{Chapter: 353 A feeling that will never be forgotten in a lifetime!}
Lin Yuan watched the girl step through the wide glass doors of the convention hall.
She moved with a quiet grace, her long blonde hair cascading down her back in soft waves, catching the faint sunlight. Her figure was slender and impeccably proportioned, the kind that drew the eye without even trying. Even from a distance and with only a partial view of her face, Lin Yuan could tell — she was strikingly beautiful.
There was a unique charm in her appearance, a refined elegance with a faint touch of exoticism. That blend of delicate Asian features with something undeniably Western gave her an extraordinary allure.
At Lin Yuan's vantage point from inside his car, he only had a glimpse of her side profile, yet it was more than enough. That delicate jawline, that soft pink blush against fair skin, those subtle curves...
It took him only a second to recognize her.
There was no mistake.
Among all the people he knew, only one had that signature blonde hair and that uniquely captivating look — a rare combination of beauty, poise, and the subtle hint of a high-status upbringing.
It was her — Qiao Siying, the eldest daughter of the prominent Qiao family, a mixed-race beauty who had recently returned to Jiangbei after years of studying abroad.
Lin Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, observing the building again. The so-called concert venue was hardly professional — the convention hall was old, even slightly dilapidated, and gave off the vibe of a forgotten community center rather than a glamorous performance stage.
Still, a large and overly dramatic sign hung just above the gate in bold letters:
"The Original Singer of "Blue and White Porcelain" Returns! Free Concert – Limited Seats!"
Next to the text was a crude, pixelated photograph of a man. The entire poster looked like it had been thrown together in a rush, not even using proper design software. The font was standard, as if typed out in Notepad. The photo wasn't even printed properly — it looked stretched, warped, and incredibly amateur.
Lin Yuan almost burst into laughter.
He didn't care much about how poorly made the poster was. What bothered him more — much more — was that this random guy on the poster was claiming to be him.
The "original singer" of Blue and White Porcelain?
Seriously?
Not only was the guy clearly a fake, but he also looked completely different from him — even grotesquely so. The grin on his face was exaggerated and smug, and his features were awkward, like someone had tried to draw a handsome face from memory and failed halfway through.
Lin Yuan looked at the photo and raised a brow. "This is the guy pretending to be me?"
He couldn't help but scoff.
Not only was this fraud claiming credit for his work, but he was doing so while looking like a cartoon villain. This wasn't just an act of impersonation — it was slander.
Lin Yuan didn't mind people borrowing his fame from a distance. But to do so in such a blatant and tasteless way, and in his own city no less?
Unforgivable.
Of course, this wasn't the only reason he decided to get involved today.
What really pushed him to act was the sight of Qiao Siying walking into the building — clearly unaware that the whole event was a sham.
He remembered clearly how, during the Mei family banquet, Qiao Siying had mentioned her love for the song "Blue and White Porcelain." She even said she adored the singer's voice and admired the emotions in the lyrics.
Clearly, she had never seen what the original singer looked like.
Why? Because Lin Yuan had specifically asked Li Feifei to cut his part out of the official concert video. He had no intention of stepping into the spotlight or becoming a celebrity. As a result, there were only a few pirated clips of his performance circulating online — blurry, out-of-focus, and incomplete.
Which meant someone like Qiao Siying, despite her elite background and sharp instincts, had no idea who the real singer was. So now she had been lured here, probably thinking she might finally hear the voice that had touched her so deeply live — maybe even meet him.
And instead, what she'd get was a tone-deaf fraud grinning like a maniac on stage.
Lin Yuan sighed.
"That girl... she may be a little arrogant sometimes, but she doesn't deserve this kind of disappointment."
Besides, she might prove useful. He hadn't forgotten that her father, Qiao Jianye, was a powerful figure in Jiangbei. Lin Yuan had been planning to cooperate with the Qiao family in the future. Starting with Qiao Siying wasn't a bad idea.
And there was another important factor.
In the original plot, Ye Feng had a very high fate value — and Qiao Siying was one of the keys that boosted it.
So by winning Qiao Siying's heart or at least drawing her to his side, Lin Yuan could weaken Ye Feng's luck.
Two birds with one stone.
Thinking this through, Lin Yuan made up his mind.
He opened the car door and stepped out, straightening his jacket with casual precision. Then he calmly walked toward the old, dusty building.
To his surprise, there were quite a few people going inside.
The event had drawn a decent crowd. Most of them were young girls — likely fans of the song — chatting excitedly and showing each other their phones as they queued to enter.
Lin Yuan chuckled softly.
"Looks like I'm more popular than I thought…"
---
Inside, Qiao Siying had already taken a seat in one of the middle rows.
As she sat quietly with her hands folded on her lap, she glanced around the dim interior of the venue. The seats were worn down, the walls unpolished, and the stage lighting was basic at best.
Everything screamed cheap.
Still, she held out hope.
