Chapter 90: Master and Disciple Meet, Countdown

Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Master and Disciple Meet, Countdown

The long-awaited SG was finally about to appear.

In an instant, the live comments exploded across the screen. A single glance revealed nothing but SG’s name.

The hype was on par with that of a top-tier celebrity.

The host glanced at the cue card in his hand and, following the show’s schedule, first asked Sienna Everett and Orion Hawthorne to go backstage, leaving Dustin Everett and Shannon Everett on stage.

Orion Hawthorne’s fans were instantly displeased.

What the hell, you damn production team! SG is about to come on, so why are you making our Orion leave the stage?!

And Sienna Everett, why was she asked to go backstage too?

Damn, so they’re not even giving them any screen time?

Dustin Everett’s fans were gloating.

Is there even a need to ask? SG is our Dustin’s master, so of course they’re keeping Dustin on stage!

I’d advise Sienna Everett’s fans to just save it. She has nothing to do with SG, so of course she was asked to leave the stage!

LMAO I’m dying hahahahaha, good job production team! Get rid of the irrelevant people early! Happily waiting for Brother Dustin and SG to have their reunion!

Although SG had written a song for Orion Hawthorne before and not for Dustin Everett, Dustin’s fans were convinced this was just a fluke.

Once Dustin Everett and SG had their reunion, SG would go back to looking after Dustin like before, treating their Dustin as their dearest apprentice.

「Onstage.」

The moment Dustin Everett heard SG was about to appear, he grew tense.

In fact, he had searched all over the backstage area before the show started but hadn’t found any sign of SG. He had no idea... what his master even looked like.

When Shannon Everett saw Sienna Everett being led offstage, she couldn’t help but feel smug.

Her fifth brother was about to have his reunion with SG, and as his sister, she would definitely get to bask in the reflected glory. She might even be sought after and admired.

’As for Sienna Everett, she can go to hell for all I care!’

At that moment, the only guests left on stage were Dustin Everett and Shannon Everett.

The host looked at the camera and made a little joke. "Asking Sienna Everett and Orion Hawthorne to go backstage was the director’s idea. I’m just following the program’s schedule. If you’re going to blame someone, blame the director, not me!"

After lightening the mood, the host turned to Dustin Everett and asked, "We all know that Dustin is the only apprentice SG has ever taken on. You’re about to see SG in person for the first time. What are you feeling right now?"

Dustin Everett’s fingers tightened slightly around the microphone. "To be honest, I’m very nervous, and also very excited."

The host continued, "Dustin, can you tell us why SG decided to take you on as an apprentice back then?"

At the mention of this, a desolate look flickered across Dustin Everett’s face, as if he had been transported back to those bleak, dim days.

Shannon Everett reached out and squeezed Dustin Everett’s wrist, offering him silent support.

’With so many cameras around, of course she had to play the part of a devoted, responsible little sister.’

Dustin Everett slowly pulled himself out of that dark memory and faced the past with a smile.

"I became famous at a young age. The very first song I wrote after my debut was loved by everyone, and I gained countless fans. Later, I continued to write some very popular songs and won a few awards."

"But at some point, I hit a plateau. I had no good inspiration and couldn’t write any good songs. The new songs I released were either cursed out or criticized."

"Many fans were still hoping I would write great songs again, just like before, but the more they hoped, the greater the pressure on me became."

"The more arrogant a person is, the more they’re unable to accept their own failure." Dustin Everett gave a bitter laugh. "That’s what I was like back then. I couldn’t accept my own failure."

"During that time, I fell into a deep pit of self-doubt. I tried my best to write songs, but I couldn’t even create something that satisfied myself. This made me loathe myself more and more. I couldn’t accept falling from golden boy to rock bottom. I locked myself in my room, afraid to go out. I even developed depression at one point and wanted to end it all..."

Hearing this, Dustin Everett’s fans were already in tears, sobbing uncontrollably.

They knew those dark, lightless days all too well. Every day they would wake up worried they’d see news of Dustin Everett quitting the entertainment industry.

