Chapter 13

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! It's Meng Ou!"

"Get the fuck up! It's Meng Ou! Your goddess!"

"I see her, I'm not blind! Meng Ou, look at me! Look at me!"

Meng Ou had a highly distinctive appearance and was very popular at school. The moment she appeared, the audience erupted, everyone who had been listless a moment ago suddenly bursting with energy.

The girl's solo lasted about half a minute before a boy suddenly appeared behind her and embraced her. His eyes half lowered, he tilted his head against the side of her neck, his hands resting lightly at her slender waist.

The boy wore a crisp white shirt. Tall and long-legged, he had a fresh, clean air that created a striking visual contrast with Meng Ou's cool beauty, yet the two were strangely well matched.

"Holy shit! So they weren't lying when they said Gu Wang was performing. I thought they were making it up."

"Who cares? All that matters is he's hot. Wangwang, I love you!!!!"

"So hot! You're so fucking hot!"

All the stage lights came on, bringing Gu Wang's face fully into view. He held Meng Ou in his arms, their hands clasped together.

As the music swelled, Gu Wang wrapped an arm around Meng Ou's waist and spun her through the air several times. Her long hair brushed his neck. Ticklish, Gu Wang couldn't help laughing.

That smile had the girls below screaming that they were going to faint.

Even Shen Zhao, who had grown up with Gu Wang, had never seen him look so confident and dazzling. He ran to the front row with a flower crown he'd found somewhere perched on his head, yelling like a madman.

The last half minute belonged to Gu Wang alone, and Meng Ou slowly retreated backstage.

The music grew very slow, but beneath the tranquil melody, a deeper, hidden undercurrent seemed to surge. The lights dimmed until only the boy onstage could be seen.

This was Gu Wang's stage alone.

The broad movements lifted the hem of Gu Wang's white shirt, revealing his lean, pale waist, and the audience instantly erupted in screams.

Gu Wang seemed to notice. During a lull in the music, he tugged his shirt down, but the collar slipped toward one shoulder, completely exposing one collarbone. He was slender, and the hollow of his collarbone was deep enough to cast a shadow.

Having finished hosting the first half, He Qinghuan sat at the judges' table, leaning lazily back in his chair, stray hair scattered casually across his forehead. When his gaze landed on Gu Wang's waist, he raised an eyebrow, but the corners of his mouth dipped slightly.

He was directly in front of Gu Wang, but Gu Wang didn't see him.

He Qinghuan turned toward the bouquet set beside him. Li Shuya put a lot of care into her students; even by He Qinghuan's standards, these flowers were quite good.

The roses were in full, luscious bloom, and the eucalyptus leaves were a vibrant green. He Qinghuan reached out and plucked off a rose petal. It was smooth and soft to the touch. Whatever came to mind made him chuckle.

Then he crushed the petal between his fingertips, its juices making his fingers look even colder and paler.

But He Qinghuan's gaze remained calm as he watched the boy onstage pant lightly, bow when the music ended, and leave.

Throughout all of this, Gu Wang still hadn't looked at He Qinghuan once.

After the last few student performances came the teachers' acts. This one had probably been choreographed by a younger teacher: a group of potbellied middle-aged men and normally prim female teachers were doing the bunny hop. Their movements weren't practiced, but the students were very supportive and sang along to the music.

Backstage, Gu Wang took a couple of sips of water. People kept coming up to ask for his WeChat, leaving him feeling helpless. Before entering this book, he'd been a good-looking boy too, but his looks had definitely not been as outstanding as the Original Host's. Girls had occasionally asked for his contact information, but rarely. Nothing like this endless stream.

And every girl who approached Gu Wang looked so tentative. He wasn't very good at turning people down, and when they saw him hesitate, they assured him they only wanted his contact information and meant nothing else.

It wasn't until the awards ceremony began outside that things finally quieted down around him.

Meng Ou stood to one side with her arms folded and said with a smile, "I was the freshman representative in my first year. After I gave my speech at the opening ceremony, people surrounded me asking for my WeChat too. It's much better now."

Gu Wang blinked. "Why?"

Meng Ou said, "Because my WeChat friends list is full."

Gu Wang said, "..."

Meng Ou couldn't help laughing at his speechless expression. She listened to what was happening outside for a moment, then said, "They're announcing the rankings. Let's go."