She loved "Blue and White Porcelain" — every note, every lyric. It was one of the few songs that truly moved her. The singer's voice had such depth, such genuine emotion, that she could listen to it on repeat for hours and never get bored.
Even though Qiao Siying had grown up abroad and was more inclined toward Western pop and electronic music, this one song stood out to her. She didn't even fully understand why.
Maybe it was the lyrics.
Maybe it was the voice.
Or maybe it was something deeper — something that reached into her soul.
That was why she had been so excited to see the poster, even if the venue looked shady.
But the moment the music started…
Her heart sank.
As soon as the first verse echoed through the speakers, Qiao Siying's face visibly fell.
The voice was wrong.
It was missing all the emotion, all the soul, all the subtle elegance that made the original so magical. The singer's pitch was inconsistent, and he seemed to be struggling to stay on beat.
It was not the same.
Not even close.
Qiao Siying pursed her lips, visibly disappointed. Her excitement faded into confusion, then into growing frustration.
"Who… is this guy?"
From where she sat, she couldn't see the performer clearly due to the poor lighting, but she could already tell something was off.
This wasn't the voice she had fallen in love with.
This wasn't the man who had written and performed her song.
And that realization made her stomach twist in disappointment.
Although the person on stage was singing with decent skill, the performance was completely off. His voice, tone, and emotional delivery were all miles apart from the original "Blue and White Porcelain." It lacked the gentleness, the poetic flair, and the soul that made the song so timeless and moving.
Qiao Siying frowned slightly, her brows knitting together as the music continued. Something felt wrong. Very wrong.
"Was the version on the internet heavily edited or auto-tuned?" she wondered silently. "Or... is this guy simply an impostor?"
The more she listened, the more disheartened she became. She had come with a glimmer of hope in her heart, excited at the idea of hearing the voice that had once touched her soul. But the reality was jarring.
Whether it was a case of digital enhancement or outright fraud, Qiao Siying couldn't help but feel let down. Disappointment slowly crept across her face.
Just as she was about to leave, a light tap landed gently on her shoulder.
Startled, she turned around quickly.
Standing behind her was a tall, impeccably dressed man with a relaxed smile and confident posture.
The lighting in the venue wasn't great, but even in the dim glow, Qiao Siying instantly recognized the man's flawless facial features and sharp eyes.
It was Lin Yuan.
Her heart skipped a beat—but not out of excitement. More like frustration.
"It's you?!" she blurted, her voice tinged with surprise and a sharp undercurrent of irritation.
Lin Yuan simply smiled. His calm demeanor contrasted starkly with the storm brewing behind Qiao Siying's eyes.
Of all the people to run into tonight, why did it have to be him?
Ever since their first humiliating encounter, she had replayed that moment over and over in her head. Her pride, her ego—both were crushed by this infuriatingly handsome and unpredictable man.
He not only scammed her financially but also made her step in dog poop—on purpose. And then had the nerve to pinch her until she bruised!
She still remembered those red marks. And now, here he was again, smiling as if none of it ever happened.
Lin Yuan tilted his head and said casually, "Miss Qiao, fancy running into you here. What a coincidence. So… you're a fan of the original singer of 'Blue and White Porcelain' too? Quite the loyal admirer, I see."
There was amusement in his voice.
Qiao Siying was momentarily caught off guard by his tone. It was friendly but laced with teasing. Her fists clenched at her sides as her mind screamed: This jerk!
Yet, despite all the anger rising within her, she couldn't just punch him. Not here, not now.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to stay calm.
"Yes," she answered stiffly. "I really like that song. It has beautiful lyrics and evokes a certain feeling that I can't quite describe. I came in hoping to see the real performer. I suppose it's just a coincidence that you're here too."
Lin Yuan chuckled lightly. "Indeed, just a coincidence."
But that infuriating smile of his never left his face, which only made her want to punch him harder.
Why is it that every time he smiles, I feel like I'm being mocked? she thought.
Lin Yuan turned his gaze to the stage, and when he saw the so-called "original singer," his brows furrowed in disbelief.
"What the hell…" he muttered. "That guy is hideous."
He blurted it out without thinking, the raw disgust in his tone echoing louder than the cheap microphone on stage.
Standing up there was a man with a sharp chin, thin lips, and greasy hair slicked back in a failed attempt to appear charming. His awkward smile looked more like a grimace, and his posture gave off zero confidence.
And this man was pretending to be him?
Lin Yuan was stunned speechless for a second. This was the guy people thought was the singer of "Blue and White Porcelain"?
It was an insult. Not just to his voice, but to his face, his style, and even his existence.
"I can't believe this," Lin Yuan added with a shake of his head, his voice low but filled with contempt.
Qiao Siying glanced at the man on stage and had to admit—he really was very different from the voice she had fallen in love with.
And the worst part? This faker was ruining the song she adored.
Qiao Siying frowned and crossed her arms. "You're right. He doesn't match the voice. It's just… off. I thought I was the only one who felt that way."