Girl idols are meant to be exploited!

While enjoying the food, everyone took turns singing on the microphone. As the songs continued to alternate, the atmosphere in the entire box became more and more relaxed and lively.

Miao Meng is worthy of being the host. She is the most relaxed one in the audience. Not only does she sing, she also pulls everyone to do some movements and even jumps on the sofa.

Her voice was clear and although her skills were average, she won a lot of applause because of the great atmosphere.

The atmosphere became more and more lively, and even Aine couldn't help but be infected.

She looked at the cheerful crowd, her fingertips gently stroking the edge of the table, and memories of singing in KTV in the past emerged in her mind.

She took a deep breath, finally picked up the remote control, and clicked on a few of Sumimi's Japanese songs.

"Hey, Aine, are you finally going to sing?"

Miao Meng turned her head in surprise.

"Well, since we're all here, we can't just listen to you sing."

Aine smiled cheerfully and grasped the microphone.

The music started, and the prelude of Sumimi's song slowly flowed out. The gentle and emotional melody made the air seem to become delicate.

Aiyin opened her lips slightly and the lyrics flowed out slowly.

The moment she opened her mouth, the entire private room suddenly fell silent.

Aiyin's voice is crystal clear, with a hint of ethereal texture, and her tone is transparent and emotional. She not only controls the flow of the melody, but also uses emotion to interpret the song as movingly as the original singer.

When the high notes in the chorus came out, everyone almost held their breath.

"...Oh my god."

Xiaozhi's mouth opened slightly, completely shocked.

She didn't expect that Aiyin, who couldn't even raise her voice in the practice room, could sing high notes in KTV with such strong explosive power.

If Aine could perform like this in the practice room, why would she frown at Aine so often?

Isn't she able to sing well? What happened before? Does she have any psychological problems?

Aiyin performed the whole song extremely well. When she sang the last note and had not yet put down the microphone, Miaomeng gave her warm applause.

"You are so amazing! This is heavenly music!"

Miao Meng originally thought that even if Aiyin, a "connected person", sang only so-so, she would still support her. Now that Aiyin performed so well, her applause was even more enthusiastic.

She was generous with her praise: "Aine, you're a true professional! Mr. Hoshikawa made the right choice by choosing you as the lead singer!"

"Uh...actually, I'm just singing casually."

Aine let out a faint smile and scratched her face shyly.

"How can this be just a casual singing?"

Hoshikawa Taku chuckled and joked, "If Sumimi's Mikado Hatsuka and Junda Mana were here, they would also praise your singing."

Aiyin lowered her head in embarrassment. She hadn't been thinking too much just now and was simply immersed in the song. She didn't expect to be praised so much.

"Anyway, that song just now was really great."

Xiaozhi also said sincerely.

Miao Meng excitedly waved the maracas she was using to set the mood: "Since Aiyin is finally getting into the groove, let's continue singing!"

Amid the girls' cheers, the atmosphere in the box became even more lively, and after this song, Aine gradually let go of herself and sang her signature songs.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and sang to their heart's content, Taku Hoshikawa asked Lupa to drive Pochi and Meowme a ride. As for Aine, her home was in the opposite direction of everyone else's, so Taku Hoshikawa offered to escort Aine home.

Aiyin couldn't refuse the kindness, so she agreed.

As night fell, the neon lights on both sides of the street flickered softly, casting shadows on the wet road surface. A gentle breeze rustled the trees along the street, bringing a hint of coolness.

It was already quite late, and Hoshikawa Taku and Aine were walking side by side. Compared to the lively atmosphere in the box just now, the streets seemed particularly quiet at this moment. Only the occasional passing vehicles and the footsteps of pedestrians in the distance filled the silence of the night.

It has been a long time since Aiyin felt so relaxed. This is the first time she has felt so relaxed since she came back from England.

There was a smile on her lips, and her face still retained the afterglow of singing. Her long pink hair fluttered gently in the night breeze, and against the backdrop of the night, it looked even softer.

Hoshikawa Taku turned his head and looked at Aine's slightly flushed cheeks. He asked in a natural tone, "Aine, you actually sing very well. Why can't you let go during practice?"

