Chapter 4: A Buzzing Crowd
The list of performers for the freshman welcome party had been posted on the school’s forum.
With the influx of new students, the school forum was bustling with activity every day.
Confession posts and friendship posts filled the forum, making Xie Yang’s head spin.
The pinned post was the list of performers for the freshman welcome party.
Although he already knew Qi Xu would be performing, he couldn’t wait to click on it and find Qi Xu’s name.
Unexpectedly, the list of performers included a blue student ID photo.
Xie Yang immediately spotted Qi Xu’s picture.
He stared at the ID photo, mesmerized for a long time.
How could someone look so handsome even in an ID photo?
Xie Yang enlarged the image, took a screenshot, and saved it to his secret album on his phone.
Seeing all the confessions and compliments about Qi Xu in the post, Xie Yang felt a bit happy. Of course, Qi Xu was the best; everything about him was good.
More and more people were falling for Qi Xu.
There were many posts on the forum confessing to Qi Xu, and someone even posted his WeChat number without censoring it.
Xie Yang frowned as he reported the post, hoping the forum admin would delete it.
He didn’t want these people to disturb Qi Xu’s life.
He initially thought that since Qi Xu was participating in the event, he would practice in the rehearsal room like the other performers, and he could see Qi Xu every day when he accompanied Su Huai there.
But Qi Xu didn’t show up.
Since the day Xie Yang overheard Qi Xu’s conversation with his classmate, he hadn’t seen him again.
Xie Yang, being sensitive and insecure, couldn’t help but overthink. Was it his presence that day that made Qi Xu unhappy, which is why he wasn’t practicing in the rehearsal room?
It wasn’t until the day before the performance, during the final rehearsal, that he saw Qi Xu again.
Qi Xu was standing on stage, holding a guitar, singing an English song.
The stage was crowded with students watching him.
Xie Yang stood at a distance, quietly capturing the scene with his phone.
Between them, there should be this kind of distance, neither too close nor too far.
As he took the photo, Qi Xu happened to look up and meet his gaze.
In the photo, Qi Xu was looking directly at him.
Amid the noisy rehearsal, Xie Yang could hear the intense beating of his heart from his chest.
Thump—
It wouldn’t stop.
That evening, Xie Yang searched for the English song Qi Xu sang based on the lyrics.
He played the song on repeat.
So, this was the kind of music Qi Xu liked.
Xie Yang couldn’t help but feel a bit pleased, feeling like he understood Qi Xu a little more.
However, after carefully reading the lyrics, he felt a wave of melancholy.
The song’s lyrics seemed like they were written by someone heartbroken, dedicated to an ex-lover.
So, he really did have a girlfriend?
Were they fighting?
Is that why he chose this song?
Xie Yang quickly opened WeChat and entered Qi Xu’s account in the [Add Friend] section. It was still the same black and white profile picture, the same blank status message.
No useful information at all.
Xie Yang covered his face with the blanket, feeling frustrated.
Could it be true that he had a girlfriend?
He didn’t want to hear it, didn’t want to know it.
The next evening.
The auditorium was packed, not a single seat empty.
Su Huai, carrying his cello, pulled Xie Yang along to the backstage area.
“My God, I never knew our school had so many people.”
“It looks like it’s so crowded inside, you can’t even move.”
Even the backstage dressing room was crowded. Since they arrived late, Xie Yang and Su Huai struggled to find a spot in the corner to sit.
Su Huai took out his makeup bag and started touching up his makeup, thinking it would be better to wear light makeup for his performance.
Su Huai: “Xiao Xie, can you check how long until my performance?”
Xie Yang checked the performance list: “No rush, there are still several classes before yours.”
Su Huai: “I haven’t performed on stage in a long time.”
It’s impossible to say he’s not nervous, especially with so many people in the audience.
If he messes up, it would be really embarrassing.
He had loved playing various instruments since he was a child and had participated in countless competitions. However, in high school, due to the heavy academic workload, he couldn’t balance both study and hobbies, so he had to put his music on hold. If it weren’t for this freshman welcome party, he might not have picked up the cello again.
Xie Yang gently patted his shoulder and smiled, “Don’t worry, you’ve practiced so much, you’ll be fine. Just play as you did during practice.”
Seeing Su Huai still looking worried, Xie Yang tried a different approach to comfort him: “Even if you make a mistake, I bet no one will notice.”
Su Huai’s tension immediately eased, “You’re right.”
