[Silver Hair Eyepatch & Black and Red Dress] Convention Diary

The successful wrap-up of Shenzhen Anime Festival Day 2 came a bit more suddenly than expected, leaving me in a state of rapid battery drain and complete mind-blanking. I really want to shout "That was awesome!" three times—it feels so satisfying. Although physical fatigue washes over me like a tide, spiritual fulfillment is continuously skyrocketing. This contradictory and extreme joy can probably only be understood by those who have personally experienced a full day at a convention, weaving between booths with selfie sticks and cameras.

Wearing this black and red dress outfit was truly a physical ordeal. That rigid hoop skirt frame offered maximum physical defense; every turn in the crowd required extreme caution for fear of bumping into passersby or booth corners. The short silver-gray hair combined with a black eyepatch, plus an exquisite black rose lace choker at the collar, gave me an air of elegance laced with a touch of cool aloofness once I put it on.

It was a rare treat to gather the "great crew of close friends" at the Shenzhen Anime Festival cosplay venue. Everyone helped each other carry props, find good lighting, and adjust angles; this unspoken synergy is truly one of my biggest motivations to keep cosplaying. Although various unexpected mishaps occurred during the venue walk—like how I kept using a tomato flyer as a face-shield prop (it was indeed conspicuous in the pictures, but made for a fun episode)—the joyful atmosphere during group photos is something no post-processing can ever replace.

Arriving back at the hotel room at night to snap that classic "results screen" photo, looking at myself in the mirror wearing Crocs and holding unmounted prop flowers felt surprisingly genuine. Compared to the polished brilliance on stage, this slightly disheveled, grounded state felt much more real. The mental state after a convention is defined by a sense of all-forgiving acceptance—apologizing for one's sweaty mess, as well as for the unavoidable heavy retouches and occasional derpy raw shots in the Convention photos, because the joy itself is what matters most.

Even though I walked around like a worn-out husk today, I was still thinking about Wuthering Waves game content. My friends at the convention were all talking about it, and I couldn't wait to collapse on the bed after the event to pull for gacha or clear stages on my phone. Looking through today's captured photos, though many are still in the heavy retouch phase, I already have specific expectations for the final edits in mind. Huge thanks to every stranger who smiled at the camera and to all the close friends who helped me take pictures today—this unreserved joy is the most captivating part of offline conventions. Exhausted as I am, this thrilling sense of accomplishment is truly addictive, leaving me wanting nothing more than to lie flat and savor every fun thing that happened today.