The next day’s performance had Ye Chen tempted to back out.
He suggested swapping himself for another dancer with Gu Qiuyi and Tawanna, but both strongly objected.
Gu Qiuyi felt no one else could match Ye Chen’s effect.
Tawanna, knowing her bold moves on stage the previous night had unsettled Ye Chen, sincerely said, “Mr. Ye, rest assured, I won’t overstep today…”
Seeing Tawanna’s earnest attitude, Ye Chen thought refusing further might seem petty, so he nodded, “Alright, let’s agree, no overly intimate interactions in the upcoming shows.”
Overjoyed, Tawanna nodded repeatedly, promising, “Don’t worry, it won’t happen. My agent scolded me yesterday…”
Gu Qiuyi found Ye Chen’s cautiousness amusing, giggling with her hand over her mouth, “So there’s something Ye Chen-gege is afraid of!”
She grabbed Tawanna’s arm, teasing, “I’ve never seen Ye Chen-gege so nervous about anything. Your fiery passion must’ve scared him.”
Ye Chen shot her a look, inwardly grumbling, “I’m not just wary of her, I’m wary of you too. You’ve definitely been corrupted by this American woman.”
Yesterday’s explosive performance had topped global entertainment trends for a day, so today’s audience eagerly anticipated Gu Qiuyi’s segment, hoping to witness Tawanna’s bold stage presence in person.
When Gu Qiuyi’s song “Assassin” began, Ye Chen’s entrance triggered thunderous cheers.
The audience didn’t know who he was, only that this male dancer’s physique, poise, and every sword-dance move were flawless, exuding what young people call maxed-out charisma.
Though Ye Chen’s face was hidden, everything visible was already perfect, and his mask added a layer of mystique, making him seem even more ideal and intriguing.
Everyone has different expectations for looks: some find handsome men lacking masculinity, others find rugged men with imperfect features. Some prefer long faces, others square ones; some like bold brows and big eyes, while others favour single-lidded guys.
Without a mask, some might dislike Ye Chen’s style.
Masked, he was faultless.
His sword dance was a unique audiovisual feast for the audience.
When Tawanna took the stage, the cheers grew deafening. The crowd hoped to see her passionate interplay with the male dancer, but Tawanna was much more restrained. Though there was some physical contact during the performance, she held back and didn’t kiss Ye Chen.
As the song ended without a kiss, fans waved glow sticks, and someone shouted “Kiss!” in English, sparking the entire crowd to chant “kiss, kiss” like maniacs.
With the song over, Ye Chen and Gu Qiuyi were supposed to exit, leaving the stage to Tawanna.
But the crowd, eager for drama, kept egging them on, craving something explosive.
With the audience’s uproar, Tawanna whispered to Ye Chen, “Mr. Ye, could we just have a light kiss? The fans are so enthusiastic, it’ll be hard to get away without giving them something…”
Her expression mixed grievance and pleading.
She’d promised not to kiss Ye Chen like yesterday, but asking his permission first should be fine, right?
If he agreed, great, if not, she wouldn’t push.
With so many fans backing her, the request was reasonable, it just depended on Ye Chen’s leniency.
Ye Chen felt the pressure, thinking, these fans shouldn’t be so nosy!
Most fans hope their idols stay single and avoid romance, so why did Tawanna’s fans seem to thrive on the spectacle?
Then he realised it made sense: Tawanna’s image was one of a colourful love life. Her fans, besides loving her music, enjoyed her romantic escapades and stage flirtations, which were even more entertaining than her dating.
Hearing the tsunami of “kiss” chants and seeing Tawanna’s pleading look, even Gu Qiuyi watched with a playful smile. To exit quickly, Ye Chen relented, muttering, “Fine, fine, make it quick.”
Thrilled at his compromise, Tawanna tiptoed and gave Ye Chen a light kiss through the mask.
