Chapter 302: Don’t bring him up!
There was a very inexplicable reaction from Hua Ling when she heard Lin Qian’s words.
Her lips trembled ever so slightly, and her eyes flared red, as if someone had just torn through the mask she had worked so hard to maintain.
But before she could muster a response, Lin Qian had already turned away.
Her heels clicked briskly against the floor as she walked off, the silky train of her baby-blue dress trailing behind her like flowing water.
She didn’t even spare Hua Ling a backward glance.
It was as if Hua Ling’s ugly, twisted expression didn’t deserve to be seen.
The humiliation was stinging.
And Hua Ling—left alone in the corridor—felt her chest tighten with suppressed fury.
Just then, the booming voice of the emcee echoed throughout the stadium.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the grandest celebration of the year—the Blue Awards!"
The roar that followed was deafening.
The entire stadium, filled with tens of thousands of fans, erupted like a volcano.
Lights swept across the arena, bathing the audience in brilliant flashes of gold and silver.
The stage shimmered as if stars had descended from the night sky.
It was overwhelming, the kind of spectacle that could shake even the most stoic heart.
"Tonight," the emcee continued, his voice brimming with enthusiasm, "we gather to honor excellence in both music and film. Tonight, the stars are not just shining—they are burning brighter than ever for you!"
The cheers grew louder, and fans jumped to their feet, waving banners and light sticks.
Some screamed the names of their idols until their throats went raw.
The live-stream cameras zoomed in on the ocean of glowing signs and banners, capturing the madness of the crowd.
The comments section online was going wild.
"I can’t believe I’m finally watching this live!"
"This stage is insane—the lights, the sound, everything is perfect!"
"Where’s my Lin Qian?! I want to see her already!"
"No, no, Hua Ling first! She’s the real queen tonight!"
Back in the hallway, Hua Ling adjusted her expression hurriedly.
The furious glare still lingered in her eyes, but she forced the corners of her lips upward.
She had to look perfect—always perfect.
A single slip of the mask could ruin her carefully built empire.
When she finally stepped into the dazzling light of the stadium, the cheers instantly shifted toward her.
"Hua Ling! Hua Ling! Hua Ling!"
Her name thundered in unison.
Reporters spun their cameras to catch every step she took.
The spotlight followed her like an obedient servant.
She raised her hand in greeting, her smile gentle and gracious—exactly the image the fans adored.
But inside, her nails dug into her palm until her skin stung.
As she walked, her assistant trailed nervously behind her, terrified the cracks in her expression would show again.
The usher guided her toward her designated seat at the front.
The so-called "high table."
It was where the most important, most talked-about stars sat—where all eyes could easily fall on them throughout the night.
Hua Ling sat down gracefully, smoothing her shimmering dress over her lap.
Her fans screamed even louder, delighted just to see her on screen.
But then—
She froze.
Across the table, directly opposite her, sat Lin Qian.
The very same woman she had spent weeks plotting against.
The very same woman she had sworn would not appear tonight.
Yet there she was, sitting elegantly in that breathtaking baby-blue dress, her expression calm and collected, her back straight, her chin lifted as if she belonged here more than anyone else.
It felt like a slap across Hua Ling’s face.
She hadn’t expected this.
She had made sure Lin Qian lost the performance slot.
She had made sure Lin Qian was denied the red carpet.
Yet she had forgotten—seating arrangements were decided weeks in advance.
And Lin Qian, one of the most nominated artists of the night, could not simply be erased from the front rows.
Their eyes met.
A silent clash exploded across the table.
Hua Ling’s gaze was sharp, filled with venom.
Lin Qian’s, however, was icy and dismissive, as if Hua Ling were nothing more than a buzzing mosquito.
The cameras did not catch their little war, but those sitting nearby could feel the tension.
The host’s voice rang again, dragging the attention of the fans back to the stage.
"The Blue Awards live broadcast is officially underway! With hundreds of thousands watching worldwide!"
The numbers on the live stream were already skyrocketing.
Fans were typing furiously.
"Lin Qian is really here?! I thought she wasn’t attending!"
"She looks like a goddess! That blue dress—perfection!"
"No, no, Hua Ling is still number one. Did you see her entrance?"
"My queen Hua Ling! No one compares!"
"Fu Jingrong hasn’t shown up yet. Why???"
"Is he going to make a grand entrance later? Please let him come!"
On the live poll for "Most Popular Act," Hua Ling still held the lead.
Her numbers surged every second.
Lin Qian, however, was rising quickly.
Her fans, who had been devastated earlier, were now roaring back to life.
Her vote count shot upward like fire catching dry grass.
And before long, she had secured the second position.
Only Hua Ling remained above her.
And Fu Jingrong—still absent—was slipping to third.
Because of his absence, most fans had already stopped voting clearly unamused.
The lights dimmed briefly, and the booming voice of the announcer filled the stadium once again.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your hosts for tonight, the hilarious comedy duo—Wei Hao and Jin Ping!"
The crowd erupted.
Cheers and laughter broke out even before the two men walked onto the stage, their reputation preceding them.
Wei Hao was tall and wiry, with a mischievous grin that never left his face. Jin Ping, shorter and rounder, carried himself with mock seriousness, the perfect straight man to his partner’s antics.
The two walked hand in hand across the stage, waving dramatically as if they had just won an award themselves.
"Thank you, thank you!" Wei Hao said, bowing low. "You’re too kind. I’d like to thank my fans, my mom, my dad—"
"And your plastic surgeon," Jin Ping cut in dryly.
The stadium burst into laughter.
Wei Hao clutched his chest as though struck. "I told you not to bring him up in public!"
