A New Face on Campus and a Secret Unveiled

Being acquainted with the student union member overseeing the welcome event at Yan University, Si Xi found that obtaining an admission ticket presented no significant challenge.

However, with a subtle touch of cunning, he deliberately separated the tickets intended for Huo Siyuan and Jing Chen, mindful of Huo Siyuan’s probable designs on Jing Chen.

Soon enough, the day of the matriculation ceremony dawned.

The matriculation ceremony at Yan University was slated for the campus gymnasium, requiring all performers to arrive by noon for an afternoon rehearsal, a precautionary measure against any potential hitches during the evening’s main event.

Upon Si Xi’s arrival, the backstage area buzzed with commotion.

Girls were meticulously applying makeup and slipping into their performance costumes, often corralling the male performers for a quick touch-up.

While a few staunchly masculine individuals rejected the idea, the majority of the boys were surprisingly receptive to wearing makeup.

Indeed, some even proactively requested to be made handsomer, aiming to cultivate a favorable first impression among the newly admitted female students and thus secure a preferential advantage in the dating pool.

The moment Si Xi stepped into the backstage lounge, he was promptly seized by the arts committee member, his piano-singing partner, and subjected to a makeup session.

As soon as she finished, she began rummaging through her kit for a Barbie pink lipstick, clearly intending to apply it to Si Xi.

This sight sent a jolt of alarm through him, and he promptly turned tail, fleeing the scene as if his life depended on it.

Having narrowly escaped the arts committee member’s tenacious grip, Si Xi located an unoccupied lounge backstage and retrieved his phone.

He angled his phone, snapped a selfie, and promptly sent it to Jing Chen.

[Why Don’t You Go to Heaven: Don’t I look terrifyingly handsome right now?]

[Why Don’t You Go to Heaven: Doesn’t one more glance make you want to push me down, XXOO me, then OOXX me? (Wink)]

[Jing Chen: …]

[Jing Chen: You’re wearing makeup?]

[Why Don’t You Go to Heaven: Yep! When are you coming?]

[Why Don’t You Go to Heaven: It’s been a week, and I miss your pecs, abs, and biceps so much.]

[Jing Chen: …]

[Jing Chen: I can’t stay out overnight tonight.]

[Why Don’t You Go to Heaven: QAQ]

[Why Don’t You Go to Heaven: I’m feeling a little emotional, I’m unhappy, I’m going to cry.]

[Jing Chen: Be good, I’ll spend the night with you tomorrow.]

[Why Don’t You Go to Heaven: The kind where you wear a suit and tie.]

[Jing Chen: All right.]

The new suit Si Xi had purchased for Jing Chen had already arrived, meaning he could present it to Jing Chen today, perfect for wearing tomorrow.

He couldn’t quite pinpoint the origin of his intense suit fetish, but one thing was certain: the mere sight of Jing Chen in a suit would invariably send a thrill through him.

Particularly when Jing Chen, clad in a suit, was ‘assisting’ him, Si Xi would find himself utterly vanquished and surrendering within mere minutes…

He had to stop himself; any further contemplation would surely necessitate a mosaic filter.

Si Xi’s brief respite was cut short when he was summoned for rehearsal.

Possessing an excellent rapport, he knew many individuals backstage, and a steady stream of greetings came his way.

“Senior, you look incredibly handsome today, it’s just unfair! Are you even giving us a chance?”

“It’s over, it’s all over.

Compared to Senior in that outfit, I’ve lost all my chances with the first-year girls.”

“Bullshit, with your pathetic look, you wouldn’t have any chances even without the comparison.”

“I’m different, Senior.

Are you looking for a partner? How about me? Do I qualify for a love ticket?”

Si Xi chuckled at the playful banter of these young men.

It seemed like only yesterday he was the “junior” everyone talked about, yet in a flash, he had ascended to “senior” status.

University life, he mused, certainly passed by with astonishing speed.

Wang Yang, who was also getting ready backstage, witnessed the entire scene, his lips twisting into a contemptuous sneer.

‘How hypocritical.’

The rehearsal concluded without a hitch.

Following a quick, informal dinner, everyone began making final preparations for the evening’s main performance.

Precisely at six o’clock, Jing Chen sent him a message, confirming his arrival.

[Why Don’t You Go to Heaven: Which gate are you at? I’ll come pick you up.]

[Jing Chen: I’m in your gymnasium’s parking lot.]

[Why Don’t You Go to Heaven: ?]

[Why Don’t You Go to Heaven: Our school doesn’t allow external vehicles.

How did you get in? O.o]

[Jing Chen: I happened to run into Young Master Huo the Third at the entrance, and he helped me get in.]

Immediately, Si Xi’s internal alarm bells began to clang furiously.