Aiyin was stunned for a moment, her steps paused slightly, and then she walked forward slowly. She lowered her head, as if thinking about how to answer this question.

"why……"

She repeated it softly, with a hint of hesitation and evasion in her tone.

Hoshikawa Taku raised his eyebrows, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and asked with a hint of teasing: "Aine, you are not opposed to English, right? Or is it that your English grades are so poor that you are too shy to speak?"

Aiyin laughed at his teasing and shook her head slightly. "No, I wouldn't say I'm excluded. My English grades are among the best in the grade."

"If that's the case, then why don't you dare sing?"

Aine fell silent, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing against her sleeves, a look of hesitation in her eyes.

"If it's a reason that can't be told, forget it."

Seeing that she didn't answer immediately, Hoshikawa Taku softened his tone and said, "If you can't sing an English song, then we can change to a Japanese song. It's still early, so we still have plenty of time to practice singing."

Hoshikawa Taku didn't say that he wanted to replace Aine, but instead said that he wanted to change the song to practice.

Aiyin was stunned for a moment, then looked up at him with a look of surprise in her eyes: "Mr. Xingchuan, I can't sing this song well, shouldn't you replace me?"

Hoshikawa Taku asked back, "Why should I replace you? Didn't you show your abilities at the KTV? As a lead singer, your performance was more than enough. I almost wanted to sign you as an artist."

This sentence made Aine stunned, and a hint of surprise and emotion flashed in her eyes.

Since Hoshikawa Taku trusts me so much, why am I still hiding things?

Isn’t it just your own dark history? What’s there to not talk about?

In the night, her eyes flickered for a moment, then she took a deep breath and finally spoke with determination.

"Actually... when I was in junior high school, I was the student council president. Back then, I was very confident and felt I could do anything."

Aine's voice was filled with a hint of nostalgia, yet also a hint of bitterness. "I announced to the entire school that I was going to study in England, thinking it would be a new starting point in my life. But... after arriving in England, I was completely unable to adapt to the environment there."

"I thought my English was good, but when I actually stood on the streets of a foreign country and started talking, I realized that they couldn't understand my English, and I couldn't understand theirs either. I thought I could easily fit in, but reality slapped me in the face."

"I didn't speak the language, I had a different culture, I had no friends, I couldn't understand the discussions in class, and I couldn't express myself clearly... I became afraid to speak, afraid that every word I said would be misunderstood or even laughed at."

Aine’s voice grew lower and lower, and her eyes grew dimmer.

"Finally, I couldn't hold on any longer... I ended my study abroad program early and returned to Japan."

Chapter 123: It’s not desertion, it’s a strategic transfer.

Finally said it...

The moment the words flowed from her lips, Aine couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief. Her chest seemed to feel much lighter, but at the same time, as if enveloped by the coolness of the night, her chest still ached slightly.

This matter has been weighing on her mind. She didn't even explain the real reason to her parents. She just brushed it off by saying "I can't adapt to the new environment."

But tonight, she made up her mind to tell this "dark history" that she was too embarrassed to talk about for the first time in front of Taku Hoshikawa.

The night wind blew gently, ruffling Aine's hair. Her figure looked a little thin under the light of the street lamp.

"I once so confidently announced to everyone that I was going to England, but ended up coming back in disgrace... I didn't want my classmates to laugh at me, so I transferred to Hanaoka High School, which was far away from my home."

Aiyin smiled softly, that smile tinged with self-pity. She lightly kicked the stones at her feet, and the sound seemed to be mixed with the wind and dissipated lightly.

"I thought I could keep running away, but I didn't expect I couldn't escape..."

She sighed softly.

Hoshikawa Taku listened to Aine's story quietly, looking at her deeply, and did not speak immediately.

Hoshikawa Taku can understand Aine's feelings.

There is a huge gap between Japan's English education system and the real English environment. From pronunciation to expression habits, and even the way of understanding some words, they are completely different from those of native speakers.

Just like the "Decade" in "Kamen Rider Decade", the pronunciation in Japan is very different from standard English. Over time, many native Japanese speakers will be misled.

It is very common for students like Aine who excel in their studies in Japan to have difficulty adapting abroad.

