CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: HE KNELT BEFORE THE BED, TIGHTLY HOLDING SERENA STERLING’S HAND

As more people joined the discussion, a small-scale conversation emerged—

Quinn: I watched it live, and actually, the best stage was "Yesterday Once More." Whether it’s the song content or the singer’s professionalism, it was the best of the event. But watching the live stream cut, I felt it was just average, strange.

Friday: Hey upstairs, I’m also an audience member at the venue. When I came out, I thought I’d recap it, but what I saw was disappointing. What’s going on? Did something go wrong with the live stream?

Quinn: No idea, have the others noticed this issue?

This sparked a small conversation below—

"You two upstairs must be die-hard fans of Irene, but I think the best of the event was ’Micro Love’!"

"Yeah, ’Yesterday Once More’ is nice, but it can’t compare to ’Micro Love,’ and Vera isn’t even a professional singer, which makes this song more valuable!"

"Indeed, Vera’s simply a genius!"

"That person named Quinn, I like the style of ’Yesterday Once More’ more too, but there’s no need to insist, ’White Moonlight and Red Moles’ is excellent. Why does ’Yesterday Once More’ have to outshine ’Micro Love’?"

Quinn replied again: "I’m not. I’m just posing a normal question. I like both ’Micro Love’ and ’Yesterday Once More,’ but on-site, ’Yesterday Once More’ was just more explosive, especially the violin solo at the end, simply stunning! This cut didn’t capture its effect at all!"

"Alright, Quinn, we know you’re a die-hard fan of Irene. Stop defending it. With so many eyes on it, can’t they see it? Only you can?"

The user named Quinn initially posed a question, but when confronted, his rebellious streak kicked in.

He wrote hundreds of words, analyzing from stage, lighting, sound quality, to reply to the netizens.

After submitting, he waited for responses, but there were none.

Upon checking back, he found his comment had been deleted.

Looking further ahead, all his other remarks were gone too!

Harmony doctrine?

But he didn’t say anything offensive, just raised a question!

???

Quinn opened a private message to another live audience named Friday, sending a message.

Quinn: Hi, I’m an audience at the "Heavenly Sound" event. My comments disappeared, what’s your situation?

Just as it was sent, a notice popped up showing he violated site rules, banned for 7 days.

Checking the homepage of the user named Friday, he found them banned for 7 days too.

If previously it was just mild rebellion, now this Quinn was utterly furious.

Bullying people!

This is just gagging!

No wonder no one’s mentioning it, everyone’s been silenced.

Quinn wasn’t one to back down; he quickly used a secondary account, contacted several people, and created a tag #YesterdayOnceMoreSiteSound#, drumming up the heat.

As the buzz began to brew.

Serena looked at the message Julian Lawson sent on her phone.

Julian Lawson: [Grandpa’s not doing well, wants to see you.]

Serena gripped her phone, picturing an elderly figure in front of her eyes.

Old Master Lawson...

Recalling marrying Julian Lawson initially for the old man’s delight.

That day, they both knelt by his sickbed, holding her hand, Julian told the old man: "Grandpa, I brought Serena to see you."

"Serena and I are getting married."

Though gravely ill, the old man pointed at Julian, saying: "If you don’t truly like her, don’t waste her whole life. I don’t need you sacrificing yourselves to encourage me!"

The Lawson Family’s wealth started with Old Master Lawson venturing into business; you could say he was the cornerstone of The Lawson Corporation.

Whatever he says, anyone has to comply.

Isn’t that touching?

That day in front of the old man’s sickbed, Julian swore sincerely that he truly liked her and would treat her well.

But now...

Finally, Serena closed her eyes.

Times changed.

Julian had already proposed a divorce, and they had visited the civil bureau.

Keeping it from the elders that they were already in the cooling-off divorce period was her utmost limit.

She wasn’t planning to do any more, nor could she.

Thinking this, Serena exited the message interface.

On the other side.

Julian Lawson sat in the backseat of the Bentley, looking at the message he sent on his phone.

Three minutes had passed.

She still hadn’t replied.

Julian swiped up, suddenly realizing the last time she replied was before going to the civil bureau.

He stared at the rain outside the window.

When was the last time he saw Serena?

Seemed to be three days ago at the hospital.

A bandage wrapped around her forehead, she had only said three sentences to him from beginning to end.

"What are you doing!"

"What happened?"

And when he left, she called his name - "Julian."

Even the first two weren’t solely directed at him.

Unexpectedly, Julian suddenly missed her.

How was she after falling down the stairs?

His brows furrowed slightly.

Julian didn’t know what was wrong with him.

Today, he couldn’t stop thinking about Serena.

Flashes in his mind included that masked woman.

Perhaps because of that woman.

She reminded him of once vibrant, crying-and-laughing Serena.

"Knock knock knock."

The Bentley window was tapped, Julian looked up, seeing Vera standing outside.

"Brother Julian!"

Vera opened the door, taking a seat beside him.

Reflexively, Julian put away his phone.

Vera merely glanced as if saw nothing, yet a flicker of hatred crossed her eyes as she spun to close the door.

When she turned back, a smile adorned Vera’s face.

Concerned, she asked: "Trouble you, Brother Julian, to pick me up. Have you waited long?"

"Not really." Julian answered.

"That’s good." Vera smiled.

The driver started the car, weaving the two through the rain of the city.

Vera was sharing fun stories from the recording scene, Julian listening intermittently.

Inexplicably, his mind kept wandering to the masked woman’s words—"You should go ask her what she said to me."

"...Brother Julian, Brother Julian?" Vera’s voice called.

Julian finally snapped back.

He glanced at Vera, gesturing if she had something to say.

"Brother Julian, what are you thinking about?" Vera asked, "You’ve been spacing out for quite a while."

Julian stared at Vera’s face.

Pale, sickly, appearing fragile and pitiful.

Eventually, he spoke: "Today, what did you say to Irene?"