Chapter - 6008

Tawanna's first concert in Aurous Hill is fast approaching.

In the last couple of days, the residents of Aurous Hill have noticeably felt the influence of Tawanna.

The city's population has clearly surged, with hotels fully booked and all car rental vehicles rented out. The roads are more congested than before, with no distinction between morning and evening traffic.

Popular tourist spots in Aurous Hill have also become very crowded, filled with both domestic and international visitors taking photos and sharing their experiences.

According to official reports, Aurous Hill has welcomed approximately 400,000 to 500,000 out-of-town tourists in the past few days. Many have already secured their tickets and flights, even though the concert dates are still ahead.

Charlie was initially perplexed. The total number of tickets available for the four concerts was only 100,000 to 200,000. How could so many tourists be arriving?

Later, he discovered online that numerous fans, unable to secure tickets, traveled to the area simply to soak in the atmosphere created by their beloved idol.

It is even said that on the day of Tawanna's concert, there would be more fans listening from outside the venue than those inside.

Many fans are willing to fly in, even if they can't get tickets, just to enjoy the performance from outside the venue.

This shows Tawanna's immense appeal and the unique economic upsurge she brings with her presence.

Jacob used to drive his Cullinan for every outing. Even when Elaine asked him to buy just two onions at the market, he would insist on taking the luxurious vehicle. Yet, the traffic jams over the past couple of days have made him reconsider.

On the morning of the first concert, Jacob grumbled at home: "What a ridiculous concert this is! The entire city is gridlocked. Normally, I could reach work in 20 to 30 minutes, but now it’s taking me over an hour!"

Charlie smiled and replied, "Dad, it’s just that there are so many tourists in town right now. If it’s too much for you, why not try taking the bus or the subway?"

Jacob sighed, "I haven’t ridden a bus or subway in ages. I feel like it would be beneath me to cram into the subway with those less fortunate."

Charlie could only smile wryly.

His father-in-law was a classic case of someone who could easily transition from modesty to luxury, but found it hard to adapt back.

Once he’s driven the Cullinan, even a Bentley Bentayga would seem unworthy to him.

Claire finished getting ready and asked Charlie before leaving, “Honey, what time should we head to the venue this afternoon?”

Charlie casually responded, “That depends on you. The concert starts at 7:30 and wraps up by 10:30. I’ll get there early to see if there’s anything I need to address in terms of Feng Shui and to give them some guidance.”

Claire thought for a moment before saying, “I’ll aim to arrive around 4 or 5 o'clock. I’ll call you then, and please come out to pick me up.”

"Sounds good," Charlie agreed and inquired, “How are you getting to the company?”

Claire said, “I’ll just grab a shared bike. With how traffic is right now, riding will be much faster than driving.”

Charlie expressed his concern, “It’s a bit chilly outside. Make sure to dress warmly and stay safe while riding.”

Claire nodded, “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”

Then she turned to Jacob, asking, “Dad, do you want to ride a bike with me?”

Jacob quickly shook his head, “No way! I think I’d rather squeeze into the subway. Being around more people will keep me warm.”

Claire smiled and asked, “Do you want to join me going out?”

“Sure,” Jacob agreed, setting down the Cullinan keys as he prepared to switch shoes and head out.

However, before they left, he turned back and tucked the Cullinan keys into his pocket.

Charlie was curious, wondering if he intended to drive after all. Glancing out the window, he saw his father-in-law walking out of the yard alongside Claire instead.

Still, he remained puzzled as to why Jacob had taken the car keys.

But when he saw Jacob clip the keys onto his belt with one hand, he understood.

Even though the car wouldn’t be driven, the keys were kept to flaunt his status.

Seeing this, Charlie could only shake his head inwardly: Just typical of him...

Shortly after, Charlie left home on his own.

Once outside, he scanned for a shared bike and rode over to the Olympic Center.

He wasn’t particularly interested in checking the Feng Shui for Tawanna; rather, he wanted to ensure that everything would be safe at the event. Bruce Automotive was sponsoring the performance, and Charlie was keen to check for any potential safety hazards. Especially with attendees arriving, he was concerned that many who purchased high-priced tickets might try to sneak in. Therefore, security checks, ticket verification, and identity checks would become crucial.

If these processes were handled properly and verification was ensured, then scalpers and those reselling tickets would lose their market. Charlie wanted to witness the whole process for himself.

Upon arriving at the Olympic Center, he found the area already overflowing with people.

He wondered why so many had gathered when the event wasn’t set to begin until the evening.

After finally navigating through the staff entrance and entering the venue, Tawanna's agent greeted him and led him to the performance area.

At that point, the stage had been fully constructed. The T-shaped stage towered, nearly touching the venue’s ceiling, and at the backdrop was a massive LCD screen assembled to form the stage’s visual.

Tawanna stood confidently at the front of the stage. The on-site cameras captured her striking image, projecting it on the LCD screen behind her, making her appear like a giant from a sci-fi movie.

A large group of crew members communicated with Tawanna via intercom. She didn’t use a microphone but instead confirmed her positioning and other details through the apparatus attached to her waist.

The agent joked with Charlie, “The enthusiasm of the fans is incredible! Earlier, when she tested the microphone with a ‘check,’ the crowd erupted into cheers. The sheer volume of their excitement made it hard for us to hear each other, so we’re hesitant to make any noise through the venue’s sound system.”

Charlie smiled and nodded, “That makes sense. This is Tawanna's first concert in China, and it’s a significant event for the fans. I was surprised by how many people gathered so early; they must be exhausted. Yet, everyone looks so happy. That’s the power of an idol.”

The agent nodded and inquired, “Mr. Wade, are you here to observe or would you like to go backstage to rest? Mr. Kennedy is backstage as well.”

The Kennedy the agent mentioned was Tawanna’s boyfriend, Trevor Kennedy.

Charlie didn’t think too much about it and replied, “Please, go ahead with your work. I’ll just stay here.”

The agent handed him two badges, saying, “Mr. Wade, these two badges are designated for special consultants. They contain anti-counterfeiting chips. Once you and your companion wear these, you can freely enter and exit any part of the venue. Moreover, they are valid for all 19 concerts in China, not just today’s.”

Charlie accepted the badges with a smile, “Thank you.”

The agent added, “If you need additional badges, just let me know, and I can arrange for more. If anything goes wrong with these, please inform me, and I can issue replacements while invalidating the lost ones.”

“Understood.”