Chapter 6061

The performance scene was electric, filled with excitement. Two of the top female singers from the East and West were sharing the same stage—an occurrence that was nearly unheard of, leaving the audience pleasantly astonished. As their duet concluded, the audience erupted in applause and cheers that resonated for several minutes. At that moment, Tawanna took Stefanie’s hand, and they both made their way to the center of the stage. Tawanna then bowed slightly and smiled, saying, "Next, I’ll hand the stage over to Stefanie. I hope you all can enjoy her musical charm." After saying this, she and Stefanie embraced gently, then ascended on the lift stage, slowly descending to a sea of applause from tens of thousands of fans. Stefanie was now ready to begin her first song of the evening. Tawanna had just reached the bottom of the stage when a swarm of staff swiftly surrounded her. The significant error that occurred at the beginning had everyone anxious. Even now, many individuals in charge were extremely nervous and uncertain about Tawanna's reaction toward them. The stage director quickly brought the equipment engineer to speak with her, looking anxious and embarrassed. He said, "I apologize, Miss Sweet. The mistakes were all mine; I failed to eliminate all potential dangers in time." The equipment engineer, filled with shame, added, "Ms. Sweet, it's my responsibility to ensure all equipment is functioning properly. This hoist failure was entirely my fault. I take full accountability. I’m truly sorry!" Tawanna wasn't in the mood to argue with them; she was just eager to see Charlie, so she said, "You've both made a significant error. If anything like this happens again, I won't hesitate to fire you." As if given a reprieve from punishment, they both quickly expressed their gratitude respectfully. For them, working with Tawanna was undoubtedly a prime position. She performed many concerts worldwide, and each one brought in substantial profits. This motivated them to work harder and earn more, along with bonuses that far exceeded what they could get with other artists. No one wanted to lose this opportunity. Being held accountable for a major mistake meant that, to keep their jobs, they had to ensure perfection moving forward, pushing them to perform at their absolute best. Tawanna had no intention of wasting further time with her staff. She exited the passage beneath the stage and began scanning the area for Charlie. Coincidentally, Charlie was watching Stefanie perform, and she excitedly approached him, saying respectfully, “Mr. Wade, thank you so much for your help earlier!” Looking at her with a smile, Charlie replied, "No need to be so formal. I'm also part of the crew for your concerts in China. It’s my duty to ensure your safety." Tawanna nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. While up on the high platform, she had felt panic and anxiety, fearing that the concert would falter right from the start. When Charlie had intervened and cut the safety rope behind her, fear had also gripped him. However, thoughts of Charlie’s extraordinary skills and his consistent reliability gave her comfort, knowing he could navigate even the most perilous situations. As she stepped onto the stage, her gratitude and admiration for Charlie reached new heights. At that moment, she wished to leap into Charlie's arms and weep, even kiss him passionately. This overwhelming desire almost caused her to rush forward several times.

Yet, she was aware that Charlie viewed her platonically, and while the thousands of audience members wouldn’t see, the hundreds of staff members would. If she were to embrace him there and ask for a kiss, it would undoubtedly become public knowledge in no time. Resigned, she stifled her strong impulses. Instead, she mentally shifted her focus toward sharing the stage with Charlie later. Suddenly, a bold idea struck her: she could use the performance as an opportunity to express her feelings for Charlie publicly, in front of tens of thousands of fans from around the world! Meanwhile, Charlie was primarily focused on Stefanie. He observed her passionate performance and couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe; despite being one of the top singers alongside Tawanna, Stefanie remained grounded, confident, and performed beautifully in front of her fans. Her ability to stand strong under pressure was truly remarkable, surpassing that of many others. At this moment, Charlie saw Stefanie not just as a little sister, but as an exceptional woman with impressive capabilities. Tawanna felt a swell of envy. She could tell that while Charlie was incredibly supportive of his wife, he also held a great affection for Stefanie. In his heart, Stefanie undoubtedly occupied a significant place. As for herself, she sensed that Charlie regarded her merely as an ordinary friend, or perhaps even more like a professional associate rather than someone close. On stage, Stefanie enchanted Tawanna's international fans, many of whom were hearing her songs for the first time. It was clear that although they may not have recognized the songs, they enjoyed her voice, her performances, and erupted in applause and cheers. After several songs, the staff approached: "Miss Sweet and Mr. Wade, it’s time to return to the dressing room for your costume change." Tawanna acknowledged them, saying to Charlie, "Mr. Wade, let’s head back." "Sure," Charlie agreed, turning to walk backstage with her. As Charlie began to apply his disguise, Stefanie was finishing her penultimate song. Backstage, behind-the-scenes footage of her and Tawanna was now being shown on the big screen, while Stefanie hurried to change outfits. Stefanie and Tawanna shared a dressing room, and when she entered, she noticed Tawanna already halfway through her makeup process. Tawanna smiled at her and said, "Stefanie, your performance was amazing! Mr. Wade and I watched you for quite a while, and it’s clear the audience loved it. I just checked social media, and the feedback on you is overwhelmingly positive!" Stefanie beamed, replying, "I just hope I didn’t bring you down." Her makeup artist quickly began working on her new look. A few minutes later, Stefanie finished her transformation. Standing up, she said to Tawanna, "Tawanna, you look stunning. The blend of Eastern and Western beauty is truly captivating. When you take the stage later, you’ll surely dazzle all your fans." Tawanna smiled back, saying, "As long as the Chinese fans appreciate it, I'm happy. My greatest fear is that they think I’ve sullied our traditional culture." "That could never happen!" Stefanie replied with a smile. "Your look will undoubtedly become a trending topic on Chinese social networks!" Tawanna nodded, thinking to herself, "I would rather trend for my actions than my makeup!"