CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 30: BIRTHDAY PARTY (PART 6)

Seven o’clock, half an hour before the birthday party officially begins.

Fans gradually filled the venue. Xiang Qichen sat in his seat, engrossed in a game of Candy Crush, seemingly undisturbed by the upcoming event. For the first time, he felt this calm and at ease before an event.

In contrast, Zhou Huaiyi seemed a bit flustered.

Being a stand-in at a birthday party was enough, but having to sing, dance, and interact with so many fans that weren’t even hers on stage... who wouldn’t be nervous?

The makeup was done early. Zhou Huaiyi sat on the sofa, watching time slowly pass by, unable to calm her pounding heart.

At this moment, Yan Qing knocked and walked in, spotting Zhou Huaiyi on the sofa, and said, "Qi Chen, I’ve arranged everything for your two friends."

Zhou Huaiyi instantly steadied herself, straightened her back, and smiled, "Oh, thank you, Sister Yan."

Yan Qing glanced at the time and asked, "Are you hungry?"

"...Not really."

Actually, she was too nervous to feel hungry...

"Okay then, let’s have dinner together after the birthday party ends."

"Mm-hmm!"

After seeing off Yan Qing, Zhou Huaiyi immediately sent Xiang Qichen a WeChat message: [Have you guys arrived?]

[Xiang: Yes]

[Zhou Luobu: I... I’m nervous]

[Xiang: Just follow yesterday’s rehearsal, stay relaxed.]

[Zhou Luobu: (crying) Why haven’t we switched back today!]

[Zhou Luobu: By the way, Kang Xuan’s flight back to R City is at noon tomorrow. If we haven’t switched back by then, could you help take her to the airport?]

[Xiang: Sure]

[Zhou Luobu: Thank you, my idol! (crying)]

Feeling reassured by the response, Zhou Huaiyi was about to open Weibo when Yang Li came in, informing her that the birthday party was about to begin, and she could head to the front desk to wait.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Huaiyi’s previously raised eyebrows drooped instantly.

Just like the rehearsal yesterday, after the host’s opening remarks, Zhou Huaiyi stood on the lift platform, rising to the stage amidst the fans’ enthusiastic and excited screams.

The sea of blue lights, countless support lights flickering in the large venue, caught Zhou Huaiyi off guard for a few seconds.

Once, she was one of the fans in the audience. She could hardly believe today...

With a shift of her gaze, Zhou Huaiyi accidentally spotted Xiang Qichen in the front row below the stage, dressed in his new casual shirt, his hair tied loosely at the back, looking a bit untidy, sitting there lazily, winking at her non-stop.

Winking non-stop...?

Why was he winking?

The next second, screams erupted again.

Zhou Huaiyi startled for a moment.

Oh my gosh... she forgot to greet everyone...

The host was still standing by, waiting. The cheers were constantly rising and falling. Zhou Huaiyi cleared her throat and slowly said, "Hello everyone, I’m Xiang Qichen..."

Below, Kang Xuan could hardly contain herself, holding up a support light, waving it vigorously, and shouting, "Xiang Qichen! Look at me! Look at me, look at me!"

Next to her, Xiang Qichen leisurely turned his head, "..."

After a few simple greetings, as originally planned, she was to present the first song of today’s birthday party to the fans.

The in-ear monitor was already in place, and the gentle interlude started playing in her ears. Zhou Huaiyi listened carefully to the accompaniment, timing it right to lip-sync.

However, as the first note came out, Zhou Huaiyi was taken aback.

This was not the original soundtrack playing through the sound system...

Thankfully, Zhou Huaiyi sang out loud from the beginning, so without the original soundtrack, no one would notice anything amiss.

Xiang Qichen below the stage was also stunned. From this singing style, he could immediately tell that Zhou Huaiyi was actually singing live.

She had a solid foundation and excellent singing skills. This song was not a challenge for her. Her beautiful singing voice drew loud cheers from the fans who even sang along, and even the recording engineer in the control room didn’t immediately realize he had played the wrong track.

Kang Xuan waved the glow stick in her hand, her eyes fixed on the handsome figure on the stage, while the other hand vigorously shook Xiang Qichen next to her: "Wow! Zhou Huaiyi! How come Xiang Qichen sings so well, and you said his singing wasn’t great?" She turned to give him a glance with disdain and clicked her tongue, "Are you daydreaming, or can the fans of Xiang Qichen not lift their knives anymore? You’re really bold to say that!"

Xiang Qichen: "......"

Actually, Zhou Huaiyi was right; his singing indeed wasn’t that great...

Kang Xuan leaned closer to his ear again, softening her voice: "I find that Xiang Qichen’s singing style and stance are a bit like yours... both like to spread their hands and close their eyes..."

Xiang Qichen smiled slightly: "...It’s alright."

After the song ended, Zhou Huaiyi stood on the lift platform to head backstage to change clothes.

During the break, fans around started discussing—

Fan A: "Don’t you feel today’s Qi Chen is a bit different?"

Fan B: "Yeah, yeah! Even more handsome!"

Fan A: "..."

Fan C: "I feel like today he’s... a bit... gentle and soft?"

Fan B: "Gentle and soft? Isn’t he always like a gentleman..."

Fan A: "No, I feel like he’s a bit cute, kind of adorably dumb today..."

Fan C burst into laughter: "Anyway, it makes me like him even more!"

Front row Xiang Qichen: "..."