Chapter 144
Aria’s POV
I hadn’t expected my part to end so quickly after the opening. I’d be back on stage only during the middle section. As I stepped off, Summer handed me a bottle of water. Just as I was about to take a sip, I spotted Diana Hayes in the distance.
Summer leaned in and whispered, “What bad luck p>
I remained completely unfazed, taking a casual sip of water. “It’s fine. I’m just here to work anyway-getting paid by her senior, no less p>
No matter how entitled Diana might feel, she couldn’t possibly cause trouble at Julian’s event.
My prediction was spot-on. Diana was clearly grinding her teeth at the sight of me, but what could she really do about it?
With Julian and Christopher around, all Diana could manage was to glare daggers at me from across the room. I was too busy reviewing my performance notes to waste time “admiring” her scowling face.
Time flew by, and by mid-afternoon, after two complete rehearsals without any mistakes from my end, Christopher instructed the makeup artist to start working on
me.
For maximum visual impact, my dress for tonight’s performance was specially designed to complement Julian’s outfit. Both our costumes had received special treatment so when the stage lights hit us, the audience would see something truly spectacular.
Even without the special lighting, my dress was absolutely gorgeous-deep blue with starlight accents that sparkled like the Milky Way under regular light. I could only imagine how stunning it would look under the stage lights.
Julian certainly wasn’t cutting any corners!
The makeup artist took exceptional care with my face. I already had naturally refined features, but stage lighting demands heavier makeup. She managed to preserve my natural “delicate look” while emphasizing what needed emphasis-the result looked both natural and enhanced at the same time. You could tell she’d put serious thought into it.
Summer couldn’t help but comment: “Babe, I want this makeup artist’s contact info. Should we book her for your next performance p>
Even though I was already eye-catching on my own, Summer wanted me to shine even brighter. She practically wanted me to blind those who couldn’t appreciate my talent.
I looked at myself in the mirror, genuinely impressed. “It must be expensive, right?” “Let me check!” Summer replied.
Two minutes later, she returned with the answer: “You’re right, it is expensive.” She held up five fingers.
“Fifty thousand?” I asked.
I was about to say “that’s pricey but reasonable” when Summer shook her head. “No p>
My eyes widened. “Don’t tell me it’s five hundred thousand p>
Summer didn’t speak, but she nodded.
Suddenly I wasn’t so impressed anymore.
“Don’t worry, babe. You’re all about talent anyway,” Summer consoled me.
I cringed slightly. “Actually, I’m just poor p>
“Hey, don’t talk about yourself that way! Being frugal is a virtue of our culture, right p>
“You’re absolutely right, Summer p>
While we chatted, Christopher brought over some food for me to eat. The concert wouldn’t start until eight, and it was barely past six.
I’d been here all day, having only picked at my lunch earlier. Someone had clearly been concerned enough to send over hot porridge and rice, dispatching Christopher to deliver it.
“The treatment at these concerts is pretty good!” Summer remarked as she opened the containers, discovering there was even bubble tea included.
Christopher smiled. “Indeed. Miss Aria, please eat something. We still have an hour and a half before we start p>
“Oh, great! Thank you!” I replied without giving it much thought. Summer and I sat down to enjoy our impromptu dinner.
Not long after we finished eating, the stage lights came on. Fans were already starting to fill the audience seats.
The ticket Julian had given me was for the VIP front section-the closest area to the stage. If Aiden came, he’d only need to look up slightly to see me at the piano.
The thought suddenly filled me with excitement and anticipation.
“Nervous?” Julian’s voice came from beside me.
I snapped back to reality, glancing at him briefly before shaking my head. “Not really p>
I wasn’t nervous at all. I’d performed in major international competitions without getting jittery. Today I was just here for a nice paycheck—why would I be nervous?
Julian raised an eyebrow. “I suppose someone like Miss Aria has seen it all when it comes to big performances p>
Just as he finished speaking, the previously dark stage suddenly lit up with blue lights. Then various lights activated, projecting what looked like a vast starscape onto the backdrop.
I stared at it, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Sorry Julian, but I definitely haven’t seen anything quite like THIS before.
As the lights brightened, it was our cue to go on stage. Julian extended his hand
toward me. I pressed my lips together briefly before placing my hand in his.
Following the music cue and lighting change, I walked out from backstage alongside Julian.
The entire stage was massive—about fifty meters long and over twenty meters wide. My piano was positioned on the left side, a black grand also bathed in spectacular lighting.
When we reached center stage, Julian addressed the crowd: “It’s been a while, my little Alarm Clocks p>
Julian’s fans called themselves “Alarm Clocks p>
The moment he finished speaking, I heard deafening shouts of “It’s been too long!” and waves of screaming, punctuated by occasional “Julian, I love you!” declarations.
This was my first concert experience ever-both as a guest performer and as an audience member. I’d never felt such electric atmosphere before, completely different from my piano recitals.
Not that one atmosphere was better than the other. But in this sea of passionate humanity, I felt myself becoming energized by the crowd’s enthusiasm.
“As many of you know, I’m extremely honored to have invited an exceptional pianist to accompany me tonight,” Julian continued. “This beautiful lady beside me, Miss Aria Jones, is my special guest p>
Thunderous applause erupted. I
gripped the microphone with slightly sweaty palms, though my
expression remained composed and
elegan “Hello everyone, I’m Ara Jones. It’s my honor to accompany Mr. Julian tonight p>
Just then, someone from the audience shouted: “Aria! I’m your fan too! Aria, I love
you p>
The passionate scream was so loud that even in this vast space, I heard it clearly.
“I hear someone saying they’re also Miss Aria’s fan,” Julian remarked. “I wonder,
how many of you are both my Alarm Clocks and fans of Miss Aria p>
“Me! Me p>
“Over here p>
“Julian, I love you! Aria, I love you p>
Quite a few voices responded.
“So many of my fans are also Miss Aria’s fans! Well, you’re in for a treat today! Next,
Miss Aria and I will perform ‘Light Years’ for you all p>
I had already taken my seat at the piano. As Julian finished speaking, the stage lights dimmed. Ready to begin, I waited for my cue in the earpiece, then my fingers touched the keys in the silence that had fatten over the venue, the piano introduction to “Light Years” flowed gently into the air.
The lighting technician directed the spotlight onto Julian and me. As the intro finished, Julian’s magnetic voice filled the space: “That day you asked me / What is a light year is the distance between us one Julian year p>
As the final note faded, I instinctively glanced toward the front left section of the
audience.
I was about ten meters away from the front row, and the stage lights were so bright that at first, I couldn’t make out how many people were sitting in the VIP section.
After staring for a few seconds, I could finally make out the figures below.
While Julian continued speaking, I searched desperately for Aiden’s silhouette.
I didn’t see him anywhere, but I did spot Lillian and Claire holding up signs with my name on them.
What on earth were those two doing?