Chapter Nine: Who Touched His Bottom?

Chapter Nine: Who Touched His Butt?

Tang Zhong was utterly baffled.

Had he given himself away somehow?

But he had followed Aken's design to the letter, even going so far as to shorten his stride, abandoning his usual brisk and commanding walk, in order to blend in more with the women. He hadn’t spoken a word—where could he have slipped up?

Liu Mingwei didn’t answer Bai Su’s question. Instead, he regarded Tang Zhong thoughtfully and said, “Miss Tang Xin, you’ve grown quite a bit taller recently, haven’t you?”

At that moment, Tang Zhong nearly lost his composure.

He’d thought his cover was blown, but it turned out the issue was just his height.

He cleared his throat deliberately and replied in a low voice, “Mmm.”

“Miss Tang Xin injured her throat during vocal training,” Bai Su quickly explained. “The doctor advised her not to speak for a while to avoid aggravating the injury. At her most recent check-up, she’d grown another two centimeters. She’s now one hundred and seventy-two centimeters tall. Plus, today she’s wearing boots with especially thick soles, so she looks even taller. Isn’t that right?”

Tang Zhong’s actual height was one seventy-eight, while Tang Xin was only one seventy. To bridge the gap between the siblings, Bai Su had to lie, claiming Tang Xin had suddenly grown two centimeters, and that her boots added extra height—not that anyone could verify it.

In truth, Tang Zhong’s boots had been modified; not only did they not add height, but the soles were hollowed out to reduce his stature by two centimeters.

Bai Su and Aken had certainly gone to great lengths to conceal Tang Zhong’s identity.

“I see,” Liu Mingwei nodded in understanding. “I thought it was odd—when Miss Tang Xin stepped out of the car, she seemed to tower over everyone. I recall last time, when she wore heels, she and I were about the same height. Now she’s a head taller than me. Young people always have surprises up their sleeves.”

“You’re so witty, Chairman Liu,” Bai Su said with a laugh, then steered the conversation. “You noticed Tang Xin’s height, but did you notice her new look?”

“Of course I did,” Liu Mingwei gave Tang Zhong a thumbs-up. “She always had a cool style, but this one’s even cooler. If I didn’t know she was an only child, I’d think she had a twin brother.”

Hepburn’s leg trembled, her face growing even paler.

Lin Huiyin edged closer and squeezed her hand.

Their eyes met, and Hepburn seemed to draw strength from Lin Huiyin, her anxiety fading.

“Chairman Liu, you do like to joke,” Bai Su chimed in. “Tang Xin has always had an androgynous image. Since that’s her brand, we decided to go all the way. This look was designed by an internationally renowned designer, specially hired by the company. We hope the Butterfly Group’s career will soar ever higher.”

“Haha! The new look fits perfectly—aligns even more with our brand’s image. It’s a shame Miss Tang Xin’s voice is injured—otherwise we’d be treated to her heavenly singing today.”

“There will be other opportunities,” Bai Su replied with a polite smile.

At that moment, Yu Dong, the marketing director, came over to say the event was about to begin and invited Chairman Liu Mingwei and the three members of Butterfly Group, their brand ambassadors, to take the stage.

MIFU had set up a small stage in the main hall of Mingzhu Plaza, where a throng of reporters and Butterfly fans were already waiting.

As Liu Mingwei appeared with Butterfly Group, a flurry of camera flashes erupted, the clicks and snaps filling the air. Countless people pressed their shutters; by tomorrow, these photos would grace the entertainment sections of all the major newspapers.

“Miss Tang Xin—wow, she looks so cool—”

“Lin Huiyin, I love you, Lin Huiyin—ahhh—”

“Hepburn—Benben, I love you, Benben—”

“You are the wind, I am the sand, the butterfly flutters to a thousand homes—”

Fan fervor ignited instantly. Hundreds of voices rose together in a fevered, almost desperate chorus.

Liu Mingwei, a man of the world, was unfazed by this spectacle. Butterfly Group had a solid reputation in the entertainment industry, so Lin Huiyin and Hepburn were well accustomed to such scenes.

Tang Zhong, on the other hand, was primarily a student, and during breaks, a “temporary counselor” in the prison. This was his first time facing such a massive crowd.

At first, he turned his face to the side, avoiding direct eye contact with the cameras’ flashes.

