After watching the PV that Qin Lie made, Chen Xi suddenly had some inspiration for the last character.

She wanted to draw a unique female character.

Abandoning the typical characteristics of a tiny waist and huge breasts, the devil’s figure, but not going for an androgynous style either.

She wanted to try setting aside mainstream male player aesthetics and create a unique female charm that emerged from the character herself.

Chen Xi was busy with the shop during the day and stayed up late at night working on design drafts at home.

After working day and night for several days, the line drawings gradually developed the feeling she wanted.

This kind of design was too contrary to mainstream aesthetics. Chen Xi wasn’t sure what Qin Lie’s reaction would be when he saw it, so she wasn’t in a hurry to show him.

Last night, she had rarely gotten a full night’s sleep, so Chen Xi woke up refreshed this morning.

She sat on the doorstep playing with San Huang for a while when she saw Fan Mingsu riding her tricycle back from outside, grumbling and complaining.

“Little brat, his wings have gotten hard.”

As soon as San Huang saw Fan Mingsu, he wagged his tail and pounced on her with a drawn-out, wheedling whine.

Chen Xi asked with a smile: “Grandma, who made you unhappy so early in the morning?”

Fan Mingsu jumped off the tricycle and hugged San Huang’s neck, giving it a rub.

“Sensen insisted on going to school by himself this morning, riding his grandfather’s broken bicycle that creaks and groans all the way to school.”

Chen Xi said with a smile: “Isn’t that good? It saves you from having to pick him up and drop him off every day.”

Fan Mingsu let go of San Huang and bent down to pick out the mineral water bottles and cardboard from the cart, stacking them neatly against the wall.

“What’s good about it? If I don’t take him, I still have to wander around the streets morning and evening anyway.”

She shook her head, saying worriedly: “The little rascal rides so fast, I could barely keep up behind him.”

Chen Xi: “How can your arms and legs compare to his? Don’t chase after him anymore. Kids have to grow up eventually.”

Fan Mingsu was indignant and glared at Chen Xi.

“What’s wrong with my arms and legs? I’m worth three of you put together.”

She pulled out a thick stack of flyers from her pocket. As soon as she set them down, the wind blew the colorful papers all over the courtyard.

Chen Xi got up and collected them while saying with exasperated amusement: “Grandma, why are you even taking people’s flyers?”

Fan Mingsu said with a smile: “Every year at this time the streets are full of flyers. It’s such a waste to throw them away, so I pick up some when I see them.”

Chen Xi glanced at the flyers in her hand—they were for the desert music festival.

This Friday, it will run for two consecutive days.

In this small city, the most exciting time, even more than the Spring Festival, was the blazing midsummer desert music festival.

Before going to bed that night, Sensen came to find Chen Xi.

Chen Xi was sitting at her desk modifying sketches when she turned around and saw Sensen peeking around her bedroom door.

“It’s so late, why aren’t you sleeping?”

Chen Xi asked him with a smile.

Sensen ran into the room and placed a desert music festival flyer on the desk.

“Sister Chen Xi, take me to the music festival this weekend.”

Sensen looked at Chen Xi with an expectant expression.

Chen Xi was stunned for a moment. Time flew by—in the blink of an eye, midsummer had arrived.

She suddenly remembered the period when Bai Yuning left and smiled.

She suddenly thought that during the music festival days, there would probably be more vehicles coming and going.

She needed to watch the repair shop and make some money, and have Boyang come help too.

“Okay? Sister Chen Xi?”

Sensen shook her shoulder.

Chen Xi came back to her senses and asked curiously: “How did you suddenly become interested in music festivals? When I took you last year, didn’t you say it was boring?”

Sensen grinned: “This year is different from last year. This year there’s Hot Cold.”

Chen Xi’s eyes widened in surprise: “Who has a cold?”

Sensen looked at Chen Xi speechlessly: “It’s a band.”

Chen Xi had an epiphany: “Oh, you’re chasing stars now?”

Sensen said a bit embarrassedly: “I’m not chasing stars. I just really like the band’s lead singer. He’s so cyberpunk.”

He did endorsements for that Tunnel game. In the game, he flies planes and rides motorcycles in leather jackets—he’s even cooler than you.”

Chen Xi said with a smile: “Taking you is no problem. We’ll see how you behave.”

Sensen immediately rolled up his sleeves to massage Chen Xi’s shoulders. Chen Xi laughingly shooed him back to bed.

After Sensen left, Chen Xi carefully calculated the timing.

No matter how busy she was, she had to find some time on Friday to take Sensen out to have fun.

Besides, she wanted to relax a bit, too.

She looked at the time and figured Ruirui was probably asleep by now, so she sent Yang Shan a WeChat message.

“Are you going to the music festival this weekend?”

Yang Shan replied after a while.

“Just put the kid to sleep. I was about to call you. Ruirui said Sensen wants to go to the music festival and insists on going with Sensen.”

Chen Xi smiled at the screen. Those two little rascals.

She discussed it with Yang Shan, and when they organized in the group chat, Qin Zhan, Han Susu, and the others said they wanted to go too.

