Surprise Guest at the Concert

Kong Huaijin and Luo Bingqing had arranged to meet for dinner.

Luo Bingqing flew in from Province A and arrived in Huaihai around 4 PM in the afternoon.

After resting at her hotel for a while, Kong Huaijin sent her the address for their meal and informed her that she had successfully secured a meeting with Zhou Yi.

[Kong Huaijin: Bingbing, I got Zhou Yi to agree! We’re meeting at Heyan at 6 tonight.]

[Luo Bingqing: Sis, you’re amazing! You’re literally my hero! Bring a pen—I want to ask him for an autograph, hehe.]

[Kong Huaijin: Then remember to bring him a gift. It’s your first time meeting, after all.]

[Luo Bingqing: Don’t worry! I’ve already got it covered!]

Luo Bingqing had no idea about the complications Kong Huaijin had gone through to arrange this meeting with Zhou Yi—she just kept praising Kong Huaijin for pulling it off.

When she saw the trending hashtags, she assumed Kong Huaijin and Zhou Yi had some kind of ambiguous relationship, so it made sense that Zhou Yi would agree to meet out of respect for Kong Huaijin.

After class, a crowd had already gathered around the Lamborghini parked at the school gate—some taking photos, others whispering among themselves.

Only when Zhou Yi and Kong Huaijin appeared did the crowd disperse slightly.

The school forum had long since blown up with discussions about Kong Huaijin gifting Zhou Yi the Lamborghini, leaving many seething with envy.

[See? Just a pretty boy living off a sugar mommy, tsk tsk. He still took the Lamborghini in the end.]

[Did some of you even read the female CEO’s original words? “A-Yi, don’t bother looking at sports cars”—meaning Zhou Yi was already planning to buy one himself. Even without her, he could afford a Lamborghini. Some people are just petty.]

[All I want to know is how he does it. Let’s be real, there are plenty of good-looking guys out there, but to have a woman go this far for him? I’d sign up for his masterclass.]

[First, you’d have to be on her level. Zhou Yi is a CEO himself—it’s a power couple situation. The female CEO isn’t stupid; why would she settle for someone beneath her?]

[Talk to me when you can keep a straight face in front of a sports car like Zhou Yi does.]

The forum was flooded with discussions about Zhou Yi.

Before, most of the chatter about him revolved around his looks, competition wins, or his company—things that didn’t really bother most guys. It was mostly girls gushing, with a few jealous comments from guys here and there.

But now, seeing Zhou Yi win the favor of a goddess like Kong Huaijin—who not only attended his classes but also gifted him a sports car—what man wouldn’t feel a pang of envy?

Just how did Zhou Yi pull it off?

Su Ning’s older brother stared at the trending hashtag—“Female CEO Gifts Sports Car in Grand Romantic Gesture to Zhou Yi”—and found himself lost in thought.

Huaihai’s forum had even been infiltrated by marketing accounts, all scrambling to dig up gossip about Zhou Yi.

Because anything related to him guaranteed massive traffic, these accounts naturally saw him as prime content.

Zhou Yi’s Weibo followers had already surpassed two million, and his fan communities were a battleground between supporters and haters, with engagement surpassing some second-tier celebrities.

What made it terrifying was that all two million of Zhou Yi’s followers were real, active users—he had never bought followers or trending topics. His rise was entirely organic, something even most celebrities couldn’t achieve.

When Luo Bingqing’s manager found out she was meeting Zhou Yi for dinner, she told her not to waste the opportunity.

Zhou Yi’s agent (or so people assumed—it was actually Jiang Ruolan handling his affairs) had hinted that he agreed to participate in The Singer Competition, though the show’s official channels hadn’t announced it yet. Negotiations were still ongoing regarding certain details, so the news was still under wraps.

As the manager of a well-connected artist like Luo Bingqing, she had her own sources—staying informed was part of the job.

She had a sharp eye for talent, and after years in the entertainment industry, she recognized that Zhou Yi had too many attention-grabbing qualities. If he joined The Singer Competition, he would explode in popularity.

His talent alone—those two songs of his had already made waves in the music scene—was undeniable. The only reason he wasn’t bigger yet was because he refused all interviews, leaving media outlets with no way to reach him.

If Luo Bingqing could establish some kind of connection with him, her own visibility would skyrocket. And if they could spin it into a little PR… well, that was just an added bonus.

