“Sucheng University Cultural and Arts Exhibition and Review Session” — these were the words written on a huge banner hanging above the main entrance of the Sucheng University activity building.
Known as the “Sucheng Arts Exhibition” for short, it was an annual school-wide cultural event led by the Student Council, with the school providing the venue and prize money.
It was divided into various categories.
The exhibition lasted for one week, during which time no one was allowed to use the activity building.
This showed how much importance the entire school placed on the event.
It was near the end of my junior year.
Standing before the main entrance, my heart couldn’t settle for a long time.
I had heard my work was selected by the Student Council to participate in the Literature Department’s exhibition for the first time.
Entering the building with a nervous heart, I saw temporary exhibition lights hung all over the lobby walls.
Combined with the white light from the ceiling lamps, the place looked magnificent.
The works displayed in the lobby were all Gold Award winners from previous years.
There were static works from the Painting, Literature, and Calligraphy Departments, as well as dynamic works from the Classical Music, Light Music, and Dance Departments.
I was too shy to see people looking at my work, so I planned to go upstairs later.
I wandered over to a display case, put on a pair of headphones, and watched the video playing on the screen on the wall.
It was a solo dance. The introduction read: “A high-difficulty dance combining Latin and ballet, expressing loneliness and solitary beauty…”
Before I could finish reading, I was captivated by the dancer on the screen.
Her graceful figure and jumping steps matched the classical background music perfectly.
Her pure white skirt fluttered in the air like wings.
Her face, pure yet carrying a sense of world-weariness when she looked back, made her look like an angel imprisoned in a cage in the sky…
‘She’s so beautiful…’
Even though the background was a simple practice room and the music came from an old speaker, it didn’t affect her steps at all.
And this level — I felt it was higher than some dance performances on TV.
Was she really a fellow student at Sucheng University?
Dance Department Gold Award, Performer — An Zhi.
For the first time, I remembered that name.
“You’re here. Few people dare to appreciate this dance. Probably because they know she’s out of their league~”
“Eh?”
I put down the headphones and turned to find the speaker.
It was Senior Schoolmate Xu Yinyin, the Student Council’s event planner.
It was thanks to her help that my work was being exhibited.
I hadn’t known her long.
I only met her through Xiao Qingling because of Xiao Ji’s boring unrequited love.
Because of that, I didn’t speak to her much; I always felt it would be bad for Xiao Ji.
“Senior Sister Xu… hello. Thank you for your help.”
“No, no. I think you write very well; it would have been a pity not to exhibit it. Why didn’t you ever submit your work to the Student Council before?”
“Everyone exhibiting is very talented. I still need to practice more.”
Senior Sister Xu tilted her head with an incredulous expression.
“Award-winning aside, your work definitely qualifies for the exhibition. Besides, the Literature Department upstairs is quite lively right now. Do you know why?”
“Ah… is it?”
Was it my work attracting the students?
“Yes! I almost forgot as soon as I ran into you. Say, do you want to meet the dancer from this video? It’s An Zhi, from your year. I think you two would get along well; you’re both low-key and humble.”
“No, no, how could I —”
‘…be compared to her?’
Before I could finish my sentence, she walked toward the reception room at the side of the lobby.
Would she really bring An Zhi to find me?
Uh… no way!
Am I actually going to meet An Zhi!?
“Come on, come on. Do you want to be all alone after I graduate? You said yourself you wanted to fit in. Now there’s a classmate captivated by your dance. Don’t miss this chance.”
As Senior Sister Xu’s voice approached, I saw her pulling a hesitant An Zhi from the reception room door, slowly walking toward me.
Almost all the students in the lobby looked over, but none of them came close.
Their gazes felt a bit piercing.
My legs felt like they were filled with lead; I couldn’t move at all.
An Zhi was just like she appeared on the screen: shiny black long hair and a pure, angelic face that remained beautiful even with her head lowered.
She wore a cream-colored shirt with a navy blue bow tie.
The orange light of the exhibition lamps glowed through the fabric.
Looking down past her slim waist, she wore a light-colored pleated medium skirt and well-proportioned long legs covered in white tights.
It seemed the video hadn’t been edited at all.
She was just that good-looking, as if she had stepped right out of the screen.
Senior Sister Xu pushed her forward.
The two of us stood directly across from each other.
I didn’t dare look her in the eye, and she didn’t look up.
“Say hello! Don’t just stand there!”
Senior Sister Xu patted my back, joking to lighten the mood.
“Ah! Greetings… I — I am Li Mingshan. I write books.”
“……”
There was no response at all.
