Chapter 116 - 100: Overnight Sensation, Can Hear Inner Thoughts

Chapter 116: Chapter 100: Overnight Sensation, Can Hear Inner Thoughts

"AHHH! Boss Chen, look at me!"

"Boss Chen, I love you too!"

These young ladies from high society and wealthy madams, usually so demure and elegant, had completely lost control.

They were taking off earrings, unclasping necklaces, and pulling out hairpins... All sorts of gold and silver jewelry, pearls, and jade were thrown onto the stage as if they were worthless. The scene descended into chaos.

Never mind the common folk; even Deng Ming, who had managed the theater for years, and Guan Sihai, who had sung opera his entire life, were left dumbfounded by the sight.

Just then, an attendant shouted at the top of his lungs:

"From box A1 on the second floor, a reward for Boss Chen of five hundred silver dollars!"

The entire theater fell silent for a moment, followed by an even more tsunami-like roar of cheers.

Chen Ye smiled in thanks, then returned for more than ten curtain calls before finally seeing off the frenzied fans.

Afterward, a tally revealed that the various tips and gifts alone were worth several thousand silver dollars, and that didn’t even include the theater’s cut of the ticket sales.

This terrifying income completely silenced the Guangle Building’s shareholders, who had initially grumbled about Deng Ming’s decision.

The next day, without exception, the front-page headline of every major and minor newspaper in Sea Guardian Guard was dominated by a photo of a Cyan Robe performer of peerless beauty.

"A Once-in-a-Century Genius of Liyuan, A Single Song Stuns Sea Guardian Guard!"

"The Peerless Cyan Robe, Boss Chen—Who Knew He Was a Man?"

All sorts of headlines, filled with the most lavish praise and paired with that photo capable of mesmerizing anyone, instantly set the entire city abuzz.

On every street corner, in every teahouse and tavern, wherever people gathered, they were discussing the previous night’s earth-shattering performance at the Guangle Building.

"Have you heard? The Guangle Building has a new star, an Immortal! In costume, he’s more beautiful than any woman!"

"More than just beautiful! That voice, that posture... it’s as if the founding masters of opera themselves were spoon-feeding him his talent!"

"I was there last night. Good heavens, what a scene... Money and jewelry were being thrown onto the stage like rain. I’ve been alive for over forty years and have seen countless plays, but I’ve truly never witnessed a spectacle like that!"

And this was only the beginning.

For the next ten days, every single show at the Guangle Building was sold out, with not an empty seat in the house.

Ticket prices were driven sky-high by scalpers, yet they were still nearly impossible to obtain.

Before every performance, a sea of people would inevitably gather outside the Guangle Building, blocking the entire street. Many wealthy merchants and opera fans from out of town, having heard the news, even made special trips by train and ship just to witness Chen Ye’s elegance.

Among them, the fanaticism of the female audience members was particularly striking.

Not only did they attend every performance, spending money like water, but they also spontaneously formed groups.

Whenever Chen Ye took the stage or took a bow, they would cheer for him in unison, their roars so powerful that countless men would turn to stare.

What’s more, many young ladies and wealthy madams, disregarding their status, had people deliver all sorts of handmade sachets, embroidery, and even letters filled with explicit declarations of love, their boldness astonishing.

Backstage at the Qingchun Troupe, the room designated for gifts was already overflowing with expensive nutritional supplements, fine silks, antiques, and Jade Artifacts, a truly dazzling sight.

"Nana, look! Chen Ye’s costume today is so beautiful."

Inside the private box, Lu Jinghong’s beautiful eyes sparkled as she stared at the figure on stage. Her face was flushed with excitement, and her hands were clasped together, full of adoration and pride.

She had now become the "leader" of Chen Ye’s most devoted fans. Not only did she never miss a show, always sitting in the private box with the best view, but she also always dragged her best friend, Qi Nana, along with her.

Qi Nana looked at the radiant figure on stage, then at the infatuated expression on her friend’s face, and felt a swirl of complicated emotions.

She had to admit, this Chen Ye truly possessed a fatal Magic Power.

He was clearly a man, yet he portrayed a woman’s coyness, indignation, obsession, and resentment to perfection. That ultimate charm, which transcended gender, made even her own heart—a woman’s heart—beat faster.

Chen Ye’s explosive popularity naturally brought countless invitations.

