Chapter Six: Without Comparison, There Is No Harm

"There's been an accident at Lin Xinrou's concert?"
Chen Nian had just returned backstage from the stage when he overheard Sister Mei and Luo Xiaoyi discussing something.
"What happened?" he asked, placing his guitar carefully to the side.
"Chen Nian, you're back?" Seeing him return from the stage, Luo Xiaoyi blushed and smiled.
To her, Chen Nian had long since become a figure akin to a god.
"Lin Xinrou and Ai Ting's concert had a backstage incident."
"An accident?" Chen Nian was momentarily stunned. "Let me see."
Luo Xiaoyi handed him her phone. The video of Lin Xinrou’s concert mishap had already been uploaded to Weibo.
The headlines were all uniform, calling it a "backstage accident," completely absolving Lin Xinrou of any fault.
And in the comment section, the fans paid no attention to the actual issue, instead mindlessly attacking the organizers and producers.
Chen Nian watched the video with curiosity, then after a moment, smiled and handed the phone back.
The singing was mediocre, to say the least; she missed a full eight beats and still had the nerve to blame the backstage?
Were the music fans in this world all fools?
With such ability, she dared to call herself the new queen of song?
If something like this happened in his original world, the trolls would have torn her apart.
But this incident presented Chen Nian with an opportunity for a comeback.
"Sister Mei, after I sang those two songs, how is our concert's reputation online?"
"Excellent!" Sister Mei replied, excitement in her voice.
After singing "Sunny Day" and "Elopement," it was as though two atomic bombs had been dropped into the calm waters of the music scene, thunder rolling out of nowhere. An unprecedented wave of heated discussion was brewing online.
"What’s the current attendance rate? Has it reached ninety-five percent?"
Sister Mei sighed regretfully. "After you finished 'Sunny Day,' the attendance stabilized. But when the audience learned that Lin Xinrou was the guest at Ai Ting's concert, a significant number of people left. Now the attendance is only seventy-eight percent."
Chen Nian nodded. There were still seventeen percent to go before reaching ninety-five percent; things weren’t too dire yet.
"Chen Nian, I’m truly sorry. Even though you’ve helped me so much, I still couldn’t win this bet."
"But I believe with your talent, even if you leave me, you’ll be just fine." Luo Xiaoyi smiled at him, her cheeks still flushed, looking charming and lovely.
Chen Nian smiled gently, knowing that even if the company was about to sideline him, Luo Xiaoyi’s blessing was sincere and pure.
"Don’t worry. It’s not over yet. Who wins or loses is still undecided."
"But there’s only half an hour left before the concert ends. The fans who’ve left won’t return. Even if Ai Ting’s concert has an accident, I’m bound to lose this bet." Luo Xiaoyi hung her head, disappointed.
"Trust me. We’ll win." Chen Nian placed his hand gently atop her head, stroking it softly.
Luo Xiaoyi looked up at him, dazed, as if sensing the energy radiating from him, and smiled with renewed confidence.
"Yes, it’s not over yet. We’ll win for sure!"
"Sister Mei, please upload the demo I just recorded online for some early promotion. As for how to phrase it, you know better than me."
"OK!" Sister Mei was momentarily surprised, then flashed a confident gesture.
She had started her career in online marketing, and in that field, she believed no one in the entertainment industry could surpass her.
"Xiaoyi, how’s the song I asked you to practice?"
"No problem at all," Luo Xiaoyi replied, brimming with confidence.
"Then let’s go onstage. It’s time to strike back!"
"Alright!"
As soon as Chen Nian and Luo Xiaoyi left, Sister Mei whipped out her phone and began contacting her online marketing team.
Moments later, a post titled "Luo Xiaoyi’s Concert and the Grand Finale with a Mysterious Guest: 'Love That Never Loses Contact'" shot up to the trending list at lightning speed.
"Lin Goddess! Lin Goddess! Lin Goddess!"
Once back in the wings and having calmed herself, Lin Xinrou returned to the stage to sing "Love Unattainable" once more.
When she finished, her fans, moved by her voice, rose to their feet, cheering and applauding with excitement.
Lin Xinrou stood at the center of the stage, arms raised high, her face proud as she basked in the adulation.
"What the hell is she singing?"
Outside the venue, fans who had come from Luo Xiaoyi’s concert listened to the song they’d been anticipating for so long, only to find themselves fuming.
"This is the masterpiece crafted over six months? It can’t even compare to 'Sunny Day' and 'Elopement'!"
"I missed 'Elopement' live for this lousy song?"
Having experienced the baptism of "Sunny Day," these fans couldn’t understand what had the crowd inside so excited.
This was what got them hyped?
If they could hear "Sunny Day" and "Elopement" live, they’d go wild on the spot!
"I never should have come. What a waste of time."
"Hey, look! Luo Xiaoyi just posted a teaser on Weibo—the finale is her and Chen Nian singing 'Love That Never Loses Contact'!"
"Are you sure it’s Chen Nian?"
"Of course! The name’s right there in big letters—how could I be wrong?"
Now, Chen Nian’s name was synonymous with guaranteed song quality for them.
"Damn! With your ticket, you can re-enter for free!"
"What are we waiting for? Quick! There are still thirty minutes before the concert ends—we can make it back in time!"
"But my travel expenses haven’t been reimbursed yet. My taxi over here cost over fifty bucks."
"Fifty bucks for a live Chen Nian performance is worth it! Believe me, his name will be huge soon. Then you’ll pay five hundred, five thousand, and still might not get to see him live!"
"But..." The man still hesitated.
Just then, inside the venue, fans began chanting loudly, "Encore! Encore! Encore!"
"Damn! They want this song again?"
"Please, spare me!" The man stopped hesitating, grabbing a cab to leave this mess behind.
After "Love Unattainable," what they needed most was a Chen Nian song to cleanse their ears.
Back at Luo Xiaoyi’s concert, the audience grew larger and larger, eventually exceeding the crowd at the start.
Seeing the moment was ripe, Luo Xiaoyi took the microphone and spoke softly: "Everyone, the last song of tonight, 'Love That Never Loses Contact,' is for all of you. I hope each of you finds a love that never fades away. Thank you!"