Everyone quickly agreed to go to the music festival on Friday night.

Chen Xi closed the shop early on Friday afternoon and went to the supermarket with Yang Shan and Han Susu to buy supplies.

The men took the children to set up tents in the desert.

After shopping, the three women drove straight to the great desert. At this time of day, when the sun was setting, it was the most beautiful moment in the desert.

Yang Shan turned on the car stereo, and Xu Wei’s “Hometown” suddenly played in the car.

His magnetic voice, weathered singing.

“The sunset at the horizon once again reflects on my face.”

“Once again reflecting my restless heart.”

“What kind of place is this, still so desolate…”

Chen Xi was suddenly moved and silently looked out the window.

The setting sun dyed the entire view a rich reddish-orange.

Although Chen Xi had never left this small city, at this moment she suddenly felt a kind of attachment like a tired bird returning to its nest.

Her heart became as desolate as the song.

A desolation that only this desert could understand.

“Look over there!”

Han Susu pointed out the window and called out excitedly.

Chen Xi looked over and saw the high stage set up in the desert.

A huge screen stood on towering steel frames, facing the brilliant sunset.

As the car sped past, the stage and rows of booths and tents around it gradually disappeared from view.

Chen Xi said with a smile: “It looks even livelier this year.”

They soon drove to their destination.

In the desert not far from the music festival site, many locals were setting up tents in this area.

The tents at the venue were usually booked by tourists from out of town, and staying one night was ridiculously expensive.

Chen Xi got out of the car and saw Liu Boyang playing soccer with Sensen in the desert.

Qin Zhan and Lin Fang sat shoulder to shoulder on a small dune in the distance, watching the sunset.

Ruirui and Lin Fang’s daughter Guoguo squatted in front of a tent, digging in the sand with plastic shovels.

Sounds of audio equipment testing occasionally drifted from the distant stage.

The air was filled with the aroma of food stalls.

Yang Shan got out of the car and called for the two men to come and move things. The three children also came over to help, eagerly competing to carry things.

Chen Xi looked around but didn’t see Yang Shan’s husband, Han Chao.

She asked Yang Shan, “Where’s your husband?”

Yang Shan, carrying a case of mineral water, said with a smile, “He has a business dinner tonight. He can only come after eating.”

Han Susu sighed: “Ever since Han Chao got promoted to section chief, he has less and less time to hang out with us.”

Yang Shan said with a laugh: “Compared to him, I care more about his salary increase.”

Han Susu shook her head and sighed: “You woman, you’ve fallen into a money pit.”

Yang Shan: “When you have elderly parents above and small children below, dealing with a pile of annoying work matters every day, wanting to be a full-time mom at home but reluctant to give up that measly salary, then you’ll know how wonderful money is.”

Yang Shan finally brought out tonight’s main event—a box of meat skewers she had spent all morning preparing.

Beef, lamb, chicken wings, squid, potato slices—everything adults and children loved to eat.

After moving everything, Sensen urged Chen Xi to take them to the music festival.

Chen Xi was pulled forward by Sensen and called back to Liu Boyang: “Watch our stuff. I’ll come back and switch with you later.”

Liu Boyang waved at Chen Xi.

“Go have fun. The music festival is the same thing every year, nothing interesting. When Brother Qin Lie and Brother Yang Guan come, I’ll drink with them.”

Han Susu was holding Ruirui’s hand, walking forward, when she heard Yang Guan’s name. Her steps involuntarily paused, and she turned back to ask: “Brother Yang Guan is coming too?”

Liu Boyang nodded and asked Yang Shan, “Right, Sister Shan? You called Brother Yang Guan, didn’t you?”

Yang Shan nodded: “My brother still has two patients for massage and bone-setting. He’ll come with Brother Qin Lie after he’s done.”

Chen Xi’s steps also paused as she looked back at the extra tent.

So it was prepared for those two.

“We’re going then.”

Chen Xi turned back to smile at Lin Fang: “The children will come with us. You and Qin Zhan have fun.”

Lin Fang waved her hand embarrassedly, about to speak, but Qin Zhan took her hand.

“Listen to Sister Xi.”

Qin Zhan’s voice was low as he forced himself to project a big man’s aura.

Chen Xi looked at the slight blush showing through Qin Zhan’s thick skin and couldn’t help but curl her lips.

“Let’s go.”

She took Lin Fang’s daughter’s little hand, hooked her arm around Sensen’s small shoulder, and walked toward the lively venue.

After walking for about ten minutes, they could see a dark mass of people gathered under the stage in the distance.

As the sky darkened, the stage lights were brilliant.

Several bright beams shot down from the high steel frames, and wherever they swept, cheers erupted.

Directly above the stage, a huge LCD screen flashed with changing lights and suddenly displayed countdown numbers.

The crowd began shouting along: “Fifty-nine, fifty-eight, fifty-seven, fifty-six…”

Chen Xi and the others stood in the crowd, watching the changing numbers on the screen, listening to the carnival-like shouting around them. Their mood was also infected with a kind of frenzy, and they joined in shouting the countdown.

“Five, four, three, two, one…”

With several loud firecracker explosions, colorful and brilliant fireworks burst overhead.

