LR – Chapter 13

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Chapter 13 – Graduation Ceremony

The National University of Arts held its graduation ceremony in early July. Every year, top alumni are invited back to give speeches.

This year, Chi Lianxi’s name was prominently featured on the invitation list. Excitement rippled not only through the students, but also among fans, some of whom went to great lengths just to meet the alumni—offering to carry bags or deliver bouquets—just for a chance to slip into the auditorium.

On the way to the auditorium, Jiang Liusui overheard a group of girls behind him discussing: “Did you hear? People were already camped outside the auditorium early this morning just to snag front-row seats. I heard some graduates from our year even brought professional cameras[mfn]大炮 (dà pào) – lit. big cannon[/mfn].”

“Oh wow, they really went all out! But I get it.”

“I got up at seven just to do full makeup—hoping to catch even a single glance from Chi Lianxi.”

“So dreamy, locking eyes with a big star across a crowded room, hahahahaha!”

As Jiang Liusui stepped into the auditorium, his eyes immediately found Chi Lianxi in the front row. Dressed sharply in formal attire, he smiled politely as he chatted with the school officials next to him, the surrounding cameras flashing relentlessly.

Unfortunately, the distance made it impossible to get a clear view. Jiang Liusui walked with fellow students from his department to the Performing Arts section, while the Dance department was seated just across the aisle. Shen Sijia, who had been standing and adjusting her graduation gown, waved happily when she saw him: “Suisui!”

Since their departments were close, Shen Sijia simply took a seat next to Jiang Liusui: “Did you see Chi Lianxi? Your idol.”

“Mm,” Jiang Liusui smiled. “He’s giving a speech soon. I’m actually looking forward to it.”

“That’s nice. I wonder when NUA[mfn]National University of Arts[/mfn] will invite our gege,” Shen Sijia said with regret. “But even if they invite him in the future, I’ll have already graduated.”

She glanced at Jiang Liusui, then suddenly lit up with excitement. “You have no idea… this has been killing me! The MV hasn’t been officially announced yet, so I couldn’t even whisper a word to my fangirl friends. They were practically tearing their hair out every day, trying to pick up the tiniest clues about who would act alongside our gege, hahaha!”

As soon as the MV teaser for the pre-release track was released, it instantly ignited a huge buzz online.

The short teaser, only a few seconds long, alternated between sunny, vibrant flower fields and oppressive, cold rainy nights. Huang Zhicheng truly lived up to his reputation as an experienced director, capturing attention immediately with the stark color contrasts.

Although the actor sharing the screen with He Yujing never showed his face, the chemistry between them was palpable. The carefree, romantic sunlight of their first encounter clashed dramatically with the icy, tense atmosphere of their breakup night, creating a striking visual contrast.

Unlike his usual MVs, which prioritize styling, sets, and the song’s concept over narrative, this one featured a full story—and the other lead appeared to be male.

Even though same-sex marriage was now legal, it had only been a few years since the marriage law was amended, and public perception still leaned heavily toward male-female pairings. As soon as the teaser was released, it sparked unprecedented discussion. He Yujing’s status in the industry was unparalleled[mfn]一骑绝尘 (yī qí jué chén) – lit. one rider leaves all the dust behind; to pull far ahead of everyone else, achieving a clear, overwhelming lead that others can’t catch up to.[/mfn]—he didn’t need to use same-sex romance as a gimmick. Moreover, as one of Shengyun’s shareholders, the company couldn’t force him to do anything he didn’t want. The choice of this actor as the male lead meant he had to fit He Yujing’s vision perfectly.

In this way, it only drew even more curiosity and attention.

“…Thank god the pre-release track is dropping tonight, or I’d go crazy—You only met our gege at the club last month, and everyone’s definitely going to be talking about it. Just thinking about how the internet is going to explode tonight makes me restless!!” Shen Sijia grew more and more excited as she spoke.

Listening to her rollercoaster of emotions, Jiang Liusui suddenly remarked, “You should have applied for directing too.”

“Huh?”

“You could perform an entire play by yourself. Limiting yourself to just dance is a waste[mfn]屈才了 (qū cái le) – lit. talent is wasted; sed to express that someone’s skills, talents, or abilities are not being fully appreciated or utilized. Often said when someone is doing a job or task beneath their capability[/mfn].”

“……”

As Shen Sijia fell silent, a boy walked straight over and sat down beside Jiang Liusui. “Hey, haven’t seen you in a while.”

