"Pan Yiming! Pan Yiming! Pan Yiming! Pan Yiming..."
As the time approached, the atmosphere at the venue became lively. Pan Yiming, who debuted as a pop singer early on, had accumulated a large number of young fans. However, as she transitioned to the television industry, her concerts became less frequent, leaving her with less time to interact with fans. Therefore, this rare album release event attracted many die-hard fans who reminisced about their younger days. Among these people, not many were genuinely anticipating her album; they simply hadn't seen her in so long and came to find the vivid and beautiful idol from their memories.
"Hey, have you heard? Besides Pan Yiming, there are several special guests at this release party. The official announcement hinted that they are artists who collaborated with Pan Yiming on this album. Do you think Wu Yuan will also be there?"
Wu Yuan, young and handsome, had been gaining momentum in the entertainment industry. With his healthy and positive image, he fit the standard of a male god, naturally attracting a large female fan base. As this speculation spread, the atmosphere at the venue grew even more excited. Pan Yiming's company was always considerate in their actions and understood the fans' desires well. Since they had already hinted at inviting several guests, the possibility of Wu Yuan's attendance was naturally high. This was an unexpected surprise.
"If there are several guests, then surely it's not just Wu Yuan!" Another person excitedly discussed with a stranger nearby, "Actually, seeing Wu Yuan on TV is enough. Compared to always seeing Wu Yuan, I'm more excited about that handsome guy Pan Yiming posted on Weibo last time. His looks and temperament are just amazing! Do you remember?"
"Oh, insiders of the industry! Let's follow each other..."
"That guy's name is Luo Ding, right? He's been popular lately. Besides appearing in Pan Yiming's MV, he's also filming movies and TV shows. He suddenly emerged like this."
"But I really like him! His stills from 'Tang Chuan' are so handsome and ethereal. And those pictures Pan Yiming posted last time, all so handsome. I used them as my phone wallpaper, and a colleague in the office asked me who he was. They said his aura doesn't seem like that of a small star."
"P, right..." Someone who didn't know Luo Ding leaned over and glanced, whispering skeptically, "Is there really someone who looks like this in real life? With this appearance, he could be considered top-tier in the entertainment industry."
The girl holding the phone frowned, "Could it be...?"
"If he's really that handsome, how come there's been no news of him until now? The photos she uploaded on Weibo went viral. Ordinary people would have started appearing in the media by now, right? Have you seen him on any shows?"
"Actually, no... There aren't even any interview videos... Just some blurry variety shows from before. He doesn't look as attractive as in the photos..." This argument was immediately echoed by some, as nowadays, with technology so advanced, people couldn't trust images in the media anymore. There were plenty of cases where heavily edited photos looked vastly different from reality. Many were more inclined to believe that this was just another case of a striking appearance brought to life through Photoshop.
"Well, if he's just good-looking in photos, then so be it. Looking at photos is enough."
Actually, the release party didn't require singing; it was just a gimmick to promote Pan Yiming's return to the music scene.
But the theme of the event wouldn't change. Overall, it wasn't as intense and lively as a formal concert; it was more like a media briefing with a touch of official atmosphere. Pan Yiming's first task was to be interviewed by the production team of the album, facing all her fans. The interview lasted about an hour, and it wasn't until after eight o'clock that it was time for Luo Ding to make his appearance.
After changing clothes and makeup, Luo Ding stood in the dressing room stretching his limbs. Later, he would dance with Pan Yiming, a part of the planned program.
Wu Fangyuan squatted nearby, watching with some concern, occasionally helping him tidy up the stage costume he would wear later. He had never seen Luo Ding dance before, so naturally, he was worried: "Are you sure you can handle this? You've only trained for a few days. Can you remember the moves proficiently?"
Luo Ding felt he was in decent shape. Although he wasn't very active in sports usually, the company never neglected the physical training of the singers. So, the ligaments and muscles of his body were still relatively flexible. Dancing was mainly about coordination and understanding of movements, which depended on each person's comprehension. With more than ten years of dance training, Luo Ding quickly adapted to the choreography after memorizing the moves. Plus, the dance he would perform with Pan Yiming wasn't too difficult. As long as his stamina could keep up, everything would be relatively easy.
