Chapter 13: The Diva (Part 1)
The arrest of Juhua Real Estate's chairman sent ripples through the city, met with public approval. Letters and banners praising the police, specifically Chief He Hui, flooded the station. Media requests for interviews turned He Hui into an overnight model officer and public hero. Following this, the mayor, Li Haibo, resigned. The once-powerful Li family's influence crumbled.
In his Feiyu Group office, Guo Feiyu lounged, a newspaper in hand. A faint, cold smile touched his lips. He discarded the paper and stood by the panoramic window, reflecting on events since starting school. Each challenge had honed him, reinforcing a single truth: only from the summit can one look down upon all.
A knock sounded. "Enter."
Cao Hu entered quietly. "Chairman, the concert tickets are secured. You and Miss Zhang are in the VIP section."
"Good. And the Juhua Group acquisition?" Guo Feiyu appreciated Cao Hu's caution but noted his lack of aggressive drive—a trait needing refinement to become a truly effective lieutenant.
"Our representatives are in final negotiations with Juhua's shareholders. Success is imminent," Cao Hu reported earnestly, his initial fear of the young chairman having morphed into deep respect.
"Excellent. The northern real estate market remains underdeveloped, full of potential. Profit is assured with proper management. Look to Country Garden in the south as a benchmark. Poach their top talent. Surpassing them is not unthinkable," Guo Feiyu stated, his confidence evident as he gazed into the distance.
"Understood, Chairman. I will not disappoint you."
"Leave me. I wish to be alone." Cao Hu bowed out.
*Saturday again,* Guo Feiyu mused, staring out the window. But this Saturday brought relief—no dreaded shopping trip with Zhang Ya. Her idol's concert at 8 PM was the sole focus. By 5 PM, her impatient calls began. The diva's pull clearly outweighed her husband's.
Attending as a VIP demanded appropriate attire. He wore a custom Gieves & Hawkes suit, a brand serving royalty for over two centuries, each piece a sartorial masterpiece. The suit accentuated his tall, athletic frame, radiating an innate, elegant nobility.
A motorcade of Mercedes sedans and a black Lincoln Navigator departed the estate.
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The new stadium was swarmed. Police held back throngs of fans, while long queues snaked from every entrance. As Guo Feiyu's convoy approached, frenzied fans, mistaking it for the diva's arrival, surged forward, screaming "Lin Rui!". Over forty bodyguards formed a protective cordon. Inside the Lincoln, Guo Feiyu shook his head at the spectacle. Zhang Ya clutched his arm, vibrating with excitement. "Feiyu! I'm going to see Lin Rui! I'm so happy!"
Guo Feiyu held her close, a strange thrill stirring within him himself.
Guarded by thirty bodyguards, they entered via the VIP entrance. The government-funded stadium, capable of holding 60,000, boasted three tiers of stands. A massive oval stage dominated one end, backed by four giant screens.
Their VIP seats were adjacent to the stage. The stands swelled, chants of "Lin Rui!" growing into a roar. Banners waved; her hit songs were sung by the crowd.
By 8 PM, the stadium was packed. The chant "Lin Rui! Lin Rui!" crested in waves. Suddenly, stage lights strobed, and powerful music blasted. The crowd's fervor peaked. "Lin Rui, we love you! Forever!" 60,000 voices shouted as one.
Even Guo Feiyu felt the electric surge. Such power to command adoration was staggering. Zhang Ya was beside herself with excitement, barely contained by her VIP seat.
Smoke plumed around the oval stage. Dancers in shimmering silver burst onto it. A stunning figure emerged from their midst. The stadium erupted. "Lin Rui, we love you!" the crowd screamed, their collective energy boiling over.
Lin Rui walked to the stage's edge, waving. The fans intensified, glow sticks whipping through the air in a frenzy. A few tried rushing the stage but were held back by security. "Please," Lin Rui's melodious voice rang out, "Everyone, return to your seats and enjoy the music, okay?"
"OKAY!" thundered the reply. The rush subsided.
Swept up in the atmosphere, Guo Feiyu's pulse raced. Zhang Ya's face was flushed, tears of joy glistening in her eyes.
The dancers struck poses. Lin Rui turned her back to the audience. The music shifted, lights flashing rapidly. She spun around, the dancers moving in perfect sync. She launched into her signature song, her voice, clear and beautiful, filling the arena. The entire stadium rose, waving glow sticks in unison.
Moved by the outpouring, Lin Rui walked the stage's perimeter, waving. Screams followed her every gesture.
Guo Feiyu found himself raising his glow stick. "Lin Rui, marry me!" a shout, jarring and possessive, came from the VIP section, mostly lost in the noise. Guo Feiyu and Zhang Ya turned. The shouter was a flashily dressed man in his mid-twenties.
Zhang Ya shot him a venomous glare. "How dare he? No one is worthy of my idol except my husband," she whispered fiercely.
Guo Feiyu nearly choked. On stage, Lin Rui's gaze swept the VIP section. The man waved frantically, but her eyes slid past him, stopping when they found Guo Feiyu. A strange sense of recognition flickered within him. As she sang, she began walking towards the VIP seats.
Zhang Ya stood, trembling. "She saw me! She's coming this way!" she breathed. Every eye in the stadium tracked Lin Rui's progress towards the VIP section.
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Chapter 14: The Diva (Part 2)
Lin Rui reached the VIP front just as the song ended. "Did you enjoy it?" she called out.
