Everyone frowned and stared at Xu Nuan with complicated expressions. Is there any problem with their contract? They wondered. 

  Since they debuted as a temporary group, they were supposed to be disbanded if they failed to win any trophies for their song or grab the attention of the public. 

  However, they not only won the trophies for their debut song, but they are also getting fairly high attention from the public as a new group. Didn't they already surpass these qualifications? 

  They haven't renewed their contract yet and there is a chance that they won't be able to continue their activities as a group anymore. But they don't want that to happen. They can't bear to be separated from each other. 

  After training together for years, they're like a family and cannot think about separating from each other so soon. 

  Song Ai glanced at the other girls and saw their expressions turning grim. " Xu Nuan, don't hesitate. Just say whatever it is. We're already thankful for what you have done for us. We don't expect much since we weren't supposed to debut anyway." 

  Xu Nuan smiled seeing everyone's dull expressions, " Well, the news is indeed stressful. And things are going to be hard for you all from now on."

  Everyone pursed their lips and Sun Ya was on the verge of crying. Pan Lan patted her back but it was of no use. Her eyes were already glistening with clear tears. 

  " A while ago I got a phone call. It was to inform that 'The knights'  have been invited to perform at the Jade Music Awards."

  "……"

  " I knew it. I was having a feeling that something bad was gonna happen today and it…..wait……WHAT?" Sun Ya burst into tears and was crying while grumbling when the news hit her. 

  " Did you said….Jade Music Awards? The great music award where only the top artists are invited?" Her eyes widened, as she waited for Xu Nuan to confirm, if she heard it right or if she was hallucinating. 

  Xu Nuan chuckled seeing her crying while asking this question. She sighed and picked up a tissue from the table on the side and handed it to her, " Yes. Only those groups who're in the top 100 can be eligible to be invited to the award show and the performance invitations are even rarer for rookie groups."

  " But you guys did it, that too with your single track only." 

  " AHHHH….HOW IS IT A BAD NEWS? YOU SCARED US ALL……" Sun Ya started crying even more loudly after hearing this news. 

  Others were also laughing and crying in happiness and nodded in agreement.

  Xu Nuan cleared her throat when they were busy crying and hugging each other as if it's big news, " Well, that's not all."

  " Now what else?" Pan Lan asked impatiently. Xu Nuan always loves to torture them and bombarded them with her one-by-one news. 

  Xu Nuan took her sweet time and after pushing her hair back, she 'finally' said, " Along with the invitation, 'The Knights' have been nominated as Rookie of the Year award."

  "……"

  After she completed her words, a long silence followed. Everyone stared at her in shock and confusion. 

  However, after her words registered in their minds, Pan Lan stepped forward, " Where is it? Where is everyone?" She asked and started to look behind Xu Nuan and even went out of the doorway to look for something. 

  " What? What are you looking for?"

  " Where is the camera? Or is there a whole team who is here to prank us? Is this some hidden camera prank? Huh?" She asked, looking as serious as ever. 

  Xu Nuan chuckled seeing how little they think of themselves. 

  " Well, unfortunately, there is no camera. But I think I should have prepared one to record your comedic reactions." 

  Song Ai held Xu Nuan by her shoulders and looked at her seriously, " Are you serious? We got nominated for……rookies of the year?" Her eyes widened, not knowing what to say. 

  They weren't expecting to get any awards this year since it's not been that long since they released their song and there is no way that a new group like them, who has no prior support or popularity will get the award. 

  It's just….so unbelievable. 

  Xu Nuan smiled seeing them crying even harder. Why are they crying every time she tells them the good news? What will happen to them if she reveals the last piece of news to them?

  While everyone was crying and hugging each other, again and again, Lai Yi stopped crying and turned to Xu Nuan.

    She looked at her in the eyes and asked, " There is something else too, isn't it?"

  Xu Nuan raised her brows, " How do you know? I haven't said anything yet."

  " Your eyes said it all. Your eyes were laughing at us for crying easily, you're hiding the real news, aren't you?" She asked cautiously, hoping for it to be good news only. 

  Everyone stopped and looked at Xu Nuan with a frown, waiting for her to reveal the other news too. 

  " Xu Nuan, you better say it quickly, otherwise……otherwise, I will complain to your boyfriend." Pan Lan threatened her. 

