141: I've liked you since high school.

On Friday evening, the school auditorium was already packed.

The Freshman Welcome Gala began.

Yu Heng stood backstage, wearing the clothes Shen Yueling had prepared for him.

"Yu Heng, you're up next." A student from the Arts Department ran over to notify him. "Is the microphone tested?"

"It's been tested," Yu Heng said.

He walked to the side of the curtain and quickly scanned the audience.

School Leaders sat in the front rows, followed by students from various departments.

He saw Shen Yueling sitting in the Design Academy area, near the aisle.

She saw him too; their eyes met, and she gave a slight nod.

Ning Yutong was sitting on the Music Department side, talking to the girl next to her, when she suddenly turned her head and looked his way.

Yu Heng retracted his gaze and heard the Host announce: "...Next, please enjoy the Acoustic Song 'Mojito,' performed by Yu Heng, a freshman from the Department of Network and New Media."

Applause rang out, and Yu Heng walked onto the stage.

Carrying his Guitar, he walked up to the Stand Mic and adjusted its height.

Then he began to play. Yu Heng took a breath and started singing:

"Please get my lover a cup of Mojito

I enjoy reading her slightly tipsy eyes

And my coffee doesn't need much sugar

This world is already too sweet because of her"

His voice was steady, and his rhythm was precise.

Everyone was curious why this song sounded so good, yet they hadn't heard it before.

As he sang the second verse, the side curtain moved, and a girl rushed out.

She ran very fast, rushing straight up to Yu Heng and snatching the microphone from the stand.

Yu Heng was stunned, his hand still held the posture of gripping the microphone.

The music was still playing, but no one was singing.

"Zhang Yuchen!" the girl shouted into the microphone, her voice carrying through the speakers across the entire auditorium. "Zhang Yuchen, you bastard!"

The audience erupted in an uproar.

"You son of a bitch, you were cheating on me! You played with my feelings and slept with me! Then you told me we weren't compatible!" The girl's voice was tearful. "And I stupidly believed you!"

Yu Heng frowned and took half a step back.

What was going on?

Students from the Arts Department ran up from the side, trying to pull the girl off stage.

The girl clung tightly to the microphone: "Don't touch me! I'm going to make things clear today!"

Another girl rushed up from the audience.

"Liu Wenwen?" The first girl was stunned when she saw her.

"Li Suli?" The second girl was also stunned.

The two looked at each other for a few seconds.

"You dated Zhang Yuchen too?" Li Suli asked.

"He pursued you too?" Liu Wenwen asked.

Both nodded simultaneously.

The audience exploded into chaos.

"Holy crap, the Vice Chairman from the Comics Department?"

"Zhang Yuchen? The one who looks decent but is actually a scoundrel?"

"Awesome, flirting with two at once?"

Li Suli frowned: "When did you two get together?"

"Last month," Liu Wenwen said. "He told me he had broken up with his ex-girlfriend and was in a dating hiatus."

"Bullshit!" Li Suli cursed. "He told me the same thing last month!"

When the two compared timelines, they realized Zhang Yuchen wasn't just dating both of them simultaneously, but he was also fitting in dates with other girls in between.

"And there's Wang Linlin!" Li Suli suddenly recalled. "Wang Linlin from the Fine Arts Department! I saw them eating together!"

"And Chen Xi!" Liu Wenwen said. "Chen Xi from the Student Union Publicity Department!"

The audience was already a chaotic mess, with people cheering, cursing, and taking photos with their phones.

Several teachers quickly went on stage to urge the two girls off.

"Students, let's talk this out properly, come down first..."

"No!" Li Suli struggled. "I'm going to let everyone know what kind of scum he is today!"

Zhang Yuchen was sitting in the Comics Department area, his face pale with rage.

The classmates around him were all looking at him with complicated expressions. Yu Heng stood in the corner of the stage, watching the farce. He found it rather amusing.

This damn thing was much more exciting than his performance.

Yu Heng glanced at the audience. Shen Yueling was still sitting there, her expression unchanged, though she was slightly frowning.

He stepped down from the stage and returned backstage.

"Damn, your performance..." Hao Junran leaned over. "That was incredible, did someone assist you?"

"It was certainly incredible," Yu Heng muttered, curling his lip. "This is the first time I've seen this performance live too."

"That Zhang Yuchen is truly a piece of trash," Wang Shuo said. "Flirting with so many at once, isn't he afraid of exhausting himself?"

"Maybe he's just healthy," Yu Heng thought to himself. He decided not to join the cursing; he also had several partners, but his relationships were open and fair.

The gala was paused for twenty minutes. The teachers took the two girls away, and Zhang Yuchen was also summoned to the office.

The Host came on stage to save the situation, said a few formalities, and then announced the next performance.

Yu Heng returned to the audience seating and sat down in the empty seat next to Shen Yueling.

"How are the clothes?" Shen Yueling asked.

"They fit well," Yu Heng said.

"I had the size specially altered after buying them," Shen Yueling said.

Yu Heng smiled: "Thanks."

Ning Yutong slipped over from the side and squatted down next to Yu Heng's chair: "Yu Heng, what you were singing just now was so nice."

"I didn't finish," Yu Heng said.

"It was still good," Ning Yutong said, her eyes sparkling. "It's just that it got ruined..."

"It doesn't matter," Yu Heng said.

Singing was secondary; he originally intended to use the opportunity to promote the Starlight Society. This interruption essentially ruined that plan.

Ning Yutong pursed her lips: "That Zhang Yuchen is truly awful. How could he bully people like that?"

Yu Heng gave a dry chuckle and remained silent.

Just as he was about to say he had to leave, Ning Yutong continued: "Yu Heng, I prepared a birthday gift for you."

She lifted the bag she was holding slightly.

"I also have something I want to tell you," Ning Yutong's voice softened, and she looked at him. "Could we step outside for a moment?"

He subconsciously looked at Shen Yueling. Shen Yueling's gaze also fell on the bag. Her face was expressionless, and she gave Yu Heng a slight nod.

"Okay," Yu Heng stood up. "Let's go walk outside."

Ning Yutong stood up too. The two walked one after the other through the side door of the auditorium and onto the outside corridor.

They walked to the Small Garden behind the Academic Building, where few people were around at night.

The streetlights stretched their shadows long.

Ning Yutong stopped under a Plane Tree.

"Let's stop here," she said.

Yu Heng also stopped and turned to face her.

Ning Yutong handed the bag over: "Happy Birthday."

Yu Heng took the bag and glanced inside. It was a carefully wrapped box: "Should I open it now?"

"Mhm," Ning Yutong nodded. "See if you like it."

Yu Heng took the box out and tore off the wrapping paper.

Inside was a Watch, and underneath it, a Scarf.

The Watch face was dark blue, somewhat resembling a starry sky.

Yu Heng picked it up and examined it. He didn't recognize the brand, but the craftsmanship was delicate.

"Do you like it?" Ning Yutong asked, her voice slightly nervous.

"I like it," Yu Heng said. "Thank you."

He put the Watch on his left wrist. The strap was a little loose, so he adjusted the clasp.

Ning Yutong watched his movements and pursed her lips: "There's also the Scarf. It's the first time I've knitted, so it's a bit ugly."

"It's fine, as long as it keeps me warm. It looks nice," Yu Heng said, taking out the Scarf and wrapping it around his neck. "You said you had something you wanted to tell me?"

Ning Yutong took a breath, her fingers clutching the hem of her jacket.

"Yu Heng," she began, her voice trembling slightly, "I've liked you since high school."