Chapter 23: Zeng Yi Taught Us—You Can Slack Off, But You Can’t Be Trash!

“This… this is our concert?”

“We barely have any fans—how could we hold such a packed concert???”

Ling Hua’s voice trembled with disbelief. Beside her, Zeng Yi shook his head in equal confusion.

“I’m not sure either,” he admitted. “But the Sky Screen is definitely showing the two of us. And this song, Green Whirlwind, is ours.”

“Looks like this really is our concert!”

Ling Hua’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“All our hard work paid off!” she exclaimed. “In the future, we actually pull off concerts this huge—that’s incredible!”

“But one thing doesn’t make sense… Where did all these fans come from?”

“We barely have any right now!”

2006 TIMELINE

The crowd stared at the Sky Screen in shock. Though Phoenix Legend had formed in 1998, they only gained attention in 2003 with Moon Above. To see their future concerts packed to the brim was unbelievable.

“Damn, is this really Phoenix Legend’s concert?”

“I don’t get it—their music’s so ‘country,’ how do they have so many fans?”

“Yeah, critics call them ‘agricultural heavy metal,’ but their songs are crazy catchy!”

“What’s weirder is their fanbase. When they were 20, their fans were 50-year-olds—that made sense. But in the Sky Screen, they’re in their 50s, and the crowd is full of 20-somethings! What’s going on?”

2008 Timeline

Mandopop Music Industry

Other singers watched Phoenix Legend’s explosive concert footage, jaws dropped.

[Phoenix Legend had no idea how famous they really were.].

[Ling Hua thought they had no fans—little did she know, the entire nation loved them.].

[They never held concerts because they assumed no one would come.].

[Meanwhile, fans thought they were too rich to bother performing!].

[What a hilarious misunderstanding!].

[And when they finally did perform? They barely had to sing.].

[Their fans did all the work!].

[Other singers’ concerts: Fans come to listen.].

[Phoenix Legend’s concerts: Fans come to SING.].

JJ Lin rubbed his temples in disbelief.

“Phoenix Legend wasn’t even that famous!”

“How’d they get a crowd like this?”

“I strain my voice hitting high notes, and these two just stand there while the audience sings for them? Unfair!”

2012 TIMELINE

Wu Bai watched thoughtfully.

“They’re making concert money way too easily,” he mused.

“My fans love singing along too—maybe I should try this. Start a song, then let the crowd take over!”

2015 TIMELINE

Mayday’s lead singer, Ashin, burst out laughing.

“I respect Phoenix Legend so much!”

“They’ve got it way easier than us!”

“We exhaust ourselves lip-syncing, while they don’t even pretend!”

His manager quickly hushed him.

“Ashin! We don’t ‘lip-sync’—we enhance the performance!”

Ashin smirked.

“Right, right. My bad.”

“But seriously, our fans are idiots. They haven’t noticed I’ve been faking it for years!”

The manager patted his back.

“That’s just your acting skills shining.”

“Honestly, you should consider a side career—you’re already a phenomenal actor.”

2017 TIMELINE

By now, Phoenix Legend had a solid fanbase. When people learned the real reason they never held concerts—not because they were “too rich,” but because they thought no one would come—the internet exploded.

“No way, this misunderstanding is too funny!”

“Their songs have this magic—you think they’re cheesy at first, but then they get stuck in your head!”

“It’s the catchy, down-to-earth melodies. Listen a few times, and you’re hooked!”

“At least the Sky Screen didn’t expose any scandals… right?”

“Bet they’ll announce a tour soon. DON’T SNATCH MY TICKETS—I need to experience this madness live!”

2017 – PEACOCK MUSIC (PHOENIX LEGEND’S LABEL)

The CEO nearly fell out of his chair.

“Liu! Contact every promoter—we’re booking a nationwide tour for Phoenix Legend!”

Liu hesitated.

“Shouldn’t we check their schedule? They’re recording a new album and have promotions lined up—”

The CEO waved him off.

“I’ll handle it! Look at that crowd! Fans are begging for this!”

Liu nodded and rushed out.

But just then—the Sky Screen flickered with a new message:

[Finally… Zeng Yi’s scandal broke.].

The CEO’s smile vanished.

“What? WHAT DID HE DO?!”