I want to drag you into hell, yet I worship you like a deity.

The June plum rain made the entire city feel oppressively humid. The rain had just stopped, leaving the ground soaking wet.

“The body, hair, and skin are received from one’s parents, and one must not damage them—this is the beginning of filial piety.”

The young woman sitting at the table spoke, her voice very calm. “I suggest you reconsider. You’ll regret getting this tattoo in the future.”

This tattoo shop, located across from Pingchuan University, had many college students visiting every day.

However, most people’s purpose wasn’t getting a tattoo, but rather to see the shop owner, Xu Zhinan.

The wooden sign at the entrance of the tattoo shop simply had two characters meaning “tattoo” written on it, with no shop name. Outside along the brick wall were dozens of empty liquor bottles with various English symbols on them.

The interior had a dark color scheme—primarily gray, white, and black. The walls were adorned with many intricate totem designs, there was a CD wall, a sofa bed cluttered with various items, and shelves near the work desk holding tattoo pigments and sealed packages of rotary tattoo machines, along with a few very thick books.

There were no excessive decorations—the decor was wild, flamboyant, and extremely masculine.

Yet the shop owner didn’t match the environment at all.

Xu Zhinan was beautiful, and what stood out most beyond her beauty was her purity—she blended the contradictory qualities of allure and innocence perfectly.

High ponytail, small oval face, clear doe eyes, fair skin—at the moment she wore a simple pure cotton dress that revealed her beautifully defined yet clean neckline, beneath which were a pair of straight, slender, long legs.

In front of her was a piece of paper, brought by the male student sitting opposite her, showing what he wanted tattooed on his shoulder.

The content was simple—it was her name: Xu Zhinan.

The font was beautiful.

Another customer is pretending to get a tattoo while trying to hit on her.

The boy was a sports student with well-developed muscles. Hearing her recite “the body and skin received from one’s parents” as if it were an incantation, he laughed and sat sideways across from her, looking casual and flippant.

“Hey, I’m serious. What kind of business turns away customers who come through the door?”

Xu Zhinan looked up at him and earnestly reminded him: “This is my name.”

The young woman’s voice was soft and clear, her eyes extending slightly upward at the corners, inexplicably alluring.

The boy was momentarily entranced, staring at her for a moment before turning his head and coughing lightly, “But this is what I want to tattoo.”

“…”

“Senior, I like you. This tattoo is an expression of my feelings for you!” he proclaimed passionately, moved by his sentiment.

Xu Zhinan’s expression remained unchanged as she stood up to pour herself a glass of water, then walked back to the wooden table. “I won’t tattoo this for you. If you want it, find another shop.”

This meant tattoo it or not, I won’t do it for you.

Utterly cold and merciless.

Yet she had such an obedient and pure face that people couldn’t get angry at all—like a dud firecracker.

The boy left feeling frustrated.

The wind chimes at the tattoo shop door rang again. Just as the boy left, a girl entered.

Zhao Qian whistled, “Nan, wasn’t that big guy who just walked out our junior? What did he come to see you for?”

Zhao Qian was Xu Zhinan’s roommate. They were now juniors in college. According to Zhao Qian, this muscular guy was a year below them and had been pursuing Xu Zhinan for a year already.

“A tattoo.”

Zhao Qian raised her eyebrows, “Did he get one?”

“No,” Xu Zhinan felt exhausted. “He wanted to tattoo my name.”

Zhao Qian let out a “whoa” and gave a thumbs up, “Not bad! He looks silly, but his approach is pretty bold.”

Xu Zhinan couldn’t stand it and gave her a light slap, “His approach is also silly.”

Zhao Qian rarely heard her speak this way. Coming from that face, such words created an indescribable sense of dissonance, making her collapse laughing on the sofa.

Xu Zhinan returned to her seat and continued drawing a tattoo design that a client had requested via WeChat. After Zhao Qian finished laughing, she asked, “Why did you come to my shop?”

