Chapter 163: Changing Careers and Running Away?

In moments of sorrow, I do not want you to know; I only want this heavy rain to bury my most wretched self.

At this very moment, the influencers shaking their hands beneath the stage had long since abandoned their livestream interfaces. What gifts from "Big Brother"? What revenue, what streaming metrics? Nothing mattered as much as listening to this concert-level live performance!

"Holy crap! If I’m not mistaken, that’s the singer Ah Yu!?"
"My god, a singer of such massive emo hits, and not a single person at the venue recognized him!"
"Streamer, go up and get an autograph, I’ll drop a Carnival gift right now!!"
"Streamer, go take a selfie! What are you standing there for?!"
"Give us the address! I’m on my way!"
"Wait! Holy hell! This lounge is right by my house! I’m heading down right now!!"

Wang Fei, who had finished listening to the entire song, was usually hailed as the "Little Prince of Love Songs," but at this moment, he felt the gap between himself and Lin Yu was far from ordinary. The emotional resonance, the raw authenticity of the lyrics—even he couldn't help but want to cry after hearing it.

Si Shaozhe, who had drunk too much, didn't know when he had struggled to his feet. He was now beside him, waving his hands excitedly, having instantly become a loyal fan of Lin Yu, shouting his name until his voice cracked.

Noticing that people around them were starting to look over, Wang Fei instinctively pressed him back onto the sofa. Stop making a scene—if people found out all three of them were here, wouldn't this lounge be blown apart?

On stage, Lin Yu began playing the chorus of the song. He had recorded a small portion of the track while singing earlier, which he now used to keep the atmosphere going. Listening to those painfully real lyrics about heartbreak, many people caught in the throes of a breakup couldn't help but sob. The venue was filled with the sound of weeping.

Under the influence of alcohol, the hearts of these young men and women were more prone to melancholy, though they usually suppressed their inner struggles amidst the neon lights and revelry. But under the spell of this song, most of the audience had their defenses shattered, confiding in each other about the bitterness of love and the pain of parting. Many were already embracing. It seemed as if only strangers could truly understand their emotions.

The viewers in the livestream were also breaking down one after another.
"Damn, I knew anything Ah Yu writes is top-tier. I’m crying first, everyone!"
"Wuwuwu, damn it, I want to escape but I can't. Ah Yu, give me back my tears!!"
"They say women are made of water, but ever since I started listening to Ah Yu’s songs, I feel like I’ve been wrung dry..."
"I’m willing to be the cuckold! I want to be the cuckold!!"
"Ex-husband, let’s get back together, wuwuwu. You can keep hurting me, it’s okay!!"

As the chorus ended, Lin Yu bowed to the audience and stepped down, only to be immediately surrounded by a crowd of girls. A truly outstanding person is a beacon of light wherever they go!

"Ah Yu!! I’ve finally seen the real you!! Can I get an autograph and a photo?!"
The girls in the audience didn't look very old, yet they were dressed in revealing clothes and heavy makeup. It was a pity to see them blooming in such a chaotic circle, but since they weren't his family, there was little he could do.

"Let’s take a photo."
As soon as Lin Yu spoke, a young girl leaned directly into his arms, snapped a picture, and walked away, looking thoroughly satisfied.
Lin Yu: ??
Was he just... ambushed?! And the culprit just ran off like that?!

No sooner had he been teased than he was surrounded by a new group of girls, leaving him no chance to hold anyone accountable. Truly, a boy must protect himself when he’s out!

"Brother Ah Yu, sign this for us!!"
"Let’s take a selfie!!"
"Brother Ah Yu, I’ve been a fan for thirty years!"
"Am I really that old?" Lin Yu smiled helplessly, his handsome face adding to his charm.

The girls below were completely crazed, shrieking at the top of their lungs: "You're not old! In our hearts, Ah Yu is the most handsome! The youngest! The cutest!"

Lin Yu laughed helplessly. It’s no wonder artists love to harvest young fans—they are so fanatical and full of passion. He had initially been bewildered by the sudden hugs, but hearing their cheers and feeling the warmth of the crowd, his bad mood vanished. What remained was the confidence and pride of an artist standing on high, looked up to by thousands.

After wrapping things up with the fans, Lin Yu looked toward Wang Fei. It was time to go. A single glance exchanged the silent understanding between men. Wang Fei called a car, then donned his mask, sunglasses, and cap. He casually shoved a cap onto Si Shaozhe’s head, and once ready, they led him out of the bar to wait in the car. Lin Yu pretended to answer a phone call, saying helplessly, "My manager is looking for me, see you next time on the show," before squeezing through the crowd to escape.

After getting into the car, they found quite a few fans chasing after them, but they couldn't find him once he was inside. After many sighs, the fans turned back to the lounge to continue their nightlife.

By the time they reached the hotel, it was two in the morning. Si Shaozhe had fallen asleep between the two of them, mumbling and groaning, and nothing could wake him. Fortunately, he didn't snore, otherwise, he would have been kicked out of the car long ago. It must be said, the kid looked quite well-behaved when asleep—no noise, no fuss. Up close, he really was good-looking, with fair skin and clean features; the kind of face young girls nowadays loved.

He really didn't know what their agency was thinking, forcing such a docile boy to maintain a "cold and aloof" persona. It was too hard on him, wasn't it?

"Poor kid. Putting on an arrogant front on stage, but in private, he’s too timid to do anything. Agencies and their forced personas are such a hassle."
"What else can you do? Once you're an artist, you have to play by the rules. Do we really have a choice?"
"Sigh, at least my boss is pretty good to me and doesn't have so many restrictions."
"Even about where you go to hang out?"
"Maybe."
Wang Fei was completely shocked: "For real? No way!!"

The two helped Si Shaozhe back to the hotel room, but as they pushed open the door, they were met by three women with their arms crossed and faces as dark as thunder. The three men’s expressions changed instantly. This... weren't these their three lovely managers?!

Su Xiaolin spoke first: "You three, where have you been?"
Wang Fei looked back at Lin Yu. Didn't you say your boss doesn't care where you go? Doesn't restrict your freedom?! And why is she here waiting for you with our managers? Buddy, what’s going on?

"I seem to have heard you say that the Jifei Agency never restricts its artists' freedom, and that they can just sneak out to party in the middle of the night?!"
"You kid, don't tell me you went out drinking?" Su Xiaolin’s expression was incredibly grim!

Lin Yu’s composure crumbled instantly... Give me some face, please!!