Chapter 43
“You two are way too mushy.”
Having failed to get any chicken leg, He Zhi’an was full of resentment.
“It’s nap time. I can’t be bothered with you two.”
After tidying up the bowls and chopsticks, He Zhi’an slipped away at top speed, firmly refusing to stay and play third wheel here.
Yu Chen was still gnawing on a steamed bun and said with a grin, “Boss, if I become your wife, what benefits do I get?”
A subtle change flickered across He Zhen’s expression. “What do you want?”
Yu Chen chewed on the bun. “Hmm… of course luxury cars and castles.”
Then, in an especially understanding tone, he added, “Boss, am I vulgar? The only reason I want to marry you is for your money.”
Smiling, Yu Chen sighed emotionally. “I’m really such a bad person.”
“You can have it all.” He Zhen blinked lightly, staring at Yu Chen’s joking expression. “As long as you marry me.”
“Then it’s settled.” Yu Chen let out a satisfied little burp and lifted his tray happily. “Your allowance has to be shared with me too.”
“Fine.” He Zhen’s gaze rested quietly on Yu Chen’s face, his brows slowly relaxing. “Don’t forget your promise.”
With a hooked smile, Yu Chen looked back carelessly. “I won’t.”
After the two left, the other students at the table were all stunned. Chen Ru nudged Lin Jiashu. “Tell me, do you think they’re joking or not?”
Lin Jiashu lowered his eyes. “Half and half.”
Chen Ru blinked. “Huh? What does that mean?”
Lin Jiashu picked up his tray and strolled off leisurely.
“One of them is joking. The other isn’t.”
At noon, everyone was discussing the arts performance.
Yu Chen had eaten too much, so he lounged lazily against He Zhen with one leg crossed over the other, shamelessly ordering him around and making him rub his stomach.
He had eaten too fiercely just now. Three big steamed buns had not seemed like much while he was eating them, but after returning to the dorm and drinking a bottle of mineral water, his stomach began to swell uncomfortably.
He Zhen did not dare neglect it and lifted his hand, rubbing Yu Chen’s stomach little by little. Naturally, his mouth did not stop lecturing either. “How old are you already? And you still eat like a Labrador that has no idea when it’s full.”
Yu Chen hated being nagged. He covered He Zhen’s mouth, signaling for him to stop talking and focus on the job at hand.
He Zhen’s lips brushed against Yu Chen’s fingertips, and his eyes dropped slightly.
Lin Jiashu had just been called away by a teacher and had only now returned to the dorm. The moment he saw Yu Chen sprawled carelessly in He Zhen’s arms, he exchanged a glance with Chen Ru.
Liu Chong, on the other hand, did not think there was anything strange about it. He had been classmates with the two of them for three years and knew exactly how doting He Zhen was toward this “little brother.”
To be honest, he envied Yu Chen. Because he had heard that Yu Chen’s father also spoiled him a great deal.
At that moment, Xiao Yu knocked and came in. Seeing how pampered Yu Chen looked, he jerked his mouth. “Hey, Chubby Chenchen. I want to sign up for a performance. Can you accompany me?”
Yu Chen narrowed his eyes lazily. “Is there an appearance fee?”
“You asking to get smacked—” Before Xiao Yu could even get the word “smacked” all the way out, he was forced back by He Zhen’s cool look. He immediately chickened out and changed his wording. “There is an appearance fee.”
Yu Chen shamelessly spread out his palm. “Where is it?”
Xiao Yu had discovered that Yu Chen was growing more and more thick-skinned.
“How about I treat you to BBQ at my place after military training?”
Yu Chen reluctantly agreed. “Fine. But you have to give me the sheet music in advance.”
Then Xiao Yu asked, “Has it been a long time since you played? If your hands are rusty, hurry up and practice.”
“Not that long. Half a year, maybe.” At the mention of the violin, Yu Chen practically burst into bitter tears.
Back then, he had still been a tiny little seventh grader. Ever since Old Master He declared that he had to take lessons together with He Zhen, Yu Chen had almost tasted every skill imaginable—baseball, golf, kayaking, everything. Every day he was as busy as a little spinning top, as though he were studying the eighteen martial arts. All the teachers praised him for being clever, saying he picked up anything the moment he learned it.