Luckily, Luo Bingqing already admired Zhou Yi, so she wasn’t opposed to the idea.

Her manager breathed a sigh of relief—this young lady had a stubborn streak, and if she didn’t want to do something, no one could force her.

At least this time, it aligned with her own interests. No need for extra persuasion.

Luo Bingqing put on a flawless makeup look, picked out her gifts, and headed to the meeting in high spirits.

By the time she arrived, Zhou Yi and Kong Huaijin were already there, seated together like the perfect pair—a match made in heaven.

Kong Huaijin spotted her first and stood to greet her. Zhou Yi followed suit a moment later.

Luo Bingqing broke into a bright smile and rushed toward Kong Huaijin, pulling her into a hug and planting a kiss on her cheek.

“Did you miss me?”

Seeing her friend still brought her the most joy—that was only natural.

Kong Huaijin laughed. “Of course. So much that I couldn’t eat or sleep—I’ve lost weight.”

Luo Bingqing huffed. “Don’t blame me if you’re skinnier from overworking yourself at the company. But honestly, you look better than last time.”

Kong Huaijin glanced at Zhou Yi. “Maybe good fortune just agrees with me.”

Only then did Luo Bingqing turn to greet Zhou Yi.

“Hello, CEO Zhou. I’m Luo Bingqing. Not sure if you’ve heard of me, but I’m a huge fan of your two songs—they’re absolutely breathtaking!”

The girl at the entrance was undeniably stunning—the kind of face made for the screen. Tall, with large eyes, a high nose bridge, and delicate lips, her features were so flawless she could pass for an eighteen-year-old.

She wore a white tweed Chanel-style suit, her hair slightly curled at the ends—every strand meticulously styled.

As a celebrity, she had a whole team ensuring she looked impeccable from head to toe. Even without effort, her natural beauty was amplified by professional styling.

Today, she had opted for a light, refined makeup look over the heavy stage makeup, giving off an air of effortless elegance—like a wealthy heiress.

Yet even standing next to such a dazzling star, Kong Huaijin held her own. The two of them together were a sight to behold.

Zhou Yi smiled faintly at Luo Bingqing.

“Hello, just call me A-Yi. I’ve seen your dramas—you’re a remarkable actress. And thank you for liking my music.”

Since this was a fan-meeting-idol dynamic, he maintained a polite distance, keeping his demeanor humble and composed.

Luo Bingqing beamed and presented gifts to both of them.

For Kong Huaijin, a diamond necklace worth millions.

For Zhou Yi, a lapel pin—also of significant value and prestige.

Zhou Yi thanked her without hesitation, not even bothering with the customary polite refusal.

Luo Bingqing moved in circles where wealth and status were the norm. To her, the price didn’t matter—only that her gesture was appreciated.

At times like this, refusing or making excuses would seem petty—better to return the favor with another gift later.

He simply complimented her taste, and Luo Bingqing immediately beamed with delight.

After the three of them sat down, Luo Bingqing looked at Zhou Yi expectantly and said, "Yi, I’m about to hold a concert in Huaihai—would you be my surprise guest?"

Zhou Yi considered the possibility.

After all, he was already planning to compete on Singers’ Showdown to earn heart points—essentially, to make money.

The more people who liked him, the more his wealth would grow, so building some early popularity in Huaihai wouldn’t hurt.

Besides, Kong Huaijin had already hinted that this girl’s background wasn’t simple—most people in the entertainment industry wouldn’t dare cross her.

Attending her concert could also help him avoid trouble. For a newcomer trying to break through, the first rule was to steer clear of sabotage.

Zhou Yi feigned hesitation, though his mind was already calculating. Kong Huaijin chimed in, "Come on, Yi, I’ve never even seen you perform live. Don’t say no right away—just think about it, okay?"

She didn’t push him to agree immediately, only asked him to consider it.

Zhou Yi smiled helplessly. "I’m afraid my skills aren’t good enough. It’d be a shame if I ruined Bingqing’s concert."

This was the time for modesty and polite refusal. The persona he was crafting was that of a proud, aloof genius—he couldn’t just jump at every opportunity.

Even with that variety show, he’d only agreed to "consider it" after the producers begged him repeatedly.

The entertainment industry was just like that—a world where pretense was perfected to an art.

[Sea King’s House 5: 713866457]