Chapter Thirty-Six: Merit Achieved, Withdrawing Gracefully-Superstar King(Nian Nu Jiao)

Next up, things get even more exciting?
How so? The audience was eager, anticipating that this mysterious debut of Nian Nugao would be thrilling. He was brimming with wisdom and positivity, radiating an unbridled, youthful energy.

“Now, let’s welcome the next singer to the stage and hand out red envelopes,” Su Tong said with a smile. “Red envelopes, how’s that for excitement?”

The crowd burst out laughing. So that’s what you meant by ‘exciting’!

Heh, before you took the stage, everyone was always most looking forward to the next singer—but now...

“No, sing another song!”

“We don’t want red envelopes, we just want Nian Nugao!”

“Nian Nugao, you’re so cool!”

“A red envelope is only worth one to ten yuan in Great Qin currency, forget it.”

...

The audience, especially the girls aged ten to twenty, were adamant: they wouldn’t let the next singer come on stage.

Some of the girls didn’t even know who Nian Nugao was, nor had they heard his music, but they simply couldn’t resist Su Tong’s charm.

Witnessing this, Gao Litong in the audience wanted to rush up and stash Su Tong away, thinking, “He’s mine.”

Li Wen, meanwhile, was thrilled. The more radiant and popular the person she liked became, the happier she grew.

Originally, the program schedule called for Yang Feifei to perform after Su Tong, but at that moment, Yang Feifei was anything but pleased.

Because tonight’s star seemed to be Su Tong, who was closing the show instead of her. Naturally, Yang Feifei wasn’t happy about that.

The electrifying scene from just now was overwhelming; Yang Feifei felt that even if she performed next, it wouldn’t be anything special.

Su Tong was just an internet singer—how could his fame or ability compare to hers? Yet he received such favor and treatment. Yang Feifei was a proud person, young and recently crowned as Best Actress, her popularity temporarily topping the Four Beauties. She couldn’t tolerate Su Tong being more beloved by the live audience.

So Yang Feifei didn’t want to go on stage.

“I’ll tell everyone, the next singer is the true mysterious superstar of tonight’s event,” Su Tong announced, growing anxious. He really couldn’t sing anymore; his voice was spent. “This mysterious superstar won the Best Actress crown at this year’s Great Qin Golden Eagle Awards. Can you guess who she is?”

The audience was stunned, mouths agape.

Su Tong’s stirring, infectious voice rang out: “Let your screams tell me—who is she, who exactly is she?”

With the atmosphere so electric, even those who knew it was Yang Feifei but didn’t want to shout her name were swept up by Su Tong’s emotion and couldn’t help but call out.

“Yang Feifei!”

...

The crowd shouted in unison, passions high, their voices echoing across the sea, carrying out to its depths.

Su Tong made a gesture as if holding guns in both hands, aiming them at Yang Feifei in the audience.

In such circumstances, Yang Feifei had no choice but to go on stage.

“Ahhh—”

“Awoo—”

The crowd screamed in amazement—it really was Yang Feifei.

Heavens, Yang Feifei was actually here.

Yang Feifei’s appeal and popularity simply dwarfed Su Tong’s, like the difference between a soldier and a general.

People shrieked, wanting to rush toward Yang Feifei, but a group of uniformed, booted armed police officers quickly formed a human barricade, locking hands to hold the line, backs to the audience, determined to hold firm.

Task complete, Su Tong turned off his microphone and made his way toward the ladder.

“Wait for me at the entrance to the Golden Garden Villas; I’ll settle accounts with you,” Yang Feifei whispered to Su Tong as she passed him on her way to the stage.

Su Tong was taken aback—settle accounts?

Settle what accounts? Su Tong was indignant; he hadn’t even confronted her about almost having his shoulder dislocated by her bodyguard earlier.

But whatever. He was just a nobody—what could he possibly settle with a Best Actress? If he tried, he’d only end up worse off.

So, to wait outside her house for her? Wishful thinking! Who does she think she is, just because she’s a superstar? Not happening!

After stepping off stage, Su Tong didn’t even consider it and was about to head back to the Jinzou District.

But before he could leave, several bar singers from the tent swarmed around him.

“Damn, you really are Nian Nugao!” the shirtless young man exclaimed, more enthusiastic than ever—not because he was a fan, but out of genuine admiration for Su Tong for writing and performing “I Believe.”

“I thought Dong-ge would be hosting today, so the event wouldn’t fall flat, but I didn’t expect a real professional host to show up,” a female bar singer laughed. Dong-ge was best at controlling the atmosphere in bars, where everyone had similar temperaments; he’d developed his own style. The outside world was different, with all kinds of personalities.

Bar singers were practical; though the arrival of a superstar like Yang Feifei didn’t excite them much—she was too far removed from their world—Su Tong was much more relatable.

“Youthful energy, limitless potential—it's all on display with you. You could easily handle any gig. Man, you really hit me hard just now,” said the ‘First Voice of Houhai,’ giving Su Tong a hearty pat on the shoulder.

“Haha, sorry for making a spectacle of myself, I—” Su Tong, used to all sorts of scenes, chatted happily with the bar singers.

Just then, two girls entered the tent.

They were Gao Litong and Li Wen.

Behind them, a commotion broke out.

“If they can go in, why can’t we?”

“Yes, let us in.”

“We want to go in.”

A few girls were blocked outside the security line and protested loudly to the guards.

“It’s so hot today,” Su Tong said as he wiped his sweat, surprised to find he had fans in real life.

Especially seeing Li Wen approach with a suggestive look, Su Tong felt uncomfortable. He’d never disliked any girl before, and with Li Wen, he simply had no fondness. But after her mocking remarks yesterday, Su Tong found her deeply annoying.

The tent was open, serving as a rest area for singers and staff. Just then, some daring girls didn’t try to enter through the main entrance but climbed over from the flowerbeds.

Seeing this, Su Tong quickly apologized to the bar singers and made his escape.

Those girls who had just scaled the flowerbeds looked up.

Where was Nian Nugao?

Su Tong had already slipped over the other side of the flowerbeds and was running off.

“Damn it, Li Wen is a jinx—there goes my chance to chat about life and dreams with my fans,” Su Tong fumed.

He’d analyzed it: Li Wen was extremely vain, only pursuing him because he was handsome—having him around was a status symbol. Now that he was dazzling and talented, shining like ten suns, she would chase him even more obsessively.

If he couldn’t handle her, he’d just avoid her. Su Tong didn’t want anything deep with that girl; her family ran bars and nightclubs—definitely not a simple crowd. Keeping a safe distance was the way to go.

He’d just escaped the encirclement when he looked up and abruptly halted.

A man with sharp, angular features stood before him, his expression cold and eyes indifferent.

This man was the same bodyguard of Yang Feifei who had nearly crushed Su Tong’s shoulder earlier.

Enemies meeting face to face—how could Su Tong not be furious?

Of course, his anger was one-sided.

“Miss wants you to wait for her at the designated spot. You’ve already delayed long enough,” the bodyguard said flatly.

Su Tong bristled, “If she wants to wait, she can do it herself—what’s it got to do with me? She’s not my girlfriend or my wife, so why should I listen to her?”

The bodyguard’s gaze suddenly grew fierce, lethal intent in his eyes.

“Mind your words. Miss is not someone you can speak of so casually. Seems the previous lesson wasn’t enough to make you see sense. Very well, I’ll break one of your fingers to make a stronger impression.” The bodyguard reached out, grabbing for Su Tong.