The news article had a video interview attached directly below.

From the drawled, lazy “This girl…” at the beginning, to the final resigned smile as he looked at the camera, saying: “Back then, I was quite insecure.”

Ahhhhh!!!! Oh my god!!!! Is this still my cold-faced brother Qingye!!!!

Waaah I want to soul-possess that Robinia girl!!

Damn, is this brother’s first love???

It doesn’t sound like it, it seems more like a one-sided crush, the kind where they never got together. Even after so many years have passed, talking about it still feels bittersweet.

But still, brother, can you not date anyone?!

!!!! I want to know what kind of girl would make Lin Qingye feel insecure!!

AWSL!!!! Those last three seconds!! Lin Qingye’s smile!! I would dig out my heart for him!! It seems like he liked that girl a lot before!

Waaah brother don’t be insecure!! You’re the best!!

…

In the fans’ imaginations, they had created an image of Lin Qingye as a romantically devoted figure silently harboring a crush.

This news was not only trending online but also on Pingchuan University’s forum—since it was summer break, there weren’t many posts on campus, so several threads about Lin Qingye occupied the homepage.

Before, no one had ever heard of any close female relationships in his life, except for the female bass player in his band, and later some entanglement with Xu Zhinan.

However, no one knew the details about the situation with Xu Zhinan; it was all just speculation.

Now with this interview video stirring things up, everyone believed that there was probably just a misunderstanding between Lin Qingye and Xu Zhinan. After all, one had graduated and the other was about to enter her senior year, and no one had ever heard they knew each other; they had barely even been seen in the same frame.

At the end of the video was a clip of Lin Qingye performing “Robinia” from the first episode of “I Come for Song.”

Between me and the world

You are the chasm, the marsh

The sinking abyss

You are the fence, the wall

The permanent pattern on the shield

You are the girl

I am the crawling five-legged monster

In the intersection of night, spring light bursts forth

You pick up the gun, I become your sacrifice

…

As the young man’s beautiful voice played through, Xu Zhinan’s volume wasn’t loud, but Lu Xihe beside her still heard it. He glanced at her phone screen and recognized the person who had visited his shop before.

Lu Xihe didn’t follow entertainment news, and the celebrities he knew were limited to several famous actors who frequently appeared in movies and TV dramas. He only learned about Lin Qingye later from many customers who mentioned him at his shop.

“Hey, you like him too?” Lu Xihe smiled. “Many young girls at my shop like him as well.”

Xu Zhinan paused, closed the video, and softly said “Ah,” as a response.

Lu Xihe bent down and moved closer to her ear, speaking as if sharing a treasure: “Speaking of which, this Lin Qingye came to my shop before.”

He smiled and continued: “It’s quite a coincidence. That time, a friend of mine brought him to ‘Assassin.’ His back tattoo was inflamed, and I gave him some anti-inflammatory medicine. Oh right, guess what he had tattooed on his back?”

Xu Zhinan turned her head to look at him, asking blankly: “What?”

“Ah-Nan.” Lu Xihe raised his eyebrows. “Just like your name! Surprised!”

“…”

Lu Xihe shrugged: “But I think that was his girlfriend’s name. I’m just telling you, but you have to keep it secret. These celebrities probably have to hide their relationships and can’t let those fans know.”

Halfway through speaking, he finally realized something was off and looked at Xu Zhinan suspiciously: “You’re not one of those… what are they called… oh right, girlfriend fans! You’re not his girlfriend fan, are you?”

Xu Zhinan waved her hands repeatedly, clearing herself: “No, no.”

Lu Xihe sighed in relief: “That’s good. You scared me. Don’t go spreading this around.”

Xu Zhinan thought to herself that she was the one who tattooed it, and it was her name, so who would she tell?

She puffed her cheeks and still responded obediently: “I understand.”

Someone called Lu Xihe, and he went off to talk to someone else. Xu Zhinan lowered her head again to watch the video, her heart inexplicably racing.

Soon, the final scores were announced.

Xu Zhinan unquestionably became the first place in the realistic group again, Lu Xihe remained first in the totem group, and the tattoo artist she had just met, named Wei Jing, was first in the School group.

