Chapter 83: Sui Sui’s Concert (3)

In the backstage area of the concert hall.

After finishing her performance, Chi Suisui went to pack up her belongings. When Dong He saw her return, she smiled and said, “I knew I made the right choice in asking you.”

Her impression of Chi Suisui was very positive.

Chi Suisui gave a faint smile. “If it weren’t for your concert this time, Aunt Dong, I probably wouldn’t have had the chance to perform in public.”

“After all, it’s not your main profession,” Dong He replied.

Thinking about it, she still felt a tinge of regret. Chi Suisui had such remarkable talent—if she were her daughter, she would have encouraged her to pursue music full-time.

Everyone had different aspirations, so Chi Suisui didn’t say anything further.

As she carefully placed her cello into its case, Chi Suisui casually chatted with Dong He about recent family matters. “...Mom has been quite idle lately.”

Just as Dong He was about to respond, she glanced up and noticed someone entering the room. With a teasing smile, she said, “I won’t take up any more of your time. If nothing goes wrong, the video of this performance should be ready in a couple of days. I’ll send you a copy then.”

Chi Suisui nodded. “Alright.”

Following Dong He’s gaze, she saw He Xingwang walking toward her.

There weren’t many people backstage since most attendees had already moved to the front after leaving the hall, making the area feel spacious.

“Did you enjoy it?” Chi Suisui asked.

“Yes,” He Xingwang replied, standing before her.

Chi Suisui smiled, radiant and elegant. “Wait for me while I change—I’m hungry. We’ll grab something to eat afterward.”

He Xingwang hummed in acknowledgment.

The long formal gown Chi Suisui wore for the performance wasn’t practical for everyday movement, so changing back into her regular dress made things much easier.

Her hairstyle, however, remained flawless.

When she emerged, she reached for her cello case, only to find that He Xingwang had already picked it up and slung it over his shoulder.

The cello case was large—it fit perfectly on Chi Suisui but looked disproportionately small on him, creating an odd visual contrast.

Still, since her husband insisted on carrying it, she didn’t protest.

They exited through the back door, where no reporters were stationed. Meanwhile, the journalists waiting at the main entrance left empty-handed after hours of anticipation.

Online, however, a short video clip began circulating.

Although photography was prohibited during the performance, some attendees disregarded the rules and secretly recorded footage. The video lasted several minutes, capturing Chi Suisui clearly under the spotlight as she performed.

[If only I’d gone to listen live!]

[Suisui looks absolutely stunning today! I’m dead!]

[I wonder if God He came to watch his wife’s performance.]

[How could he possibly miss it?!]

[Suisui’s look today is so cool!]

[I don’t usually listen to cello pieces, but this one was truly beautiful!]

Since the audience seating was shrouded in darkness, it was impossible to tell who was present or absent. This uncertainty sparked heated debates among netizens.

Much like how celebrity couples are scrutinized for potential relationship issues, some speculated maliciously about He Xingwang and Chi Suisui.

After thousands of comments arguing over whether He Xingwang attended, the discussion eventually shifted—”What’s the point of debating this? Why not focus on how much Suisui’s dress costs?”

Thus, a new topic emerged.

The dress Chi Suisui wore today was a collaboration with an up-and-coming designer from months ago. It had just been completed recently and was essentially a one-of-a-kind piece globally.

Since she participated in its design, netizens initially assumed it must have been extremely expensive, given Chi Suisui’s affluent background and He Xingwang’s position as the current president of He Corporation.

However, despite extensive searches, no identical dress could be found online.

Some even took screenshots from the leaked video and searched for similar items on shopping platforms like Taobao. While they couldn’t find the original, they discovered numerous counterfeit listings claiming to sell replicas styled after Chi Suisui’s outfit.

When Su Mian sent these images to Chi Suisui, she was astonished.

Is image theft really this fast?

Chi Suisui forwarded the screenshots to He Xingwang. “Am I really this popular now?”

Looking at the video still of Chi Suisui playing the cello with her head bowed, He Xingwang responded dryly, “You can remove the question mark.”

Chi Suisui couldn’t help but laugh.

“I can already imagine what the haters will say,” she said, setting down her spoon. “They’ll accuse me of riding your fame for attention.”

He Xingwang’s brows furrowed slightly.

He rarely frowned; his emotions were usually subdued, and he occasionally cracked jokes. But when he did frown, it carried weight.

Expecting him to scold her, Chi Suisui was surprised when he simply said three words:

“I don’t mind.”

________________________________________

Due to Chi Suisui and He Xingwang’s relationship, the online buzz surrounding them remained high.

