I Became A Huge Hit

I stayed at home for a year and did nothing. My mother finally couldn't stand it.

She kicked me out and asked me to get out for a while.

But unexpectedly, as soon as I stepped out, I ran into a celebrity who wanted to use our yard as a stage for her opera rehearsals.

I refused her, which led to a storm of criticism online.

Someone said I was blind to reject the last apprentice of a renowned opera master.

I stared at the familiar name of that opera master on social media, puzzled.

When did my mother take on such a distinguished disciple? How come I didn't know about it?

1.

I became a trending topic because I turned down a popular starlet's request to use our yard.

Her name was Gabriela Wheeler.

Netizens berated me for being clueless.

Some extreme comments said that I was seeking fame by holding out for a better offer on our shabby yard.

I wasn't bothered by those words. I was just an ordinary person. What could it really mean for me?

But I was proven wrong the very next day.

Early in the morning, as I opened the door, Gabriela and her entourage were blocking my way.

A man squeezed in, impeccably dressed. He said with a smile, "Hello, I'm Karl Warren, the director of the Spontaneous Journey show. Your yard is perfect for us, and we will pay you enough rent."

He glanced around the yard and then quickly whispered, "Our show is quite influential, as you have probably experienced. Your yard might become a popular destination if we use it this time."

His words were confident, and he gave me a knowing look.

I frowned and said, "No. We don't lack money."

I was about to close the gate, but a hand stopped me.

It was one of their crew members. He looked smug as I struggled to shut the door but failed.

Gabriela jumped out from behind him. She pointed at me and said, "I know you bumpkin just want money. Don't worry about money. If you let me use your place, you will make enough. Name your price!"

Her tone was disdainful yet certain.

Others nodded in agreement.

Someone even muttered that it was a favor to me if Gabriela used my yard.

After all, it was merely a normal yard in the countryside.

I heard their sarcastic remarks and squinted.

I stared at Gabriela coldly and said, "So, are you so stupid as not to understand plain language? If your ears are bad, go to the hospital!"

I swatted away her finger, which was nearly touching my nose. "You, you..." she stammered, and her voice shrilled with anger.

Just as we reached an impasse, a gentle voice came through. "Margot, let them in since they said they'll pay us rent."

It was my mother, Averie Lambert.

Gabriela instantly looked smug upon hearing Averie's words. "See, you refused us earlier. But you actually want money. Hahh."

I was furious instantly, but I couldn't refute Gabriela since Averie had agreed to let them in.

"Alright then. We'll see you tomorrow, madam," Karl said.

Then he led the crew away with a smile.

I watched them leaving, and my angry face changed instantly.

I smirked and lowered my gaze.

"Show up tomorrow. Once the show starts, you cannot quit before it finishes," I said in my mind.

2.

The next day, the crew arrived.

I coldly told them that they could only operate within our yard and nowhere else.

They agreed repeatedly, but I noticed Gabriela's eyes darting around.

Spontaneous Journey was a variety show and was a live broadcast.

Once the cameras were set up, Gabriela made a pose, and the show began.

The comments began. "Just in time. Where's Gabriela now?"

"Didn't that woman refuse Gabriela just a few days ago? How come Gabriela is there now? She is just money-hungry, like all people in the countryside."

"Don't lump all people in the countryside together. Only that woman is like that."

I lay in a deck chair in the yard, having snacks. I was amused by the comments.

Gabriela twirled gracefully in front of the camera.

After some online research, I learned that several people participated in this show, and they had different tasks.

Gabriela had debuted as the apprentice of a renowned opera master, so she was asked to perform a segment of a famous love story based on a senior actress's arrangement.

But Gabriela was stiff when she was performing. The senior actress constantly corrected Gabriela. I was amused.

I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

I was loud enough for them to hear.

"You! What are you laughing at?"

Gabriela had already been irked by the senior actress's reprimands.

Now she turned her anger towards me instantly.