As the two sat in the corner whispering, a shadow suddenly fell over them.
Su Huai looked up and was momentarily stunned.
“Hi, is this seat taken?” Xia Heng pointed to the chair next to Su Huai.
Su Huai quickly scooted closer to Xie Yang and waved his hand, “No, it’s free. Go ahead and sit.”
Xia Heng: “Thanks.”
With the sudden presence of an outsider, both Su Huai and Xie Yang fell silent.
The atmosphere was awkward.
Su Huai quietly pinched Xie Yang.
Xie Yang, confused, leaned in and whispered, “What’s wrong?”
Su Huai, sounding excited, said, “That’s the guy from the medical department who stood next to our class during military training, the one I said was really handsome! Do you remember?”
Seeing him up close, he indeed looked very handsome!
Why was he here, sitting so close to him?
Su Huai noticed a cool, pleasant fragrance in the air.
It smelled really good.
Xie Yang glanced at Xia Heng, then at the shy Su Huai, and suddenly understood, nodding knowingly, “I’ll go get you a bottle of water.”
Su Huai: “!!!”
Where are you going now?!
With a look that said “I get it,” Xie Yang left space for Su Huai and Xia Heng.
Su Huai tightly gripped Xie Yang’s hand, which Xie Yang patted reassuringly.
He had a feeling Xia Heng might be there specifically to see Su Huai.
So he decided to find an excuse to leave, giving them a chance to talk, and also to check if the Economics and Management performance had started.
After Xie Yang left, the atmosphere became even more awkward.
Su Huai had no choice but to take out his phone, repeatedly refreshing his Moments, pretending to be very busy.
Just as Su Huai was about to leave out of sheer embarrassment, Xia Heng spoke up, “Can I add you on WeChat?”
Su Huai: “…”
What?!
Did he hear that right?
Xia Heng took out his phone and even opened the QR code scanning function, looking at him sincerely.
In his confusion, Su Huai also took out his phone and opened his payment code.
Xia Heng: “…”
He chuckled helplessly, “I don’t think that’s the right one.”
Su Huai glanced at his screen: “…”
Instant social death.
Blushing deeply, Su Huai awkwardly opened his QR code, his voice trembling, “Sorry, I got it wrong.”
How embarrassing.
Xia Heng: “It’s alright, take your time.”
So cute.
After adding Su Huai on WeChat, seeing his embarrassed and shy demeanor, Xia Heng decided not to tease him further and thoughtfully left, giving him some space.
Su Huai let out a long breath.
What just happened?!
Did Xia Heng come here just to get his contact info?
No way…
Could he have misjudged and Xia Heng isn’t straight?
If he’s not straight, what does it mean that he asked for his contact info?
Sitting in the corner, Su Huai racked his brains for a long time.
Xia Heng initiating to add him on WeChat—was that his way of flirting?
Why else would he add him out of the blue?
Looking at the friend request message from Xia Heng, Su Huai accidentally tapped “nudge1” instead of opening his profile.
Su Huai: “…”
Social death twice in front of the same person in a short time.
He thought about avoiding Xia Heng for a while.
He even considered if it was too late to delete him as a friend.
Xie Yang bought two bottles of water from the convenience store and watched the performance outside for a while before returning to the backstage.
With his head down, he didn’t notice the person walking towards him as he turned a corner.
Xie Yang bumped into the other person’s chest and quickly stepped back, bowing his head to apologize, “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
The familiar, cold, and deep voice made Xie Yang freeze. He quickly looked up and saw the person he had bumped into.
A very familiar face was in front of him.
It was Qi Xu.
His shocked expression was evident. He quickly collected himself and apologized again, “Sorry.”
Qi Xu just raised an eyebrow slightly and walked around him.
Xie Yang turned to watch his departing figure, his heart pounding wildly.
Had he just accidentally fallen into Qi Xu’s arms…
This was their first close encounter, in such an awkward way.
Xie Yang blushed deeply.
Without thinking further, he held onto the two bottles of water and returned to the corner of the dressing room.
Su Huai was still blushing, looking at his chat with Xia Heng, but when he saw Xie Yang’s lovestruck expression, he quickly hid his embarrassment and turned off his phone.
“Xiao Xie, where did you go? Why is your face so red?”
Remembering his close encounter with Qi Xu, Xie Yang stammered, “Maybe it’s just stuffy back here, making it hard to breathe.”
Su Huai gave him a suspicious look.
Alright, he’s learned to lie now.
Seems like he has a little secret he’s hiding from me.