Invitations from the city’s powerful and wealthy elite for private performances were piled as high as a small mountain.

Major theaters from other cities offered exorbitant fees to hire him, and even newspapers tried every trick in the book, hoping to publish a feature interview with him.

Faced with all this, Chen Ye’s attitude surprised everyone.

"Manager Deng, Master Guan, please turn down all of these invitations." In the backstage dressing room, Chen Ye, having removed his makeup and returned to his handsome, youthful appearance, spoke in a calm voice.

"What? Turn them all down?" Deng Ming grew anxious at once, his chubby face contorted in agony. "Boss Chen, for heaven’s sake! That’s piles and piles of silver dollars! And all those dignitaries... we can’t afford to offend them!"

Guan Sihai was also a bit confused. "Ye, this is a great opportunity to make a name for yourself. Why refuse?"

Chen Ye picked up his teacup and took a light sip, his eyes as calm as still water. "Too much fame isn’t a good thing. Besides, I just want to sing opera in peace, without being disturbed by all these messy affairs."

Chen Ye didn’t want too much public exposure, nor did he wish to be shackled by worldly fame and fortune. For him, singing opera wasn’t about pleasing the powerful; it was a form of cultivation.

Hearing this, Guan Sihai nodded. "Alright. Since you’ve made up your mind, we’ll do as you say."

Deng Ming looked at Chen Ye’s unyielding gaze, feeling so anxious he wanted to tear his hair out, but he didn’t dare force the issue.

He finally understood. This Boss Chen was a Living Immortal with a mind of his own. The logic of ordinary people simply didn’t apply to him.

Left with no choice, Deng Ming could only put on a pained smile and steel himself to deal with the powerful figures. He had to honor Chen Ye’s wishes without offending anyone, leaving him frazzled and running around in circles every day until his lips were nearly worn thin from talking.

’Sigh, maybe this kind of unconventional thinking is precisely why these famous actors become famous in the first place.’

Deng Ming could only console himself with this thought.

But among the throngs of crazed fans, there was one person whose presence particularly concerned Deng Ming.

He was a middle-aged man, always with a pipe in his mouth, impeccably dressed and with a calm, steady demeanor.

He attended every performance but never made a fuss, always sitting alone in the most secluded box on the second floor, quietly listening to the entire show.

He was extremely generous. Each time he gave a reward, he would have an attendant deliver a leather case full of silver dollars directly to the backstage, often containing hundreds, or even thousands.

Deng Ming had privately warned the theater attendants.

"That is Master Li. He’s a truly influential figure here in Sea Guardian Guard, someone with an unfathomable background and immense Energy. So when he comes to watch the opera, we must not be negligent in any way, and we absolutely cannot offend him!"

Chen Ye remained oblivious to the outside world’s clamor and undercurrents.

He maintained his own rhythm. By day, he would study postures and practice arias in the Qingchun Troupe’s Practice Room. By night, he would be on the Guangle Building’s stage under the watchful eyes of thousands, pouring out his understanding of the role.

He enjoyed this feeling—under the gaze of countless eyes, precisely conveying his emotions and skills to every person in the audience through song, speech, movement, and combat.

This evening, he was again performing a classic scene from Peony Pavilion.

As Chen Ye sang the line, "Love, I know not whence it comes, yet it ever deepens," he suddenly felt a slight tremor in his spiritual world.

[Profession: Soul-Stealing Diva Level 4]

He had leveled up again!

With the increase in Level, Chen Ye felt his perception become sharper than ever before.

In an instant, the clamorous cheers from the audience seemed to shed their outer shell, revealing the true core of emotion within.

From the private box on the second floor, Lu Jinghong’s thoughts, full of adoration and infatuation, were as clear as if whispered in his ear.

Beside her, Qi Nana’s complex emotions—a mixture of appreciation, curiosity, and a hint of wariness—could not be hidden.

In the main hall, the bitter envy and helplessness of his peers, the fervent and pure adoration of the fans, the greedy and sordid malice of certain individuals...

Countless inner voices, like trickling streams, flowed into his perception.

It was a wondrous experience, as if the emotions of everyone in the entire theater had become musical notes that he could pluck and guide at will.

Although the sensation lasted for only a moment, Chen Ye gained a great deal from it.

He knew he was about to advance to the next stage.