Chapter 133: The Star Fans’ Meeting

After concluding their commitments in Country Y, the pair returned to China without delay, as Starlight was set to host its tenth-anniversary fan meeting.

In plain terms, this event was an opportunity for Starlight’s artists to put on performances for the media and fans they had invited. It was less of a professional concert and more of a festive gathering to give back to their supporters. The venue chosen was the Dragon City Center Stadium, the same location where Gu Yao had held the opening stop of his tour last year, so he was intimately familiar with it. Since most of Starlight’s roster consisted of actors, variety show hosts, and comedians, with Gu Yao being the only pure singer-dancer, the spotlight naturally fell on him.

Gu Yao decided to partner with Lin Xi for their segment; she was the only one capable of matching his stage presence. They claimed two slots for themselves, while the other artists were left to organize their own rehearsals. The final list of acts was eclectic, ranging from singing and dancing to crosstalk, magic tricks, and even acrobatics!

To drum up excitement, Weibo launched specific topics like #WhatDoYouWantToSeeAtStarlightFanMeet# and #YouPlanTheArtistsPerformances#. The fans, being quite mischievous, suggested everything from "breaking a boulder on one's chest" to "Sima Guang smashing the water vat," which left Lin Xi in stitches.

"Hahaha, this is just a madhouse," Lin Xi remarked while practicing in the company’s training room with Gu Yao. With the event at the end of the month, they only had ten days left.

Gu Yao, seated at the piano, asked her, "Have you decided? What are you going to perform?"

Lin Xi flipped through the songs Gu Yao had prepared. Her gaze lingered on one for a long time before she said softly, "I want to sing the original version of 'Let Me Leave'."

Gu Yao, who had been playing casually, bolted upright and hurried over to her. "What did you say? Are you sure?"

"I want to be honest with the fans. I have my own thoughts on how to tell them," Lin Xi said, looking at her fourth brother with resolute eyes.

Gu Yao was clearly still worried.

"Fourth brother, don't worry. Before I left Country Y, I saw Dr. Will again. He said I have completely recovered and moved past it; there won't be any relapse." Lin Xi offered this to set his mind at ease.

Hearing this, Gu Yao visibly relaxed. He then playfully tapped her on the head. "You should have said so earlier!"

"You didn't ask!" she retorted, playfully shaking her fist at him.

"Alright, alright. Start warming up your voice. I need to get familiar with the score," Gu Yao said, dismissing her concerns and taking charge of the schedule.

Lin Xi frowned in confusion. "What score? Are you going to accompany me?"

"Of course. I’m here to hold down the fort for you!" Gu Yao gestured dismissively.

Lin Xi couldn't help but smile; her fourth brother always had a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

***

Once the music was finalized, the two began practicing day and night. Every training room at Starlight was packed to the brim. For the sake of the anniversary event, Gu Jue had issued an order for managers to push back or cancel any non-essential commitments for the artists over those ten days. They wanted to honor the fans' expectations and love, hoping to create an unforgettable experience.

Lin Xi was too busy to see Lu Yixiu, so she specially requested a staff pass for him so he could sneak into the backstage area to be with her on the day of the event.

Ten days passed in a flash, and the Starlight anniversary fan meeting arrived as scheduled. Although the formal performance was in the evening, all of Starlight’s artists headed to the Dragon City Center Stadium early in the morning.

Makeup artists began prepping the performers, and everyone stood by for the final dress rehearsal adjustments. Looking around, one could see artists in the waiting area whispering lyrics while getting their makeup done, or others tucked away in corners, repeating dance steps for the hundredth time. Lin Xi felt an indescribable sense of relief and excitement; everyone was striving toward the same goal to make this event a success.

The daytime rehearsal went smoothly. The big boss, Gu Jue, even arrived in person with two trucks full of drinks and snacks, leaving everyone energized. As night fell, everything was ready.

The show kicked off with Starlight’s comedians and hosts, who kept the audience roaring with laughter through witty banter and mutual roasting, successfully heating up the atmosphere. "We're all family here at Starlight today. We aren't professional singers or dancers, so we just hope you'll keep the laughter to a reasonable volume!" With the hosts setting the tone, the subsequent performers felt no pressure, and the fans were in high spirits.

Backstage, Lin Xi sat in front of a large monitor where she could watch the performances. Seeing the fans' excited and expectant faces, she felt a surge of nervousness. Although this wasn't her first time at a major event, this one was completely different. It was her first time singing on stage, and she was planning to... She took deep, steadying breaths to prepare herself mentally.

"Xiao Xi, don't be nervous. They're all family, or just imagine they're heads of cabbage!" Wen Jin sat beside her, constantly soothing her. As an "invisible family member" of Starlight, Wen Jin had naturally come to support her.

Gu Yao, not understanding the mood, scrolled through his phone and offered a cynical remark: "It's a small stage, what's there to be nervous about?"

Wen Jin shot him a sharp look, and he immediately fell silent.

Lin Xi couldn't be bothered with him. She closed her eyes and tried to match her breathing with Wen Jin’s. Just as she exhaled, Wen Jin tugged slightly on her sleeve. Lin Xi opened her eyes to see Wen Jin gesturing with a playful glint in her eyes.

Looking over, she saw a tall, slender figure approaching. He wore a black windbreaker, a mask covering half his face, and a baseball cap pulled low. He walked against the light, as if blending into the shadows, yet he was so captivating that it was impossible to look away. Several young artists nearby had already recognized him and were quietly buzzing with excitement.

"Why are you only here now?" Lin Xi asked, her resolve melting as she leaned into his embrace with a pout.

Wen Jin covered her face, unable to bear the sight. Gu Yao watched the two of them clinging to each other, his mouth twisted in annoyance. Wen Jin quickly grabbed his arm to hold him back.

A faint smile touched Lu Yixiu’s cold face as he leaned down to pet her head affectionately. "I'm here now, aren't I? Just relax."

"I'm nervous. What if I get up there and start rambling incoherently?" Lin Xi lowered her gaze.

Lu Yixiu adjusted his cap, cupped her face in his hands, and said, "Just say whatever is on your mind."

They hadn't been together long when a voice echoed from the stage.

The host shouted, "And now, please welcome our Starlight Prince—Gu Yao!"

"Ah! Gu Yao! Gu Yao! Gu Yao!"
"Oh, it's amazing! I've finally waited for this moment!"
"Wuwuwu! I'm going to faint! Master Yao! Master Yao!"

The stadium erupted into thunderous screams.

"I'm heading up. Keep your eyes glued to me," Gu Yao said, leaning over to steal a kiss from Wen Jin before stepping onto the lift.

Wen Jin blushed, her heart racing.