Chapter 328: Chapter 328: NYPC (4)

    [General POV]

    The excitement from the previous performance was still palpable. Eminem scrutinized the song with a stoic face, judging the entire performance.

    "It was good," he said curtly. "Immature. Yet raw," Katy Perry commented. Snoop laughed slightly and added, "It''s too short for me. I can''t wait for the next one."

    The light show suddenly bathed the stage in red. "The next song is titled ''I See Red.'' Enjoy," Vanessa announced before the music kicked in. A team of dancers entered the stage, dressed in black outfits and red fox masks.

    [I See Red– Everybody Loves an Outlaw]

    Vanessa sang with a sexy, soulful voice, "?? Did you really think, I''d just forgive and forget, no~ ??"

    The stark contrast from the earlier performance surprised the audience. If the previous one was a whiny teenager, this song made her seem rageful.

    "?? After catching you with her, your blood should run cold, so cold ??"

    The cold delivery induced goosebumps among the crowd. The female audience members who had experienced similar events immediately became immersed in the song.

    "?? Youuuuu... you two-timing, cheap-lying, wannabe ??"

    The biting line was delivered soulfully as Vanessa recounted catching her ex in the act.

    "?? You''re a foolllll~, if you thought that I''d just let this go ??"

    Vanessa moved to the center of the dance choreography and bellowed, "?? I see red, red, oh reeeeeeeed ??"

    The audience erupted in cheers of excitement. Vanessa''s vocals travelled across the entire party which was a treat to the ears.

    "?? A gun to your head, head, to your head ??" Vanessa made a gun gesture paired with a playful smirk.

    "?? Now all I see is red, red, red ??"

    Her vocals had transformed dramatically since her Disney days. Rather than the breathy singing voice she usually used, Edward had personally taught her to control her vocal range. It took months for her to achieve this stage.

    "Hard work always pays off," was what Edward often told her during their training.

    "?? Did you really just say she didn''t mean anything, oh ??"

    "?? I''ll remember those words when I come for your soul, your soul ??"

    Edward felt a burning gaze on him and turned to see Taylor staring. She slowly gestured a ''slit at the throat'' and pointed at him. Edward fell into disbelief as he turned his attention back to Vanessa.

    ''No wonder she wanted Hudgens to sing this one,'' he thought.

    Vanessa walked to the left side of the stage, flanked by two dancers, bending slightly at the crowd and singing to them. "?? Know that you dug your own grave, now lie in it. You''re so cruel, but revenge is a dish best served cold ??"

    She immediately moved to the center of the stage. The mesmerizing choreography by the dancers and her stage presence kept all eyes on the performance.

    Ashley Tisdale, Shay Mitchell, Ashley Benson, and Brenda Song shouted in excitement, rooting for Hudgens.

    "?? I see red, red, oh red!!!! A gun to your head!!! Head!!! To your head, oh ??" Hudgens sang soulfully, and most of the female members of the crowd sang along to the chorus.

    "?? Executioner style, and there won''t be no trial. Don''t you know that you''re better off dead? ??"

    "?? All I see is red, red, oh red. Now all I see is red, red ??"

    As Penny watched the performance, she subconsciously muttered, "Damn. Being friends with Edward is like getting a first-class ticket to Fame-town."

    The aspiring actresses around Penny perked up at this, their eyes lighting up with a not-so-good idea.

    One petite blonde woman with an innocent demeanor turned to Penny and asked, "Hey, you''re friends with him, right? He waved at you before. Do you think you can introduce me to him? I really want to meet him."

    Penny was startled and blurted out, "Oh— Um, I don''t know. Maybe."

    "Can you get me in too? I also want to meet him," another actress chimed in. In the acting industry, there was a lot of competition, and people would do anything to gain a head start.

    "?? Run, hide. Oh, you''re so done. Oh, better sleep with one eye open tonight ??" Vanessa sang excitedly. Edward moved his shoulders slightly as Abed held his camera in front of him to record his reaction to Vanessa''s song.

    "?? I see red, red, oh red. A gun to your head, head, to your head, oh ??" The drones flew up, blending into the night sky.