Of all the classes, the one Yu Chen hated most was piano. Just looking at those black-and-white keys made him dizzy. He could tolerate listening to He Zhen play, but if you made him play it himself, he felt like he could throw up his dinner.
So He Zhen led him through trying every instrument until Yu Chen finally chose the violin, the one he was at least a little interested in.
He had once asked He Zhen, “Boss, do I really have to learn an instrument? Can’t I not do it?”
He Zhen had gently helped him straighten his hair and then firmly shaken his head.
Even now, Yu Chen could not understand why He Zhen had insisted so stubbornly on making him learn an instrument.
After Xiao Yu left, Yu Chen rolled over and questioned He Zhen. “Boss, why did you insist back then that I had to learn violin?”
A ripple floated up in He Zhen’s light brown eyes.
“Hmm? Hurry up and tell me!” The way Yu Chen looked now was less like he had eaten too many buns and more like he had swallowed the courage of a bear and leopard, full of the air of some strict interrogator.
He Zhen rubbed his stomach absentmindedly. “Yu Chenchen.”
Yu Chen: “Mm?”
He Zhen: “Are you asking for a beating?”
This time Yu Chen was not scared at all. He continued examining He Zhen with those big doll-like eyes of his. “You’re hiding something.”
He Zhen said nothing and avoided Yu Chen’s gaze.
If they really had to be serious about it, then yes, he was hiding something.
Back then, when He Zhen was learning piano, Old Master He had sent him into a top youth orchestra, hoping he could build up his résumé and prepare for applying to Harvard. If Yu Chen had not learned piano, then they would have had to be apart for two hours every day. He did not want that, so he brought Yu Chen along to learn violin and pulled him into the orchestra too, just to keep him by his side.
“Yu Chenchen.”
By now, Yu Chen was not as easy to fool as he had been when he was little. “Mm? Don’t change the subject.”
He Zhen asked, “Do you want lamb skewers tonight?”
Yu Chen’s eyes lit up instantly. “Huh? You have some?”
He Zhen gave a quiet “mm.” “The driver is coming nearby tonight to handle something. I can have him bring some for us.”
Yu Chen’s eyes immediately drooped again. He obediently rubbed his shoulder against He Zhen. “Why didn’t you say that earlier? If you’d told me sooner, how could your humble concubine dare be so unrestrained?”
The corners of He Zhen’s lips curved upward. After releasing Yu Chen, he stretched out his long legs. “That line doesn’t work anymore now.”
Yu Chen immediately raised both hands eagerly and started massaging He Zhen’s waist and legs in a rush. “You just rest. I’ll serve you properly.”
He did not actually know how to massage, so it was just a chaotic round of random pawing all over He Zhen.
Helpless, He Zhen caught his hands. “Drag him out and sentence him to caning.”
Yu Chen instantly put on an expression of tragic heartbreak. “I’ve served you since you were still wearing split-crotch pants, and this is how heartless you are?”
Suppressing a smile, He Zhen said, “Who exactly was the one wearing split-crotch pants? You know very well yourself.”
Yu Chen smiled as he hooked one long leg out, and the thin blanket floated down gently over the two of them. Wrapped up in the blanket, he plunged straight into He Zhen’s arms, smiling so brightly that he looked exactly like a seductive consort capable of bringing down a kingdom.
“Boss, how about we talk about serious matters?”
“What serious matters?”
Yu Chen’s face broke into a grin. “Like… should the lamb skewers be mildly spicy or extra spicy?”
He Zhen laughed and scolded, “Get lost.”
Little Fatty saw all this and secretly tugged on Chen Ru. “Do you think those two are dating?”
There was already a boy-boy couple in the class next door. The two of them had been together since middle school, and they were sweet as anything.
In just one day, Chen Ru already felt his previous views starting to crumble. “…Maybe.”
Little Fatty covered his mouth and snickered. “Then I’d better tell my friend not to write Yu Chen a love letter.”
The moment he heard gossip, Chen Ru’s eyes lit up at once. “Wait wait wait—what? Someone wants to confess to Yu Chen?”
