Under the Stage Lights

On Saturday afternoon, Xu Shuche arrived backstage an hour early to get his makeup done.

The person doing his makeup was the junior girl who had approached him before, named Dai Zhen.

As she worked, she couldn’t stop praising him.

“My roommate said Senior Xu is Nuwa’s graduation project.

Seeing you up close now, that reputation is absolutely deserved.”

Another girl helping nearby chimed in.

“Senior Xu’s skin is amazing.

He doesn’t even need concealer.

If the stage lighting weren’t so harsh, he probably wouldn’t need makeup at all.

Barefaced would be perfect.”

“Dai Zhen.”

A gentle voice sounded behind them.

Dai Zhen set down the powder puff and turned around.

“Chen Kan?

Weren’t you supposed to label the judges’ seats?

Why are you back?”

Xu Shuche lifted his head slightly and met Chen Kan’s gaze.

“Oh right, this is Senior Xu,” Dai Zhen stepped aside to introduce them.

“This is Chen Kan, the head of our Arts Department.”

Chen Kan looked refined and scholarly, wearing black-rimmed glasses.

“Nice to finally meet you, Senior Xu.”

He extended his hand.

“I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time but never had the chance.

I didn’t expect Dai Zhen to actually invite you to host.”

Chen Kan’s palm was warm.

So warm that Xu Shuche instinctively tried to withdraw his hand, only to find it firmly held.

“I wonder if Senior Xu has time after the competition.”

Chen Kan smiled gently.

“If you’re free, I’d like to invite you for coffee.”

The invitation caught him off guard.

Xu Shuche didn’t know how to respond.

Before he could struggle for an answer, an unfriendly voice cut in.

“The competition’s about to start.

Why are you all chatting here?”

Qu Chao, wearing a staff badge, looked Xu Shuche up and down with open disdain, as if he were some offensive virus.

Then he turned to Chen Kan, his expression instantly brightening.

“Junior, you’re here?

Why didn’t you tell me?

Honestly.”

“I heard the new host came in last minute.

Since our department is troubling him so much, I felt it was only polite to greet him.”

Chen Kan responded coolly, only sparing Qu Chao a glance before returning his attention to Xu Shuche.

“In that case, I’ll find you after the competition.

There’s a new café on campus that’s quite nice.”

He left.

Qu Chao’s jaw tightened in frustration.

He shot Xu Shuche a vicious look and hurried after Chen Kan.

Dai Zhen rolled her eyes.

“That outreach senior is so weird.

Chen Kan doesn’t even seem to know him.

What’s he trying to do?”

“You don’t know?”

The other girl whispered excitedly.

“That senior is famous for sticking to handsome guys.

He even dared to cling to Jian Yixun from the Physics Department.

I’ve seen Jian Yixun chase him away with a dark face several times, and he still keeps trying.”

“Does he like Jian Yixun?”

Dai Zhen murmured.

“Liking a homophobic straight guy…

He’s brave.

Does he really think he can turn Jian Yixun?”

“Hard to say,” the girl replied.

“Maybe Jian Yixun likes that type.

I think Senior Qu is good-looking.”

“Good-looking?”

Dai Zhen picked up another small bottle and applied lip gloss to Xu Shuche’s lips.

“No one’s better-looking than Senior Xu.

If that super straight Jian Yixun ever bent, the only believable reason would be Senior Xu.”

Xu Shuche had been quietly listening to their gossip.

He hadn’t expected to be dragged into it.

“That’s not appropriate to say.

I…”

“Just joking.”

Dai Zhen laughed after finishing the lip gloss.

“But do you know what people say about you?”

Xu Shuche shook his head blankly.

She leaned closer and whispered,

“They say you’re the ultimate dream guy in the gay circle.

You charm everyone.”

By the time Jian Yixun dragged Lin Xiu into the auditorium, the front seats were already taken.

“This is your fault,” Jian Yixun muttered.

“No good seats left.”

Lin Xiu yawned lazily.

“Blame me?

You’re the one who suddenly decided to watch an English Department singing competition and dragged me here.”

