Chapter 128: He Isn’t Coming Up!

Time flowed on, as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

Following the conclusion of military training, the freshman orientation gala—the event most anticipated by first-year students—was finally held as scheduled. It was a grand celebration for the entire faculty and student body, a gathering of the school's brightest talents, and an occasion that balanced friendly camaraderie with spirited competition.

Who would surprise everyone with their talent? Who would receive the loudest applause? Who would be crowned one of the Top Ten Campus Singers?

This was a competition of talent. The winners would gain honor and widespread attention. Furthermore, securing a spot in the Top Ten Campus Singers was proof of an academic department’s formidable artistic prowess. To stand out among so many gifted performers was no small feat.

For instance, the Department of Architecture was known for its basketball stars, the Department of Chinese for its female volleyball players, the College of Arts for its performers, and the International Finance Institute for its track and field athletes. The School of Psychology, however, was mediocre in basketball, football, volleyball, and track. Consequently, they were desperate to secure a "Top Ten" singer spot. They wanted people to hear "School of Psychology" and say, "That department has strong artistic talent," rather than being lost in the crowd with no defining strengths.

After multiple rounds of school auditions, the School of Psychology had three acts selected: Hua Ming’s performance of "I Am a Wolf from the North" and a street dance routine by a group of beautiful girls from Class Two.

This meant that only Hua Ming and those two girls would have the chance to showcase their talents on the stage that held the entire university’s attention.

The school took the event very seriously and allocated a special budget for the three performers to purchase costumes, props, and cosmetics. Because the department valued the event, their counselor, Li Qiang, valued it even more. If they achieved success, it would be a feather in his cap.

On the day of the gala, after the final rehearsal in the afternoon, Li Qiang paid out of his own pocket to take the three performers and several student council leaders out for a seafood feast at the campus restaurant.

As for Tang Chong, once he had submitted his program, he had nothing left to do. He went to class, ate, slept, read books, wrote reports, listened to Jiao Yuheng’s lectures, and traded barbs with Jiao Nanxin. It was as if nothing had ever happened, as if Qiu Yihan had never had a birthday.

Tang Chong knew that everyone remained silent only because they were afraid of hurting him. When they were on Jade Maiden Mountain, everyone had seen them walking up the slope hand-in-hand. Yet, after the incident, Qiu Yihan had been quickly whisked away by her family, leaving him alone to face detention. At the birthday party, he had arrived full of joy with a carefully chosen gift, only to be humiliated by a wealthy, handsome rival.

That party, which could only be described as spectacular, had become a taboo subject in Room 307. No one dared to speak of it. They didn't mention it, and neither did Tang Chong. The matter was in the past, and he didn't think there was anything worth saying.

The orientation gala was held in the "Mingli Hall," the school’s largest auditorium. It cost hundreds of millions to build, and it was both magnificent and incredibly modern, capable of seating nearly ten thousand people.

As a class monitor, Tang Chong was leading his classmates toward the seats arranged by the school. Their location was in Section B on the first floor, near the left-middle entrance—neither excellent nor terrible. Compared to the departments that had drawn lots and ended up in the very last rows of Sections C and D, they were much luckier.

The auditorium was buzzing with noise, packed densely with students who had come to watch the show. Student council members wearing red armbands were busy maintaining order, ensuring no one from their respective departments ran around or caused a commotion.

At 7:50 PM, the department leaders began to arrive. At 8:00 PM, the gala officially began.

The curtains parted to reveal the hosts: Zhao Qiuchen, dressed in a black suit, and Lin Weixiao, known as the "first sister" of the broadcasting department. They were a veteran duo, having hosted the Nanda orientation gala for three consecutive years. Perhaps next year, there would be a change.

"Respected leaders, distinguished guests," Lin Weixiao said in her clear, sweet voice.

"Dear teachers and students, especially the new students who have just joined Nanda," Zhao Qiuchen added in his deep, resonant tone.

"Good evening, everyone," they said in unison.

The applause from the audience was thunderous. After the pair spent a moment building anticipation, they announced together: "Meeting at Nanda, Letting Dreams Soar—the 32nd Orientation Gala is officially underway!"

This time, the applause was even more fervent. Everyone was there for the performances; who wanted to listen to the hosts drone on with tedious introductions of this leader and that guest?

The first act was a large-scale opening dance titled "Splendor," specially prepared by the College of Arts. A large group of beauties in ethnic costumes danced and sang, a delightful sight for all.

The second act was a performance by Xiao Jingye, one of the most popular Top Ten Campus Singers from the previous year, who sang Jacky Cheung’s classic, "She Came to Listen to My Concert," which also earned enthusiastic applause.

The third act was a crosstalk performance, and the fourth was a vocal solo by a student from the College of Arts, "Looking Toward Jiangnan." With her unique bel canto technique, the soaring high notes and vast vocal range left the audience in awe. No one doubted that this petite girl with the immense voice would become one of the Top Ten Campus Singers.

Lin Weixiao, now changed into a purple evening gown, walked back onto the stage and said with a smile, "The previous performance was brought to you by Zhang Yu, a freshman from the College of Arts. She is called a genius freshman, and it is clearly no empty title; I think everyone has witnessed her true strength. Now, let us invite freshman Qiu Yihan from the International Trade Department and Nong Jun to perform the duet 'Crystal'."

Hearing that familiar name, Tang Chong thought he had misheard.

Qiu Yihan? How could she possibly be performing on stage?