Little Fatty lowered his voice. “Yeah. The top student of our middle school. That day Yu Chen was being punished and made to stand at attention, and when the guy passed by and glanced over, he thought Yu Chen was insanely good-looking.”
Chen Ru: “A guy?”
Little Fatty: “Yep.”
“Holy shit, that’s some brave pursuit of love.” Chen Ru stared at the way He Zhen treasured Yu Chen and got excited. “If your friend really confesses, that’ll be one hell of a show.”
Little Fatty hesitated. “I’ll think about it.”
For the entire afternoon, everyone discussed the talent show. During a break, Xiao Yu found Yu Chen. “We’re performing a waltz. When the time comes, you just have to play Vienna Waltz No. 1 and that’ll be fine.”
Yu Chen asked, “Who’s dancing? Boys and girls?”
“No shit. What, did you think it’d be two guys?” Xiao Yu suddenly showed a sly look and tugged Yu Chen over. “I heard a pretty interesting rumor today—that you and He Zhen are a CP.”
Yu Chen asked, “What does CP mean?”
Xiao Yu looked speechless. “Big brother, do you never read books or newspapers? CP means a pair.”
Yu Chen reacted slowly, then smiled. “But my Boss and I really are a pair.”
Xiao Yu said, “Then you and your Boss go up on stage and dance the waltz. We’ll clear the floor for you.”
The smile in Yu Chen’s eyes deepened. “Sure. Then you all can pull up a banner for us too.”
Xiao Yu quoted dramatically, “Yu Chen and He Zhen are a pair?”
Yu Chen was completely shameless. “Yu Chen and He Zhen are the best in the world!”
Xiao Yu shot him a you win look, then ran off with his iced water to find his dance partner.
That night after military training ended, the students with scheduled acts all went to rehearse. Yu Chen, meanwhile, had only one thing on his mind—that barbecue meal. He clung tightly to He Zhen and kept asking when it would arrive.
Seeing Yu Chen’s gluttonous look, He Zhen said lightly, “Yu Chenchen.”
Yu Chen raised his lips in a grin. “Did the barbecue arrive?”
He Zhen said, “I’m starting to suspect that someday, for the sake of one barbecue meal, you’ll sell me out.”
Yu Chen hurriedly swore an oath. “I never would, Boss.”
He Zhen glanced at the pitch-black night sky. “It’s a good thing it isn’t raining. Otherwise you’d already be getting struck by lightning.”
Yu Chen was deeply unconvinced, but since he was living off He Zhen’s generosity, he could only pull He Zhen over to stay with him while he practiced violin and waited for the barbecue.
The teacher had only given them one hour to rehearse. By the time it was almost eight, the students all hurried back to the dorms.
It was at exactly that moment that He Zhen’s phone rang.
Yu Chen’s fingers on the bow twitched slightly, and He Zhen instructed him, “Wait here. I’m going to get it.”
Yu Chen nodded. “Boss, remember to wait for me so we can eat together.”
He Zhen was amused despite himself and ran toward the main gate.
That left Yu Chen all alone in the auditorium. The teacher responsible for locking up reminded him, “Student, it’s time to go back to the dorm.”
“Thank you, teacher.” Coming out of the hall, Yu Chen began looking for a place to eat the barbecue. Going back to the dorm definitely wouldn’t work—the smell of barbecue would linger forever and bother other people.
After hesitating for a long while, his eyes landed on the little patch of woods not far away.
At this hour, the weather was not hot. A small breeze, a little barbecue—definitely heavenly.
Not long after, Yu Chen grabbed the returning He Zhen and, sneaking around like thieves, dragged him into the woods. Perhaps holding the barbecue in his own hands made him feel more secure. Normally, Yu Chen was the type who wouldn’t even lift something light, but now he was unusually hardworking, hunching forward with the barbecue in his arms as he darted through the trees, searching everywhere for the perfect feng shui spot to eat.
Although students were supposed to be back in the dorm by eight, He Zhen felt that there was no need to make it look as though they were secretly committing a crime. Unable to help himself, he curved his lips. “Yu Chenchen, you look like you’re sneaking around burying land mines.”