The boy was tall and slender with delicate features, exuding a youthful charm. Shen Sijia teased, “Wow, Xie, the big celebrity, still as handsome as ever.”

Xie Chen replied helplessly, “Can you stop flattering me to death?”[mfn]别捧杀我 (bié pěng shā wǒ) – lit. don’t praise me to death; a self‑deprecating, half‑joking way to ask someone to stop overpraising or hyping you up, implying that too much praise can backfire or create pressure.[/mfn]

He slung an arm over Jiang Liusui’s shoulder and grinned, “How can I compare to this guy? He’s the real face of our Performance Arts department.”

Xie Chen had been a child actor and had played many roles since childhood. He was one of the most notable graduates of this year. He also happened to be Jiang Liusui’s roommate.

The two shared a comfortable rapport. Jiang Liusui gave him a friendly pat. “It’s been a while. How’s everything been lately?”

“Don’t mention it, nothing’s going smoothly,” Xie Chen shrugged. “I didn’t get a single audition I tried for. There’s one I really wanted, and they didn’t even give me a chance to meet.”

He didn’t elaborate, and Shen Sijia and Jiang Liusui tactfully didn’t press further. Then, a sudden scream erupted from the front row, setting off chaos in every direction. Before Jiang Liusui could process it, Shen Sijia grabbed his arm beside him: “Oh my god—ahhhhh! I see him! Suisui, Suisui! I’m not imagining this, right?!”

Jiang Liusui followed her gaze and saw someone ushering a strikingly tall man through the auditorium’s side entrance. Dressed in simple all-black attire, his profile was handsome yet aloof, making him stand out starkly among the youthful graduates and the experienced school administrators.

Like a luminous being emerging from the depths of a dark ocean, his presence instinctively drew everyone’s attention.

Xie Chen’s eyes went wide. “…He Yujing?”

The graduates nearby were buzzing with excitement: “No way! This is insane! What’s he doing here?!”

“Could he be here to give a speech as an outstanding graduate too? National University of Arts is amazing—they not only invited Chi Lianxi but also He Yujing. This level of prestige is almost like an end-of-year awards ceremony!”

“Maybe he was invited back as an honorary alumnus. Didn’t you forget? The Yaoguang Building was just completed last month.”

Amid the chatter, Shen Sijia whispered to Jiang Liusui, “Did you know he was coming?”

Jiang Liusui shook his head. “I had no idea either.”

It had been almost two weeks since the MV wrapped, and he hadn’t been in contact with He Yujing since. During filming, He Yujing never mentioned attending the graduation ceremony.

Judging by He Yujing’s casual wear, which hadn’t been publicly seen before, his visit to NUA was likely a personal schedule.

Even after He Yujing entered, the excited murmurs around him didn’t cease. It wasn’t until the female host stepped onto the stage to begin the ceremony that the venue gradually quieted down:

“Respected teachers, dear graduates, welcome! On this sunny and promising summer day, we gather to celebrate the 63rd graduation ceremony of National University of Arts!…”

Jiang Liusui unlocked his phone and opened the chat with an account he hadn’t contacted in over half a month.

The last time Jiang Liusui had messaged He Yujing was when he delivered him a late-night snack. His WeChat ID was a single letter, “E”—Jiang Liusui recalled that He Yujing’s English name seemed to start with an E. His profile picture showed red clouds drifting across a white background, and his Moments feed was pitch black, visible only for three days. Even his status was just a blank space.

It didn’t look like he used the account often, and it carried a kind of distant, unapproachable aura.

After a brief pause, Jiang Liusui finally typed out a message.

Sui: Why brings you here? Are you giving a speech?

He hadn’t expected a reply in such a public setting, but surprisingly, He Yujing, sitting a short distance away, actually tilted his head slightly.

Soon, Jiang Liusui’s phone vibrated.

E: No speech. Just came to look around.

E: You don’t have anything else later, right?

Without thinking much, Jiang Liusui replied.

Sui: Mm, nothing after the graduation ceremony ends.

Chi Lianxi’s seat was next to He Yujing’s. He had just found out that his friend was attending the graduation ceremony. Seeing He Yujing scrolling through his phone after sitting down, he asked, “Who are you messaging? How rare—you actually replied instantly today. Why didn’t you answer when I asked you out the day before yesterday?”

Having gotten the reply he wanted, He Yujing leaned back leisurely and retorted, “Who are you?”

