He carefully studied the subway map, trying to find a station called Jiaxing Road, but to his dismay, no line went directly to Jiaxing Road. He felt a bit troubled, silently pondering how to get there.
He opened his phone's navigation to find a route to his destination, prioritizing public transportation. The first option that popped up was to take a train to the closest station and then walk about four or five hundred meters.
Seeing the detailed plan provided by the navigation, he stopped overthinking and followed each step. He successfully arrived at Jiaxing Road just before 1 PM and began to explore the street.
He had originally intended to ask Ju Jingyi for the exact location of the performance, but then he spotted the iconic letters and numbers 'SNH48' not far ahead.
He immediately realized it must be the building in front. He quickened his pace, and only when he stood below it did he see the full name, which included the words Star Dream Theater.
All around him were fans, holding various cheering items and chatting in groups of two or three. He felt a sense of being out of place in this environment.
He bought a general admission ticket at the box office and learned that the performance was about forty minutes away from officially starting. He decided to grab a bite to eat nearby first.
It had been almost three hours since he finished breakfast, so it was time for lunch. Yi Xing slowly walked down the street, looking for a suitable small restaurant nearby.
His gaze was drawn to a simply decorated noodle shop. The wafting aroma of noodles from inside piqued his appetite, so he stepped in.
Having passed the lunch rush, the shop wasn't very crowded. He found a seat by the door and ordered a bowl of their signature beef noodles.
While waiting, he listened to the conversations of the surrounding customers. Most people were there to see the performance. Some were discussing Ju Jingyi, while others talked about people he didn't know.
Soon, a steaming bowl of beef noodles was served. He stared intently at the green cilantro in the bowl, picked it out bit by bit with his chopsticks, and placed it on a piece of paper.
He had always disliked the unique taste of cilantro. After picking it all out, he began to feast, enjoying the chewy noodles, tender beef, and rich broth. Every bite left him satisfied.
After finishing his noodles in an immersive way, he noticed that the conversations around him had ceased. He checked the time and saw that only a little over ten minutes remained until the performance began.
He quickly paid the bill and rushed back to the Star Dream Theater, joining the queue, passing through the ticket gate, and entering in an orderly fashion.
Yi Xing found his seat according to the information on the ticket and sat down, taking in his surroundings. Inside, there was an area resembling a small theater.
Not far ahead was the stage, with the glittering SNH48 THEATER logo on the backdrop. The entire venue remained dim until someone stepped onto the stage.
The two boys sitting in front of him were enthusiastically discussing how spectacular the upcoming stage performance would be. He tapped them and asked, “This is my first time seeing a performance. Is there anything a newbie like me should know?”
“A newbie, huh? Well, you better remember this…”
One of the boys turned around and very enthusiastically shared his experiences from watching so many times with Yi Xing. He was completely clear about what might happen next.
It was through the other person's explanation that Yi Xing gained a clearer understanding of the upcoming performance. In a sense, it could be considered a small group concert where you could cheer for your favorite members.
Moreover, each performance had a theme, and under that theme, there would be many songs. The setlist was generally fixed, and the performers might vary each time. Of course, if there were other activities, that would be a different story.
“Oh, right, at the end of the show, everyone on stage will line up at the exit to high-five the audience members who are leaving.”
“A large number of people come for this. Being able to high-five your favorite idol is easily achieved here.”
Yi Xing thought to himself, “No wonder there are so many people here.” He glanced at the seating situation; it was basically full, and some people were even standing on the viewing platform at the back. It seemed this perk was quite attractive.
“Buddy, today is Team NII’s performance. Which one of them do you like?”
“What is Team NII? Do they also have teams?”
“You’re really new, aren’t you? Currently, they’re divided into two teams: one is Team SII, and the other is the one I just mentioned…”
The enthusiastic boy wanted to continue, as he couldn't tolerate a novice in his vicinity. The stage lights suddenly brightened, energetic music started, and a cool SNH48 opening animation appeared on the screen.
He instantly turned his head and joined the excited fans, cheering together. Soon, the lights dimmed again, and a female voice came over the broadcast, reading out the theater's rules, such as no photography.
It was during this time that Yi Xing heard the person in front of him quickly explain the differences between the two teams.
He was a bit confused, but that didn't stop him from nodding in agreement with the other person's words. The voice on the broadcast suddenly stopped.
“I won’t chat with you anymore; the performance is about to begin.”
“Okay, thank you for explaining so much.”
“It’s nothing. I was also educated like this by others; I'm just repeating what he did,” the boy waved his hand.
Immediately after, a video to liven up the atmosphere appeared on the screens on both sides of the stage, with a string of English introductions, igniting the passion of the entire venue, and people waved their glow sticks.
Of course, Yi Xing was not among these people. He calmly sat in his seat, his eyes fixed on the stage, quite looking forward to the upcoming performance.
The lights dimmed again, and he could vaguely see many figures moving on the stage. As the music began, beams of light shone down.
The members of Team NII made a dazzling entrance under the brilliant lights. Ju Jingyi stood at the forefront of the team, dressed in a white performance outfit, dancing to the rhythm of the music, hitting every beat perfectly.
Yi Xing in the audience stared at her figure throughout, not wanting to look away for a moment. He couldn't help it; she was the only one he recognized. He didn't even know the names of the other girls. If there's someone you know, your gaze is naturally drawn to them.
Ju Jingyi on stage was completely different from her during recording. If she was like a little girl who needed protection during recording, then now she was a powerful older sister, full of confidence and radiance. Every glance, every gesture, exuded a strong stage presence, making people unconsciously focus on her.