Yu Chen gave him a “shh,” then stopped at a little dirt mound that sat rather high up. “Boss, let’s sit on the rock and eat.”
He Zhen walked over, took off his military-training jacket, and spread it on the ground. “Sit.”
Yu Chen hesitated for a moment, apparently intending to put the barbecue right on top of He Zhen’s clothes.
“Yu Chenchen…” He Zhen stopped him and flicked him on the forehead. “Is there really nothing in your head except barbecue? I was telling you to sit.”
“Oh.” This time Yu Chen behaved. He obediently sat down on He Zhen’s jacket. “Boss, you really are so—”
He Zhen stuffed a lamb skewer into his mouth. “Eat.”
Yu Chen chewed with a smile. “I’m really happy.”
He Zhen had never had much interest in these kinds of things. Bending one long leg slightly, he looked at Yu Chen lazily. “Just eating skewers is enough to make you happy?”
“No.” Yu Chen wolfed down two skewers at once, his oily lips lifting into a grin. “I’m happy because you dote on me.”
The early-autumn wind carried a chill, and the leaves rustled softly.
Yu Chen’s smile was especially sincere, without the slightest trace of flattery.
He Zhen stared at those lively eyes of Yu Chen’s. After a brief hesitation, he leaned closer and gently wiped the sesame seeds from the corner of Yu Chen’s mouth.
Yu Chen handed him two skewers. “Boss, you eat too.”
“Mm.” He Zhen took a bite, then frowned slightly. “What is this? It’s kind of hard.”
Yu Chen explained to him, “It’s chicken cartilage.”
He Zhen set the skewer down. “I don’t like this.”
“It’s so tasty, though. Nice and crunchy.” Yu Chen grabbed the skewer that He Zhen had already bitten and crunched through it in two or three bites.
He Zhen began, “You—”
He was just about to speak when a faint sound of footsteps suddenly came from nearby.
Yu Chen reacted instantly, so frightened that he quickly tried to hide. “Boss, get off the rock! Could it be the teacher doing rounds?”
He Zhen signaled for him not to move and carefully listened to the direction of the sound.
Very soon, the owners of those footsteps appeared across from them.
It was two boys, one tall and one shorter. The taller one was very sturdy. Although their faces could not be seen clearly, the outline of his profile was vaguely visible.
Holding up a lamb skewer, Yu Chen whispered, “Boss, do you think those two also came here to—”
Before he could finish, the two boys suddenly pulled each other into a tight embrace.
He Zhen’s senses were sharp, and a bad premonition immediately rose in him.
The next second, the two of them started kissing.
Quietly, He Zhen observed Yu Chen’s reaction.
Yu Chen froze on the spot, and the lamb skewer he held stopped moving for a very long time.
The activity across from them became louder and louder. It was as if Yu Chen had suddenly become cut off from the rest of the world, every little movement and rustle around him magnified infinitely and pounding at his heart.
He was so shocked he forgot to breathe. His heartbeat sped faster and faster, and his face flushed a bright red.
He had secretly watched kissing scenes in idol dramas before, but the impact of seeing this in real life was completely different.
“Yu Chen.”
He Zhen took his hand. Yu Chen jumped like a frightened little rabbit and lifted his reddened eyes in panic to look at him.
“Stop looking. Let’s go eat somewhere else.”
“Okay.” Yu Chen let He Zhen pull him away. But before leaving, he did not forget to clean up the trash, and in the end he still snuck one last glance at the lovers who were kissing so passionately they could barely separate.
The shorter boy looked a little familiar to him.
Once they reached another quiet spot in the woods, Yu Chen’s heart still would not settle. Holding his skewer, he slowed down visibly in the way he ate.
He Zhen asked, though he already knew why, “Why do you suddenly have no appetite?”
Yu Chen sat with his legs pressed neatly together, speaking in a small, hesitant voice. “Boss, those were two boys.”
He Zhen’s eyes flashed faintly with surprise, and his mood seemed to darken all of a sudden. “What about it being two boys? Is that strange?”
“A little strange.” Yu Chen did not hide what he thought and frowned slightly. “I’ve never seen two boys kiss before.”
