Chapter 24

Li Liwei spent several days in great unease, but what puzzled him was that Cheng Xiaoyu did not seem to have any intention of causing him trouble. Li Liwei attributed this to Cheng Xiaoyu's lack of confidence, perhaps because his program's survival had some unspeakable secrets.

Li Liwei had also visited the forum, where the people who lost points were clamoring for him to come out and run naked. Li Liwei sneered at such online battles; he had always looked down on these fleas who only dared to hide behind the internet. Reality was the most brutal battlefield, and he was never willing to be a weakling.

He was a young man who was not only smart but also knew how to reflect on himself. On sleepless nights, he would summarize what he had learned from the shameful incident. He gained some of the most important details in his life. Never underestimate any opponent, no matter how weak they may seem. Do not corner yourself unless absolutely necessary. Even if you have a 100% chance of winning, always leave a way out. He did not yet know that this small insight would save him from countless dire situations in the future. He also did not know that when he reached the peak of his life, he would silently thank this person who now made him feel extremely awkward.

Cheng Xiaoyu, of course, did not care about Li Liwei's thoughts. He was now squatting at the entrance of Fudan University's Great Hall, drinking a cola and waiting for the rehearsal to start, which had been delayed due to a high-ranking official's inspection at Fudan.

The front lawn of Fudan University's Great Hall was filled with high school students from four schools. Cheng Xiaoyu had secured the best viewing spot at the entrance, from where he could see the colorful crowd on the lawn and the college girls passing by the entrance. He was quite content with this leisurely and comfortable situation.

As the sun began to set and the college students started heading to the cafeteria for the freshest meal of the day, teachers finally called the students into the Great Hall. At this age, students were relatively easy to manage, mostly staying in their original spots. If it were Cheng Xiaoyu's classmates from his previous life, they would have long disappeared or gone to surf the internet after waiting for so long.

Inside the Great Hall, the four hosts were already standing on the stage in pairs. Each school sent one host, and Fudan High School's representative was the tall basketball captain, Chen Jiajun. Seeing Chen Jiajun, even the fat boy couldn't help but feel jealous. Not only was he tall and well-built, but he was also slender and graceful. A basketball captain who was not only not bulky but also delicate like a girl, if not for his excessive delicacy, there wouldn't have been a debate over whether Sun Zihao or Chen Jiajun was the true "Fudan High School Prince."

Chen Jiajun's co-host was a short-haired girl from Fengxian Girls' High School, with a model-like figure. When the short-haired girl from Fengxian Girls' High School spoke, the girls from her school let out happy screams. Cheng Xiaoyu was surprised by the girls' frenzy and couldn't help but open his eyes to take a closer look at this girl.

This girl was indeed exceptionally beautiful. In this era, girls who dared to have short hair were generally independent and self-assured. Upon closer inspection, her features were even more refined, with large, lively eyes that seemed to have a depth that was hard to fathom. Despite wearing only a school uniform, she exuded a natural aura of nobility, and her every move revealed that she was not from an ordinary family. Her voice, clear and melodious like a stream, was intoxicating, and watching and listening to this flawless girl was like drinking a bottle of cola with ice on a scorching day, making one feel refreshed all over.

Cheng Xiaoyu couldn't help but compare this girl to Su Yuxi. In terms of beauty, they were evenly matched, hard to distinguish. Both were top-notch, and if one had to choose, it would come down to personal preference. Su Yuxi was elegant and refined, with a presence like a fragrant orchid, ethereal and graceful. The short-haired girl, on the other hand, had captivating eyes and a cold, proud, and enchanting beauty.

The male host from Shanghai High School was a bespectacled boy with a scholarly demeanor, while the host from Gezhi Private School was a foreign girl who looked like a doll, with a unique exotic charm. However, compared to the other two, these two hosts were somewhat inferior. Since each school had 5 to 7 programs, the rehearsal time was extremely tight. Due to the late start, each program was initially performed seriously, but by 6:30 PM, only half of the programs had been rehearsed. The teachers from the four schools discussed and decided to speed up the process, only walking through the stage without performing, and mainly noting the performance order.