"YES!" the stadium roared back.
She waved energetically, the crowd mirroring her with their glow sticks.
"For my next song," she announced, her eyes flicking to Guo Feiyu, "I'd like a duet partner from the audience!"
"YES!" The response was deafening. Hands shot up everywhere. "Me! Pick me!"
Smiling, Lin Rui walked directly to Guo Feiyu. A white spotlight found him. Her heart held a triumphant note. *You drove off before I could speak last time. Let's see you escape now.*
Seeing her approach, Guo Feiyu's heartbeat quickened. She stopped before him, bowed slightly, and extended a hand in invitation. He smiled, stood gracefully, took her offered hand, and let her lead him to the stage's center. Zhang Ya, watching him hold Lin Rui's hand, felt no jealousy, only enthralled delight, applauding madly. The stadium erupted in a cacophony of screams and whistles.
Though internally thrilled, Guo Feiyu's upbringing ensured perfect composure. Holding Lin Rui's soft hand, he stood calmly under the spotlight. A natural aristocrat, he commanded attention. His tall frame, elegant bearing, and noble aura captivated the entire audience, including Lin Rui herself. All eyes were on him. Their adulation ignited a fire within him. Taking the proffered microphone, his magnetic voice addressed the crowd. "I'm honored by Miss Lin's invitation. Please be kind to my less-than-perfect vocals."
Laughter mixed with cheers.
Lin Rui glanced at him. "This gentleman and I will perform 'Eternal Love' for you."
The music began. They held hands, their eyes locking in a gaze of profound intensity, like star-crossed lovers. Guo Feiyu raised his microphone. His dark eyes, filled with feigned tenderness, swept the crowd. His rich voice blended with Lin Rui's, creating a mesmerizing, powerful harmony that seized every heart. The audience rose, swaying as one, soon singing along, utterly captivated.
Hand in hand, they moved towards the stage's edge as they sang. It was their first touch, yet an uncanny默契 flowed between them, a connection that felt deeper than the moment, as if their very souls recognized each other.
Below, Zhang Ya watched, spellbound, tears streaming down her face as if she were the one on stage.
The song ended. The lights died. Silence held the stadium for a long moment before the white spotlight returned them. They stood hand-in-hand, gazing at one another, eyes glistening. Thunderous applause erupted, lasting nearly two minutes. Many in the audience wiped away involuntary tears.
Guo Feiyu returned to the VIP section. Zhang Ya flew into his arms before he could sit. "Feiyu," she whispered, tears flowing, "I will love you forever. Until the end of time."
Moved, Guo Feiyu kissed her forehead tenderly.
The spotlight lingered on the embracing couple. The crowd's fervor renewed. "Eternal Love!" they chanted.
On stage, Lin Rui watched them, tears falling freely. A pang of jealousy was swiftly overshadowed by genuine emotion. "Let's bless them once more!" she called out, her voice thick.
Another wave of thunderous applause swept the stadium. Love had moved them all.
Back in their seats, Guo Feiyu felt unsettled. *People crave this*, he thought. *True love makes them abandon reason, sacrifice all, drives them mad. It's not that love is absent, but that it's rarely pure enough.* He took a handkerchief, wiped a corner of his eye, then gently dried Zhang Ya's cheeks.
The concert resumed. Hit after hit drove the crowd to repeated peaks of ecstasy.
Finally, the music stopped. The lights dimmed. "My final song is 'Never Give Up'," Lin Rui announced, her voice soft but clear. "I dedicate it to someone. Someone who helped me. Someone who touched my heart. I want to tell him... I will never give up. I also dedicate it to each of you. Never give up on your love."
The music started. Her gaze, passionate yet tender, fixed unwaveringly on Guo Feiyu. The song was a confession, a story of a girl finding her true love and vowing to hold on, against all odds.
Guo Feiyu sensed the unspoken message in her eyes, a tremor in his heart. *Could it be? After one song?* He dismissed the thought with a slight, self-mocking shake of his head. Yet her scorching gaze never left him. Every note, every tear, every gesture seemed meant for him alone.
From the VIP section's far end, another pair of eyes watched Guo Feiyu, burning with pure venom.
As the final note hung in the air, Lin Rui stopped. "Thank you, everyone!"
"Don't go, Lin Rui! We love you!" Fans wept openly, some sobbing uncontrollably.
Wiping her tears, Lin Rui shouted, "I love you all! Goodbye, friends!"
The stage went black. The crowd's desperate cries and weeping slowly faded as they reluctantly dispersed.
Arm in arm with a tearful Zhang Ya, Guo Feiyu exited via the VIP route. Immediately, they were encircled by a dozen men. The flashy young man from the concert stepped forward.
"Not a bad voice," he sneered. "Sing another one for me."
"Why would I?" Guo Feiyu's tone was flat.
"Because I'm rich, and I have more men," the youth bragged.
Guo Feiyu laughed aloud. A casual gesture from him summoned fifty bodyguards from the shadows, swiftly surrounding the troublemakers. "It appears I have the numerical advantage," Guo Feiyu remarked mildly.
He walked past the stunned youth, Zhang Ya on his arm, his retinue falling into step behind him. The arrogant fool wasn't worth his time today, not when his spirits were so high.
Face pale with fury, the young man, Zhou Liang, watched them leave. "You'll regret this," he hissed through clenched teeth.