Niu Xuan's loud shout drew the eyes of seven or eight classmates at once, making Gao Yang instantly uncomfortable. He quickly scanned the room and spotted the birthday girl, Wan Sisi.
She was surrounded by two close female friends, seated on the long sofa.
On the glass coffee table lay snacks, a fruit platter, drinks, and beer. Beside it stood a luxurious cart holding an extravagant three-tier cream cake—clearly expensive.
Wan Sisi had dressed up carefully today. Her usual simple medium-short hair was blown out into soft, slightly fluffy waves with a hint of playfulness. She wore a Japanese-style polka-dot dress with thin straps, revealing fair shoulders and collarbones. Around her slender neck was a black lace choker, giving her the look of an obedient yet coquettish little cat.
The outfit was standard sweet-girl Japanese style, but for Wan Sisi—who normally dressed plainly—it was already quite bold. She had only dared try it after her two friends egged her on.
The results were obvious. Every boy who walked in today froze for a split second upon seeing her, then offered some ambiguous compliment.
Wan Sisi lowered her head with a shy smile, confidence slowly building inside her. She grew more and more eager for Gao Yang to arrive, curious to see his reaction.
She waited a long time. When Gao Yang finally pushed open the door, her cheeks flushed instantly, heart pounding like a startled deer. Fortunately, the dim lighting hid it from everyone.
Since they had agreed no gifts, Gao Yang hadn't brought one either—just picked up a matcha cheesecake from a dessert shop on the way. He set the packaged sweet on the table with a natural expression. "Sisi, happy birthday. I didn't know what you liked, so I got some dessert."
"Thanks." Wan Sisi opened her mouth to say more, but the bespectacled girl beside her immediately stood up with perfect timing. "I'll go pick a song. Gao Yang, sit anywhere."
Gao Yang glanced at the empty seat next to Wan Sisi and instantly understood: the assist was way too obvious.
He hesitated—should he just go along with it?—when a voice came from the corner of the room.
"Gao Yang. Over here."
He turned. Qing Ling sat on a two-person sofa against the wall, arms crossed over her chest, expression calm. She wore a simple, fitted coffee-colored tracksuit, hair in a high ponytail, face bare of makeup—yet she effortlessly outshone everyone, radiating an innate goddess aura.
"Oh." Gao Yang walked over obediently and sat beside her.
Wan Sisi's smile froze before it could fully bloom. She quickly tilted her head, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and pretended to chat naturally with the people nearby.
Qing Ling had called him over for something serious, but before she could speak, another voice cut in.
Niu Xuan jeered, "Gao Yang, you're the only one who showed up late. Aren't you gonna treat everyone to something?"
"Yeah!" Several boys chimed in.
"Come on, sing a song!" Niu Xuan thrust the microphone toward him, smiling on the surface but with clear contempt in his eyes. He knew his own singing was average, but Gao Yang's was notoriously bad. Today he just wanted to see Gao Yang embarrass himself.
Originally, Niu Xuan had no real grudge against Gao Yang. But over the past half month, the more he looked at the guy, the more irritated he became!
Li Weiwei's death had suddenly brought him a flood of attention from classmates. Almost everyone knew he and Li Weiwei had been childhood sweethearts. At first, Niu Xuan had even felt a little sympathy for Gao Yang, just like the others. But after Li Weiwei died, Gao Yang somehow turned into the biggest winner in life.
First, the class goddess—no one else had ever dared pursue—Qing Ling, was suddenly getting closer and closer to him.
Back in first year, Niu Xuan had tried his luck with Qing Ling too, but after a few probes he'd been coldly shut down. Later rumors spread that she was into girls, so he wisely backed off. He wasn't short of girlfriends anyway—no need to lose face over one woman.
Now look at her: the untouchable Qing Ling, who supposedly couldn't be won by any man, was actually involved with Gao Yang.
A few days ago, someone even saw them holding hands outside school and entering the subway station together. The boys exploded in private discussions—Gao Yang was insane; he'd actually straightened a lesbian. What kind of charm was that?
Maybe it was the goddess halo filter, but Gao Yang—who used to be average-looking—now seemed to get more handsome the longer you looked. That once ordinary aura had changed; now he carried a faint, aloof distance from everyone. It was so damn pretentious, yet the girls ate it up.
Today was Wan Sisi's birthday. In the past, Niu Xuan wouldn't have bothered coming. But somehow—maybe it was the "girls bloom at eighteen" thing—Wan Sisi had recently become strikingly pretty.
Fresh off dumping his last girlfriend, Niu Xuan hadn't yet tried the petite, cute soft-girl type. He suddenly felt interested. He directly ordered her a 999-yuan three-tier cream cake and a bouquet of roses—his intentions were obvious to everyone.
Niu Xuan knew these moves were cliché, but they worked.
Women, he thought, are all vain. There's nothing money can't handle. If it doesn't work, it just means you didn't throw enough at it.
Ten minutes ago, when the roses arrived, everyone had hooted and teased. Niu Xuan thought victory was assured—until Wan Sisi firmly refused them, looking genuinely troubled.