[Why Don’t You Go to Heaven: You two were together?]

[Jing Chen: No, we separated once we got in.]

Si Xi let out a relieved breath.

‘That scoundrel, Huo Siyuan, daring to try and steal his man! He’d… he’d…’

‘But what could he possibly do?

The sheer frustration was palpable.’

Jing Chen, too, let out a silent breath of relief.

‘That was close, almost gave it away.’

Activating location sharing with Jing Chen, Si Xi made his way to the parking lot to meet him.

Reaching the designated spot, his eyes immediately fell upon his “forgiveness green” Panamera.

He had to concede that entrusting the car to Jing Chen had been a stroke of genius, as it had significantly streamlined his travel.

Yet, the figure standing before the car was one he almost failed to recognize.

The man was clad in a striped polo shirt and tailored trousers, a “mature” ensemble that had recently gained popularity online, imbuing him with an undeniable “dad vibe” and making him appear to be of the same generation as their department head.

“Ge?”

Si Xi’s voice came out hesitant.

Hearing it, the man turned, revealing Jing Chen’s familiar face.

From the front, the effect was even more jarring.

Were it not for Jing Chen’s naturally striking features, he would have appeared every inch a greasy, middle-aged man.

‘Ugh… sweat.’

Even Si Xi, deeply enamored with Jing Chen’s appearance, found himself utterly taken aback by this particular ensemble, his initial impulse to rush forward and embrace him frozen mid-motion.

‘He simply couldn’t bring himself to do it.

It was impossible.’

‘He’d feel like he was hugging the department head.’

“Ge, why are you dressed like this?”

Jing Chen cast a glance at his attire and inquired, “Does it look that terrible?”

“It’s… not bad,” Si Xi replied, a hint of reluctance in his voice.

“It certainly has a unique flavor.”

‘If a lover unmasked turns out to be the department head, that’s a ‘flavor’ too, right?’

“I had some matters to handle today, requiring a more mature presentation,” Jing Chen explained.

What he hadn’t disclosed to Si Xi was the existence of his legally recognized son, currently a freshman at Yan University.

Yan University maintained stringent regulations, mandating that all first-year students reside on campus.

While his son typically adhered to this rule, he would certainly return home on weekends, a situation that necessitated a guardian’s signature on various waiver forms.

Jing Chen’s visit to the university today was partly to incidentally handle this administrative task.

Despite being only 32, his well-preserved appearance, a testament to his comfortable lifestyle, made him look remarkably young.

Consequently, people often expressed bewilderment at how he could possibly have an eighteen-year-old son.

Considering it a private family matter, he saw no obligation to offer explanations to anyone.

Nevertheless, to preempt persistent speculation and its potential adverse effects on his son, he deliberately adopted a more mature style of dress whenever attending parent-teacher meetings or any other events requiring his personal appearance.

‘After all, no one was likely to demand his identification.’

For any registrations necessitating an ID, his son’s grandfather’s identification was consistently provided.

“This is for you,” Jing Chen stated, extending a bag towards Si Xi.

“What?”

“A gift.”

Si Xi’s initial bewilderment was instantly dispelled by a surge of delight.

He accepted the bag, peered inside, and recognized the distinctive packaging of BL47 sneakers.

Jing Chen cleared his throat softly before explaining, “I noticed your post on social media expressing a desire for them, so I managed to acquire a pair for you from someone.”

He had initially arranged for Huo Siyuan to deliver the collector’s edition to Si Xi.

Subsequently, he decided that while the commemorative edition was ubiquitous, Si Xi, too, deserved to possess what others had, prompting him to procure an additional pair of the commemorative model.

‘After all, this particular item commanded upwards of twenty thousand at reseller prices, making it a perfectly suitable gift for Si Xi.’

While Si Xi had already obtained a more exclusive pair from Huo Siyuan, the sneakers bestowed upon him by Jing Chen possessed an unparalleled uniqueness.

‘The shoes themselves were secondary; it was Jing Chen’s heartfelt gesture that truly mattered!’

Disregarding Jing Chen’s “dad-like” attire entirely, Si Xi reached out, pulling him into a tight embrace and nuzzling his head against his chest.

“Thank you, Ge, I love it so much!”

“As long as you like it,” Jing Chen murmured, gently ruffling his hair before finally letting go.

“Let’s head off.”

The two departed the parking lot, walking shoulder to shoulder, entirely oblivious that around a nearby corner, Wang Yang stood with his phone raised, meticulously recording their entire exchange.

Just a few days prior, he and Shao Xun had a chance encounter with Young Master Huo the Third, who had been seeking Si Xi.

A single comment made by the Young Master had, for Shao Xun, felt like a bolt from the blue, a sudden and crushing misfortune.

