Chapter 1221 Meeting Randy in Person
Stella forked a piece of beef into her mouth, answering casually, "Randy just finished a show introduction and should be taking a break for a while. My cousin used to tour constantly, traveling from city to city for performances. Now he's decided to slow down—tour for a period, then rest for a while."
Emeric pressed further, "Has he decided on the first stop for his next tour?"
Stella shook her head. "Not yet. He gets so many invitations that when he's ready to perform again, he just picks one from the pile. Usually decides about two weeks in advance."
Her cousin was simply too popular. Other performers might need months of advance ticket sales, but Randy was different. Fans would camp out at their computers waiting for announcements, and tickets would sell out within minutes of release—no promotion necessary. It was as if his followers had their own secret network.
She hadn't realized just how famous Randy was until she'd accompanied him to a show. The sheer number of fans was staggering—some genuinely appreciated his artistry, others were simply captivated by his looks. Either way, he was phenomenally successful.
Whenever she attended his performances, watching him surrounded by crowds of fans and reporters while he protectively shielded her in his arms, she felt incredibly privileged.
Emeric silently pushed food around his plate for a moment before speaking again, "When his next show comes up, could you possibly get me two tickets? I'm a huge fan—he's been my idol for years. But his tickets are impossible to get, and scalpers charge astronomical prices."
Stella's eyes widened with curiosity. "How much do scalpers charge?"
"At peak times, they've gone for up to a hundred thousand dollars per ticket."
"Good God," Stella gasped, practically bouncing in her seat. "That much? I could make a fortune if I got into ticket reselling!"
Was that really the point here?
"So... could you help me get tickets? I'd pay you, of course."
Stella agreed readily. "Sure! Concert tickets? That's easy—I'll just ask Randy for a couple."
Emeric's head shot up, his face breaking into the first genuine smile she'd seen from him.
"Thank you!"
Stella stared, caught off guard. "You have such a beautiful smile."
Emeric's face flushed as he quickly looked down, focusing intently on his meal.
After dinner, Stella wasn't ready to part ways and deliberately slowed her pace. "Do you have plans tonight? Want to go practice piano?"
Emeric's expression remained neutral as he occasionally glanced at his watch.
Noticing his distraction, Stella couldn't help asking, "Do you have somewhere to be? We could just say goodbye here if you need to go."
Just as Emeric was about to nod, Stella's phone rang. She gestured for him to go ahead while she took the call, but as she answered with an excited "Randy! Why are you calling me?" Emeric instinctively stopped and turned back.
Randy's deep voice came through the speaker. "Are you still at school?"
Stella, unaware that Emeric hadn't left, looked down and kicked at a pebble. "Yes, just finished dinner."
"Do you know what time it is?"
"What time?" Stella pulled the phone away to check the display.
Oh no. Seven-thirty already.
She and Emeric had been eating for an hour and a half—a personal record. She was supposed to practice at eight, and here it was already half past seven.
"Randy, I'm so sorry! I was having such a good time that I completely lost track. I'll head back right now—if I take a taxi, I should make it within forty minutes."
"Come outside. I'm at your school gate."
Stella's eyes lit up immediately.
"Randy, you came to pick me up from school?"
Randy's voice carried a mixture of exasperation and affection. "Yes. Now hurry up and get out here."
"Okay! I'll be right there—wait for me!"
After hanging up, Stella was about to leave when she noticed Emeric still standing nearby, having waited quietly throughout her conversation.
"Emeric, you're still here?"
"Randy came to pick you up?" he asked.
Stella nodded while pocketing her phone. "Yes! Randy and I have an arrangement—I practice piano from eight to ten every night. I was having such a wonderful time with you that I lost track of time and ran late, so Randy drove over to get me."
Something flickered in Emeric's eyes. After a moment, he said, "It's getting dark. It's not safe for you to walk alone—let me escort you to the gate."
Stella glanced around at the bustling campus filled with students. It was summer, so darkness came late, and this was actually the busiest time of day at school. His concern for her safety was clearly just an excuse to spend more time together.
She wondered, 'I've always known that when I set my sights on a man, I'm irresistible.'
"Alright! Since you're also a piano major, I can introduce you to Randy. Maybe you two could discuss music together!"
Emeric studied her intently but didn't respond, instead changing the subject. "We should go—don't keep Randy waiting."
"Right!"
The third dining hall was quite far from the main gate—at least a twenty-minute walk, possibly thirty at a leisurely pace. To avoid keeping Randy waiting, they took the campus shuttle.
From a distance, Emeric spotted an understated yet luxurious black Rolls-Royce parked by the school entrance. The amber streetlights cast a soft glow across its sleek surface.
Yesterday Charles had accompanied Randy, but tonight Randy had come alone.
Randy sat in the driver's seat, and when he saw Stella approaching, his lips curved into a slight smile as he prepared to get out. But upon noticing the young man beside her, his smile gradually faded. He remained seated, quietly observing Emeric with an unreadable expression.
Emeric wasn't particularly handsome, but he possessed an unmistakable youthful charm. Standing next to Stella—her vibrant energy complementing his boyish appeal—they made a striking pair.
Randy found himself staring until a tap on his window snapped him back to reality, and he rolled it down.
The evening darkness, combined with the unlit car interior, meant Emeric could only make out a silhouette in the driver's seat—the outline of facial features without clear details.
Even so, it was enough to make him tremble with excitement, his palms growing damp with nervous sweat.
This was Randy, the piano virtuoso. He was actually seeing Randy in person—a moment he'd never dared dream possible.
He could die happy now.
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