A trace of darkness flickered through He Zhen’s gaze.
So all the things Yu Chen had said before really had only been to fool him.
“Boss, I didn’t mean I look down on them. I just…” Yu Chen scratched anxiously at his ear, unable to describe the shock in his heart. “I’m a little surprised.”
“Mm.” He Zhen lowered his gaze and, without showing anything on his face, tightened his grip on a stone at his side. “Hurry up and eat. It’ll get cold.”
With the moonlight behind him, Yu Chen could not see He Zhen’s expression clearly, but he could sense his desolation.
“Boss, what’s wrong?”
Putting down the skewer, Yu Chen crouched in front of him. “Did they scare you?”
After a long while, He Zhen asked softly, “Yu Chen.”
Yu Chen responded right away, “I’m here.”
Something in He Zhen’s eyes looked absent and far away. His hand around the stone tightened slightly. “…Forget it.”
He stood up and walked forward alone for two steps. “Just finish eating. Then we’ll go back.”
“Okay.” Yu Chen shoved the rest of the skewers into his mouth in two or three bites and trotted after He Zhen.
From beginning to end, neither of them said another word.
At some point, the wind had grown stronger and stronger.
Yu Chen stood there blankly, holding He Zhen’s jacket, at a complete loss as he stared at He Zhen’s straight back, not knowing what he ought to say.
He Zhen’s gaze was dim and deep, impossible to see to the bottom of.
Back in the dorm, after washing up, He Zhen took his pillow off Yu Chen’s bed and went back up to the top bunk to sleep.
Staring at the hot water He Zhen had just poured for him, Yu Chen hung his head low. No matter how hard he racked his brains, he could not figure out what he had done to upset He Zhen. Even the little tuft of hair on top of his head drooped listlessly.
Hadn’t they agreed they were going to sleep together?
So why had He Zhen gone back up there by himself?
Yu Chen dragged his feet as he pulled off his shoes, then pitifully carried his washbasin out to go wash up all by himself.
In the hallway, he ran into Lin Jiashu, who was returning late.
Lin Jiashu’s collar was a little rumpled, and compared to the morning, even his hair looked somewhat more disheveled.
After greeting him, Yu Chen casually said, “The wind outside is really strong, isn’t it? Your hair’s all messed up.”
“Mm, it is a little strong.” Lin Jiashu had a pair of beautiful peach-blossom eyes, especially when he smiled—it was like red plum blossoms falling into snow, elegant and striking.
Yu Chen lowered his head. “Then I’m going now.”
“Wait.” Lin Jiashu stopped him and gave him a once-over. “Why are you unhappy?”
After hesitating, Yu Chen finally could not hold it in and told him about what had happened in the woods with He Zhen that night.
“Boss must have misunderstood and thinks I’m discriminating against them.” Yu Chen looked like a flower bud that had lost all its rainwater, carrying a thermos in one hand and a basin in the other, looking pitifully lonely.
Lin Jiashu gave a little laugh. “That’s probably not the reason.”
Yu Chen instantly looked like someone who had found a savior. He hurriedly asked, “Then what is it?”
Lin Jiashu raised a brow slightly. “You should just go coax your brother a little. He definitely won’t stay angry.”
Yu Chen wore a miserable face. “Fine, then after I wash up, I’ll go crawl into bed with him and keep him company.”
“Can I ask a slightly personal question?” Lin Jiashu curved his lips and bent down a little closer to Yu Chen.
Yu Chen said, “Mm… my Boss’s privacy is off-limits, but mine is okay.”
Lin Jiashu asked, “Have the two of you always gotten along like this ever since you were little?”
Yu Chen answered, “Mm, it’s been like this for more than ten years.”
Lin Jiashu smiled thoughtfully. “Go wash up, then. Afterward, go crawl into your brother’s bed and coax him.”
Yu Chen finally smiled in satisfaction. “Okay.”
Turning his head, Lin Jiashu watched Yu Chen’s cheerful, scampering back and, to his own surprise, found himself feeling a trace of anticipation for how the two of them might turn out in the future.
When Yu Chen returned to the room, He Zhen had already fallen asleep.
