Niu Xuan's shout drew the eyes of seven or eight classmates, making Gaoyang uncomfortable. He quickly scanned the room and spotted the birthday girl, Wan Sisi.
Wan Sisi sat on a long sofa, flanked by two girls she was close to.
The glass coffee table was covered with snacks, fruit platters, soft drinks, and beer. Beside it stood a fancy serving cart bearing a gorgeous, luxurious three-tier cream cake that clearly hadn't come cheap.
Wan Sisi had put real effort into her appearance today. Her normally plain, medium-short hair had been blow-dried into a slightly fluffy style that gave her a playful air. She wore a Japanese-style polka-dot dress with thin straps, exposing her fair shoulders and collarbones, and a black lace choker encircled her slender neck. She looked like a sweet, docile little kitten.
It was a fairly standard sweet-girl Japanese look, but for Wan Sisi, it was already a bold departure. She had only worked up the courage to try it after the two girls urged her on.
The outfit had proved a success. Every boy who arrived today had involuntarily paused at the sight of Wan Sisi before offering a few suggestive compliments.
Wan Sisi lowered her head and smiled, gradually gaining confidence. She grew more and more eager for Gaoyang to arrive, wanting to see his reaction to her.
After a long wait, Gaoyang finally arrived. The moment he pushed open the door, Wan Sisi's cheeks flushed and her heart fluttered wildly. Fortunately, the dim lighting kept anyone from noticing.
Since they had agreed not to bring gifts, Gaoyang hadn't bought one. Instead, he had stopped at a dessert shop on the way and picked up some matcha cheesecake. He set the takeaway dessert on the coffee table and said casually, "Happy birthday, Xiao Si. I wasn't sure what you liked, so I brought you some dessert."
"Thank you." Wan Sisi wanted to say more, but a bespectacled girl beside her immediately took the hint and stood up. "I'm going to pick a song. Have a seat wherever you like, Gaoyang."
Looking at the newly vacated seat beside Wan Sisi, Gaoyang understood at once. That wingwoman move couldn't be more obvious.
He was still debating whether to accept the invitation when Qingling's voice came from the corner of the private room. "Gaoyang, come here."
Gaoyang turned. Qingling sat on a two-seater sofa in the corner, her arms folded across her chest and her expression calm. She wore a simple, fitted coffee-brown tracksuit, with her hair in a high ponytail and no makeup, yet she still outshone everyone in the room, radiating a goddess-like aura.
"Oh." Gaoyang walked over and obediently sat beside Qingling.
Before Wan Sisi's smile could fully bloom, it froze. She hurriedly tilted her head and smoothed her hair, pretending to chat naturally with someone beside her.
Qingling had called Gaoyang over to discuss something serious, but before she could speak, another voice interrupted.
Niu Xuan called out teasingly, "Gaoyang, you're the only one who showed up late. Aren't you going to make it up to everyone?"
"Exactly!" several boys chimed in.
"Come on! Sing us a song." Niu Xuan held the microphone out to Gaoyang, smiling, though his eyes betrayed his disdain. Niu Xuan knew he was only an average singer, but Gaoyang sounded even worse. He was annoyed with Gaoyang today and wanted to embarrass him.
Originally, Niu Xuan hadn't had anything against Gaoyang. But over the past two weeks, the more he looked at the guy, the more irritating he found him!
Li Weiwei's death had suddenly brought Gaoyang a wave of attention from their classmates. Almost everyone knew he and Li Weiwei had grown up together. At the time, even Niu Xuan had felt a little sorry for him, just like everyone else. Who would have thought that after Li Weiwei's death, Gaoyang would turn into life's big winner?
First, Qingling-the goddess no one in their class dared pursue-had somehow started getting closer and closer to him.
When they first started high school, Niu Xuan had entertained the idea of pursuing Qingling himself. But after a few tentative attempts ended in humiliating rejection, rumors spread that she was a lesbian. Niu Xuan had sensibly stopped bothering her. It wasn't as if he lacked girlfriends, so there was no point losing face over one woman.
And now Qingling, who supposedly could never be won over by a man, had hooked up with Gaoyang.
A few days ago, a classmate had even seen Gaoyang and Qingling holding hands as they entered a subway station outside school. That had set everyone buzzing. In private, the boys all praised Gaoyang's prowess. He could even turn a lesbian straight-just how charming was he?
Maybe it was the halo effect of being with a goddess, but Gaoyang, who used to look merely average, now seemed more handsome every time Niu Xuan saw him. His once-unremarkable air had changed too. Now he kept everyone at a slight distance. Such a fucking poser, yet the girls ate it up.
Today was Wan Sisi's birthday. In the past, Niu Xuan would never have come. But perhaps she was blossoming as she grew older, because lately, Wan Sisi had looked prettier and prettier.
Niu Xuan had just dumped his previous girlfriend, and he had never tried dating this sort of petite, adorable, sweet girl before. Suddenly interested, he had ordered Wan Sisi a three-tier cream cake costing 999 yuan, along with a bouquet of roses. His intentions couldn't have been more obvious.
Niu Xuan knew these tricks were tacky, but they worked.
Niu Xuan thought, Women-which one of them isn't vain? There's nothing money can't handle. If it can't, you just haven't thrown enough money at it.
