Chapter 13

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Xi Shi was familiar with the person in charge of the welcome event at Yan University’s student association, so obtaining a ticket wasn’t a big deal. However, he cunningly kept the tickets for Huo Siyuan and Jing Chen separate, not forgetting that Huo Siyuan might have designs on Jing Chen.

The day of the opening ceremony arrived swiftly.

Yan University’s ceremony was held in the campus gymnasium. Performers had to arrive by noon, rehearse in the afternoon to avoid any mishaps during the evening show.

When Xi Shi arrived backstage, it was bustling with activity. The girls were putting on makeup and changing into their costumes, even applying makeup to the boys who would perform. Most boys, except the most straight-laced, didn’t mind makeup — some even requested to look handsome, hoping to make a good impression on the freshmen girls and gain priority in choosing partners.

As soon as Xi Shi entered the backstage lounge, the arts committee member who was his piano duet partner grabbed him and started putting on makeup. After finishing, she rummaged through the makeup box for her Barbie pink lipstick to apply to him. Scared, Xi Shi instantly took off like his feet were on fire.

After escaping the arts committee’s clutches, Xi Shi found an empty lounge backstage and pulled out his phone.

He snapped a selfie from a flattering angle and sent it to Jing Chen.

“How can you not be over the moon?” he wrote. “Am I terrifyingly handsome now?”

“How can you not be over the moon?” he added. “Don’t you want to take a second look and just push me down for some fun? (flirty wink)”

Jing Chen replied: “...”

Jing Chen: “Made up?”

Xi Shi: “Mhm, when are you coming over?”

Xi Shi: “It’s been a week, I miss your chest muscles, abs, and biceps so much.”

Jing Chen: “...”

Jing Chen: “I can’t stay out tonight.”

Xi Shi: “QAQ”

Xi Shi: “I’m moody now, unhappy, going to cry.”

Jing Chen: “Be good, I’ll keep you company tomorrow night.”

Xi Shi: “In a suit and tie.”

Jing Chen: “Alright.”

The new suit Jing Chen had bought for Xi Shi had just arrived; Jing Chen could bring it over today, ready for him to wear tomorrow.

Xi Shi didn’t know why he had such a serious obsession with suits. As long as Jing Chen wore one, he got especially excited. Especially when Jing Chen helped him put it on—he could surrender himself in just minutes.

He had to stop thinking about it, or else he’d get mentally censored.

Not long after, Xi Shi was called out for rehearsal. He was well-liked and knew many backstage, with many greeting him warmly.

“Senior, you look too handsome today, it’s unfair to the rest of us.”

“This is it, I’ve lost my chance with the freshmen girls because of the senior’s look.”

“Nonsense, with your pathetic self, you don’t stand a chance even without comparison.”

“I’m different though, senior, are you looking for a partner? What about me? Am I qualified to get a love number?”

Xi Shi laughed heartily at these boys. Last year he was the little junior everyone teased; now, in the blink of an eye, he was the senior. University life really flew by.

Meanwhile, Wang Yang watched all this with a disdainful sneer. So fake.

The rehearsal went smoothly. After a quick dinner, everyone prepared for the evening’s performance.

At six o’clock, Jing Chen messaged that he had arrived.

Xi Shi: “Which gate? I’ll come pick you up.”

Jing Chen: “I’m in the parking lot of your gym.”

Xi Shi: “?”

Xi Shi: “Our school doesn’t allow outside vehicles on campus, how did you get in? O.o”

Jing Chen: “I happened to run into that Huo third young master at the gate; he gave me a pass.”

Xi Shi’s alarm bells went off immediately.

Xi Shi: “You two together?”

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Jing Chen: “No, we split up after entering.”

Xi Shi breathed a sigh of relief. That bastard Huo Siyuan—dare try to steal his man, he would... well, he couldn’t do much but was still furious.

Jing Chen also relaxed. That was close—almost got found out.

Xi Shi shared his location with Jing Chen and went to the parking lot to find him.

At the spot, he immediately saw his forgiving-green Porsche Panamera. He had to admit, giving this car to Jing Chen made travel much more convenient.

But the man standing in front of the car was almost unrecognizable.

Wearing a striped polo shirt and suit trousers, Jing Chen looked like one of those internet-famous “mature style” men—full of a fatherly vibe, seeming to be of the same generation as their department head.

“Bro?” Xi Shi hesitated, then said the word. Jing Chen turned at the sound of his voice — it was indeed him.

From the front, the effect was even more shocking. Without Jing Chen’s handsome face, he would have looked like a greasy middle-aged man.

Ugh... sweat.

No matter how much Xi Shi admired Jing Chen’s appearance, this outfit stunned him. His original urge to rush forward and hug him froze in place.

He couldn’t bring himself to do it.

He felt like he’d be hugging their department head.

“Bro, why are you dressed like this?”

Jing Chen glanced down at his clothes. “Is it really that ugly?”

“Well... it’s okay,” Xi Shi lied, “it’s got a certain... charm.”

A lover revealing his secret identity as the department head was a kind of charm.

“I had some business today, had to look more mature,” Jing Chen explained.

He hadn’t told Xi Shi that he had a legal son studying at Yan University, just starting his freshman year.