Especially for someone like her who has a strong sense of self-esteem and desires to be recognized, such an experience is undoubtedly a huge blow to her.

"Ha ha……"

Aine laughed at herself, "Mr. Hoshikawa, this is ridiculous, isn't it? Laugh if you want."

However, Hoshikawa Taku did not laugh.

He just looked at Aine calmly and asked, "Why should I laugh? Aine, you've done a great job."

Aine was stunned and looked up at him.

"Aine, I think you didn't do any detailed research beforehand when you decided to go to the UK. You were just passionate about it, thinking that the UK is the fashion capital and that studying abroad would make you look better and more prestigious...right?"

"Yeah, but I ended up running back in disgrace, becoming a deserter."

Aine looked downcast.

"No, I don't think so."

Hoshikawa Taku shook his head, looked into Aine's eyes, and said seriously, "I don't know if you've ever heard the saying, 'Escape is shameful but useful'."

"The envy belongs to others, the pain is for yourself. When you find that you are not suitable for the British environment, there is no need to force yourself to cater to the eyes of others."

"Don't force yourself to fit into a circle you don't fit into. Otherwise, you'll only be asking for trouble. I think you made a wise decision, Aine."

Hoshikawa Taku paused, then emphasized, "Aine, you're not a deserter, you're making a 'strategic transfer'."

Aine slightly widened her eyes and clenched her sleeves lightly with her fingertips.

Aine didn't expect that instead of laughing at her, Hoshikawa Taku gave her affirmation and understanding.

That feeling... is very subtle, like a stone that has been hanging for a long time being gently held up by someone. The heaviness is relieved a little, and my heart also has a sense of relief that I have never felt before.

It's not just to comfort her like her parents would, but to approve of her choice from the bottom of their hearts.

After giving Aine some time to recover, Hoshikawa Taku asked again:

"So, Aine, you've been hesitant to sing English songs because you've been reminded of those bad memories from the past and you're afraid to speak English to others?"

“…You could say that.”

Aiyin nodded slightly, her voice becoming softer. "I know this isn't right, and I should move on. But I still have a psychological shadow, and I just can't sing it out loud..."

There was a look of "as expected" in Hoshikawa Taku's eyes.

Aine has always hoped to gain recognition by showing her excellence and activity. She can shine on the Japanese stage because this is an environment she is familiar with and she has enough confidence.

But in the UK, she encountered unprecedented setbacks. That experience almost destroyed her self-esteem and made her deeply afraid of English.

She used avoidance to seal her English ability, and at the same time, she also sealed away the unbearable memories.

Hoshikawa Taku did not encourage Aine, telling her to face her past and surpass herself.

Such empty words can only provide temporary comfort and are unlikely to change Aine's current situation.

What can really make her change is not verbal encouragement, but letting her go back to the "environment that scares her" and letting her take different actions from the past - to overcome it, to face it, instead of continuing to escape.

Hoshikawa Taku thought that the most direct way was to take Aine back to London and let her face the place that once frightened her again.

But time did not allow it, and Takuya Hoshikawa had no official reason to be a disciple.

However, he has already thought of someone who might be able to help Aiyin improve her "English phobia".

"Aine, don't be late tomorrow. I'll get you a coach."

Hoshikawa Taku suddenly said.

……

The next afternoon, the afterglow of the setting sun shone through the classroom windows onto the desks, and the air was filled with the bustle and relaxation of after-school.

Aine remembered Hoshikawa Taku's instructions, and as soon as she heard the bell, she immediately packed her schoolbag and rushed out of the school gate, fearing that she would be late.

Gao Songdeng looked at Aine who was gradually moving away, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Xiangzi happened to see this scene when she was going out, but she didn't say anything. She just passed the lights and headed towards the same destination with Aine, one in front and the other behind.

Although they are currently working in the same agency, Xiangzi has not had much contact with Aine.

Xiangzi is different from the band that will perform at the music festival. She also has a mission, which is to compose new songs. She stays in a room specially reserved for her by Taku Hoshikawa all day to create.

Arriving at the office earlier than Xiangzi, Aine saw the "coach" that Hoshikawa Taku wanted to introduce to her in the practice room.