. Once on board, when they can disembark, the decision isn’t theirs.
To escape, either the captain and crew should allow, or there’s only one way, to jump into the sea.
Hence, there are so many reports of seniors taking their lives.
"Li Xuejing has been missing for days now, there’s no news at all, could it be..."
"That’s MS’s issue; it has nothing to do with us."
Captain Kwon Su-ri remains very calm.
"During the performance, Kwon Junxiang groped again."
UP’s mber who was partnered with Kwon Junxiang spoke.
On hearing this, the other girls show a nonchalant look, without any emotional fluctuation.
Getting groped isn’t terrifying.
Their accustod, expected deanor is what truly unsettling.
"Zhu Xuan-nim likely doesn’t know what kind of people they are; hopefully, Zhu Xuan-nim will protect herself."
Xu Yixian’s envy turns into worry.
"Zhu Xuan-nim’s well-being doesn’t relate to you. Others are others."
Kwon Su-ri reminds the younger mber.
"But..."
"At least we can see, soone living well; that’s good, right, Unnie?"
Silence envelops the group.
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