After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

The band members gathered together like this, indulging into the night—it was something Ai Cheng Hua Lian had never experienced before.

Smiles never ceased on their faces.

Initially, Ai Cheng Hua Lian hadn't held any hope—talent scouts, signing with agencies, all that seemed so distant to her.

Just a few days ago, she was merely an ordinary high school girl worried about her exam scores.

But now, she was composing and singing songs with everyone, and the company even arranged for them to have photo shoots and sell their merchandise; family and friends looked at her differently, as if she had already transformed from a regular student into a successful individual.

The world was moving too fast, catching her off guard.

When they first discussed signing, everyone said they wanted to be a professional band, and she just went along with her friends' idea, nothing more.

She had assumed that an amateur student band like theirs would be lucky to get by for a few years before being eliminated, yet everything had gone incredibly smoothly.

At this moment, the Red Pepper Band's music video on YouTube had reached five hundred and fifty million views, their followers had soared to three hundred thousand, and were still climbing steeply—all real traffic.

It was unimaginable that this could be achieved in less than a month after debut.

All of this was thanks to Kagura Hikaru's piece—they were merely the hands and mouths that played and sang it out; Ai Cheng Hua Lian rationally believed that more than half of this success should be credited to Kagura Hikaru, with the remainder belonging to Red Pepper Band and the music company.

Regardless, as things stood, they were probably the most successful band in the Island Nation in recent years, with limitless prospects.

It seemed like they could be compared to many famous bands overnight.

Hoshimi Nana was the most enthusiastic about data; she kept her eyes fixed on her phone during the party, telling everyone each time the official account of Red Pepper Band increased by a hundred followers, then Ai Cheng Hua Lian and the rest would raise their drink bottles to 'cheers'.

Saijo Maya had always been the most mature and composed person in the band, but today she also burst into laughter, as if she had been drinking, completely relaxed.

Ruzaki Mami, as the host, was busy pouring drinks for everyone like a server.

Everyone looked very happy, so this must be a good thing, right?

Ai Cheng Hua Lian was slow on the uptake.

She had no big ambitions, was not sensitive to earning money, and only hoped that they could stay together forever, forming a band for life.

Therefore, compared to the fame of Red Pepper Band, she was more concerned about the atmosphere within the team.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian was still thinking about the 'secret' Ruzaki Mami was supposed to tell her later, which, due to wrong timing or other reasons, had yet to be revealed.

Until everyone brushed their teeth, turned off the lights, and went to sleep, Ai Cheng Hua Lian never heard it.

She thought to herself that it probably wasn't anything important, Mami might have forgotten, as she fell into slumber.

In the middle of the night, probably because she drank too much, Ai Cheng Hua Lian was inevitably awoken by an urge to urinate.

She rubbed her stomach as she got up from the bed.

She was sleeping in a guest room, and so were the others, with rooms on the same floor as Ruzaki Mami's.

Pushing her room door open, Ai Cheng Hua Lian groped her way down to the toilet at the end of the hallway, and let it all out.

When she walked out feeling relieved and was about to turn off the light and return to her room, she saw a small, dark figure standing outside the door.

After being indoctrinated by numerous horror movies, Ai Cheng Hua Lian was only slightly stiffened by fright, and quickly recognized who the shadow in the faint moonlight streaming in through the window was.

"Mami?" Ai Cheng Hua Lian whispered.

"It's me, Karen-chan," Ruzaki Mami whispered back.
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"Do you need to use the bathroom too?"

"No..."

Ruzaki Mami hesitated for a moment, "Karen-chan, I have something to tell you, let's go to my room."

Moments later, the two were in Ruzaki Mami's room.

The girl's bedroom was lit with a warm, orange light, probably meant for temporary use at night, casting a dim glow that only illuminated a small area at the head of the bed.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian and Ruzaki Mami sat on the bed, and the latter turned up the light a bit so it was bright enough to see each other's expressions.

And so, Ai Cheng Huan Lian discovered a never-before-seen sense of guilt on her best friend's face.

