"The ink has yet to dry, yet the pages of history are already turning."
"Better yet, let’s share a pot of wine and talk of love and moonlight."
"I was the one who wanted to come back and see you."
—
[A legendary Encounter]
“In the beginning, when chaos first gave way to creation, who could say who was born to be a lover?”
The storyteller who lodges here and the cook of the tavern—are they companions, or sworn rivals?
Yet night after night, he finds his way into your dreams, addictive as the biluō pastries from the pastry shop.
Those fascinating and mysterious tales, those words of love that seem half-real and half-illusory—
like two fragrances intertwining in the air, they have long since become impossible, and perhaps neither of you wishes, to tell apart.
—“To forget all else is too difficult; my heart has chosen only one.”
—
THE IMAGERY OF THIS SCENE IS SO BEAUTIFUL!! IT SPEAKS EVERYTHING KYAAAAAAA
“Are you trying to stay awake even later than me?” Shaw scoffs from the entryway of the apartment. You can hear the chastisement from his tone, and you’re in no mood to hear that from him at the moment.
“No,” you pout.
“Then what’s the matter?” Rain begins to patter the outside window panes. You hear his footsteps grow closer. “Why are you still awake?”
You give a heavy sigh and try to close your eyes again. You are exhausted, you know he can tell, and, again, you’re in no mood to tell him about your nightmares.
You don’t need anyone else to spell out how silly you’d been, or to mock you for the nightmares that tormented your heart.
So you focus on the rain that soon beats against the window, thundering and turning to hail with the cold. If you focused hard enough, you could hear Shaw brewing tea in the kitchen.
Somehow, as you listen to hail ping and clink against the window, you manage to drift off.
And as Shaw watches your breathing even out into something deeper, into something that signals peaceful slumber, the storm eases.
⚡ Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for an Event which hasn't been released in EN yet!⚡
[Released Date: 16th June 2026]
[Prologue]
Shaw has been coming to my house much more frequently lately.
The reason was that construction had started below his apartment. Every day at exactly nine in the morning, all kinds of sharp, ear-piercing noises would begin right on schedule, blaring in his ears like an endless performance.
To make matters worse, Shaw was a night owl who often had his days and nights reversed.
He put up with it for two days, but on the third day, he finally showed up at my doorstep with his bag in hand.
Under normal circumstances, this would have made me very happy... if Shaw's birthday wasn't drawing closer and closer.
The afternoon sunlight spilled across the living room floor. While Shaw was catching up on sleep in the bedroom, I quietly dragged out a box of crafting materials.
I had just picked up a pair of scissors and was about to measure a ribbon when a lazy voice suddenly sounded from behind me.
Shaw: What are you doing?
MC: ………?!
I had no idea when he had woken up. He was peeking over my shoulder, and the messy blue-purple ends of his hair almost brushed against my cheek.
His gaze moved away from my face and landed on the paper boxes and colored paper scattered all over the floor.
Shaw: Are you preparing a birthday gift for me?
MC: Hmph. Your birthday is still half a month away, and you're already thinking about gifts. Dream on.
Shaw stared at me for two seconds, then lowered his head to look at the wrapping paper and decorative flowers on the floor.
Shaw: Keep pretending if you want.
I smiled nonchalantly and naturally looked up.
MC: By the way, there's something I wanted to ask you.
MC: Our company is preparing a nostalgia program about a classic rock band. You're more familiar with this stuff than I am, so I wanted to get some advice from classmate Shaw.
Shaw: Let's hear it.
MC: If I need a crash course, are there any must-watch concerts or documentaries?
As soon as he heard the words "rock band," Shaw finally stopped paying attention to the suspicious pile of materials.
He narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment, his tone becoming more serious.
Shaw: It depends on what direction your program is taking. If you're talking about live performance energy, Queen is impossible to skip. You could also watch The Beatles, especially their rooftop concert.
MC: The rooftop concert?
Shaw: Yeah, it was their farewell performance. There was no traditional stage, no official promotion—they just suddenly started playing above the city. It’s pretty interesting.
I repeated it unconsciously, a faint image flickering through my mind.
Shaw: That look of yours… you’re not coming up with some weird plan again, are you?
MC: No, no. I’m seriously learning. Keep going.
Shaw then listed a few more bands and documentaries. I nodded along while typing the keywords into my phone notes.
Shaw: If you need vinyl records or old footage, you can find Jensen. He collects a lot of that stuff.
MC: Got it. I’ll look into it over the next while.
Shaw: So polite?
MC: Expert advice is very valuable.
Shaw: Cut it out.
Shaw let out a lazy laugh and stood up, ready to go back to sleep. His hand was already on the door when he suddenly paused and looked back to confirm.
Shaw: It’s really not for my birthday?
MC: Nope. Doing this little mind game every year would be boring. We’ll just have a normal birthday this time, don’t worry.
Shaw: …….
Shaw: Alright. I believe you.
—
After plugging in the final cable into the audio interface correctly, I rotated my sore arm and stretched lazily.
The instruments marked with “Isolated” were arranged one by one on the rooftop. The red brick walls and wooden floor were bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun.
Wind passed through the gaps between high-rise buildings, making the string lights sway gently, as if tuning this small rooftop stage in advance.
Thinking about the expression Shaw would have when he pushed the door open, my heartbeat quietly quickened.
It should feel pretty similar to those performances back then.
I raised my phone again and took a few photos of the rooftop, sending them into the group chat named “SHAW Plan.”
MC: Venue confirmed! Equipment is almost ready, too. Everyone, remember to follow the plan and come on time.
Adam: Received! Mission guaranteed!
Jensen: Don’t worry, we’ll definitely give Shaw a birthday to remember.
Randal: I’m already getting excited!
Fitch: See you there.
Watching the messages pop up one by one, I finally couldn’t help but smile.
