I am the Entertainment Tycoon

Chapter 758: The Pause Between Beats



The final chords of "Better Now" echoed through the vast expanse of Mafra Q Hall, and as the last note faded into the air, an overwhelming roar of applause swept across the crowd. Thousands of fans stood on their feet, clapping, cheering, and waving glowing sticks that pulsed with vibrant colors. The massive screens framing the stage displayed the face of the man who had held them spellbound for the last hour-Moonlight, silver-haired and shining in the spotlight, his silver eyes gazing out over the sea of fans, as if taking in every single one of them.

Theo-no, Moonlight-stood still, his microphone still clutched in his hand. His chest rose and fell steadily, the only sign that he had poured his heart into the performance. He had just finished one of the most emotionally charged songs of the night, "Better Now," and he could feel the lingering emotions in the hall, the way his words had resonated with the crowd.

He allowed himself a brief pause, one that wasn't filled with words or music, but with the pure connection between him and his audience. It was moments like these that made everything worth it—the late-night practices, the nerves, the countless hours spent perfecting every note. He had them now. He felt it.

The hall was dim, save for the soft glow of the audience's lights, and in that gentle quiet after the applause, Moonlight allowed a small smile to curl at the edge of his lips. His voice, still slightly hoarse from singing, echoed softly as he spoke.

"Thank you," he said simply, letting the words wash over the crowd like a wave of sincerity. The crowd erupted into another cheer, louder this time as if those two words alone were enough to express everything they had felt during the song.

For a moment, Theo let the world slow down. His gaze swept across the sea of fans, their faces blurred slightly by the bright stage lights, but he could feel their presence. Each person in the audience had come here for him, for Moonlight. They had listened to his songs, watched his music videos, and shared his art with friends, making him into something bigger than he ever thought he could be.

Theo's heart swelled with gratitude, but a part of him felt the weight of the secret he was keeping. 'They don't really know me', he thought, as he stood there in his Moonlight persona, basking in the crowd's adoration. 'They love Moonlight. But they don't know Theo.'

It was a strange sensation, balancing this double life. Out there, in the world of entertainment, he was Moonlight-the mysterious, talented musician with the silver hair and the voice that could touch hearts. But behind the scenes, in the quiet of his home, he was Theo -a brother, a guardian, a man who had lived two lives. Aurora, his little sister, had teased him endlessly when he first put on the Moonlight persona, calling him dramatic, even if she knew how much it meant to him to keep this secret.

Still, as Moonlight, he could pour his soul into the music. Even if they didn't know him as Theo, they felt the essence of his emotions, his memories, and his dreams, all laid bare through the lyrics and melodies. That was enough for now.

He stepped back from the microphone, taking a deep breath. The applause had started to quiet down, and in the stillness, the soft hum of the stage equipment filled the space. The lights shifted slightly, casting a cooler, more subdued glow across the stage. His team was working in perfect synchrony behind the scenes, preparing for the next song.

Theo turned, walking slowly across the stage, allowing the tension to build. The silence in the room was almost tangible, a deep anticipation as the audience waited to see what Moonlight would do next. The crowd was used to him being unpredictable, always keeping them on edge. Some concerts were loud, energetic, and full of fire and passion. Others, like this one, took on a more intimate, soul-bearing tone.

This pause this moment of quiet reflection after "Better Now"-was planned, but it felt so natural, so in tune with the flow of the night. Theo's blaring red eyes scanned the crowd once more before he disappeared into the shadows backstage. The stage lights dimmed even further, leaving the hall cloaked in darkness, save for the glimmering lights in the hands of his fans.

The moment he disappeared from sight, the crowd's chatter began to fill the space again, quiet but charged. They knew he was coming back soon-everyone could feel it. This was only the calm before the next storm.

Backstage, Theo wiped the sweat from his brow, his hand steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. He drank a bottle of water as Ayia, his girlfriend/agent passed him some instructions.

Theo just nodded as he tried to maintain his focus.

His heart was still racing from the performance, but he was ready for what was next. "bad guy"-a song as upbeat as "Better Now.". He expected to shake the crowd with the same passion he just did a few minutes ago.

He could already feel the shift in his own mindset as he prepared for the transition. This was the versatility of Moonlight—the ability to move from heartfelt ballads to high-energy, genre-defying tracks without losing the essence of who he was as an artist.

Theo stepped toward the synthesizer that had been set up for him. The instrument was sleek, gleaming under the dim backstage lights, and it called to him with the promise of a different kind of performance. He had practiced this part of the show endlessly-making sure every beat, every note, every pause would hit the audience in the right way.

As he approached the stage again, the lights began to shift, a low, pulsating rhythm building in the background. The deep bass of the synthesizer hummed quietly, almost imperceptibly, but enough to make the crowd start to stir.

The lights of the stage lit up once again, and Moonlight reappeared, the shimmering lights hitting his silver hair in just the right way. The crowd erupted again, louder this time, their anticipation at a fever pitch. But Theo-Moonlight-didn't rush. He took his time, stepping forward with the casual grace of someone who had complete control of the moment.

He sat down at the synthesizer, his fingers lightly brushing the keys. The crowd began to quiet down again, sensing that something different was about to happen. The low hum of the bass grew louder, vibrating through the walls of the hall. A single spotlight now illuminated Moonlight as he leaned into the microphone.

There was a pause, a brief moment where it felt like time stood still. Then, his voice rang out -soft, yet powerful.

"You all having fun tonight?"

The crowd exploded into cheers, the noise reverberating off the walls, almost shaking the very foundation of the hall. Theo let the sound wash over him for a moment before

continuing.

"I hope so," he said with a playful grin. "Because the next one's going to hit a little different."

The crowd roared again, sensing the shift in energy, and just like that, the mood changed. Moonlight's fingers pressed down on the synthesizer keys, and the opening notes of "bad guy" throbbed through the hall, the beat-heavy, infectious, and impossible to resist.

The crowd was ready. So was he.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om