Chapter 224: Chasing Idols
 
Toan Phuong rolled up his sleeves to cool down a bit:
“If they held concerts in winter, it wouldn’t be so bad. But it’s VNP’s 30th birthday, and that just happens to fall in the summer—guess the fans just have to sweat it out.”
Kieu Ly didn’t say much. Quietly, she took out a small bottle of perfume from her bag and spritzed herself and Huong Tra. She could tolerate the heat and the crowds, but body odor? That was where she drew the line.
After catching their breath for a bit, Toan Phuong leaned over to the girls:
“You two stay here. I’m heading backstage to see Minh Nhat.”
They both nodded, and then turned to fuss with each other’s hair like a couple of girlfriends on a date.
Out in the seating area, as the wind continued to blow and the heat subsided, Kieu Ly and Huong Tra gradually began to relax. Their mood lifted, and the excitement grew. This was their first time watching an old friend perform live, and they couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.
It really was true—seeing someone perform in person stirred up emotions you’d never get watching through a laptop or a phone screen.
After about 30 minutes of waiting, the concert finally began. The stage lit up, fireworks were launched continuously in bursts, dazzling and brightening up an entire corner of the sky. On the big screen, a virtual MC powered by AI appeared, beginning the program and reviewing the highlights and achievements of the corporation over its 30 years of development. At the same time, a sizzling dance troupe stepped onto the stage, energizing the atmosphere with captivating moves, combined with vivid 3D visual effects flying through the space, making the audience feel like they were immersed in a magical world.
The concert had already started, but Toan Phuong still hadn't returned. Kieu Ly looked around in a panic, but there was no sign of him. She tried calling him, but he didn't pick up, so she resigned herself to enjoying the concert with Huong Tra.
After the dance troupe finished their final moves and withdrew backstage, a live MC appeared, officially opening the show and introducing the first performance: a birthday tribute to Minh Nhat.
Once the introduction was done, the MC stepped offstage, the lights went out, and the music gradually began to play. The dance troupe moved from both sides of the stage to the center. When Minh Nhat appeared, the stage lights burst back on. He sang and danced with the troupe to a remixed version of the birthday song that was both youthful and lively. Minh Nhat wore a red-and-white outfit, while the dancers were dressed in black shirts tucked in neatly and wore masks.
Huong Tra was quickly drawn in, blending into the concert’s vibrant atmosphere. She mouthed the lyrics and swayed to the rhythm. At that moment, she felt all her recent struggles were finally worth it. She also felt a bit sorry for Thuy Duong, who had to stay home with her baby and couldn't experience this exciting vibe.
Today was also Kieu Ly’s birthday. Huong Tra sang louder with joy and turned to Kieu Ly to wish her a happy birthday, only to find her staring blankly at the stage as if spellbound. She didn’t expect someone like Kieu Ly to be so mesmerized by handsome guys—especially the type that Toan Phuong had criticized for wearing too much makeup and not looking manly at all. Huong Tra waved her hand in front of Kieu Ly to snap her back to reality, causing Kieu Ly to flinch slightly. After regaining her senses, Kieu Ly leaned toward Huong Tra and asked:
"Don’t you think something’s strange?"
The stage was too loud for Huong Tra to hear Kieu Ly’s soft voice, so she pulled out her phone and opened a chat app to message her:
- What is it? I couldn’t hear a thing.
- One of the dancers next to Minh Nhat looks really familiar to me.
At this point, Huong Tra finally shifted her gaze toward the dance troupe. A lineup of tall, handsome men with well-proportioned physiques, dressed neatly in black shirts tucked in, looked stunning as they moved with impressive choreography. But one of them stood out more than the rest. The more she looked at him, the more familiar he seemed.
After thinking for a moment, Huong Tra slapped her thigh and exclaimed:
“Could it be that little rascal? Is he planning to debut tonight?”