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22.84% Rebirth:I'm A Favourite With Them / Chapter 53: The Mask

Chapter 53: The Mask

No matter how much Pablo tried to dissuade her, Zuri remained steadfast in her decision. The staff quickly brought several masks, but Pablo discarded each one.

 

"Oh my God! This mask is hideous. No, get another one."

"Oh, heavens! How can there be such an ugly mask?"

"Buddy, what is this? A disposable prop for a masquerade ball? You can't put this on a face kissed by God. No, replace it."

"Oh, God. This is desecrating my goddess. Quick, get rid of it."

 

Pablo threw away another mask handed to him by the assistant. The staff shrugged helplessly. "That's all we've got."

 

"Oh my God, that's it?" Pablo turned to Zuri. "See, it's fate. Even God doesn't want you to wear those cumbersome and useless things."

 

Zuri picked up the simplest cat mask from the table. "This one will do."

 

"Darling, this is too plain. It doesn't match your aura."

 

"I think it's fine."

 

Owen had entered backstage at some point, his gaze sweeping over the crowd and settling on Zuri. Seeing her holding the plain mask, enduring Pablo's unending persuasion with clear and determined eyes, he was moved.

 

Turning slightly, he instructed an assistant, "Bring the wooden box from the trunk."

 

Taking the sandalwood box from the assistant, Owen walked up and presented it to Zuri.

 

Zuri looked at him in confusion.

 

"Open it."

 

Zuri opened the box to reveal an exquisite silver fox mask adorned with countless diamonds, sparkling under the lights.

 

"It's beautiful."

 

The people around couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. The mask was not only intricate but also encrusted with hundreds of diamonds, making it incredibly valuable.

 

"This suits you better."

 

Owen picked up the mask and moved behind her, personally putting it on her. While the surrounding staff were still marveling at the mask's value, Owen had swiftly and adeptly put the mask on Zuri.

 

Once he was done, the surrounding staff were dumbfounded, with a few nearly dropping their jaws.

 

What just happened?

Owen personally put the mask on the girl, personally!

 

Owen seemed oblivious to the unusual gazes around him, or perhaps he noticed but didn't care. His deep eyes scanned her up and down, and in his magnetic voice, he softly praised, "Beautiful."

 

Pablo was the first to recover. "Oh my God, darling, you are amazing. With this mask, you're unbelievably captivating. Oh, I think I've fallen in love with you."

 

Pablo's exaggerated praise quickly dispelled the crowd's shock, and the room returned to its busy, tense atmosphere.

 

"Change outfits, it's time to go on stage," the coordinator shouted.

 

Standing together at the entrance to the stage, under dim lights, they couldn't see each other clearly. His eyes lowered slightly, and in the flickering light, her eyes behind the silver mask shone brightly, as if they were glowing.

 

Noticing her side glance, Zuri looked up.

 

"Are you nervous?" Owen asked. Before she could respond, he continued, "If you are, here's a trick. Imagine all the audience members as lemon trees. These lemon trees can make noise and talk."

 

"Pfft." Zuri chuckled lightly.

 

Seeing her smile, Owen's thin, sexy lips curved into a mesmerizing smile.

 

Behind them, Isaac and a few staff members were completely stunned.

 

Whoa!

When did Owen turn into a warm-hearted guy? This totally doesn't fit his cold and noble persona.

 

Isaac squinted his eyes, suspiciously staring at him.

 

After the host on stage finished speaking, all the lights dimmed. Owen and Zuri appeared on the stage via a lift.

 

A spotlight fell, revealing a girl sitting in front of a black piano, radiating like fire. She wore a silver fox mask, exuding mystery and aloofness.

 

The gentle and soft piano music slowly filled the packed stadium, flowing into the ears of every audience member.

 

After the melodious overture, the noisy chatter gradually ceased. The piano's long, rain-like notes flowed clearly and purely, washing away the world's restlessness.

 

As everyone unknowingly enjoyed the beautiful piano music, a magnetic voice blended seamlessly into the melody, each complementing the other, creating a unique charm.

 

This song was supposed to be centered around the vocals, with the piano as a secondary accompaniment. However, at times, the listeners had the illusion that the vocals were accompanying the piano.

 

It seemed that the star of the performance was not the idol they loved but the focused and composed fox-masked girl on stage.

 

After the performance, the crowd of thousands chanted in unison.

 

"Encore, encore!"

 

The girl at the piano stood up, bowed gracefully to the audience, and descended as the lift lowered.

 

In the diamond VIP seats, Farida watched the radiant Zuri on stage. Instead of feeling jealousy, she couldn't muster any. Zuri was simply better.

 

Laymen see the excitement; professionals see the intricacies. To the average audience, the girl on stage played beautifully, but to the trained eye, there was more.

 

Likewise, Azura, sitting in the diamond VIP seats, was stunned for a while seeing the masked performer.

 

Why didn't Zuri reveal her face? Revealing it would make her famous.

 

She initially wanted to brag that the person on stage was her friend, but given the circumstances, she decided against it.

 

On the other side, Saira and Christian sat in the VIP section. Although Christian was not good at playing the piano, he had a decent appreciation for it.

 

"Owen's accompanists are incredible. That girl on the piano is nearly at a master level. She seems quite young," Christian exclaimed.

 

Saira nodded in agreement but felt a bit uncomfortable. She didn't like hearing her brother praise other girls. Her gaze occasionally swept over the diamond VIP seats, worriedly saying, "Brother, it seems Zuri didn't come."

 

Christian's attention shifted back from the girl on stage. He glanced at the diamond VIP seats and sneered.