With the first-place winners from all four groups determined, it was equivalent to selecting the group champions.

The other tattoo artists weren’t shocked about Xu Zhinan taking first place.

After all, they had already witnessed her true skill level in the previous round. But for Xu Zhinan, this was her first time participating in such a competition, with voting that had been turbulent and miraculous, so she wasn’t certain about her level. When she suddenly heard the results announced, she froze in place.

Chen Liming sprinted over from the side, excitedly hugging Xu Zhinan: “Ahhhhh Ah-Nan!! We got first place!!!”

She was about 1.7 meters tall, hanging on Xu Zhinan like this, looking quite comical.

“This is great!! I can brag to my friends that the lion on my back is a competition-level first-place work!!”

It took Xu Zhinan a while to accept the ranking, and she smiled happily: “Thank you.”

When the young girl smiled, she became even more beautiful, her eyes like a pool of spring water, making even Chen Liming, another woman, momentarily dazed.

She waved a hand: “What are you thanking me for?!”

“Thank you for being willing to be my model.”

Later, someone suggested going out for a gathering, with the four group champions treating everyone.

Most tattoo artists had very casual personalities, and as soon as this was proposed, everyone immediately responded. They quickly began discussing where to go.

Xu Zhinan originally didn’t plan to attend such occasions, but since they said the group champions would treat her, she couldn’t refuse.

Chen Liming linked arms with her and urged her repeatedly, so Xu Zhinan agreed.

Of the 40 tattoo artists who entered the semifinals, some had other matters to attend to later, or out-of-towners needed to catch flights. In the end, about twenty people went to the KTV together.

Led by Lu Xihe, as soon as they entered the KTV, he raided the place and ordered five cases of beer first.

Among the twenty people, many party animals felt completely at home in such a place.

Someone grabbed the microphone to be the mic hog, someone else took the dice and dice cup to start a gambling game, and soon the KTV private room was filled with shouts and howls.

Xu Zhinan felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.

She never imagined that going out with this group would have such an atmosphere.

Lu Xihe had a bottle of Tsingtao beer in his left hand and a bottle of Snow beer in his right, no longer restrained as before but completely letting loose, with one foot on the coffee table, pointing the bottle mouth at the dice on the table and shouting, seemingly arguing with the person across from him.

The person monopolizing the microphone was a female tattoo artist with blonde hair, very thin, beautiful, and flamboyant.

Unfortunately, she was tone-deaf without realizing it, holding the microphone with both hands and singing very emotionally.

Xu Zhinan silently raised her arm, pinched her earlobe, and sighed.

Lu Xihe noticed her and called out, waving to her enthusiastically: “Come play, little sister Ah-Nan!”

Although Xu Zhinan was in the same room with them, it was as if they were separated by an entire galaxy, like two completely different worlds.

Hearing Lu Xihe’s words, the surrounding crowd was in wild revelry. Xu Zhinan didn’t dare go over but couldn’t resist everyone’s enthusiasm.

Fortunately, at this moment, her phone rang, and Xu Zhinan escaped from the room like she was fleeing.

After the door to the private room closed, the noise inside finally diminished. She held her phone and leaned against the corridor wall, letting out a gentle sigh of relief, only to discover that the call was from Lin Qingye.

This was his first call after saying, “Let me like you one more time.”

Xu Zhinan calmed herself, hesitated for two seconds, and answered.

With the phone against her ear, there was no sound from the other end. She said “Hello.”

“You answered.” Judging by his tone, he seemed a bit surprised.

“…” Xu Zhinan paused, then asked, “Do you need something from me?”

“Can’t I call you if I don’t have anything specific?”

Xu Zhinan fell silent again, not knowing what to say, but not wanting to go back into the private room so quickly, so she just stood there.

Lin Qingye had always been calm in temperament, making quick calls to get to the point, then hanging up as soon as he finished. Making small talk like this was a first.

So both of them were quiet for a couple of seconds.

“Ah-Nan.” He spoke.

“Mm?”