“Just had nothing to do,” Zhao Qian said without any restraint, taking a can of cola from the small refrigerator, gulping down half of it, and letting out a comfortable “ah.”

“By the way, want to go to a bar tonight?”

Xu Zhinan’s hand holding the brush paused as she looked up, “What for?”

“I heard Lin Qingye will be there tonight. Haven’t you heard the rumors that his band is breaking up soon? He’s about to graduate as a senior, and they say he has intentions of entering the entertainment industry.”

Zhao Qian slapped the sofa hard, “A legendary figure like him—once he enters the entertainment industry and becomes famous, we won’t even be able to see him! This is a rare opportunity!”

Xu Zhinan’s fine eyebrows furrowed slightly, lost in thought.

Zhao Qian pulled her hand and wheedled, “Let’s go, please go with me.”

“What about Jiang Yue?”

“She’s preparing for the graduate school entrance exam, isn’t she? She’s at the library every day and won’t come out.”

So Xu Zhinan agreed.

Pingchuan University had two legendary figures.

One was Xu Zhinan, who had earned the title of “Pingchuan’s Light” and campus beauty based on her face alone. She was majoring in art design and added a touch of legend by operating a tattoo shop off-campus despite having such a pure face.

The other was Lin Qingye.

But these two legends weren’t on the same level at all. Lin Qingye was the true legend of Pingchuan University.

He formed a band at 16, won the Golden Melody Award at 18, yet had no desire to enter the entertainment industry, continuing to perform at bars—still, fans flocked to see him, impossible to hold back.

Now, as final exam week approached, business at the tattoo shop was average.

After finishing the tattoo design and sending it to the customer, confirming satisfaction and scheduling an appointment, Xu Zhinan tidied up briefly and left with Zhao Qian.

Outside, the sky had already darkened.

Xu Zhinan locked the shop door and walked with Zhao Qian to “Wild”—the bar where Lin Qingye performed.

They arrived early when there weren’t many people in the bar. Comfortable light music was playing, and the two chose a corner spot with a good view of the stage.

The bartender looked at Xu Zhinan a couple of extra times before handing over the drink menu.

Zhao Qian, the “Queen of the Dance Floor,” had an astonishing alcohol tolerance and ordered a B52 Bomber for herself. Xu Zhinan didn’t like alcohol and only ordered a low-alcohol cocktail from the menu.

Time passed minute by minute, and the bar began to fill up. The lights and music changed—dazzling laser spotlights cut down from above, the music became deafeningly loud, with the beat pounding against one’s chest cavity.

Gradually, they entered the nightlife scene.

“Come on! Let’s go dancing!” Zhao Qian jumped up in place, getting excited as soon as she heard the music, her slender arms raised straight above her head.

Xu Zhinan pleaded, “No, no, you go by yourself.”

“We’re already juniors, Nan!” She downed her last sip of alcohol and squinted, “Really not coming?”

“No,” she smiled and shook her head, insisting.

“Look at you—you look so cool when tattooing others, but now you’re being so well-behaved.”

With those words, Zhao Qian happily stomped into the crowded dance floor in her high heels, and soon Xu Zhinan could no longer find her.

The dazzling laser lights swept back and forth inside the bar, repeatedly stirring up everyone’s emotions.

Xu Zhinan curled up on the sofa, raising her hand to gently rub her ear.

Although it wasn’t her first time at a bar, she still felt somewhat uncomfortable.

She was good-looking, her features appearing even more delicate under the lights, and her temperament was different from most girls here. Before long, she had already rejected several men who came to chat her up.

Fortunately, this was a proper bar, and after being rejected, they didn’t persist.

Suddenly, the bar that had been dominated by music was ignited again by high-pitched screams and cheers. Those beautiful girls raised their arms and waved frantically, looking toward the stage.

Xu Zhinan sat in the corner, following everyone’s gaze.

