When Wang Qiqi and the others returned to their seats after sorting things out, they realized Gong Yiying was gone. “Where’s she?” Wang Qiqi lightly nudged Jiang Xin, who was deep in conversation with someone beside her.

Jiang Xin, fully engrossed in her chat, replied to Wang Qiqi’s question with a dismissive, “I have no idea, ask your roommate.” Hmph, Jiang Xin wouldn’t admit that she felt Wang Qiqi was hiding something from her, and that’s why she was deliberately avoiding answering.

Ask her roommate? Wang Qiqi wondered if Gong Yiying had spilled the beans about seeing Zhang Han outside the auditorium with a bouquet of roses. “Did Gong Yiying say something?” Wang Qiqi turned and whispered to Bai Ge.

Bai Ge glanced around nervously. Since the earlier incident, despite the low volume, the few people nearby had heard something, and they were all asking what there was to congratulate Han Meina about. It had taken them ages to quell everyone’s curiosity. Now that Wang Qiqi was back asking about the follow-up, Bai Ge could only whisper the details. “You were awful just now, running off like that.” After explaining the situation, Bai Ge complained, “And you didn’t even take me with you! You don’t know, Gong Yiying actually called me out. How was I supposed to know what was so celebratory about Han Meina?”

Wang Qiqi looked at the aggrieved-looking Bai Ge and sighed internally. Truly, ignorance was bliss. “Maybe she was congratulating Meina for insisting on an internal election for the freshman orientation performance group.”

Bai Ge looked at Wang Qiqi, her eyes filled with doubt. Finally, Wang Qiqi couldn’t hold back. “Zhang Han likes Han Meina, and someone else likes Zhang Han.” There, this girl was too cute.

Someone likes Zhang Han? Bai Ge almost blurted it out but quickly clamped her hand over her mouth, glancing around cautiously. “But quite a few people in the class like Zhang Han; he’s good-looking, at least.” After saying this, Bai Ge dropped the subject.

Most of the subsequent performances were unremarkable, and people began leaving in trickles. “The quality of the freshmen this year isn’t great.”

“Their singing is off, their dancing is weak, sigh.”

“Honestly, there aren't many highlights; the freshmen last year were better quality.”

Hearing this, everyone assumed they were criticizing the orientation show itself. But the next topic shifted: “I heard one of the class beauties among the freshmen was snatched up by someone; there were only a few beauties to begin with, tsk.”

“They say the ones who love reading in the library are all first-year freshmen. What a waste of good cabbage being eaten by pigs.”

“Exactly. I heard many guys tried approaching them, but they were completely ignored.”

“Hmph, I don’t believe it. A four-eyed bookworm will end up winning the beauty.”

“Why don’t you try?” someone beside him goaded. “If you succeed, we’ll treat you to a meal, your choice.”

When Bai Ge and the others heard the distant conversation, they all cast looks of pity towards Wang Qiqi and Jiang Xin. It was clear that when people mentioned the beautiful girls currently studying in the library, they were referring to the four of them.

Jiang Xin shot a resentful glare at the retreating backs of the male students, cursing them internally for being so crass. “They’re going too far.” Jiang Xin complained.

Having lived through one college life already, Wang Qiqi wasn't surprised by this kind of betting-based pursuit among boys. “In the future, when you have admirers, you need to be wary of people like this. Many boys start pursuing a girl based on a bet. If he genuinely likes the girl, that’s fine, but if he’s pursuing her purely for a wager, that’s truly miserable.”

Some of the surrounding girls who had been looking for a laugh at Wang Qiqi’s expense were silenced. They hadn't expected the conversation to pivot so smoothly, complete with a piece of wisdom. Some who had been snickering awkwardly turned their attention back to the show.

“Look, look! Meng Fei is on stage! Meng Fei is about to perform!” Just then, Meng Fei, the class beauty from the next class over, glided onto the stage dressed in flowing white robes, instantly sending the atmosphere in the hall soaring to its peak for the entire evening.

If Meng Fei’s fame had previously been confined mostly to the first-year cohort, she was now known by everyone from freshmen to seniors. That spectacular public proposal had brought her considerable renown. Now, everyone wondered how the talented senior would perform this time.

Before Meng Fei could even start singing, a man dressed entirely in a white suit, carrying a bouquet of red roses, walked onto the stage. “Flowers already?”

“Aren’t they usually presented after the song?”

Amidst the crowd's questioning, the man presented the flowers to Meng Fei. Of course, the dramatic scene of kneeling on one knee didn't repeat itself, which left some people who were eagerly awaiting Meng Fei’s performance slightly disappointed. While the development didn't entirely exceed expectations, it felt a bit too subdued.

