Friday arrived with a restless kind of energy, the sort that hummed beneath the skin and made the city feel awake before the sun had fully settled into the day.
The executive van slowed as it neared the TV station that housed the main studio for MusicFest Tonight. Even before the building came fully into view, the noise hit them first. Waves of cheers, shrieks, and chanting surged through the tinted windows like an approaching tide.
At the very back of the van, Elena leaned comfortably against Jin Di's chest, his arm wrapped around her as if it belonged there. Simon occupied the seat in front of them, thumbs flying across his phone as he kept Cai Jun updated in real time. Song Yuqing sat calmly in the front passenger seat beside the driver, eyes sharp and posture alert. Behind them, another vehicle followed closely, carrying Jin Di's subordinates for added security.
