**Chapter 206: On Stage Performance**

The Wireless City Music Hall, the largest indoor theater in the world and one of the most famous artistic venues, has been hosting symphonies, singing, dancing, vaudeville acts, and hundreds of movie premieres since its completion in 1932.

Inside the theater, there are 6,200 crimson velvet seats, with the distance from the back rows to the stage being 50 meters, and the ceiling height at 25 meters. The walls and ceiling are adorned with flowing archways that create a curvaceous space when viewed from the entrance.

Due to its luxurious nature, performances here require the highest standards.

After receiving the invitation to perform, Link and Wiz rehearsed here twice to prevent any stage mishaps.

Since Link needed to play the piano, he practiced for more than three hours each day, his fingers almost numb from the constant playing. Fortunately, his recovery was quick, allowing him to continue practicing the next day.

His intensive practice had significantly improved his performance skills, avoiding a repeat of the near disaster at the country music festival.

"Mr. Link Beck, are you ready?"

"Ready!"

"OK! Let's start!"

Hearing the director's voice through his earpiece, Link took a deep breath; the performance was about to begin.

He straightened his posture, sat at the Steinway piano, placed his hands on the black and white keys, and gently pressed them, producing the prelude to "See You Again."

Ding ding dong!

As the piano notes filled the air, the crimson velvet curtains surrounding the circular stage slowly rose, eliminating the barrier between the stage and the audience.

Link, who had been hidden behind the curtain, was now exposed to the thousands of spectators.

"Link! Link!"

The audience erupted in waves of applause and cheers from all directions, a scene he hadn't experienced during rehearsals.

The stage now felt like a boxing ring.

He was on stage, surrounded by spectators from all sides.

The difference was that he didn't need to defeat an opponent; he only needed to conquer his own fear and lack of confidence, and present his best performance.

This was the 26th MTV Music Video Awards ceremony.

An important part of the ceremony was a tribute to the recently deceased MJ, and "See You Again" was considered the most sincere tribute to MJ.

Therefore, Link and Wiz were invited to perform as the opening act.

Being invited to perform was something Link could anticipate.

However, being asked to open the show was unexpected.

Opening and closing acts are the most crucial parts of a major show, known as the "grand opening and closing," and must be flawless.

Hearing the applause rising and falling like tides around him, Link felt calmer, his piano performance more adept—a testament to the mental fortitude and skills developed from hundreds of boxing matches.

He continued playing the piano, leaning close to the microphone on the piano lid, and sang softly:

It's been a long day without you my friend

And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

"Wow! That was amazing!"

"Link! Link! Link!"

As he began singing, the fans in the audience cheered and clapped loudly.

"Link, you're the best!"

Taylor, sitting in the second row, shouted towards him with excitement, her cheeks flushed.

"This is so cool!"

"He can box, swim, sing, play piano, and he's so handsome—he should be my boyfriend."

"You forgot to mention how strong he is. That's the most important part."

The female singers in the audience couldn't help but cheer and whisper among themselves as they watched Link at the piano.

"Link is the coolest guy in a suit I've ever seen. If I were his girlfriend, I'd have him wear a suit every day, even during ML."

Katy Perry clapped and commented to Lady Gaga.

"Keep it down, Taylor's behind you," Lady Gaga replied, holding a puppet.

"I'm just praising Link. It's fine if Taylor hears," Katy Perry said nonchalantly.

Although Taylor didn't hear Katy's comments, she could hear the other female singers' praise. She felt a pang of regret, thinking she should have let Link wear a garbage bag to avoid so much jealousy.

She suddenly realized that Link's attractiveness wasn't always an advantage.

"Damn! Why did they let that jerk Link open the show? This year's MTV is held in New York, and it should have been a New York artist opening."

In the third row of the audience, 50 Cent expressed his displeasure.

"Because 'See You Again' is his song. You all claim to be MJ's die-hard fans, his spiritual idols, but none of you wrote a decent song after his passing?"

Eminem mocked, clapping his hands.

50 Cent, Lil Wayne, T.I., and Drake had nothing to say.

Kanye watched the stage with a grim face, frustrated that Link could write such a song while he couldn't.