“…..” Chi Lianxi resisted the urge to kick him. Watching him stare at the large screen behind the host as if he were genuinely here for the ceremony, he couldn’t help but ask, genuinely curious: “Seriously, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be busy working yourself to death[mfn]忙成狗 (máng chéng gǒu) – lit. busy to the point of becoming a dog[/mfn] with your new album?”

“Sorry, I’m done being busy already.” He Yujing replied with an unmistakably smug tone. “I’m completely free now.”

Chi Lianxi suddenly remembered something. Oh—did you come to check out that building?”

He Yujing’s mother had also graduated from NUA. Perhaps in recognition of the bond between mother and son attending the same institution, the He family donated a new academic building in He Yujing’s name the year he graduated. The news had caused quite a stir at the time, with fans joking that while others donated buildings to get in, he donated one just to graduate.

After the female host finished her opening remarks and stepped down, the university president took the stage to deliver a speech. The camera panned over the students in attendance, and the large screen displayed one youthful, vibrant face after another.

When Jiang Liusui saw himself appear on the screen, he froze for a moment, then smiled at the camera.

As the camera swept by, he had just taken off his graduation cap and placed it aside, leaving his hair slightly messy. Xie Chen quickly noticed and deftly put the cap back on for him.

A male student in the back row teased, “Face of the department, you’re on TV!”

“Quick, quick, quick—Brother Jiang, smile! Damn, that smile is incredible. Our Performing Arts department is relying on that face of yours to carry the whole year!”

The graduates dissolved into laughter at the scene. A faint smile tugged at He Yujing’s lips. “Nothing special,” he said lightly. “Just came to have a look.”

Chi Lianxi, noticing He Yujing’s fixed gaze on the large screen, also looked up and exclaimed in surprise, “Isn’t that kid…? Oh right, he’s from NUA as well—I almost forgot about that.”

When the camera moved away, Jiang Liusui realized he had received another message from He Yujing.

E: Saw you.

He was the one who initiated the conversation again. Jiang Liusui blinked in surprise—he wondered what was going on with He Yujing today?

After a brief moment of confusion, he sent a long string of “hahahahahaha”, then adding:

Sui: Did I look kind of stupid? I didn’t react in time.

He Yujing didn’t reply with words but sent a sticker instead.

It was the little fox sticker Jiang Liusui had sent him before. The realization that He Yujing had actually saved it caught him off guard. Jiang Liusui laughed despite himself, a quiet smile tugging at his lips as another thought surfaced.

Compared to a fox, He Yujing was more like a cat—but not the soft, fluffy kind, he was more like a lion, dominant and untamed.

As a distinguished alumnus, Chi Lianxi was the last to take the stage. His speech was lighthearted and witty, and paired with a face that looked flawless even on the big screen, he drove the atmosphere to its peak. The auditorium erupted in waves of enthusiastic applause and cheers.

As soon as the graduation ceremony ended, several girls nearby rushed up to He Yujing: “Gege, Gege! Ahhh gege, husband ahhh!! Can we take a photo with you?”

One girl shouted so passionately that even Chi Lianxi, midway through stepping off the stage, heard it and laughed.

“Alright,” He Yujing stood up, a faint smile playing on his lips as he glanced at her. “But what was that last thing you called me? You can’t just call me that randomly.”

The girl’s cheeks flushed bright red, and she shyly covered her face.

Seeing that he agreed to take photos, everyone rushed to gather around him. Unlike his wild and unrestrained image on stage, he was always very patient with his fans in private. Many students took the opportunity to ask about his new album while taking photos, and some even slipped him small notes. The boldest among them went straight for it, asking if they could have his contact details.

Faced with such crowded scenes, He Yujing handled it with ease. He would give vague, non-committal answers about his new songs, and when it came to requests for his contact details, he simply didn’t respond. The sense of distance he maintained was perfectly measured.

With school leaders still present, even though the students were extremely excited, they didn’t dare to cause a scene. They lined up neatly, taking photos before leaving in an orderly fashion.

After Chi Lianxi stepped off the stage, he was also surrounded by a large group of graduates asking for photos. Standing close to He Yujing, he happened to catch sight of a familiar figure and reached out to pat his friend beside him. Assuming the person was there for He Yujing, he lowered his voice and said, “Our little brother’s here for a photo too? Hasn’t he had enough of filming the MV with you?”