However, when the host stepped aside and a boy in a black tuxedo and a girl in a black strapless evening gown walked out, Tang Chong couldn't help but be surprised.

Qiu Yihan. It really was Qiu Yihan.

Tall and elegant, with a white flower fashioned from gauze in her hair, she looked noble and refined. Her skin was as white as snow, and her dress was as black as ink. The black gown didn't dim her; rather, it made her appear even more fair and pristine. She stood on stage like a snowman wrapped in a black coat.

Tang Chong heard countless voices exclaiming in wonder, and girls whispering enviously about how perfect her skin was.

Nong Jun was clearly the professional of the two. He took the performance seriously, his eyes fixed on her, trying to capture the "romance" of the duet. Qiu Yihan, however, was an amateur. She didn't look at her partner at all. Instead, she lowered her head, gripped the microphone, and asked in a trembling voice, "I... may I say something?"

*Boom!*

The entire auditorium erupted in laughter.

"Beauty, don't be so cute! We'll fall in love with you!"
"Haha! You're here to sing, not to talk. But your voice is lovely, too."
"Go ahead, go ahead! We're willing to listen to anything you say..."

Tang Chong couldn't help but laugh, too. How had the International Trade Department let her be picked? Had she really passed the double audition of the department and the school? Were they trying to use a beauty trap?

"I... I want to apologize to someone first." With the ice broken, Qiu Yihan’s voice steadied. "He is a very special person to me. He was the first teacher I met when I arrived at this school. He is also the most important teacher. He taught me how to get along with my roommates, he taught me how to tie my shoelaces like butterfly wings, he wiped the dust from my face like a grandmother would, and he even took me to visit Jade Maiden Mountain..."

Whispers broke out in the audience.

"Damn. This girl is bold. She’s actually using the stage to confess."
"This is no way to live. I haven't even made my move, and she's already taken..."
"What a pity. Such a beautiful flower... wasted on a pile of cow dung."

Tang Chong’s expression shifted. He hadn't expected Qiu Yihan to have the courage to say these things in front of nearly ten thousand people. Innocent children are easily lost in their own obsessions.

After saying those few words, Qiu Yihan became completely immersed in the atmosphere, no longer affected by the outside world.

"He told me stories about the Big Dipper and taught me to identify stars I didn't know. He let me sleep on his shoulder, and he stayed perfectly still all night long... He sat with me on the roof to watch the sunrise, even though I had already fallen asleep long before."

"He carried my bag and held my hand to the top of the mountain. When we were in danger, he..." Thinking of the crisis at Tianyi Temple, Qiu Yihan’s eyes turned red and watery again, her voice choking up.

After a few seconds, she regained her composure.

"He risked his life to save me. When he was in a difficult situation, I was heartless and cowardly, and I ran away... I..." She wiped away tears with the back of her hand, her voice thick with sobs. "I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry. I'm so stupid. I’m really so stupid. I couldn't think of anything, and I couldn't do anything right."

"I want to dedicate this song, 'Crystal,' to you. If you can forgive me, if you can accept me... I know you are here in the audience. If you are willing, could you walk up to the stage and give me a flower? Even just a hug would do..."

*Awooo!*

The crowd went wild. Everyone went wild.

A confession. This was an unadulterated, public confession. Young people are prone to impulse, prone to passion, and fearless of convention. They shouted themselves hoarse and clapped with all their might. They were moved by this girl’s words and by her courage.

Aside from Nong Jun, who stood beside her, and a few conservative school leaders, everyone was in a frenzy. Nong Jun’s face was extremely ugly. *You dedicate 'Crystal' to your lover, but who am I singing for?*

Everyone kept their eyes fixed on that beautiful girl, who looked timid yet incredibly courageous. Everyone remembered the name Qiu Yihan.

The music began. Qiu Yihan wiped her eyes again with the back of her hand, ruining her makeup. The picture of her, tear-streaked and pitiful, only made her more endearing.

"Looking into your eyes, poetry is written there. Sometimes wild, sometimes mysterious," Qiu Yihan sang. Her voice was naturally sweet, clean, and transparent, just like the song's title, immediately drawing thunderous applause.

"Following your mood, walking left and right. Though my steps are messy, my heart is as sweet as honey," Nong Jun sang, though he was full of resentment.

"Loving someone often requires great care, as if holding a crystal in one's hands." As Qiu Yihan sang this line, a boy rushed up to offer her flowers. The audience thought this was the lucky guy she was waiting for, and the applause erupted again.

Unfortunately, Qiu Yihan took a step back, bowed slightly to apologize, and rejected the boy’s gift.

Now, everyone understood. She would only accept flowers from the boy she was waiting for. She was a stubborn girl.

From then on, everyone gave her thunderous applause, but no one else went up to offer flowers. Two young girls did go up to give Nong Jun flowers, which brought a faint smile to his stiff face.

"Our love is like crystal, without the burden of secrets, clean and transparent," they sang together.

"The love I give you is a beautiful crystal, reflecting a unique light," Nong Jun sang. The song was nearing its end, but the boy Qiu Yihan was waiting for had not appeared.

"In the depths of your eyes and mine," was the final lyric.

*Whoosh!*

The applause thundered once more, as if trying to tear the glass dome of the auditorium off its hinges. One second, two seconds, three seconds...

The applause slowly died down. Everyone had noticed that something was wrong. Qiu Yihan’s expression was devoid of joy. She bit her lip tightly, standing stubbornly where she was, waiting second by second.

Finally, the girl couldn't hold it together any longer.

"He won't come up," she said, crying.