“This is my first time pursuing a girl, and I don’t have experience.” His voice carried a faint hint of laughter. “Why don’t you teach me how to pursue someone effectively?”

“…”

Xu Zhinan couldn’t help but mumble: “How would I know? I’ve never pursued a girl.”

Xu Zhinan had never used this tone with him before. Lin Qingye didn’t mind and even laughed: “Then let me ask you a question.”

“What?”

“How often do girls generally like to receive phone calls?”

“…”

Xu Zhinan’s face gradually heated up. Even though she hadn’t been drinking, it was as if she had been affected by alcohol fumes.

She couldn’t say anything, so she simply didn’t speak. Lin Qingye seemed to sense her reaction and chuckled softly. Then a voice came from his end, very faint and unclear. Lin Qingye said something back to that person.

Xu Zhinan asked: “Are you busy?”

“Just finished recording, heading back soon.”

At the same time, the private room that had been quiet for a few minutes erupted with loud sounds again, very noisy, penetrating through the door.

Lin Qingye also heard the noise on her end: “Where are you?”

“KTV.”

The sound was too loud, forcing Xu Zhinan to raise her voice.

Lin Qingye frowned: “Why did you go there?”

Today was the semifinal of the tattoo competition. After it ended, everyone wanted to go play together.”

“Don’t stay out too late, and be careful.” Lin Qingye reminded her, “How was the competition?”

Xu Zhinan pressed her lips together: “I won the group championship.”

He chuckled lightly, praising her: “That’s impressive.”

The howling rendition of a song in the private room finished, and the next one, quite coincidentally, was “Robinia.” Unfortunately, the singer was tone-deaf, turning it into rock music.

Lin Qingye heard it: “What the hell is that singing?”

His arrogant temperament surfaced again.

She remembered the video she saw in the afternoon: “I saw your news today, about the lyrics of ‘Robinia’.”

“Ah.” He replied flatly. After a while, he let out another “Ah” with a hint of a smile. “You saw it so quickly.”

Another group of people walked in together. Xu Zhinan turned around to face the corridor wall, tapping it lightly with her finger, and said: “I don’t think I’ve heard you mention it before.”

I haven’t heard you mention that the lyrics were about me.

She didn’t say it completely, but Lin Qingye understood her meaning: “Mm, I didn’t want you to know before.”

“Why?”

“Embarrassing.”

“…”

Xu Zhinan didn’t understand what was embarrassing about it, but then remembered what he said at the end of the video—Back then, I was quite insecure.

The Lin Qingye in her eyes had never been associated with “insecurity.” Only once, when he came to her shop drunk, did he say with a dim expression, “Ah-Nan, you don’t like me anymore.”

But later she thought that was just Lin Qingye showing such an expression because he was drunk.

“Then why did you say it now?” Xu Zhinan asked.

He laughed: “Isn’t it because I’m trying to pursue you again?”

“…”

In the private room behind her, they were reaching the climax of “Robinia,” singing with strained voices.

“Is that your friend singing now?” Lin Qingye asked.

“No.” Xu Zhinan looked through the door window. “I don’t know them, just another tattoo artist from the competition.”

“It’s ear-splitting,” he commented.

“…”

After a moment of silence, Xu Zhinan also laughed.

It was indeed ear-splitting, but her personality wouldn’t allow her to evaluate someone’s singing like that. As the original singer, Lin Qingye could make such a comment without issue.

Hearing her long-absent laughter, Lin Qingye’s heart beat a little faster.

Beside him, Zhou Ji called out, asking if he had been to the interview room. Lin Qingye nodded and walked to a quieter spot. He asked softly: “Do you want to hear something that’s not ear-splitting?”

“Hmm?”

“I’ll sing for you.”

Even for Lin Qingye, saying such words made him feel his face growing hot.

In the noisy KTV corridor, behind her was the piercing sound of howling singing. Around them were the sounds of people coming and going, talking, and the crisp clinking of beer bottles.

Among these low or high-decibel noises was Lin Qingye’s song transmitted through the phone.

He did indeed have a good voice.

Clean yet resilient.

