Dance With Me

"—Please, dance with me on stage."

Eden's request was sudden, bold, especially right before her performance. It wasn't part of the plan.

Singers meticulously prepared for their concerts, rehearsing every detail. And [Elysia]… well, she wasn't even an amateur. She was a complete novice.

"Isn't that inappropriate, Eden?" Jiang Qiao asked, hesitant.

Pulling a random person on stage was impulsive, even if he was confident he wouldn't mess up. It was too sudden, too unexpected.

Besides, Elysia was on her way backstage. If he went on stage now, she'd miss him.

"No, Elysia," Eden insisted, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "This might seem impulsive, but I'm serious."

This performance was important to her. And that was precisely why this invitation mattered.

In just a day, Elysia had become one of the most important people in her life. How could she exclude her from this momentous occasion?

Call it impulsive, call it selfish—she wanted to share this moment with Elysia.

And—

"I trust you, Elysia."

Trust. An intangible, yet powerful force. It was the reason she extended her hand, her gaze unwavering.

[Elysia] stood frozen, a moment of silence stretching between them. The roar of the crowd, the hushed whispers of the backstage crew… it all faded into the background.

As the seconds ticked by, Eden's hope dwindled. Perhaps it was too forward, too sudden. She sighed internally, about to retract her hand—

When a warm hand enveloped hers.

She looked up, meeting Elysia's clear blue eyes.

"Well, if you insist, Eden…" [Elysia] said, a playful lilt in her voice. "I wouldn't want to disappoint you, would I?"

The gentle words, the warm smile, sent a pleasant shiver down Eden's spine.

"You know, making me try on this dress… were you planning this all along?" [Elysia] asked, glancing at her outfit—an elegant gown that perfectly complemented Eden's. Jiang Qiao hadn't needed a costume change, but Eden had insisted, wanting to see him in it.

And… it fit perfectly.

Eden smiled, offering no explanation. Could she admit she'd made both dresses herself?

She'd started working on them after their first encounter, captivated by the pink-haired girl. She'd estimated Elysia's measurements, creating a standard size that, thankfully, only required minor adjustments. [Elysia] wasn't exactly… standard sized.

"Let's go, Elysia," Eden said, her smile radiant, pulling [Elysia] towards the stage.

[Elysia] returned the smile, her heart pounding with anticipation.

As they disappeared through the curtains—

Elysia, having finally fought her way through the crowd and past security, burst backstage, her voice filled with excitement and a touch of annoyance.

"Bad Jiang Qiao! I'm here!!!"

The backstage crew stared at the black-haired youth who'd barged in uninvited, whispering amongst themselves.

Who is this guy?

Elysia, hoping to catch Jiang Qiao off guard, had opted for a surprise entrance.

But now, looking around the empty room, she felt a wave of confusion.

Where was he?

I'm here! Where are you?!

She scanned the room frantically. If she hadn't spoken to the guards outside, she would've thought she'd entered the wrong backstage area.

Then…

"They're gone," a sweet, childish voice chirped beside her. Elf Elysia!

Elysia's excitement turned to frustration.

Gone? I told him to wait! He left before I even arrived?!

I knew it! He's done something wrong, and he's avoiding me!

But then, a thought struck her.

"They?"

"Yup, Eden and reliable me!" Elf Elysia declared, clutching her fairy wand.

Elysia's blood ran cold.

Just as I suspected!

He used my body to flirt with another girl while I was gone!

Hmph! He's brave enough to use my body to charm a beautiful girl, but not brave enough to face me?

Just you wait, Jiang Qiao!

Her mind raced, plotting her revenge. But first, she needed to find him.

"Elf Elysia, where did that rascal go?" She decided to capture him first, then interrogate him later. He was probably enjoying the concert from some prime location.

He promised to wait… that liar!

"I told you, they're gone," Elf Elysia repeated, exasperated.

"I know! I'm asking where Jiang Qiao went!" Elysia snapped.

Eden would be on stage. Jiang Qiao couldn't possibly be with her, could he?

"Mature me and Eden left together."

"I know they left…"

Elysia felt a surge of frustration. Was her mini-me that dense? Of course, they left together!

…Wait.

"Together?"

The word echoed in her mind, a terrifying possibility forming. She couldn't believe it.

"Yeah, they left together," Elf Elysia confirmed, then gestured towards the stage. "Listen~"

"—Today, I have a special guest joining me for this performance—"

Eden's elegant voice, amplified by the speakers, boomed through the backstage area.

Eden!

But unlike her usual solo performances, there was someone else on stage beside her.

The audience, Eden's devoted fans, were confused.

Wasn't this a solo concert? Who was this newcomer?

Eden was notoriously meticulous about her performances. She rarely shared the stage.

A popular online sentiment echoed this: No one is worthy of sharing the stage with Eden.

Her brilliance overshadowed everyone. Dancers, musicians… they were mere distractions, discordant notes in a perfect melody. Or, more often, completely invisible, drowned out by her radiant presence. Wait, there were other people on stage?

Someone who could outshine Eden? Such a person didn't exist!

That was why Eden performed alone, her voice captivating the audience, needing no accompaniment.

But today… was different.

