Others possess treasured swords, but I am blessed with a beautiful beloved.

Qiao Yingna had not been home for nearly a week. As the final concert for the Rongdu division drew closer, she had moved into the organizer’s hotel, focusing all her energy there. Bai Haonan had visited a few times, sometimes bringing nurses along to witness the lively filming scenes, but mostly to check in on Sister Mai. He was skilled at leveraging backstage opportunities, to the extent that even the experienced Mai suspected Bai Haonan really might be Qiao Yingna’s second uncle—after all, Yingna was still keeping her family in the dark.

But Sister Mai could only join Bai Haonan in some lighthearted fun at the venue; once work began in earnest, everyone was as busy as dogs, reportedly putting in seventeen or eighteen hours a day, often running around non-stop late into the night.

The hosting TV station was evidently saving its strength for the grand finale, relying now on the regional concerts to build hype. Numerous TV programs, online news, and print media from across the country were promoting the contestants. Qiao Yingna’s low-key presence ensured her face was getting familiar; any casual TV viewer would know a professional pediatrician was singing here.

All of this was secretly orchestrated by Sister Mai. She had no say in who would win, but, drawing on years of experience, knew that favorites didn’t always take the crown. Sometimes, those with hidden potential, overlooked by most, would ultimately triumph.

Bai Haonan had reminded Qiao Yingna to prepare a big gift for Sister Mai, but Mai laughed, saying she wanted to see if Qiao could really make it. If she did, Mai was keen to be her agent.

For the final concert, Bai Haonan secured a media pass from Sister Mai—one of those that let you sneak in a few people. Although he couldn’t get the best front-row seats, in the eyes of many, free access through special channels was a mark of status. As a former professional athlete, Bai was well-versed in this: he’d often used player tickets to bring girls to the stands.

On concert day, Bai Haonan repeated his feat of bringing seven women along, a revolving door of beauties. Among them were three nurses from the First Affiliated Hospital, two aspiring flight attendants from the Aviation Academy, and two spirited medical students. Bai had borrowed a white Land Rover Discovery from Enzyme, whose overseas study car had been left to languish in the hospital parking lot. Packing seven shapely girls was a breeze.

He parked the seven-seater by the curb outside the hospital, waiting for the girls to gather, when suddenly Chen Sufen called, sounding entirely at ease: “You must have tickets—take me along.”

Bai Haonan tried to brush her off impatiently: “I’ve already invited people.”

Chen Sufen wasn’t surprised: “Fine, I’ll bring someone you’re sure to like—a table tennis player, hmm?”

Bai Haonan immediately agreed, pleased. So, in the end, there were nine girls squeezed into the car along with him, a clear sign he didn’t much care about traffic laws.

The girls naturally divided into several groups, sizing each other up. Some were lively and teased Bai Haonan all the way, but he handled it with ease: “Hey, you two in the passenger seat, try to be a bit more discreet—close the window, don’t let anyone see we’re overloaded!” The rear privacy glass hid most, but the two slim flight attendants up front were conspicuous.

A nurse laughed: “No big deal, aren’t you always flirting with that policewoman? If we get caught, just call her!” Her colleague burst out laughing, though it wasn’t clear what was so funny.

The medical students were less outspoken but participated with wide-eyed curiosity: “Brother Hao, that policewoman is so tall. Why haven’t we seen her lately?”

Chen Sufen should have been annoyed, but nothing showed on her face. She purposefully sat in the middle of the back, her hands roaming over the girls nearby. Both nurses and students struggled with her exuberance, suspecting she might be a bit too friendly. The table tennis girl simply chuckled, full of energy and good looks, as the sport’s reputation for well-endowed players held true—Chen Sufen playfully groped her several times, earning the envy of the flight attendants.

By the time the white Discovery arrived at the concert, the nine girls were now familiar and warm with each other, none treating Bai Haonan as a boyfriend or personal possession—sharing, after all.

Getting out was a spectacle: a line of beauties.

Bai Haonan’s thick skin served him well as he boldly led them through the backstage media entrance. When faced with hesitant staff, he presented the girls with a flourish: “Look, these are Sister Mai’s backstage perks. With such beauties around, all the staff work better—mixing men and women makes the job easier, you know…”

In truth, most tickets for this concert were giveaways. Who would pay hundreds to see a group of unknown singers? The organizers had long figured this out, aiming to fill seats as much as possible. Their real revenue came from sponsors—not just big-name title rights and TV ads, but even local hotpot restaurants and skewers bars could buy a spot on an advertising board.

So ticket inspections were lax. Bai Haonan, a regular, knew plenty of people, and with casual jokes he led the girls backstage without a hitch, even openly bringing them to see Qiao Yingna. The nurses and students admired Brother Hao—even though Sister Qiao seemed on the verge of fame, he dared to show up with other girls.

Qiao Yingna no longer expected anything from him, and graciously took photos with each girl. She was particularly delighted to see Chen Sufen, warmly embracing her just as Chen had done in the car.

Bai Haonan tried to join the round of embraces, only to be kicked away by Qiao Yingna with a laugh. The freshmen hurried to help the rumored star sister fix her dress and hair, while the flight attendants eagerly offered tips: “Honestly, you have the best image, but you need to work on your presence. I went to the capital for a pageant and met a French posture coach—she said presence is everything. You fit the queenly vibe perfectly, Sister Qiao, you have to show it…”

Qiao Yingna was willing to learn. She knew her weaknesses, and the flight attendants gave her a crash course. Finally, Chen Sufen stood beside Bai Haonan, whispering: “Years have passed, your girl-chasing skills have improved so much. They’re all gorgeous.”

Bai Haonan, proud: “What did you expect? Your dad kept me under control before…” He turned his attention to the table tennis girl—his father coached the sport, so he was very familiar. His own childhood was spent at the edge of the table, a bittersweet start. So as the flock of girls settled backstage near the stage, Bai was already slyly wrapping his arm around a girl’s waist.

Under the dazzling stage lights, the other girls noticed Bai Haonan’s little gestures, yet pretended not to see. A couple even helped distract others for him.

To reach this level of charm, Brother Nan truly had mastered the art.

After a rapid drumbeat, the radiant curtain rose.