He Zhen had always been a light sleeper, and Yu Chen was afraid of disturbing him, so he did not dare climb into bed on his own initiative.
The next morning, the very first thing Yu Chen did upon opening his eyes was look for He Zhen. It was the first time he had ever gotten up so proactively.
Looking up, he found that He Zhen’s bed had long since been folded into perfect order, the quilt shaped into a neat little tofu block, more standard than anyone else’s.
Just then, He Zhen came in after washing up. He glanced at Yu Chen and said in a slightly hoarse voice, “Hurry up and go wash.”
Not caring about anything else, Yu Chen immediately stood on tiptoe and grabbed at He Zhen’s mouth. “Boss, let me see your throat.”
He Zhen concealed his emotions. “Go wash up first. I didn’t sleep well last night, so I caught a little cold.”
“I brought medicine. I’ll get it for you right now.” Anxiously, Yu Chen pulled open his suitcase and took out the medicine kit Li Huan had prepared for them. “Do you have phlegm? Is it yellow or white?”
He Zhen pulled him upright. “Go wash first. If you’re late, you’ll have to do push-ups.”
“Then remember to find the medicine yourself.” Yu Chen looked at him reluctantly, then ran off to the washroom with his basin in his arms.
He Zhen felt a little dizzy. Sitting down on Yu Chen’s bed for a moment to recover, he began folding Yu Chen’s quilt as well. Every morning, the instructors came to inspect the dorms. If the quilts weren’t folded properly, the offender had to go run laps.
He had been wounded emotionally the night before and had not slept at all.
That was why he looked like this first thing in the morning.
Lin Jiashu had already finished getting ready. Before leaving, he reminded He Zhen, “You should take some medicine, or you won’t last through today’s training.”
A faint sense of distance stirred in He Zhen’s eyes. He replied politely, “Thank you.”
By the time Yu Chen came back, He Zhen had already taken the medicine. Seeing how neatly his own bed had been folded, he felt a little embarrassed. “Boss, next time I’ll fold it for you. You should rest.”
He Zhen said nothing. He simply handed him his clothes and walked ahead.
For the entire day, Yu Chen kept getting distracted. Whenever they marched, he would steal chances to glance at He Zhen, checking on his condition. Fortunately, He Zhen had a good physical foundation. Although he had a cold, he still looked alright. After a whole day of training, he even walked faster than Yu Chen, the healthy one.
The most eagerly anticipated event was tonight’s arts performance.
To get good seats, Yu Chen volunteered right after dinner and dashed into the auditorium like the wind, grabbing the third row for his friends.
His performance order was sixth, so the pressure was not too great. He was mainly there as an elegant bit of decoration.
When it was his turn, he only had to stand at the very edge and play violin. Everything else had nothing to do with him.
Actually, Yu Chen kind of regretted joining the performance. Since He Zhen was not feeling well, it would have been better to spend that time taking He Zhen back to the dorm to rest.
Soon, the students began filing in.
Seeing that Yu Chen had saved good seats for everyone, Chen Ru waved and called out his thanks. Yu Chen, who was standing at stage left waiting for rehearsal, glanced over and saw Chen Ru looking around. “Where’s my Boss?”
Chen Ru answered, “He went back to the dorm to take medicine. He’ll be here in a minute.”
Only then did Yu Chen nod in relief and go back to crouching by himself, looking over his sheet music.
There were many beautiful and graceful girls in the waltz dance troupe. Xiao Yu lifted his chin toward them. “Any of them your ideal type?”
“No.” Yu Chen stared at the sheet music without even raising his eyes.
“Hey, can you show me at least a little respect?” Xiao Yu nearly blew his top. “What are you even thinking about?”
Yu Chen replied gloomily, “Boss isn’t feeling well. I’m not in the mood for anything else.”
“Oh? What’s wrong with Young Master He?”
“He has a cold.”
Xiao Yu said, “Who hasn’t had a cold before? Look how worried you are. If I didn’t know you better, I’d seriously think you two were dating.”
Resting his chin in his hand, Yu Chen said listlessly, “Stop bothering me. I’m reading the sheet music.”
Xiao Yu rolled his eyes and ran off to find his dance partner.
