The Matchmaker God's thread

Time flew by. Three or four days passed in the blink of an eye, and military training across the university settled into a routine.

As the students and instructors grew more familiar with each other, things became increasingly lively.

Over in the Journalism Department, things were neither good nor bad. Hao Shuai and the other two hadn't caused any trouble.

But their group was treated like something nobody wanted to touch. Other formations often challenged one another to singing contests, yet nobody ever approached them.

Watching the other formations having so much fun left them feeling a little down.

A wave of applause broke out during a break that day. The Dance Department next door had actually started a relay of full splits.

Dozens of pretty young women dropped into splits one after another, their movements smooth and graceful. The display stunned everyone.

Almost every guy nearby stared with his eyes practically popping out, and the applause went on and on.

Even the guys from the Journalism Department couldn't help craning their necks to look, practically drooling. "Look at those legs, so long and straight. I could play with them for a year. Absolutely perfect."

"Ugh!" A girl beside them couldn't resist spitting in disgust. "Men are all shameless flirts."

Zheng Bo sidled up to Li Yichen. "Yichen, buddy, this won't do. Shouldn't we come up with something too? We can't just keep watching everyone else perform. You're the Acting Counselor, after all. It'd be embarrassing if word got out..."

Zheng Bo was running out of options. Several days had passed without a decent opportunity, and Han Wenqi and Song Yi were growing increasingly impatient. He was getting anxious too.

"Hmm." Li Yichen thought he had a point. It really wasn't right for everyone else to be having fun while their own group sat around in silence.

He glanced at Hao Shuai and the others and couldn't help shaking his head. He had figured them out: they were just there to make up the numbers. Counting on them to liven things up was out of the question.

So he had no choice but to walk to the front of the formation and clap twice. Once everyone was looking at him, he smiled and asked, "Wasn't their performance impressive?"

"Yes!" many of them shouted enviously.

"I don't think so." Li Yichen shook his head, then said confidently, "That's only because we haven't performed yet."

Everyone's eyes lit up. "That's right! Maybe there's some hidden talent among us who can outdo them?"

"So, does anyone want to perform something and put them in their place?" Li Yichen immediately fanned the flames.

The group instantly fell silent. Everyone looked at one another without saying a word.

Li Yichen felt a little awkward too. Surely I can't be this unlucky? Is this year's Journalism Department full of untalented idiots? Not a single presentable act among them?

Do I have to go up myself? But I can't sing, let alone dance. Am I supposed to smash a rock on my chest?

Just as he was sucking his teeth in frustration, Ouyang Xuanxuan stood up and said softly, "I'll give it a try."

"Ooh!" Everyone grew excited, especially the guys. Ouyang Xuanxuan was a campus beauty, and they couldn't wait.

Li Yichen smiled and nodded, then gestured for her to take the floor.

Ouyang Xuanxuan pressed her lips together, then walked confidently to the front of the formation. "I'll sing a song for everyone."

"Yes!" Everyone cheered loudly. Their enthusiastic applause immediately drew the attention of the students nearby.

Sure enough, someone recognized Ouyang Xuanxuan right away.

"Look! Isn't that Ouyang Xuanxuan?" someone said excitedly. "She's one of the new Top Ten Campus Beauties. I've got to go see this." With that, he actually ran over.

"Wait, I'm coming too!"

Before Ouyang Xuanxuan had even begun singing, she had already drawn a pack of eager guys, and the crowd kept growing.

Her cheeks slightly flushed, Ouyang Xuanxuan took the microphone from Li Yichen and drew a deep breath. Her eyes drifted almost shut, and a moment later, her ethereal voice floated into everyone's ears.

You boarded the empty

Subway, the last train of the night

It's so frustrating, so in love, yet we have to part

We can't make sense of love

If the moon hasn't arrived yet

The streetlight can light the windowsill too

Shining on white camellias as they gently bloom

If the morning breeze hasn't arrived yet

The evening breeze can drift into your arms too

Stirring the tree shadows on the ground into a gentle sway

The song continued, but everyone around her was silent, afraid that even the slightest noise would spoil its beauty.

"Damn, that's incredible," one guy muttered softly. "From now on, Ouyang Xuanxuan is the only goddess in my heart. To hell with those long legs."

"Stop talking..." A guy from Northeast China beside him immediately silenced him with a slap.

"If the moon hasn't arrived yet, the streetlight can light the windowsill too..."

As she sang those words, Ouyang Xuanxuan couldn't help glancing at Li Yichen.

Li Yichen's heart stirred, as though Cupid's arrow had struck him, leaving him tingling all over.

Ouyang Xuanxuan was so captivating at that moment that he almost felt unable to breathe.

"Shining on white camellias as they gently bloom..."

Her voice faded and the music stopped. The entire crowd remained silent, utterly spellbound, though it was hard to say whether it was by the singer or the song.

Li Yichen led the applause. Gradually, the clapping swelled into a torrent that swept across the entire square.

"Thank you. Thank you, everyone." Ouyang Xuanxuan bowed repeatedly in thanks, but the applause didn't stop. Instead, it only grew louder.

Suddenly, someone waved his arms and shouted, "Ouyang Xuanxuan, I love you!"

"Who shouted that? How dare you defile my goddess! Drag him out and castrate him!"

"Woo! One more!"

"Woo! One more!"

Gradually, everyone began shouting at the top of their lungs, begging Ouyang Xuanxuan to sing another song. They hadn't heard nearly enough. These young guys would be losing sleep tonight.

Ouyang Xuanxuan smiled and turned toward Li Yichen, who was looking at her too. Their gazes seemed to draw threads through the air, red ones at that.

The two red threads stretched across the space between them, slowly approaching each other. They touched tentatively, then sprang apart like startled rabbits.

But a moment later, they shyly touched again.

Then the ends of the two red threads slowly curved and hooked together. Just as they were about to tie themselves into a knot—

A sharp voice suddenly rang out. "Next, it's my turn."

At some point, Tang Ling'er had arrived in the middle of the crowd, carrying her Wooden Box. Her clear, wide eyes fixed on the two exchanging meaningful looks.

Suddenly, she jerked the Wooden Box in her hand. It flew up, spun a full three hundred and sixty degrees in midair, then slammed heavily into the ground.

With a ringing clang, a streak of blue-green light shot from the top of the case, soaring into the air.

"Oh..." Only then did everyone react, instinctively tilting their heads back to look at the sword overhead.

"Look, it's Tang Ling'er! She's one of the new Top Ten Campus Beauties too."

"I'm so jealous of the Journalism Department. They've got two campus beauties together!"

"Tell me about it!"

Then another startled cry rose from the crowd. "Holy shit!"

Tang Ling'er struck the top of the Wooden Box with her palm and used the momentum to launch herself into the air, reaching for the sword.

She caught its hilt and slashed through the air with a swish. A streak of light flew out, cutting straight through the middle of the red threads.

Li Yichen and Ouyang Xuanxuan both felt a sudden pang in their hearts, as though they had lost something. A tear slipped from the corner of each of their eyes.