Chapter Forty-Nine: Two Divas Descend Upon Jiangnan University?
“All right, I really must go now!”
Ren Qian closed the piano and slowly stood up.
But the crowd around him, packed so tightly there was barely room to breathe, had no intention of letting him leave. On the contrary, they began to jeer and cheer, forming a wall of people that trapped him in the center—only a fool would pass up such a chance to watch a spectacular performance for free.
‘There’s always a price to pay for showing off,’ Ren Qian thought in embarrassment. If he gave in to these spectators, he’d probably be forced to sing until midnight.
That was simply impossible.
Yet the enthusiasm of the crowd showed no sign of waning. In fact, as their commotion grew louder, more and more passersby were drawn to the scene by the noise. Upon seeing Ren Qian’s rather awkward predicament, they immediately stopped to fan the flames.
After all, this was the top heartthrob of Jiangnan University. No one wanted to miss out on the spectacle, and soon the cherry blossom avenue was completely blocked by the swelling crowd.
The overwhelming scene seemed to convey to Ren Qian that, whether he wanted to or not, he would be singing today—there was no escape.
What’s more, news of Ren Qian’s impromptu outdoor performance on the cherry blossom avenue was spreading like wildfire across Jiangnan University’s social circles. Even students who were in class began skipping their lessons to rush over.
……
In a two-hundred-seat lecture hall in the Yifu Building, every seat was taken; even the steps and aisles were crowded with students drawn by the reputation of the course.
Today, the young master Yan Yu sat proudly in the front row, dressed in a sharp suit, his face alight with excitement as he waited for the professor to begin.
Oh, and by the way—
The name of the course was “Constitution and Sexuality.”
What an evocative title! What a positive, inspiring subject! The school administration had truly racked their brains; just those four words were enough to stir boundless enthusiasm for learning among the students. Anyone with a bit of erudition would be eager to prepare and review for such a course. It was foreseeable that, for some time to come, Jiangnan University was about to experience a wave of fervent study.
Everything was ready—only the class itself remained.
Nearly every male student in the hall was craning his neck, drooling with anticipation, waiting for the professor to cover the material they most longed to hear.
“You all know what kind of course this is; the quieter we keep it, the better...”
The professor stepped up to the lectern, his tone sly.
The students exchanged knowing glances and smiled as if they were all in on the same secret. Then, following the professor’s instructions, they obediently locked the doors.
The young men could barely contain their excitement! Couldn’t this start any sooner? Under the heated gazes of the class, the professor finally began.
The slides flickered onto the screen. He skipped past the first one, revealing a glaring headline: “Chapter One: The Universality of the Constitution.” Scanning further down, it was all politics!
The students: “……”
What the hell?
Where was the “sexuality” they’d been promised?
Why was it all about “the universality of the constitution”?!
The professor glanced at the dumbfounded students and chuckled—ah, they were still so naïve.
Young master Yan Yu’s face darkened. He had fought hard to secure a spot in this class, thinking it would be a delight, only to find out that what was supposed to be an ‘enlightenment’ course had turned into a political science lecture.
Utterly disappointed, he immediately looked back toward the rear door, but it had already been locked by his “kindred spirits.” And the professor stood right in front of him, grinning widely.
This... this... what a devious professor.
Yan Yu sat in the front row, his eyes empty, silently watching the professor’s animated lecture.
What a diabolical university professor.
Finally, the class ended. Not bothering to wait for roll call, Yan Yu dashed out of the lecture hall. He would never, ever come back to this damned perverted class!
Never!
Forty-five minutes without checking his phone, he felt completely cut off from the world. He hurriedly opened Weibo.
What?
Brother Qian had become unstoppable after singing two songs on the cherry blossom avenue, and was now trapped by the crowd?
He had to go help.
That was Yan Yu’s first instinct. But there were over a thousand spectators, and the numbers kept growing. Unless they were deafened by overexposure, they wouldn’t let Ren Qian go.
Whatever the case, he had to get there first.
Yan Yu boarded a bus, already searching for a solution.
Twenty minutes later.
He got off at a residential area behind the cherry blossom avenue. This route was slightly quicker than riding the bus to the next stop and then walking back. Besides, there was no way he could squeeze through the packed crowd to reach Ren Qian, so slipping through the alley and emerging in the middle of the avenue was the optimal path.
But why did he hear such strange noises as soon as he got off the bus?
He followed the sound and found a small, clandestine street stall behind the neighborhood, selling things like nail clippers, racks, and small knives.
Next to the stall was a loudspeaker:
“Everything two yuan! Everything two yuan! For two yuan you won’t get ripped off, for two yuan you won’t be deceived!”
“Everything two yuan! Everything two yuan! For two yuan you won’t get ripped off, for two yuan you won’t be deceived!”
Yan Yu’s eyes lit up as he looked at the stall. Indeed, when you reach the end of the road, a new path appears. Here was the perfect way to help Brother Qian escape the crowd.
He dug out two one-yuan coins, played with them in his hand for a moment, then approached the stall.
The vendor was a plainly dressed girl with black-rimmed glasses and straight bangs.
“Handsome sir, what would you like to buy? Everything here is a bargain—just two yuan. Two yuan and it’s yours.”
“Is that so?”
Yan Yu handed over the coins and gave a bashful smile—so innocent, so harmless. After putting down the money, he squatted, picked up the loudspeaker, and before the girl could react, took off running, vanishing into the alley in a flash.
He left the stall girl stunned in the wind. She had meant the goods, not the loudspeaker...
“How disgraceful to do something so low. It’s so beneath my distinguished standing; I’ll return it to her later,” he muttered.
Dressed in his elegant suit and carrying a loudspeaker, Yan Yu cut quite the bizarre figure.
But such details could be overlooked for now—saving Brother Qian was the priority.
The alley opened onto the middle section of the cherry blossom avenue—people everywhere, no sign of Brother Qian.
In that case—
Yan Yu flushed, took a deep breath, and pressed his mouth to the loudspeaker, ready to go all out:
“Attention, everyone! Diva Li Feifei and Ning Yilian are performing live at the University Activity Center right now!
Don’t waste any more time!
Hurry and grab your spot!
First come, first served for the front row!”
“Attention, everyone! The two divas have arrived at Jiangnan University! Hurry over and show your support—this is an opportunity you can’t miss!
What are you waiting for?!
You can listen to Ren Qian sing any day, but seeing the divas is a rare chance!”
“Major announcement!
Major announcement!
The divas have descended upon the University Activity Center—there are even signed gifts from them on site! What are you still waiting for?!
Hesitate a second and someone else will snatch the benefits! Opportunity knocks but once!”
“Great news! Great news…”
He felt utterly mortified.
Panting, Yan Yu hid the loudspeaker behind his back. He stood to the side, trying to catch his breath—he had used every ounce of strength to make sure as many people as possible heard him.
Moments later, word of the two divas’ arrival at Jiangnan University swept through the cherry blossom avenue. People scrambled toward the University Activity Center, eager to catch a glimpse of the stars—after all, they were far more famous than Ren Qian. Missing out would be a true regret.