Chapter 33

Seeing it live is already this beautiful—who knows how gorgeous the high-def camera with the crane shot is going to turn out.

With that, the Performance was completely over. Zhai Xingchen took off his mask again.

The Live Streaming camera gave Zhai Xingchen a close-up. His face was slightly damp with sweat, the red makeup at the corners of his eyes had gone wet, but it only made him look more gorgeous and seductive.

All the stage lights came on, and Huo Cheng was the first to jump to his feet.

Then Hu Ying, Duan Yihua.

Hu Ying's eyes were practically glowing with excitement.

"Look at Hu Ying's eyes!" Liu Screenwriter shouted.

Hu Ying started clapping and couldn't help shouting out: "Zhai Xingchen!"

Zhai Xingchen was good-looking, his figure wasn't bad either. He'd always figured Zhai Xingchen must look great when he danced.

But he hadn't expected it to be this good.

He'd originally thought Zhai Xingchen's dance style would lean soft and pretty, very uke.

But he hadn't realized beauty doesn't care about gender or top/bottom.

He was genuinely shaken by this beauty. Compared to the first half's bold, sweeping, super-top energy dancing, he actually liked the second half even more—that divine, descending-from-heaven kind of beauty, every single movement so gorgeous it made him want to scream.

How had he never noticed before that Zhai Xingchen's hands were so pale, so slender, so beautiful!

How had he never noticed Zhai Xingchen's waist was that insane!

How had he never noticed his legs... wait, no, he'd always known he had legs that were absolutely unreal!

"Ahhhhhhh." Hu Ying couldn't help stamping her foot.

Huo Cheng next to her burst out laughing, his eyes fixed on Zhai Xingchen on stage. Once he stopped laughing, his expression went serious, his gaze hungry enough to devour.

He didn't just think the dancing Zhai Xingchen was beautiful.

He even thought the dancing Zhai Xingchen was sexy.

It was his first time seeing Zhai Xingchen dance, but it wasn't his first time watching people dance. The weird thing was, watching other people dance, he'd only think it was pretty. But watching Zhai Xingchen dance, this beauty actually got to him.

Like when Zhai Xingchen lifted one leg, holding it in that standing split, his legs spread so wide they almost made a straight line—Huo Cheng felt a rush of excitement he couldn't control.

He wanted to just pick him up.

Duan Yihua pressed his lips tight, expression serious, but his eyes were full of the light Zhai Xingchen had given him. His mature, handsome face flushed with excitement. He thought he was sweating. He took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair.

Wen Nu, at that moment, actually wanted to cry even more.

He thought Zhai Xingchen was just too amazing.

The Zhai Xingchen he'd known before was always the homebody type, gentle like the boy-next-door brother, loved to cook, good at livening up the mood. He'd always thought they were the same kind of person. But seeing Zhai Xingchen on stage today, he finally understood the guy really lived up to his name—he was a star in the sky, just as brilliant as anyone in the Red and Blue Signal house!

Even more dazzling than anyone else.

Yan Zhi and Pei Xu were too busy staring at Zhai Xingchen.

Their minds were completely blank. They weren't even worrying about how many people liked him anymore. There was no room in their heads for anyone else. Everyone else could go to hell.

Only Zhai Xingchen, only him—already filling their eyes and hearts completely.

"Quick, get a close-up of their faces!"

In the shot, Yan Zhi's eyes were hidden behind his glasses, but Pei Xu's gaze was focused and burning. A person usually so camera-shy seemed to have completely forgotten about it now.

"That's definitely a look of love."

Everyone stood up applauding. On stage, Zhai Xingchen had his buddies on either side, all of them bowing together to thank the audience.

In that instant, Zhai Xingchen spotted Huo Cheng and the others in the front row.

No way around it—those guys, with their height, their presence, their sheer aura, were impossible to miss.

He'd been so focused on dancing he hadn't even noticed them.

He froze for a beat, then waved both hands at them.

"What do we do now? Do we watch the whole thing, or can we leave?" Hu Ying asked urgently.

Lin Qingning and the others had already sat back down.

Since they were here, watching the whole show was a matter of respect for Zhongwu Academy and the other students. If they left now, the Production Team would have to leave too, and that would mess up the rest of the Performance.

"Leave when it's almost over," the Production Team said. "We'll let you know when."

The next performances were also amazing, also beautiful.

But no matter how gorgeous those dancers were, no matter how good their technique, it felt like someone else's thing, nothing to do with them.

