Li Ran thoughtfully escorted Mu Bingxuan to the backstage.
After all, as Mu Bingxuan’s devoted admirer, he still had to keep up appearances in front of others.
At the same time, Li Ran reviewed the upcoming plot in his mind.
The current storyline was already halfway through.
Next, it would be Lin Ming and Mu Bingxuan’s duet, followed by thunderous applause from the entire audience. Then, he would step forward beyond his limits and block Lin Ming’s path, issuing a warning.
The outcome was obvious.
The two bodyguards he brought would be no match for Lin Ming and would be easily defeated, marking the first slap to his face.
After that, Bai Weiwei, the female lead, would take notice of Lin Ming’s musical talent and make her entrance. In front of everyone, she would invite Lin Ming to join the music academy.
That would be the second slap to his face.
Then, his role for tonight would come to an end.
At this moment, Mu Bingxuan had already returned to her seat.
Li Ran was preparing to leave when, from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Lin Ming’s bloodshot eyes in the corner.
Li Ran gave a provocative smile.
Then he turned toward Mu Bingxuan and said with deep affection, “Bingxuan, rest well and don’t overthink.”
As he walked past Lin Ming, he poured a cup of warm water for Mu Bingxuan.
“Next, perform well. I’ll be cheering for you from the audience.”
Mu Bingxuan accepted the cup with a flushed face and said softly, “Thank you, I’ll do my best.”
Li Ran was truly gentle.
Heaven knew how many times in her previous life she had missed out on such tenderness.
At this moment, she felt like the happiest person in the world.
Looking at her blushing face, Li Ran was speechless.
Why are you blushing?
Do you not realize I’m deliberately provoking Lin Ming and trying to anger him?
With Mu Bingxuan being so unreliable, Li Ran could only rely on Lin Ming to carry the next part of the plot.
He glanced sideways at Lin Ming.
Dressed in a black tailcoat, Lin Ming was clenching his fists so tightly that his teeth were nearly shattering.
Yes, that’s the look, turn your grief and rage into strength!
Seeing this, Li Ran nodded inwardly.
It seemed his earlier performance had been a success.
He had successfully provoked Lin Ming.
Lin Ming, don’t disappoint me.
I only used less than one-tenth of my ability in that violin performance. With your talent, you should be able to surpass that easily.
Now it’s your turn to perform.
Don’t hold back, don’t give me face, give it everything you’ve got!
…
Time passed, and the program reached its climax.
The moment Lin Ming and Mu Bingxuan stepped onto the stage, the entire hall erupted in applause.
“Goddess Mu!”
“The campus belle is so beautiful, like a fairy!”
Today, Mu Bingxuan was breathtaking.
The moment she appeared, many people took out their cameras and began snapping photos nonstop.
Meanwhile, some infatuated girls lit up at the sight of Lin Ming.
“Wow, is that Lin Ming?”
“This freshman is so handsome!”
“He’s so charismatic, so mature!”
The golden pair smiled at the audience before beginning their performance.
The beautiful music left everyone in the hall utterly mesmerized.
Watching Lin Ming’s dedicated performance on stage, Li Ran nodded slightly from below.
Now this was what a protagonist should look like.
Mu Bingxuan should really learn from Lin Ming.
Instead of acting flustered all day, she could not even play the violin properly.
Li Ran could clearly see that Mu Bingxuan was somewhat distracted on stage. Several times, she almost played the wrong notes.
Fortunately, Lin Ming exerted all his effort and managed to carry the performance.
Not bad, very good.
This was exactly how a protagonist should be.
When the piece ended, thunderous applause and cheers filled the hall.
The atmosphere of the entire gala reached its peak.
Even Lin Ming revealed a faint smile.
At this moment, all the dissatisfaction in his heart was swept away.
Compared to his piano performance, Li Ran’s violin solo was nothing.
As Lin Ming and Mu Bingxuan bowed, someone in the audience suddenly shouted, “Be together! Be together!”
Lin Ming smiled faintly. Of course, those people had been arranged by him.
Most of the audience were students in their early twenties, full of youthful passion.
In such an atmosphere, more and more people were stirred up, joining in the chant.
“Be together! Be together!”
Lin Ming turned and looked at Li Ran with pride.
Did you hear that? Everyone wants me to be Mu Bingxuan’s boyfriend.
How can you compete with me, you pathetic admirer?
Sensing Lin Ming’s gaze, Li Ran could not help but sigh inwardly.
The protagonist really was the protagonist. The plot flowed so smoothly when he was involved.
Far better than Mu Bingxuan.
On the surface, Li Ran quickly put on a bitter expression, as if his heart were breaking.
Seeing this, Lin Ming felt even more satisfied.
However, neither of them noticed that from the teachers’ section, a pair of eyes had been silently observing them all along.
…
At the height of the excitement in the hall, Bai Weiwei, seated among the teachers, let out a soft sigh.
“Ah… love has always been accompanied by regret…”
Her gaze toward Li Ran was filled with sympathy.
“Professor Bai, what’s wrong?” Follow the newest chapters on novelping.com.
A female lecturer beside her asked in confusion.
Bai Weiwei was the most beautiful teacher in the music academy. Privately, students even called her the department belle.
Countless wealthy young men pursued her, yet she had never been known to have a boyfriend.
Her colleagues were all puzzled by this.
Some said her standards were too high, that she looked down on the rich second generation of Magic Capital.
Others speculated that she had once been hurt by a scumbag and no longer trusted men.
The female lecturer wondered silently, could tonight’s performance by this golden pair have touched upon Bai Weiwei’s painful past?
Bai Weiwei shook her head, quietly watching the heartbroken figure below the stage without speaking.
She had indeed been deceived by a scumbag.
That scumbag was none other than Lin Ming, who was currently basking in glory on stage.
But that was a matter of her previous life.
Having been reborn, she would never trust Lin Ming again, nor be fooled by him again.
Now, she felt it was unfair for Li Ran.
Earlier, she had been puzzled why Li Ran, clearly a master or even a genius in music, had deliberately pretended to be average during his performance.
Now she understood.
It was all because of Mu Bingxuan.
If Li Ran had displayed his true level, without a doubt, he would have been the brightest star of tonight’s gala.
Compared to him, Lin Ming was nothing.
But Li Ran was clearly deeply in love with Mu Bingxuan.
He had not shown his true ability. Instead, he deliberately performed in an ordinary manner, even intentionally playing some notes incorrectly.
All so that he would not overshadow Mu Bingxuan.
For her sake, Li Ran chose to be the green leaf that set off the flower.
At this moment, she was moved by this foolish boy.
Looking at his seemingly heartbroken figure, an inexplicable ache rose in Bai Weiwei’s heart.
For the woman he loved, he was willing to become nothing more than a background.
Even enduring ridicule and disdain from others, he accepted it willingly.
What a humble kind of love.
He must be so tired…
“Professor Bai, where are you going?”
Bai Weiwei suddenly stood up and left her seat.
…
How ridiculous.
Watching Lin Ming still standing on stage, showing off smugly, Li Ran rolled his eyes inwardly.
How long do you plan to stand there?
Hurry up and get down already.
Move it.
Finish the plot so I can go home and relax.
Below the stage, the two bodyguards Li Ran had arranged were already in position.
They were just waiting for Lin Ming to step down so he could go up and continue the plot.