HDRDTH -Chapter 56 If You’re Going to Die, Might as Well Go All In

Backstage, the lighting was dim.

Su Qian stood in a modified Hanfu dress. The base was deep black, with faint dark-gold cloud patterns embroidered along the collar.

The little girl had her eyes closed, taking deep breaths again and again.

Her originally youthful face now carried an unusual calmness and wildness that did not belong to her age.

It was an aura forcibly shaped by Yu Xian’s relentless training.

“Uncle.”

Hearing the sound, Su Qian suddenly opened her eyes. There was nervousness—and stubborn determination hidden within them.

Yu Xian walked over and patted her head.

“What are you afraid of?”

“If you’re going to die, might as well go all in.”

Su Qian nodded obediently.

Yu Xian was crude as always—but somehow, it made her feel completely at ease.

At this moment, the front stage of the auditorium.

The curtain slowly rose.

Brilliant stage lights swept across the hall like blades, and thousands of students and invited guests instantly fell silent.

Principal Shen Zhinian, dressed in a straight Zhongshan suit, stepped calmly to the microphone at center stage.

“Leaders, guests, teachers, students—good evening.”

“In this fruitful season, we welcome the annual arts festival of Jiangcheng No. 1 Middle School…”

His loud voice echoed through the auditorium. After a brief opening speech, his tone suddenly rose with excitement.

“Tonight’s stage will truly shine with stars.”

“Not only do we have carefully prepared performances by our students and teachers, but we are also honored to invite heavyweight guest performers.”

“First, let us welcome with applause—popular singer Mr. Zhang Jieke, and music legend, maestro Lin Yaodong!”

As he finished speaking, a spotlight immediately landed on the VIP seats.

Zhang Jieke wore a flamboyant sequined suit, one hand in his pocket, expression arrogant. Even under the camera close-up, he didn’t stand—he only waved casually.

Beside him, Lin Yaodong sat with half-lidded eyes, expression aloof, like a king overlooking mortals. He showed clear disdain for a middle school stage like this.

Yet despite that, the hall erupted in deafening cheers.

Especially the young female teachers and students, waving glow sticks wildly—the noise almost lifting the roof off the auditorium.

“Mr. Lin!”

“Jieke!”

Zhang Jieke lifted his chin proudly, as if declaring this stage belonged to him.

When the noise subsided slightly, Principal Shen took a deep breath.

“Next, we will introduce the final performance of this arts festival.”

“They are student Su Qian, and… her family member, Mr. Yu Xian.”

The lights suddenly shifted toward the backstage waiting area.

The big screen showed their close-up instantly.

Su Qian stood stiffly, gripping her clothes tightly. Her face was tense, clearly nervous from the overwhelming atmosphere earlier.

Beside her, Yu Xian still wore his washed-out gray hoodie, hands in pockets, chin slightly raised.

His eyes were lazy and indifferent, completely unconcerned by the thousands watching him. He even yawned.

One second of dead silence.

Then—

BOOM!

Like water poured into boiling oil, the entire auditorium exploded.

This time it wasn’t just screaming—it was a tidal wave of roaring madness.

Not only students, but even officials in the front row, disguised parents in the back rows, fishing enthusiasts, and tech geeks all stood up in excitement.

“Master Yu!”

“Go Su Qian!”

“Unruly Hero is awesome!”

The terrifying wave of sound overwhelmed everything. It drowned out Zhang Jieke and Lin Yaodong completely, even causing the speakers to buzz under pressure.

In the VIP section, Zhang Jieke’s arrogant smile froze instantly, his face turning dark.

Lin Yaodong abruptly opened his eyes. Veins bulged on his hand gripping the rosewood cane as he stared coldly at the man on the screen who didn’t even bother showing his face properly.

This silent first clash ended with Yu Xian’s single yawn—completely crushing their arrogance.

Principal Shen, flushed with excitement, announced the performance officially beginning.

The earlier programs were bland and uneventful.

Whether it was a standard choir performance or technically impressive instrumental pieces from Liu Jianguo’s students, they only received polite applause. Most students were already bored.

On the judging panel, Liu Jianguo sat with a cold expression, staring toward backstage as if plotting something.

“Next up, superstar Zhang Jieke with the energetic performance ‘Baby I Love You’!”

The moment the announcement was made, the crowd exploded.

Blinding lights crossed the stage, dry ice filled the air, and Zhang Jieke rose from a lift in his glittering suit.

Beside him sat Lin Yaodong at a million-yuan Steinway piano, expression proud.

Screams erupted everywhere.

“Ahhh!”

“Jieke!”

“Lin Lao is actually accompanying him!”

Front-row teachers stood up in excitement, students waving glow sticks wildly.

Lin Yaodong slammed his fingers onto the keys, unleashing a flashy chord progression.

Zhang Jieke swayed his hips, singing a meaningless pop song in a breathy voice.

With massive speakers and live-stream amplification, the atmosphere instantly ignited. The online chat was flooded with praise.

When the song ended, Zhang Jieke did not leave immediately.

Lin Yaodong took the microphone, slowly stood up, and swept his gaze across the hall—finally glancing faintly toward backstage.

“I am very happy to be here today.”

“But I must say—music is a noble art. It requires foundation and inheritance.”

“It is not something achieved by rolling in muddy backwaters or using vulgar gimmicks for attention.”

“Fast-food entertainment will eventually be swept into the garbage of history.”

“Now, let us see what some people call so-called ‘original music’—what kind of shameful thing it really is.”

The words landed like daggers.

The atmosphere instantly turned strange and tense.

He was clearly targeting Su Qian’s upcoming performance.

The livestream chat exploded with black fans cheering:

“Lin Lao is ruthless!”

“Waiting for the expose!”

Zhang Jieke bowed smugly and stepped off stage, exchanging a knowing glance with Liu Jianguo in the judging panel.

The host forced a smile and returned to the stage.

“Thank you to Mr. Lin and Mr. Zhang for their wonderful performance.”

“Next, please welcome the final act of tonight’s arts festival—original song ‘Map of Rivers and Mountains,’ performed by student Su Qian and her family.”

Spotlights locked into position.

Tens of millions of viewers—both in the hall and online—focused on the stage entrance.

Then suddenly—

Rapid, chaotic footsteps shattered the backstage silence.

A logistics teacher responsible for moving instruments rushed in, drenched in sweat, face pale as paper, voice trembling with panic.

“Something’s wrong!”

“Mr. Yu!”

“Principal Shen!”

“The cowhide drum… the drum skin has been slashed with a knife.”

“All our instruments are destroyed.”