The Master’s Mask Unveiled Again
Chapter 886 - 885: Genius Composer Mi Lu Arrives!

Chapter 886: Chapter 885: Genius Composer Mi Lu Arrives!

Lu Xinnuan quickly adjusted her expression into a gentle and gracious smile, raising her hand to wave at the man and woman approaching from the opposite side.

"Uncle, Miss Shen!"

She recognized Fu Yu and had seen Shen Yixin a few times before.

But unexpectedly—

Fu Yu seemed entirely absorbed in whatever he was looking at. As he passed by her, he didn’t even glance at her, brushing past her without a word.

Lu Xinnuan’s hand froze mid-air, making for a very awkward scene.

Even though they were right in front of her, it was as though she didn’t exist in their eyes!

Completely ignored!

Shen Yixin, on the other hand, suddenly felt something was off. She turned her head to glance at Lu Xinnuan, and after a brief realization, she regained her composure. She simply nodded at Lu Xinnuan before hurriedly catching up with Fu Yu toward the entrance.

Fu Yu and Shen Yixin arrived at the ticket checkpoint and visibly relaxed once they picked up Lu Mian.

"Mianmian!"

Fu Yu greeted Lu Mian cheerfully, while Shen Yixin held two extra tickets and explained the situation to the staff at the checkpoint.

Lu Mian stowed away her phone, looking a little confused.

Xiao Qimo leaned close and asked softly, "Was that message you sent meant for your uncle?"

"Yeah." Lu Mian mumbled indistinctly in response.

With the help of the talented piano prodigy Shen Yixin, entering the venue was a breeze for Lu Mian and Xiao Qimo.

As they passed by the ticket staff, the person’s gaze seemed to hesitate briefly, flashing with some uncertainty.

Lu Mian didn’t pay much attention and entered the inner hall alongside her uncle and the others.

Meanwhile, Lu Xinnuan stood right alongside them—completely ignored, from top to bottom, start to finish.

"Xinnuan, um... how about we just head backstage and prepare for the performance?"

Xue Lu looped her arm around Lu Xinnuan’s and led her toward the backstage area.

Shen Yixin ushered Lu Mian and Xiao Qimo into a separate section. The seating location wasn’t VIP-tier but was still relatively good, situated at a comfortable distance from the stage.

After all, the premium front-row center seats were exclusively reserved for celebrities, industry bigwigs, and venerable seniors.

Lu Mian naturally followed Shen Yixin, and as they drew closer to their seating area, she was finally able to clearly see who occupied this section.

"Look, these are all Mi Lu fans. Everyone made a point to buy tickets in this section, patiently awaiting Mr. Mi Lu’s appearance!" Shen Yixin explained, her cheeks flushed as she spoke, her excitement evident in the twinkle of her eyes.

Knowing that Lu Mian could play Mi Lu’s compositions, Shen Yixin presumed Lu Mian was also a fan and had brought her and Xiao Qimo here.

Lu Mian glanced over at the fans in the area, noticing that they were holding official support signs in small groups, with words like "Genius Composer" and "Mr. Mi Lu" glowing resplendently.

Lu Mian raised her head and massaged her aching temples.

Xiao Qimo gave Shen Yixin a gentle smile.

"Congratulations, Miss Shen." He spoke sincerely.

After all, they benefited from Shen Yixin tonight, and she’d conducted herself gracefully throughout. As a member of their circle, a polite acknowledgment seemed only fitting.

Shen Yixin gave a reserved smile. "Having Lord Qimo congratulate me is truly an honor."

Then, her gaze drifted toward the stage center, her gentle face attempting to restrain an undercurrent of emotion.

Others might not understand what Mi Lu meant to her; only she knew.

During the dimmest days of her life, when she had to abandon her dreams against her will, it was Mi Lu’s music that helped her grit her teeth and endure the most trying moments.

Mi Lu’s compositions were like desert poplars:

Born to live for a thousand years, standing for a thousand years after death, and remaining unyielding for a thousand years even after falling.

Resilient, stubborn, unrestrained, and free.