"I'm fine." He took two pieces of nougat handed to him by Wu Fangyuan. The rich calories from the milk and peanuts made him feel much more energetic. Glancing at the time, it was already quarter to eight.
The assistant stage manager knocked on the door of the dressing room and politely asked him to wait backstage.
"Luo Ge, Panyi Jie is almost ready. Please come with me." He said respectfully to Wu Fangyuan and smiled at him, "Wu Ge, you don't need to come. Just rest here. I'll bring him back here after he finishes his performance."
Wu Fangyuan was used to being low-key in the industry, so being treated so politely felt a bit unusual. Fortunately, after spending some time with Luo Ding these days and seeing a few things, he had become more confident.
After confirming that there were no flaws in his appearance, Luo Ding allowed Wu Fangyuan to help him put on the coat that would look impressive under the lights later on.
"Thank you." He nodded humbly to the assistant stage manager, who was momentarily surprised but then smiled knowingly.
He was so polite to Luo Ding mainly out of respect for Pan Yiming and also because he had seen too many artists, big or small, who would act arrogantly towards small staff like them. Especially for someone as handsome as Luo Ding, who probably had been pampered too much normally, there were plenty with bad tempers. To avoid disputes, they never directly confronted the artists. After all, there were many big shots in the entertainment industry, and those who offended them today would be slapped in the face in other ways someday.
In this entertainment industry, success depended on appearance, intelligence, connections, and EQ. Without these three, no matter how talented you were, you couldn't become popular. Lowering one's own posture was indeed a bit embarrassing, but humble people were always liked. Often, a little favorability from others could change a lot of things.
Sure enough, as soon as the assistant led Luo Ding towards the stage, the makeup artist and costume designer approached, "Remove half of the rivets on Mr. Luo's clothes, and darken the nose shadow. The lights on the stage might have changed, and the brightness might be higher." Too much light would blur the features of a person's face and make the rivets on the clothes dazzling. Originally, such details were not their concern as stage managers; whether an artist looked good or not was not their responsibility. However, he found Luo Ding pleasing to the eye, so he decided to casually give some advice.
Outside the venue, after Pan Yiming finished her speech, recounting the hardships she had endured from her debut until now, both she and the audience were teary-eyed.
The host, seemingly emotional too, waved to the fans with excitement, "Then let's have Pan Yiming sing a song next!"
Finally, they entered the main part of the event that the fans had been waiting for. The atmosphere suddenly became enthusiastic, and everyone began waving their glow sticks vigorously, "Yes!"
Pan Yiming smiled and adjusted her earpiece, "Actually, for this segment today, I've invited a special guest. He participated in the production of my new album and is a very talented and promising newcomer. Let's perform the song 'Heartbeat' together."
"Heartbeat" was one of Pan Yiming's most famous dance songs, with a fast and lively rhythm, perfect for kicking off the event and lifting the mood.
But the fans below suddenly became excited. A guest? They actually invited a guest! Listening to Pan Yiming's description of him being outstanding and specifically pointing out that he was a newcomer, who could he be? Many fans who didn't pay much attention to gossip news were genuinely clueless.
However, those who had discussed Luo Ding earlier suddenly became excited.
In fact, the fan circles weren't so isolated; their lives didn't revolve around Pan Yiming alone. They would also pay attention to other hot topics. Luo Ding had been hot on Weibo, and many people had heard of his name and seen his photos. Some of them were even fans of his character in a drama, while more had expressed admiration for the handsome guy in Pan Yiming's photos when she posted them during the album shoot.
"Did they really invite Luo Ding?!" Those who had joked earlier about Luo Ding possibly attending were suddenly surprised.
"Wow, I hope he doesn't die from exposure like you guys joked!"
The lights suddenly dimmed, and the cheers of the fans were interrupted. The stage lights converged on the central lift of the stage.
The rhythm faintly sounded, becoming clearer and clearer, like a restless heartbeat, each beat stirring the hearts of those listening.
