Chapter Three: Do You Dream of Becoming a Superstar?

Meanwhile, in the backstage lounge of Aiting’s concert. Lin Xinrou, Aiting, and their manager were chatting and laughing, completely unaware that Chen Nian had already taken the music world by storm with a single performance of “Sunny Day.”

“Aiting, don’t worry. After tonight, all of Luo Xiaoyi’s resources will be yours. As long as you seize the opportunity, you’ll definitely win Best Newcomer this year,” Lin Xinrou said, sipping her coffee with an air of elegance and poise.

Aiting’s voice was sweet as she replied, “Sister Xinrou, it’s all thanks to you! If you hadn’t helped me, I could never have competed with Luo Xiaoyi tonight.”

Lin Xinrou smiled gently. “It’s because you’re talented. I believe your future will surpass Luo Xiaoyi’s.”

“Do you really think so, Sister Xinrou?”

“Of course.” Lin Xinrou nodded politely, her smile unwavering.

“Yay! That’s wonderful!” Delighted by her admired senior’s recognition, Aiting raised her fist in excitement.

Lin Xinrou took another sip from her cup, but her face darkened instantly. At first, she had indeed intended to help Luo Xiaoyi, but after learning that Luo Xiaoyi’s assistant was Chen Nian, she changed her mind.

Chen Nian was now the only blemish on her career path, a persistent nuisance that had to be eliminated! She would not allow Chen Nian to remain in this circle. If possible, she wished he would disappear from this world altogether—only the dead are silent, and only then could Lin Xinrou truly be at peace.

“Miss Lin, Aiting, the audio from Luo Xiaoyi’s concert just came through,” Aiting’s manager burst in hurriedly.

“What’s going on?” Aiting’s brows knitted at her manager’s flustered manner.

“They invited an unknown guest to Luo Xiaoyi’s concert.”

“An unknown?” Both Lin Xinrou and Aiting were taken aback, exclaiming in unison.

A concert drawing such crowds, and they invited an unknown as a surprise guest? Had they truly run out of options and resorted to desperation?

“That guest seems to be Luo Xiaoyi’s assistant, someone named Chen… Chen…”

“Chen Nian?” Lin Xinrou ventured.

“Yes, that’s him! Do you know him, Miss Lin?”

Lin Xinrou paused before replying calmly, “I’ve seen him a couple of times at the company.”

Upon hearing that Chen Nian was the guest, Lin Xinrou immediately felt at ease. As his ex-girlfriend, she knew exactly where Chen Nian’s abilities lay.

“Aiting, don’t worry. Chen Nian is tone-deaf; he can’t even sing.”

“Really, Sister Xinrou?” Aiting, who had never met Chen Nian, asked with some doubt.

Lin Xinrou nodded reassuringly. “Rest assured, this wager is yours to win. After tonight, you’ll be the only contender for Best Newcomer.”

Their manager, who had already listened to the concert’s audio, was struck as if by lightning by their conversation. Tone-deaf? Can’t sing? If that’s the case, then who in this world can?

Unable to bear it any longer, she interrupted, “Miss Lin, Aiting, I suggest you listen to this song first.”

“No need,” Lin Xinrou waved her hand dismissively. “I know his abilities well. He can’t even carry a tune.”

“Miss Lin, I really think you should listen,” Aiting’s manager insisted, her expression grave.

Lin Xinrou frowned, puzzled by her manager’s insistence on hearing Chen Nian’s singing.

Aiting, too, grew curious about what Chen Nian had performed at Luo Xiaoyi’s concert.

“Sister Xinrou, why don’t we just listen?”

After a brief silence, Lin Xinrou finally nodded.

Aiting’s manager immediately took out a laptop, plugged in a USB drive, and began playing “Sunny Day,” performed by Chen Nian at Luo Xiaoyi’s concert.

At first, the playback was filled with the furious shouts of fans. Lin Xinrou smiled, nodding in satisfaction—just as she had expected.

But soon, the jeers faded, replaced by the light, lively strumming of a guitar. As Chen Nian’s voice rang out, Lin Xinrou’s expression shifted from indifference, to seriousness, and finally to astonishment.

“How… how beautiful. What’s this song called?”

“It’s said to be ‘Sunny Day,’ an original by Chen Nian,” the manager replied.

As the song ended, Lin Xinrou was left utterly stupefied. Was this truly the Chen Nian she knew?

“No… Impossible. Absolutely impossible!” she exclaimed, shaking her head in disbelief.

An original song by Chen Nian? She refused to believe it. The Chen Nian she knew was completely useless, incapable of anything.

“Sister Xinrou?” Aiting, who had known Lin Xinrou for so long, had never seen this queen of song so shaken.

Lin Xinrou quickly composed herself. “Come on, we should get ready. The concert is about to start.”

“All right,” Aiting replied, still puzzled as she followed Lin Xinrou out.

…

Back at Luo Xiaoyi’s concert, Chen Nian finished his performance and bowed deeply to the audience. Before anyone could react, he turned and exited the stage, leaving only a dashing figure for the fans.

“Hey! Don’t go, brother!” a tall man in the audience called out, regaining his senses first.

“One more! Just give us one more song! Please, just one more!”

“Yes! We want to hear more!” As he shouted, the crowd snapped out of their shock.

“Encore! Encore! Encore…”

Sensing the situation getting out of control, Luo Xiaoyi quickly took the microphone and smiled, “Everyone, Chen Nian isn’t a professional singer. It’s his first time singing at a concert, so he might be a bit nervous. Could we please give him a bit more time to rest?”

“No! We want ‘Sunny Day’! We want ‘Sunny Day’!” the fans in the front row screamed wildly.

Staring at the frenzied crowd, Luo Xiaoyi was left in utter disbelief. She distinctly remembered—it was her solo concert, so why had things turned out like this?

As Chen Nian returned backstage, Sister Mei, who had been waiting, rushed over, nearly scaring him half to death. Her previous arrogance vanished as she reached out, her voice quivering with excitement.

“Mr. Chen Nian, do you have a dream? Join us at Heart’s Trace. I’ll make you a newcomer more famous than Lin Xinrou!”

Chen Nian smiled lightly, scratching his head, “I’m sorry, I’m not interested.”

Having lived another life, he was already tired of being a pop star. In this life, he only wished to lie low and live as a carefree soul with no ambitions.