In the twilight desert, the sound of guitar strings rang out, followed by a few casual bass notes.

The sound was small but very penetrating.

Like reminding everyone present that a carnival was about to begin.

The surroundings suddenly quieted down, and the overhead screen and stage lights suddenly went black.

Immediately after, heavy metal rock music exploded from speakers in all directions.

Hundreds of spotlights on the steel frames lit up in unison, brilliant and dazzling, illuminating the entire venue like daylight.

The first band of the night appeared on the big screen.

The crowd erupted in earth-shaking cheers.

Sunset, afterglow, rock music, yellow sand, celebrating crowds.

The evening wind carried the rolling heat waves of the day, stirring Chen Xi’s hair.

She sang and danced excitedly like everyone around her.

The lead singer with rainbow-colored hair shouted to the audience below: “Are you ready?”

Chen Xi smiled and waved at him. Han Susu and Yang Shan jumped and shouted: “Ready!”

Ready—this night, to begin a whole summer’s restlessness.

Song after song, the atmosphere grew more and more heated.

Sensen stood in the crowd, looking expectantly at the big screen, waiting for his favorite band to take the stage.

But Ruirui and Guoguo, the two little girls, couldn’t sit still anymore and wanted to visit the food street and the game arcade.

Yang Shan told Chen Xi and Han Susu to stay and continue partying while she took the two little girls to play elsewhere.

After watching two more bands perform, Han Susu couldn’t sit still either.

She patted Chen Xi’s shoulder: “You guys keep playing. I’m going back to camp first.”

Chen Xi looked confused: “Why go back so early?”

Han Susu’s expression immediately became a bit unnatural.

Chen Xi suddenly understood and smiled at her suggestively.

“Go ahead, good luck.”

Han Susu gave Chen Xi an exasperated look and left.

Finally, Sensen’s favorite band took the stage.

Sensen frantically tugged at Chen Xi’s hem, saying excitedly: “Sister, look quick! That bass-playing lead singer is the one who flies planes and rides motorcycles in the Tunnel game.”

Chen Xi glanced at the bouncing boy on the big screen and said with a chuckle: “He’s not as cool as I.”

Sensen gave Chen Xi a look that said it all.

Hot Cold’s lead singer played a show-off electric bass riff.

In the passionate cheers of the audience, he said to the crowd below in a voice like a subwoofer: “This summer, for everyone here tonight.”

Intense rock music began, and the lead singer’s magnetic voice got the whole crowd hyped.

“This summer.”

“A girl moved in next door.”

“Loves wearing miniskirts.”

“Has a cat at home.”

“This summer.”

“The wind is blazing hot.”

“The convenience store downstairs.”

“Playing old songs.”

“This summer.”

“The summer when cicadas never stop calling.”

“The girl and I shared an ice cream on the balcony.”

Blazing melody, blazing singing, blazing summer.

The atmosphere at the venue was so explosive that it seemed like it would catch fire.

Chen Xi and Sensen were standing at the very back. Sensen was too short and couldn’t even see the big screen completely.

He alternated between standing on his tiptoes and jumping up and down, but still couldn’t see properly.

Sensen anxiously pulled Chen Xi toward the edge of the crowd, wanting to watch from the open space at the very back.

Chen Xi asked him in confusion: “Don’t you like this band? Why are we leaving?”

Sensen looked up with his sweaty little face and said glumly: “It’s too crowded inside. I can’t see anything.”

He pulled Chen Xi, continuing to walk backward.

“Sister Chen Xi, there are fewer people in the back. I can see the big screen.”

The two walked to the outermost edge of the crowd, but the screen was still blocked.

Chen Xi watched the little kid standing on his tiptoes, craning his neck, wishing he could grow a whole lot taller.

She smiled and picked Sensen up in her arms.

Sensen happily put his arms around Chen Xi’s neck, thinking that Sister Chen Xi was still the coolest.

Chen Xi held Sensen, a boy of about ten years old had some weight to him.

Halfway through the song on stage, Chen Xi’s arms were already sore.

And Sensen was so excited that he was frantically waving his little hands.

Chen Xi bounced Sensen in her arms to relieve the soreness in her arms for a few seconds.

She looked at the little boy’s profile, laughing innocently and brilliantly under the gorgeous lights.

Her heart unconsciously melted into a puddle.

This kid, though he acted playful and carefree.

But Chen Xi knew he was more mature than his peers.

Growing up without a mother, with a father who didn’t want him, and now his grandfather was seriously ill.

Looking at Sensen, she wanted him to always be this happy.

Chen Xi gritted her teeth and endured until the song ended.

She thought it was just three or four minutes—she could endure it somehow.

Unexpectedly, when one song ended, the lead singer started another one.

Sensen happily squirmed in Chen Xi’s arms, waving his little hands vigorously at the stage.

Chen Xi’s forehead broke out in sweat, and her arms were about to give out.

Just then, a pair of large hands reached over and took Sensen from her arms.

Both Chen Xi and Sensen were startled.

They turned around and saw that Qin Lie had somehow appeared beside them.