But they never, ever expected that their idol’s psychological problems had become so severe that he had once considered suicide...

Dustin Everett looked at Shannon Everett beside him and smiled gratefully. "Shannon also gave me some support back then. Though she can’t compose music, she wrote a set of lyrics for me. Shannon, do you remember?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

Shannon Everett nodded gently. "Of course I remember. I was so heartbroken seeing the state you were in, Fifth Brother, so I wrote a song called ’The Brightest Flower’ for you."

Hearing this, Dustin Everett’s brow furrowed immediately. "Shannon, the lyrics you gave me were for ’Brightest Star’."

The name signified that even in the darkest moment before the dawn, he was still the brightest star.

Corrected, Shannon Everett was startled. She immediately covered her mouth and laughed apologetically. "Sorry, Fifth Brother. I was a little nervous and misremembered."

Dustin Everett didn’t dwell on the little slip-up and turned back to the camera.

"The person I’m most grateful to, however, is my master, SG."

"When I was at my darkest, most desperate point, when I wanted to end my own life, it was SG who contacted me online and offered to take me on as an apprentice."

"At first, I didn’t dare to believe it. I even thought it was a scammer. Only later did I realize that SG genuinely wanted to take me as an apprentice and teach me composition."

"SG never criticized me, saying I was bad at this or that, nor did they place huge expectations on me that would create pressure. SG was like a long-time friend, using the methods that suited me best to help me find inspiration and create new songs."

"Everyone knows what happened next. The album that SG helped me compose won me the ’Most Popular Male Artist’ award and became the best-selling album of that year."

The host listened, full of admiration. "I never would have thought SG had a side like that."

Dustin Everett’s lips curved into a smile, his eyes filled with adoration and gratitude.

"You could say that it was SG who helped me walk out of the haze and regain my confidence. Without SG, I might still be stuck in the mud, or I might have committed suicide because I couldn’t take it anymore..."

Dustin Everett paused, the corners of his eyes glistening with tears. He spoke each word with resounding force, "It was SG who gave me a second chance at honor, and at life!"

The weight of those words made even the netizens in the live broadcast feel a sting in their noses.

Sob sob sob, bring SG out already! Let this master and apprentice meet!

By the way, are Orion Hawthorne and Sienna Everett just going to stay backstage and not come out?

Seeing that last live comment, Dustin Everett’s fans instantly swarmed.

Our Dustin is finally about to meet his master, SG. Can we please not have Sienna Everett ruin the mood for him at a time like this!

Exactly! Earlier, when they were evaluating the compositions, Dustin said Sienna Everett doesn’t understand composition and isn’t qualified to comment. It was blunt, but he wasn’t wrong. What right does someone like Sienna Everett have to be Dustin’s sister?!

Let’s get this straight. When Dustin and SG have their reunion, Sienna Everett better not shamelessly try to suck up to our Dustin! And she better not leech off our Dustin’s popularity!

Sienna’s fans were furious when they saw these comments.

Dustin Everett’s fans were always throwing their weight around, riding on the coattails of SG being Dustin’s master. They were more annoying than flies in an outhouse.

Finally, the most exciting moment had arrived.

The host’s voice trembled with excitement. "It is a great honor to have the most famous, most mysterious genius composer in the country, SG, here with us on our show!"

"What’s even more of an honor is that this is also the great SG’s first-ever public appearance anywhere online!"

"And now, let’s welcome the great SG to the stage!"

As the host’s voice faded, with a WHOOSH, the lights above the stage all turned on, and the large doors at the back of the stage slowly pulled apart to either side.

The netizens in the live broadcast unconsciously held their breath, waiting expectantly to see SG’s true face.

Dustin Everett looked on, overcome with nervousness. ’Master... is finally about to appear...’

’Seeing Sienna Everett today was a real downer, but being able to see my master makes that little annoyance not even worth mentioning.’

As the doors at the back of the stage slowly parted, a graceful figure emerged, walking elegantly under the dazzling, brilliant lights.