He Wanqing’s face was a mask of extre embarrassnt, mixed with sha and annoyance.
What Xue ng was doing was clearly a power play, putting her on the spot. It was too much.
"Wanqing, take them!"
Her friend urged her on excitedly from the side.
But He Wanqing stood as still as a statue, making the situation awkward.
Just then, her friend suddenly reached out, took the flowers, and shoved them directly into He Wanqing’s arms.
"OOHHH!!!"
Seeing the flowers change hands, the audience imdiately erupted in cheers.
The crowd of onlookers didn’t care how the flowers were given; they were just there for the drama.
Seeing his chance, Xue ng quickly turned and headed for the stage, afraid that He Wanqing would get upset, chase after him, and return the flowers.
"What are you doing?"
Down in the audience, He Wanqing shot her friend a displeased look.
"Even if you don’t like him, you can’t just reject him in public like that! That’s so hurtful!"
Her friend argued, full of self-justification.
"You... I’m not talking to you anymore!"
"Oh, co on, Zhao Rui will understand. Besides, you need to give him a rival. That way, he’ll cherish you more."
"I’m not listening! You’re talking nonsense!"
Furious, He Wanqing threw the flowers back at her, then covered her ears, pouting and sulking.
On stage, the song ended. Xue ng gave a slight bow of thanks and walked off.
The whole plan was quite thoughtful, except that the intended recipient of the flowers wasn’t very cooperative.
Xue ng didn’t look too happy, but at least the flowers had been delivered.
’I’ll apologize to her later,’ he thought. ’That can be a more subtle way to express my deep feelings for her.’
"That girl just now... she looked a lot like He Wanqing, didn’t she?"
In the Martial Arts Academy section, Qin Rui said with a frown.
"Who?"
"Zhao Rui’s girlfriend from his class. I’ve seen her before."
"Pfft, since when does Zhao Rui have a girlfriend? How co I didn’t know? And you call her his ’girlfriend’—are you his main chick or sothing?"
Li Xinran laughed.
"Oh, stop it. I’m being serious. Anyway, they’re really close. Where did that guy go? Soone’s trying to steal his girl!"
"What ’steal his girl’? That girl obviously didn’t accept. Zhao Rui’s fine! I think you’re just trying to stir up trouble! Tell , have you stopped liking and started liking Zhao Rui instead?"
Li Xinran raised an eyebrow, looking at Qin Rui.
"Of course not, darling! I only love you! Hehe!"
Qin Rui giggled, wrapped an arm around Li Xinran, and gave her a loud smooch on the cheek.
"It’s fine. We should keep it in the family. I wouldn’t mind."
"Holy crap, Li Xinran, have so sha!"
The two of them continued to banter quietly amidst the loud music.
The show went on.
About ten minutes later, the host walked onto the stage with a smile. In a professional, resounding, and slightly deep voice, he recited:
"Sword drawn, astride my steed, I cleave through ghostly rain,
Mountains of white bone make startled birds take flight.
The mortal realm’s a tide, and people are but water,
I sigh, for from the Jianghu, how few return."
The host paused for a mont before continuing, "And now, please welco third-year student from the Art School, Ouyang Xin, and first-year student from the School of Accounting, Zhao Rui, as they perform their original composition: the Jade Sea Tide-Rising lody! Let’s give them a warm welco!"
As soon as he said this, the School of Accounting section erupted.
"Holy crap, he’s from our school! I think that’s the Martial Arts Student, Zhao Rui!"
"And it’s an original piece!"
"Yeah!"
"I didn’t hear a thing about this!"
"He’s not just going to be performing martial arts, is he?"
"Probably. She’ll play the music, and he’ll perform in front."
"Don’t you rember him singing ’Serve the Country with Utmost Loyalty’ before? The guy’s got talent, okay?"
"Oh, right! I’d forgotten about that."
While everyone was whispering among themselves, the lights on the stage shifted, and a sudden surge of music from a zither burst forth.
A crisp and dramatic lody instantly echoed across the entire field, seeming to conjure flashes of sword and steel before everyone’s eyes.
It told soul-stirring tales of love, hate, and vengeance.
"Wow, this sounds amazing!"
"It has such a martial arts fantasy vibe!"
A spotlight hit the stage, revealing Ouyang Xin in historical costu. Her fair hands danced across the strings, each pluck producing a clear, resonant note.
A gentle breeze stirred, lifting her beautiful hair.
Her jade-like face was lowered, her slender fingers moving like lightning.
"Senior Sister Ouyang, I love you!"
An excited uproar imdiately rose from the audience.
"Where’s Zhao Rui? Why can’t I see him?"
The students from the School of Accounting and the Martial Arts Team looked around in surprise.
A deep, resonant note from a flute rang out, like a thunderclap splitting the heavens, or the first rays of a rising sun at dawn.
Then, a rapid flute lody with a unique rhythm seed to burst from the back of the field, feeling as if it might shatter everyone’s chests as it slowly drew closer.
The flute’s sound was beautiful, its rhythm rising and falling like colossal waves surging on a boundless ocean, crashing down into tides that stirred the soul.
The stage lights swung toward the back.
There, dressed in the pale robes of a classical scholar, Zhao Rui leaped from a high platform at the rear. He beca a graceful white shadow, playing his flute as he used the Soaring Void Step to fly toward the stage.
"Holy crap!"
The crowd was stunned.
’They can do that?!’
The entire venue erupted in an instant.
"Hey, Zhao Rui, I love you! You’re so damn handso!"
Li Xinran was going wild with excitent, flailing her arms with all her might.
Qin Rui wasn’t idle either; she cupped her hands around her mouth and started screaming at the top of her lungs.
Sitting nearby, Luo Min was also in utter disbelief. ’Is this the sa Zhao Rui I used to know?’
’Did he really compose this piece?’
A strange light flickered in her eyes.
The students from the School of Accounting were going crazy too.
The first-year female students who already had a crush on Zhao Rui were especially vocal, screaming at the top of their lungs.
’He’s so handso!’
"Wanqing! Wanqing! It’s Zhao Rui! It’s Zhao Rui!"
Her friend beside her could only stare, her eyes wide with disbelief.
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