Li Li's eyes blazed with fury upon seeing Ren Yuanhao. She vowed to repay him a hundredfold for her previous humiliation.
"Little scoundrel, come and receive your beating!"
To her surprise, Ren Yuanhao didn't even spare Li Li a glance. He merely flung a remark, "Who the hell has time for you? Besides, do you think you can handle me with your dozen ruffians? Dream on."
"Hmph, you've got a tough mouth. What are you all waiting for? Get him, quickly! I'll be responsible if you break his hands or legs!"
Li Li beckoned to her side, and the dozen burly men put on fierce expressions and lunged towards the seemingly slender Ren Yuanhao.
However, as the first burly man got close and threw an elbow, he suddenly stopped as if he had hit a wall, completely frozen in place!
"I told you, I don't have time to deal with you. If you dare disturb me again, you'll end up like him!"
Ren Yuanhao seized the man by the throat with one hand, lifting him overhead with sheer physical strength. He then tossed him towards a corner like a piece of trash.
Bang!
Dust rained down. Ren Yuanhao's gaze was as sharp as a knife. He glanced at Li Li and the frozen burly men. Not a single one dared to step forward.
"Remember, don't rush too fast when fighting in the future." Ren Yuanhao clapped his hands together. Then, he turned to Guan Ying and Ye Lan, who were staring blankly, and said, "What are you waiting for? We're all waiting for our tickets to be checked. Qingluo, if you're able, please help out too."
"Oh, okay, okay!"
Qingluo walked towards the entrance tunnel with an expression of disbelief. Her footsteps grew increasingly disordered and heavy. With her agent's hearing, she knew it was the sound of a surging crowd. She ignored the chagrined Li Li and followed behind them.
As soon as they exited the inner area, they saw a dense crowd, like dark clouds converging in the sky, about to surge into the venue!
"Holy crap! So many people!"
The agent's eyes widened in shock. He then rubbed his eyes, fearing he had misread. However, even after rubbing his eyes, the dense crowd, like a small mountain, did not decrease but rather increased!
"This, this is going to be a sell-out!"
It wasn't just the agent who was stunned. Qingluo and Guan Ying had also not expected such a large crowd to appear. They stood frozen, unsure of what to do.
"This isn't a dream, is it? I, I've never seen so many audience members in my life."
"I don't believe it either, but Qingluo, this is real, this is real!"
The two were dazed by such a spectacular scene, their bodies trembling slightly. However, this was not stage fright, but excitement.
Soon, under the command of Ren Yuanhao, the chief strategist, ticket checking, entry, seating, and distribution of small gifts (prepared by Ye Lan, of course) proceeded in an orderly fashion. By 7 o'clock, everyone had managed to squeeze into the venue.
"Guan, Guan Ying, have you ever seen such a scene?" Pang Wei trembled with excitement, her calves feeling weak.
"Of course not. I really don't know who this Ye Lan is. In less than two hours, she managed to sell out all the flyers and admission tickets."
Guan Ying and Pang Wei both turned their heads to look at Ye Lan, who had retreated behind the curtain.
She always wore a mask to cover her face. Although her appearance was hidden, her aura had already surpassed everyone they had ever seen. Her eyes gave off a frosty coldness, yet at times, a warm, sun-like light could be seen in them.
And that light only appeared when she looked at Ren Yuanhao.
"Don't think about that. Look, there are still half the audience without seats?"
"It's not that there are no seats, it's that the number of audience members has already exceeded the capacity by more than half."
"So, Ye Lan sold over 4,000 admission tickets in less than two hours?"
"Yes, I wonder if she's some kind of celebrity? And judging by her appearance and her relationship with Qingluo's boyfriend, it's likely not as simple as it appears on the surface."
"Don't talk nonsense. Qingluo will get angry if she hears you."
Apart from being shocked, the members of the girl group were also filled with more suspicion and speculation about Ye Lan's identity. However, the only thing on their minds now was how to perfectly present the dance and performance that Qingluo had customized for them.
Meanwhile, down below, Li Li, who had squeezed into a corner and was gasping for breath, her face had long turned pale. She was both shocked and furious, and coupled with the torment of inexplicable jealousy, it felt as if countless bloodthirsty ants were gnawing at her heart!
"Impossible, how could such a trash girl group attract so many audience members!"
Li Li wanted to break free from the crowd, but the audience, at times cheering with their elbows up, at times raising their hands to wave their glow sticks, gave her no opportunity. Just then, the masked Ye Lan finally changed into her favorite ice-blue flowing robe. As the host, she passed in front of Qingluo and the others.
Wearing the flowing robe, Ye Lan's demeanor was like Chang'e from the Moon Palace. Her gaze carried a frosty chill, and the crowd, having never seen a woman with such presence, was stunned for a long time.
The audience below erupted, continuously shouting Ye Lan's name.
"Alright, sisters, it's time for you to change and get ready. Remember, give it your all and showcase the essence of our country to the fullest!"
Ye Lan extended her right hand, and Qingluo followed suit, placing her hand on Ye Lan's. Everyone else did the same.
"Let's go!"
Their hearts, filled with passion for Chinese culture, were pounding to the extreme, their voices like thunder.
This passion spread like wildfire, quickly infecting the audience below. Those who were present also stood up, their glow sticks undulating like waves, a beautiful sight.
At the opportune moment, the stage lights suddenly dimmed. The entire venue, except for the dancing glow sticks, was plunged into darkness. The crowd's cheers gradually subsided. Suddenly, a stage spotlight, like a sharp arrow piercing the sky, shot down from above, directly onto the front of the stage.
Ye Lan, dressed in the flowing robe, stood alone under the illumination of the spotlight and the glow sticks, like a beautiful, radiant planet drifting in the vast, boundless universe, so bright it was blinding.
The audience held their breath, completely captivated by her charisma. When she took off her mask, although no one spoke, it felt as if the sound of thunder filled the entire venue!
It was the sound of hearts beating, the sound of reverence!
The entire venue fell silent. Even Li Li, feeling ashamed, curled up. The agent, experienced and knowledgeable, had certainly heard of Ye Lan's fame. His eyes were fixed on her, as if he had lost his soul.
"Good evening, esteemed audience passionate about Chinese culture. I am your host, Ye Lan."
Ye Lan's single sentence immediately sent the audience below into a frenzy. Their glow sticks waved even more vigorously, and the entire venue began to chant Ye Lan's name in unison.