Chapter 73: It Feels Like an Opposing Group
The provocative dialogue instantly caused a major uproar. A camera constantly focused on the waiting area where William and Jennie sat among other teams. Their expressions were incredibly gloomy.
Are they messing with us? they wondered. What was wrong with Christopher and Isabella? How are they even related to this issue? They're always trying to cause trouble. Aren't they worried about alienating us?
The other teams, however, seemed ready to enjoy the unfolding drama. After all, no one was a fool. They knew Team Young Again had deliberately chosen to compete against Team A-list to teach them a lesson for past insults.
Public attention was fixated on William and Jennie. Their recent performance revealed the truth they'd previously announced. The entire internet buzzed over this love story, overshadowing any team pitted against Team Young Again. The livestream's original purpose was to boost their own popularity; no one wanted to be mere background noise. However, they also felt Christopher and Isabella's actions were unwise. If someone gives you an inch, you can't take a mile. Since they couldn't divert attention, they should have accepted their bad luck instead of throwing shade and venting frustrations at the performance's start. Not only did they fail to gain attention, but they also drew criticism. It was as if they were deliberately seeking trouble.
The backstage guests and audience felt embarrassed for them. Everyone's interest in the upcoming performance waned, even with Christopher and Isabella performing. At most, they'd make a brief appearance before their actual performance. What piqued everyone's curiosity was how the two parties would interact after the show. Only David, Selena, and Rosalie were fixated on the stage, their eyes sparkling with excitement.
The stage scene changed, resembling a schoolyard play. Isabella and Christopher played the leads. The two families were neighbors; the leads had grown up together. In elementary school, the boy brought the girl breakfast daily. In middle school, he biked her to and from school. In high school, they studied together, sharing laughter and tears. From carefree childhood to youthful romance, each other was their most important priority. One pursued performing and entered the entertainment industry; the other roamed with a camera, submitting photos to magazines.
The large screen split into two scenes. The left showed the young man's journey from acting to triumph on stage, receiving an award. The right showed various photographs—mountains, oceans, lakes, snowy plains—captivating images of nature's vitality, alongside awards and invitations from famous magazines. Isabella's acting was rigid, but the story was captivating—another tale of childhood sweethearts. Team Young Again's act showed a wife clinging to the male lead, contrasting with Team A-list's innocent childhood love, where both thrived independently. This different direction felt like a direct challenge.
Sensing impending drama, everyone sat up straight, astonished by Isabella and Christopher's audacity. They seemed to have underestimated the pair. Is this an attempt to gain attention by exploiting the situation? Good heavens, this live drama is thrilling! It feels like a fight is about to break out!
Online comments exploded. Initially, everyone expected a smear campaign against Christopher and Isabella, but they realized the show had only just begun. Their actions had ignited anticipation.
The production team was stunned. This wasn't the script or rehearsal! Suddenly faced with chaotic guest stars, they were about to salvage the situation when they learned the live broadcast traffic had surpassed Team Young Again's and was still rising. The production team was awed by the influx of new viewers. Everyone loves a spectacle.
Quick-witted netizens began online searches. There had to be a reason for the photographer character. They weren't sure it was a coincidence. Their search revealed the feud between Team Young Again and Team A-list. People quickly spread the discovery.
No one imagined William's wife was a photographer whose work—the very photos displayed on stage—could be found online. Even the awards shown were real. Observant viewers noticed the photos were seven years old, implying she stopped working after marrying William. Team Young Again's act didn't mention the wife's photography; she was portrayed as obsessed with the male lead, lacking her own life. The person who found the photos felt their heart skip a beat. Sharing this discovery, they quickly spread the news.
In the ward, Jessica's gaze wasn't on the stage, but on the large screen. The photos sparkled in her eyes; her eyes lit up. Her phone lit up; a message from someone who'd seen the livestream. She noticed the lock screen was a photo of William. Her first wallpaper was an Aurora Borealis photo she'd taken after a month in the Arctic Circle—her favorite picture.
I once brimmed with fighting spirit What happened to me? How did I end up like this?
Jessica's body stiffened, her heart aching. The words echoed in her mind: "Between being a world-renowned photographer and him, who would you pick?"
William and Jennie trembled uncontrollably. Jennie’s trembling was…
William felt a hammer blow to his chest, a wave of dull pain. The performance, though exaggerated, depicted his past with Jessica. He recognized the photos as hers. Following the pain came bewilderment. He suspected Jessica had been waiting for him, refusing to give in. She must have connections with Christopher and Isabella to stage this. She wants revenge. Despite his intention to leave Jennie for her, she made a huge mistake by…
For the first time, William couldn't accept that a woman who loved him deeply could treat him this way. He doubted himself. Perhaps I'm wrong. Maybe Christopher and Isabella are targeting us, and the story is a coincidence.
Regardless, it didn't matter. Public opinion favored those with more fans. Everyone would think Isabella and Christopher were stirring drama, casting him and Jennie in a negative light.