An eternal kingly posture.

Tonight, all she wanted was to catch a glimpse of the king of her heart.

She believed all of Mi Lu’s fans present probably shared the same sentiment.

Even Fu Yu—didn’t he also endure a rough patch?

Fu Yu’s warm and humble gaze landed briefly on Shen Yixin’s face, a light flickering in his depths before vanishing quickly. He gestured for Xiao Qimo and Lu Mian to sit, and the fans behind them even thoughtfully passed over a brand-new support sign.

"We’re all Mi Lu fans here—no need to be shy!"

Lu Mian held the shimmering sign: ...

Xiao Qimo glanced back at the nearly hundred fans gathered behind them, roughly estimating the gender ratio—it seemed to be about half and half.

As he took his seat, he asked Lu Mian, "Is Mi Lu... a man or a woman?"

Could it be that when she told him not to be upset about her past, she was referring to her admiration for Mi Lu?

That little rascal had once claimed W was her only idol, didn’t she?

"..."

Shen Yixin covered her mouth, catching the underlying message in his words.

"We all call him Mr. Mi Lu. Lord Qimo, do you think he’s a man or a woman? But rest assured, Miss Lu’s heart will always belong to you. If you’ve ever listened to Mi Lu’s compositions, I believe you might also fall for this genius composer..."

Fu Yu cleared his throat lightly, hinting as an uncle that Xiao Qimo should rein in his needless jealousy.

"..." Xiao Qimo adjusted his glasses, somewhat relieving the awkwardness.

Fine, with his elder present, he’d hold himself back for now.

While the three of them continued chatting, Lu Mian remained unusually silent.

"Um..." Lu Mian twiddled with her face mask, taking a deep breath to compose herself before finally speaking with a strange expression, "I have something to say."

Xiao Qimo and Fu Yu turned their attention to her.

Shen Yixin was about to listen in, but her phone buzzed with an incoming call first.

She apologized, "Miss Lu, I’m sorry—someone’s expecting me to deliver two tickets. I’ll be back in a moment!"

Shen Yixin grabbed her bag and walked off while answering the call.

Xiao Qimo perceptively caught a key detail: "Mr. Fu, the people you were meeting earlier weren’t us?"

Fu Yu shook his head. "No, I was going to pick up two fans. I happened to notice you two standing there and brought you in first. Why?"

"..."

Xiao Qimo didn’t reply, only casting a deep, probing glance at Lu Mian.

Whatever was going on, he’d have to interrogate the little rascal for answers.

Lu Mian watched Shen Yixin’s figure gradually disappear into the distance, slowly retracting the complicated look in her eyes.

She coughed softly. "None of you are allowed to get angry tonight."

Fu Yu: ?

Xiao Qimo: ?

Both men were thoroughly perplexed as Lu Mian removed her face mask, fanning herself while rising to her feet.

"I’m heading to the restroom for a bit."

—

Lu Mian didn’t go to the restroom but instead headed backstage.

The staff rushed about urgently and busily, their tense, hurried pace sharply contrasting with Lu Mian’s leisurely stroll.

Occasionally, fragments of conversation from their radio transmitters drifted her way: "Mr. Mi Lu has arrived," "Host, please be prepared," and similar chatter.

She made her way to the head planner’s lounge.

As the festival’s lead planner, Qiao Yaqian was frantically communicating through her radio.

"Assistant Fang, come over quickly to double-check the program flow for me. I need to go pick someone up right now."

Assistant Fang: "Director Qiao, who are we picking up? Someone so important you need to do it personally?"

"It’s Mr. Mi Lu! I’ve invited him several times, and he finally agreed to show up in person."

Assistant Fang: "Ah! Then it’s only right for you to fetch him..."

"He’s at the ticket checkpoint now. He doesn’t have a ticket; I have it with me. Hurry and assist me!"

Qiao Yaqian finished speaking and swiftly pulled open the lounge door, only to find Lu Mian already standing outside.

The two of them collided head-on, entirely catching each other off-guard.

This chapter is updated by freew(e)bnovel.(c)om