?<strong>Chapter 687:</strong>


    As she approached, she noticed Richie’s agent pacing anxiously in front of the door, worry written all over his face.


    “What’s wrong?” Elyse called out, her curiosity piqued. “Is Richie being difficult again?”


    The agent rushed over to her, anxiety etched across his features. “The singer set to duet with Richie missed her flight! She won’tnd for another hour, and their performance is in ten minutes! What are we going to do?”


    “What were they supposed to perform?”


    “They were supposed to sing together—a duet!”


    Elyse tapped her chin thoughtfully. “But isn’t Richie tone-deaf? How was he supposed to pull that off?”


    The agent dered with unwavering confidence, “The pay is generous enough. Even if Richie is tone-deaf, he can still stand on stage and muddle through one song.”


    Elyse was stunned into silence, unsure how to respond.


    Perhaps because his agent had been gone a while, Richie emerged from the lounge, his expression puzzled. “Is the other singer here yet? I’m about to go on stage.”


    The agent shook his head, looking apologetic. “It seems you’ll have to perform alone.”


    Richie’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How can that be? I can’t sing! Do you want me to lose all my fans?”


    The agent’s face twisted with frustration. If he had known the other performer would fail to show up, he never would have booked this gig for Richie.


    After giving it some thought, Elyse suggested, “How about I go onstage with you?”


    Richie eyed Elyse with skepticism. “You can sing?”


    “No,” Elyse admitted with a chuckle, “but I can y the violin to help you find the rhythm. Usually, people struggle with singing because theyck a sense of melody and don’t know how to stay on beat. They sing too freely and go off-key.”


    Richie looked between Elyse and his agent, his uncertainty evident. “Well… It’s worth a shot!”


    Together, the two headed into the lounge to start practicing.


    Time was of the essence, and they managed only a few hurried rehearsals before the staff ushered them to the backstage area.


    Standing backstage, Richie took a deep breath, his nerves clearly frazzled. “God! I’m never singing again after this. Music is definitely not my forte.”


    Elyse gently ced a hand on his shoulder, her voice soothing. “Don’t worry. I’ll guide you through it.”


    Richie took a deep breath, his heart pounding as he stepped onto the stage with Elyse.


    The moment Richie appeared onstage, the auditorium erupted in deafening screams from his adoring fans. Elyse couldn’t hide her amazement, her eyes twinkling with admiration at the power Richiemanded. His fame was undeniable, and the frenzy of the audience only confirmed it.


    Filled with inspiration, she positioned her violin under her chin and started to y.


    The opening notes of “Can’t Stop the Feeling” filled the air, and although Richiecked in his vocal abilities, he had a natural talent for hyping up the crowd. Richie stole a quick nce at Elyse, who met his gaze with a warm, encouraging smile.


    Emboldened, he began to sing. As the performance progressed, he discovered that by mirroring Elyse’s rhythm and melody, he stayed perfectly in tune. A surge of excitement coursed through him, and in a spontaneous burst of enthusiasm, he leaped off the stage, diving into the sea of fans to interact with them up close.


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