Though it hadn’t yet trended on hot search lists, it was close—and with a little push, it could easily climb the ranks.

That evening, the reporter who interviewed Qi Xincheng returned home and fell into deep thought while reviewing the day’s recordings and videos.

Was it appropriate to release such over-the-top flattery?

But having failed to secure tickets to the concert hall and unable to capture any explosive photos, this was all he had to work with.

After some deliberation, the reporter edited the video and posted it online.

Not a single word of Qi Xincheng’s effusive praise was cut—it remained entirely intact.

To boost visibility, the reporter purchased a headline placement.

Professionals in their line of work often collaborated with marketing accounts. After posting, he contacted his contacts, and soon enough, influential social media figures began sharing the video.

Naturally, more netizens saw it.

Initially drawn by the title “Interview with Audience Members About Chi Suisui’s Performance,” viewers were shocked upon clicking—

Immersive experience?

Beautiful and elegant?

What was that bit about a feast at the end?

[Is this really an interview with random audience members?]

[It seems the editor interviewed one of Chi Suisui’s die-hard fans.]

[Though I thought the performance was great, there’s no need for such exaggerated praise… Feels awkward.]

[Turns out there are actually middle-aged fanboys—shocking!]

[The woman beside the uncle looks so graceful!]

[Uncle’s heartfelt admiration is hilarious; even the aunt beside him couldn’t handle it hahaha!!]

[This uncle is adorable!]

[Why shouldn’t we let our uncles chase stars too?!]

Qi Xincheng’s rambling praise, especially his overly serious expression near the end, became meme-worthy material.

Netizens captured screenshots and turned them into stickers captioned phrases like “You must listen to me!” “If I say it’s good, it’s good!” and “Don’t interrupt my star-chasing!”

Some troublemakers directly tagged Chi Suisui: [@Suisui, come check out your middle-aged fanboy!]

For a while, the comment section was flooded with memes and laughter.

Where there’s praise, there’s also criticism.

Though Chi Suisui wasn’t a celebrity, her frequent appearances on trending topics attracted both admirers and detractors.

While some found the excessive flattery amusing, others viewed it negatively.

The silent marriage between Chi Suisui and He Xingwang had already stirred discontent among some people, and this video became the perfect opportunity to air those grievances.

As a result, online debates quickly erupted.

Where there’s controversy, there’s popularity, and where there’s popularity, it spreads like wildfire.

________________________________________

By the next day, the topic had already climbed to the top of the trending search lists.

There was plenty to do at the news agency, and Chi Suisui couldn’t be bothered with this kind of news—it would sink to the bottom in due time anyway.

Besides, the person showering her with praise was her own father. If she stepped forward now, it might attract unwanted attention, prompting people to dig into her background.

“Sui Sui, your dad is so adorable,” Su Mian gushed, unable to contain herself. “How does he come up with so many compliments? Even I, as someone who chases idols, can’t compete!”

“He probably didn’t know how to sweet-talk my mom when they were dating.”

Chi Suisui shot her a glance, stating the obvious.

“True,” Su Mian said, recalling Chi Meiyan’s appearance. Unlike modern beauties, Chi Meiyan exuded the timeless charm unique to women of her era.

Having been born into a musical family, Chi Meiyan possessed an aura refined through years of cultivation—something unattainable by those without such depth.

Back in the day, Chi Meiyan had no shortage of suitors, including children of high-ranking officials. Yet Qi Xincheng stood out because of his genuine abilities.

While things were lively in their corner, the internet buzzed with activity.

Though Chi Meiyan had retreated from the music scene years ago and few recognized her anymore, older generations still remembered her.

Coincidentally, her recent international performance news was still fresh—not trending, but visible to those who followed national affairs.

Soon enough, someone raised a question: “Isn’t that… Chi Meiyan beside him? The legendary national treasure of a musician?”

This revelation sent shockwaves through the online community.

At first, everyone assumed the middle-aged fan was just wealthy enough to attend the concert. No one expected his wife to be a national treasure-level musician.

Once this connection was made, uncovering Qi Xincheng’s true identity wasn’t far behind.

They had married over two decades ago, long before the internet age, when all information came from newspapers and television.

Chi Meiyan had performed at countless galas, won numerous international awards, and even appeared on the Spring Festival Gala.

Blurred videos of her performances could still be found today.

Netizens with elderly relatives or knowledge of classical music quickly realized Chi Meiyan’s former prominence, leaving them awestruck.

Most importantly—

Chi Meiyan also bore the surname “Chi.”

