Before Ruan Yu could answer, her phone rang too. Compared to the dynamic ringtone of the young man earlier, hers was much more monotonous. She pulled out her phone and glanced at the caller ID—it was her roommate Jian Xiangxiang.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Ruan Ruan, the anniversary celebration is about to start. When are you coming?”
Why was everyone reminding her about the celebration?
Ruan Yu instinctively looked toward the door—the young man had already left.
“I’ll be there shortly.”
“Alright, I’ll save you a seat.”
Ruan Yu hung up but showed no immediate intention of leaving.
She opened her “Collection of Tongue Twisters” again, turning back to the red carp page, and started reciting from the beginning. She wasn’t in any hurry to join the festivities, nor was she worried about missing anything special. She knew that the so-called anniversary celebration would be no different from last semester’s freshman welcome ceremony—it would start with passionate speeches from school leaders, followed by rounds of applause, then the same old routine of singing, dancing, and skits. Boring and predictable.
Going would be a waste of time, but she couldn’t skip it either.
This time, Ruan Yu finally recited it without a single mistake. She let out a slight sigh of relief and was preparing to try again when her phone vibrated in her pocket.
It was Jian Xiangxiang again, this time with a text message.
She wrote: “There’s going to be something amazing later. You’ll regret it if you don’t come.”
Amazing?
Ruan Yu couldn’t imagine what could be so amazing at a school anniversary celebration, but she still put away her book, left the rooftop, and headed toward the school auditorium.
Calculating the time, she figured she should go anyway—the class committee would be taking attendance. Their class monitor was always watching Ruan Yu with her mascara-laden eyes, waiting to catch her in some minor transgression.
The school auditorium was on the easternmost side. Like the school itself, it had sixty years of history, with red beams and gray tiles, its style both ancient and elegantly dignified.
“Woah…”
As soon as Ruan Yu reached the entrance, she was nearly knocked back by the massive wave of sound from inside. She instinctively covered her ears, stopping at the doorway, hesitant to enter.
What kind of guest could have worked up the crowd to such a frenzy?
During the few seconds, she hesitated outside, an English song started playing in the auditorium—a dynamic, powerful melody. Though not particularly sensitive to music, she found it familiar. Only after hearing the intro did she realize it was the same ringtone as that young man from the rooftop.
“Ah!”
“Wow!”
The girls in the auditorium screamed wildly along with the music.
Ruan Yu hurried inside through the noise, found her class’s section in the front rows, and made her way through the excited crowd to sit beside Jian Xiangxiang.
Jian Xiangxiang glanced at her, excitedly grabbing her arm and shaking it, trying to transmit her enthusiasm.
“Ruan Ruan! You’re just in time! You caught the opening street dance show—you would’ve missed out! Look, look, they’re coming out! They’re coming out!”
Ruan Yu freed herself from Jian Xiangxiang’s grip and turned her attention to the stage.
The curtain was slowly rising, revealing five young men all dressed in red, wearing masks. Somehow, she immediately recognized the one in the middle.
It was him.
That guy with dreadlocks.