All eyes were focused on that central point. In the next moment, as the prelude of "Heartbeat" played, a man was swiftly lifted onto the stage by the rising platform, bouncing high and landing in a very cool posture.
Jeans, boots, and a motorcycle jacket that sparkled under the lights.
He lowered his head, his dark hair framing his face perfectly under the spotlight, but even without much movement, his presence was unmistakable, impossible to ignore.
Not exactly glamorous, but his entrance was so magnificently performed that the venue fell silent for about a second, then the media photographers quickly started focusing and shooting.
The high-definition screen magnified every move he made, capturing the attention of all the audience members. He stood in the center of the stage, unwavering, and bowed slightly to the audience, with a smile on his face, "I apologize for the show."
The audience burst into laughter and applause, and Luo Ding's adaptability didn't disappoint. Inviting a special guest and then turning the event into a guest questioning session wasn't unheard of. Journalists always focused on topics, and straightforward album news definitely wouldn't sell as well as a star's personal gossip. If Luo Ding showed any sign of arrogance and got carried away, it would be difficult to bring the event back on track. The hosting company wouldn't be happy, and everyone would suffer.
Seeing that Luo Ding had no intention of stealing the spotlight, the media professionals quickly redirected the conversation back to the main theme, talking about the new album.
Pan Yiming reciprocated by praising Luo Ding's state during the shoot and claimed that she had made the song they performed together the lead track.
Upon seeing the fans boiling with excitement once again upon learning this news, Pan Yiming knew that the move she had made at the beginning was right. She felt more confident about the next segment.
Naturally, the main track of the new album needed to be promoted. In order to drive sales, Pan Yiming had to let everyone know that the quality of her work hadn't diminished.
When the fans at the venue learned that the audio and MV of the new album were about to be played, they appeared very excited. Everyone knew that the song Pan Yiming collaborated with Luo Ding on was the one that had been posted on Weibo with the photos. News about the album, due to Luo Ding's appearance in several films like "Tang Chuan" and "Wolong," had already piqued people's interest. Coupled with Luo Ding's dazzling appearance today, many people wanted to see as much of his work as possible.
Once again, the lights dimmed in the venue, leaving only the large screen at the back of the stage shining faintly. After the grandiose logo of Tianmei Entertainment, contrary to everyone's expectations, the prelude was not the lively dance style performed by Luo Ding just now.
This slightly disappointed some who had hoped to see a new dance, but soon, this disappointment was overshadowed by the strong narrative power of the MV.
The lyrics of this song couldn't be considered outstanding, after all, Pan Yiming's style had never been associated with high-end sophistication.
Inside the police station, a female detective flipped through the information of the victims and noticed a subtle connection between these deaths and a small town. She searched for information about the town online, finding it to be a seemingly peaceful and beautiful place. In order to solve the case, she changed out of her uniform and into a fresh and sweet dress, heading to the perilous place.
Holding a map, she wandered aimlessly on the streets, her gaze falling on a sign with a coffee logo by the roadside. Perhaps feeling tired, she turned into an alley, following the direction indicated by the sign.
The flowers on both sides of the road bloomed brightly, and Pan Yiming's softly sung voice, lowered in pitch, sounded like a whisper of love.
A man appeared on the screen at this moment.
The brilliant sunlight shone on the red-roofed house behind him as he carefully wiped a coffee pot with a fine cloth. Leaning against the fence, the lush trees and blooming flowers behind him seemed to exist just for him, making him radiate with an unshakeable sunshine.
As if hearing footsteps, he looked up slightly at the moment the chorus began, then smiled.
This smile was as clear as polished crystal, with the curve of his lips just right and his eyes transparent and clear. Contrasted with the sunlight behind him, he seemed to be born from the sunlight without a hint of darkness.
The rhythm of the heartbeat-like melody started, and the female detective was captivated.
She and the owner of the café fell in love, inseparable and often smiling at each other, sitting on a swing in the flower-filled garden, holding hands and leaning together for a nap.
Life was carefree until another murder occurred.
She began busy herself searching for evidence, contacting various witnesses related to the case, then discussing it with the man at home.