Gu Wang put down his water and stood up.

Just as he walked over, a girl came up to him, looking very excited. "Wangwang, I just saw them sorting out the score sheets. Your class won first prize!"

Gu Wang looked slightly surprised. "Really?"

"Yes, yes!"

Before Gu Wang could thank her, their class was announced outside. The female host's voice was gentle, and the instant she finished speaking, deafening screams rose from the audience, along with whistles from the boys.

The lights shone on Gu Wang and Meng Ou's faces. When Gu Wang bent down to straighten Meng Ou's skirt for her, another wave of cries rose below. Meng Ou accepted the certificate; the ink on it hadn't even dried.

As Gu Wang turned his head to listen to the host, two people came up from the audience. Meng Ou signaled to him with her eyes. Puzzled, Gu Wang looked toward the steps on the right, but the first person he saw was Song Zhiyan.

Song Zhiyan held a bouquet of pink roses. Earlier, he'd worn his uniform with a roguish air, but now his zipper was pulled up properly. He looked so solemn and nervous that Gu Wang suspected he'd come to propose.

Without looking to either side, Song Zhiyan walked past Gu Wang and shoved the flowers into Meng Ou's arms. She smiled brightly. "Thank you, but I prefer red roses."

"Oh," Song Zhiyan said stiffly.

Gu Wang said, "..."

The aisle and steps were both hidden in unlit gloom. Gu Wang watched He Qinghuan's figure emerge from the darkness, becoming clear inch by inch.

His features were cool, and his gaze settled unhurriedly on Gu Wang.

Alarm bells instantly went off in Gu Wang's head, his scalp prickling. He had a bad feeling.

Especially when he saw the bouquet of champagne roses in He Qinghuan's arms.

He Qinghuan stopped in front of Gu Wang and offered him the flowers. Gu Wang pressed his lips together and reached out to take them. His fingertips briefly touched He Qinghuan's, and he recoiled with the bouquet as if he'd been shocked.

He Qinghuan stood beside Gu Wang. The sight was so pleasing that the teacher below took several photos in a row before saying they were done.

Even though He Qinghuan had presented him with flowers on behalf of their class, Gu Wang didn't read much into it. He Qinghuan hadn't acted particularly unusual at the time either.

Backstage, Gu Wang buried his face in the flowers and felt around inside them for a while. Meng Ou's voice suddenly came from behind him. "Wangwang, what are you doing?"

Gu Wang's expression didn't change. "The flowers are pretty."

Actually, he wanted to check whether He Qinghuan had hidden a knife inside.

Looking at the flowers, Meng Ou teased, "Wangwang, don't tell me He Qinghuan is having regrets?"

Gu Wang didn't catch on right away. "Regrets about what?"

"You don't like him anymore." Meng Ou snorted. "People are all like that. When you're eagerly treating them well, they ignore you. Once you don't want them anymore, they come clinging to you, making it seem like you're the heartless one."

Gu Wang smiled. "I don't care what He Qinghuan thinks."

"Gu Wang." Meng Ou called his name, her expression turning earnest and her tone serious. "I'm only giving you this friendly warning because you seem like a decent person. Stay as far away from He Qinghuan as you can. He's not like us."

Gu Wang froze. He hadn't expected Meng Ou to say any of this, much less that she would think there was more to He Qinghuan than met the eye. In the book, she had always admired him.

But it had only ever been admiration. Meng Ou had never had any relationship with He Qinghuan beyond ordinary friendship.

Meng Ou frowned. "I don't really know the specifics either. Anyway, just stay away from him."

Gu Wang nodded. For Meng Ou to tell him this, she really did consider him a friend.

They could go straight home after the evening show. Holding the bouquet, Gu Wang felt uncomfortable all over, but he couldn't throw it away in front of everyone at school. He had wanted to give it to the League Branch Secretary to decorate the classroom.

Wen Ting winked at him. "The certificate is enough for us. These are Ms. Li's reward for you and Meng Ou."

Gu Wang decided to take it outside the school and throw it away.

But as soon as he left the school gates, Gu Dazhi pulled up in front of him in an imposing Land Rover. He opened the car door for Gu Wang, saw his son holding a bouquet with a dark expression, and immediately laughed. "Well, who gave my son flowers?"