He Yujing lifted his eyes.

Jiang Liusui was walking down the stairs, talking to a girl beside him. Tall and fair-skinned, he stood out strikingly among the sea of graduates even dressed in a black academic gown..

“Isn’t it normal? It’s been quite a few days since we finished filming.” He Yujing considered the fact that they’d just exchanged messages—it only made sense for him to come over and say hello. His tone grew increasingly matter-of-fact. “We haven’t seen each other in a while.”

Chi Lianxi shuddered at his tone. “Why are you talking like a short separation makes the reunion sweeter[mfn]小别胜新婚 (xiǎo bié shèng xīn hūn) – lit. a short separation is better than being newly married[/mfn]? You sound like newlyweds.”

As Jiang Liusui drew closer, he glanced at the man surrounded by the crowd and hesitated slightly.

They weren’t at the point where they needed to deliberately avoid each other—but with the MV’s lead roles causing an uproar online, walking over now would only invite unnecessary trouble… He Yujing probably understood this even better than he did.

To avoid trouble, Jiang Liusui simply pretended not to know him and walked straight past He Yujing.

“Teacher Chi,” he stopped in front of Chi Lianxi, “can I take a photo with you?”

Jiang Liusui was 180 cm tall, which was considered tall among boys, but both Chi Lianxi and He Yujing were over 185 cm. When he looked at them, he had to tilt his head up slightly, making the anticipation in his eyes all the more obvious.

“…Pfft.” Chi Lianxi never expected Jiang Liusui to come find him. He instinctively glanced sideways and, unsurprisingly, caught sight of his friend’s expression darkening in an instant. Suppressing his laughter, he said, Holding back his laughter, he replied, “Of course. Why wouldn’t you?”

He Yujing remained impassive, slowly running his tongue over the edge of his teeth.

Fine.

So after all that talking, he only remembered to approach Chi Lianxi and didn’t even glance at me.

Shen Sijia, standing aside to help take photos, saw Chi Lianxi talking with Jiang Liusui, and suddenly thought these two weren’t bad together. After all, Jiang Liusui was a fan of Chi Lianxi—seeing it this way, it kind of feels like a dream coming true.

She’d just lightly ship them… just a little…

“Gege, what kind of song is tonight’s pre-release track? Can you tell us?” A timid female voice broke into He Yujing’s thoughts. Once someone mentioned it, the others nearby couldn’t resist asking, “And who’s the other person in the teaser? From the silhouette, it looks like a guy?”

And it looked like there were quite a few intimate scenes?

The girl didn’t voice the last part of her thought. Exchanging a look with the first girl who asked, they were both internally dying of excitement.

A boy with such a beautiful build isn’t common. There was a shot of him swinging his hand—that wrist was so pale and slender, looking like it would break with a snap. Watching it, she worried whether He Yujing might be a little too rough and accidentally hurt him.

Damn, who did the casting?! The faint, subtle sexual tension is way too ship-worthy!!

Unfortunately, the teaser was edited too cleverly. Even though various fans used magnifying glasses to work their magic and marketing accounts kept putting forth all kinds of theories, no one ever accurately uncovered who it really was.

He Yujing’s gaze flicked to the side. Jiang Liusui, apparently hearing all their nonstop questions, had a fleetingly awkward expression even while standing next to Chi Lianxi, ready for a photo.

That tiny bit of unease suddenly piqued He Yujing’s interest.

Shen Jie knew he had whimsically decided to come to NUA and was terrified he might cause trouble. She repeatedly warned him not to mention the new song or album, and to brush off any questions if asked.

He Yujing looked at the expectant faces before him and suddenly had an epiphany.

Why should he brush it off?

This young lady asked him so sincerely, shouldn’t he give her a hint?

Whether it was revealed now or later made no difference.

It’s just a matter of hours, anyway.

Jiang Liusui doesn’t have anything else to do later. If he gets surrounded and can’t leave, He Yujing could just take him away.

“Right there,” He Yujing said, tilting his chin toward him.

The fans around them exchanged glances, their expressions almost splitting apart: “What? Chi-Chi-Chi… Teacher Chi?!”

Jiang Liusui also froze in place. He turned his head, almost thinking he had misheard.

But when he looked back, he met a pair of calm, confident eyes—eyes that seemed to be waiting for him.

He Yujing’s lips curved into a faint, teasing smile: “Don’t recognize me anymore, Jiang Liusui?”

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