Shao Xun was already struggling in his ongoing feud with his stepbrother.

Should he fail to integrate into Young Master Huo the Third’s social sphere, it would effectively sever his claim to the Shao family inheritance.

Moreover, Shao Xun had confided in him that the Shao family had recently faced recurrent targeting from the Huo family, a predicament he attributed to Young Master Huo the Third’s machinations.

Given that the Huo and Shao families had no existing animosity and even maintained business relations, the Huo family’s sudden targeting of the Shao family could only be attributed to Si Xi.

Si Xi must have endlessly slandered Shao Xun and the Shao family in front of Young Master Huo the Third, inciting him to such a furious display of chivalry.

Beyond the matter of the broken engagement, Shao Xun possessed no other discernible character flaws.

Even in that instance, the Shao family had subsequently presented a perfectly satisfactory resolution.

It was Si Xi’s own ingratitude that led him to reject it, so by what right was he now seeking revenge?

Wang Yang believed he could not allow Young Master Huo the Third’s misconception of Shao Xun to fester further under Si Xi’s cunning influence.

Knowing Si Xi had a performance that evening, and convinced that Young Master Huo the Third would undoubtedly attend, Wang Yang saw this as his sole opportunity to confront the Young Master and unequivocally set the record straight.

Consequently, he had spent the entire day shadowing Si Xi, a presence both deliberate and discreet.

While he failed to encounter Young Master Huo the Third, he inadvertently unearthed a far more significant secret.

A mocking smile touched Wang Yang’s lips.

‘He wondered what Young Master Huo the Third’s reaction would be upon realizing he had been cuckolded.’

****

Having ensured Jing Chen was comfortably seated, Si Xi wasted no time, rushing back backstage to make his own preparations.

Yan University’s gymnasium was a sprawling edifice, boasting a seating capacity for thousands.

With the freshman class alone comprising three to four thousand students, the remaining seats were made available for reservation by other interested students on campus.

Si Xi had only secured a single ticket for Young Master Huo the Third; Jing Chen’s seat, however, he had reserved using his own student ID.

Jing Chen, amidst the throngs of university students, seemed conspicuously out of place.

Yet, having weathered countless storms in life, he displayed not a hint of discomfort.

Moreover, his inherent commanding presence, amplified by his attire, led other students to mistakenly identify him as a university administrator.

Students in his immediate vicinity sported grim expressions, utterly intimidated and daring not to utter a sound.

‘Why wouldn’t a school leader sit up front?’

Students gradually filled the seats.

Jing Chen squinted, scanning the area reserved for first-year students.

These students, fresh from military training, were uniformly tanned, appearing as dark as Guan Yu under the gymnasium’s dim lighting.

He couldn’t discern which one was his wayward son.

‘It’s better not to see him; seeing him would only complicate things.’

The performances began swiftly.

Si Xi’s act was scheduled fifth.

Having not performed on stage in a long while, he felt a touch of nervousness, continuously taking deep breaths.

He turned, intending to speak with the arts committee member to alleviate his tension, only to find her even more nervous than he was.

Amidst the almost palpable tension, their performance finally commenced.

As the lights dimmed, Si Xi took his place at the piano.

After the host finished the announcement and exited the stage, the stage lights completely extinguished, and his fingers, poised on the keys, pressed down, emitting the first note.

Immediately, a single spotlight illuminated him.

Simultaneously, notes cascaded from his fingertips.

The audience gasped, starting with those in the front, and then, as the venue’s equipment projected Si Xi onto the large screens, the entire hall erupted in gasps and applause.

The first-year students, especially those who had never seen Si Xi before, cheered with particular fervor, their faces alight with sheer amazement.

Huo Siyi sat among a group of freshmen, scrolling through his phone with a world-weary expression.

He had witnessed countless performances, even attending the Spring Festival Gala live.

Student shows, mere amateur productions, simply failed to capture his attention.

Had it not been for the school’s mandatory attendance policy, he would have long since fled.

Upon hearing the thunderous cheers, he scoffed, deeming these students unsophisticated and overly dramatic.

However, the incessant squeals of the girls in front, exclaiming about how handsome and beautiful he was, began to grate on his ears, making him think, ‘Could anyone possibly be more handsome than me?’

Full of disdain, he glanced up at the large screen, only to freeze completely at the sight of the young man in a white formal suit playing the piano.

Previously, Si Xi had always worn a shirt and white suit trousers.

Now, however, he had donned the white formal jacket as well.

Coupled with his exceptionally striking appearance, his posture at the piano made him seem like a protagonist descended from an anime.

He appeared both beautiful and otherworldly.

Huo Siyi’s heart pounded with an unprecedented intensity.

With just that single glance, he had fallen in love.