He looked Jian Yixun up and down.

“By the way, who are you here for?

You know someone in English?

And why are you dressed like that?

You look like you’re walking a red carpet.”

Jian Yixun was dressed head to toe in luxury brands, like a British gentleman stepped out of a film.

He didn’t seem aware of the attention he drew.

After sitting down, he asked quietly,

“Do I really look flashy?”

Lin Xiu stared at him.

“Yes.”

“How flashy?”

Jian Yixun’s eyes gleamed.

“Can someone see me at a glance from the stage?”

Lin Xiu finally understood.

“Oh.

So your little sweetheart is performing?”

“Shut up.”

Jian Yixun smacked him lightly.

“It’s a friend.”

“Sure.

A friend.”

Lin Xiu tilted his head toward the pink paper bag Jian Yixun held.

“And what’s with the girly pink bag?”

Jian Yixun cleared his throat mysteriously.

“Cake from Aifulai.”

Lin Xiu’s eyes widened.

“That place with two-hour lines?”

Jian Yixun nodded.

“I lined up this morning.

Waited until eleven.”

“When I asked you to line up with me before, you refused.”

Lin Xiu stared at him suspiciously.

“Tell me honestly.

Did you fall for some English girl?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Jian Yixun cradled the cake carefully.

“I upset someone yesterday.

Didn’t smooth it over.

Last night I scrolled his Moments and saw he shared an Aifulai ad earlier this year.

Guess he likes it.

Two hours isn’t much to make someone happy.”

Lin Xiu fell silent.

Last time, Jian Yixun had called anyone who waited two hours for cake an idiot.

Now here he was.

The stage lights dimmed.

Xu Shuche walked out.

Jian Yixun, who had been lounging carelessly, sat upright.

Xu Shuche wore a fitted black suit and a neatly tied tie adorned with subtle rhinestones.

The suit outlined his slim waist and long legs.

Under the lights, his skin looked even fairer.

His glossed lips shimmered like freshly peeled strawberry jelly.

His phoenix eyes, however, were cool and distant.

Like a thin layer of ice.

Inviting, yet untouchable.

Jian Yixun swallowed unconsciously.

He didn’t hear a word Xu Shuche said.

He only stared.

Until the music began and the first contestant stepped up.

Only then did he snap back, feeling oddly hollow.

“English boys are really…”

Lin Xiu nudged him.

“You used to hate this type.

Why are you staring so hard?”

Jian Yixun lowered his gaze and unlocked his phone.

“I don’t hate them so much I can’t look.”

Strange.

Lin Xiu felt like he no longer understood his friend.

After the first male contestant, the rest were female singers.

Lin Xiu gradually became absorbed in the performances.

When the final contestant finished, Jian Yixun finally looked up and yawned.

“English Department is heaven,” Lin Xiu sighed.

“Unlike Physics.

All rough guys.”

Jian Yixun hummed absentmindedly.

As contestants gathered for a group photo, he scanned the stage.

He couldn’t find Xu Shuche.

“Which performer did you fall for?” Lin Xiu pressed.

“You were on your phone the whole time.”

“Stop asking.”

Jian Yixun stood with the Aifulai bag.

“The less you know, the better.”

Before Lin Xiu could react, Jian Yixun had already disappeared into the crowd.

Xu Shuche skipped the group photo and returned to the preparation room to remove his makeup.

He had only eaten breakfast.

The irregular schedule made his stomach ache again.

He pressed his lips together, brows furrowing as he sipped hot water and gently pressed his abdomen.

The memory of Jian Yixun rubbing his stomach resurfaced.

His ears warmed.

Why was he thinking of Jian Yixun now?

But it had felt good.

Very good.

He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his white shirt beneath the suit jacket.

Just as he was about to sit down, the door behind him opened.

He fell into a firm embrace scented with masculine warmth.

Arms wrapped tightly around his waist.

The heat that had only been faint before now surged fiercely.

Jian Yixun’s amused voice sounded by his ear.

“Senior.

Didn’t expect me to come, did you?”