443 Shining Eyes (1/2)

Zhou Mei'er and Ming Li led their fellow Black Stars to raise all of their banners to welcome their Boss Iris. Jin Chonglin's army of fans also did the same.

Almost the entire audience was filled with banners of all sizes showing Iris Long and Jin Chonglin's names and images with messages of support from their adoring fans. It was an impressive sight. The cameras recorded everything, even though the show was still on commercial break. Director He planned on showing these shots once the show resumed.

Finally, the commercial break ended. The two hosts on the side of the stage flashed their best smiles to the camera.

Male host: ”Welcome back to 'MusicFest Tonight'!”

Female host: ”Wow! Listen to the audience! They're so loud that I can barely hear myself talking! I know that everyone can't wait for the final performers!”

Male host: ”How are you feeling, everyone? Are you excited?”

Audience: ”YES!!! Iris!!! Lin Lin!!! LinRis!!! LINRIS!!! LINRIS!!!”

Female host: ”I think we should hurry up and introduce the grand finale act or the audience might drag us off the stage in their impatience.”

Everyone laughed at her joke, temporarily interrupting the audience's loud chants. However, this only lasted for a few seconds before everyone resumed calling for the long-awaited finale performers of the night.

Male host: ”Please be quiet so that we can make the introductions…”

The leaders of the Black Stars and Jin Chonglin's army of fans immediately controlled their respective group members. Soon, the entire audience became quiet. Nevertheless, their excitement and anticipation could almost be felt as tangible vibrations in the air.

Even backstage, none of the artists who finished performing earlier left yet. They all stayed in order to watch the finale performance.

Female host: ”The moment that you've all been waiting for has finally arrived!”

Male host: ”The next performers are award-winning musicians who are considered to be two of the most talented young artists our country has to offer in the field of pop music. Their first collaboration single is the theme song of the highly-anticipated TV drama 'Our Love, Our Destiny' which is currently airing this season.”

Female: ”Yes. Their new single debuted at #1 in the music charts, demonstrating not only their musical prowess but also the magnitude of their combined popularity across the country.”

Male host: ”Performing their new hit single together for the first time on live television, please welcome the beautiful Iris Long and the handsome Jin Chonglin singing—”

Both: ”Shining Eyes!”

The audience cheered loudly once again. Everyone was on their feet. They waved the banners of their Boss Iris and Prince Lin Lin while screaming in excitement. However, they stopped when the lights suddenly turned off.

A dim light gradually illuminated the chamber orchestra at the back of the stage. There were fewer musicians this time compared to Iris Long's usual full symphony orchestra. There was also a four-piece pop band consisting of an acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar and drums. The acoustic guitarist sat prominently on a high stool in front of the other musicians. The grand pianist (not Iris Long this time) also took up the other prominent position. To the side, there were three back-up singers. Two females and one male.

The acoustic guitarist opened the music by fingerpicking his guitar strings to produce a brief but silky five-chord melody. The Spanish-flavoured guitar chords suggested passion, tugging directly at the audience's romantic sensibilities. The audience's anticipation and excitement for the song only increased.

He repeated this action two more times, until the stringed instruments from the orchestra led by the violin began playing softly in the background. The flute joined shortly after, leading the other woodwind instruments.

The opening melody was like a delicate drizzle subtly enhancing a beautiful, hot sunny day of passion. The overall melody was light and airy, almost feeling like a gentle breeze to the audience.

Next, the pianist began playing the full melody. It sounded sentimental and emotional, definitely heavier than the light and airy opening melody.

The acoustic guitar and the piano worked together to provide the passion, while the other instruments delicately playing in the background added a gentle sweetness to the music.

All of a sudden, the centre of the stage lit up. The combined spotlights were so bright that the two people standing centre stage looked like they were divine beings glowing from the inside out.

The audience immediately started cheering upon seeing the pair.

Jin Chonglin looked dashing in his ivory semi-formal tuxedo suit. He wore no neckties or bowties, opting instead to show a little bit of skin by opening a couple of extra buttons on his dress shirt beneath his tuxedo jacket. His fans squealed upon seeing a hint of his hard, muscled chest.

As for the beautiful lady standing beside him, Iris Long wore a magenta, off the shoulders, wrap midi dress. The dress showed a lot of neck, shoulders and a hint of cleavage, but didn't look too risqué with its long, flowing sleeves. The waist tie accentuated her tiny waist and hourglass figure. Like Jin Chonglin, Iris' outfit wasn't too formal. The hem of her dress fell to her mid-calf. Not too long but not too short either. It was sexy yet elegant at the same time.

The rest of her lower legs were accentuated by a pair of sheer nude high-heeled shoes embellished with small crystals. From far away, it looked like she wasn't wearing any shoes at all but just standing on her sparkling tippy-toes.

Her hair was in a simple straight blow-dried style, and her makeup smoky and soft, emphasizing her natural feminine aura.

The cameras lingered longer on Iris than they did on Jin Chonglin. The cameramen couldn't tear their gazes away from her beauty. That was until they had to focus the cameras on Jin Chonglin because Director He instructed them to do so through their earpieces.

Jin Chonglin lifted his mic and began singing. His voice was deep and masculine, yet also flowed like sweet caramel. He was looking at Iris beside him with a deep look in his eyes.

”Walking down the town of life