Standing beside him, Lin Huiyin leaned in and whispered, “Face the front.”

Only then did Tang Zhong remember—he was a star now. A star was meant to be seen, to be photographed. Hiding away was hardly professional.

So, stiffly, he turned to face the audience and journalists head-on.

“Tang Xin, you look so handsome!”

Tang Zhong thought, Not bad—their taste isn’t too bad.

“Tang Xin, Tang Xin, as sweet as sugar!”

That slogan nearly made Tang Zhong collapse on the spot. Who came up with that? So uncultured!

Tang Zhong tried smiling at the fans, which made them even more enthusiastic. When he waved, they screamed and waved back, nearly losing their minds.

He thought, Being a star is surprisingly easy.

After the fans had released some energy and the journalists had snapped their photos, the host took over and invited MIFU’s chairman, Liu Mingwei, to deliver the opening speech.

Liu Mingwei thanked the media and the Butterfly fans for coming, and said that partnering with Butterfly Group was an honor, a pleasure, and a win-win opportunity. He believed that with Butterfly’s involvement, MIFU’s market share would only grow.

“Thank you, Chairman Liu,” the beautiful hostess came to the stage, smiling. “Friends, let’s give a warm round of applause to Miss Lin Huiyin, who will now perform Butterfly Group’s hit song, ‘Butterfly,’ live for us. Let’s welcome her with a big hand.”

A hundred hands clapped as one, the atmosphere electric.

It reminded Tang Zhong of the scene when he left prison, as his “inmates” reluctantly bid him farewell.

Lin Huiyin took the microphone and walked to center stage. She didn’t greet the fans, but simply stood in silence, head bowed.

It was clear she was “cool to the core”—not singling anyone out.

With this realization, Tang Zhong felt much better. He’d thought the woman simply disliked him, but it seemed she disliked everyone equally.

He couldn’t fathom how such a peculiar group as Butterfly had become so popular.

One barely spoke, squeezing out her words as if it pained her—Tang Zhong had never heard Lin Huiyin utter more than two or three words at a time. Another was a childish adult, unreliable in word and deed, liable to burst into tears at a moment’s notice. Only his own sister seemed remotely normal; the other two were VIPs among eccentrics.

How had they become famous? How did they survive in the entertainment industry?

If they hadn’t been devoured whole, bones and all, it could only mean their luck was extraordinary.

The music began, and Lin Huiyin closed her eyes in rapture, her left fingers tapping a gentle rhythm on her thigh.

Her long black hair gleamed, her features were cold yet exquisite—a perfect oval face, willow brows, delicate nose and lips. In any era, she would have been considered a true beauty.

She stood one seventy-one, or one seventy-six in heels. Tall and long-legged, she looked every inch an international model on stage.

“They’re an idol group,” Tang Zhong mused. In his view, idol groups just had to look good; singing ability was secondary.

“The rain soaks my clothes, the butterfly’s wings are broken—”

But as soon as Lin Huiyin began to sing, Tang Zhong knew he was wrong.

Utterly and completely wrong.

She was both an idol and a true talent.

Her clear, ringing voice seemed to pierce the soul. With a single phrase, she could seize the listener’s every nerve.

As Lin Huiyin sang, eyes closed, Tang Zhong could feel—she was born for music.

In that moment, her entire being became a moving symphony.

When the song ended, Tang Zhong was still lost in the world the music had conjured.

Only when the fans began to shout Lin Huiyin’s name did he return to himself.

Now he understood why they were famous, and why the company had put these three oddballs together. Perhaps they had their flaws, but nothing could hide their remarkable musical gifts.

Lin Huiyin’s performance brought the atmosphere to a fever pitch. The crowd clamored for another song, but she refused, face cold.

Then came the autograph session. The three Butterfly members went down to interact with fans, signing notebooks, clothes, even faces and cleavage.

Tang Zhong was agonizing over how Tang Xin used to sign autographs when he suddenly sensed danger behind him.

Someone had just groped his butt.

Without thinking, his reflexes took over—a sweeping roundhouse kick sent the pervert flying.

A shrill scream echoed through the hall as the man with wandering hands was sent reeling by his kick.

(P.S.: I know you can get even crazier. Red votes!

Also, thanks to all the generous readers for their rewards. Since there’s limited space at the top of the reviews, we can’t list everyone individually. I’ll post the full list at mid-month or at the end.)