Chapter One: The Name Only She Could See

Rain fell sideways in Linwan. By the time Xia Mi ran into the backstage tent with her guitar, her skirt was soaked to the knees. Tang Li wiped her hair and cursed the organizers. “New artists at four, typhoon at eleven. At least somebody’s schedule is reliable.” “The typhoon doesn’t have to sing the opening set.” Xia Mi’s laugh was thin. Today marked exactly two years since Wen Yu’s death. Beside the mirror lay a silver-printed program. Seven acts were listed from two in the afternoon to eleven at night. But Xia Mi saw one more line at the bottom: 12:00 A.M. — MIA — Tidal Stage — “The Day Remade” The letters looked freshly bled through from the other side. “Who’s the eighth act?” Tang Li frowned. “What eighth act?”