77: Chapter 77 Tang San's Suffering

[Holy crap??? "love you"??? The Sweetheart Leader's song???]

[I'm speechless! This girl really dares to play! She's literally holding a concert in Douluo Continent, isn't she?!]

[Turns out her becoming the Oiran wasn't for anything else, but just to use new songs to shock the transmigrators, right?!]

Qiangu Jue's mouth hung wide open, unable to close it for a long time. He was completely stunned. Leaning into Gui Mengguan's ear, his voice was trembling: "Did I hear that right? Isn't... isn't that that song?! Is she really a transmigrator?"

Oupai couldn't hold it together either, his face full of disbelief: "I thought Lin Yue was ruthless enough, but I didn't expect Xiao Wu to be the real powerhouse... She just brought modern songs over. This is an open signal to all transmigrators that she's here!"

It wasn't just them; all the transmigrators in the audience were collectively losing their minds at this moment.

While other transmigrators were cautious and avoided exposing their identities upon realizing there might be others like them, the Xiao Wu before them was a true warrior.

In the private booth, Lin Mo's hand crushed the wine glass. He didn't even react as wine spilled all over him, his face filled with shock and bewilderment.

In the corner, Yu Tianmeng suddenly threw back his bamboo hat, his eyes wide as saucers as he muttered to himself: "Holy crap? A fellow countryman?! And one who plays so boldly?! And it's freaking Xiao Wu!"

The other transmigrators hidden in the crowd were also frozen in their seats as if struck by lightning, the expressions on their faces incredibly vivid.

Meanwhile, the native Spirit Masters and nobles in the venue had never heard such a light and sweet melody, nor had they ever seen such a lively and spirited dance. They had long been infatuated to the point of their Divine Souls being turned upside down, wildly clapping and cheering. Whistles and shouts of praise rose and fell, nearly lifting the roof off the Red Romance.

In the front row, Dai Mubai had long since lost his previous impatience. He sat bolt upright, his heterochromatic eyes staring intently at Xiao Wu on the stage, filled with amazement and obsession. He didn't even notice the rose in his hand falling to the ground.

On stage, Xiao Wu finished her song and stopped her dance. Looking at the wildly cheering crowd below, a sly smile played on her lips. Her gaze swept across the venue, accurately landing on the transmigrators who were frozen in place with various expressions, a flash of understanding in her eyes.

This was exactly the effect she wanted.

She had stayed in Soto City for three years. Although she had played with quite a few people, allowing her strength to improve rapidly, there were ultimately too few people with real talent. With only Tang San by her side, she had grown tired of exploiting him every day. She wanted more gifted Geniuses so that when the time for revenge came in the future, she could bring along a gang of thugs.

Below the stage, Gui Mengguan and the other two looked at the smiling Xiao Wu on stage and exchanged glances, each knowing what the others wanted to say.

Xiao Wu was also a transmigrator.

Otherwise, how could she know the Sweetheart Leader's "love you"?

The lingering sweet melody still echoed in the hall of the Red Romance, and the clamor from the audience was almost enough to break through the roof. The native guests were frantically shouting Xiao Wu's name, surging toward the stage with flowers in hand. Meanwhile, the transmigrators in the corners were each like they'd been struck by lightning, frozen in their seats with expressions that were peak comedy.

Gui Mengguan finally managed to snap out of it. He raised his hand to wipe the tea that had splashed onto his collar and lowered his voice to speak to Qiangu Jue and Oupai beside him, his tone full of disbelief: "This isn't her being an Oiran; she's openly fishing to catch all the transmigrators hiding in Soto City in one net!"

Qiangu Jue was still frozen in his seat. Looking at the slyly smiling Xiao Wu on stage, he scratched his head and muttered: "I thought she had just changed her personality and was playing hard to get with Tang San, but I didn't expect her to be a transmigrator. This move is way too wild—bringing modern pop songs directly over, as if she's afraid people won't know she's a fellow countryman, right?"

"She did it on purpose." Oupai's eyes were sharp as he scanned the stiff-faced transmigrators throughout the venue, analyzing in a low voice. "We were all hiding and tucking ourselves away for fear of exposing our identities. She did the opposite, using a melody only transmigrators would understand as a signal. Whoever reacts weirdly upon hearing it is one of our kind. Now, no matter how deep anyone is hidden, it's useless."

As the three spoke, their gazes simultaneously swept across various parts of the hall.

The companions beside Lin Mo had already reined in their shock and were whispering something to him. Lin Mo's face was somber, his eyes fixed on Xiao Wu, clearly calculating something.

Yu Tianmeng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect had already calmed his astonishment. He held his teacup, pretending to be calm, but the curiosity in his eyes couldn't be hidden as he glanced at the stage from time to time.

There were also several Spirit Masters in ordinary clothes who were now restless, either looking down and not daring to meet anyone's eyes or frequently exchanging glances. They were clearly transmigrators whose identities had been poked.

No one noticed that in the most remote, shadowed corner of the hall, Tang San was sitting there. His fingertips were gripped white, his knuckles turning a bruised gray from the force. His eyes were nailed to the girl on stage, his face full of unavoidable distress and bewilderment.

He looked at Xiao Wu under the spotlight, wearing a black-and-white JK Skirt and a high ponytail. He saw the pink rabbit ears swaying on her head and watched her perform a dance to a song he had never heard before—a song so sweet it was almost sickening. His heart felt as if it were being tightly squeezed by a cold hand, sour and stinging, so much so that even breathing brought pain.

He couldn't understand how the little girl who used to follow him every day, tugging at his sleeve and calling him "Brother" with every breath, could have become like this. It wasn't that he hadn't come to find her; time and again, he had urged her to leave the Red Romance, to return with him to the small courtyard on the outskirts of the city, and to stop doing such public things. But every time, he was lightly rejected by Xiao Wu.

He wanted to rush onto the stage and recklessly pull her down from the spotlight, taking her away from this den of dragons and snakes. But he raised his hand, his fingertips curling several times, before finally dropping powerlessly.

He couldn't stop her; he didn't even have a reason to get close to her or persuade her anymore. The two people who were once closest were now separated by a sea of people and a chasm he didn't understand. He could only sit here, watching helplessly, his heart full of bitterness and powerlessness.

Meanwhile, in the front row, a girl in a plain white dress with ear-length short hair was gently swaying her body to the lingering rhythm, her Glow Stick waving rapidly.

Her almond eyes were sparkling, her cheeks flushed with a faint red from excitement. She was even humming along to the tune, completely moved by this sweet song.

Unlike the guests around her, she didn't stare obsessively at Xiao Wu's appearance or figure; instead, she was more intoxicated by this light and spirited melody she had never heard before.

As the song ended, she jumped up and clapped vigorously. Her crisp cheers were particularly prominent in the noisy crowd, her eyes full of unhideable joy and amazement.

A certain newly arrived noble in the front row had already completely fallen. He stood up and waved frantically at the stage, his eyes full of obsession. He even raised his hand to order his attendant: "Go! Take the best set of jewelry from my warehouse and give it all to Miss Xiao Wu!"

The servant beside him hurriedly bowed to take the order. This young master of his was used to seeing beauties in romantic venues, but he had never seen a girl so spirited and lively, singing such a unique tune. His heart had long since been hooked and left in a daze.

Xiao Wu stood under the spotlight, calmly curtsying to the audience. The rabbit ears on her head swayed gently with her movements, the sweet smile on her face unchanging.

...

PS: I'll try to update a bit more during the weekend.