Chapter 140

Four episodes have aired since Heavenly Melody debuted.

In the beginning, most of the buzz centered around Vivian since show didn't feature any top-ranking vocalists, and the oldest contestant was only twenty-five, clearly placing them in the fresh crop of rising talent.

But things shifted halfway through the season.Serena stole the spotlight, stunning viewers with her skill and artistry.

From the third episode on, once, the technical constraints on sound and video were resolved,her talent became undeniable.

Then came the fallout after episode four.

Rumors exploded online, accusations of donation fraud, inappropriate dealings for influence, and other scandals tied to Serena surfaced. Despite the uproar,she hadn't exited the competition, even as the finale approached.

The Internet erupted with backlash.

"What's happening? Why hasn't Serena been kicked out yet?"

"I'll give them until tomorrow morning. If she's still in,I'm dropping a one-star review."

"If someone like Serena can just keep climbing, then what's the point in anything?"

"Boycott Serena!"

...

The show's official account was overwhelmed with angry replies.

Their latest post was buried beneath a storm of protests and insults.

Evans Entertainment's page was caught in the fire as well. No one really knew Serena's background, so the public turned its fury toward the company behind her.

Even Daphne got pulled into the mess.

During one of the rehearsals, she uploaded a vlog.The video included a masked figure, but it was obvious to anyone watching,it was Serena.

Countless comments flooded in, all asking the same thing-was that Serena in the video, and had she finally dropped out?

At first, Daphne kept silent. But the noise grew too loud to ignore. Eventually, she responded. "Please stop asking me, or this post might disappear. The show isn't mine to decide. What you see is what it is."

That response carried layers of meaning, prompting a wave of speculation.

"Please stop asking me, or this post might disappear" suggested she'd been warned not to attract too much attention or the post would be taken down.

"The show isn't mine to decide" hinted that Serena had powerful backing, most likely Evans Entertainment-the real decision-maker.

And "What you see is what it is" confirmed what everyone already suspected: the masked contestant in the rehearsal clip was Serena, and she wasn't backing down.

Some users were incredibly perceptive.

Daphne couldn't help but laugh as she read through the responses.

"You guys are unbelievable," she said, wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye from laughing too hard.

She looked at her tablet, where the newest documents from her agency were pulled up, outlining the business deals lined up after the Heavenly Melody finale.

Sponsorships were listed according to final rankings,and the rewards from Elliott Group stood out the most.

" have to win," Daphne murmured, tapping firmly on the screen. "If I can lock in Elliott Group, I'll never have to worry about anything ever again. Serena,what's the point in being so gifted? Even if you force your way to the top, the public's already turned on you. The backlash won't stop, it'll only grow stronger."

At that very moment, Millie stepped out of the Evans Entertainment training building.

As she walked toward the parking lot, a few soft honks sounded, followed by a quiet "meow."

She turned her head and spotted a man leaning casually against his car.

He wore a fitted black shirt, holding a bag in one hand. In the other, he cradled a ragdoll cat.

Since rumors about her and Charles had begun circulating, Millie had taken to wearing a mask and cap whenever she entered or left the practice rooms.Still, Myron always managed to recognize her.

He'd once offered to recommend a lawyer, but she had already hired Darrion and turned him down.

He insisted there were no strings attached, but Millie couldn't pretend she didn't understand the subtext.

With those thoughts drifting in the back of her mind,she approached him.

"Do you need something?" she asked, halting just in front of him.

"My last message,remember the video I sent you?

The one of my cat doing a backflip? You didn't reply,

"Meow," the cat chimed in, round eyes blinking up at her.

"Huh?" Millie blinked, taken off guard.

Unbothered, Myron went on, full of confidence. "You see-having a cat this skilled makes it hard not to brag. I've been itching to show off."

Millie stared at him, trying to make sense of what was happening.

Before she could respond, Myron crouched down,set the ragdoll cat gently on the ground, and offered it a small treat. He then gave its head a quick pat.

"Meow!" Then, astonishingly, the cat flipped backward in one clean motion.

Millie's lips parted slightly.

Did it really just do that? Right on cue?

It was... surprisingly smart.

The cat padded over to her, brushing against her leg and purring, its tail held high. It tilted its head and meowed again, clearly asking for attention.

"Looks like it has a thing for you," Myron said,smiling as he held out a small freeze-dried snack."You can feed it,if you want."

Millie looked from the cat to the treat in his hand.

After a short pause, she gave in. She crouched beside the cat and offered it the snack, her hand steady.

The cat purred happily while it ate, and Millie found herself smiling.

It really was cute.

"I got you a late-night snack." Myron lifted a thermos box from his bag just as she focused on the cat.

Millie glanced up at him. Every movement-unhurried, tidy, unforced-fit him.

She lowered her eyes again, gave the cat the last bit of the treat, and rose to her feet.

"I appreciate it, but I don't need it." Her tone stayed polite, but she kept her distance.

She gave a small nod and headed for her car.

"My offer still stands," Myron called after her. "I'd be honored if you ever decide to take me up on it. Use me, Millie, I won't mind."

Her hand stalled on the door handle for just a beat.She didn't turn around. She simply slipped into the driver's seat and pulled away.

Only Myron remained in the lot, the cat nudging at his leg.

He let out a quiet breath and scooped it up again.

"It stings a little, doesn't it?" he asked the animal.

"Meow."

"It's fine. I expected as much." He stroked the soft furry head and watched her taillights fade.

Millie reached home, cleaned up, and went straight moot to bed.

She refused to overthink the encounter. Tomorrow's competition was all that mattered.

If everything went according to plan, she'd remove the mask at the end of the show.