Chapter Seventy-Two: Winning the Championship

The final on Friday arrived as scheduled. Jiang Muwen and her friends, tickets in hand, arrived at the venue ahead of time. The VIP seats that Yin Lizhe had reserved for them were close to the stage, and once they sat down in a neat row, they waited in anticipation for the competition to begin.

Yin Lizhe had distributed tickets to each classmate, but in the end, only a few actually came to the event.

Gu Nianxi took her seat and carefully set down the handbag she’d been carrying all the way. Its contents brushed the ground through the bag and made a gentle sound. At the noise, Jiang Muwen’s gaze lingered on the handbag. “Xiaoxi, what’s inside?”

When Jiang Muwen asked, Gu Nianxi looked up at her, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. “You’ll find out once the competition starts.”

No one knew how long they waited before the event finally began. The contestants on stage all sang beautifully—each song washing over the audience like a feast for the senses. Jiang Muwen was still lost in the music when she felt a gentle tap on her arm. She turned toward the source, and in the dim light beneath the stage, illuminated only by the glow from above, she could finally make out Gu Nianxi’s face.

“One for each of you. Remember, don’t turn them on until Yin Lizhe is on stage,” Gu Nianxi whispered, handing out the items from her handbag to everyone.

Each person received one—a light-up sign.

After the host’s opening remarks, the lights dimmed further, and three words appeared on the giant screen: Yin Lizhe’s name.

The chatter in the hall faded, and the stage was swallowed by darkness, leaving only his name lit in bold letters. After a moment, pinpricks of starlight began to bloom on the screen—no music, no lights. The audience started to grow restless, some whispering in confusion.

Just then, a single spotlight drifted down, falling precisely on Yin Lizhe. In its warm beam, tiny motes of dust danced around him, coming to rest on his shoulders. He looked, at that moment, as though he were standing amidst a boundless sea of stars.

As the light grew brighter, the young man on stage was projected behind him on the big screen. He kept his eyes lowered, and in the hush that followed, it felt as if the entire world had quieted with him. He was strikingly handsome tonight, his features softened with a touch of makeup. When he finally raised his gaze, it was as if every star in the sky had fallen into his eyes—luminous and gentle, with a warmth at the corners that lingered like water.

As the accompaniment started, he glanced instinctively into the audience, searching for his five friends—but the sea of darkness revealed nothing.

The music faded; it was his cue to sing. He didn’t know for sure if his friends had come, but perhaps the darkness was comforting—it allowed him to imagine them there, waiting for him. With that thought, he slowly lifted his hand and placed his long, slender fingers on the microphone. Just as he was about to begin, the light-up signs in the audience flickered on.

His eyes swept across the glowing words: “Go, Yin Lizhe!”

They were here.

A smile tugged at Yin Lizhe’s lips, as if in the darkness he’d found his only light. Their presence gave his gaze a place to rest.

After a brief hush, he began to sing. His voice was captivating, seeming to reach right through the air to the softest corners of the heart.

Compared to his usual careless demeanor, the boy on stage tonight was like a different person. Or perhaps, he was always meant for the stage—only there could he find his truest self.

Gu Nianxi watched him from below, a smile blooming at the corner of her lips, tinged with fondness. He’d once told her he wanted to become a superstar, and tonight, she truly saw a shining star illuminating the stage.

Soon, the competition drew to a close. All the contestants lined up across the stage while the host, card in hand, returned.

Only three would receive awards. When the host announced Yin Lizhe as the champion, Jiang Muwen leapt from her seat in delight—though Yin Lizhe had won, she felt as if she’d claimed the prize herself. Bai Xu and Gu Chen were equally exuberant, clapping and cheering for him from below.

Jiang Muwen, holding her glowing sign, was about to say something when she felt a tug at her sleeve. She looked over to see Wen Yichen’s face, his brows slightly knit. He gave her a look, signaling her to sit down.

She couldn’t tell if she was imagining things, but it seemed there was a hint of displeasure in Wen Yichen’s eyes.

She assumed he was embarrassed by her outburst, and obediently sat down, still clutching the sign.

As soon as the competition ended, Yin Lizhe rushed out from backstage, hurrying toward the exit where his five friends were leaving.

“Boss Gu! Big Bro—”

Jiang Muwen and the others heard him calling and stopped in their tracks. Turning around, they saw Yin Lizhe jogging over from behind the scenes.

He reached them a few seconds later, still in his performance clothes, makeup untouched, breathless with excitement.

Up close, they could see just how striking he was—delicate features, lively, electrifying eyes.

“Why’d you run out so fast?” Gu Nianxi asked, curiosity flickering in her gaze.

“Wait here for me a moment—” Yin Lizhe managed between breaths.

“Why?” Jiang Muwen asked, puzzled—wasn’t the event over? Shouldn’t everyone be heading home by now?

At her question, Yin Lizhe broke into a dazzling smile. “I won the championship today. Let me treat you all to dinner!”