He was adaptable, though. He laughed it off with a few jokes and moved on. After that, he kept singing while secretly watching Wan Sisi's every move. On the surface she chatted and laughed with everyone, but she seemed distracted, clearly waiting for someone.
Then Gao Yang walked in.
Wan Sisi's eyes lit up instantly, her whole face glowing. In that moment, she was almost overwhelmingly beautiful—even threatening to overshadow Qing Ling.
Niu Xuan understood everything in a flash. Rage surged through him.
Gao Yang. Again, fucking Gao Yang!
Today I'm going to settle this with you!
"Hey! Sing something! Don't ruin the mood for everyone!" Niu Xuan's tone hardened.
The more perceptive classmates already smelled gunpowder but didn't call it out. They cracked seeds and settled in to watch the show.
Wan Sisi was also looking forward to it. She'd heard classmates say Gao Yang was tone-deaf and sang terribly, but she never believed it. Someone as gentle as Gao Yang must sing beautifully. Even if he didn't… it would surely be an adorable kind of bad.
Gao Yang shot Qing Ling a glance: Talk later?
Qing Ling returned the glance: Later.
"Fine." Gao Yang stood up.
He walked through the not-very-large room under everyone's stares and reached the karaoke machine to pick a song. Soon he selected Naicha Tianwang's "Can't Open My Mouth."
"Yo, old song," Niu Xuan sneered. "Looks like we've got a veteran mic hog here! Brothers, ears open!"
"Haha, no problem!"
"Waiting for the god of song!"
"God of song, give us one!"
Several boys cackled.
Gao Yang knew he sang badly. He'd planned to just get it over with—lose some face, sing anything, and move on. Talking to Qing Ling was more important. But Niu Xuan was pushing too far.
The gentle intro began. Less than ten seconds until the first line.
The more Gao Yang thought about it, the angrier he got. On impulse, he closed his eyes.
[Beep—]
[Entering System]
[You have newly obtained 1 Luck Point. Total remaining: 26 Luck Points]
—What attribute makes singing sound good?
[Charisma. It provides a boost to vocal-related talents. You currently have no such talent. Not recommended to add points here]
—All 26 into it! Confirm!
[Allocated]
[Physique: 27 Endurance: 28]
[Strength: 17 Agility: 27]
[Spirit: 67 Charisma: 55]
[Luck: 132]
[System hidden]
…
Gao Yang opened his eyes. A faint itch spread through his throat; his chest felt as though some energy had unlocked it. He knew the attribute points were taking effect. The change lasted about thirty seconds.
"The god of song still not singing? Everyone's waiting!" Niu Xuan urged.
Gao Yang took a deep breath and seamlessly joined the melody: "Passing through the clouds, I try so hard to run toward you. Love finally reaches you, but you're already in someone else's arms…"
He paused, stood up, cradled the microphone with both hands, expression full of deep affection: "I just can't open my mouth to let her know. It's just those simple words, yet they make you laugh. My whole heart hangs in midair; I can only watch from afar. I can do all of this… but that person is no longer me…"
The song ended.
The room fell into a strange silence. The classmates who had come to watch him crash and burn only realized afterward that they'd actually listened to the whole thing.
Gao Yang's performance wasn't professional level, but among amateurs it was genuinely good. More importantly, his emotion was fully invested.
And the song choice was perfect. Li Weiwei had died not long ago. Everyone projected onto Gao Yang that heartbreaking "I couldn't say it back then, and now I'll never have the chance" filter. Quite a few classmates were genuinely moved, eyes reddening—including Wan Sisi.
Wan Sisi felt joy first—Gao Yang sings so beautifully! Then sorrow for Li Weiwei's death. Finally, a faint pang of loss: Gao Yang really loved Li Weiwei after all. They were childhood sweethearts with over a decade of deep connection.
But even if Li Weiwei is the eternal moonlight in his heart, I won't give up. I believe companionship is the longest confession of love…
Wan Sisi lowered her head, lost in her own grand, melancholic inner monologue.
Niu Xuan sat frozen on the sofa, face sour, inwardly raging with curses.
Gao Yang handed the microphone to the next singer, inwardly sighing with regret: Impulse is the devil. For a little vanity, he'd wasted a precious 26 Luck Points.
During the song he had poured everything in—deeply emotional. Afterward, he returned to his low-key self, quietly walking back to the corner and sitting beside Qing Ling.
"Not bad," Qing Ling said.
Gao Yang blinked, surprised she'd even notice something unrelated to getting stronger. "Thanks. What were you about to tell me?"
Qing Ling leaned closer and lowered her voice. "Today I—"
"Gao Yang!" Niu Xuan shouted. "Get over here!"
Qing Ling had been interrupted twice now. Her expression darkened; the next second she looked ready to draw her blade and decapitate him.
"Sis Qing, calm down…" Gao Yang quickly stopped her from standing. "No need. Really no need. Leave it to me."
"Make it quick," Qing Ling said unhappily.
"Yes."