Soon the first program began.
From the waiting room, Yu Chen secretly scanned the sea of dark heads in the audience, trying to find He Zhen.
Xiao Yu, admiring the jazz dance of the first girl on stage, said to Yu Chen, “Tomorrow the class beauty’s love letters are definitely going to stuff the dorm full. She’s dancing so well.”
Yu Chen frowned. “She’s from our class?”
Xiao Yu was utterly speechless. “What exactly are you looking at every day during military training?”
Yu Chen thought about it. “Looking at you. You stand closest to me.”
Xiao Yu suddenly felt that Yu Chen was just a block of wood, with half his brain full of food and the other half full of He Zhen.
After five performances in a row, the waltz music slowly rose on stage.
The audience burst into enthusiastic applause.
This was the first mixed-gender dance performance of the evening.
Fang Jingrao and He Zhi’an sat beside He Zhen, pointing toward the stage and trying to find Xiao Yu among all the dancing boys and girls.
He Zhi’an was bitterly envious. “If I’d known, I would’ve learned waltz too.”
Fang Jingrao asked, “You also wanted to dance on stage?”
He Zhi’an nodded. “You don’t get it. This kind of act gets the most attention. If Xiao Yu dances well enough, he might enjoy first pick in the dating market.”
Fang Jingrao was slow to react. “Xiao Yu’s going to get a partner?”
He Zhi’an raised his brows excitedly. “Who knows? Maybe.”
Watching Xiao Yu dancing exuberantly with his partner, Fang Jingrao asked, “Where’s Chenchen? I heard he’s doing accompaniment.”
“Chenchen is—”
He Zhi’an had only just started to answer when a beam of soft light suddenly dropped into one corner of the stage.
“Chenchen’s over there!” Fang Jingrao pointed at Yu Chen in the corner and could not help admiring him. “Chenchen looks so elegant holding a violin.”
He Zhen, whose complexion was a little pale, let his gaze settle on Yu Chen, who was encircled by the soft light.
The sound of the violin was clear and pure, moving to the heart, exactly like the feeling Yu Chen himself gave off—noble and graceful, even more moving than spring water in the mountains.
With the violin resting on his left shoulder, Yu Chen’s slender, fair wrist lightly drew across the strings.
At that moment, the soft and beautiful notes poured out along with the rhythm of his fingers, as though moonlight itself had spread across the auditorium.
Yu Chen was not nervous at all. His long, thick lashes lifted slightly, and he quietly stared into the dark audience, continuing to search for He Zhen.
Then a beam of soft light swept by, and he caught sight of He Zhen’s eyes.
Instantly, his lips curved into a lovely smile. He looked like some little prince untouched by the world, clean and pure.
He Zhen stared at Yu Chen as curious whispers rose all around him.
And even after the waltz ended, Yu Chen remained the center of the conversation.
Suddenly, He Zhen felt that time had passed far too quickly.
Ten years had gone by, and the pearl he had hidden away in his little box had suddenly been discovered by everyone else.
The feeling was impossible to describe.
It made him jealous to the point of madness.
And yet it came with a deep helplessness.
Only halfway through did Yu Chen finally return to the audience seats.
But unlike earlier, now anyone who recognized him as the one who had just played violin could not stop staring at him.
“Boss, do you feel unwell anywhere?”
He Zhen shook his head. “No.”
Leaning back against the chair, Yu Chen asked somewhat anxiously, “Then did you take your medicine?”
“Just now.”
“Oh. Then if you feel unwell, get some sleep.”
“Alright.”
An hour later, all the performances ended.
Amid the bustling crowd, Yu Chen and He Zhen walked side by side, preparing to go to the little shop and buy tissues.
Yu Chen kept his head lowered, thinking about how he was supposed to take care of He Zhen tonight.
Suddenly—
A pair of white basketball shoes appeared in front of him.
Yu Chen looked up. Standing across from him was a boy at least a head taller than himself.
“Classmate Yu Chen, would it be convenient to add each other on WeChat? I like you and want to be friends with you.”
The boy’s smile was bright and sunny, his handsome face sharply defined, and every movement of his carried an uncommon sort of easy, unruly charm.