"Well, I get it now. You're all fake MJ fans," Eminem said with a smirk.

Beyoncé, sitting in the front row, turned around and smiled, "Amm, you're an MJ hater. Isn't it awkward to be here at MJ's tribute ceremony?"

Eminem's smile froze. Back in 2003, he wrote a rap song "Just Lose It" that mocked MJ's child molestation accusations, the Pepsi ad burn incident, and his plastic surgeries.

MJ had publicly expressed his hurt and called Eminem a piece of dog shit, which was one of the hot entertainment news stories of 2003. Eminem had been forced to apologize on radio interviews, claiming to be an MJ fan.

However, MJ's fans didn't forgive him, and he was seen as a chief MJ hater.

"Hey, Amm, are you feeling awkward?"

Lil Wayne and others laughed, looking at Eminem.

"I'm not!"

Eminem pulled his hat over his eyes, crossed his arms, and ignored them.

We've come a long way from where we began

Oh I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

When I see you again

In the center of the stage, Link continued to play the piano and sing. As he finished the first verse, a seductive, sultry voice came through the speakers.

Damn, who knew all the planes we flew

Good things we've been through

That I'll be standing right here

Wiz Khalifa, dressed in a white suit, walked up the stage from the center aisle, rapping and moving his arms to the beat, his braids swinging.

The atmosphere on stage was immediately energized by him.

The audience waved their arms in rhythm.

Sss! Sss! Sss!

Fireworks erupted around the stage, making it even more dazzling and setting the scene ablaze.

It's been a long day without you my friend

And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

As Wiz Khalifa finished his part, Link's voice continued seamlessly, their performance harmonizing perfectly, one sultry and one earnest.

Link played the piano, and Wiz moved around the stage, waving his arms and engaging the audience.

Due to the song's popularity, by the second chorus, many audience members were singing along with Link.

Buzz buzz buzz!

Amidst a flurry of lights, a 3-meter high holographic image of MJ appeared above the stage.

The image depicted MJ performing on stage in a sequined suit, his mouth moving as if singing.

This was created by a Hollywood special effects company using 3D holographic projection technology, which was cutting-edge at the time and not as common as it would become in the next decade.

When MJ's image appeared, the audience erupted in excited shouts, many fans looking up at the projection and singing "See You Again."

When I see you again

When I see you again, see you again

When I see you again

Clap clap clap!

After performing the song twice, the curtain slowly descended amidst the applause of thousands, marking the end of the opening performance.

Link remained at the piano, playing the accompaniment as the stage slowly descended, and a few seconds later, he and Wiz moved to the underground lift.

The lift, powered by hydraulic systems, allowed for quick scene changes and special stage effects.

Clap clap clap!

"Link, great job!"

When they arrived underground, Mandy and several staff members applauded and cheered, including the diva Madonna who was preparing to go on stage.

Link and Wiz hugged each other.

It was Wiz's first time performing on such a large stage, and he was a bit nervous at first.

"Hey, Link, you're cool. If I were ten years younger, I'd definitely ask you out."

Madonna looked him up and down with a smile.

"Thank you, Ms. Ciccone. You still look very young."

Madonna, at 51 years old, was well-preserved and still had some charm. She had been a prominent figure in the entertainment industry when she was younger.

"Oh, Link, are you saying that if I asked you out, you would agree?"

Madonna laughed.

"Of course, I'm a fan. It would be an honor to go out with you."

Link shrugged, knowing Madonna was joking but not taking offense.

"Let's see if you're serious. I'll call you."

Madonna patted his shoulder and walked onto the lift with a smile.

She was going on stage to deliver a tribute speech for MJ. As the lift ascended, her smile faded, and she appeared solemn and sad in her black attire, resembling a widow mourning her husband.

Link shook his head, thinking that those who made it to the top were not simple characters.

"Hey, Link, if Madonna asks you out, would you really say yes?"

Wiz Khalifa nudged him.

"Maybe!"

Link smiled slightly, and he and Wiz walked from the underground passage to the front

 audience area, waiting for the awards ceremony to begin.

(The End of This Chapter)