Hu Ying couldn't take it anymore. She quietly stood up, hunched over, and slipped out.

Pei Xu, Yan Zhi, Huo Cheng—they all turned to watch Hu Ying leave, expressions heavy.

Actually, they were all dying to go too.

But they couldn't all just leave.

They could only watch helplessly as Hu Ying ran off backstage.

Hu Ying's whole chest was burning. She pushed through the noisy backstage, searching for Zhai Xingchen in the chaotic crowd.

But she wasn't familiar with the place and had no idea where to go. Searching around only made her more anxious.

"Hey, the guy who just performed Prince of Lanling—Zhai Xingchen—do you know where he is?" She grabbed a random dancer.

The dancer, suddenly grabbed by the shoulder by her, whipped around and came face-to-face with Hu Ying's stunning beauty. For a second, he was completely dazed.

"Hey?"

The dancer snapped back to reality, face red: "He's over there."

"Thanks!"

Hu Ying took off in the direction the dancer had pointed, leaving him standing there staring after her.

Hu Ying quickly pushed through a door into a huge room packed with people, everyone in high spirits, the atmosphere electric.

Teacher Zou was excitedly talking to Zhai Xingchen: "You nailed it this time, better than any of the rehearsals! Before I was afraid you'd be too nervous, so I didn't dare tell you—your Performance is going to be on TV!"

The moment they heard it was going on TV, everyone got super excited.

"Zhai Xingchen!"

Zhai Xingchen turned his head and saw Hu Ying rushing toward him, full of energy.

Hu Ying was so beautiful that all the students around turned to look at her.

"You danced way too well!" The moment Hu Ying stopped moving, the compliments started pouring out. "I'm so excited I don't even know what to say!"

Teacher Zou smiled at her. Zhai Xingchen quickly introduced her: "This is one of the guests from the variety show I'm on, her name's Hu Ying. Hu Ying, this is our Teacher Zou."

Hu Ying put on her most well-behaved look: "Hello, Teacher Zou."

Teacher Zou said with a smile: "Go change your clothes quick, they're probably all waiting for you."

Since there were too many people, they'd strung up a curtain in the middle of the room and everyone was changing behind it. Hu Ying stood on the other side of the curtain, still talking nonstop: "I knew you could dance, but I didn't expect you to dance that well. Listen, I've seen a lot of dance dramas before, but I don't think any of them combined add up to how good you are!"

The students changing clothes next to Zhai Xingchen all laughed at that.

Zhai Xingchen was getting a little embarrassed by all the praise: "You're seeing me through rose-colored glasses. Just at our Dance School alone, there are tons of students who dance better than me."

"Sure, there are people who dance better than you, but there aren't many who are better-looking."

"You only care about looks?" Zhai Xingchen laughed as he pulled off the hanfu, revealing a white tank top underneath.

The costume was light but had several layers. After the dance, he was soaked underneath, the tank top damp, so he took that off too. Hu Ying peeked in and said: "Your abs are so defined."

His pecs were there too—that lean, young guy kind of build, really beautiful.

Hu Ying's heart grew warmer watching this. She looked up at Zhai Xingchen's face—the stage makeup was still on, the tails of his brows painted red, slightly upturned. Now his eyes were slightly lowered, handsome and bright, with an extra layer of gorgeous seductiveness.

Just... really good-looking.

Zhai Xingchen was always bare-faced—she hadn't expected him to look like this with makeup on.

She really was outshone.

Zhai Xingchen changed into regular clothes, stuffed the costume into a tote bag, and came out from behind the curtain.

"Where are the others?"

"They're still watching the show," Hu Ying said. "I snuck out!"

"So do we go back and watch with them, or wait for them outside?" Zhai Xingchen asked.

Hu Ying said: "Go back, there's still over an hour left. The Production Team's all here too. If we all leave now it'll mess up your Performance."

Zhai Xingchen said: "Then why'd you sneak out?"

"Couldn't wait to see you, wanted you to hear my groundhog squeal," Hu Ying said with a smile.

"Let's go," Zhai Xingchen said, smiling.

The room was too crowded and chaotic. When Zhai Xingchen saw someone about to bump into them, he put his arm out to shield Hu Ying. Hu Ying froze for a second. They were about the same height, so her gaze landed right on Zhai Xingchen's profile. Zhai Xingchen looked at the classmate and said: "Careful."

