Be a Guest at Qiao Yiyi’s Concert?
The idea sounded quite interesting. Standing on stage, watching thousands of people cheer, scream, and go wild for you—it was a scene that would leave a lasting impression. Most people would never get such an opportunity in their lifetime.
Jiang Fei enjoyed a relaxed and comfortable life, but he had no intention of completely isolating himself from the world or living in obscurity.
He wasn’t a big star, and he’d never have the chance to become one.
But experiencing the life of a celebrity, even briefly, didn’t seem like a bad idea.
After all, being a guest at Qiao Yiyi’s concert wouldn’t make him famous or thrust him into the entertainment industry as an idol or a powerhouse star.
Once the concert was over, his ordinary life would remain undisturbed.
However, Jiang Fei didn’t immediately agree to Qiao Yiyi’s proposal. He said he’d think about it and decide later, depending on whether he had the time.
—
The Next Day
Jiang Fei, Lin Moli, and Qiao Yiyi left Daocun Village together and returned to Jincheng.
Lin Moli went to the hospital to handle various tasks; Jiang Fei accompanied Ye Yuanyuan to the Jincheng Military Sanatorium to treat Old Master Ye Zhennan’s legs; Qiao Yiyi, wearing large sunglasses and a disguise, was quietly picked up by her manager, Aunt Mei.
Recently, Qiao Yiyi’s vocal cords had been damaged, and she had seemingly vanished without a trace. Even during the press conference, Qiao Yiyi was absent, and Aunt Mei had to represent her.
Aunt Mei explained that Qiao Yiyi was secretly undergoing traditional Chinese medicine treatment and would fully recover soon, reappearing before the public. And what she said was true.
However, the media, especially entertainment reporters, loved to stir up trouble and fabricate stories. To boost sales, they would twist facts and speculate in the worst possible ways.
Despite Aunt Mei’s explanation, negative rumors about Qiao Yiyi were spreading online.
For example, some claimed that Qiao Yiyi’s vocal cords were permanently damaged and beyond recovery; others said her rise to fame was just a flash in the pan, already over; and some even speculated that she was retiring from the entertainment industry due to overwork.
These baseless rumors were presented as credible by major media outlets, convincing not only fans but also the businesses that had booked Qiao Yiyi for commercial events. They were now anxiously calling to confirm the truth.
If Qiao Yiyi were to appear in public now and get photographed, it would undoubtedly cause a sensation. Today, Aunt Mei was taking Qiao Yiyi to a large, reputable hospital to check the progress of her vocal cord recovery after Jiang Fei’s treatment and to estimate how much longer it would take for her to fully heal.
Qiao Yiyi felt great, and they weren’t distrustful of Jiang Fei’s medical skills. But such matters ultimately required a thorough examination at a major hospital to put their minds at ease.
Once in the BMW, with Aunt Mei acting as the driver, she immediately asked nervously, “Over the past few days, did Jiang Fei do anything inappropriate to you?”
Qiao Yiyi, who had just taken off her sunglasses and was catching her breath, blushed at the question and chided, “Aunt Mei, what are you thinking? I told you, Jiang Fei isn’t that kind of person. Besides acupuncture, what else could he do?”
Aunt Mei’s impression of Jiang Fei wasn’t great.
It had been that way since their first phone call before they even met.
Later, when they met in Daocun, Jiang Fei had effortlessly overpowered her, who was usually quite assertive, leaving her unable to resist. She didn’t say anything, but her opinion of Jiang Fei naturally worsened.
“It’s good if he didn’t do anything. I was just worried and wanted to ask,” Aunt Mei said, not agreeing with Qiao Yiyi.
Qiao Yiyi rolled her eyes and waved her hand. “Don’t worry. In a few more days, my voice will be fully recovered.”
“Your voice… does sound much better. It’s not as hoarse as before, and speaking isn’t as difficult as it was a few days ago,” Aunt Mei admitted, unable to argue with the results.
No matter how much she disliked Jiang Fei or found him irritating, she couldn’t deny that his reputation as a miracle doctor was well-deserved.
“But we still need to go to the hospital for a check-up…” she added, not forgetting her original purpose.
Qiao Yiyi, recalling Jiang Fei’s guitar performance from the previous night, brightened up and said excitedly, “Aunt Mei, actually, Jiang Fei isn’t just amazing at medicine. I think he’s even more incredible at playing instruments! I don’t know about the piano, but his guitar skills are definitely better than my teacher Kim Soo-man in South Korea! So, I want to invite Jiang Fei to be a guest performer at my upcoming concert in Jincheng. It’ll definitely wow the audience!”
