novelraw Chapter 281 - 274: A Twist of Fate
Chapter 281 - 274: A Twist of Fate
Shenghai Grand Theater
The rarely well-dressed Xiao Li was staring tearfully yet dazed at the stage.
Lan Yening’s voice was utterly exquisite, reaching the pinnacle of beauty.
The sound reaching her ears felt like clouds drifting through the southern green hills and clear waters, twirling and winding in the breeze, penetrating into every cell of the listener’s body, instantly opening the pores and delivering unparalleled delight.
Watching Lan Yening perform from backstage, Tong Jie couldn’t help but feel deeply moved.
This Lan Yening possessed a talent so remarkable it could rival that of any renowned singer in the world.
A naturally gifted countertenor, with a vocal range spanning five octaves.
Standing there, performing, Lan Yening seemed like a finely tuned record player capable of producing the most sublime, ethereal sound.
Throughout the performance, his voice remained pure and light, free from even the slightest trace of strain.
What’s most extraordinary is that his voice carries an inherent vitality and power.
If this young man were willing to dedicate himself to rigorous practice for more than five years,
he could undoubtedly become one of Huaxia’s—and even the world’s—greatest musicians.
However, Tong Jie knew this was impossible.
Zhang Shuya needed him to generate quick returns; even participating in programs offering almost zero compensation was merely to elevate his "status."
Su Xiaoya was feeling a bit uncomfortable now because sitting next to her was Xiao Li.
When she handed Xiao Li the ticket earlier, she hadn’t considered this possibility.
Though Xiao Li was very polite, greeting her warmly upon arrival,
and had since been quietly and well-behaved the whole evening, Su Xiaoya still felt uneasy around her.
Lan Yening finished the final note on stage. With the female singer who had performed alongside him, he bowed to the audience in gratitude.
During the performance, he harbored no distracting thoughts, immersing himself entirely in the role. Yet, once everything was over, he felt as though he had just experienced a dream.
Just a year and a half ago, Lan Yening had been working in obscure establishments, where he compromised his dignity just to make a living.
Now, dressed in a luxurious custom-made suit, he was an artist performing in such a grand theater.
Looking at those who applauded for him, cried for him, and were so moved they trembled,
his emotions were deeply conflicted.
After thanking everyone and uttering a few mandatory lines, he returned to the makeup room backstage.
Moments ago, he had worn a gentle smile, but upon seeing the piles of flowers from fans cluttering the makeup counter, he couldn’t help but feel irritated.
"Assistant Yang, tidy up here. I want some quiet."
Lan Yening’s tone was still soft and gentle, but there was a chilling coldness to his words.
"Xiao Ning, today’s performance was very successful. Congratulations."
Hearing Tong Jie’s voice, Lan Yening immediately flashed his signature smile.
"Sister Tong, thank you for this opportunity."
"Xiao Ning, it’s because of your talent that you could be part of this production."
"Talent is common, but opportunities like this are rare."
Lan Yening’s words pleased Tong Jie, making her feel he was still loyal and appreciative.
"Xiao Ning, take some time to freshen up. I’ll take you to a dinner party afterward."
"Dinner party?"
"Yes. This one is hosted by Dean Liu. All the attendees are influential. You must choose your words carefully and behave respectfully when there."
Upon hearing this, Lan Yening felt delighted; such events were truly rare opportunities.
"Thank you, Sister Tong! I’ll quickly change my hairstyle and outfit!"
"A suit is fine for the outfit, but you’ll need to change the hairstyle and remove all the makeup."
"Understood!"
While Lan Yening prepared for the event, Zhang Shuya’s company had already released promotional material for this performance, with plans to buy trending spots online.
However, the relevant platforms informed her she could only purchase spots in the last five positions since the top five were monopolized by the program "Heavenly Idols."
The platforms were conflicted about "Heavenly Idols."
The topics generated by this show genuinely deserved to trend, but because of this, the platforms couldn’t cash in on other companies’ attempts to buy top slots.
They couldn’t suppress the trending topics from this show either, as doing so would drive their audience to competing platforms.
Though dissatisfied, Zhang Shuya could do nothing about it.
Originally, the promotional material should have been finalized before Lan Yening’s performance.
However, due to involvement in other matters related to the event,
she could only proceed once Lan Yening had successfully wrapped up his performance.
Fortunately, Lan Yening had delivered flawlessly in this debut performance.
As long as everything went smoothly afterward, she planned to send him to major platforms and prominent programs to gain exposure, ensuring his rise to prominence.
Su Xiaoya left the grand theater, her mind still echoing with Lan Yening’s voice.
She felt her brother had improved immensely—to the point of performing in a place as sophisticated as this.
Just as Su Xiaoya was contemplating creating a video about tonight’s "play," a sound from behind startled her—the hum of an electric scooter.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her arm as someone yanked her bag.
"Ah!"
The unexpected assault elicited a frightened scream, followed by the violent pull causing her to tumble to the ground.
Her mind went blank as she instinctively clung to her bag, her body dragging painfully across the concrete.
Just as she felt herself overwhelmed by pain, it felt as if she was lifted off the ground and violently jolted. Sounds of shattering debris and metal screeches rang in her ears.
In her dazed state, she saw a plump figure rushing toward her.
...
"...Where is this?"
"You’ve woken up! You’re in the hospital. Don’t move—you’re injured."
"...Xiao Li, it’s you."
"Yes, it’s me. Those two robbers have been detained now. Don’t worry."
Su Xiaoya exhaled in relief, though the intense pain coursing through her body made her feel as if living was a torment.
"Xiao Li, how badly am I hurt? Is my face okay?"
"Your face is fine. Luckily, you were wearing a jacket, and the distance you were dragged was short—just some abrasions. A piece of skin was scraped off your right arm, but the doctor said you’ll recover with proper care."
Xiao Li’s round face displayed a kind and comforting smile.
Looking at her, Su Xiaoya felt a pang of guilt.
"Xiao Li, did you save me?"
Xiao Li nodded and said:
"Yes. It was fortuitous timing; I left earlier after Xiao Ning’s play ended."
"Then I heard you shouting and looked back to see you being robbed by a gang on electric scooters, dragged behind them. In my panic, I kicked them off their scooter."
Su Xiaoya noticed Xiao Li’s complexion had turned pale after sharing her story.
"Thank you, Xiao Li! Don’t be afraid—the law will punish those criminals."
"Xiao Su, I’m not scared of them seeking revenge; I’m scared they might sue me!"
"Sue you?"
Surprised, Su Xiaoya asked: "Were they injured badly?"
"Yes! One of them suffered spinal cord damage and might end up paralyzed."
"They brought this upon themselves. Don’t worry about it—I’ll help you handle everything!"
Su Xiaoya knew Xiao Li was worried the attackers might accuse her of intentional harm.
"Xiao Li, did you notify my parents?"
This was when Su Xiaoya realized her parents hadn’t come.
"Xiao Su, I don’t know your parents’ contact information."
"I’m sorry—I wasn’t thinking. Did you cover my hospital expenses?"
"Yes!"
This moved Su Xiaoya deeply. She thought Xiao Li was truly a wonderful person.
After all, they were only acquaintances, yet Xiao Li had covered her medical costs.
"I’ll repay you, Xiao Li. I’m so fortunate to have you."
"Haha! It’s no big deal."
Xiao Li chuckled and suddenly seemed to remember something: "Xiao Su, I also bought some milk. You should drink some—the doctor said you need protein right now."