The tickets for the first show sold out at an astonishing speed. Gu Yaxing, who had originally planned to arrange the remaining seats as aesthetically as possible, was both shocked and exhilarated. After obtaining Luo Ding’s consent, he announced the sale of tickets for a second show.
The tickets for the first show weren’t even enough to satisfy the local Japanese fans, and the second show was still fiercely contested. However, a third show couldn’t be announced immediately, as Luo Ding had other work commitments.
Gu Yaxing had no choice but to put on a pitiful face and apologize to the domestic fans. Those who managed to get tickets had nothing to complain about, but those who didn’t were practically ready to tear him apart.
The once harmonious and friendly atmosphere within the fandom was on the verge of being shattered. The initial excitement and celebratory posts about Luo Ding’s concert had turned into a platform for ticket holders to flaunt their success. To these high-profile winners, everyone just wanted to say one thing: “I bow to you, great one!”
“Please!!! Can someone transfer a ticket to me? Even scalpers are fine!!!!”
“Great ones, if anyone can’t make it to Japan, please transfer your ticket! I’m willing to pay double the price!!!!”
“How can a devoted fan miss their son’s first concert!!?”
“Tickets!!!!!”
“Tickets!!!!!”
It was almost like a cult.
After becoming a prominent figure in the fandom by sharing his EP, Duan Xiubo had grown fond of this kind of boasting. How could he not have tickets to Luo Ding’s concert? He had already asked Gu Yaxing to reserve a few for him—no need for premium seats, random ones would do. When he posted a clear photo of ten tickets with the seat numbers obscured, arranged in a fan shape, it immediately drew unanimous disdain and resentment from everyone.
Enemy! Life’s winner!
The comments under his post were all asking: “A-da, which internet provider do you use?!”
“A-da, please transfer a ticket!!! I’m willing to pay double!!!”
“Is A-da actually a long-time undercover scalper?”
“Dammit, this scalper is too cunning! You’ve been exposed! Come out and do business already!”
Duan Xiubo laughed so hard he rolled around on the bed, kicking his slippers off. Having been in Luo Ding’s fandom for so long, he had developed respect for a few familiar, long-time loyal fans. Seeing that they genuinely didn’t have tickets, he privately messaged them for their addresses and had Mi Rui send the tickets over.
Mi Rui looked at the strange addresses and recipient names—clearly female—and couldn’t help but feel suspicious: “Brother Duan, Luo Ding just left a few days ago.” His implication was, how did you manage to get involved with women in such a short time?
Duan Xiubo’s eyes turned dark, but his lips curled into a gentle smile as he softly pulled Mi Rui closer: “Say that again.”
Mi Rui could only shake his head vigorously. Why did he have to open his big mouth!
This generous, ticket-giving “great one” quickly solidified his unshakable elder status within the fandom. The fans who received the tickets began to subtly regard him as their leader, and his follower count skyrocketed by tens of thousands overnight.
Luo Ding, of course, had no idea about any of this. In fact, he had been so busy in recent years that he barely had time to check his social media. He wasn’t particularly adept at using these platforms to begin with, and had only started managing them to keep up with trends. By now, he had completely transcended the concept of an idol. Even if he remained largely invisible except for releasing new works, no one could ignore his presence. Achieving such a status in the entertainment industry in his twenties, and if you subtracted the boost Duan Xiubo’s early career path had given him, it would be hard to determine who had achieved greater success earlier.
Luo Ding felt that his current career was becoming more and more similar to his past life. In the industry, aside from a few older, highly respected seniors, there were hardly any peers he needed to address as “brother” or “sister” with deference.
The hairdryer roared above his head. Luo Ding squinted at his reflection in the mirror. His hair was shorter than a few years ago, but still longer than Duan Xiubo’s—black, smooth, and simply dried and straightened by the stylist.
Makeup artists and stylists in the industry often said that working on Luo Ding’s look was the easiest. He had maintained the same style for years—no hair dye, no outrageous outfits, and his makeup was usually just a standard stage look. His appearance mostly changed with his clothing, giving him strong versatility. Honestly, his natural, unaltered look suited him best. Once he was in motion, Luo Ding’s powerful aura overshadowed everything else. A punk-style yellow or red dye with heavy makeup would feel too youthful and out of place.
Wu Fangyuan entered, opening the thermos he had been carrying since they left and offering Luo Ding a sip. He sighed: “Brother Duan wanted to come in earlier, but I chased him out.”