 

"When I heard her confident words that day, I thought she was capable. Turns out she's just full of hot air. Saira, I know you're kind-hearted, but some people don't deserve your kindness. Stay away from her, okay?"

 

"Alright," Saira reluctantly agreed.

 

Backstage

 

Zuri removed the invaluable silver fox mask, placed it back in the wooden box, and handed it to the assistant. After changing out of her performance clothes, she quietly sat at the makeup table, removing her makeup.


next chapter

Chapter 54: The Missing Mask

After Owen took his final bow, the backstage erupted in cheers and confetti cannons fired off. Both the onstage and backstage crews could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Half a month of hard work had culminated in a flawless finale.

 

After removing her makeup, Zuri prepared to leave. Remembering Azura's instructions, she asked a staff member for a piece of paper and a pen, then approached Owen.

 

"Could you sign this?" Zuri handed him the paper and pen.

 

Owen was taken aback. The surrounding staff, witnessing this, froze. Pablo frantically signaled Zuri to stop her foolish behavior.

 

Everyone who worked closely with Owen knew he detested signing autographs. In his five-year career, his signatures were so rare that they could be counted on one hand, making them exceptionally valuable.

 

Noticing the peculiar expressions on the staff's faces, especially Pablo's exaggerated hints, Zuri quietly prepared to withdraw her hand.

 

Suddenly, her hand was empty—Owen had taken the paper and pen.

 

"You want me to sign here?" he asked.

 

Zuri nodded.

 

Under the astonished gazes of everyone present, Owen smoothly signed his name with a flourish.

 

"Thank you," Zuri said, taking back the paper and pen.

 

Just as she turned to leave, Owen's voice called out behind her.

 

"Wait a moment."

 

Zuri's clear eyes regarded him. "Is there something else?"

 

"You haven't received your payment," Owen reminded her.

 

Isaac, watching from the side, frowned deeply. Something was off—very off. Owen's uncharacteristic concern was unusual. Was he possibly interested in the girl?

 

Isaac was worried, feeling an urgent need to interrogate Owen privately.

 

Zuri waved the signed paper. "This will do as payment."

 

Though she wasn't sure why everyone reacted strangely when she asked for a signature, she had her suspicions. Since he had graciously given his autograph, she wouldn't demand additional compensation.

 

"A signature is a signature, and payment is payment. Your performance deserves proper compensation. Leave your phone number, and I'll have Isaac transfer the payment to you later."

 

Isaac inwardly scoffed. This guy was subtly asking for the girl's number with a valid excuse!

 

Seeing Owen's insistence, Zuri didn't refuse further. Rejecting more would seem pretentious. Besides, she really needed the money.

 

As she finished the call and was about to leave, an assistant hurried over and called out to Zuri.

 

"Miss Zuri, please wait a moment."

 

Zuri paused again.

 

The assistant, looking anxious, said, "Miss Zuri, the mask is missing from the wooden box you gave me. Did you forget to put it back?"

 

Though the assistant's words were tactful, everyone understood the implication.

 

"Missing?" Zuri was puzzled.

 

The assistant nodded. She had double-checked the box before securing it, only to find it empty. Since no one else had touched the box after Zuri handed it over, the only explanation was that Zuri never put the mask back.

 

A fox mask worth millions—it wasn't surprising if the young girl was tempted.

 

But she couldn't let Zuri leave with such a heavy debt on her shoulders. A debt of millions would take years of frugal living to repay. Even if it meant embarrassing Zuri in front of everyone, the assistant had no choice.

 

The assistant's gaze landed on Zuri's handbag, the implication clear.

 

Amid the scrutinizing and surprised looks from those around her, Zuri remained composed. Her eyes were clear. "Are you certain there was no mask in the box? Are you sure no one else touched it?"

 

A barrage of questions left the assistant momentarily stunned.

 

The assistant nodded firmly. "I'm sure. No one else touched it after you handed it to me. When I did the final check, the silver mask was missing."

 

The assistant was convinced Zuri had taken the mask.

 

The crowd murmured.

 

"That mask is worth millions, with diamonds from South Africa. It's understandable for a young girl to be tempted."

 

"She seemed nice, but who knew she'd have sticky fingers," someone remarked.

 

"You can't judge a book by its cover. Owen was kind to her."

 

"No wonder she refused payment. She already took a million-dollar mask. Who needs the fee?"

 

"Let's not jump to conclusions. She doesn't seem like the type to steal."

 

The discussions were loud enough for Zuri and the others to hear. Anyone else might have been angered or embarrassed by the accusations and suspicions, but Zuri remained calm.

 

Owen's face darkened, showing signs of anger. Isaac quickly interjected, "Zuri, maybe you forgot to put it back. Check your things."

 

Better he ask first before Owen lost his temper and scared the girl to tears.

 

Isaac's intention was good, but Owen shot him a sharp, icy look that seemed to say, "You idiot."

 

Owen coldly commanded, "Have security seal the backstage exits. No one leaves until this is resolved."

 

This matter needed thorough investigation. There was no room for a thief in his team. Owen hadn't even considered suspecting Zuri.

 

Zuri sighed, exasperated, her phone vibrating constantly—Azura, no doubt, urging her. "To prove my innocence, you can check my bag. My friend is waiting for me."

 

She handed her bag to Owen.

 

Owen pushed the bag back. "No need. It's not you."

 

"Why?" Zuri asked.

 

"Your handbag is a custom-made Aiden piece, worth 200,000. Your watch is a Patek Philippe limited edition, worth 580,000. Your necklace is about 100,000, and your clothes are custom-made. Your entire outfit is worth more than the mask. So, you couldn't be the thief."

 

Who was Aiden? Most people hadn't heard the name, but those who had knew it was a top-tier brand, far beyond their reach.


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