  Xu Nuan chuckled, " And……how will you do that? Do you know his name or who he is?" 

  " We……we can find out. We saw him when he came to pick you up at the restaurant that day when you were dead drunk and were doing some weird-perverted stuff." Pan Lan retaliated. 

  " He was handsome though." Sun Ya commented. 

  Xu Nuan stared at her amusingly. Weird-perverted stuff? That's……an interesting way to explain her drunken habits. 

  " Xu Nuan, don't beat around the bush and just say it already. Stop killing us with suspense." Song Ai insisted. 

  Xu Nuan sighed and raised her hands in defense, " Okay, fine. I was just trying to allow you all to enjoy this moment a little longer. If you want to know, then I can't do anything." 

  Everyone got serious again upon hearing her discouraging words. So it's bad news after all. 

  Lai Yi clenched her fists and waited for her to reveal the news and be done with it. 

  " So….the news is….Along with the rookie of the year….You guys have been nominated for 'peopleschoiceaward' and 'songoftheyear'!!" Xu Nuan said the last words fastly that they couldn't even understand what she said. 

  " What did you say? We have been nominated for….what?" Sun Ya leaned closer and asked while squinting her eyes as if she will get to listen to it clearly if she does this. 

  " I couldn't hear them either." Pan Lan frowned. 'This little brat……'

  Her hands were itching to beat Xu Nuan to a pulp for playing with them, but if something happened to her, who would manage them? 

  While everyone was complaining, Lai Yi was standing there in silence, frozen. After a few minutes, she said something that everyone couldn't hear. 

  " Lai Yi, what are you mumbling now?" Song Ai sighed. Why is everyone being so childish today? 

  " She said……we are nominated for the People's Best Choice award and Song of the Year too." Lai Yi said, loud and clear. 

  " What nonsense……WHAT DID YOU SAY AGAIN?" Pan Lan's eyes widened in shock as she was thunderstruck at the 'shocking news. 

  " Xu Nuan, are you serious? Song Of the Year? But……how can it be possible?" Song Ai covered her mouth with her palm in surprise. 

  " As far as I know, no rookie has got the song of the year since they don't have as much following as the famous and experienced groups." Sun Ya reasoned. 

  However, Xu Nuan could respond, Lai Yi spoke, " No. It's possible. 'The Queens' also won rookie of the year and Song of the Year with their debut song. And it was the first time that any rookie girl group broke the stereotypes and won the song of the year and not some senior group." 

  Xu Nuan looked at Lai Yi in surprise. It was her first time seeing her talking this much and even though she was still looking serious, her smiling eyes and fast speech were telling how happy she is right now. 

  Seeing the girls jumping in happiness, she was reminded of her days when they got this overwhelming news. However, watching them going through the same emotions made her feel nostalgic. 

  Their group has been disbanded and even though it ended on a bad note, the happy moments are still the same and the overwhelming feeling is still intact in her memories. 

  She took a deep breath and cleared her throat before clapping her hands to get their attention, "Guys, Guys, it's good to be happy, but don't get your hopes up."

  "Nomination doesn't mean that you have already won the awards. However, as a new group, this is already an achievement and you should be proud of it. So do celebrate this achievement, but don't let these things get on your head and slack off during your practices."

  "The more recognition you all will get, the more people will expect from you and will judge you. So…..whatever the result will be, our priority is to rock the performance. Since it will be your first time performing at the award ceremony, you need to practice hard and everything will be fine."

  Everyone wiped their tears and nodded.

  " We will work hard." Sun Ya added. 

  " Don't worry. We won't let you down. After all, it's all because of you that we have reached this point." Song Ai added while trying to keep her emotions in check. 

  She needs to work hard as the leader to lead the girls well and don't let them feel discouraged by the judging eyes of others. 

  Xu Nuan smiled seeing the passion in their eyes and said, " You don't need to prove it to me or the world. Just……don't let yourself down. You don't owe anything to anyone, but yourself."

  [ Read this novel on W e b n o v e l . c o m ( remove spaces). If you are reading this story other than w e b n o v e l, then this novel has been stolen. Support the original author and not the thieves. And get the latest updates on w e b n o v e l. Regards Kamlyn]