Ghost-Bewitched Heart

"Leaving now."

The classmates heading to karaoke gathered at the school gate. Bai Hui waved her hand without looking back and headed home on her own.

"An Nuan is so tall," Bai Hui said with a tone of envy, then added, "Just a bit too thin."

In truth, saying An Nuan was tall was really a comment on her long legs. With her height and proportions, whether she wore a short skirt, stockings, high heels, or even the athletic shorts she wore for training, she was more than capable of killing it with the crowd. It was impossible for the average girl not to be envious.

Liu Chang'an understood the subtext in Bai Hui's words. An Nuan was tall, but not curvaceous. Bai Hui's cup size ranked in the top three of the entire Affiliated High School, and the two ahead of her were simply too fat.

High school seniors were, after all, still a bit green. It was hard for them to grasp the depth of Bai Hui's meaning, and they couldn't naturally or playfully start teasing the girls about their figures.

Bai Hui felt a bit hot and unzipped her school uniform, revealing the CK T-shirt underneath. The brand letters across her chest were stretched into a slight distortion.

"I feel like after the college entrance exam, many of us might never be able to get together again... Maybe one gathering before the exam, one after. Most people will at least make it to one of the two." Bai Hui spoke of her own considerations while counting heads.

At this moment, everyone didn't have too many sentiments about parting yet. The anticipation of breaking free from their shackles and the tension of review were the main events governing their emotions. The gathering served more as a way to relax.

"Qian Ning, Lu Yuan, you two go buy some snacks first. We'll wait for you in the private room. Oh, this group-buy set isn't available at night... but this alcohol and fruit platter set is still a decent deal. You don't need to buy fruit, and buy less beer." Bai Hui directed.

"Liu Chang'an, come with us," Qian Ning said to Liu Chang'an.

Liu Chang'an nodded, having no objections.

Qian Ning and Lu Yuan were cousins. Qian Ning was taller, while Lu Yuan was slightly shorter but sturdier. The two brothers were in the same class and were basically Bai Hui's lackeys. For instance, when it was Bai Hui's turn for cleaning duty, they would scramble to do most of the work. Qian Ning was responsible for bringing breakfast to Bai Hui, while Lu Yuan would go to the cafeteria to buy lunch for her.

"You two cover the cost first, and we'll all split it later," Bai Hui said, flashing a sweet smile at Qian Ning and Lu Yuan.

The three boys arrived at the supermarket together. Even though Bai Hui said not to buy fruit, Qian Ning still bought two sugar-apples because he knew Bai Hui liked them. Lu Yuan, not wanting to be outdone, bought some Linwu Duck; Bai Hui also enjoyed these spicy, dry meat snacks.

Liu Chang'an bought some snacks that An Nuan often ate. Although he wasn't keen on snacks himself, An Nuan loved them and would always stuff some into his and Gao Dewei's hands.

A man should find a girlfriend who loves snacks; they are passionate about the sensation on their lips and tongues.

He habitually picked out some peanuts and melon seeds. Nut and preserved fruit snacks had been around for hundreds or thousands of years, though they weren't the mainstream anymore. Liu Chang'an thought for a moment and grabbed a bottle of Red Star Erguotou.

"Besides you, no one else drinks this Erguotou," Qian Ning looked at Liu Chang'an suspiciously. "Are you trying to get Bai Hui drunk?"

Bai Hui could drink, and her tolerance wasn't bad, but she wasn't capable of handling this kind of high-proof liquor.

"If she gets drunk, you'll be the ones taking her home. What are you worried about?" Liu Chang'an said with a smile.

Hearing him say this, both brothers wore smiles; after all, their intimate relationship with Bai Hui had been acknowledged.

"Back in freshman year, you stared at Bai Hui so hard you fell and broke your head... But now it seems you've taken a liking to An Nuan?" Lu Yuan asked tentatively.

"I'm not competing with you two."

Liu Chang'an's reply satisfied both Qian Ning and Lu Yuan, so when they checked out, the bottle of Erguotou that only Liu Chang'an would drink was paid for along with everything else.

Liu Chang'an returned the favor by taking the initiative to carry the largest bag of snacks. When they arrived at the KTV room, Bai Hui saw Liu Chang'an carrying the most items and used a tissue to wipe his forehead. "Look at how much you're sweating. Why didn't they help out?"

"It's fine, the weather is just too hot." Liu Chang'an saw the jealous glint in Qian Ning and Lu Yuan's eyes.

Another classmate, Zhao Wuqiang, reached out to take the bag. Liu Chang'an said thanks, then saw Bai Hui looking at Qian Ning and Lu Yuan with a look of dissatisfaction.

For many girls, using various expressions of pouting, anger, or joy to manipulate the opposite sex seemed to be an innate talent.

"With a song, she first lowers her gaze; wanting to smile, she knits her brows—it is enough to break a man's heart." From the romantic bones of Ouyang Xiu to the young men before her, it seemed they would all develop more emotions in their hearts for every frown or smile of theirs, becoming utterly infatuated.

Qian Ning and Lu Yuan wouldn't write poetry for Bai Hui, but they were bold when singing. They both chose love songs, and although they didn't deliver a heart-wrenching confession before starting, their eyes while singing made the target clear.

Bai Hui just smiled brightly the whole time, occasionally making eye contact with the singer and greeting classmates who didn't seem to have integrated into the atmosphere yet, easily controlling the scene.