After hanging up, Xu Zhinan’s ears were burning, probably from the pressure of the phone.

She stood outside the private room for a while longer, looked down at the time—it was already past nine in the evening.

When she returned to the private room, Xu Zhinan walked straight to Lu Xihe: “Brother Lu.”

Her voice was a bit small, and Lu Xihe didn’t hear: “What?!”

He stood up and followed Xu Zhinan to the side: “What’s up? Need something?”

“I need to go home now.”

Lu Xihe looked at his phone, raising an eyebrow: “So early?”

“Yes, my home is a bit far.”

Seeing how young she was and indeed not fitting in with their group, Lu Xihe didn’t force her to stay and make things awkward. He asked how she would get home and reminded her to be careful.

Xu Zhinan still stood in front of him without moving. Lu Xihe asked in surprise: “Anything else?”

Xu Zhinan moved closer, speaking softly: “Didn’t we say earlier that the four group champions would treat? Should we settle the bill now?”

Lu Xihe laughed: “They were joking. How could we let a kid who hasn’t even graduated pay? Just go ahead, I’ll pay your share.”

He patted his chest, generously saying: “Brother has money!”

“…”

Xu Zhinan insisted on paying according to the rules, but Lu Xihe also insisted on not letting her pay. In the end, he simply pushed her out of the private room: “Just go!”

The door slammed shut with a “bang.”

Xu Zhinan: “…”

With her backpack on, she went to the front desk to ask about the bill for Room 888, then dug out the business card that Lu Xihe had given her after the preliminaries.

There was a phone number on it.

Xu Zhinan entered it into Alipay, searched, and a user profile popped up—Assassin Lu Xihe.

Assassin was the name of his tattoo shop.

Xu Zhinan divided the cost she had just inquired about by four and transferred it to Lu Xihe.

After washing her hands in the bathroom, she took the elevator down. As the elevator doors were closing, a hand blocked them, and they reopened.

Xu Zhinan looked up to see the School group champion. She thought for a moment and remembered that the man’s name was Wei Jing.

The man entered the elevator and smiled at her: “What a coincidence.”

“Mm.” Xu Zhinan wasn’t good at making conversation with strangers and just nodded in acknowledgment.

“Leaving so early?” Wei Jing asked.

“Yes, it’s a bit far to get home, and I’m worried the subway might stop running.” Xu Zhinan paused, then politely asked in return, “Are you leaving early too?”

Wei Jing: “No, I’m just going down to get something.”

Xu Zhinan nodded, said “Oh,” and didn’t continue.

She took out her phone from her bag to check the time but found it had automatically shut down due to low battery. Fortunately, she still had her subway card.

The KTV was on the fifth floor.

The KTV they chose wasn’t in a shopping mall because private rooms in malls were too expensive by the hour. They went to another older KTV in Yan City, next to a commercial street, though this area was very quiet.

Outside was a large parking lot, and only after crossing the vast parking area could one reach the main road.

Coming out of the elevator, Xu Zhinan was about to walk towards the subway station when she was suddenly grabbed by the wrist by Wei Jing. She stopped and turned to look at him: “Is something wrong?”

“You’re taking the subway back?”

“Yes.”

“Let me drive you.” Wei Jing gestured behind him with his right hand. “My car is over there. Where do you live?”

His left hand was still gripping her wrist.

Xu Zhinan sensed something wasn’t right. She took a step back, discreetly pulling her hand away: “Thank you, but there’s no need. Weren’t you coming down to get something?”

“Oh, my friend just suddenly said he had something to do and wouldn’t be coming.” He casually waved his phone.

“I’ll be fine taking the subway.” Xu Zhinan silently tightened her grip on her backpack and took another step back: “I’ll go now.”

But just as she lifted her foot to leave, she was grabbed by the wrist again by Wei Jing.

The parking lot here was pitch black, with only one street lamp, which was broken, its dim yellow light flickering, looking exactly like a scene from a horror film, a bit frightening.

Her wrist was suddenly seized, forcing out a scream from Xu Zhinan.

