CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27: SHE’S SO BADLY HURT, SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE’S ABOUT TO DIE

"Wait a moment, I feel there might be a bigger scoop," another person replied. "Exposing it now will be counterproductive, let’s wait a bit more."

Vera Hansen still didn’t understand the entertainment industry.

The number of recording devices announced never matched the actual number.

Not to mention paparazzi, secret recordings and sales, and so on.

Otherwise, where do all those big scoops come from?

Moreover, the rumors that actually get exposed are rare; most are already bought off.

...

On the other side.

Backstage.

"The previous person is about to exit, Irene, get ready."

As the stage controller directed, Serena Sterling stepped onto the stage.

Julian Lawson had already gotten up to leave.

He usually didn’t attend these events; he came today just to watch Vera Hansen’s performance.

Having seen the performance, it was time to leave.

He had barely taken a few steps when the third contestant took the stage.

Julian Lawson glanced back.

"Next up is Irene, and she’ll be singing ’Yesterday Once More’..."

As the host announced, Julian Lawson recalled that this was the canary Jasper Ford kept, which Vera had told him about.

For some reason, Julian instinctively paused.

He looked toward the stage.

Today, he had heard many people mention this mysterious masked woman, but it was his first time seeing her formally.

She stood on the stage, gently holding the microphone. Her melodious, storytelling-like voice flowed softly with a unique style; just a few lines attracted everyone’s attention.

The previously noisy studio fell silent, with countless people intently listening to the woman’s singing.

Julian Lawson frowned slightly, feeling the style was familiar.

In the next moment, he remembered; this style was somewhat similar to Serena Sterling’s.

Yet it was also different.

"Irene’s" style was more mature compared to Serena’s, with a heavier sense of storytelling, especially that faint melancholy and indifference after experiencing the vicissitudes of life, which gripped one’s heart.

The feeling wasn’t intense but rather fleeting like smoke, yet it could tightly entangle a person, with a powerful lingering impact.

Julian Lawson gave a serious look at the masked woman on stage, wearing a fiery rose performance costume.

Neither the style of the performance costume nor the figure resembled Serena.

It wasn’t her.

As the singing progressed, the voice spiraled upward, becoming intense and soaring, like breaking through the ice, and as the female voice rose to a climax, the song reached its peak.

Flames erupted around the stage; the lights shifted, and after a brief moment of darkness, a spotlight shone on a woman in the center holding a violin.

Beneath the violin fell petals, and as the woman moved her body and hands, a fiercely sorrowful yet graceful sound flowed from the violin.

The lights focused on the woman. As her burning rose performance costume shed slightly, the altered lighting highlighted the scars, once covered with makeup, that appeared on her body.

Patches joined together, making them even more shocking against her snow-white skin.

Particularly around the joints, the scars were more pronounced.

It was evident she had been severely injured.

Those injuries complemented her current performance with a near-death beauty.

And the flames surrounding her gave a sense of rebirth from fire, a feeling of redemption.

The woman played the violin, her red dress swirling, and she was breathtakingly beautiful on that stage.

As the violin’s aggressive tune continued, every gaze focused on her.

Nirvana Rose.

This was the consensus of everyone present toward her.

The flames extinguished, and the violin’s sound halted, yet the audience hadn’t shaken off that shocking sensation.

Serena Sterling slowly lowered her violin, raising her eyes to see Julian Lawson standing not far away.

Their gazes met at that moment.

Neither seemed to react, but Julian Lawson slightly furrowed his brows.

His heart thumped loudly, unsure if it was due to the intense song or something else.

This woman was mysterious and dangerous.

And carried a deadly allure.

"Clap clap clap clap clap..."

Thunderous applause filled the scene.

With the applause and cheers, Julian Lawson was the first to look away; he turned around.

"Thank you," the woman’s voice came from the stage.

Sounding indifferent yet clear.

Julian Lawson glanced at the excited Jasper Ford.

How could he let his woman get so injured, looking almost dead, while Jasper was engrossed just in the song’s excitement?

However, this was none of his concern.

He had no need to feel sorry for Jasper’s woman.

Julian Lawson slightly lowered his eyes and, without hesitation, briskly walked away.

On stage, Serena Sterling deeply bowed to everyone and then orderly exited under guidance.

Below, Chloe jumped up excitedly.

"Irene, your singing was amazing! I was completely moved!"

Chloe bounced around, gripping Serena Sterling’s hand.

Serena Sterling seemed a bit hurt but still chuckled softly, "Thank you."

She had only rested for three days, which was wholly insufficient.

Before, she avoided moving as much as possible, but on stage, she was in her element.

So now, her body was overwhelmed.

"Irene, who’s your special effects makeup artist? My god, those injuries look so real!"

Unaware of the facts, Chloe stared at the injuries on Serena Sterling’s body.

"Be careful; these are real injuries," said Jasper Ford hastily, pulling the careless Chloe aside.

"Ah?" Chloe jumped in surprise and quickly let go.

Where she had touched, a bit of makeup had rubbed off, making the uncovered injuries even more grotesque.

"Oh my god!" exclaimed Chloe, covering her mouth, her eyes filled with guilt and concern, "Irene sister, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to press on your injuries!"

Serena Sterling chuckled and shook her head; how could she blame Chloe when she knew nothing?

Seeing Chloe still feeling guilty, Serena Sterling lightly leaned on her.

"Could you help me back?" She truly felt weak.

"Oh, sure!" responded Chloe immediately.

Just as they took two steps, they spotted Vera Hansen standing not far away.

Vera Hansen smirked and said, "The live performance effect was excellent. Congratulations, Irene."

Serena Sterling said nothing, merely looking at Vera.

Vera Hansen smiled, "What I told you about that person was true; if you want to know the details, come find me."

Around them were applause, screams, and cheers that hadn’t completely died down.

Serena Sterling chuckled lightly, "No need."

She then gave a glance at Jasper Ford.

Which left Jasper utterly puzzled.

Serena Sterling left with her assistant and Jasper Ford, leaving Vera Hansen standing there.

She was so furious she could almost grind her teeth to pieces.

Her provocation earlier seemed to backfire, making the masked woman’s performance even better!

During the performance, Vera Hansen had rushed backstage to the live stream crew, using Julian Lawson’s name to pressure them into lowering the live stream’s clarity and other data for "Irene."

This woman simply didn’t know her place. Clearly, it was Vera’s stage, yet she had to steal the spotlight!

Vera Hansen’s eyes glittered with a hint of calculation, then she took out her phone and dialed someone.