711: Chapter 711 Fang Ming's Shock

"Di... Division Commander Li Yang?!"

Fang Ming was completely dumbfounded. His mind went blank, and he stood frozen in place for a long time, unable to react. His mouth was slightly agape, and his face was filled with disbelief.

When he first heard that the chairman was bringing distinguished guests to watch the concert, he had repeatedly speculated in private that the guests were merely mid-level Officials from the Administrative Center or important partners of the group. Because of this, he had performed with extra effort on stage, fearing even the slightest mistake.

But he never dreamed that the people who arrived would be Speaker Yu, the highest authority of the Lese Star Cluster, and Division Commander Li Yang, that legendary figure renowned throughout the entire Empire!

Which one of these two was not a high-ranking and influential figure?

To think they would condescend to watch his concert—this was an honor he hadn't even dared to imagine.

After a brief moment of daze, Fang Ming panicked instantly. He hurriedly adjusted his posture and bowed deeply and respectfully to Yu Lingyue and Li Yang, his tone carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling.

"Sp... Speaker, greetings! Division Commander, greetings! It is my greatest honor to have you both grace my concert with your presence!"

At this moment, he had none of the airs of a top celebrity left. He was entirely filled with the awe and nervousness one feels when facing top-tier big shots, even softening his breathing slightly, fearing that he might do something improper and offend these two important figures before him.

Seeing his nervous appearance, Lu Dongni couldn't help but smile and pat him on the shoulder.

"There is no need to be so restrained. Division Commander Li and Speaker Yu are just here to relax and experience the evening, not to conduct an Official inspection."

Fang Ming relaxed a little, but he still maintained a respectful posture. When his gaze fell on Li Yang, a genuine sense of admiration appeared in his eyes.

Li Yang's deeds were already outstanding in the Lese Star Cluster, and as someone from the Huanxing Group, he had naturally heard plenty about them. He had long admired this man, and now that he could see him in person, he was so excited that his palms were slightly sweating.

Li Yang looked at the restrained yet sincere young man before him, nodded gently, and spoke in a calm and peaceful tone.

"You worked hard tonight. Your stage performance was very good."

Yu Lingyue also nodded faintly, her expression remaining as dignified and composed as usual, and she did not say anything more.

A simple sentence was enough to make Fang Ming instantly feel overwhelmed by the favor, and he hurriedly bowed again to express his gratitude.

"Thank you for the compliment, Division Commander! I will definitely work harder in the future and will not live up to your recognition!"

Fang Ming stood there, his heart still pounding wildly. To him, Li Yang's lighthearted words, "You worked hard tonight. Your stage performance was very good," sounded like a promise worth a thousand pieces of gold, striking directly into his heart.

He knew better than anyone that this Division Commander Li before him, who seemed to be giving a casual evaluation, held enough weight to rewrite his entire life.

In the Lese Star Cluster, in the Huanxing Group, and even in the entire Empire, Li Yang's name itself was a top-tier endorsement.

With Speaker Yu's personal presence and Li Yang's personal praise, once these two pieces of news spread, his, Fang Ming's, fame would immediately soar. Resources, schedules, top-tier projects, Galaxy-wide promotion...

Everything of the best quality would tilt toward him without hesitation.

The group would give him more resources internally, his status would directly crush all other stars of his generation, and he would leap to become a top-tier celebrity that others could never surpass!

But he also understood better than anyone the other side of the matter—how terrifying it could be.

If just now, Li Yang had frowned slightly and said indifferently, "Performance was average," or even just revealed a trace of dissatisfaction, then what would await him would be the outcome of falling into the abyss.

There would be no need for Lu Dongni to speak, no need for anyone to issue an order; the group's upper management would completely freeze him overnight.

All endorsements would be cancelled, all concerts halted, his name removed from all film and television projects, and all promotional resources completely cut off.

A former top celebrity would instantly become a passerby that no one cared about, never having another chance to step onto the stage, living a lifetime of mediocrity, and sinking into silence in a corner that no one knew of.

This was the power of big shots.

Li Yang might have just said that out of politeness, a casual comment that he would forget about this trivial matter as soon as he turned around.

He would not realize at all that his offhand remark would have such a earth-shattering impact on the life trajectory of those below him.

But for an artist at the bottom, struggling with all their might to climb up, this one sentence was the difference between Heaven and Hell.

Whether it was ascending to the sky in a single step or falling into eternal damnation, it all depended on the other person's whim.

Fang Ming took a deep breath and bowed respectfully again, his posture humble to the extreme.

He clenched his palms tightly, and only relief and awe remained in his heart.

He was relieved that he had given his all tonight, relieved that he had received a word of affirmation from Li Yang, and even more relieved that he had seized this life-changing opportunity.

The lights after the concert hadn't fully extinguished, and the fervent residual heat still lingered in the venue. Many fans were still immersed in the revelry just moments ago, leaving in twos and threes, their steps carrying an excitement that was far from over.

Just then, a fan in the crowd wearing a fluorescent-colored support outfit inadvertently swept their gaze toward the VIP area.

When they saw that tall, upright figure surrounded by security personnel, their pupils contracted sharply. They hurriedly reached out to grab their companion, who was just about to turn and leave, their voice filled with irrepressible excitement.

"Hey! Look over there! Isn't that Fang Ming?!"

Their companion looked in the direction they pointed, instantly recognizing that familiar casual outfit and the figure who had been dazzling on stage. They also perked up immediately, the fatigue on their face instantly replaced by excitement. They hurriedly broke free from their companion's hand and began to rush forward with light, quick steps.

"Holy crap! It really is! Quick! I'm going to get an autograph! Ask for a photo!"

But just as they had taken two steps, their wrist was tightly grabbed by their companion.

"Are you stupid?! Didn't you see those people in front of Fang Ming?"

The companion lowered their voice and pointed to the group of people in the VIP area, their tone full of helplessness.

"One of them is Lu Dongni, the chairman of the Huanxing Group! They are surrounded by a circle of security guards. If you try to force your way over now, never mind getting an autograph, even getting within a meter of them would be a problem!"

The man who was pulled back finally realized. He looked down at the glow stick in his hand, then looked back at the VIP area. The excitement on his face gradually faded, revealing a hint of frustration.

"Haha, I guess so... I was just too excited, I forgot about that."

Just as he finished speaking, his gaze fell on Li Yang again. His eyes lingered for a moment on Li Yang's steady brows and eyes and his straight posture. Suddenly, it was as if he had been struck by an electric current. He froze in place, his eyes opening wider and wider, the expression on his face instantly changing from frustration to shock and disbelief.

"That is... That is..."

He violently shook off his companion's hand, his finger trembling as he pointed in Li Yang's direction. His mouth opened and closed, and it took a long time before he let out a shout that cracked with intensity.

"Holy crap!"