Chapter 305: The result was obvious
The roar of the crowd grew louder as Hua Ling stepped forward, microphone glittering in her hand. Purple gems ran along its stem, flashing like tiny stars under the floodlights. She lifted her chin high, eyes shining with cold confidence. At this moment, she looked less like a singer and more like a queen standing before her kingdom.
Her dress was breathtaking.
The bodice was tight, embroidered with delicate violet petals that shimmered with every move. The skirt flared slightly, short enough to show off her long legs. Those legs were encased in thigh-high purple boots that hugged her form perfectly. Every step she took made the crowd scream louder. She was dazzling, radiant, impossible to look away from.
Behind her, the dancers took their places.
They wore lavender and silver, outfits designed to make Hua Ling stand out even more. When the beat dropped, they moved as one—sharp, clean, and practiced. Their every motion highlighted her presence, their purpose only to frame her brilliance.
Hua Ling began to dance.
Her arms lifted with flawless grace. Her steps landed with perfect timing. She spun, sharp and fluid, her hair swaying like silk. It was obvious she had trained endlessly for this performance.
The stadium exploded.
"QUEEN!"
"Hua Ling, my goddess!"
"My eyes can’t take it—she’s too beautiful!"
Flashes from cameras lit up the darkness like fireworks. The sound of cheering rolled like thunder, shaking the stadium walls. Hua Ling basked in it, her lips curving into a confident smile.
Then she began to sing.
Her voice rang through the speakers—too perfect, almost suspiciously so. Smooth, flawless, untouched by strain, as if she were not dancing at all. A few people in the crowd frowned. Was this really live?
"Is she lip-syncing?" someone whispered.
"It sounds auto-tuned," another muttered.
But the cheers of her fans drowned those doubts out.
"Shut up! That’s real talent!"
"Nobody can sing better than Hua Ling!"
On stage, Hua Ling didn’t falter.
She twirled, stepped, spun again. The crowd’s chants rose louder, blending with the music. Even directors and producers in the audience leaned forward. They weren’t fooled—the sound was clearly pre-recorded. But it didn’t matter. Her performance was a spectacle, and spectacles were what sold tickets.
By the time she reached the chorus, the entire stadium was singing along. Thousands of voices shouted her lyrics back at her. The purple lights pulsed like a heartbeat. The butterflies of light still floated above, fluttering around as if blessing their queen.
Hua Ling stood at the center of it all, triumphant.
When the medley ended, she struck her final pose, head tilted back, microphone raised high. The stadium erupted into deafening screams. Fans cried, laughed, and waved banners as if they had just witnessed a miracle.
Hua Ling had delivered the performance of her life!
Hua Ling stood proudly under the blinding stage lights.
The roar of the crowd filled her ears, wave after wave of deafening cheers crashing through the stadium.
Her purple dress shimmered beneath the lights, but her eyes were colder than ice.
Most of these fans once belonged to Hua Jing.
Back then, when the accident struck, all it took was a few pitiful tears and a trembling smile.
The crowd abandoned Hua Jing without hesitation and flocked to her side instead.
Now, every single cheer in the air was hers to claim.
Her lips curled ever so slightly.
Dear sister... can you see me now?
Can you see how I am shining?
No one even remembers you anymore!
The sharp glint in her gaze was hidden by the dazzling glow of the stage.
From afar, it looked like the sparkle of a star.
But in reality, it was the triumph of a thief.
The cameras spun around her like bees around a flower, snapping her from every possible angle.
Zhang Ruo, her publicist, was backstage practically jumping in excitement.
"Closer! Capture her face—no, get the side profile! Don’t miss a single shot!"
The moment the photos hit the internet, they spread like wildfire.
[She’s breathtaking tonight!]
[Our Queen Hua Ling is on fire!]
[This performance is legendary!]
And with every new post, the numbers rose.
Her votes for Most Popular Artist skyrocketed.
Hundreds of thousands... closing in on a million.
No one could touch her now.
Not after this dazzling display.
And even if they discovered she had lip-synced every note, what then?
She could cry a little, make her voice tremble with pitiful excuses—
She was dancing too hard, she was out of breath, she only wanted to give her fans the best experience.
The fans would forgive her in an instant.
It was a game she had mastered long ago.
With her head held high, Hua Ling strode off the stage.
Her heels clicked against the floor, her figure glowing with triumph.
The two comedian hosts hurried out, instantly pulling laughter back into the air.
One exaggeratedly grabbed a paper fan and fanned himself hard.
"That was so hot, I think my eyebrows burned off!"
The crowd erupted in laughter.
The other placed a hand dramatically on his chest.
"That performance... I’m going to need to call my insurance company. Hua Ling just broke at least ten world records!"
The stadium howled with joy, clapping and whistling.
The mood was wild.
But not everyone was smiling.
Lin Qian’s supporters sat stiffly in their seats, their expressions sour.
On the livestream, their comments were slicing through the flood of praise like knives.
[Pretty stage, shame about the voice.]
[Was that singing or karaoke?]
[If the voice doesn’t match the stage, then all those decorations are meaningless.]
[I swear my chicken sings better than that.]
The criticism spread quickly.
But Hua Ling’s fans weren’t having it.
[Shut your mouths! You’re just jealous!]
[Even if she lip-syncs, she’s still better than your Lin Qian!]
[Our Queen is untouchable tonight!]
The fan war exploded online, insults flying faster than the votes.
But inside the stadium, the award ceremony pressed on and the next award was announced.
Hua Ling’s name glimmered among the nominees.
The air buzzed with tension, but the result was obvious.
"And the winner is—
