Volume One, Chapter Four: The Campus Belle, Su Muyu
The two of them were high school classmates, and their relationship was exceptionally close. From a young age, Su Muyu had been remarkably beautiful, which led to her being cast in films and becoming famous early on. As a result, she seldom attended classes in school. This, in turn, made her an outcast among her classmates. The unruly boys harbored ulterior motives toward her, while the troublesome girls merely pretended to be friends—amiable to her face, yet deceitful behind her back.
Among them all, only Jiang Yu was truly sincere. He helped her catch up with her studies and protected her from the mischief of those boys. Su Muyu had always harbored a feeling toward him that she couldn’t quite put into words; she herself did not know what to call this emotion.
As they entered university, the distance between them grew, and their interactions became increasingly rare. She had intended to finish her work and find an opportunity to talk to him, but before she could, she heard news that Jiang Yu was already in a relationship. For some reason, this left a bitter ache in her heart.
Until today.
Though she was displeased by the things people were saying about Jiang Yu online, and by Zhao Yiyi’s treatment of him, a faint glimmer of joy nevertheless rose within her. This feeling startled Su Muyu herself.
Jiang Yu, still singing on the stage, was unaware of all this. The entire bar was already spellbound. It was as if his singing carried a magic that transported everyone back to their own youthful days, back to a time before pressure and burdens, when simply catching a glimpse of someone you loved could bring happiness for a whole day.
No elaborate makeup, no embellishments—yet to him, she was the most beautiful of all.
But later...
“If I could look at you again, would I still feel the same?”
“All my truest joys and sorrows are buried in yesterday.”
“No pretense, only those passionate years.”
“I reminisce, but you shouldn't.”
“For even memories can't return us to the past.”
As the song faded, it was like a light rain vanishing under sunlight—gone in an instant, yet still flowing quietly through the heart like a gentle stream.
A resounding applause broke out.
A young man was the first to stand, tears still marking his face. He had graduated a year ago and had just broken up with his girlfriend after five years together. He’d once thought she would one day don a wedding dress and walk with him into the hall of matrimony. But reality was different—she put on black stockings and entered her boss’s private room.
“Encore!”
“Encore!”
...
Jiang Yu, however, only smiled. “I’ll give you a song called ‘Barefaced,’ but that’s all for now. If fate allows, I’ll come back here to sing for you again someday!”
With that, he stepped off the stage and walked toward his friends.
“Damn, Fourth, that was awesome!” Wang Mingxu said, his face alight with excitement.
Xiong Tao was elated too. “Yeah, you killed it!”
“I’ve always said you’ve got more star quality than that poser; she’s not worthy of you!” Wang Hong, the wealthy scion, yelled, “Waiter, another ‘Shenlong Set’—I’m celebrating my brother’s rebirth tonight!”
Jiang Yu smiled. “No need to get so worked up—it’s just basic stuff.”
“...”
“This guy’s getting cocky! I can barely stand it!”
“What are you waiting for, then?”
“Black Tiger Steals the Heart!”
“Immortal Picks the Grapes!”
“Hey, you bastards, can’t you wait until we’re back at the dorm...”
As they horsed around, a crowd surged toward them.
“Excuse me, are you Jiang Yu? Can I add you on WeChat?”
“I’d like to add you too. Are you free tomorrow? I want to buy you dinner.”
“Jiang Yu, right? I’m with XX Entertainment Agency. We want to sign you as a trainee. Just two and a half years of practice and you’ll debut.”
...
Surrounded by the cacophony, Jiang Yu felt overwhelmed. He glanced at his roommates. “Guys, things are getting out of hand. Hold the line!”
“Where are you going?”
“Time to bail—let’s move!”
With those words, Jiang Yu dashed out of the bar.
On campus, a soft breeze was blowing.
A few roommates puffed as they caught up.
“Fourth, you ran off alone! Not cool!” Wang Hong slung an arm over Jiang Yu’s shoulder.
Jiang Yu smirked. “Don’t you guys love pretty girls? I was just giving you a chance.”
At that, the three friends grinned. Truth be told, they had added quite a few beauties on WeChat tonight. Most were after Fourth, but since he hadn’t accepted, who knew—maybe chatting might lead somewhere.
Night had fallen, narrowing visibility. Though the streetlights glowed, they couldn’t compare to daylight, and the crowd was dense. Unlike during the day, Jiang Yu and his friends no longer drew much attention as they walked.
Suddenly, as if by some unspoken agreement, the noise around them died down. Everyone’s gaze turned in the same direction.
“Holy crap, Fourth, look—who’s that?” Wang Hong pointed.
Jiang Yu followed Wang Hong’s finger, puzzled. A graceful figure came into view, making him widen his eyes in astonishment.
Beauty that could topple kingdoms or shame the moon and flowers—such phrases, lavish as they were, still felt inadequate to describe this girl.
Now Jiang Yu understood the old tale of the king lighting the beacon towers for a beauty’s smile. If he were King You of Zhou, he’d probably do the same for a smile from this woman.
As everyone stared, the beautiful girl walked toward them.
“She’s coming over, Su Muyu’s headed our way!” Wang Hongwei, the rich kid, looked visibly nervous. For all his status, he’d never been so anxious over meeting a girl before.
“Long time no see, Jiang Yu.”
Ignoring the burning stares around them, Su Muyu stopped before Jiang Yu. Her voice was as clear as silver bells, sweet and refreshing.
“Yeah, it’s been a while. You’ve grown even more beautiful.”
Of course, Jiang Yu remembered who she was. But in his memory, after they started university, the distance between them only grew, and they hadn’t spoken since. After answering, he suddenly realized something and turned to see his three roommates eyeing him with curiosity and bewilderment.
The crowd around them had fallen silent, disbelief written on their faces.
That man was Jiang Yu. The campus goddess had come to see Jiang Yu!
The brightest star at Jiangxia Film University had come, unbidden, to seek out the very Jiang Yu whom others dismissed as aimless.
“Would you mind talking for a bit?”
Jiang Yu hesitated, then nodded. “Sure.”
He looked at the quiet lakeside. “Shall we go over there?”
But he regretted it as soon as he spoke. At Jiangxia Film University, the lakeside hill—nicknamed Lovers’ Slope—was a place where couples whispered to each other at this hour.
Su Muyu didn’t refuse; she walked straight toward the lake.
Under the loving blows and kicks of his roommates, Jiang Yu stumbled after her.