Gu Wang copied the Original Host's willfulness perfectly, tossing the flowers onto the back seat. "My teacher."

Gu Dazhi looked at Gu Wang and asked in surprise, "Are you wearing makeup?"

The eyeliner around Gu Wang's eyes was especially noticeable. He raised a hand and rubbed at it. "There was a National Day show tonight. I performed."

"So was your act talking out of your ass or throwing a tantrum?" Gu Dazhi asked as he turned the steering wheel to make a U-turn.

Gu Wang leaned back against the seat and mumbled something. Gu Dazhi wanted to ask more, but seeing Gu Wang's head tilted to one side as he nearly fell asleep made his heart ache.

These days, Gu Wang had been studying until three every morning. It would be a lie to say it didn't hurt him to see it. Several times, he'd wanted to say they should just let Wangwang be a wastrel, but Gu Wang's mother had given him a thorough tongue-lashing each time.

Gu Wang wasn't actually asleep. He'd simply been wound too tight all day, and now that he'd relaxed, he felt exhausted.

He couldn't figure He Qinghuan out, and that left him uncertain.

He vaguely felt that something had changed, but he couldn't pinpoint what. The book's plot didn't seem to have changed either.

He Qinghuan hadn't had much of a hand in the Original Host's fate. Jiang Chi had brought it all about himself, because the Original Host's constant clinging to He Qinghuan had driven Jiang Chi into humiliated anger, which had then turned into hatred.

Things didn't seem much different now, except that before, the Original Host had actively clung to He Qinghuan, while now Gu Wang was passively ending up this close to him.

The fragrance of the roses on the back seat spread through the car. Drowsy and muddled, Gu Wang actually fell asleep.

The villa was brightly lit, its vast living room filled with laughter and conversation. Exquisite, dazzling chandeliers illuminated everyone's watches and necklaces.

The iron gates slowly opened, and a black Bentley drove in at a leisurely pace. Its headlights swept across everyone's faces. Various emotions flashed through their eyes before they quickly fell silent.

Auntie opened the door, and He Qinghuan strolled inside in his school uniform.

His features cool, he swept a casual glance over the faces in the living room, then curved his lips and said softly, "Good evening."

A little boy of four or five glanced around, then hid in the arms of the beautiful young woman beside him.

His gaze indifferent, He Qinghuan went upstairs to his room with his schoolbag on his back. He had just put it down when his phone rang. He glanced at the caller, answered, and casually settled onto the sofa.

"He Qinghuan, is Gu Wang in your class?" The boy on the other end sounded extremely excited.

The boy's name was Yue Feng. He attended high school in the capital and was He Qinghuan's childhood friend. His family atmosphere was better than He Qinghuan's, though. His parents had a harmonious marriage, and his siblings got along well too. As the youngest, Yue Feng had been doted on since childhood.

He Qinghuan asked casually, "Yes. Why?"

Yue Feng grew even more excited at his answer. After letting out several howls, he said, "Quick, quick, quick, send me his WeChat contact! I saw a video of him dancing on the school website. It took me ages to find out he went to your school. He's exactly my type, so sweet and good-looking!"

Sweet and good-looking?

He was quite sweet, and good-looking too.

On the other end, Yue Feng was still excitedly praising how good-looking Gu Wang was, how slim his waist was, and how his eyes were so damn beautiful too.

He Qinghuan scraped a fingertip against the leather sofa. Remembering how Gu Wang had looked beneath him, his eyelashes trembling with nerves, a faint smile rose in his eyes. He interrupted Yue Feng,

"He already likes someone."

Yue Feng's voice cut off abruptly. Stunned, he asked, "Who?"

He Qinghuan's gaze settled on the table lamp, his voice languid. "Me."

Author's note: Wangwang: Ptooey!

Chapter 20

"Fuck," Yue Feng said on the other end, then added, "No way. So are you two dating now?"

He Qinghuan lowered his eyes. "He's sulking."

Yue Feng was even more fucking shocked, swearing several times in a row. "Then I bow before His Lordship Wangwang. He actually dares to sulk at you."

Then he sighed. "Tsk, I knew I shouldn't have asked you. Isn't someone like Gu Wang exactly your type?"