No Substitutes for the Bigshots' Dream Girl Anymore!-Chapter 1799: Daily Life After Marriage (27)

In recent years, the ratings and click-through rates of the show have been steadily rising, and the stages of its spin-off programs have also begun to gain traction.

This has provided opportunities for idols who genuinely love performing on stage.

When Hannah arrived, Lucy Taylor was on stage reprimanding people, her cold and stern demeanor commanding the atmosphere.

"This is your one and only chance. If you can do it, do it; if not, give the chance to someone else. This is the stage, not a playground!"

On the stage stood a newly debuted boy band.

Hannah didn’t really recognize anyone but thought the boy standing in the center position looked vaguely familiar.

She couldn’t quite recall where she had seen him.

Just then, Arnold Simmons called her again, so she walked to the side to answer the phone.

"Is it raining? There’s an umbrella in the car—you don’t need to come pick me up..."

In the shadowed corner where the light didn’t reach, as a smile blossomed across her face, it seemed to brighten everything, even slowing down time itself.

It felt like an eternity had passed, and yet it also seemed like just an instant.

Payne Johnson didn’t snap back to reality until his teammate gave him a gentle shove.

Lucy finished reprimanding the group and hurried them to continue rehearsing.

The upcoming segment was a live broadcast, leaving no room for error.

As several assistants helped to arrange costumes on stage, the boys were chatting among themselves.

They had all noticed Hannah standing offstage earlier, but were unsure if it was really her.

Although Hannah wasn’t much older than them in terms of age, her experience and standing made her a prominent senior in the industry.

Six years into her career, she was also a mentor figure from their previous talent show. Before coming onto the show, all of them had dreamed of becoming "the next Hannah."

Who wouldn’t?

Debuting straight out of a talent show that went viral, dominating the spotlight despite internal vote manipulation and resource snatching, turning unfavorable odds into an overwhelming win, excelling across film, music, and TV, with public favorability soaring to unmatched heights.

Even now, the most popular female artist chosen by the general public remains her. She’s held the top spot effortlessly.

Her achievements prove that in the entertainment industry, having the talent and the work to back it up is the ultimate rule. Even if she retires someday, she’ll still have the reputation and fond memories left behind.

"By the way, Kingston Spencer, I remember you’re at the same company as the Best Actor Benjamin Quach. Doesn’t that make Hannah your boss, too?"

"Why don’t you go ask her for an autograph later? Or, at the very least, say hello."

"Can you take us along, too?"

The boy known as Kingston Spencer was the youngest member of the group, with a quiet and reserved personality. Despite being backed by a major company, he himself kept a low profile.

Hearing the others say this, he reluctantly replied, "I’ll try."

During the whole discussion, the only one who didn’t say a word was Payne Johnson.

The recent scandal that erupted online had affected him significantly.

Although he wasn’t able to influence decisions made by his company or manager, deep down, he had wanted to see that particular trending topic.

As soon as they stepped off stage, Lucy pulled Hannah to sit behind the monitor.

"Help me check their performances, would you? People these days in the industry are so restless—it’s rare to find someone who truly respects the stage and takes it seriously."

The monitor gave a much clearer view.

Lucy suddenly remembered something and pointed to the boy in the center position, saying, "That’s Payne Johnson—the one who was on the trending search with you earlier. Do you still remember?" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Hannah nodded. "How’s his skill?"

Generally speaking, people in the center position tended not to lack ability.

Lucy still carried some of the irritation from reprimanding the group earlier.