Little Simon was having the time of his life today, but Claire Lee wasn't so lucky.
With the Simon event's hype skyrocketing, Costa Mayor's phone hadn't stopped ringing in the five minutes leading up to the Lem Valley Music Festival. "What a happy problem to have," Costa muttered with a grin, glancing at Dujuan in the festival's control room.
Dujuan, however, looked worried. "Is Claire okay? I swear I heard her fighting with someone in the interview room earlier."
Costa didn't answer directly. Instead, he gave her a serious look. "You're about to become the spokesperson for the British Royal Foundation's Anti-Cancer Fund. Ever heard of Tom Hardy? Your schedule's gonna be just as packed as his. Make sure you loop your company in afterward so they can coordinate your business affairs with me."
"Got it. Thanks," Dujuan replied softly.
"Haha, don't thank me—thank Claire Lee!" Costa chuckled, waving her off before turning to chat with the lead director Warner Records had sent. Dujuan sat quietly, watching the big screen, completely unfazed by her sudden rise to fame.
---
The Lem Valley Stadium was decorated simply, but Claire stood awkwardly, staring at a pair of eye-catching long legs.
"Oppa, if we didn't have that U.S. event to attend, we might've missed your first tour!" Jessica Jung clung to Claire's arm, her deep V-neck top flashing a bit as she leaned in, unbothered.
Her group's manager, responsible for Girls' Generation's trip, conveniently looked away. The other members watched enviously as Jessica and Claire tangled, except for Tiffany, who'd met Claire before. She mustered the courage to high-five him before hiding behind Yoona, whispering secrets.
"Wow, Oppa, what happened to your lip? Did someone hit you?" Jessica gently touched the corner of Claire's mouth.
Claire flinched. "Nah, it's nothing. Just tripped earlier."
As the two flirted, Taylor Swift appeared, shooting them a disdainful glance. "Hmph, a player's gonna play," she muttered.
Jessica started to snap back, but Claire held her arm, shaking his head. Meanwhile, Seohyun, recognizing Taylor, rushed over like a fangirl, begging for a signed photo.
"Alright, I've got my opening performance soon. You guys heading back tonight?" Claire asked.
Jessica's fair skin flushed red. She glanced at her groupmates, ensuring they weren't listening, then whispered in Claire's ear, "Oppa, I know you've been holding back, but my schedule's insane. Next time, I promise I'll make it up to you~" She nipped his earlobe playfully.
Claire sucked in a breath, pinching her butt when no one was looking. The sneaky exchange gave him a thrill, like a secret affair, but the growing crowd streaming into the festival snapped him back. Cheers, shouts, and screams for arriving celebrities made Claire feel like he was back at Old Trafford.
Lucy Pinder, stunning in a qipao, stood under the spotlights. The stadium, meant for 4,000, had somehow sold nearly 30,000 tickets. When Lucy saw the green field packed with extra benches, it hit her: What charity festival? It's all about that damn capital.
Her red lips exhaled warm breaths in the chilly air, but the crowd's energy was electric. Though smaller than Old Trafford's, the stadium's big screen and roving cameras captured every star—Tom Hardy, Johnny Depp, Will Smith, Kate Winslet, Emma Watson, and more. Fans roared, feeling their tickets were worth every penny, while TV viewers regretted not being there.
Lucy didn't speak right away, waiting as a group of stunning women with long legs appeared behind her. Costa, spotting Girls' Generation as the opening act, didn't mind— their parent company had paid a fortune for the slot, and no one says no to money. The familiar beat of The Nights started low, then swelled.
The crowd went wild. Claire's song was a perfect opener, especially when the cameras panned to Manchester United players in the VIP section. The atmosphere exploded. Lucy's spotlight snapped off, revealing a lavish DC-themed backdrop—a comic-style main world with iconic characters—unveiled under the lights.
Claire's voice rang out:
When all our shadows disappeared
The animals inside came out to play
When face to face with all our fears
Learned our lessons through the tears
Made memories we knew would never fade
As the chorus of The Nights hit, the screen spotlighted the Manchester United team, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, singing along with Claire. Old Trafford's magic was reborn. Fans joined in, and the giant cameras captured it all—Claire's moves on one screen, the team on another, and the singing crowd on the third.
Tom Hardy got caught up in the vibe, cheering along. Johnny Depp, moved, remarked, "Looks like the UK's got another near-A-list star."
Will Smith, intrigued, leaned toward Kate Winslet. "You've been in the UK longer—ever met him? I heard he wrote Batman's theme song, and directors are lining up for him."
Kate smiled, shaking her head. "Don't know him, but he's tight with Tom. You should reach out if you're interested."
The moment didn't derail the epic scene. As The Nights ended, Girls' Generation seamlessly transitioned, pushing the crowd's energy to a fever pitch. Costa glanced at Christopher Nolan, who'd slipped into the control room. "Everything sorted?"
"Yeah, all good. Sorry about this afternoon's mess," Nolan replied.
"No worries—first collaborations always have hiccups. Claire's grateful you put in a good word for Dujuan with Luc Besson."
Nolan smiled faintly. "Just doing my part. I'm benefitting too. But Claire's got a real knack for reading people. He's tapped into what the UK cares about most, and after this, he's not just likely to be a near-A-lister—he will be."
"Definitely," Costa corrected with a grin.
---
Claire watched the girls dancing and singing on the main stage, swallowing hard. His first performance was done, but the night's big moment was next. Girls' Generation was undeniably competitive at this time. The U.S. and UK had similar groups, but the Koreans nailed the art of captivating male audiences—every move, every outfit perfectly calculated to draw eyes.
The crowd was split: some went wild, screaming and waving clothes, while others, limited by the language barrier, only reacted to familiar moves. As their set ended, Claire could've sworn Jessica blew him a kiss.
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The giant LED screen went black. Amid the crowd's cheers, it lit up with Simon in a Batman outfit, then morphed into a Superman graffiti version. The opening notes of Something Just Like This played softly.
A bassist, drummer, and guitarist, all in makeshift paper Batman jackets, appeared on the main stage.
I've been reading books of old
The legends and the myths
Achilles and his gold
Hercules and his gifts
Spiderman's control
And Batman with his fists
And clearly I don't see myself upon that list
Not every fan had attended the earlier Dream Event, but 90% had, and the song's heartfelt lyrics brought many to tears. "We're all just ordinary people, but every ordinary dream is worth fighting for!" Claire declared before diving back into the song.
The crowd was visibly moved. Even Gavin Harris, harmonizing with Claire, let his voice tremble with emotion. Taylor Swift, face flushed, murmured, "He's a genius. This song's amazing."
Carrie Underwood, the country music queen, appeared beside her, nodding. "Great kid. Another Grammy contender."
Taylor agreed, though she couldn't help but feel a twinge of rivalry. Carrie, a veteran with countless accolades, had outshone her lately, but Taylor believed her pop prowess would surpass Carrie's country roots in time.
Carrie, a star since 2004, hadn't quite crossed into megastar territory, and her all-American appeal resonated more with North American tastes. As Claire left the stage to cheers, Taylor prepped for her set.
"Good luck! Your new song's awesome—I love it," Carrie said warmly. But once Taylor left the green room, Carrie turned to her manager. "Did Claire write her song?"
"Yeah, the composer slot's blank, but I heard he helped with her second album. It's why she signed with Warner."