Chapter Five: A Mistake?

As the clock approached nine, fans who had taken taxis from the northern part of the city to attend Ai Ting's concert gathered outside the venue, all eagerly awaiting the new song that Lin Xinrou had spent two and a half years preparing.

Onstage at the concert, Ai Ting stood in the spotlight, looking down at the fans waving light signs and cheering sticks, her heart pounding with excitement. She knew very well that a large portion of the audience had come for Lin Xinrou's new song, but even so, this was Ai Ting's concert, her own stage!

“Unrequited Love” was the collaboration song between her and Lin Xinrou.

Luo Xiaoyi was already a thing of the past. Ai Ting believed that, with Lin Xinrou’s popularity and her own talent, after tonight, the quiet Chinese music scene would surely remember the name Ai Ting!

With that thought, Ai Ting gripped the microphone tightly, radiating confidence. “The new song I collaborated on with Sister Xiaorou, ‘Unrequited Love,’ is dedicated to everyone here tonight!”

“Whoo whoo whoo!”

The fans in the audience cheered loudly, but soon calmed down, suppressing their excitement as they gazed at the stage.

If the fans inside were already so eager, those outside who had already heard Chen Nian’s “Sunny Day” were even more crazed, desperate to squeeze into the venue for a glimpse of the goddess Lin.

The intro began. Ai Ting’s heartbeat thundered with excitement, but the rhythm remained steady.

“She’s like a falling sunset, making me look forward to her.”
“When I try to approach her, I’m lost and uncertain.”
“A beautiful dream begins, like a bamboo basket full of apples.”
“As we walk home together…”

“Ai Ting truly is the most talented new-generation singer.”
“That’s right, this accompaniment, these lyrics, are so profound!”
“Ai Ting, I love you, I want to have your babies!”

The fans in the audience were utterly entranced by her sweet voice, gently waving their cheering sticks in time with Ai Ting’s rhythm.

But outside, fans looked puzzled, exchanging glances with uncertain expressions.

“What’s going on? This isn’t quite what I expected,” someone finally said after a long silence.

“Yeah, compared to Chen Nian’s ‘Sunny Day,’ it’s not even close.”

“Forget ‘Sunny Day’—even compared to Luo Xiaoyi’s old songs, there’s nothing special about it.”

“Could it be that this part was written and composed by Ai Ting herself?” someone in the crowd speculated.

“That must be it! It has to be!”

“This song was crafted personally by the goddess Lin, painstakingly prepared for two and a half years. How could it be so mediocre? This part must have been written and composed by Ai Ting herself!”

They clung to this idea like a lifeline, quickly shifting the blame onto Ai Ting.

“Just wait, just wait—the next verse is Lin’s goddess herself!”

“‘Sunny Day’ is nothing! Goddess Lin, let these nobodies witness your true strength!”

And so, these indecisive fans, after hearing Ai Ting’s lackluster performance, managed to convince themselves anew, eagerly anticipating Lin Xinrou’s appearance.

Ai Ting finished her verse, and Lin Xinrou stepped onto the stage, her expression bewildered. Her mind was filled with Chen Nian’s rendition of “Sunny Day”—she simply couldn’t fathom how someone as useless as Chen Nian could suddenly show such talent.

Even as the newly crowned queen of the music scene, Lin Xinrou had to admit that “Sunny Day” was a rare masterpiece, perhaps even unique.

Eight beats passed, but Lin Xinrou remained motionless. Ai Ting stood to the side, stunned, watching Lin’s cold, distant face.

“Xiaorou, Xiaorou, you missed your cue!” the staff urged anxiously through her earpiece.

“Huh?” Lin Xinrou was startled, blurting out her confusion.

That “Huh?” echoed through the microphone, reverberating throughout the venue, deafening everyone.

“What’s going on? Did she forget the lyrics?”

“No way! She’s the goddess Lin—how could she possibly forget the words?”

Some of the more knowledgeable fans had already noticed Lin Xinrou missing her beat, but as loyal followers, they refused to believe she could make such a rookie mistake.

Yet after that confused “Huh?” their last line of faith was shattered.

Everyone craned their necks toward the stage, eyes filled with confusion and whispered speculation.

Lin Xinrou panicked completely, her face pale as the lyrics stuck in her throat, unable to come out.

This was the most severe stage mishap she had faced in six years since her debut.

Backstage, the staff acted quickly. Seeing that the situation was irrecoverable, they immediately shouted, “Cut the equipment—fake a backstage malfunction! We absolutely cannot let Lin Xinrou become a target!”

Lin Xinrou was now the star of Heart Trace Entertainment; if anything happened to her, none of the staff would be able to stay employed there.

In the next moment, the music abruptly stopped, plunging the venue into darkness as a piercing screech rang out like thunder.

After a brief pause, the lights gradually returned, and everyone, covering their ears, looked in confusion toward the center of the stage.

“What happened? Was it a stage accident?” someone reacted first.

“No idea, but it sure seems like it—I was scared, thought the goddess Lin forgot the lyrics.”

“What are you talking about? She’s goddess Lin, the star of Heart Trace Entertainment, the new queen of music—how could she make such a rookie mistake?”

“My deepest apologies.”

Lin Xinrou adjusted her headset and spoke with genuine regret, “There’s been a backstage equipment failure. The team is working hard to fix it. I’m truly sorry for affecting everyone’s mood.”

“Goddess Lin, it’s not your fault!”

“That’s right, the stage accident has nothing to do with goddess Lin. We believe in her talent!”

Lin Xinrou’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you, thank you all. I’ll go backstage to rest for a moment. I’ll leave things to Ai Ting for now.”

“Goddess Lin, please go rest, we’re happy to wait for you!”

“That’s right, goddess Lin, your feelings matter most—don’t let those foolish staff affect you!”

With chants of support from the fans, Lin Xinrou turned and retreated backstage.

“That’s all?” Ai Ting was left dumbfounded by Lin Xinrou’s handling of the situation.

As a professional singer, Ai Ting certainly understood what had just happened. If such an incident had happened to a rookie, their career would be over.

Indeed, the entertainment industry was deep and treacherous; there was much still for her to learn.

In the backstage corridor, Lin Xinrou’s expression twisted with rage. She gripped the microphone tightly and muttered under her breath, “Chen Nian, Luo Xiaoyi, I’ll make sure you never see the light of day!”

If it weren’t for Chen Nian’s sudden appearance, unsettling her state of mind, Lin Xinrou would never have made such a rookie mistake!