Wang Qiqi looked at the pair, both clad in white, and had only one thought: showing off. Damn it, was white so easy to pull off? Moreover, Meng Fei’s long hair was down, making her look exactly like a vengeful ghost wailing in a horror film. As for the so-called talented senior, wearing that white suit utterly failed to convey the elegance of a white knight; instead, he looked rather drab.

Just as everyone began to feel let down, the music started—that familiar tune made everyone cry out in surprise. “My Heart Will Always Be True?”

“I knew there would be a surprise for us.”

“Wow, he can sing too?” exclaimed a girl. “He hasn’t performed or sung publicly since the freshman New Year’s Eve gala. I didn't expect…”

Hearing this, the surrounding crowd pressed for details on why the senior hadn't performed again, though everyone was far more interested in the quality of his singing. After all, a guy with good grades and a good family background who could also sing would completely overshadow every male student present.

“Listen, just listen for yourselves.” The girl offered no critique, merely suggesting everyone judge for themselves; tastes differed, and it was impossible for one person's singing to gain unanimous approval.

As the senior sang the first line, everyone realized his voice was quite magnetic. However, regarding this particular love song, the overall evaluation wasn't high because, while the senior sang well, Meng Fei’s voice was slightly off-key and wavering, dragging the song down several notches.

Jiang Xin watched the perfect pair thank the audience and leave the stage hand-in-hand, drifting away with a wide-open mouth. “I predict a lot of the girls here will be jealous of Meng Fei.” That man was too perfect, so perfect he felt like a dream.

Li Xin only sighed in realization. The so-called perfect senior wouldn’t belong to her, so there was nothing to be jealous of. However, she cast a worried glance at Zhang Han. “I wonder if someone’s plan will succeed.” Although today’s spectacle wasn't as grand as the previous one, the fact that the senior had taken the stage again after two years generated considerable buzz, putting immense pressure on Zhang Han.

“Who knows.” Bai Ge thought that given Han Meina’s temperament, seeing Meng Fei garner so much attention, if someone didn’t pull off an unexpected move, Han Meina probably wouldn’t agree.

“I’m doubtful,” Jiang Xin whispered. “Didn’t you notice the look in Han Meina’s eyes when she watched Meng Fei and the senior sing? It was absolute envy.”

“Any woman would look at Meng Fei and the senior with a mixture of envy, jealousy, and hatred,” Wang Qiqi argued. She had to admit Meng Fei’s move was brilliant; the senior returning to sing was for Meng Fei, and a duet solidified her status as his girlfriend beyond doubt.

The surrounding people were still buzzing about the last performance. Zhang Han looked at Han Meina sitting quietly beside him, and his heart sank. He hadn't expected her to pull a counter-move like this. Based on his original plan, winning Meina’s agreement now seemed incredibly difficult. What should he do?

Zhang Han sat quietly, thinking for a while, then suddenly stood up and walked toward the backstage area to consult with the host. After quite some time, Zhang Han returned, his steps light, and said a few words to his roommate before quietly returning to his seat next to Han Meina. Although he was gone for about ten minutes, nobody paid any attention to his movements since everyone was consumed by discussions about Meng Fei stealing the spotlight.

The beautiful host gracefully walked onto the stage. “Just now, a young man approached us backstage, asking if he could put on a last-minute performance. He said he wanted to express his feelings to a girl he admires, and asked if the audience would agree?”

People were already preparing to leave, finding the programs dull. If they hadn't been waiting for Meng Fei, most would have already gone. But now, this unexpected turn of events! Had they been provoked by the previous scene?

“Agree!”

“I agree a thousand times over!”

The beautiful host was unsurprised by the response. “Then let’s welcome the brave, handsome young man!”

Everyone in the audience began whispering, wondering who would step up, and even more, who the lucky girl would be. When Zhang Han’s figure appeared on stage, Bai Ge and the others understood immediately. “Heavens! I didn’t think Zhang Han would actually do something like this!”

“I’m jealous of the girl Zhang Han is about to confess to. Hey, guess who the lucky girl is?” Jiang Xin asked gossipy. “He’s close with many girls in the class; I wonder who it will be.” Zhang Han was very popular in the class; although he wasn't a class officer, his popularity far surpassed theirs.

Wang Qiqi teased them, drawing out the suspense. “It’s someone we know. You’ll find out when it happens.”

If Jiang Xin hadn’t realized it by now, she would have been truly clueless. “Ah, someone we know, from the class, and even from your dorm?” Jiang Xin murmured softly. “I knew someone wouldn't be nice enough to just congratulate her honestly.”

“But this has little to do with us; we get to watch the drama unfold,” Wang Qiqi thought. Zhang Han doing this gave Han Meina a better chance of agreeing, but this kid was certainly putting himself out there. (To be continued.)