Chapter 321: Just you wait
Hua Jing’s smile was soft — so soft it almost seemed to melt into the night itself. Light, feather-like, yet so radiant that it drew every gaze toward her. Under the endless flashes of cameras, her already delicate features appeared even sharper, her porcelain skin glowing against the deep crimson of her dress. She looked untouchable, ethereal, like a vision that had descended straight from the heavens.
The reporters had long abandoned their posts inside the grand Blue Awards ceremony. Whatever trophies were being handed out, whatever speeches were being given on stage — none of it mattered anymore. Their lenses were focused entirely on one figure: Hua Jing.
Click. Click. Click.
The sound of camera shutters filled the night, almost as deafening as the fans themselves. Every movement of hers was captured, every tilt of her head, every curve of her lips. The more they photographed her, the more unreal she seemed, like a painting that breathed.
And the fans? They were beside themselves.
Some cried uncontrollably, clutching their banners so tightly that their knuckles turned white. Others screamed her name until their voices cracked. A few simply stood frozen, tears streaming silently down their faces, as though afraid that if they blinked, she might vanish again.
"She’s so beautiful... more beautiful than before!"
"I can’t stop crying! Hua Jing, please don’t leave us again!"
"Look at her smile—ahhh, my goddess, my queen!"
"I’ve been waiting a whole year for this moment. This... this was worth it."
Some even fainted from sheer excitement, collapsing into the arms of strangers who fanned them desperately. Yet even as chaos brewed around her, Hua Jing remained calm. She didn’t shy away from the tears of her fans; instead, she walked closer, crouching down at times, extending a hand.
When she gently wiped a young girl’s tear-streaked face, the crowd erupted again.
"She touched her! She touched her face!"
"Oh my God, I think I’ll faint next, someone hold me!"
The scene was so overwhelming that even outsiders — reporters, staff members, late passersby — stood watching in awe. There was something breathtaking about the connection between this woman and her people. It wasn’t just a celebrity greeting her fans. It was a queen reclaiming her throne.
And watching it all from the car was Fu Jingrong.
His usually stoic, cold expression had cracked. A visible smile — rare, dazzling, almost boyish — stretched across his lips as he followed her with his eyes. Each step she took, he observed. Each wave she gave, he cherished. His heart, which had endured storms and battles alongside hers, softened in ways he could not conceal.
For a long, unbroken moment, he thought back to everything they had gone through — the betrayal, the accident, the coma, the endless nights of uncertainty. And now, here she was. Alive. Glorious. Radiant. His woman, his wife, shining like no one else could.
Leaning slightly toward his assistant, his voice was calm but carried steel.
"Increase the security. Call in more men. Prepare two additional cars."
"Yes, President Fu!" the assistant replied immediately, making calls with trembling fingers.
Outside, Hua Jing raised her hand once more, her red dress fluttering as she turned gracefully, her smile lighting the night like fire. The crowd was hers, and for once, Fu Jingrong allowed himself the rare luxury of pride.
But not far away, another storm was brewing.
---
Inside the stadium, Hua Ling finally stepped out of the lounge after fixing her makeup. Her steps were quick, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor as she returned to her seat. But the moment she entered the hall again, her expression froze.
The massive stadium — once roaring with cheers, banners, and anticipation — was half-empty. The air that should have been electrified with energy now carried the faint hush of absence. Even her own fans, those she had painstakingly gathered and bought with effort, had vanished in droves.
Her sharp eyes darted toward the exits. She didn’t need to ask where they had gone. She knew.
Hua Jing.
The thought alone made her jaw tighten, her teeth grinding audibly.
Her face, freshly powdered and painted, stiffened with fury. How dare they? How dare those fans abandon her, their Hua Ling, just to chase after that woman? Even her "loyal" fan club leaders had slipped out. She could see the empty rows in the VIP section that were supposed to be filled with her banners and glow sticks. The betrayal sliced deep into her pride, stoking the inferno that already raged within her.
And then, as though to twist the knife further, the host on stage announced with great ceremony:
"Now, for tonight’s most prestigious honor — the Popularity Award! Based entirely on fan polls, this award represents the voice of the people. Please welcome our winner, ranked number one in the polls... Hua Ling!"
The spotlight snapped onto her.
For a split second, she froze in disbelief. Her nails dug so deep into her palms that she almost broke skin. Her face went pale, her mind blank.
She, Hua Ling, had won. She had done it. Even after everything — the fans leaving, the chaos outside, Hua Jing’s return — the numbers didn’t lie. She had still come out on top.
A laugh almost bubbled up from her throat, but she forced it down. Instead, she stood, back straight, forcing her lips into a poised smile. But inside, her heart thrashed wildly.
And then she remembered.
The plans.
She had made secret plans as soon as she saw Hua Jing on that stage. Her webs ran deep.
She absolutely could not lose tonight!
Her lips curved slightly, color flooding back into her cheeks.
Yes. So what if Hua Jing had returned? So what if the fans had screamed themselves hoarse for her? So what if the cameras were outside?
Hua Jing, just you wait!
Hua Ling’s smile curved slowly, the corners of her lips trembling with bitterness, but before the smirk could spread fully across her face, a hand brushed her shoulder.
The sudden interruption snapped her out of her thoughts, and when she turned, she was met with the broad frame of none other than Mr. John Zhou, one of the higher-ups at Blue Entertainment.