    "?? Executioner style, and there won''t be no trial. Don''t you know that you''re better off dead? ??"

    The drones projected the name ''NESSA'' into the night sky, alongside a holographic projection of Hudgens''s new image.

    "?? All I see is red, red, oh red. Now all I see is red, red ??" As Vanessa finished up the song, a firework-like shot erupted from the stage, adding excitement to the finale of her performance.

    "NESSA! NESSA! NESSA! NESSA!" The crowd chanted her name as she breathed heavily.

    Vanessa finally let her tears fall, a mix of joy and relief washing over her. She smiled widely, waving at the crowd with a radiant glow. The emotional moment struck Maggie, who broke into tears for her friend, followed closely by Taylor and Haley, their voices ringing out in unison, "NESSA! WE LOVE YOU!"

    As Vanessa and the dancers took a graceful bow, the audience erupted into applause. Maggie quickly wiped her tears, her eyes shining with pride as she hugged Vanessa tightly. "You did really great, Ness!"

    "Go do your job! There are 15 more minutes left," Frankie chimed in, a hint of urgency in his voice. "We need to make it in time for Edward to be here at midnight."

    Maggie leaned in, her voice brimming with excitement. "Gotta go! I''ll tell you how proud I am of you and that I love you and all that later. Wait for it. It''s coming."

    "No. Don''t," Vanessa whined, but Maggie turned a deaf ear, leaving Vanessa smiling as her eyes followed her friend before she turned to Edward, who was applauding enthusiastically.

    "Great job! I think I can get my money back. Maybe," Edward joked, a playful smirk on his face. Vanessa''s chin quivered with emotion as she dashed towards him, enveloping him in a bear hug.

    "Oof! You''re so sweaty," Edward chuckled, having expected the embrace. "Shut up. I''m not." Vanessa retorted, not letting him go that easily.

    "This is my performance outfit." Edward muttered. "Don''t get your makeup on it." He added worriedly.

    2 years ago, Edward ran from his stage.

    2 years ago, Vanessa fell from grace.

    2 years ago, Edward lost all of his purpose.

    2 years ago, Vanessa lost all of her heart.

    2 years ago, Edward was alone in the world.

    2 years ago, Vanessa was abandoned by the world.

    Edward took the microphone from the stand and said casually, "I love you too, Enid. Also, Maggie needs to learn more about improv after this." He turned to Maggie and teased her.

    Enid felt bashful as she was singled out, surrounded by the jealous gazes of the girls around her.

    Edward joked with the crowd, "Those who didn''t cheer when I walked in and are working for me, you guys are all fired."

    Maggie was taken aback and replied without using the microphone, "I can improv."

    For Pepper, it was essential for everything to go perfectly, but Edward was relaxed since the event was a company gathering. There were no cameras, no one to impress—just people having a good time.

    "Why do human beings celebrate New Year''s Eve? Why do we make resolutions and act like we''re going to stick with them? Why does it seem like I''m vamping? Because I am." Edward nodded as he answered his last question, making the crowd laugh.

    "I just need my first act to end 10 seconds before the countdown." Edward exposed himself before returning to his initial topic, "New Year''s. It''s the time when we lie to ourselves and say, ''I''m not worried about my problems anymore. They won''t follow me into next year.''"

    "I will perform two newly written songs tonight—" Edward couldn''t finish his sentence before the sound of the crowd cheering drowned out his voice.

    He smiled and said, "I''ll be starting with one written just for us to kick off our New Year more positively. The song is called ''I Ain''t Worried'' by OneRepublic. Enjoy."

    The crowd cheered as the lights began to flicker. Edward grabbed the microphone and whistled a beat casually, doing it live instead of using a prepared sound stage.

    "?? I don''t know what you''ve been told ??" Edward''s mellow voice was infectious. "?? But time is running out, no need to take it slow ??"

    "Ah, it''s been a while since I heard him sing live," Jenna muttered. "I miss this."

