While the audience was still watching the rehearsal clips of Tawanna and Gu Qiuyi on the central and side giant screens, Ye Chen had already joined Gu Qiuyi beneath the stage at the lift platform.
This time, he would ascend the stage alongside her.
Ye Chen was clad in full armor, a mask covering his face, and a sword held single-handedly in his right hand. Gu Qiuyi, dressed in a long pre-Qin dynasty gown, stood beside him, holding his hand with their fingers interlocked.
Then, the traditional Chinese prelude blared through the stage speakers, and a staff member immediately said to them, “Both of you, get ready, stage ascent countdown begins, three, two, one!”
As the words fell, the lift surged upward, swiftly delivering them onto the stage.
At that moment, the stage’s ambiance shifted dramatically from before. The backdrop transformed into a serene paradise beneath Zhongnan Mountain, with a gentle breeze sweeping through the valley, filled with vibrant wildflowers and fluttering butterflies.
Gu Qiuyi, who had never been linked to any celebrity scandals in the entertainment world, suddenly appearing hand-in-hand with a man in armor stunned many of her Chinese fans.
Not only had Gu Qiuyi never been involved in any romantic rumors in her personal life, she’d also never had any close contact with a man in public.
Yet today, dressed in ancient attire, she ascended the stage hand-in-hand with a faceless man.
Ye Chen, truth be told, couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous.
He’d seen plenty of the world, but nothing quite like this.
With tens of thousands of people gathered before him, for someone stepping onto a stage for the first time, it was impossible not to feel a flutter of panic.
Initially, everyone assumed Gu Qiuyi would duet with this man, but to their surprise, after they reached the stage hand-in-hand, the masked man began performing an elegant, fluid sword dance with his longsword.
It dawned on the crowd that this armored man was actually a backup dancer for the song.
But why would Gu Qiuyi hold hands with a mere dancer to take the stage?
Was it just for the song’s dramatic effect?
If so, that was quite a sacrifice, something she’d never done before.
However, the audience’s attention soon shifted entirely to the masked dancer on stage, his movements so seamless and dashing that they left a lasting impression.
Then, the music’s tone shifted, depicting a corrupt ruler and a suffering populace. Ye Chen sheathed his sword, preparing to bid farewell to Gu Qiuyi.
As she sang, Gu Qiuyi embraced him from behind, her face full of reluctance.
At that moment, dancers playing enemy soldiers stormed the stage, engaging Ye Chen in combat.
The giant screens magnified his every move, captivating the tens of thousands in attendance, as if they were watching a flawless, single-take action film with no retakes.
As Ye Chen swung his sword, cutting down foes, many in the audience felt their blood boil with excitement.
When he finally slew the corrupt ruler and returned triumphant, sword in hand, the lift platform rose again, revealing another ancient-costumed beauty—this time with golden hair.
The screens switched focus, and to everyone’s shock, they realised the blonde in ancient attire was none other than Tawanna Sweet!
No one had expected Tawanna to duet with Gu Qiuyi, let alone see her don a Chinese ancient costume, which somehow looked incredibly pleasing to the eye.
And when Tawanna began to sing, jaws dropped—she opened with perfect Mandarin pronunciation, her voice tender and melodious, a stark contrast to her usual wild persona, leaving everyone stunned yet refreshed.
