Chapter Text
The neon lights glinted on the glossy CD covers and posters scattered throughout the store. The vibrant sign over the entrance marked the release of the latest album by Dendro, the well-known group that everyone was talking about. Their faces, poised and confident, seemed larger than life as they stared down at the world with dazzling smiles.
Qiqi stopped. She stood there, in front of the store door, holding her bag's straps. Even though she didn't usually hang out in places like this, she stopped today for some reason.
She glanced at each of the five faces she recognized on the poster
.
Tighnari, with his charming smile and curious demeanor, looked like he’d just stepped out of an adventure novel. His pointy ears, which fans adored, seemed to give him an ethereal quality.
Alhaitham, cool and aloof, radiated a quiet confidence. He had a knack for captivating crowds without saying much—a mere glance or a low, melodic note from him was enough.
Kaveh, the opposite, is all energy and warmth. His fans frequently compared him like a bright ray of sunshine. He became more likeable due to his clumsy antics during interviews.
Kinich, the group's unstoppable power, comes next. He dance with an almost magical elegance and strength on stage.
At the last, Qiqi's gaze fell upon the final face on the banner.
Baizhu.
As she examined him, her lips formed a thin line. He was not as charming or as naturally appealing as the others. His calm personality was often ignored by fans who love more energetic members.
But none of that mattered to Qiqi.
Because Baizhu wasn’t just a name on a poster to her. He is her dad.
The store door jingled open, and a group of girls rushed out, clutching posters and albums in their hands. They squealed about Tighnari’s solo track, Kaveh’s recent fan meet, and Alhaitham’s smoldering photoshoot.
It was almost time for their stage show and fan meet happening at a nearby park which makes everyone excited.
Qiqi looked away from the banner and let out a quiet sigh. She lowered her eyes to the ground, adjusted the bag on her shoulder, and headed toward the park where the performance was being held.
The park was alreadt full of people when Qiqi arrived. In an attempt to have a better view of the stage, she stood on her tiptoes from the back of the crowd. The glow of green lightsticks swaying in time with the cheers filled the area. The lights were flashing down on Dendro as they performed their most recent single, with harmonizing vocals.
The spectators let out delighted squeals as Tighnari spun elegantly, his fluffy ears bouncing a little. A simple flick of his hand was all it took for Alhaitham to grab attention with his charisma. Kaveh, who is always full of energy, danced with boundless joy and smiled brightly at everyone in the crowd. Everyone was left in amazement by Kinich's precise and strong moves.
Following that was Baizhu.
Qiqi’s gaze locked onto her father, his figure standing slightly apart from the others. His movements weren’t as sharp as Kinich’s, and his stamina didn’t allow for the full choreography. But when his part came, and his voice rose above the music, the entire arena quieted.
Baizhu’s voice wasn’t just beautiful—it was real. It carried something no one else’s did: a lifetime of unspoken struggles, and quiet sacrifices.
Qiqi felt her chest tighten. She didn’t need the cheers to know how special her father was. She didn’t need the loud applause to validate the strength she had seen every single day of her life.
For as long as she could remember, Baizhu had been tired. Not just in the way that came with working late nights and early mornings while still in school, but the deep exhaustion of someone who had carried a burden far heavier than his frail frame should have allowed.
Qiqi knew his dream wasn’t to spend his life working odd jobs or tending to her scraped knees and forgotten homework. He had told her once, back when she was still small enough to be carried in his arms, about the life he’d once dreamed of.
“I wanted to be an idol,” he had said, his voice wistful. “To sing and dance, to inspire people… to make them smile.”
She had clung to those words, even as the years passed and Baizhu stopped mentioning it. He worked tirelessly, his dreams tucked away in a corner of his heart so he could provide for her.
But Qiqi wasn’t a little girl anymore. She didn’t need him to hold her hand at every step. She could take care of herself now—and it was time for him to remember his dream.
Baizhu’s hands trembled the first time she pushed him toward an audition.