I could only catch a slight gaze from behind the bangs falling over her eyes.
‘It’s really not working, is it? Senior Sister Xu was too rash.’
“Who uses such formal language with a peer? She’s a girl; do you think she’s older than you?”
Senior Sister Xu teased.
“I’m sorry! Hello, An Zhi.”
I bowed instinctively to apologize, even tripping over my words.
“It’s fine… I’m An Zhi. Um… thank you.”
Her voice was so quiet!
If I hadn’t lowered my head, I wouldn’t have heard her.
Does that mean she was actually responding earlier?
“No need, your dancing was great; it really shocked me! I should be the one thanking you for letting me appreciate such a masterpiece. Even someone like me who knows nothing about dancing can tell you’re amazing.”
Realizing this, I praised her from the bottom of my heart.
“…Mmm, *mumble, mumble*.”
She nodded, her cheeks turning a bit red.
Was she saying something?
I couldn’t hear her at all.
“An Zhi doesn’t talk to people often. She has been practicing dance since she was a child. Usually, it’s just her parents or teachers giving her advice. Don’t take it personally,” Senior Sister Xu explained at the right time.
“It’s fine. That’s incredible. Are you from a family of dancers? An Zhi, now I feel like watching your dance was a bit… I’m sorry, I don’t know much about dancing, so I can’t give much advice. I just know it’s incredible, and you… you’re very pretty, extremely pretty!”
After the words slipped out, I realized what I had said and quickly covered my mouth.
However, I saw An Zhi shaking her head desperately, though she didn’t say anything. How awkward.
“Hahaha! Li Mingshan, it’s rare to see you so flustered. Let’s go. An Zhi reads books occasionally. Let’s go to the Literature Department and see your work together~”
I thought our first meeting would end immediately, but An Zhi nodded.
I definitely saw her nod.
That gesture encouraged me more than words ever could.
At the same time, it made me even more nervous.
Would my work… earn her praise?
We took the elevator together.
Other students seemed to avoid us intentionally; the elevator wasn’t full, but they all yielded and didn’t step in.
Surprisingly, out of the several activity rooms where the Literature Department’s works were located, the most people were gathered in front of mine.
They held handmade pamphlets with my work printed on them, reading intently.
On the display case, the pamphlets that had originally been stacked like a small mountain were now down to just a handful.
“Oh my, it looks like there won’t be much suspense for the Literature Department’s Gold Award this time. Each pamphlet has a voting slip inside. Taking one means they intend to vote for you. We in the Student Council also think you write well. Get ready to go up to the podium, okay?”
“Gold Award… for my work?”
In my more than twenty years of life, I had been in the spotlight countless times, but those were all childhood gazes filled with intense hostility.
This time was different.
Everyone was appreciating my work…
I could hear whispers:
“Is that Li Mingshan?”
“I don’t think I’ve heard of him before.”
“Such beautiful prose…”
“He’s so good!! What kind of training did he go through? Holy crap, everyone, aren’t you going to vote for him?”
That last sentence came from Xiao Ji.
He was holding my pamphlets and handing them out everywhere like an employee distributing flyers outside a luxury store.
Even though I was the one who helped him meet Senior Sister Xu, was this really necessary?!
“Senior Sister Xu! What a coincidence —”
He saw us coming and ran over to greet us.
What coincidence?
As the event planner, Senior Sister Xu was obviously going to be here.
It turned out this guy’s goal wasn’t to help me get votes!
“I’m not paying you a salary,” I said heartlessly.
“Brother Mingshan, I’ve been standing here since this morning and haven’t even eaten! You have to treat me to at least one meal!”
Xiao Ji scratched his head.
He was looking at Senior Sister Xu but talking to me.
“Technically, the Student Council is the host. This meal should be on Senior Sister Xu of the Student Council.”
Oh well, I’ll give him a hand…
While speaking, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that An Zhi was holding my pamphlet and reading it quietly.
!?
When did she pick it up?
“Really? Senior Sister Xu?”
Xiao Ji asked, patting my shoulder in thanks.
My attention was not on him at all.
However, he wasn’t looking at me either.
“Since Li Mingshan said so, it’s not impossible to treat you. Consider it a reward for helping the Student Council.”
“Great, great! Senior Sister Xu is the best!”
“It’s almost afternoon. Come on, let’s go now. I’ll ask who else in the Student Council is too busy to eat. It’ll be more lively if we all go together.”
The two of them walked toward the elevator while chatting, completely ignoring me.
I was so focused on observing An Zhi’s expression that I only just realized I had been left behind.
I was alone with An Zhi…