Chapter 45

Jack took the microphone. His gaze swept across the excited, curious crowd, then finally settled on Vivian's eyes, bright with anticipation.

"My thoughts?" he began, his voice low and steady as it carried through the sound system. "I'm honored to be selected."

He paused, his tone as flat as if he were stating something trivial. "But unfortunately, I'm actually not a fan of Vivian."

The line was like a spark in a powder keg. The venue erupted.

"What? He's not a fan?"

"Are you kidding me? He's at Vivian's concert, and he's not even a fan?"

"How did someone like that get picked? What a waste!"

The fans below burst into angry shouts. Many stood up, pointing at Jack onstage, their eyes burning with rage and jealousy.

"Why does he get to have dinner with Vivian? I'm so jealous!"

"Exactly! The chance should go to someone who truly loves Vivian!"

Facing the wave of protests, Jack stayed calm, as if the furious glares were nothing more than background noise.

Vivian's smile froze for a beat, then shifted into a playfully annoyed look. She shot Jack a glare that said both "you're doing this on purpose" and, underneath it, a hint of helplessness.

Still, Vivian recovered quickly. Her voice turned gentle but firm. "Everyone, please calm down."

"Even if Mr. Carter isn't my fan right now, I believe he'll come to like me in the future."

Her confidence soothed the crowd almost immediately.

And in their minds, someone as amazing as Vivian was impossible not to like.

"Alright," Vivian exhaled, then turned her attention back to the big screen. "Let's draw our second lucky audience member."

She took a deep breath and lightly tapped the control panel. The numbers on the big screen began scrolling rapidly again.

"Stop!" Vivian called out softly.

The display froze on "Row 3, Seat 10, Ms. Carter."

Vivian's eyes flickered as she announced the second lucky audience member.

Jack's number had been arranged by her, but Sophia was genuinely random. Vivian hadn't expected a coincidence like this, two consecutive seats.

"What?"

Sophia was completely stunned. She pointed at herself, her face turning red. "Me... me?"

"Please welcome our second lucky audience member to the stage," Vivian said, though her expression looked oddly indifferent.

It was completely different from how she'd been with Jack just moments ago.

Below the stage, Sophia hurried up to stand in front of Vivian, trembling all over, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Vivian! Hi! I'm your fan! I've loved you since your debut!" Sophia blurted out, cheeks flushed. "I can sing every one of your songs! I've bought every album! Being able to meet you today, I'm just so happy!"

Unlike Jack's composure, Sophia's enthusiasm was like a flame, instantly lifting the atmosphere again.

This was a Vivian fan's normal reaction.

Seeing how excited she was, Vivian gave a gentle smile. "Thank you, Sophia. Your love is my greatest motivation."

She handed Sophia an autographed album. "This is for you. I hope you'll like it."

"Thank you! Thank you, Vivian!" Sophia took it excitedly, hugging the album tight as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.

"Now, please, both lucky audience members can head back to your seats. After the concert ends, I'll have my staff contact you about dinner," Vivian said to them, her voice carrying an easy smile.

At an angle the crowd couldn't see, she even winked at Jack, triumphant.

"Alright, let's continue with our concert."

The music started again, and the concert rolled on.

Jack and Sophia returned to their seats.

"Jack, I'm so happy!" Sophia said excitedly, her cheeks still rosy. "I actually got picked by Vivian! This feels like a dream!"

Jack smiled and ruffled her hair, though his gaze drifted, almost involuntarily, toward Vivian onstage. "Your luck is really good."

He knew perfectly well that his own "good luck" had been arranged by Vivian, while Sophia's was pure coincidence.

"By the way," Sophia said suddenly, turning to Jack. "Jack, do you know Vivian?"

"Why do you ask?" Jack lifted an eyebrow slightly. "What makes you think that?"

"Because..." Sophia tilted her head. Her clear eyes held a hint of suspicion as she looked back and forth between Jack and Vivian onstage.

"The way Vivian looks at you feels... different.

And when you said you weren't her fan, anyone else would've gotten ripped apart by the crowd, but she actually defended you."

Hearing Sophia lay it out like that, Jack couldn't help but laugh.

Sophia's intuition was almost too sharp. She'd picked up on small details and wandered right up to the edge of the truth.

Jack reached out and lightly flicked her smooth forehead, his tone lazy and teasing. "With an imagination like that, it's a shame you're not writing fiction."

Sophia covered her forehead, pouting a little, but she kept staring at him stubbornly. "Come on. Tell me, Jack, do you two know each other or not?"

Jack looked at her eager, adorable expression, his smile deepening.

He didn't answer directly. Instead, he turned his head, his gaze settling once more on the figure singing with full force onstage.

Vivian, right now, was dazzling, stunning, and larger than life, completely different from the disheveled woman who had once hidden in his car and begged him for help.

Honestly, Jack hadn't expected it either.

That the Vivian who'd been so desperate back then was actually a superstar, famous nationwide.

"Sort of... I guess," Jack said, deliberately vague.

Either you know someone, or you don't. Sort of knowing someone, what was that supposed to mean?

Sophia was confused.

But she didn't press him. She quickly threw herself back into the concert.

Sometimes she waved her arms wildly with the beat, and sometimes a slow ballad moved her to tears.

In comparison, Jack stayed much more composed. He leaned back in his chair, watching the radiant woman onstage with a casual, appraising gaze.

Onstage, Vivian was confident and bold. Every glance and every move seemed perfectly calibrated to give her fans what they wanted.

Who would've thought that this brilliant version of her had once hidden in his car, disheveled and begging him to save her?

The contrast was so huge that Jack found it both absurd and oddly amusing.