The smoke machine made the stage misty.

Several people walked out from behind, led by someone wearing a white shirt. The light shone through, outlining the broad shoulders and narrow waist hidden inside. He stood at the front and gripped the microphone stand.

He coughed lightly, the microphone emitted some noise, and then a cool male voice came through.

“—Locust Tree Band, Lin Qingye.”

The screams were overwhelming.

Xu Zhinan’s heart pounded.

She wasn’t sure if it was from the music or something else.

The screaming continued for more than ten seconds before subsiding a bit, and the young man on stage added his final three words: “Good evening.”

Still ice-cold, as if it were just a formality.

Through the gaps between those waving arms, Xu Zhinan finally saw his face.

Monolids, defined angles, deep-set brow bones, protruding Adam’s apple, a section of collarbone visible from the shirt collar.

Pale skin, black hair that appeared blue under the light beams, looking cool yet mischievous.

The intro began, and he picked up his guitar, his toes lightly tapping the floor to the rhythm. A series of pleasing melodies emanated from his throat, clear and clean, yet with a certain resilience.

Xu Zhinan picked up the cocktail on the table and quietly listened to him sing.

Unlike the surrounding girls who were jumping and waving their arms, she was more like an observer.

Suddenly, the young man under the spotlight seemed to sense something and looked directly at her.

Their gazes crossed over the crowd between them and met in the air.

Xu Zhinan froze, quickly withdrew her gaze, and pretended to be composed as she took a sip of her cocktail. But it burned her throat, causing her to cover her mouth and cough violently.

The young man on stage lowered his chin, his long, bony fingers playing a grace note, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

Looking quite roguish.

“Ahhhhhh! So handsome, so handsome!” Zhao Qian appeared from nowhere, screaming in admiration as she sat back down next to Xu Zhinan. “Really! As long as Lin Qingye is at Pingchuan University, all the other guys on campus pale in comparison!!”

She excitedly rambled on: “Damn, Nan, hook up with him! You’re both from Pingchuan University—keep the resources in the family!”

Xu Zhinan’s black eyelashes fluttered quickly twice: “Huh?”

“Never mind, never mind.” Zhao Qian quickly contradicted herself. “With someone like him, we should just enjoy the view for free. If someone like Lin Qingye set his sights on you, you probably wouldn’t even have bones left in the end.”

She glanced at Xu Zhinan’s face again, mentally speculating something unknown, and clicked her tongue, “A good girl like you would be no match for him.”

“…”

As a small climax in the middle of the song ended, Lin Qingye stood on stage with arms spread wide, chin raised. The lights shone down on him as he smiled mischievously, contentedly enjoying the cheers and screams from below.

Xu Zhinan tugged at Zhao Qian’s clothes, “It’s getting late, let’s go back to the dorm.”

“Okay, I’ll go to the bathroom first.”

Xu Zhinan picked up her wallet and went to the bar to pay.

“Table 28, two people? Someone has already paid for you,” the bartender said, looking at the bill.

Xu Zhinan was startled, “Are you sure there’s no mistake?”

The bartender smiled, “No mistake.”

“Then… may I ask who paid for us?”

“We just changed shifts, so I’m not sure,” the bartender closed the menu. “Welcome back next time.”

Zhao Qian came back from the bathroom. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Xu Zhinan shook her head. “Let’s go.”

Even outside the bar, they could still hear the vibrant sounds from inside.

As one song ended, those beautiful girls shouted in unison—

“Lin Qingye!”

“Lin Qingye!”

“Lin Qingye!”

…

It was already ten o’clock. A few stars hung sparsely in the sky. Behind them, the nightlife in the bar was officially beginning—inside and outside the bar seemed like two different worlds.

Xu Zhinan belonged to the world outside the bar; the inside was like an alien world to her.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated once, and she received a text message.

[Qingye Ge: Coming to my place tonight?]

This phone was the channel connecting these two worlds.