Yan University’s management was strict; freshmen had to live on campus. Jing Chen’s son followed the rules and stayed in the dorms, but had to come home on weekends, requiring a guardian’s signed waiver.

Jing Chen came to campus today to handle this matter.

He was only 32 and looked young thanks to his pampered lifestyle, so people often wondered how he could have an 18-year-old son.

This was his family business; he didn’t owe anyone an explanation.

But to avoid rumors that might affect his son, whenever he had to appear at parent meetings or other official events, he dressed older.

No one checked his ID anyway.

Where ID was required, they used the child’s grandfather’s ID for registration.

“Here, this is for you.” Jing Chen handed Xi Shi a bag.

“What?”

“A gift.”

Xi Shi’s puzzlement was instantly replaced by joy. He took the bag, opened it, and saw a box for BL47 sneakers.

Jing Chen cleared his throat: “I saw you wanted them on your social feed, so I bought a pair for you from someone else.”

He first had Huo Siyuan send Xi Shi a limited edition pair, but then thought the commemorative edition, though common, was something Xi Shi should also have, so he got him another pair.

These things cost over twenty thousand yuan on the resale market, so gifting them to Xi Shi wasn’t out of place.

Although Xi Shi already had rarer pairs from Huo Siyuan, the ones Jing Chen gave were unique.

The shoes weren’t important; it was the thought behind them.

Xi Shi ignored Jing Chen’s fatherly look, reached out to hug him, and nuzzled his head into his chest.

“Thanks, bro, I love them.”

“As long as you like,” Jing Chen ruffled his hair and then let go. “Let’s go.”

The two left the parking lot side by side, unaware that just around the corner, Wang Yang was holding up his phone, filming their moment.

A few days ago, Wang Yang and Shao Xun had encountered the Huo third young master, who came looking for Xi Shi. That had been a calamity for Shao Xun.

Shao Xun was at a disadvantage fighting his stepbrother. If he couldn’t enter Huo third young master’s social circle, he would lose the Shao family inheritance.

Moreover, Shao family had recently faced repeated targeting by the Huo family, likely thanks to that Huo third young master.

The Huo and Shao families had no grudges and even did business together. The sudden hostility was undoubtedly because of Xi Shi.

Xi Shi didn’t know how many bad things Huo third young master had said about Shao Xun and his family to incite anger on his behalf.

Although Shao Xun had wronged Xi Shi by breaking off their engagement, he had no character flaws, and the Shao family had provided a perfect solution afterward.

Xi Shi was ungrateful for refusing it, so why retaliate now?

Wang Yang felt he had to prevent the misunderstanding from deepening. Since Xi Shi was performing today and Huo third young master would surely come, this was his only chance to explain things in person.

So he had been following Xi Shi intentionally or not all day.

But Huo third young master didn’t show up, and Wang Yang accidentally uncovered a bigger secret.

A mocking smile spread across Wang Yang’s lips. He wondered how Huo third young master would react to being cuckolded.

—

After settling Jing Chen in his seat, Xi Shi hurried back backstage to prepare.

Yan University’s gymnasium was huge, seating several thousand.

There were three to four thousand freshmen alone. The remaining seats were open to other students by reservation. Xi Shi had only secured one ticket for Huo third young master. Jing Chen’s seat was booked using Xi Shi’s student card.

Jing Chen stood out among the college crowd, but he was no stranger to storms and had no discomfort.

Besides, he had a commanding presence; dressed like that, other students assumed he was some university official.

Those around him wore sour expressions, not daring to utter a word.

Why didn’t the officials sit up front?

Students gradually took their seats. Jing Chen squinted toward the freshmen.

These students had just finished military training and were sunburned darker than each other. In the dim gym lighting, they looked like dark-faced warriors. He couldn’t spot his rebellious son.

Better not to see him; if he did, he wouldn’t know how to handle it.

The performance began swiftly.

Xi Shi was the fifth act. He hadn’t performed on stage in a long time and was a bit nervous, breathing deeply.

He turned to talk to the arts committee member to ease his nerves but found she was even more nervous.

With his leg trembling, their act finally started.

As the lights dimmed, Xi Shi sat at the piano early.

After the host finished announcing and the stage went completely dark, his fingers pressed the keys, producing the first note.

A spotlight shone on him.

Music flowed from his fingertips.

The audience gasped, first those up front, then the entire crowd erupted in cheers and applause as the big screen displayed Xi Shi.

Especially the freshmen who had never seen him before; their shouts were loud and their faces full of awe.

Huo Siyuan sat among the freshmen, scrolling his phone with a bored expression.

He had seen every kind of performance, even attended the Spring Festival Gala live. Student performances were nothing to him.

If not for the school’s requirement, he would have left already.

Hearing the deafening cheers, he thought these students were naive and easily impressed.

But the girls screaming “So handsome! Such a beauty!” hurt his ears. He thought: no matter how handsome, can they be more handsome than me?

Full of disdain, he looked up at the big screen. Seeing the boy in a white tuxedo playing the piano, he froze.

Previously, Xi Shi had worn a shirt and white suit pants, but now he had the white tuxedo jacket on as well. Coupled with his top-tier good looks, sitting there at the piano, he looked like an anime protagonist descended.

Beautiful and unreal.

Huo Siyuan’s heart pounded wildly like never before.

In that single glance, he fell in love.