On the day of the alumni reunion, a banner stretched across the entrance of A University. Its red background bore golden characters: Warmly Welcoming All Alumni Back to Their Alma Mater!
Ye Mingxuan and several classmates joined the volunteers, dressed in uniformly issued black suits with red sashes pinned to their chests. The sashes bore the same words as the banner.
It was his first time wearing a suit, and he felt distinctly uncomfortable, constantly tugging at the tightly fitted garment. Standing at the entrance, Ye Mingxuan bowed to each arriving guest: “Welcome back to your alma mater. The auditorium is on the right. Please register your name and phone number at the entrance.”
“Welcome back to your alma mater…” Ye Mingxuan bowed, then looked up to see someone all too familiar. “Brother Yu Sen?”
Yu Sen wore a blue-and-white casual outfit with jeans, his hair tousled by the wind as he smiled. “Though A University isn’t my alma mater, I wanted to see your performance today. Hope you don’t mind.”
Ye Mingxuan froze. “Brother Yu Sen, how did you know?”
Yu Sen replied, “Yufan told me. And thanks to him for getting me front-row tickets.”
Ye Yufan… Ye Mingxuan felt a twinge of doubt. He didn’t think Ye Yufan was the type to be so kind as to invite Brother Yu Sen to watch his performance.
“Mingxuan?” Yu Sen asked when he saw him fall silent.
Ye Mingxuan shook his head, his eyes brightening. “Brother Yu Sen…”
“Brother Yu Sen! How come you’re here so early!”
Hearing that shrill, coquettish voice, Ye Mingxuan turned to see Ye Yufan fluttering over like a butterfly, wrapping his arms around Yu Sen’s arm and giggling, “Brother Yu Sen, you’re so early! I was just in class. Why didn’t you call me?”
Yu Sen smiled helplessly. “Yufan, I’m not a child. I can find the place myself.”
Ye Yufan pouted, “But I wanted to show you around campus!”
Ye Mingxuan heard Yu Sen compliment Ye Yufan on his outfit today. His eyes darted between their attire, his fingers fidgeting nervously with his suit.
Strangely, he thought his appearance was far more presentable and neat than before. Yet, facing Yu Sen and Ye Yufan, he still couldn’t bring himself to stand tall and meet their gaze.
Especially Yu Sen—dressed simply yet radiating effortless poise. That confidence was built on years of privileged upbringing and resources.
Ye Yufan was another story entirely. With Ye Xiangkai and Zhao Dongxuan showering him with money, he practically walked around with his tail in the air, indulging every whim.
Only Ye Mingxuan remained shackled by years of deep-seated inferiority. Even when he severed the troublesome vines with a knife, the slightest breeze would see them sprout anew from dark, damp corners, seeping relentlessly into his very being.
Ye Mingxuan blinked his dry eyes, unsure how to interject. Of course, Ye Yufan wouldn’t give him the chance.
Only after Yu Sen repeated “Alright, alright” several times did Ye Yufan reluctantly shut up.
Yu Sen said to Ye Mingxuan, “Mingxuan, I’m going to browse around for a bit. I’ll come find you later.”
Ye Mingxuan: “Mm.”
Yu Sen smiled, his almond-shaped eyes crinkling. He reached out to ruffle Ye Mingxuan’s hair. Ye Yufan’s eyes widened, and he shot Ye Mingxuan a jealous glare before tugging Yu Sen away.
Ye Mingxuan watched their retreating figures, silently averting his gaze. He took a few steps toward the entrance and resumed greeting guests.
“Welcome back to your alma mater. The auditorium is on the right…”
“Aren’t you tired standing there?”
Ye Mingxuan froze, then looked up excitedly. “Sir!”
Tan Sizhe stood tall and graceful, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. A Van Cleef & Arpels feather brooch glinted faintly at his collar. He glanced up at the sky, frowned, and pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket. “Thankfully the sun isn’t too strong. What if someone gets heatstroke?”
Ye Mingxuan hesitated before accepting it. The gentleman’s handkerchief was as pristine as he was, carrying that faint, refreshing scent. He folded it carefully, pressed it to his forehead, and let it absorb the sweat. “We’re rotating shifts. I only have to stand for an hour.”
“Mr. Tan, you’re here!”
“Mr. Tan, you’ve finally arrived! We’re sorry we didn’t greet you sooner!” “
Suddenly, a crowd of school administrators in suits surged around them, pushing Ye Mingxuan to the back.
The leading vice principal proactively shook hands with Tan Sizhe: “Mr. Tan, on behalf of the principal and the school, we warmly welcome you!”
Tan Sizhe nodded, his peripheral vision still searching for Ye Mingxuan: “Thank you.” “
The Vice Principal with a receding hairline added, “The President took a fall during his walk a few days ago—his left foot tripped over his right, resulting in a fracture. He’s still hospitalized and asked me to convey his regards.”
Tan Sizhe replied, “That’s truly unfortunate. I had hoped to speak with the President in person. Under these circumstances, let’s allow the esteemed President to rest properly.”
The Vice Principal personally cleared a path for him: “This way, Mr. Tan, this way!”
Tan Sizhe nodded and walked forward slowly. He removed the brooch and handed it to Bai Yu. Bai Yu nodded, stepped back from the crowd, and approached Ye Mingxuan: “Mr. Mingxuan, the principal asked me to give this to you. Best of luck with the performance.”
Ye Mingxuan froze, carefully accepting the pin. “…Alright.”
After Bai Yu left, Ye Mingxuan stared at the pin for a long moment. He wrapped it in a handkerchief, folded it neatly, and tucked it into his pocket.
…
The alumni gala began at 5:30 PM. Ye Mingxuan and Lin Jiale entered through a side door and took seats in the back row of the auditorium, facing the stage.