Ten minutes earlier, when the roses arrived, everyone had cheered and teased them. Niu Xuan had thought victory was in the bag, only for Wan Sisi to insist on refusing them, looking thoroughly troubled.
Niu Xuan knew how to adapt. He didn't press her, making a few jokes to brush the incident aside instead. Afterward, he sang while watching Wan Sisi's every move. On the surface, she was chatting and laughing with their classmates, but she seemed distracted, as though waiting for someone.
Soon, Gaoyang pushed open the door.
Wan Sisi's eyes immediately lit up, and her whole face glowed. Niu Xuan had to admit that she was so beautiful in that moment, she almost eclipsed even Qingling.
Niu Xuan understood everything at once, and his anger flared.
Gaoyang, Gaoyang. Fucking Gaoyang again!
Let's see what you've got today!
"Hey! Sing something! Don't spoil everyone's fun!" Niu Xuan's tone was forceful.
The more perceptive classmates had already caught a whiff of trouble. They didn't point it out, simply munching on sunflower seeds and settling in to watch the drama.
Wan Sisi was looking forward to it too. She had heard classmates say Gaoyang was tone-deaf and sang terribly, but she had never believed them. Someone as gentle as Gaoyang surely had a lovely singing voice. Even if he didn't... it would have to be bad in a cute way.
Gaoyang gave Qingling a look. Talk later?
Qingling returned his look. Talk later.
"Sure." Gaoyang stood up.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Gaoyang crossed the fairly small room to the karaoke machine to choose a song. Soon, he selected "Can't Speak" by the Milk Tea King.
"Oh, an old song." Niu Xuan's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Clearly, we've got a seasoned karaoke king here! Guys, listen up!"
"Haha, you got it!"
"Ready and waiting for the god of singing!"
"Give us a song, singing god!"
Several boys snickered.
Gaoyang knew he sang badly. He had planned to keep the peace, embarrass himself if necessary, and get one song over with. Discussing serious business with Qingling mattered more. But Niu Xuan was really pushing it.
The gentle intro began. In less than ten seconds, it would be time to sing.
The more Gaoyang thought about it, the angrier he got. On impulse, he closed his eyes.
[Beep-] [Entering system] [You have gained 1 Fortune point. Total remaining Fortune points: 26]
-Which attribute can improve my singing?
[Charisma enhances voice-related Talents. You currently possess no such Talent. Allocating points is not recommended]
-Put all 26 points into it! Confirm!
[Points allocated] [Constitution: 27 Endurance: 28] [Strength: 17 Agility: 27] [Willpower: 67 Charisma: 55] [Luck: 132] [System closed]
Gaoyang opened his eyes. Immediately, a faint itching rippled through his throat, and some sort of energy seemed to open up his chest. He knew the attribute points were taking effect. The whole transformation lasted about thirty seconds.
"Why isn't our singing god singing yet? Everyone's waiting!" Niu Xuan prodded.
Gaoyang took a deep breath and came in seamlessly. "Through the clouds, I tried my hardest to run to you, but by the time my love reached you, you were already in someone else's arms..."
After a pause, Gaoyang stood up, holding the microphone in both hands, his face full of emotion. "I just couldn't speak and let her know, just a few simple words could make you laugh, my whole heart hung suspended in midair, and all I could do was watch from afar. I could do all of this, but that person was no longer me..."
The song ended.
A strange silence settled over the room. The classmates who had been waiting to laugh at him only belatedly realized they had listened to the whole thing.
Gaoyang's singing wasn't professional, but it was excellent by amateur standards. More importantly, he had poured his emotions into it.
The song also happened to fit his circumstances. Li Weiwei had only recently died. Hearing it through the sorrowful lens of Gaoyang's situation-unable to speak before, and now never having the chance again-many classmates were genuinely moved, their eyes reddening. Wan Sisi was among them.
At first, Wan Sisi felt delighted. Gaoyang's voice is so lovely. Then she thought of Li Weiwei's death and felt sorrow and regret. Finally, those feelings faded into a quiet sense of loss. He really does like Li Weiwei, doesn't he? They grew up together, after all. Their bond goes back more than a decade.
But even if Li Weiwei will always be his unattainable love, I won't give up. I believe staying by someone's side is the most enduring confession of love...
Wan Sisi lowered her head, an elaborate, sorrowful one-woman show unfolding in her mind.
Niu Xuan sat frozen on the sofa, looking thoroughly thwarted, his mind churning with curses.
Gaoyang handed the microphone to the next classmate waiting to sing and sighed inwardly, deeply regretting his decision. Impulse really is the devil. I wasted twenty-six precious Fortune points over a little vanity.
While singing, Gaoyang had been utterly absorbed and full of emotion. Now that he was done, he returned to keeping a low profile, quietly walking back to the corner and sitting beside Qingling.
"Not bad," Qingling said.
Gaoyang blinked, surprised that Qingling cared about anything besides getting stronger. "You're too kind. What did you want to tell me?"
Qingling moved a little closer and lowered her voice. "Today, I..."
"Gaoyang!" Niu Xuan shouted. "Get over here!"
Interrupted twice now, Qingling's expression darkened. She looked ready to draw her blade and slice off Niu Xuan's head at any moment.
"Qingling, calm down..." Gaoyang hurriedly stopped her from standing. "There's no need. Really, there's no need. Leave it to me."
"Make it quick," Qingling said, displeased.
"Yes."
Before you continue