“Good job.” Luo Ding couldn’t help but applaud Wu Fangyuan for finally mustering some courage. It really wasn’t the time for Duan Xiubo to come in. Once he entered, he would start touching things without regard for the situation. It was baffling how a man growing older could act more and more like a child. Ever since they got a cat at home, Duan Xiubo had been restless. He was the one who picked up the cat, yet he was also the one constantly at odds with it. This time, since Luo Ding was holding a concert, they temporarily left the cat with Ji Jiahe. Duan Xiubo had been so happy about it that he called repeatedly to express his joy.
Was it really necessary?
With so many outsiders around, it wouldn’t be good if anyone noticed anything.
Luo Ding only took a sip to moisten his mouth. He had already eaten a little something earlier. Before going on stage, he couldn’t eat or drink carelessly. Wu Fangyuan quickly capped the bottle and glanced at Luo Ding’s nearly finished look. He sat on the edge of the makeup table with a smile: “Nervous?”
Luo Ding shook his head. There was nothing to be nervous about; he wasn’t some young kid anymore. In his past life, he had been so scared before his first concert that he couldn’t sleep the entire night. But once he got used to this kind of work, he gradually realized that fans were far less demanding than he had imagined. In fact, they were even more forgiving than the people around him. Even if he made a mistake, no one would blame him.
So, what was there to worry about?
The makeup artist dusting powder on his face noticed his calmness and couldn’t help but meet Luo Ding’s eyes. She truly found no trace of nervousness in them and couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.
No wonder he rose to fame so quickly. This kind of unshakable confidence was truly unique in the industry. She had worked on many stages and was the go-to makeup artist for many famous singers. Once, she worked on a concert for a group around Luo Ding’s age—what were they called? Mei… Mei something? Before going on stage, all sixteen members were pale and trembling, their hands and feet ice-cold. It was pitiful to see, even though they were already experienced performers who had held several concerts.
Thinking about it, Luo Ding had never made a mistake in his performances since his rise to fame.
Sigh, you really needed this kind of ability.
While the backstage was bustling with activity, outside the Taipei Arena, fan club managers had spontaneously organized to check the fan support items brought by attendees.
In just a few days, they had already aligned with the mature fan support culture in Japan. Behind them were over a dozen boxes filled with items. Before the concert, they had posted notices in various fan-accessible platforms about the support activities. This was the final check, as most attendees had already prepared in advance.
Support T-shirts, designed and printed purely by fans without any official involvement, had been a thing since Luo Ding’s rise to fame.
Glow sticks, with colors that had to be uniform—even a shade darker or lighter was unacceptable.
Most fans arrived wearing the support T-shirts. The managers stopped them, first handing out a piece of chocolate as an apology, then checking if the glow sticks they brought were the correct color.
If incorrect, they were replaced for free.
If someone wasn’t wearing the support T-shirt, or if their companion didn’t have one, they were provided with one for free.
All expenses were voluntarily covered by a few wealthy fans within the fandom. For Luo Ding’s first concert, the devoted fans wanted to give him an unforgettable memory.
Inside the venue, girls wearing support T-shirts and carrying staff megaphones ran around. Over a dozen fan club members, organized spontaneously, moved about, repeating the rules of fan support in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and English, ensuring everyone heard them.
“No screaming when Luo Xiaoding is talking!!! No screaming when Luo Xiaoding is singing!!!! No littering! Let’s make Luo Xiaoding proud—this concert will be broadcasted on domestic TV!!”
Gu Yaxing had originally prepared announcements to maintain order, but when his assistant came in to report on the situation outside, he was stunned. The venue was already 80% full. Some wore masks, some didn’t, but everyone was dressed identically. Although the concert hadn’t started yet, the venue was so quiet that apart from the announcements, there were only faint whispers.
Gu Yaxing wasn’t very familiar with fan support culture, but seeing this scene felt like a dream. As an entertainment company CEO, he couldn’t comprehend how fans had organized everything so seamlessly without any official involvement. The company hadn’t spent a single cent or lifted a finger, yet Luo Ding’s popularity had soared purely because of the fans. From spontaneous promotions to handling online disputes, and now the mature fan support activities, they had elevated Luo Ding from a regular star to a level where even gossip outlets dared not offend him lightly.
Such fans were truly one of a kind in the entertainment industry. Recently, even CEOs of other entertainment companies had secretly approached him for advice, asking how he managed to keep these fans so well-behaved.
But Gu Yaxing genuinely didn’t know.
Encountering such a fandom required the right timing, location, and people—and a great deal of luck.
Luo Ding, this kid, was truly blessed with extraordinary luck.
Fans who had traveled to Japan for the concert weren’t just from China. There were also fans from Korea, the U.S., Europe, Australia… Though they didn’t share a common language, seeing each other’s outfits and glow sticks, they exchanged knowing smiles.
