...
These past few days, after rehearsals each day, Lin Chen would go to the nearby four-star hotel to rest. The hotel's deputy manager, Lao Mao, had kept his promise and booked Lin Chen a permanent room.
Lin Chen was indeed too afraid to go back to his dorm, because who knew if that rampaging loli Jin Songzhu would climb into his bed again at three in the morning!
Finally, on the eve of the Golden Week holiday, the official performance took place. After nearly a week of rehearsals, Lin Chen, Ning Jiaqi, and the others were cooperating relatively smoothly. Although Wang Erbo and Yang Meixi were somewhat resistant, they could only accept it since it was Lin Ruoyan's arrangement.
Therefore, when these five people entered the performance venue together, the reactions were varied. This was because these five were clearly the five most important figures in the entire arts and culture segment, and also the five with the highest profiles.
This show featuring five people is sure to be the most exciting!
While other programs were still practicing intensively, preparing for the competition and selection, these five people's program was like a dazzling star, selected directly without any test, and given the important task of being the finale.
The entire school's teachers and students were filled with boundless anticipation for this, as if it were not just a performance, but a feast for the eyes and the soul.
However, the campus was not entirely harmonious; some rumors were swirling like undercurrents, casting a skeptical eye on the program.
Wang Erbo, the once-dominant figure in the Literature and Art Department, now appeared somewhat forlorn. Lin Chen's arrival seemed to have overturned his status overnight, relegating him from a central figure to a supporting one. He could only watch helplessly as his beloved danced with someone else, and even the goddess teacher and that lace witch seemed to favor Lin Chen!
How could Wang Erbo not feel a bit jealous and resentful?
Therefore, like Yang Meixi, Wang Erbo's outward compliance masked underlying turmoil. He secretly put in considerable effort, such as posting relentlessly on the campus forum, attempting to attack and defame Lin Chen in an attempt to regain some ground. Under his instigation, many people began to develop resentment towards Lin Chen, this "special individual."
However, when Lin Chen appeared in everyone's sight, many eyes also turned to Wang Erbo. They had heard about Wang Erbo's pursuit of Ning Jiaqi and had seen the posts attacking Lin Chen on the campus forum. But now, seeing Wang Erbo and his "love rival" Lin Chen performing on the same stage, it couldn't help but lead to much speculation—
Have the two already reconciled and made peace?
Wang Erbo is skilled at the piano, but Lin Chen's harmonica performance at the hotel easily surpassed his skills, and even the hotel manager couldn't help but want to offer Lin Chen a high-salary contract.
In terms of choreography, Wang Erbo's hard-won opportunity was also taken by Lin Ruoyan at the last minute when Lin Chen replaced him, allowing Lin Chen to surpass him once again.
After several encounters, Wang Erbo suffered repeated defeats. If it weren't for his pride in his family background, he probably wouldn't have been able to gain a foothold in the Literature and Art Department.
Now, Wang Erbo's willingness to perform on the same stage with Lin Chen is seen by some as a sign of his magnanimity and willingness to forgive and forget; but for many others, it is a helpless act of admitting defeat, surrendering, and joining forces when he can't win!
The venue for Lin Chen and his team's performance was the school's auditorium, and to maximize its impact, it was also being streamed live on three platforms simultaneously. The auditorium was already packed, with an estimated several hundred, perhaps even close to a thousand people. Most were freshmen who had come to witness this grand event.
Backstage, the school's makeup artists were meticulously applying makeup to several people. Lin Ruoyan, who was the first to finish her makeup, was still encouraging the others and giving them final instructions.
At this moment, even Lin Chen couldn't understand Lin Ruoyan. He remembered that his second sister had never been this excited before. Could it be that her mental illness had been cured after she left the Lin family?
Ning Jiaqi, Yang Meixi, and Wang Erbo all had some stage experience, so they weren't nervous about performing on stage. On the contrary, Lin Chen was performing on stage for the first time, so he was inevitably a little nervous.
Ning Jiaqi, however, keenly sensed Lin Chen's nervousness, which made her laugh even harder. She seemed to enjoy seeing Lin Chen's rare nervousness; perhaps it was one of her unique pleasures!
"Ahem, Jiaqi, let's talk about serious matters." Lin Chen suddenly caught a glimpse of Ning Jiaqi's malicious smile and immediately had a guess in his mind. "When we get on stage later, you better hold back and don't pinch my butt again!"
"Hey, Master, do you have the ability to predict the future? How did you know what I was going to do?" Ning Jiaqi covered her mouth and laughed even more unrestrainedly.
"This is a recruitment party, hundreds of eyes are watching, and it's being streamed online. Don't embarrass me!" Lin Chen said, feigning helplessness.
"Then beg me!" Ning Jiaqi looked at Lin Chen with an arrogant and provocative expression.
Seeing this, Lin Chen immediately laughed and said, "My little Jiaqi, if you really dare to pinch my butt, I won't tolerate it. I'll definitely pinch you back, and then we'll have to hurt each other."
"Hahaha, okay, then come on over. At worst, we can just 'take care' of each other!" Ning Jiaqi retorted without backing down.
As the two joked and played around, Wang Erbo's heart began to ache again. Meanwhile, Yang Meixi glanced at them sideways during a break from applying makeup, a cold smile playing on her lips.
The school auditorium was already packed, with the front row seats reserved for the school leaders. Among them, a young man with white hair and meticulously applied makeup stood out. Lin Chen noticed him too, wondering to himself, "Wu Yifan? What's he doing here?"
Lin Chen never expected that such a white-haired "effeminate" guy would sneak into a prestigious university like Haizhou University and even sit in the first row.
Seeing this, Lin Ruoyan explained for him, "Wu Yifan's family is a board member of Haizhou University, and he attends almost every Haizhou University recruitment party to join in the fun."
"You're really asking for trouble, choosing the path to hell when there's no way out." Lin Chen smiled slightly, then picked up his phone and made a call.
Less than ten minutes later, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the venue. The rehearsal had been going smoothly when five masked men burst in. They went straight for Wu Yifan, who was sitting in the front row!
Wu Yifan was chatting with a female student, but his hands were already about to rip off her bra. Suddenly, without warning, the person rushed over and punched him hard in the face!
"ah--!!!"
Wu Yifan screamed in agony as his face instantly became a bloody mess, his nose completely collapsed, and blood gushed out. The man then grabbed him by the collar and viciously continued to beat him mercilessly!
"Who are you? Are you crazy? Let go of me! Help! Help!"
Wu Yifan's previously refined demeanor had vanished, replaced by loud screams for help. However, almost every time he cried out, the man punched him. At first, he hit his face, but later, seemingly worried about using too much force, he switched to hitting other parts of his body. Each punch sent Wu Yifan screaming in agony.
Not only him, but several others also joined in. However, the tall, masked leader didn't make a move, but instead watched the people around him very warily.
Given the magnitude of the incident, security guards from around the studio quickly arrived during the beating of Wu Yifan. However, faced with this sudden turn of events, they were caught off guard and unsure how to proceed.
Just as they were at a loss, the other party was easily taken down by the security guards like autumn leaves being swept away by the wind.
Five, ten, and eventually, nearly twenty security guards around the studio were all easily taken down by the four of them! The bodyguards were like paper in front of these people, utterly vulnerable, and they didn't even need to be tied up before they all collapsed unconscious on the ground.
The scene was so shocking that the students and leaders in the studio were all terrified and wanted to run away. However, they were firmly stopped by the five people.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com