Hu Ying lowered her eyes slightly, then suddenly turned to glance at Zhai Xingchen again, her heart growing even warmer.

Zhai Xingchen was a top—a top she'd seriously underestimated. She'd never been so acutely aware of it as she was right now. His image just clicked into place in her mind.

The next dance was from the modern dance department. The track was pumping, dynamic, and combined with the cool lighting on stage, it instantly lit up the whole room. The lights kept shifting colors, illuminating Huo Cheng and the others' faces.

Huo Cheng kept glancing to the side. He couldn't sit still.

His whole being was surging with emotion. In his mind, there was nothing but Zhai Xingchen!

He had no idea what Hu Ying was doing.

Had she already launched her attack?

Just thinking about Hu Ying's bold, fiery personality had Huo Cheng burning with impatience.

He was so anxious he'd even started bouncing his leg.

Duan Yihua next to him noticed the movement and turned to look.

Just then, he suddenly saw Huo Cheng sit up straight, his eyes practically glowing.

Duan Yihua turned his head and saw Zhai Xingchen and Hu Ying sneaking toward them, hunched over.

All six people seated there saw them. A purple-red light washed over their brows and eyes, then their faces sank back into hazy shadow.

The glow at this moment was like a surging undercurrent, weaving their feelings and desire together.

Hu Ying went back to her original seat.

Zhai Xingchen sat down on the very edge, next to Yan Zhi.

The moment Zhai Xingchen appeared, the Live Streaming comments flooded the screen again.

[Zhai Xingchen's back!]

[Beauty Zhai's back!]

[Is this the guy who just danced? Holy shit, why does he look even hotter in a white shirt?!]

[So freaking hot, mom, this guy is unreal!]

They'd known he was gorgeous, but tonight was the first time they saw his radiance.

Zhai Xingchen had changed into jeans and a white shirt with a cinched waist and nice drape, which only made his killer proportions stand out more. Such clean, youthful clothes, but his face still carried the stage's red makeup—modern and classical beauty merged in one person. The way he sat there, his dancer's aura was even more striking.

More stunning than any time he'd appeared on the Live Streaming before.

Yan Zhi turned to look at Zhai Xingchen. The stage light lit up their area again, and he could see Zhai Xingchen's face clearly—the red at the corners of his eyes, gorgeous and seductive. When Zhai Xingchen smiled at him like that, Yan Zhi's anxiety instantly melted away. He sat perfectly still for a moment, then leaned slightly toward Zhai Xingchen, resting his left arm on the armrest.

The Production Team pulled the camera back slightly, and the two of them appeared in the same frame.

[Shit, Beauty Zhai and my Sixth Bro in the same frame!]

[You two should just go film an idol drama for me! You're way too perfect together!]

[I thought Hu Ying and Zhai Xingchen's Star Lake CP was already perfect enough, but Zhai Xingchen and Yan Zhi in the same frame is even better!]

One pure and gorgeous, the other handsome in that refined, sadistic way.

Just as they were starting to ship it, something happened that made them scream.

Yan Zhi suddenly turned his head to say something to Zhai Xingchen. Since it was so loud, Zhai Xingchen leaned over, bringing his ear close to listen.

[Aaaaaaaaaah!]

[What is this? Whispering in each other's ears in public! I want to say, keep going!]

No one knew what Yan Zhi said. Zhai Xingchen shook his head, then Yan Zhi cupped his hand and leaned in to say something else. Zhai Xingchen smiled, then suddenly looked straight at the camera across from them.

The moment he looked straight into the camera was so beautiful—his eyes lit up, his dark brows lifted slightly, a hint of surprise, then focus. Every viewer on the other side of the screen felt like that look was aimed right at them.

Then Zhai Xingchen smiled at the camera.

"Now the audience knows exactly how we felt the first time we saw his video," Guo Bing said.

This moment was practically a recreation of that scene.

He sat in the dim audience like the brightest star in a dark universe.

[Ah, his eyes are so bright!]

[I love boys who smile this brightly!]

[Wuwuwu, this is probably what a school heartthrob looks like!]

He was the type everyone would like—men, women, tops, bottoms, old, young, anyone.

He was youthful, radiant—the kind of boy where seeing him smile makes joy bubble up from your heart.

"Zhai Xingchen's Weibo followers just broke five hundred thousand!" a staff member who'd been tracking tonight's online buzz said. "He's really about to blow up now!"