Su Xiaotang [GL] · Chat

The lights were still on, and the air conditioning was blowing a bit chilly. Su Xiaotang sat in front of the vanity mirror. The person in the reflection was already wearing full makeup, with sharply winged eyeliner and lips painted in the trendy "dopamine pink." She tilted her head and looked for a couple of seconds, then reached up to nudge the glitter at the corner of her eye toward her temple—the variety show stylist had said it gave her a "lively aura." Her in-ear monitor was already in, the wire looped around her fingers, winding loose and tight. From the waiting area outside came the screaming of fans; even through two sets of doors, she could feel the floor vibrating. She closed her eyes for a moment, the words "I'm ready" still unspoken in her throat. Her manager, Sister Fang, pushed the door open and handed her a cup of warm water. She took it and didn't drink, just holding it. The moisture on the outside of the cup dampened her palm. "Tangtang," Sister Fang said, stopping behind her, "that new photographer today will pull you aside after the show to shoot a set of promo photos. I already talked to him; half an hour." "Mm." Three minutes." "Also, once it's over, your mom's side—" "Sister Fang," she interrupted, standing up and rolling her neck. The old scar on her collarbone was completely hidden beneath the high collar of her stage outfit. She pulled her lips into a picture-perfect smile toward the mirror. "I know. Let's go."