Chapter 292: She would strike back
All eyes turned to Hua Ling then.
Her face was flushed red, not from embarrassment, but from sheer rage. Her chest heaved as though she could barely contain her fury. Her nails dug into her palms so tightly that the skin turned white.
Her eyes swept over the crowd, daring anyone to meet her gaze.
Most quickly looked away.
A few smirked, enjoying the sight of the mighty Hua Ling humiliated. Others, however, felt a twist of pity for Lin Qian—because they knew Hua Ling would not forget this insult.
And she would strike back!
The hallway buzzed with restless tension, the echoes of Lin Qian’s words still hanging in the air.
Hua Ling bit down so hard on her lower lip that the skin almost broke.
Her entire body trembled, fists clenched at her sides, rage consuming every inch of her. She wanted to scream. She wanted to claw at Lin Qian, to silence her once and for all.
But just then, movement caught her attention.
A small group of reporters was walking down the hallway, their cameras already raised.
In an instant, Hua Ling forced the fury back down, burying it under a mask of perfection. Her lips curved into a radiant smile, her eyes softened, and she even let out a light laugh as though she had just heard something amusing.
The surrounding artists froze, staring at her in disbelief.
Just seconds ago, her face had been twisted with rage, yet now she looked like the perfect goddess of the entertainment world—graceful, untouchable, dazzling.
It sent shivers down their spines.
"So fake..." someone muttered under their breath.
"What a two-faced witch," another whispered, shaking her head.
They didn’t dare say more. They only exchanged meaningful glances as the reporters hurried past them, completely fooled by Hua Ling’s act.
Once the crowd dispersed, Hua Ling stormed back to her dressing room, her smile vanishing the moment the door slammed shut.
"HOW DARE SHE!" she screamed, her voice shaking. "How dare Lin Qian say those things to me! To me! Who does she think she is?!"
She began hurling everything within reach to the floor—lipsticks, perfumes, a vase of flowers. Her compact mirror shattered into glittering shards. A chair toppled with a loud crack.
The pristine dressing room quickly turned into a war zone.
Her chest heaved as her anger spiraled. Tears of pure humiliation welled in her eyes, spilling down her flushed cheeks.
Lin Qian’s words echoed in her ears like poison.
"She stole everything from Hua Jing..."
"She should not be so cocky..."
"All of this is only hers because of that accident..."
Hua Ling’s hands tightened into claws, nails digging into her skin.
The accident.
The fact that Lin Qian dared to bring it up—dared to insinuate that she had something to do with it—sent her stomach dropping in dread.
"How... how does she know?" Hua Ling whispered, voice trembling. "She can’t know... She can’t possibly know..."
She pressed both hands against her temples, her composure cracking entirely.
Outside, the music continued.
Other artists were taking the stage one after another, their voices ringing joyfully through the stadium. The audience cheered, the atmosphere buzzing with anticipation.
Backstage, Lin Qian was calmly preparing with her backup dancers.
She had already changed into her performance outfit—a stunning floral chiffon dress that clung in all the right places and flowed with every step she took. The pastel hues made her skin glow, the light fabric enhancing the elegant lines of her figure.
Her makeup was flawless, her hair styled in loose waves that framed her face beautifully.
She didn’t need arrogance to shine; her natural grace and effortless beauty made her stand out in any crowd.
And unlike Hua Ling, Lin Qian was known for her strong vocals. She could captivate an audience with her voice alone.
Her dancers adjusted their outfits, rehearsed a few last movements, while Lin Qian stood ready, her hand resting lightly on the mic she would soon take to the stage.
She smiled at them with quiet confidence.
It was her turn next. According to the schedule, she was set to perform right after the current act.
She took a steadying breath, prepared to step forward when suddenly—
"Miss Lin," a staff member rushed up, his face pale.
Lin Qian turned, brows furrowing. "Yes?"
The man swallowed nervously before stammering, "I—I’m sorry. But... you will not be allowed to perform today."
The words struck like a lightning bolt.
Her dancers froze mid-step.
Lin Qian blinked at him, her smile fading into confusion. "...What did you just say?"
The staff member lowered his head, avoiding her sharp gaze.
"You’ve been... removed from the performance lineup."
Lin Qian’s hand trembled as she clutched the printed schedule. Her finger jabbed at her name on the list, her voice breaking in disbelief.
"But... but... but... I’m here! My name is right here!"
Her dancers shifted uneasily behind her.
Another manager strode over, his expression cold, his tone harsher than the first. "Miss Lin, please exit the rehearsal area. You’ve been removed from the lineup."
Lin Qian froze. The words refused to sink in. Just minutes ago everything had been perfectly fine—her rehearsal slot, her costume, her team. Everything was in order.
And now this?
Her lips curved into an angry chuckle as the truth clicked.
Hua Ling.
Of course it was Hua Ling.
The Blue Awards were hosted by Blue Entertainment. That woman’s agency. That woman’s playground.
And Lin Qian had just dared to humiliate her in front of others.
It was a no-brainer.
No matter what, Hua Ling would never let this go.
She wasn’t even angry anymore—just speechless at the sheer audacity of it all.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps.
"Jie! Sister Lin, it’s bad!" Her manager came running towards her, panic written across her face.
Lin Qian turned, startled. "What is it?"
She didn’t need to hear more. One look at her manager’s trembling hands, at the phone clutched in them, told her everything.
The screen was open to a news article—an article that had just been uploaded seconds ago.
Her own face stared back at her.
[Breaking] Lin Qian removed from the Blue Awards performance lineup!