    Edward tilted the microphone and waved his finger at the camera while posing, "?? I''m stepping to you toe-to-toe. I should be scared, honey, maybe so~ ??"

    The band members became his backup singers and harmonized with him.

    Edward crooned melodiously, "?? But I ain''t worried ''bout it right now (right now). Keeping dreams alive, 2009, heroes ??"

    "?? I ain''t worried ''bout it right now~~ (right now)??" The crowd began to mumble the words together during the chorus and swayed their bodies to the song. Katy Perry, Snoop, and Rihanna danced together, feeling the music course through them.

    Edward opened his arms wide and swayed slightly, singing in a relaxed manner, "?? Swimmin'' in the floods, dancing on the clouds below ??"

    "?? I ain''t worried ''bout it ??" Edward whistled again, and the crowd was amazed at his impeccable timing.

    "I ain''t worried ''bout it." The backup singers echoed as Edward continued whistling. (Hey)

    He took the microphone from the stand and walked to the front of the stage, interacting with the crowd, "?? I don''t know what you''ve been told. But time is running out, so spend it like it''s gold ??"

    The song struck a chord with the partygoers as they felt the anticipation of entering the new year.

    "?? I''m living like I''m nine-zeros~ ??" Edward sang in a high falsetto voice before lowering it back to normal. Alex scoffed and said, "He already has the nine-zeros status."

    "?? Got no regrets even when I''m broke, yeah ??" Edward nodded slightly, making a statement to everyone that he was going to live his life to the fullest.

    "?? I''m at my best when I got something I''m wanting to steal. Way too busy for them problems and problems to feel, (yeah-yeah) No stressing, just obsessing with sealing the deal ??"

    Edward pointed at Haley from the stage, which took her by surprise. "Wait. He doesn''t mean—" Phil scrunched his face as he recalled the lyric and then gasped.

    "?? I''ll take it in and let it go ??" Edward smirked as he sang.

    "Sing it with me!" he shouted at the crowd to encourage them to join in.

    Everyone sang together, "?? But I ain''t worried ''bout it right now (right now) ??"

    Edward sang alone, "Keeping dreams alive, 2009, heroes ??"

    The crowd echoed, "?? I ain''t worried ''bout it right now (right now) ??"

    Edward sang alone, "Swimmin'' in the floods, dancing on the clouds below ??"

    "?? I ain''t worried ''bout it ??" Edward whistled as the background singers and the crowd repeated the lines. "?? I ain''t worried ''bout it ??"

    The beat slowed down, and Edward crooned, "?? Ooooooooh~~, I ain''t worried ??"

    Everyone was transported by his melodious voice, and their stress melted away. They raised their hands and swayed to the beat, barely even noticing that there was one minute left on the countdown clock.

    "?? Ooh (ooh), oh, no ??"

    "?? I ain''t worried ''bout it right now (right now) Keeping dreams alive, 2009, heroes! I ain''t worried ''bout it right now (right now) Swimmin'' in the floods, dancing on the clouds below ??"

    "?? I ain''t worried ''bout it." Edward continued whistling and then sang the last line, "I ain''t worried ''bout it ??"

    The crowd cheered in excitement. Finneas nodded in acknowledgment and said, "It is a simple song, but his execution is great as always."

    Edward glanced at the clock and began the countdown, "Everyone! 10 seconds before 2010! Let''s count down together."

    "10!"

    "9!"

    "8!"

    Edward added a comment while the crowd counted down, "If you want to kiss someone, make sure to have their consent."

    "7!"

    "6!"

    "5!"

    "4!"

    "3!"

    "2!"

    "1!"

    Everyone cheered in excitement, blowing their horns and releasing confetti. The drone changed the "2009" label floating in the sky to "2010" in golden font before the fireworks began.

    Numerous fireworks shot into the sky, and people were kissing in the audience. Phil and Claire kissed each other. Ted and Frankie, Jay and Gloria, Mitchell and Cam, Pepper and Renaldo, Alex and Finneas, Elsa and Jacob, Penny with a random girl, and so on.

    Suddenly, a loud melody from the stage attracted everyone''s attention again.