By the time Elena and Jin Di returned to the hotel, the night had fully fallen. Exhaustion claimed her, and Jin Di carried her bridal-style through the lobby. The image stopped passersby in their tracks, a demon lord bearing away a goddess of fire.
That night, Elena slept soundly in his arms.
She had no idea that by morning, her face would be everywhere across Europe.
Her photos in that fiery red dress splashed across newspapers, television segments, and countless websites.
For now, the public profile was still shallow. Most outlets identified her simply as a popular musician from China who had made a stunning surprise appearance at Maestro Ludovico De Luca's concert.
Music critics were quick to weigh in.
The majority praised her interpretations of the two Schumann pieces, calling them fearless, technically immaculate, and emotionally arresting.
A handful of critics offered dissenting opinions, but these voices were well-known detractors of Maestro De Luca himself.