The female host from Shanghai High School announced that those with urgent matters could leave, but at least one person from each program had to stay for the stage walk-through. Thus, Cheng Xiaoyu was left alone in Fudan's Great Hall, as Xia Shamo had to rush back to cook, and Chen Haoran simply didn't want to waste time. Their program was the fifth from the end, which was the 21st in the lineup.

The process then sped up. Su Yuxi's piano solo was in the middle, and she did not come, as the host only announced the program. Since most people had left, the hosts no longer announced the programs formally; instead, they took turns on the stage.

When it was the 21st program, it was the short-haired girl from Fengxian Girls' High School's turn to announce. She looked at the program list, frowned, and read out the word "Sin." Cheng Xiaoyu then jumped up, but he missed the step and fell flat on his face, causing the microphone and speakers to emit a screech. The short-haired girl was also startled and took a small step back. The surrounding audience burst into laughter. Seeing Cheng Xiaoyu, who looked like a panda, the short-haired girl couldn't help but laugh uncontrollably. Cheng Xiaoyu, lying on the ground, shot her a deep, resentful glance, as if to say, "Is it really that funny?" The short-haired girl felt embarrassed and turned away, still laughing.

Cheng Xiaoyu stood up, awkwardly dusting off his clothes, and everyone watched him with smiles, as he still held a bottle of cola in his right hand, looking quite endearing.

Cheng Xiaoyu was not intimidated and, like a leader, waved to the few people below and loudly said, "Now, I have a question for everyone. Guess what color it is? If you guess right, I'll tell you the answer!" The girls below were momentarily confused, and even the hosts on stage were puzzled.

At this moment, the teachers from the four schools had gone backstage to check things, leaving only the students. A bold boy shouted, "Blue!" Others said "Red" or "White."

The short-haired girl on stage, realizing what was happening, blushed furiously but couldn't get the word "you" out. Cheng Xiaoyu jumped off the stage and shouted, "Ha ha, I didn't see it either, but I guess it's black lace." Then he ran toward the entrance without looking back. Cheng Xiaoyu heard the sound of a microphone falling and felt a breeze on the back of his head, followed by something hitting him hard on the back.

Cheng Xiaoyu felt he had gone too far and didn't dare to look back, running out of the hall with a full smile. He didn't know why he had impulsively made such a joke, perhaps because of the long-suppressed silence in his heart, or because of the many misunderstandings others had about him, which had left him in a passive position. He felt so far from those shining stars, and the short-haired girl's laughter, though not malicious, felt like a needle piercing his hidden pride. He didn't want to be like his previous life, where he could only look at others with envy as they shone in his life. But now, he could only quietly accumulate strength, quietly spread his wings in the darkness, and wait for the opportunity to soar.

Cheng Xiaoyu walked under the streetlights of Fudan University, feeling lonely and self-pitying. Wang Huasheng had been waiting at the front gate for a while. Cheng Xiaoyu had called him to go back, but he didn't.

Su Yuxi was quietly reading a book in the car, and Cheng Xiaoyu secretly glanced at it; it was Dickens' "David Copperfield." After the quick glance, Cheng Xiaoyu sat up straight, put on his headphones, and took out the book he had bought, "The Rise of the Empire in the Late Qing and Early Republic," but he read it absentmindedly.

After a while, a phone rang. Cheng Xiaoyu felt his pocket, but it wasn't his, as usually only Wang Ou called him. Cheng Xiaoyu closed his book and heard Su Yuxi's clear voice.

"Hello, Ning Ning, it's rare for you to call me during dinner."

"Let's not talk about it. Today, I almost got angry to death because of your school's brats."

The car's soundproofing was excellent, and the phone's volume was high, so Cheng Xiaoyu could hear clearly. Although he had headphones on, he wasn't playing music; he just didn't like the opera CD and had paused it.

Su Yuxi seemed to have a good relationship with the girl on the phone, and their conversation was casual. Cheng Xiaoyu rarely saw Su Yuxi smile, but she was smiling and laughing during the call.

"What could make our Miss Xu so angry? Tell me."

