Chapter 23: He is glowing!!

Xu Ziqiao led Sister Wang through the VIP entrance into NFA.

Watching the backs of Xu Ziqiao and his party as they disappeared into the VIP passage, Fan Shushu looked at the "second-generation rich" companion beside her, and a sense of disparity quietly took root in her heart.

"Who was that just now?" asked Sister Wang, who was being escorted by Xu Ziqiao.

Xu Ziqiao laughed. "Just a classmate. Donkey Brother reserved a booth for you over there."

NFA was divided into private rooms, booths, open tables, and the bar area. Usually, open tables and the bar had no minimum spending requirement, but tonight was an exception. Tonight, the minimum for an open table was 3,000, and 10,000 for a booth. Private rooms were not open to the public, reserved only for special VIPs. Booths were further categorized into side, center, and boss booths.

The spot Lu Yao had reserved for Sister Wang was a prime center booth, facing the stage with a wide view, surrounded by the spotlight. However, when Sister Wang’s group arrived, a young woman was already sitting there. It was Zhao Rongrong.

Xu Ziqiao played the role of a waiter perfectly, introducing them: "These two are Sister Wang and President Jian. This is Miss Zhao Rongrong, an investment consultant from Huatai Securities."

Zhao Rongrong stood up immediately, looking a bit reserved. "Nice to meet you."

If she wasn't mistaken, these two were the wealthy benefactors of that younger brother Lu Yao was close with, right? So beautiful! Completely unlike the image of greasy, aging rich women she had imagined, these two were impeccably made-up, elegantly dressed, and looked not only young but stunning. Especially Sister Wang—that mature, radiant beauty was breathtaking at first glance. To think that young man was living so well!

Sister Wang smiled faintly. "Lu Yao's friends are my friends. Please, sit." Even though this was a nightclub, the moment Sister Wang exerted her presence, it felt as if she owned the place. Zhao Rongrong couldn't help but purse her lips. This woman was so cool! If a "P" (a lesbian) were here, they would probably be clenching their legs and screaming internally, "Queen, step on me!"

After taking her seat, Jian Xiaojie picked up the menu, scanned it, and laughed. "I didn't expect the drink prices here to be so reasonable."

An 18-year-old Macallan Sherry Oak Cask single malt whiskey retailed for about 2,000, but here it was 6,800. A bottle of Sassicaia red wine from Tenuta San Guido cost about 3,000 on the market, but here it was 9,800. Jian Xiaojie looked at Sister Wang. "What would you like to drink?"

"Red wine," Sister Wang replied.

Jian Xiaojie smiled sweetly. "Alright then! I’ll have a bottle of Hibiki." This stuff was even stronger. If she could get Sister Wang and Lu Yao drunk tonight, wouldn't she get what she wanted? The thought was thrilling.

After ordering, Jian Xiaojie specifically asked, "By the way, does Lu Yao get a commission on the alcohol sales here?"

Xu Ziqiao patted his chest firmly. "Of course!"

As he called the bartender to place the order, Xu Ziqiao clicked his tongue. That was the kind of wealthy woman Donkey Brother had charmed! She ordered a 15,000-priced Hibiki without batting an eye. Although Xu Ziqiao was also a "second-generation rich," being wealthy and being willing to spend lavishly were two different things.

While waiting for their drinks, Fan Shushu, who had been queuing for ages, finally entered the venue. But with no space left in the center booth area, she and her companion had to settle for a side booth. From her position, she could see Sister Wang and her friends in the center area. While not as high-end as the Boss booth, it was at the very heart of the club—great for viewing and under the gaze of everyone. In comparison, Fan Shushu's spot was barely better than standing with the crowd. Looking at the guy beside her again, the sense of disparity in her heart widened further.

...

In the backstage dressing room, Lu Yao, fully made up and wearing his performance outfit, was waiting quietly. As the new star attraction of NFA, Lu Yao wouldn't be appearing right at the start. The warm-up was left to the resident DJs and MCs, who were currently on stage working hard to heat up the atmosphere.

At 9:30, Lu Yao, along with Song Jing, Zuozuo, and Zhou Bella, went to the side of the stage to prepare for their entrance. Zuozuo and Zhou Bella went first. Their set was a rock performance, with the cool-tempered Zuozuo on lead guitar and the extroverted Zhou Bella on vocals. The new faces caught the attention of some regulars, but the focus wasn't on their performance—it was on them. After a brief moment of curiosity, most guests went back to chatting, drinking, and playing games with their friends. There was no helping it; in a place like this, the girls you could pick up were the primary goal. The performers on stage were mostly like a television playing in a living room—background, atmosphere. The level of attention was different from a real stage show. Watching from the side, Song Jing rubbed his chin, annoyed. "Damn, they don't respect the artists at all."

Lu Yao didn't mind. "Do you go to a bar to listen to music or to party?"

Of course, it was also because it was Zuozuo and Zhou Bella's first formal performance, and they didn't quite know how to interact with the crowd. When Song Jing, who had more performance experience, took the stage, the atmosphere began to liven up under his intermittent interactions. Zuozuo and Zhou Bella came off stage feeling frustrated.

Entertainment Director Xiao Nali came over to console them. "You were just a bit nervous. It will get better."

"Yeah!" Encouraged, the two girls were suddenly full of drive.

Xiao Nali looked at Lu Yao. "How about you? Nervous?"

Lu Yao chuckled. "I won't know until I'm up there."

Once Song Jing finished his set, Lu Yao took over seamlessly. This wasn't a variety show recording or a concert, so there was no host. Acts usually swapped out immediately to prevent any lull in the atmosphere. But as Lu Yao reached the center of the stage, the lights dimmed instantly, and beams of spotlights began to glide across the floor like schools of fish. After Song Jing's high-energy rap, the bustling, noisy atmosphere fell into a sudden, expectant silence.

Then, Lu Yao's clear, drifting voice began to rise: "How I wish to hold you, in the time between the mountains and the waters."

The prose-like lyrics became incredibly captivating through Lu Yao's rendition. His voice, refined by a vocal coach and imbued with deep emotion, echoed softly through the venue via the top-tier sound system, instantly capturing the hearts of the guests. Under the spotlight, Lu Yao sang with total devotion, his face fair and his features sharp in the bright light.

Sister Wang and Jian Xiaojie were mesmerized.

Heart-thumping!

After a moment of being stunned, Jian Xiaojie lunged at Sister Wang, hugging her and jumping up and down excitedly. "Ahhhhh! He’s glowing! He’s so handsome it hurts! Sister, you’ve really struck gold!"

When the song reached the chorus, the line, "I fear the empty joy, I fear that after waiting and waiting, it isn't you," struck directly into the hearts of many seasoned veterans of the nightlife scene. Like a blade, it sliced through the callouses of their past.