Hearing this, Aunt Mei nearly lost control of the car and crashed into a utility pole.
This young, arrogant doctor wasn’t just a medical genius but also a musical prodigy?
And he had even won over Qiao Yiyi, who wanted to invite him as a guest performer?
This news shocked Aunt Mei, and even after Qiao Yiyi’s explanation, she found it hard to believe.
Qiao Yiyi sighed helplessly and added, “Actually, even if I want to invite him, he hasn’t agreed yet.”
“Let’s not talk about him!” Aunt Mei’s eyelid twitched as she said, exasperated.
What kind of monster was this young man who seemed to clash with her at every turn? The more she heard about him, the more her heart couldn’t take it.
As she drove, she asked, “After we go to the hospital today, should we hold a small press conference? You haven’t appeared in public for a long time, and not only are there negative rumors online, but your fans are also very concerned about your condition. If we’re going to hold a press conference, I’ll call the company and have them arrange it.”
Qiao Yiyi thought for a moment and shook her head. “Let’s skip the press conference. I’ll record a video later, and you can post it online to let my fans know how I’m doing.”
Dealing with reporters was a hassle. Given her current popularity, a press conference would attract a swarm of media, requiring a lot of effort and resources.
A simple video would be much easier.
“That works too,” Aunt Mei agreed.
“By the way, you don’t have to meet with reporters, but you should meet with that Young Master Li. He came all the way from Beijing to Jincheng to see you, but he hasn’t even gotten a glimpse of you. He’s been asking me about your whereabouts this whole time,” Aunt Mei suddenly added.
Qiao Yiyi’s expression tightened, and she frowned. “Aunt Mei, you didn’t tell him where I was, did you?”
Aunt Mei gave her a look. “Of course not.”
“Good,” Qiao Yiyi said, patting her chest in relief.
If this playboy Young Master Li found out she was staying in Daocun, he would undoubtedly go there to find her. That could cause trouble for Jiang Fei, and Qiao Yiyi would feel guilty.
Thinking of this, Qiao Yiyi pouted and complained, “Why is he still in Jincheng? I’ve rejected him so many times. Why does he keep pestering me? It’s not like he’s lacking women around him!”
Aunt Mei, however, wasn’t too troubled. Instead, she smiled and said, “Men are like that. The more they can’t have something, the more they want it. Young Master Li is indeed a notorious playboy, and he’s certainly not short of women. But because you’ve shown no interest in him, he’s even more determined to pursue you.”
“Aunt Mei, you’re laughing at me!” Qiao Yiyi said, unhappy. “Since you know he’s no good, why don’t you help me keep him away?”
Aunt Mei stopped smiling and sighed. “It’s because Young Master Li’s family is a major shareholder in the largest entertainment company in the country. Even though you’re currently signed with a Korean company, your career focus will eventually shift back to China. The Korean market can’t compare to the domestic one. If you want to develop in China or even leave the Korean company in the future, you can’t afford to offend Young Master Li too much. Otherwise, it’ll be very difficult for you to continue in the entertainment industry.”
Qiao Yiyi, who was usually polite and gentle, flushed with anger and said fiercely, “Does that mean I have to obey this playboy’s every command? If it comes to that, I’d rather quit being a singer!”
Seeing Qiao Yiyi genuinely angry, Aunt Mei didn’t dare to joke anymore and tried to comfort her. “It’s not about obeying his commands. We just need to play along and avoid offending him.”
—
Meanwhile, at a Private Club in Jincheng
A young man with a pale complexion and a thin frame—clearly someone who had indulged too much in wine and women—was playing mahjong with two other men and a woman.
“Pong!” The young man smirked flirtatiously at the woman to his right, who had played minor roles in several TV dramas. “Xiao Nan, it’s been great sitting below you today. You keep letting me pong and kong. I’m almost embarrassed.”
The woman didn’t mind and instead cooed, “But I’ve been waiting for the one tile, Young Master Li. You’ve been holding onto it and not letting me win. You’re so mean…”
Young Master Li laughed heartily and was about to play the tile when his phone rang.
He answered with a casual “Hello,” listened for a moment, then put down his tiles and said, “Qiao Yiyi is back in Jincheng? Keep an eye on her. I’ll be there soon.”
With that, he stood up and said to the others, “Sorry, everyone. Something’s come up. I’ll have to leave.”
The third-rate actress Xiao Nan’s expression darkened, but she didn’t dare to say anything. She could only curse inwardly, “I’ve been playing mahjong with you for hours, and just when I was about to win, you leave because of a call from Qiao Yiyi!”