Chapter 109

The mall was packed. Girls with fan signs crowded the main hall, squeezing in so tight there was barely room to breathe. The noise was wild, shrieks and cheers echoing everywhere.
“Kenneth is so hot! Oh my god!”
“Kenneth, Kenneth, Kenneth!”
“He’s finally performing in public! I am living for this!”
“Kenneth, Kenneth, my love!”
Charlotte had just stepped inside and instantly spotted the chaos. Her eyebrows drew together in a quick frown. If it weren’t for the singing, she would have thought the mall was just running some crazy sale.
She looked away, pulled out her phone, and sent a quick message to Shirley.
Where are you?
Almost as soon as she hit send, she spotted Shirley’s head popping up in the crowd. Shirley was jumping up and down, waving frantically.
“Charlotte, over here!”
Tucking her phone away, Charlotte moved through the crowd with ease, her long legs making it look effortless. Thanks to her height, she could see the stage clearly.
The guy up there was wearing a black studded leather jacket. His short hair had this smoky blue-gray curl to it, and a crescent-shaped diamond earring sparkled on his left ear. Sitting on a tall stool with a guitar in his arms, he looked lost in the music, eyes half closed as he sang.
His voice was deep and smoky, the kind that sent chills down your spine. Every note seemed to hang in the air, wrapping the whole hall in music.
Kenneth.
He was huge. World-famous singer, actor, the whole package. People called him a once-in-a-century musical genius. His albums sold so well they could probably circle the planet more than once. Whatever show he starred in instantly blew up. He was the hottest name in showbiz, no question.
“Charlotte, that’s Kenneth. Do you like him? Can we watch for a bit before we study?” Shirley was practically bouncing in her white dress, craning her neck for a better view, her eyes practically sparkling.
Charlotte gave her a look, half amused, half resigned. It honestly took a lot to distract Shirley from studying.
“Never heard of him,” Charlotte replied.
It wasn’t about liking or not. She really just didn’t know him.
Shirley stared at her, eyes wide with disbelief.
“Wait, you don’t know Kenneth? Seriously? In Eldoria, everyone knows him. Like, literally everyone.”
Charlotte’s eyes flickered with a hint of coldness as she glanced at the singer.
She actually had seen him before. He was the creep who tried hitting on her at a stoplight.
“I really don’t know him. Is he some big deal? You like him?”
At that, Shirley’s cheeks turned bright pink and she nodded shyly. “Yeah, I’m a Baby.”
“A what?”
“Baby’ is what Kenneth’s fans are called. I’m a level three die-hard.”
Charlotte could only stare. Sometimes she just didn’t get it.
But Shirley didn’t seem surprised Charlotte didn’t know him. After Charlotte had lived out in the
velvet
countryside for ages. It made sense she’d be out of the loop.
“Charlotte, he’s honestly really sweet. Super good-looking, not stuck-up at all, and
“Shirley.” Charlotte cut her off, tapping her on the forehead. “Why are we here?”
“Study,” Shirley answered, cheeks
burning with embarrassment. She quickly grabbed Charlotte’s arm. “Let’s go, okay?”
As much as she loved Kenneth,
to get kicked out of Vangnet
helping Charlotte was way more et
important. She didn’t want
of Vanguard High
Still, Shirley couldn’t help glancing back at the stage, her lips pressed together in a little pout.
Kenneth, I’ll come back for you next time. Promise.
Just then, Charlotte spoke up. “You can keep watching if you want. I’ll just do my worksheets over there.”