"Hmph, I was actually harassed today! If he were handsome, I could have tolerated it, but he was a creepy fat guy. If I find him at your school, I'll make him regret being born." After the girl on the other end finished speaking, Su Yuxi glanced at Cheng Xiaoyu, who was pretending to listen to a CD.

At that moment, Cheng Xiaoyu felt a thousand horses galloping in his heart. This was truly a case of no coincidence. He was now certain that the girl on the phone was the one who wanted to make him regret being born.

---

Cheng Xiaoyu walked out of Fudan University, feeling lonely like snow. Wang Huasheng had been waiting at the front gate for a while. Cheng Xiaoyu had called him to go back, but he didn't.

Su Yuxi was quietly reading a book in the car, and Cheng Xiaoyu secretly glanced at it; it was Dickens' "David Copperfield." After the quick glance, Cheng Xiaoyu sat up straight, put on his headphones, and took out the book he had bought, "The Rise of the Empire in the Late Qing and Early Republic," but he read it absentmindedly.

After a while, a phone rang. Cheng Xiaoyu felt his pocket, but it wasn't his, as usually only Wang Ou called him. Cheng Xiaoyu closed his book and heard Su Yuxi's clear voice.

"Hello, Ning Ning, it's rare for you to call me during dinner."

"Let's not talk about it. Today, I almost got angry to death because of your school's brats."

The car's soundproofing was excellent, and the phone's volume was high, so Cheng Xiaoyu could hear clearly. Although he had headphones on, he wasn't playing music; he just didn't like the opera CD and had paused it.

Su Yuxi seemed to have a good relationship with the girl on the phone, and their conversation was casual. Cheng Xiaoyu rarely saw Su Yuxi smile, but she was smiling and laughing during the call.

"What could make our Miss Xu so angry? Tell me."

"Hmph, I was actually harassed today! If he were handsome, I could have tolerated it, but he was a creepy fat guy. If I find him at your school, I'll make him regret being born." After the girl on the other end finished speaking, Su Yuxi glanced at Cheng Xiaoyu, who was pretending to listen to a CD.

At that moment, Cheng Xiaoyu felt a thousand horses galloping in his heart. This was truly a case of no coincidence. He was now certain that the girl on the phone was the one who wanted to make him regret being born.

---

Cheng Xiaoyu walked out of Fudan University, feeling lonely like snow. Wang Huasheng had been waiting at the front gate for a while. Cheng Xiaoyu had called him to go back, but he didn't.

Su Yuxi was quietly reading a book in the car, and Cheng Xiaoyu secretly glanced at it; it was Dickens' "David Copperfield." After the quick glance, Cheng Xiaoyu sat up straight, put on his headphones, and took out the book he had bought, "The Rise of the Empire in the Late Qing and Early Republic," but he read it absentmindedly.

After a while, a phone rang. Cheng Xiaoyu felt his pocket, but it wasn't his, as usually only Wang Ou called him. Cheng Xiaoyu closed his book and heard Su Yuxi's clear voice.

"Hello, Ning Ning, it's rare for you to call me during dinner."

"Let's not talk about it. Today, I almost got angry to death because of your school's brats."

The car's soundproofing was excellent, and the phone's volume was high, so Cheng Xiaoyu could hear clearly. Although he had headphones on, he wasn't playing music; he just didn't like the opera CD and had paused it.

Su Yuxi seemed to have a good relationship with the girl on the phone, and their conversation was casual. Cheng Xiaoyu rarely saw Su Yuxi smile, but she was smiling and laughing during the call.

"What could make our Miss Xu so angry? Tell me."

"Hmph, I was actually harassed today! If he were handsome, I could have tolerated it, but he was a creepy fat guy. If I find him at your school, I'll make him regret being born." After the girl on the other end finished speaking, Su Yuxi glanced at Cheng Xiaoyu, who was pretending to listen to a CD.

At that moment, Cheng Xiaoyu felt a thousand horses galloping in his heart. This was truly a case of no coincidence. He was now certain that the girl on the phone was the one who wanted to make him regret being born.