"I'm laughing at how you're struggling. The moves are so simple, but you can't learn well." I was having snacks and lay back in the chair, watching her from below.

Though it was a position of watching her from below, my demeanor was anything but submissive.

"Oh, come on. This part is quite challenging. Even Gabriela has to practice for a while. If you think you can do better, show it!" Gabriela's assistant rolled her eyes at me with disdain.

We argued loudly, and soon Karl noticed us.

He signaled for the camera to follow him as he walked up to us. "What's going on now? Didn't we agree on the rent?" he asked.

He didn't bother to find out what caused the issue and immediately placed the blame on me.

I didn't respond, and Karl paused before continuing, "How about this? I'll double the rent for you. Just don't deliberately delay the shooting because we're using your yard. Okay?"

He looked down at me with impatience, and his demeanor was patronizing.

I couldn't help but sneer. "Mr. Warren, why don't you ask who really caused trouble here? You can't just dump the blame on me without learning what was going on. Even though I'm a nobody, you can't bully me like this."

Karl frowned and said, "If it's not you, could it be Gabriela?"

He then turned to Gabriela, and his expression changed instantly to a smile. "Ms. Wheeler, what's going on here?"

He seemed to be afraid of upsetting her and quickly added, "I'm sure it's not your fault."

But Karl's flattery was wasted.

Before Gabriela could speak, her assistant jumped in to embellish the story to the director. "Mr. Warren, it's all that woman's fault. She said Gabriela was clumsy and that she learned the performance just by watching."

The assistant looked at me triumphantly after she finished her words.

Gabriela acted very aggrieved, as if she'd been badly bullied.

3.

"Hahh, did I hear the joke of the century? Gabriela is the apprentice of a great opera master. Can that woman compare? She is a nobody."

"How about letting her show it?"

"I agree. Once she tries, she'll see how hard it is to perform the opera. She's so clueless."

Suddenly, the screen was flooded with comments urging me to show my performance.

Karl laughed out loud upon hearing that. "Hahh, you surely know how to talk big without worrying about consequences. Ms. Wheeler is a professional, and you're just an amateur."

I stood up from the chair and casually waved my arms. Then I assumed the posture that the senior actress had just taught Gabriela.

"Since you want me to perform, I'll give it a try." With that, I began singing and ignored their reactions.

I performed precisely those parts that Gabriela had struggled to learn well earlier.

My voice was gentle and lingering, leaving everyone in surprise and silence.

For a moment, the silence was overwhelming.

"Hahh, is Gabriela singing? She is surely the apprentice of Ms. Lambert. She learned the true essence of her skills." A booming voice echoed from outside the yard.

Everyone snapped back to reality.

Gabriela realized that she had been captivated by my singing and looked a bit annoyed. But soon she gave a smile. "Hello, Mr. Holland, what brings you here?"

"Oh my, I was just amazed. That woman's singing is incredible."

"Me too. I watched the video on my knees."

"Am I the only one who noticed it's Kevan Holland coming? He's a top opera artist and is known for his love of Ms. Lambert's performance."

Karl saw Kevan and was thrilled.

The former quickly waved to signal the cameras to follow him.

He rushed over and shook hands with Kevan. "Mr. Holland, what brought you here? It's truly an honor for us to meet you here."

Kevan shook hands with Karl but kept his gaze fixed on Gabriela.

"I heard Gabriela was going to sing the classic love story, so I rushed over. After all, it's Ms. Lambert's favorite opera."

He then praised Gabriela for learning well and having the potential to carry on Ms. Lambert's skills.

Unfortunately, Gabriela looked extremely embarrassed upon hearing Kevan's praise. Her smile turned stiff.

Her assistant was quite displeased and pointed at me, saying dismissively, "Sir, you are mistaken. It was her singing just now, not Gabriela's. Gabriela sings much better."

Kevan looked surprised and turned to me.

I hadn't spoken earlier. But seeing the attention suddenly shift to me, I admitted it openly.

