Chapter 4

On the evening of the concert, I'd just found my seat in the front row center.

Before long, the empty seat beside me was filled as a tall figure sat down.

The man wore a high-quality black shirt with the cuffs slightly rolled up. His profile showed sharp, handsome lines.

Seeing me, he nodded politely, his voice deep and pleasant: "Hello, are you Miss Sophia? I'm the buyer from the resale platform."

I smiled at him: "Hello. Are you satisfied with the seat?"

"Absolutely perfect." The corner of his mouth curved into a slight smile. "Thank you for selling it at original price. I've been looking for this seat for a long time."

We exchanged brief pleasantries. The atmosphere wasn't awkward at all.

Just then, all the lights in the venue suddenly dimmed.

The outer screens and the center stage screen lit up simultaneously.

The pre-show warmup interaction began -- the classic kiss cam game.

The camera swept wildly through the audience. The big screen kept flashing couples' surprised and shy faces.

"Next, whoever the camera stops on, if you're a couple, you have to kiss! If you're not a couple, then give the person next to you a warm hug!"

I was laughing and watching the fun when a dazzling spotlight fell on me and the man in the black shirt beside me.

Our two faces instantly magnified on the big screen.

I froze, my heart skipping a beat.

The man turned to look at me. Text appeared at the bottom of the screen:

[Not a couple? Give each other a hug!]

Under the gaze of tens of thousands of people, a gentle smile flashed in the man's eyes.

He saved me from embarrassment. He turned openly and extended his arms toward me like a perfect gentleman.

At that moment, outside the stadium at the ticket checkpoint.

Ethan stood in front of the VIP entrance, touching the diamond necklace in his pocket.

He was calculating how to coax me after the concert.

"Ethan! Hurry, they're checking tickets!" Nina excitedly pulled his arm.

They walked to the gate. The security guard said coldly: "Please show your tickets for facial recognition entry."

Nina eagerly placed the ticket Ethan had given her on the scanner.

"Beep -- "

A harsh red alert sounded.

[Identity mismatch. No purchase record found.]

Nina froze and turned to look at Ethan with grievance: "Ethan, what's going on?"

Ethan frowned: "They must be checking strictly."

He took out his own ticket and placed it on the scanner.

Another harsh red alert.

The security guard looked at them expressionlessly: "You two, neither of you has ticket information under your names. Please step aside."

"That's impossible. My girlfriend bought these as connected seats!" Ethan's voice rose sharply in panic.

The guard checked his device and looked up coldly: "Sir, the system shows the primary purchaser kept her own seat. Your companion registration was unbound by her one day ago."

Unbound? Ethan froze.

The line behind them started complaining impatiently.

Nina felt utterly humiliated. Her eyes instantly reddened.

Amid a chorus of jeers, Ethan retreated from the crowd in complete embarrassment.

He quickly pulled out his phone and pulled up my number through gritted teeth.

Suddenly, thunderous cheers erupted from the giant broadcast screen on the plaza's outer wall.

Ethan instinctively looked up.

On the screen, he saw my image, smiling as I embraced a handsome man beside me.