The implications were clear.

[Wow, this is a major discovery!]

[I wondered why I couldn’t find any wealthy Chis! Turns out she took her mother’s surname!]

[Jealous! After digging through the news, I learned: Chi Meiyan comes from a musical dynasty, and Qi Xincheng built his empire from scratch—the same Qi Corporation whose snacks we eat daily.]

[Ahhhh, I’m losing it! Chi Suisui is unreal!]

[Speaking of which, last year Chi Suisui held a giveaway featuring a gift pack of Qi Corporation’s latest snacks.]

[She can give away whatever she wants—it’s all hers anyway.]

[So she’s not just rich; she’s top-tier rich. Pool Mommy is stunning! The whole family is gorgeous!]

[If I praise Suisui now, can I still get a snack pack?]

The story broke beyond niche circles.

To commend her father’s over-the-top flattery, Chi Suisui specially picked out a watch and sent it to his company with great fanfare.

As a result, employees at Qi Corporation noticed their boss seemed unusually cheerful that day.

He casually flaunted his wrist whenever possible, subtly mentioning, “My daughter gave this to me,” every time someone complimented him.

Qi Corporation staff: …

Well, they might as well humor him—it wasn’t like they’d lose wages for listening.

In the afternoon, a reporter from the news agency contacted Qi Corporation, requesting an interview. In his good mood, Qi Xincheng waved his hand generously, agreeing.

He hadn’t finished praising his daughter yesterday and was eager to continue.

Thus, reporters hoping to confirm the online speculation about “Chi Suisui being Qi Corporation’s heiress” ended up subjected to another round of glowing praise.

And this time, the words were different from yesterday’s.

Was Qi Xincheng once the class representative for Chinese literature?

Only after Qi Xincheng finally finished did the reporter breathe a sigh of relief and hurriedly ask his question—

“Mr. Qi, regarding your interview comments last night, there’s been significant debate online. Do you have anything to say?”

Qi Xincheng’s expression turned serious. “What’s wrong with praising my daughter’s performance?”

In his view, his child deserved endless admiration.

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong,” the reporter replied, eyes lighting up. “So, to clarify, Chi Suisui is indeed your daughter?”

Realizing the truth had already surfaced, Qi Xincheng saw no point in hiding it. Instead of letting rumors swirl, he decided to confirm the relationship himself.

He openly acknowledged his connection to Chi Suisui.

Within an hour, the interview aired. While netizens had been joyfully speculating and searching for evidence, this announcement cut straight to the chase.

Netizens: ???

[Chi Suisui: Bet none of you saw this coming.jpg]

[We thought she was bronze, then upgraded her to gold—but turns out she’s platinum-tier.]

[Let’s end the debate about whether Chi Suisui and He Xingwang are a match—they’re perfectly suited, both royalty in their own right.]

[Dad Qi: Stop slandering my daughter!]

[Honestly, who wouldn’t want to be Suisui? I’d gladly endure endless flattery every day!]

A blogger launched a poll titled, “Do you want to be Chi Suisui?” with only two options. Predictably, nearly everyone voted “Yes.”

What started as a lighthearted activity reached its peak that evening.

Why? Because He Xingwang liked the post.

Under Weibo’s voting mechanism, selecting an option automatically triggered a like. It was evident what He Xingwang had done.

A flood of comments poured in.

[Does God He want to become his own wife???]

[Probably tried to vote secretly, but Weibo exposed him hahaha!]

[This proves it again—everyone wants to be Chi Suisui.]

When Chi Suisui saw the news, she posed the same question: “He Xingwang, do you want to turn into me?”

If this were a horror movie, it could be titled My Dangerous Husband.

Fresh from washing up, He Xingwang sat on the bed. Chi Suisui leaned over him, steadying herself as he calmly replied, “Of course not.”

Chi Suisui asked, “Then why did you vote?”

She held her phone screen up to him.

He Xingwang glanced at it, his voice softening. “I thought the first option in that poll was indirectly praising you.”

Chi Suisui caught on and teased, “Are you running out of ways to compliment me?”

He Xingwang adjusted her posture, gently guiding her to sit properly, enveloped by her delicate fragrance. “I can’t steal my father-in-law’s job, can I?”

Chi Suisui burst into laughter, collapsing onto him.

Who could’ve imagined this twist? Even if told, no one would believe it.

Infected by her cheerfulness, He Xingwang chuckled softly. His smile was breathtaking, and Chi Suisui leaned in to kiss him, sending them both tumbling onto the bed.