“You’re strong enough, Baizhu,” she had told him, deliberately using his name instead of the word Dad. It was her way of showing respect for the dreamer within him, the man who had put his ambitions on hold to raise her. “Now it’s time now.”
Witnessing him encounter rejection after rejection had not been easy. He was turned down by agencies because they thought he was too old, too weak, or too out of touch. She could feel the weight of those words on him as his shoulders drooped little after each failed effort.
But she never let him give up.
“You told me to always try, no matter how hard it is,” she had reminded him one evening, sitting beside him at their cramped kitchen table. “You don’t get to break your own rule.”
When Nahida, the CEO of the Dendro agency, finally gave him a chance, Qiqi had cried, relief and pride washing over her in waves.
She experienced the same surge of pride once more as she watched him stand in the dazzling lights, his scarf flowing as he bowed at the end of the performance.
Following the performance, it was time for the fan meeting.
Fans waited in line in front of booths with the group's vibrant banners and posters. Every time one of the idols moved or waved from the booth, their cheers echoed in waves, showing a clear excitement.
Near the rear of the Baizhu line, Qiqi stood silently. There was a constant flow of conversation and laughter in the lines for Tighnari, Alhaitham, Kaveh, and Kinich. However, Baizhu's line was... short.
Her heart hurt.
He always said he didn't mind. Baizhu had once smiled softly and then told her, "I'm just thankful for the ones who come." Qiqi knew better, though. She witnessed how he practiced constantly till the early hours of the morning and how, despite his body's protests, he gave his all throughout every performance.
Baizhu loved being an idol.
And he loved her more, which was why he’d sacrificed everything to raise her, even if it meant shelving his dreams for years.
Now, it was her turn to support him.
She shuffled forward as the line moved. Fans in front of her were chatting about their favorites.
“Baizhu’s voice is so soothing,” one of them said.
“Yeah, but he’s always sick. Poor guy,” another replied. “He’s kind of a background member, isn’t he? I mean, he doesn’t dance like Kinich or have Alhaitham’s looks…”
Qiqi bit her lip, her grip tightening on her bag.
Although she was aware that their intentions were harmless, it nevertheless hurt.
She clutched a small envelope in her hands, its edges slightly crumpled from her nervous grip. She had spent hours carefully writing the letter by hand. It was a message for Baizhu from her daughter, who knew him better than anyone else.
It was soon her turn, and the line moved quickly.
Looking up from the table, Baizhu was prepared to welcome another fan with his composed, well-practiced smile. However, the smallest glimmer of recognition flickered over his face as soon as his eyes locked with hers. He bounced back fast, his smile becoming more sincere but not enough to raise suspicions.
“Hello,” he greeted warmly, “Thank you for coming to see me.”
With heart pounding in her chest, Qiqi took a step forward. Her head remained down as she set the envelope on the table.
Baizhu’s eyes lingered on her for a moment, and then he picked up the envelope. “Is this for me?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes. Please read it when you have time.”
He tilted his head slightly, studying her with that familiar, protective gaze she’d known all her life.But he didn't go any further because he knew they had to respect the boundaries.
“Thank you,” he said softly. “I’ll make sure to read it carefully.”
With her hat covering her face, Qiqi made a slight bow before turning to leave. She didn't look back as she walked away, but she could feel his eyes on her until she was lost in the crowd.
Qiqi sat cross-legged on her bed and stared at her phone later that evening. She looked at the screen for a while before she finally opened a social media app. She perused the incessant posts regarding Dendro. Baizhu's name was not often mentioned.
An impulse suddenly took control. Without giving it too much thought, she quickly typed down a short message.
"What Baizhu told me has really helped me. He's really considerate and caring. I hope more people recognize how incredible he is."
As she sent the message, her cheeks flushed and the words disappeared into the great expanse of the internet.
She didn't think anything would change.
However, letting the world know felt nice for once. Even if just little.