[BL] Debut in Interstellar After Retiring as Grim Reaper-Chapter 155: Deceit

Chapter 155: Deceit

After Sheng Yan’s group performance, Cao Ming’s team went to stage to perform directly as the Director decided to give evaluation after both teams performed.

The contrast of heating the fire and unleashing desire, Cao Ming’s team song entitled ’Face’ is about the contrast between purity and deceit. An emotion that has always been there inside us but we never dared to unveil for the fear of everyone. Thus, this performance will show the counterfeit of purity— the real face.

It also somehow coincidentally fitted for Cao Ming especially about the new personality that he showed.

As for how it can be connected to their team, Cao Ming’s team wanted to show the purity of someone soaring high in the air and eventually fell down to show the real reality.

Thus, after the lights went out again, the whole venue felt the breeze of air starting to pass through them. It was slightly cold and refreshing and brushed on their cheeks. Then, a fog appeared on the stage until it gradually faded revealing the members.

Unlike Sheng Yan’s circle of fire below them, clouds also appeared on every corner and sides of the venue. The thick clouds also made the seats covered until everyone could feel they were in the sky and floating while Cao Ming’s team were in the center of a white platform inlaid with gold design.

For the first performance, it was their guest Senior Mian Li who centered the members.

"Purity and innocence

Will this always be inside you?" Mian Li began the song officially as they started their performance.

"As your eyes reflect on mine

I saw your wings wanting to soar high..."

Wearing all white clothes and as they swayed their hands and feet, it totally felt like the air that’s brushing softly on their cheeks— gentle and soothing.

The crowd felt like they were blessed by the caress of their wings as they flapped it gently to soar high and dream. It was such a feeling of being in your comfort— safe and peaceful.

"We always dream together

Because you and I are one..."

Yet when they notice the pure white clouds start to turn gray, the atmosphere gradually changes. Their dance movements became quicker and the expression on their face went from peace to slightly panic and anxiety.

"But when you take me to fly

... Why did your wings break?"

A member used his soft voice but with faint doubt, horror and fear to convey a sense of betrayal when the real face began to reveal in front of them.

Until a sudden roar of thunder exploded inside the venue that startled the crowd. The dimmed clouds grew darker fast and the fog became black like a bad premonition coming towards them.

Then, a hole appeared on the stage and the figure of Cao Ming laying on the ground went up. The lights dimmed again and the members disappeared on the stage leaving him alone.

Large mirrors also appeared on every side— reflecting Cao Ming’s movement without a slight wrong angle.

His eyes were closed for a second before he slowly opens them and look at the crowd without any hesitation.

"If you’d know my everything,

You’ll hate me, right?"

This line was supposed to be sung with the melody but Cao Ming sounded like he whispered these words as he stared at the crowd, completely making them caught off guard. The expression on his face felt like he was asking everyone but the emotion in his eyes were clear and knew the answer already.

He’ll be hated of course. What else can he expect?

How did Cao Ming end up with his personality? He came from a wealthy family wherein he thought his life was perfect besides his loving parents.

Until he found out that all was just a facade.

It turns out that there was no love between them. His parents don’t love each other.

However, his father chose to trust his father for him. She stayed in a marriage that was full of lies and hidden secrets that unfortunately led her to death.

Cao Ming would never forget how his father married another woman again just three weeks after his mother’s death due to an accident. The matter was even worse when his mistress had a child that was the same age as he is.

Which meant that his father was lying all these years. He was never true for the both of them.

And thus, his life was turned upside down even more because of the constant comparison between them and Cao Ling became frequent until his father would no longer praise him because his illegitimate child did better than him.

His hope became helpless until it shattered himself.

Cao Ming was exhausted.

He darined himself too much and couldn’t hope for the better anymore. Thus, he learned how to survive for himself.

He observed Cao Ling’s usual ways of pleasing others and became the same as the person he hated the most.

He learned to copy the mask that the latter wears to gain the attention and love he’s been missing for all his life.

Cao Ming didn’t know how much time has passed for this everyday torture until Cao Ling decided to join this competition too.

He was actually ready for another set up he’ll lay against him. He thought it’ll be just like the usual days wherein he would compete.

Yet he hadn’t thought he would not take it anymore.

Cao Ming saw him in good relationships with others. From the trainees that he’s been close to and even those who weren’t he even knew— Cao Ling easily got them under his control.

This snapped him back to his senses and cut the thread that holds his mask.

Cao Ming hates him again.

He endured when he stole his family... but never the people whom he started to open with.

Even if he was faking being sickly and all, the trainees still act friendly towards him. Even if they knew he would show discord, they still stayed— making his heart unknowingly soft.

It turns out that the people that he didn’t expect turns out to be the people who can accept him.

So he would not allow Cao Ling to steal the most precious thing that he got in this competition— his friends.

Therefore when he heard him showing discord to others and pressed Qin An to the corner, he took that as a chance to reveal himself.

That he was not sick nor even had to be spoken softly and cautiously.

Cao Ming wanted some friends who could hang out with him and be with them in fun.

But... he was also scared.

Will they hate him for wearing the mask? Will they hate the real him? The villain and the Cao Ming who wanted to avenge himself against Cao Ling?

"I’ll stand naked

So what if there’s no wings that’s white?"

Cao Ming dances in the middle of the stage alone full of emotions and firmness to fully express himself in this performance.

Whatever happens, he’ll take it.

"I can take the black wings in the air

And let it soar high without a chain..."

The members came back to the stage and danced with Cao Ming— with Mian Li partnered with him as they took the song to the end.

"Fly high with the real colors

Soar higher with your soul..."

The performance officially ended with Cao Ming kneeling on the ground and the members were on some sides. Cao Ming lowered his head and a lone tear fell down from his eyes.

Then, the black wings behind him appeared but when it opened wide, it turned into pure white wings and the crowd felt the gentle breeze of air again brushing on their cheeks.

When the mental power dissipated and the went on again, only did Ca Ming stood and sighs deeply. However, he was stunned when he felt a pat on his shoulder.

He raised his head and saw the members smiling at him with a comforting gazes.

"..."

Cao Ming didn’t say anything but he knew that deep inside him, their smile was enough to assure him about the answer from his mind.

Will they hate the real him?

No.

***

"For our next performances, the randomizer will choose again."

This time, it was Gu Yijin for Team A: Earth, and Qin An’s team from Team B: Water.

Gu Yijin was the first group to perform and their song is entitled ’Grow’. While both themes of Air and Fire are about unleashing and letting go of the mask, the Earth’s theme is about standing hard and till o matter who and what is in front of us.

As the lights went up again for their performance, the ground below them turns into the ground of soil through the mental power.

Gu Yijin with the members with their Senior guest Xu Jingzhuan. They are wearing white shirts with some creamy colored strips of their clothes wrapping around some parts of their body. This made them look like bondages on them, showing an aggressiveness, stubbornness and fierceness for this round of the competition.

***