The final performance was somewhat worth watching—a hot dance by several second-year senior sisters, which got Wang Dachui quite excited.
After it ended, the Welcome Gala seemed to conclude successfully. Many people prepared to get up and leave, but the host delayed the closing remarks.
"Freshmen, hold on a moment!"
The crowd, already standing, looked at the host in confusion.
The performances are over, why wait? Does he really think we want to hear his closing speech?
The host gave a mysterious smile.
"Actually, our Welcome Gala has one last hidden performance, saved for the very end. This was arranged by the University Art Troupe. We kept this surprise for last and didn't include it in the program list. Here, on behalf of the Art Troupe, I apologize, and I hope you'll enjoy the surprise we've prepared."
"Mentioning Jiang University, everyone thinks of our Computer Science department. And mentioning the Computer Science department, we think of her."
"As for who she is, allow me to keep you in suspense. Feel free to take a wild guess."
"Next, let's welcome a special guest performer to sing 'You in the Distance' as the final act of this Welcome Gala."
The audience was stunned for a moment.
Some freshmen seemed to guess who it was. They obediently sat back down. The rest were puzzled, but seeing others sit, they followed suit.
Hearing this, Luo Ye seemed to think of something, a flicker of anticipation rising in his heart.
Wang Dachui wondered, "No way? Mentioning Computer Science, the first person you think of is definitely Goddess Su Baichou. But they say Goddess Su has an icy personality. Why would she participate in a Welcome Gala?"
"Besides Goddess Su, who else in Computer Science is famous? Could it be Li Meng from the AI major?"
Wang Dachui fell into deep thought, though he secretly hoped the special guest was Su Baichou.
Even though Su Baichou was known as the Ice Queen, difficult to approach, she was truly easy on the eyes.
A queenly figure, fair skin and beautiful features, possessing a pair of long, slender legs, coupled with her peerless, frosty beauty and an aura of being admired from afar rather than approached disrespectfully—if she appeared at the Welcome Gala, it would be explosive news for Jiang University.
The host stepped backstage. Soon, the lights went out.
The Gala venue was plunged into darkness.
Suddenly, a crisp click-clack sound echoed through the silent hall.
High heels. A girl?
For some reason, Luo Ye suddenly remembered the fairy senior last night, wearing the crystal-blue gown and high heels.
Could it really be the fairy senior?
Soon, the sound of high heels ceased. The figure on stage stopped in the center. The Gala venue was utterly quiet.
The Art Troupe's maneuver had indeed built anticipation. Everyone watched the stage intently.
Then, a pleasant instrumental accompaniment began. A spotlight shone on the very center of the stage.
There, in the middle of the stage, stood a fairy-like girl, holding a microphone.
Her long hair flowed, and she wore a magnificent crystal-blue evening gown. The gown was fitted at the waist, outlining her alluring curves. She was breathtakingly beautiful.
"It's really Su Baichou from Computer Science!"
"Su Baichou without makeup is already a peerless beauty. Now, with this stunning makeup, she's simply the one and only choice for Jiang University's top school belle."
Those around heard this and nodded in unanimous agreement. No one denied it, because the Su Baichou on stage at this moment was truly too beautiful, like a fairy from heaven with an ethereal, refined aura.
Thunderous applause erupted, continuous, even drowning out the song's accompaniment.
Looking at the fairy senior on stage, the center of attention, Luo Ye was also very surprised.
But.
A wave of indescribable discomfort welled up inside him.
He couldn't feel happy.
Only now did he realize what kind of popularity his fairy senior held at this university.
Someone like her wasn't someone a mere freshman like him could hope to reach. Having had two minor encounters with her was already a blessing others might not get in eight lifetimes.
Probably the jacket the fairy senior left for him was just compensation for his previous help. Given her personality, she surely disliked owing favors.
"Wild Child! It's Su Baichou! The Su Baichou who's even prettier than Goddess Qin!" Wang Dachui exclaimed excitedly, only to find Luo Ye sitting dejectedly beside him, silent.
"Wild Child, what's wrong?" Wang Dachui was puzzled. Suddenly, as if realizing something, he gave Luo Ye a strange look and asked in a lowered voice, "Wild Child, you look like you just ate shit. Did you get dumped?"
"Piss off!" Luo Ye snapped angrily.
But Wang Dachui's guess wasn't far off. It's just that for Luo Ye, it ended before it even began.
Someone like Su Baichou... he was destined only to watch her dazzling figure from afar.
Gradually, the noise from the audience faded because Su Baichou had started singing.
Her beautiful voice spread to every corner. The audience fell silent. Everyone's eyes were fixed dazedly on the fairy-like figure on stage.
She was not only beautiful as a celestial being.
Her voice was also melodious and captivating, intoxicating.
Perhaps after tonight, the title of Jiang University's one and only top school belle would be beyond dispute.
What freshman school belle? What Classical Chinese goddess?
Everyone present unanimously believed that no one could surpass Su Baichou in aura and looks at this moment.
She was too beautiful. So beautiful she seemed not to belong to this world.
Some took out their phones, photographing Su Baichou on stage. Pictures of her were frantically shared on platforms like the university forum and Douyin.
At that moment, Su Baichou's personal account gained hundreds of followers, a number growing every second, even though her account only shared some computer science insights.
Becoming an internet celebrity was simply a matter of whether she wanted to or not.
The more dazzling she was, the more clearly Luo Ye felt the distance between them.
But...
Luo Ye didn't really know what his feelings towards the fairy senior were.
Starting from their first meeting in the rain, he'd felt a fondness for her, until their encounter last night.
In Luo Ye's heart, the fairy senior was like a pure, unattainable ideal.
Whether this was 'like' or not, Luo Ye wasn't sure.
Liking someone could be very difficult, or very simple.
Maybe a certain feeling in a certain moment was firmly caught and, unknowingly, lodged in your heart, destined to belong to someone.
Just like the girl he had a crush on for three years; he had started liking her without realizing it either.
But was liking someone without ever really interacting with them truly 'like'?
Wasn't that just one-sided infatuation?
Remembering the fairy senior's peerless beauty, Luo Ye silently looked at Su Baichou on the stage.
She is beautiful.
He could only silently admire her beauty from his corner of the crowd.
He was just like everyone else, only able to watch that earthly fairy from afar.
Maybe this is what a crush feels like.
Wang Dachui glanced at Luo Ye's unusual expression, then turned his gaze back to the stage.
The song ended. Su Baichou turned to leave. The host walked on stage to take the microphone from her.
At that very moment!
From the audience seats.
An unexpected voice rang out.
"GODDESS SU!"
Luo Ye's eyes widened as he stared at Wang Dachui next to him. This move truly shocked him.
Why did this guy suddenly stand up?
What does he want to do?
Wang Dachui gave Luo Ye an inexplicable smile.
It was a smile like that of an old father, trying to give his hopeless son a reassuring look.
Then, Wang Dachui shouted towards the stage: "Senior! What did you think of the song 'Rainy Day' performed by a freshman a couple of days ago?"
The host was stunned. What's this? It's not in the script!
Su Baichou looked in Wang Dachui's direction and almost immediately noticed Luo Ye sitting beside him.
She silently took the microphone back from the host.
"Not bad."
Two short words were the highest praise she could currently offer Luo Ye.
Wang Dachui grinned and shouted even louder: "HE'S RIGHT HERE NEXT TO ME!"
"WE WANT TO SEE A DUET BETWEEN YOU TWO!"