Chapter 48: Saving the Gentle Senior 24

The recorded forum post had been up for only ten minutes when the school administrator locked it.

Jin Chen wasn't in a hurry either; his original intention was just to let the school see it, then go talk to the principal.

But even in those short ten minutes, many had already screenshotted and reposted it, after all, no one can match college students' mindset of eating melons and watching the drama.

Lin Le was sent to the hospital by Mou Yuan, who had rushed over; the principal's office decided quickly—just order the expulsion of a student with a bad record, otherwise, besides not getting the Jin Family's donation, if the police came to the school it would only add trouble.

Shen Qingci learned that Lin Le had been expelled; it was already after the rehearsal ended, and his Blackening Value had dropped to 10.

By then the forum posts were too many to lock all; Lin Le had already been ordered to drop out, so the administrator simply stopped caring, letting students spread it as long as the language wasn't too extreme—also a good lesson.

And upon hearing this, Miliya was so angry she immediately posted on social media, completely ending Lin Le's dance career.

Hospital.

Mou Yuan sat outside the ward, looking at the hysterical Lin Le in the post, hardly able to believe this was the innocent, lovable boy from years ago.

The path of dance should have been pure; why then was he blinded by profit and jealousy to this extent?

Could it be just because Shen Qingci's ability is better than his?

But there are always people better than you; even if his talent is top-notch, he can't always have smooth sailing.

After a long while, he sighed.

Perhaps only he himself thought Lin Le still looked as he used to; after deceiving himself and others for so long, it's time to let go of this obsession.

Mou Yuan stood up, transferred the last sum of money to Lin Le, counting it as medical expenses, and left the hospital,

——

Without Lin Le's interference, the next two rehearsals went very smoothly.

The day of the evening show.

To maintain their 'mystique,' the two didn't see each other even after changing costumes.

But while waiting backstage, Jin Chen discovered that the final program list had his and Shen Qingci's solo acts scheduled consecutively.

The two smiled at each other.

"Good thing I hid for so long."

The moment Jin Chen saw Shen Qingci, his peach-blossom eyes lit up.

"Bao Bao looks really good today."

Unlike last time's competition, the softness of the dance costume and overall makeup; this time everything was done entirely according to Shen Qingci's own wishes.

The moon-blue dance costume was cool and flowing, the makeup simple and fresh, making one's eyes light up.

Jin Chen wore a standard tailcoat suit, the buttons fastened precisely, his long legs wrapped in well-tailored suit trousers, losing some of his usual flamboyant youthfulness and gaining a touch of austere nobility.

Taken by his appearance, Shen Qingci did not resist Jin Chen's light kiss as he lowered his head, reaching out to fiddle with his bowtie.

Other performers waiting backstage glanced sideways.

Eating dog food, but it's so sweet.

When Shen Qingci performed, Jin Chen deliberately went to the first row, Ma Bing having saved him a seat.

Seeing his lover dance under a round silver moon, every movement seemed to pluck at Jin Chen's heartstrings.

Through these dance movements he could see the surging, endless, tumultuous love.

Thinking that this dance was a gift for himself, Jin Chen's brows and eyes grew softer, his lips curled, his peach-blossom eyes overflowed with indulgence, and he fixed his gaze on his lover on stage.

As if sensing Jin Chen's gaze, Shen Qingci, through his movements, locked eyes with him for a few seconds, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

All the audience could see the change in Shen Qingci's eyes, and they speculated downstairs, sure that he had seen Jin Chen, for who else could make the Dance Department's great beauty show such an expression.

As the final movement ended, Shen Qingci held his pose, the sheer veil slowly falling, covering his face, then sliding down his neck; he lifted his gaze, breathing slightly short.

The host in an evening gown clapped as she went on stage, not expecting to reach out her hand to him, as if wanting to say a few words.

She immediately handed the microphone to Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci steadied his breath, his gaze sweeping slowly over the audience, finally coming to rest on Jin Chen.

His gentle voice carried through the microphone to everyone's ears.

"This dance is something I improvised half a month ago; this year, as a junior, I've been through a lot—rumors, insults, privacy leaks—during that time I felt life was just like that, nothing more than dropping out or quitting dance."

Saying this, Shen Qingci gave a light laugh, as if joking, yet some students in the audience lowered their heads.

They too had joined in the forum, blindly cursing Shen Qingci, taking hearsay as fact; only when confronted with evidence did they realize it was all baseless rumor.

"But later, I met Jin Chen."

"He was like a beam of light, bursting into my life on that stuffy night in the library, vibrant and fervent, driving away all my darkness."

"This dance is a gift for him."

"A gift for my beloved."

As Shen Qingci said those words, his heart surged, his gaze toward Jin Chen flickering slightly.

The previously quiet audience seats instantly erupted, cheers and applause igniting, the sound waves rising to the heavens.

Shen Qingci bowed again, then stepped down from the stage.

The host began to segue.

The two only hugged for the length of a sentence, and then it was Jin Chen's turn to perform.

This was his first performance at the school; seeing Jin Chen go on stage in a black tailcoat, the screams and cheers from below nearly lifted the roof.

"Jin Chen is so handsome!!"

"Jin Chen!! You and Shen Qingci are a great match!!"

The lights dimmed, and Jin Chen happened to catch that remark, unable to help laughing.

A few seconds later, the low, rich, and soaring violin sound began.

The audience below gradually grew quiet.

The lights interwove and staggered, the stage lit up, forming beams around Jin Chen that floated with the music.

The music sounded like a lover's whisper, tender and deep, the strings plucked surging with love.

Jin Chen lifted his gaze, his eyes full of tenderness, deep affection, staring at Shen Qingci.

The audience below listened in silence; lovers alike instinctively clasped the hand of their partner beside them, recalling their first meeting, their moments of falling in love—those beautiful affections buried by time surging back into their hearts.

After a long while, the piece ended.

Jin Chen likewise took the microphone and said only one sentence.

"With this music, I dedicate it to my beloved."

Applause from the audience surged without end.

——

Backstage.

Jin Chen had just put down his violin and walked into the changing room when Shen Qingci rushed in and flung herself into his arms.

"Ah Chen..."

Shen Qingci's voice hoarse, she clung tightly to her lover's embrace, the corners of her eyes reddened intensely, a hint of obsessive emotion showing in her depths.

"Shall we go to Yingguo to get our marriage license?"

He loved Jin Chen so much that even he himself was startled by this affection.

Thus, wanting something enough to give him a sense of security, he sought to bind the two together forever, never to be separated.

Jin Chen's brows and eyes relaxed; his fingertips brushed Shen Qingci's eye corners, his gaze filled with a tenderness like spring wind turning to rain, gently rubbing the top of her head.

"Listen to Bao Bao, but I hope Bao Bao understands that whether or not we have a marriage certificate, my love for you will not diminish; it will only grow richer with the passage of time."