The darkness stretched on far too long. At first, people thought it was a planned effect, but soon uneasy whispers spread across the stadium. Fans shifted in their seats, craning their necks as if straining could reveal what was happening on stage.
Backstage, the staff was in complete disarray. Technicians darted from one panel to another, voices overlapping in panic. This blackout was not in the schedule. It was not supposed to happen. Every second that ticked by only worsened the chaos.
At the center of it all, Mao Li's face had grown cold and tight. The head of Blue Entertainment had expected tonight to be perfect, flawless, unforgettable. Instead, millions of people watching from home were staring at nothing but black screens. His voice was sharp as he barked into his phone. "Fix this! I don't care how—bring the lights back now!"
For Blue Entertainment, this was supposed to be flawless.
A legacy night.
Instead, millions of viewers at home saw nothing but a black screen.