"Well, I find it amusing. So this amateur sings better than Gabriela?"

"Are you a critic? Gabriela's singing is definitely the best. If you can't say anything nice, just be quiet."

"I am not a fan. But I am not sure who is better, she or Gabriela. But Kevan said she sang well, so she must be quite impressive."

4.

Kevan smiled gently at me. "Young lady, have you studied opera?"

I shook my head and answered honestly. "Never."

Though I had never formally learned it, I had seen it often and was quite adept at it.

Kevan acknowledged with a nonchalant nod.

He then patted Gabriela's shoulder and praised her for choosing the courtyard.

He spoke with pride and satisfaction. He seemed to see her as his junior in his family.

He completely disregarded me, the owner of the yard.

"Mr. Holland, what's so special about this yard? It's just a rundown place," Karl said, as his eyes scanned the yard.

"What? Didn't you specifically choose this yard?"

Kevan looked puzzled. Then he explained to Karl, saying, "This yard is surrounded by sound-absorbing cotton and specially designed to mimic a professional center for opera performances. It was clearly meant for practicing opera performances. Most importantly, this yard is designed by Hugh Harvey, a renowned architect."

Everyone was astonished at his words.

"Did I hear wrong? That yard in the countryside has such a background."

"Oh, right. I thought those trees looked familiar."

"It is Hugh Harvey, the architectural genius. He has only three famous buildings, all auctioned off at high prices by wealthy people. He later retired. I never expected to see his work here."

Gabriela's face visibly darkened. "It's impossible. Mr. Holland, are you mistaken?"

Perhaps Kevan never expected to be refuted by a junior, and his face turned stern.

But he still answered Gabriela's question, showing everyone Hugh's unique signature.

He then looked at me and asked if I had learned from an opera master so I could sing so well.

I glanced at others' skeptical expressions and smiled. Then I shook my head.

I vaguely mentioned that my mother loved opera, so my father had specially built this courtyard.

I knew nothing about Hugh.

My singing was purely amateur, developed through frequent observation and listening.

They were half-convinced, but I ignored them, sitting back in the chair and continuing with my snacks.

5.

However, some couldn't stand my comfortable demeanor.

Gabriela's sharp voice rang out beside me. "You talked so grandly, but who knows if it's true? After all, I've never heard of any wealthy lady living here."

She was clever to speak while the cameras were off.

I glanced at her sideways and said, "If you're not going to use your words wisely, then keep quiet."

Gabriela walked over, leaned down, and stared at me. She said in a mocking tone, "So? Did I hit your nerve? Your mother isn't..."

She left the sentence unfinished, but anyone could understand her implication.

Anger surged within me. I stood up, grabbed her cheeks, and poured the basket of trash on her head.

The trash sprayed out and showered her face and clothes.

"You!" she was too angry to speak fluently.

Everyone's attention was drawn to our actions.

She was furious, but she couldn't lash out due to the crowd. I smirked and patted her cheek.

Then I whispered in a voice only we could hear, "I asked you to keep quiet, but you said that. Do you think I'm afraid of your status?"

She grew even angrier.

She adjusted her clothes and swiftly walked to the camera. She turned the live stream back on.

She pointed the camera at me, and her face rapidly changed to a bright smile. "Everyone, I know you're here because you love opera. Today, this lady wants to challenge me. Although I shouldn't compete, I have to accept it to uphold my teacher's reputation."

Her words portrayed her as innocent as a dove.

"Wow, did I just hear that? They started fighting!"

"There are two finger marks on Gabriela's face. I feel like I've stumbled onto something."

"It will only hurt you."

The other staff heard Gabriela's words and gathered around.

They mocked me for overestimating myself and were eager to watch me being humiliated.

"So? I've accepted your challenge. Are you afraid now?" Gabriela looked at me, and her eyes gleamed with triumph.

I feigned fear and lowered my head, hiding the smile in my eyes.

Since she was asking for trouble, she had only herself to blame.

The drama progressed by 40%.