A pink-haired girl, dressed in a gown that suspiciously resembled Eden's, stood beside her. The audience was filled with questions, doubts.

But one thing was undeniable:

[Elysia]'s beauty.

Ethereal as a fairy, radiant as a crystal flower, she captivated the audience with her mere presence.

"Hello everyone, I'm Elysia," a sweet, honeyed voice echoed through the stadium, reaching the ears of the real Elysia backstage.

You're Elysia? Then who am I?

The thought flashed through her mind, then the horrifying truth dawned. The familiar voice confirmed her worst fears.

They left together = They went on stage together.

"What… what's going on?!" Elysia stammered, her face pale. Her mind short-circuited, overloaded by the sheer impossibility of the situation.

Why is that rascal on stage?!

Questions bombarded her, forming a mental assembly line of little Elysia Parvati clones churning out question marks.

"Eden invited her," Elf Elysia explained matter-of-factly. "She asked me to stay back and wait for you since reliable me was going on stage."

"Now that you're here, I can go watch the concert!"

"Eden… invited… her?"

Elysia didn't even register the rest of the sentence. She stood frozen, her mind reeling.

Eden, the biggest star of this era, had invited Jiang Qiao (in her body) to dance with her on stage?

It was a dream come true… a nightmare.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all~"

[Elysia]'s sweet voice, amplified by the speakers, sent Elysia's rage meter into overdrive. A golden aura flickered around her, a sign of her impending transformation into Super Saiyan Elysia.

The telltale sign? Puffy cheeks.

AAAAAHHHHH, BAD JIANG QIAO!!!

She'd thought he was just flirting with another girl behind her back. But this… this was beyond flirting! He was dancing with Eden!

I haven't even done that!!!

Elysia gritted her teeth, her jaw aching with suppressed rage. She wanted to drag him off stage, to punish him for his audacity.

But all she could do was pout and follow Elf Elysia.

She couldn't just sulk backstage while that rascal hogged the spotlight!

I'll see what tricks he's up to!

Elf Elysia led her to a VIP viewing area reserved for Fire Moth.

Elysia plopped down, her eyes immediately locking onto her onstage doppelganger.

That dress… it's the same style as Eden's!!!

She glared at "herself," her eyes burning with jealousy.

On stage, Jiang Qiao was oblivious to her fury. He was basking in the spotlight, the gaze of thousands upon him.

While this impromptu performance was unexpected, he showed no signs of stage fright. He exuded confidence, his every move graceful and poised, enhancing his already striking beauty.

This wasn't surprising.

While he hadn't performed before a live audience of this size, he had faced the collective consciousness of 300,000 Humanity during the Herrscher of Truth's emergence.

Compared to that mental onslaught, a few thousand staring eyes were nothing.

He quickly won over the crowd, not just with his beauty, but with his voice.

Elysia and Eden, best friends in the Elysian Realm, had shared an unspoken understanding. Even though Elysia wasn't musically inclined, five millennia of Eden's influence had left its mark.

And Jiang Qiao, wielding those memories, was more than just influenced. He'd absorbed Eden's essence.

While Elysia might have known the what of music, Jiang Qiao understood the why.

The memories weren't just stored information; they were integrated into his being.

And because he was in Elysia's body, the synergy was perfect.

They weren't just dancing. They were weaving a story, their movements fluid and captivating, their voices blending in perfect harmony.

Dancing during a concert was unconventional, even daring. A concert was a singer's stage, not a dancer's.

But their performance transcended expectations. The combination of their voices, their movements… it was mesmerizing.

Caught in the moment, Eden did something even more daring. Concerts typically followed a setlist.

But inspired by the energy, her creative spirit ignited, she began improvising lyrics!

Backstage, the sound engineers stared in disbelief.

Improvisation required adjustments to the accompaniment. But this… this was madness!

To their further astonishment, Eden's new lyrics, despite the change in tone and meaning, seamlessly integrated with the original melody.

Eden, her golden eyes sparkling, placed a hand on Elysia's waist, a silent communication passing between them.

Their dance continued, their movements evolving, and the music, after a brief pause, shifted, following their lead.

The sound engineers panicked.

The equipment's malfunctioning!

Eden's improvisation was one thing. That was beyond their control. But this… the instruments changing on their own?

If this grand concert was ruined because of a technical malfunction… they'd be fired!

They could already see their bleak future unfolding.

Meanwhile, on stage, the two continued their dazzling performance.

And the audience… went wild.

Including Elysia.

Initially consumed by rage, wanting to drag that rascal off stage for using her body to do things she wanted to do…

She'd started watching with a critical eye. Hmph, he's not a bad singer.

…No! That's my body! It's me who's a good singer! He's just taking advantage!

Elysia tried to convince herself, though a part of her knew the truth. While she wasn't tone-deaf, her untrained voice lacked finesse. It was all emotion, no technique.

But admitting Jiang Qiao was a good singer meant admitting he was… better. Her pride wouldn't allow it. So she attributed it to her body's inherent awesomeness.

And he's a good dancer too.

That, she had to admit. He was leagues ahead of her. Maybe I should ask him to teach me. We could be the stars of the Fire Moth victory celebration!

But despite her wandering thoughts, she was captivated by their performance.

Her initial anger transformed into…

Heehee, they look so good together!