Liu Chang'an drank his Erguotou, ate his peanuts, and peeled a pack of fish tails. They were spicy and satisfying; the fish meat was firm and the skin was chewy—a perfect pairing for the liquor.

He also sang a song by Jonathan Lee, "Ghost-Bewitched Heart." The classmates were all surprised by Liu Chang'an's singing voice; the young man's voice, which usually couldn't settle down, actually managed to convey the vicissitudes of a middle-aged man and the murmurs of someone who had finally found peace.

Even Bai Hui stopped talking. She listened quietly until the end before applauding. She walked to Liu Chang'an's side and said in an encouraging tone, "You like Jonathan Lee's songs? Do you know 'When Love Becomes the Past' that he sang with Sandy Lam? Maybe you can lead me through it. I really like this song, but I always feel like something is missing when I sing it."

"Let's give it a try." Liu Chang'an nodded.

Bai Hui's voice naturally didn't express the tender, winding emotions of a mature woman, but she was clearly intoxicated by it, striving to express the feeling of the song. Liu Chang'an simply set the stage for her, closely following the feelings she wanted after her vocals. After she finished singing, there was a touch of tenderness in her eyes as she looked at Liu Chang'an.

Once the song ended, the applause was much more enthusiastic than when Liu Chang'an sang solo earlier. After all, except for Liu Chang'an, who had fallen from upstairs upon seeing Bai Hui, everyone else had a good relationship with her. Furthermore, Bai Hui had sung very movingly, and Liu Chang'an had been supporting her the whole time.

Bai Hui panted, her full chest heaving. She loved singing, but the feeling of singing with Liu Chang'an was exceptionally different. It was as if she had always been galloping on a horse under the scorching sun, dry and parched, when suddenly a breeze blew by, thin clouds in the sky blocked the sun, and the surrounding moist flower-filled woods made her every breath full of fragrance.

"I really couldn't tell you sang so well. You should have been called along to KTV before. You have to come next time we call you." There was still an excited flush on Bai Hui's cheeks. Singing was something that could bring both psychological and physiological pleasure; many people who sang well and loved to sing felt it very deeply.

Bai Hui used to come singing with Qian Ning and Lu Yuan often, but the gap between them and Liu Chang'an was too great.

Liu Chang'an smiled as a reply, while Qian Ning and Lu Yuan had already started drinking sullenly.

Midway, Liu Chang'an went to the restroom. Zhao Wuqiang followed him and said to Liu Chang'an, "You sing pretty well."

"I've practiced."

"Qian Ning and Lu Yuan usually like to make jokes about what happened to you in freshman year because Bai Hui likes to hear it. She thinks someone acting like that is a sign of her own charm. But I heard Qian Ning and Lu Yuan talking just now; Bai Hui is being quite warm to you now because of what happened with Chen Changxiu yesterday. Everyone is saying you like An Nuan, and that makes Bai Hui feel like she's losing face." Zhao Wuqiang glanced outside the restroom and lowered his voice.

"Why would she feel like she's losing face?" Liu Chang'an thought a girl's mind was truly cute, even though for the vast majority of men, knowing that a girl who was being warm to them had such motives might not make them feel particularly flattered.

"She and An Nuan have never gotten along. The grudge was formed back in freshman year during the class monitor election. Girls aren't very broad-minded." Zhao Wuqiang smiled and said.

"Boys aren't very broad-minded either."

Zhao Wuqiang glanced at Liu Chang'an's expression and patted his shoulder. "Anyway, don't get too caught up in the act. Bai Hui just wants to strike at An Nuan. The person who used to like her now likes An Nuan, and she feels she's losing face. But if you start liking Bai Hui again, it gives people the impression that as long as she wants, you'd throw An Nuan away at any moment."

"You like Bai Hui too, don't you?" Liu Chang'an said with a smile.

Zhao Wuqiang was stunned for a moment, then shook his head.

Liu Chang'an didn't say much more. He washed his hands and returned to the KTV private room, only to find that Bai Hui had organized a "Final Confession" activity. A boy named Lin Xinhuai was currently confessing his feelings to Bai Hui's best friend, Miao Yingying.

It seemed this had been a premeditated event. Although Miao Yingying was somewhat surprised, she was clearly overjoyed and shyly accepted Lin Xinhuai's gift. Liu Chang'an hurriedly joined the other classmates in applause; after all, it wasn't the eighties or nineties anymore, and the social climate was quite different, not to mention that high school seniors were basically eighteen or nineteen and already adults.

Next, it was the others' turn to confess to Bai Hui. Besides Qian Ning and Lu Yuan, two other people also confessed to her. Carried by the emotions and melancholy of impending graduation, the passions of youth were intense. Bai Hui listened to the boys' confessions with genuine emotion and sincerity, but she declined them all on the grounds that the college entrance examination was imminent and she could not respond to their feelings at this time.

Finally, Bai Hui looked toward Liu Chang'an, her eyes filled with encouragement and shy anticipation. Liu Chang'an took a sip of Erguotou and, under the gaze of everyone present, walked up to Bai Hui.

Bai Hui could smell the strong, uninhibited scent of alcohol. Liu Chang'an's gaze was gentle and affectionate, making Bai Hui's heart race. She had been looking forward to this moment, even though her response would certainly be no different from how she had handled the other boys.