"Is that so?" Everme said somewhat regretfully.

He didn't try to persuade any further, fully aware that imposing his thoughts on others is highly disrespectful. Everme politely smiled like a host at the end of a dinner party.

"It's not too late, shall I send someone to take you back?"

"Don't worry about the evening gown, I'll pour my heart into designing it in the next two days, ensuring that in the end, she'll dazzle everyone with the charm and beauty of a debutante at the grand ball."

After having an assistant contact someone to escort the two girls out, the curtain was raised under the silvery moonlight, gently billowing. Everme's squinted eyes slowly opened, the smile fading from his lips, and his rose-colored eyes reflected a splendid light in the moonlight.

"I guarantee that in the end, you will reconsider and join our Dawn Society."

"Seekers of light before dawn, I commend your courage and fearlessness. You are the faith of humanity, the towering beacon in the darkest hour, emitting light and hope~ May countless wisdom and honor be bestowed upon you. Chang Shengli, Mu Rongguang."

The night outside was thick and dark, and he sang a hymn filled with deep emotion, walking along the corridor by the bedside until the blood-red curtain concealed his figure.

...

October 18, 532 of the New Era Calendar.

Snow fell as recklessly as ever, covering the skyscrapers of Queens District in a white blanket, making the grand city resemble a hibernating beast, its thick fur coated with white snowflakes, and warm blood flowing beneath.

In front of Queen Street's cake shop, warm yellow light glowed through the shop's glass windows. Near the windows, one could feel the warmth emanating from inside, forming a blurred reflection of a girl from the misty windows.

Once inside, Xu Xiaoyou rubbed her hands, brushed off the snowflakes from her body, and, as usual, ordered a piece of baguette. The shop owner, seeing the familiar figure of the girl, eased the wrinkles on his face into a kind smile:

"No cheese cream, sprinkle with coffee powder?"

Sitting by the window, with a curtain watching the morning city news, Xu Xiaoyou froze for a moment, then nodded, never expecting that after more than half a month of coming to the Star of Art every day for breakfast, the owner would remember her.

"Yes." She nodded lightly, feeling relaxed.

Outside the window, the city streets were lined with birch trees, and the fallen yellow leaves were swept aside. Fashionably dressed girls walked hand in hand on outings, office workers carrying coffee and newspapers tucked under their arms ran along, and even those young people accustomed to curling up in warm beds indulging in the world behind curtains chose to step out for some fresh air.

For no other reason than today being the official start of the Starry Art Competition's preliminary rounds. This three-month competition, infusing fresh blood into the grand artistic endeavor of the Star of Art, naturally attracts great attention, as it does every year.

Each year, dark horses in different tracks display outstanding talent and skills, rising like new stars, with both the individuals and their works blessed by the constellations and shining bright under the starry sky.

As a result, the competition works often fetch astronomical prices post-competition, bringing immeasurable economic value, leading people from other Nest Cities worldwide to pay attention to this event; Xu Xiaoyou noticed since this morning, three consecutive Heart's Desire trains had arrived at the Belvedere platform, each packed with passengers; those who hailed from the world's major families and elites of the upper society.

After a long period of atmospheric buildup and the warm-up from yesterday's opening ceremony, the enthusiasm of the people was high. Similarly, the frequency of spirit activities increased, indicating that the birth rate of paranormal creatures would rise, making city security issues more concerning. If any accidents befall visiting tourists or contestants during the competition, it would be as if smashing the "tourist Nest City" sign of the Star of Art.

There were noticeably more Tuners patrolling the streets than a few days ago, Xu Xiaoyou observed.

She suddenly thought of Anya; it's been some time since the incident at Belvedere station occurred, where could Anya be now, has she awoken from her coma?

If people here knew there was still a world-class paranormal tale running around inside the Star of Art, like a ticking time bomb, their enthusiasm would likely be directly replaced by panic, wouldn't it?

Just then, the shopkeeper brought over the baguette, cut and sprinkled with black coffee powder, along with the tray of hot milk, smiling gently.

"I didn't order hot milk," Xu Xiaoyou instinctively said.

"Little girl, it's free, drink some hot milk to keep warm. In a few days, this shop will be closing," the shop owner's kindly voice came.

"Closing? Why?" Xu Xiaoyou felt regret, as she quite liked the French baguette here.

The shop owner, like a kind old woman, warmth from the light flitting across her watery serene eyes, Xu Xiaoyou felt a tinge of sadness on her weathered face.

"This shop has been on this little street for many years now, the blue-haired little girl by your side, she used to be an apprentice here. Back then, she was clumsy, often burning the bread and never rolling the dough right."

Tang Xin? Xu Xiaoyou dipped the richly wheat-fragrant bread slice into the hot milk, the milk-soaked fibers releasing an appetizing milky aroma.

She ate while talking: "Is that so?"

"But that child was very nice, kind-hearted, she would buy the burnt bread with her own money and have it for lunch, often seen squatting by the shop door feeding the stray cats nearby, those little creatures were also very well-behaved, never hurting anyone."

As she spoke, the old woman's sadness seemed about to overflow from her wrinkles, looking reluctantly at the small shop carrying so many of her memories over the years.

"One grows old and runs out of imagination, unlike the young ones."

"Next month, we'll be moving to the Piano Key District. This shop might also be handed over to someone else."

The shopkeeper's back was lonesome in the shop's light, a bit desolate, Xu Xiaoyou saw her lift the curtain and walk back to the baking room behind the counter.

...

Arriving at a temporary passage, Xu Xiaoyou simply scanned the electronic ticket with a curtain, the yellow indicator lit up on the electronic screen, and the safety door opened backward. Around her were many figures walking with her, also buying tickets to witness the preliminary round firsthand.

On the temporary open-air observation stands, the increasingly heavy snow relentlessly pounded against the steel dome, making a constant thud. The stands were already filled with figures, and Xu Xiaoyou found a spot to sit. Her angle was just right toward the stage center of the park square below, taking in the scene below at a glance, with hurried passersby and stage staff appearing like tiny black ants.

Tang Xin's preliminary competition location was on the stage of the Queen Park Square, scheduled to go on stage in the morning, probably doing makeup in the resting room now.

Queen Park Square is the stage for the singing and arts integrated track, likely because the Cosmos superstar—Marlene—used this stage to prove herself with her voice, creating a resounding name, and eventually became the brightest star of that year's Starry Art Competition.

Just at this moment, someone sat beside her, Xu Xiaoyou glanced at the person, who also smiled at her.

"We meet again so soon, Miss Xu," Everme sincerely remarked.