Under her relentless investigation, a breakthrough in the case finally appeared. Finally, the witness contacted her to confess something the next day. In the thick of night, after hanging up the phone, the female detective fell asleep with a sweet smile, while the man beside her, with his clear eyes wide open, was shrouded in darkness.
Everything took a sudden turn the next day, when the female detective found only the body of the witness in a pool of blood, and everything in the study was set ablaze.
Until she found a neatly folded piece of paper in the palm of the dead body.
Like a carousel in her mind, from the past to the present, all the cases and details flashed before her eyes.
She returned to the café, filled with contradictions and probing the man with deceit, seemingly ordinary interactions that had changed the taste.
After informing the man that another witness had details to confess, the female detective didn't really fall asleep. After midnight, in the quiet night, she saw the man get up and leave quietly.
Tears streamed down the female detective's face as she followed, witnessing an unforgettable scene outside the witness's house.
The handsome man, now shrouded in darkness in the night, appeared black as ink, surrounded by layers of darkness. He looked down on the pleading witness with disdain, sitting on the high desk, lifting the witness's chin with his toe, tilting his head to reveal a smile that was both casual and unrelenting.
His brows and eyes also took on a hint of charm, and if one were to ignore his cruelty, this was the most pleasing scene in the entire MV.
The female detective smashed the window with a stone, entering the room to confront the man.
The man's surprised expression and the subsequent anxiety accompanied by the slow descent of the melody began to settle.
Then he gave a resigned smile, kicked away the person still clinging to his pant leg, casually grabbed the sharp knife placed aside, and slowly approached the female detective step by step. His imposing aura was like bringing a storm of dark clouds, suffocating.
The female detective closed her eyes, suppressing the hatred in her gaze, tears falling from her cheeks, standing tall and waiting for her own death.
The man gently took her hand, inserted the handle of the knife into her hand, enveloped her hand with his big palm, and under the fearful gaze of the female detective, revealed a smile of pleasure and relief, slowly plunging the knife into his heart.
Blood seeped into the black fabric, and his eyes never left the female detective's face, his emotions too complex to discern — comfort, regret, guilt, love.
The last note fell softly, the melody low and slow, the man's chest pierced by the blade, using his blood-stained hands to cradle the face of the female detective, placing a heavy kiss.
The scene turned black and white, roses quickly withered, and the petals fell lifelessly.
The female detective dragged her suitcase, leaving the town in a daze, as if rewinding, experiencing the scenery she had encountered at the beginning one scene at a time.
This was actually a story of a lunatic in love, with illogical and nonsensical plots paving the way for the final emotional climax.
But because of the intense love conveyed in Luo Ding's eyes, too infectious, after the end of the song, when the lights returned to normal, everyone realized that the audience seats were already flooded with tears.
Disturbed love was still love, and because of the difference in expression, the feeling of pleasure even in the face of death in the arms of a loved one, was so heavy that it made it hard to breathe.
But the most important thing was, this lunatic was really handsome, so handsome that women were willing to ignore his abnormal obsession. Sometimes, human logic was so easily overturned.
The effect on the big screen was somewhat different from what was seen backstage. Even Pan Yiming was surprised to find traces of warmth in the corners of her eyes.
At this moment, if she really shed tears, it would be quite embarrassing. She quickly shifted her attention, exchanged a glance with Luo Ding, and together they bowed to the audience.
"Pan Yiming! Pan Yiming! Pan Yiming!!!" The fans in the audience area began to wave their support cards frantically, just as excited as they were at the beginning, even more fervently.
But there was also a slight difference.
Amidst the resounding cheers in the theater, there were already large-scale defectors. Besides Pan Yiming, there were others with flushed eyes and spitting angrily, shouting, "Luo Ding! Luo Ding! Luo Ding!!!"
Luo Ding waved to the audience area, showing a grateful smile to Pan Yiming.
Pan Yiming blinked her eyes vigorously, myriad thoughts converging into a sentence she uttered after covering the microphone:
"Hey, Luo Ding, do you have paper in your pocket?"