Suddenly, there was a burst of cheers and applause from the stage, making it very lively.
Su Huai: “Who’s performing now? Why is everyone so excited?”
“It’s the Economics and Management Institute’s turn!”
“I heard it’s Qi Xu.”
“Let’s go see!”
The backstage area also became lively, and Su Huai lost interest upon hearing, “Oh, so it’s him.”
Upon hearing that Qi Xu was about to perform, Xie Yang grew restless.
He wanted to go out and watch Qi Xu’s performance too.
Xie Yang’s usually calm demeanor was tinged with anxiety, “I, I want to go see.”
Su Huai gave him a surprised look, then thoughtfully eyed the blush on his face before waving him off, “Go ahead.”
Xie Yang bit his lip and said, “I’ll be back soon.”
Su Huai smiled, “No rush, take lots of photos.”
Xie Yang stumbled, almost twisting his ankle, and hurriedly left the dressing room.
He felt like his two-year-old secret had finally been discovered.
The auditorium was pitch black, with only a sea of glowing sticks waving in the air.
A spotlight suddenly illuminated Qi Xu on the stage.
He wore a simple white shirt, casually dressed.
He hadn’t changed anything for the stage.
Leaning lazily on a chair, he gazed down at the guitar in his hands.
The white light on him made him seem to glow, even more dazzling.
He sat there quietly, doing nothing, yet Xie Yang couldn’t take his eyes off him.
As the music started, Qi Xu’s deep, mellow voice filled the air, cold and calm as Xie Yang remembered.
It plucked at Xie Yang’s heartstrings.
Xie Yang stood among the crowd.
Flashlights occasionally flickered, and Qi Xu’s name echoed around him.
“He looks even better in person than in photos.”
“Truly the best-looking freshman!”
“Find out if this handsome guy has a girlfriend?”
“I’ve been waiting all night just for his performance.”
“Look at the Economics and Management crowd, they’re going crazy.”
The audience in the front row caused a commotion, and Xie Yang looked in the direction of the crowd’s movement.
Many girls were holding flowers, trying to get on stage to give them to Qi Xu, and even some boys were mixed in.
Xie Yang frowned slightly and turned his gaze back to Qi Xu, who was quietly performing.
Qi Xu had always disliked such behavior.
He hated public confessions and people giving him love letters, flowers, or asking for his contact information.
Luckily, Xie Yang saw the boy who had spoken with Qi Xu in the practice room stopping them.
“Don’t do this, Qi Xu doesn’t like people giving him flowers.”
“He’s allergic to pollen.”
“Really, would I lie to you?”
“If you like him, don’t give him flowers.”
“Want his contact info?”
“How am I supposed to remember his WeChat ID? I didn’t bring my phone!”
“Does he have a girlfriend? How should I know? I haven’t seen one, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have one. You can ask him directly.”
“Anyway, he doesn’t like guys. You in the front, stop pushing; he’s allergic to men!”
Qi Xu glanced calmly at the crowd below, finished his song, and walked off the stage.
He even skipped the host’s chat session.
Seeing him leave, Xie Yang hurried back to the backstage area.
Maybe he could catch one last glimpse of Qi Xu.
He rushed to the backstage and once again bumped into Qi Xu at the corner.
This time, he managed to stop himself before colliding with Qi Xu.
Still, he instinctively bowed his head and apologized, “S-sorry.”
Qi Xu clicked his tongue lightly. Why did it seem like he kept running into this guy everywhere?
Was he following him on purpose?
Xie Yang, sensitive to the sound, felt a shiver run through him.
He suddenly realized that he might have really annoyed Qi Xu.
Every encounter seemed to leave a bad impression on Qi Xu.
He was foolish.
The shy blush drained from Xie Yang’s face, leaving him pale.
For the first time, he didn’t watch Qi Xu’s back as he left; instead, he chose to leave first.
He pressed his lips together, stuck to the wall, giving way, and headed toward Su Huai.
As he lowered his head, his eyes reddened.
He would be more careful from now on.
He would remember to keep his distance from Qi Xu.
He wouldn’t long to appear in front of him anymore.
Note :
- In the context of social media and messaging apps, a “nudge” is a feature that allows users to get the attention of someone they are interacting with. It can be used to remind the other person to respond or to signal that you’re waiting for a reply. It’s a gentle way of prompting someone without sending a formal message. ↩︎
His low self esteem hurts my heart 💔
ugggh slow burn 🙁