Just then, a sharp-eyed reporter noticed Qing Yan. She was trailing behind the crowd, her beautiful face fair and flawless, with exquisite features that blended innocence and coldness, creating an indescribable aura of grace and beauty.
Unable to resist, he aimed his camera at her and snapped a few discreet photos.
Lu Muyao sat in the sixth row of the audience, stealing a glance at her phone. It was already 9:30 in the morning, and Gao Yang still hadn't arrived nor sent her a message.
On the other hand, Lu Zhenhai, upon seeing his old friend, approached him with a smile, extending his hand for a handshake. "Shaohui, what brings you here?"
"Zhenhai, your daughter got second place. Congratulations..." Li Shaohui laughed heartily, shaking Lu Zhenhai's hand. "My daughter only got fifth place..."
"Oh well, rankings don't matter. It's the participation that counts. Yao Yao got lucky, just pure luck," Lu Zhenhai smiled politely, exchanging a few pleasantries.
Xu Aiqin also encountered her old friend Lifen here, feeling somewhat surprised. "Are you here with your daughter too? What place did she get?"
"Don't mention that useless thing. She practiced the piano for twelve years and only got eighth place. Unlike Yao Yao, who effortlessly achieved second place."
"Come on, it's not a big deal..." Xu Aiqin stole the spotlight, finished the small talk, and then asked Lu Muyao in a low voice, "Where's Gao Yang? Why hasn't he come at this hour?"
"He..." Lu Muyao called Gao Yang last night, but he said he would see if he had time today. In the morning, Lu Muyao also sent him a WeChat message, and he replied that he was a bit busy and would see later. She didn't know if he would eventually come.
"It's all his mother's fault! She must be instigating trouble behind the scenes. He used to be a good boy, completely devoted to you..." Xu Aiqin felt her heart tighten at the thought of this, "Once you become famous, she'll regret it!"
"Mom, don't worry, I believe Gao Yang will definitely come..." Lu Muyao reassured her.
"Send him another WeChat message. In a while, the award ceremony will begin! He needs to see your radiant side!"
"Okay..." Lu Muyao mustered her courage and took a candid photo of the scene, sending it to Gao Yang.
"Gao Yang, I've saved you a seat. If you're busy and can't come, it's okay."
She also added a kissing emoji.
Meanwhile, Gao Yang, though already at the theater entrance, hesitated to get out of the car. Upon receiving Lu Muyao's WeChat message, he didn't reply immediately, his gaze fixed ahead, lost in thought.
"Still no reply from Gao Yang?"
"Say a few more sentences, don't be so concise."
"Be more enthusiastic, ask if he's busy first, then talk about the awards ceremony!"
"If all else fails, use some intimate emojis, say some sweet words, and coax him."
"Boys can't resist girls' coquettishness."
"Still no reply?"
"It's been ten minutes and he hasn't replied to you yet? Is your phone on silent? Is the signal here bad? Try checking your phone again. Maybe you should go outside and call him?"
Lu Muyao was already irritated and couldn't stand her mother's urging anymore. She stood up and said, "I'm going to the restroom."
"Yaoyao..." Xu Aiqin knew she was annoyed, but Gao Yang was such an excellent candidate, and so many people were vying to be with him!
Yaoyao was already on the verge of success. She had to seize the opportunity! She couldn't afford to lose it!
"Don't urge Yaoyao anymore! We can't keep lowering ourselves and begging him all the time!" Lu Zhenhai couldn't bear it anymore.
"But with so many familiar faces at the event, if Gao Yang could come, it would be a great honor for our family!"
Just Gao Yang's status alone was enough to make people look up to the Lu family!
"Besides, if Gao Yang comes, it means he still likes Yaoyao! Otherwise, at such an important occasion, if the fiancé doesn't show up, do you think he still has any feelings for Yaoyao?"
After hearing her words, Lu Zhenhai also found it reasonable.
After using the restroom, Lu Muyao bent down to wash her hands and saw a familiar figure passing by behind her. She was startled, "Qing Yan? What are you doing here?"
The people who could enter this grand theater today were either related to the competition or working backstage!
People like Qing Yan, who had no important roles, couldn't get in at all!
Unless she was here to work at the theater?
That couldn't be possible...
She earned so much money by accompanying wealthy people for just one night, how could she be interested in such a low-paying job?
Lu Muyao suddenly realized, "I understand now. You're here with a sugar daddy?"
Qing Yan originally ignored her, but upon hearing her words, she stopped and looked at her coldly, "Does your face not hurt enough? Do you want another beating?"
"You... dare to hit me and see what happens..." Lu Muyao instinctively covered her face, "I haven't settled the account from last time with you!"
"Oh, you want to settle it now."
"You... you..." Lu Muyao clenched her teeth, suddenly at a loss for words. She had to bring up her parents to intimidate Qing Yan, "I warn you, my parents are here with me today!"
"So what?"
"If you dare to bully me, I'll make them deal with you! You'll be the one embarrassing yourself!" Qing Yan chuckled, finding it amusing that someone would still use their parents to intimidate others at this age. How useless could they be?
"What are you laughing at?" Lù Mùyáo felt a bit uneasy.
"Next time I hear you say anything about your financial backer or something like that, I'll cut out your tongue and feed it to the fish in the sea!"
Suddenly, Lù Mùyáo felt a sharp pain in her tongue. Trying to muster some courage, she said, "Do you dare?"
"Try me and see if I dare."
Qing Yan was about to enter the restroom when unexpectedly, Lù Mùyáo splashed some water at her and deliberately raised her eyebrows. "Oops, sorry, sister. It was unintentional."
Though Qing Yan quickly realized it, she managed to block some of it with her hand, but her clothes still got wet.
Lù Mùyáo was basking in her self-satisfaction and didn't notice how quickly Qing Yan reacted. In the blink of an eye, Qing Yan fiercely slapped her across the face.
Smack!
The crisp sound filled the air.
Lù Mùyáo was taken aback, finding it hard to believe, as she covered her right cheek in disbelief. "You... You dare to hit me?"
"I hit precisely you." Qing Yan raised her hand again and slapped the other side of her face harshly. "I'm not Xu Aiqin, I won't tolerate your nonsense."
"You... You..." Lù Mùyáo was about to get angry when she suddenly heard a familiar voice.
"Muyao, are you okay?" Xu Aiqin, seeing that she had been in the restroom for so long without coming back, was looking for her and saw Qing Yan slap her daughter twice from a distance!
She was furious beyond measure. Upon closer inspection, she noticed that Muyao's face was swollen! Both sides were red!
Muyao still had to present an award in a while, and Qing Yan, this brat, must have done it on purpose!
Thinking this way, Xu Aiqin raised her hand and intended to teach Qing Yan a lesson.
However, Qing Yan effortlessly intercepted her wrist.
"You... Let go of me..." Xu Aiqin didn't expect this brat to be so strong. She tried several times but couldn't retrieve her hand. She was so furious that she gritted her teeth. "I told you to let go, did you hear me?"