Some spontaneously took out Luo Ding’s photo books to share and discuss. This was something unique to the domestic fans, as not many fandoms had official authorization to print photos. The world was too big, and with relaxed restrictions everywhere, Gu Yaxing couldn’t possibly manage it all.
With this advantage, the domestic fans subtly began to take the lead among international fans.
Before the lights dimmed, all interactions had concluded, and everyone returned to their seats, quietly waiting.
Once the lights went out, the uniformly colored glow sticks became even more striking.
Luo Ding’s face was small, and with eye makeup, his eyes looked strikingly large. As he waited backstage, counting down the time, his gaze seemed somewhat dazed. Staff passing by couldn’t help but glance at him.
He wasn’t wearing any extravagant outfit, just a custom jacket from MG, a luxury brand targeting young people that he had recently endorsed. The jacket was oversized, bright, and had a strong, trendy vibe. Luo Ding rarely chose such flashy outfits in his daily life, but this one suited him perfectly. When he stepped out of the fitting room, the stylist who picked the outfit blushed.
Now, standing here, even with dim lighting and no movement, he was still the most dazzling presence backstage.
Duan Xiubo sat in the VIP section, closest to the stage, listening to the increasingly unified and loud chants from behind. A smile full of anticipation spread across his face.
Most of the people around him were friends Gu Yaxing had invited. Those who could attend, like Pan Yiming, were all present. Duan Xiubo’s presence might seem out of place given his status, but considering his close relationship with Luo Ding, it felt entirely natural.
“Luo Ding! Luo Ding! Luo Ding!”
“Luo Ding! Luo Ding! Luo Ding!”
The wave of voices was overwhelming.
Finally, the stage lights went completely dark. The venue erupted in uncontrollable screams, making one wonder if the dome could withstand such fervor.
Dancers filed out in the darkness, and music began to play softly, in sync with the heartbeat.
Just from the intro, Duan Xiubo recognized it as the title track from Luo Ding’s second album. Being a pop song that catered to market preferences, it was one of Luo Ding’s most widely circulated works. With its upbeat rhythm and beautiful yet accessible lyrics, it was perfect for setting the tone for the opening.
The lights swept over the dancers, then dimmed again.
Everyone held their breath, their hearts suspended in mid-air.
The music stopped abruptly.
Then, in the next second, it surged like an unstoppable tsunami!
A beam of light shone down from above, and in its center, Luo Ding, with one hand on the ground, seemed to have existed since ancient times. He slowly raised his head, a signature move that triggered deafening screams!!!
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!”
Luo Ding smiled slightly, stood up, and his first action was to push away the dancers who had moved in close.
“Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!”
The screams lasted only five seconds. Before Luo Ding could speak, everyone instinctively covered their mouths, channeling all their energy into waving their glow sticks wildly.
In the surrounding darkness, apart from a few faces near the stage illuminated by the lights, Luo Ding could only see a sea of uniformly colored glow sticks.
The waving was chaotic, but the sheer uniformity of color created an undeniable, powerful presence.
Before going on stage, Luo Ding had already heard Gu Yaxing’s amazed description of the scene outside. He wasn’t surprised, but he smiled and reached out, placing his hand on the zipper of his jacket.
A soft click echoed clearly through the venue’s sound system.
As he walked toward the center of the stage, Luo Ding casually removed his jacket and tossed it into the air, where it was caught by the dancers behind him.
The venue fell silent for a few seconds, then erupted in screams that nearly blew the roof off!
“Luo Ding ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!”
Many fans burst into tears.
Underneath that trendy jacket, Luo Ding was wearing the exact same support T-shirt as everyone in the venue.
Oversized, with a round neckline, the front printed with the signature logo designed by the fandom. Due to mass production, it wasn’t particularly refined.
But no one had expected Luo Ding to wear it!
A sense of validation and appreciation for their efforts filled the venue. The fans who had participated in designing or promoting the support T-shirts were already sobbing.
Of course, wearing such a simple outfit still depended on the person.
The T-shirt’s neckline was too wide, and on Luo Ding, it hung low, almost to his chest. The shirt was originally quite long, but the stylist had altered it backstage, ensuring it didn’t cover the decorative details on his pants. An ordinary T-shirt, but on him, it looked no less impressive than the high-end jacket he had just worn.
Luo Ding raised his head, straightened his fingers, and extended his hand toward the audience. He took a few steps back and bowed deeply.
His voice, growing steadier with age, came through the speakers.
“Thank you, all of you.”
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