“Hey, are you treating me like a bad guy?” Wei Jing laughed. “We all came from the same competition. It’s just a small matter of sending you home. You can’t misunderstand me because of this.”

Xu Zhinan remembered what Lu Xihe had told her in the afternoon—this guy is no good.

“Let go of me first.” She forced herself to calm down and looked at him.

The young girl tried to appear calm, but her trembling eyelashes undoubtedly revealed her inner feelings. Wei Jing had to admit that Xu Zhinan was indeed beautiful, but not just for her pretty appearance. Her beauty was alluring, perhaps because she was too pure, which could more easily arouse one’s desire to conquer.

Wei Jing had originally just wanted to come down with her, get her contact information, and get to know her, but suddenly his blood rushed to his head.

“Little girl, you’re an adult, right? Have you ever thought about having a boyfriend?” Wei Jing had a roguish smile, his fingertips stroking the inside of her wrist. He hissed and grinned, “Such smooth skin.”

Xu Zhinan struggled to back away, but due to the huge difference in strength, she finally had to use her other hand to grab her backpack and slam it heavily onto him.

Her bag was filled with various items, including a thick Buddhist scripture. It hit Wei Jing right on the brow bone with a dull thud. He instinctively moved to block it, and Xu Zhinan finally escaped from his grip.

She didn’t even have time to pick up her bag, turning and running directly.

But she tripped over a stone on the ground, falling heavily onto the cement. Her jeans scraped against the rough gravel, and her palms were probably scraped too.

Xu Zhinan didn’t even look to see if she was bleeding. Just as she was about to get up, a blinding car light swept directly towards her. She squinted, raising her hand to shield her eyes.

The car made a spark on the ground as it came to an emergency stop, followed by the sound of a door slamming.

In the dazzling car lights, a tall figure appeared. The young man walked quickly and urgently, passing Xu Zhinan and heading straight for Wei Jing.

There was a stick on the ground. He bent down to pick it up, weighed it in his palm, and with a sudden force, knocked Wei Jing to the ground with one strike.

Lin Qingye’s face was filled with anger, and the lines of his neck tensed to the point of bulging.

He used the stick to lift Wei Jing’s chin, looking down with a cold and indifferent gaze, as if he didn’t see the blood on his forehead at all: “What were you doing just now?”

“Who the fuck are you?!” Wei Jing’s eyes were blinded by blood, and he couldn’t open them. He shouted, “I’m disciplining my girlfriend. Why are you butting in?!”

He was trying to drive away from this good Samaritan who was interfering.

Like how some kidnappers would tell passersby that the crying child was their own when the child was making a scene.

Lin Qingye snorted with laughter, without even blinking, and directly hit him again with the stick.

“You think you’re worthy to call her your girlfriend?”

The bloodied stick tapped against Wei Jing’s face, one tap for each word: “Talk nonsense again, and I’ll make sure you can never speak again. Believe it or not?”

His tone was flat, his expression was calm, but it made people unable to guess whether the stick would come down hard again in the next second, making it more frightening.

Wei Jing was dazed by those two hits, curling up pathetically on the ground, trying to retreat, but Lin Qingye stepped on his leg.

Xu Zhinan witnessed the whole thing and was frightened. It was as if she were seeing again that boy in a high school uniform punching someone repeatedly.

At this moment, she suddenly came to her senses. When she stood up, her knee was in pain, but she endured it and limped quickly over.

“Lin Qingye.”

The young man’s hand holding the stick paused, as if breaking free from a trance.

He gripped the stick tightly, his foot stepping down hard.

Wei Jing lay on the ground, wailing continuously.

Xu Zhinan’s fingers gradually tightened on his sleeve, then gripped his wrist, pulling twice with force: “Lin Qingye.”

After two seconds, Lin Qingye’s hand holding the stick moved away.

The thick Buddhist scripture had fallen out of the backpack earlier, landing on the ground, turning over several pages.

The stick hovered above the Buddhist scripture, with blood drops flowing down, falling exactly on the paper printed with the Buddha image, with a “plop” sound.

The golden Buddha image was stained and dirtied by the blood drop.

Still with a serene smile, gazing at the two of them.