"Let’s go, the concert is about to start." Luo Fei said as he grabbed Yang Mei’s hand.
Yang Mei had a shy expression on her face and did not refuse.
On the central avenue, Luo Fei was holding Yang Mei’s hand. The two of them walked side by side at a leisurely pace toward the music park. They didn’t speak, but their hearts were very sweet.
Even though it’s a long road to the music square, Luo Fei and Yang Mei felt it was very short and arrived in no time.
At this time, the square was already packed with people. Although Sun Ling was just a fading celebrity, perhaps not even a third or fourth-tier star now, she had been popular before and had her own hit songs. Moreover, this concert was organized by the Ningjiang Cultural and Entertainment Bureau to promote Ningjiang’s tourism and didn’t require tickets, so many people came to watch.
"There are so many people!" Yang Mei frowned when she saw the crowd. Sun Ling was a singer she liked, and she loved listening to Sun Ling’s songs. Although she wasn’t a die-hard fan, she had been looking forward to Sun Ling’s concert in Ningjiang for a long time.
"Yeah! So many people." Luo Fei also looked at the crowded square and frowned. He frowned because there were so many people on-site, but there were only a few security personnel to maintain order. If something happened in the square, it might cause trouble.
But then Luo Fei relaxed, thinking he was overthinking. Sun Ling was just a fading third or fourth-tier star, not one of those super popular celebrities. She probably didn’t even have many fans, so it shouldn’t cause any trouble.
"There are fewer people over there. Let’s go." Luo Fei glanced around and saw that there were slightly fewer people on the right-hand side. He took Yang Mei’s hand and walked that way. Due to the crowd, Luo Fei kept his peripheral attention on Yang Mei, afraid that some ignorant guy might take advantage.
After wandering for half a round, they finally found a spot with a good view that wasn’t too crowded.
Luo Fei used his body to shield Yang Mei from contact with others. Yang Mei felt sweet as Luo Fei shielded her from people.
Then the two chatted softly, waiting for the concert to start.
Time passed second by second, and it was almost eight o’clock, but Sun Ling had not yet appeared on the stage.
Among the crowd below, many people, who had been waiting for Sun Ling for a long time, started to get restless.
"Ladies and gentlemen in the audience, our singer encountered some temporary issues, so please be quiet and patient. Sun Ling will be here soon." The host hurried onto the stage, looking a bit anxious.
"What’s going on? Didn’t they say it starts at 7:30? It’s eight o’clock now, and she hasn’t showed up. She’s just a washed-up star. Why put on such airs? No wonder she’s doing worse and worse."
"Let’s go. So many people waiting for her, and she has no respect. Does she really think she’s still a big star?"
"Why hasn’t it started yet? I have to work the night shift later."
Upon hearing the host, many people in the audience started discussing among themselves.
"Did something happen? Sun Ling shouldn’t be this kind of person." Yang Mei frowned and said, holding Luo Fei’s hand tighter.
"Let’s wait a bit longer. There must be some delay." Luo Fei comforted, clearly seeing that Yang Mei really liked Sun Ling.
Meanwhile, backstage.
"What on earth is going on! Where did Sun Ling go? Can anyone tell me?" A slightly plump woman in her forties asked angrily, facing a rather youthful-looking girl in her twenties, who appeared panicked.
"I don’t know where Sister Sun Ling went. Just before, when Sister Sun Ling arrived, she said she wanted to go out for some fresh air, so she left. I didn’t follow since I had to prepare clothes for her. As the time approached, I noticed Sister Sun Ling hadn’t come back, so I went out to look for her, but couldn’t find her. I called, but no one answered." The girl whispered, looking close to tears.
"You’re her assistant in a place unfamiliar to us, and you let her go out alone without following? Don’t you know that’s very dangerous? You better hope nothing happened to her. If anything happens to delay this concert, you’ll see how I’ll deal with you." The plump woman glared at the girl and then left the backstage.
Back at the square, as time went on, more and more people became dissatisfied with Sun Ling’s delay.
The host on stage was already sweating profusely from the pressure.
The sound of police sirens blared, and a few police cars drove over from the central avenue in Luo Fei’s view.
"Yang Mei, let’s go over there; something must have happened." Luo Fei said, frowning as he spoke to Yang Mei beside him.
"Mm," Yang Mei nodded.
Then Luo Fei took Yang Mei’s hand and squeezed through the crowd towards the police cars.
The police cars came from Songxin Town’s police station.
The team was led by the head of the police station, Zhou Weimin, along with Zhang Da, Liu Haiquan, and Wu Wei.
"Luo Fei, why are you here too?" Zhou Weimin asked in confusion when he saw Luo Fei and Yang Mei approaching.
"We heard Sun Ling was having a concert here, so we came to listen. Director Zhou, what’s the situation?" Luo Fei explained and then asked.
Zhou Weimin glanced at Luo Fei and then at the strikingly beautiful Yang Mei beside him. He knew Yang Mei; she was the niece of Zhao Donglai, the technical team captain of the criminal police team, and Zhou Weimin, being an experienced person, immediately guessed what was going on.
"We just received a report that the celebrity Sun Ling went missing here at the music square. As soon as we got the call, we rushed over." Zhou Weimin explained.
"Sun Ling is missing?" Luo Fei immediately furrowed his brows. Although Sun Ling wasn’t a very popular star, as a public figure, every move she makes is watched by everyone. If Sun Ling really went missing in Ningjiang, it would definitely headline the news by tomorrow.
"Let’s walk and talk." Zhou Weimin said to Luo Fei and Yang Mei, and Luo Fei nodded. Then the group walked towards the backstage.
Backstage, Sun Ling’s agent, assistant, makeup artist, and several staff from the cultural and sports bureau were waiting.
When Luo Fei and the group entered.
"Director Zhou." The cultural and sports bureau official greeted Zhou Weimin, and the two seemed familiar.
"This is Luo Fei, the captain of the third squad of the criminal police team. This is Yang Mei, the technical team captain of the criminal police team. This is Yang Guo, the director of the cultural and sports bureau." Zhou Weimin introduced them to each other.
"Luo Fei, you must be the same Luo Fei who’s been solving those homicide cases, right?" The director of the cultural and sports bureau quickly stepped forward to shake hands with Luo Fei. In terms of rank, Yang Guo, as a director of the cultural and sports bureau, was at the same level as the criminal police team captain Zhao Donglai.
However, compared to the real power within the criminal police team, the cultural and sports bureau was far less significant. Moreover, Luo Fei had solved so many cases, making him quite famous within Ningjiang’s public security system. He was considered a rising star with a promising future, which is why Yang Guo was so courteous.