"What's wrong, Zhen Chun? You don't look well," her hand touched the back of Ruzaki Mami's hand.

Just like the past, Ruzaki Mami gripped her friend's hand back.

"Karen-chan, do you remember? Back when we were in our second year of high school, you and Mr. Kagura helped me see through Teacher Sato's true colors."

"Of course, I remember."

"From that time on, I knew, Karen-chan, you liked Mr. Kagura."

"Zhen Chun! ...I've said it, that's just..."

"That was not a misunderstanding, right? We both understand. After spending so much time together, of course, I could tell, otherwise, I wouldn't have the right to call myself Karen-chan's friend."

Ruzaki Mami said with a complicated smile, "Mr. Kagura is a very charming person, handsome, and capable. In my eyes, he's a genius with endless talents. It's only natural to have feelings of admiration for such a person."

Ai Cheng Huan Lian's expression was a bit peculiar, "Zhen Chun, why are you telling me all this in the middle of the night? Don't tell me your problem is related to Mr. Kagura?"

"I haven't encountered any trouble... Well, I should say, this so-called 'trouble' only exists between the two of us."

Ruzaki Mami let out a deep breath, as if she had finally made up her mind, and lifted her head, her black eyes sparkling under the light.

"Karen-chan, I've decided, I'll confess to Mr. Kagura tomorrow."

"..."

Her mind went blank for a moment, Ai Cheng Huan Lian was stunned for a few seconds before she responded in a daze, "Zhen Chun, you... like Mr. Kagura, too?"

"Yes, I've liked him since that incident," Ruzaki Mami gripped her friend's hand tighter, "Karen-chan, I know there's not much hope for this confession, but I want to try it, to confess seriously for once. I...don't expect you to forgive me..."

Her voice grew softer as she spoke, and her head hung lower and lower.

As a girl, Ruzaki Mami knew all too well that the girl who fights over a man with her best friend is the least popular. It's like sticking your hand into someone else's pocket to steal something.

Generally, they would call this kind of girl a "green tea bitch," someone who acts one way on the surface and another behind the scenes. Such people might be popular among boys, but they are undoubtedly despised in girls' circles.

And now, she had become that kind of bad woman.

She didn't want Ai Cheng Huan Lian to dislike her, but she didn't want to give up on her feelings easily either. If she did nothing, she would surely regret it even more every time she thought about this matter in the future.

From her past experience of dating a teacher, it was clear that Ruzaki Mami was someone quite bold in love and not good at hiding her feelings.

Even when affection clashed with friendship, she still made up her mind.

She held Ai Cheng Huan Lian's hand even tighter, hoping to convey her true feelings.

Ruzaki Mami didn't want to be estranged from her best friend, nor did she want to betray her own feelings. Perhaps it was a bit greedy, but she was hoping for a result that could satisfy both.

Ai Cheng Huan Lian might have understood, or she might not have, but regardless, she chose to gently clasp her friend's hand back.

"I see, Zhen Chun, so you've been struggling with this all along," she said warmly, smiling with the tenderness of a caring mother, her eyes filled with compassion and love that made Ruzaki Mami feel as if she was seeing an angel, "I'll support you, Zhen Chun."

"Really?"

"Of course, we are best friends after all."

Ruzaki Mami was somewhat surprised but then became somber, her eyes reddening, "I'm sorry, Karen-chan, I've been so selfish."

"Affection like this can't be stopped, Zhen Chun, I don't blame you, and I'm glad you could tell me these things," Ai Cheng Huan Lian touched her face, her thumb sliding over the soft cheek, "And I've already said it, haven't I? I won't be confessing to Mr. Kagura."

"Karen-chan..."

Locking eyes with her sincere friend, Ruzaki Mami felt her own stature shrinking, and for some reason, her face flushed with heat.

She threw herself into her friend's embrace, inhaling deeply the sweet scent from Karen-chan's chest.

"Karen-chan! Angel! Goddess! Like! Love you!"

"Eh~"