The vice principal took the stage first for opening remarks, followed by the honorary alumni award ceremony. Unsurprisingly, Tan Sizhe was the final honoree to appear. The moment he stepped onto the stage, thunderous applause erupted throughout the auditorium.
“Holy crap! That’s Tan Sizhe?!”
“So handsome!”
“Goodness gracious! Didn’t they say he was an old man? How can he be so young and so handsome?!”
“Does a man like this even exist?!”
The surrounding buzz of discussion grew louder. Lin Jiale excitedly grabbed Ye Mingxuan: “Your husband!”
Ye Mingxuan frantically tried to stop him. Lin Jiale corrected himself: “Mr. Tan is actually this handsome! Damn! Mingxuan, you never told me!”
Ye Mingxuan flushed slightly. For some reason, hearing so many people praise Tan Sizhe as young and accomplished made him feel a little proud.
He leaned against the back of the front seat, eyes wide as he watched Tan Sizhe deliver his speech on stage.
A beam of pure white light bathed Tan Sizhe, making him appear like an angel descended from heaven. His eyes were deep as he scanned the audience. His speech flowed smoothly and steadily, his powerful presence silencing the chatter among the students below.
As if by telepathy, Tan Sizhe suddenly turned his gaze toward Ye Mingxuan as he concluded his speech. Ye Mingxuan flinched and lowered his head.
Lin Jiale: “What are you doing?”
Ye Mingxuan tried to cover it up: “I… I’m just taking a nap.”
Listening to the surrounding praise for Tan Sizhe, Ye Yufan’s face flushed alternately pale and crimson.
The fact that Ye Mingxuan had married such a handsome, wealthy man stirred both jealousy and resentment within him.
Yet the thought of Tan Sizhe’s ruthless nature in private brought Ye Yufan a measure of satisfaction.
Yu Sen sat quietly in the front row, observing before commenting, “I never expected Tan Cize to be so accomplished at such a young age.”
Yue Yufan snorted, “His accomplishments are just a facade. His character doesn’t hold a candle to yours, Brother Yu Sen.”
Yu Sen chuckled at her teasing, “And you know that?”
Yue Yufan: “Of course.”
Yu Sen shook his head with a smile.
“By the way, let’s go backstage to cheer on Mingxuan later.”
“Huh?”
Seeing the vice principal take the stage for final remarks, Yu Sen said to Ye Yufan, “Let’s go backstage to check on Mingxuan.”
Seeing Yu Sen about to leave, Ye Yufan immediately clutched his stomach. “Ouch, my stomach hurts.”
Yu Sen turned back, bending down with concern. “What’s wrong? Did you eat something?”
Ye Yufan shook his head feigning distress. “I don’t know, Yu Sen. Could you please take me to the school clinic?”
Yu Sen hesitated, glancing toward the backstage area. Ye Yufan started moaning again, drawing his attention back. “Alright, I’ll take you.”
…
Ye Mingxuan paced nervously backstage. Watching performers come and go in waves, he anxiously bit his nails before forcing his hands down, remembering it was bad habit.
Xu Liang reassured him, “Don’t be nervous. We rehearsed twice—the actual show will be fine.”
Lin Jiale also reassured him: “Yeah, just pretend the audience down there are cabbages.”
Huang Xiaochu peeked out for a moment before returning: “I watched during the rehearsal. Everyone’s pretty terrible. Aside from a few who actually have talent, most are just filling spots. Relax, we’ll totally crush it.”
Xu Liang chimed in: “Exactly! College students aren’t professionals. Just getting up there to perform is giving them face! Who needs bicycles?”
With their words of reassurance, Ye Mingxuan no longer felt as tense as before. He looked at them with gratitude: “Mm.”
The brooch and handkerchief in his breast pocket lay there, as if radiating warmth into his heart. It filled Ye Mingxuan with fighting spirit, urging him onward.
Huang Xiaochu glanced at the time: “Mingxuan, let’s get changed first. Where’s your outfit?”
Ye Mingxuan hurriedly grabbed the box beside him: “Right here!”
Xu Liang approached curiously: “What clothes? Are they nice?”
Huang Xiaochu smiled triumphantly: “Ye Mingxuan’s is a white suit, and mine is a white fishtail dress. They’re gorgeous—I borrowed them for ages.”
“Mingxuan,” Huang Xiaochu urged him, “take them out and show everyone.”
Ye Mingxuan obediently nodded, eagerly opening the bag to pull out the clothes. As he unfolded them, a streak of white fell from his eyes.
Xu Liang shouted, “What the hell? How did this happen?!”
Ye Mingxuan felt his blood freeze as he watched the once-perfect outfit suddenly turn into shreds of fabric, fluttering to the floor like snowflakes.
Huang Xiaochu rushed forward in disbelief, snatching it away. “Holy crap? What the hell is this?!”
Ye Mingxuan turned pale with panic. “I don’t know…”
He had checked it before leaving—it had been perfectly fine.
Xu Liang could only fret helplessly. “We’re about to go on stage! What are we going to do?!”
Ye Mingxuan gathered the fabric from the floor, clutching it to his chest. His abdomen spasmed in waves, the pain shooting like needles to his brain. “I’ll figure something out…”
He rushed toward the door, clothes in hand, only to be blocked. Ye Mingxuan looked up to find Yu Sen staring at him in shock. “Mingxuan, why do you look so awful?”
Ye Mingxuan froze, his face alternating between pale and flushed as he hid the fabric behind him. “I…”
Just then, someone shouted, “Ye Mingxuan’s performance costume is torn!!”
The cry drew the attention of everyone present—and those entering behind them, unaware of the situation—straight to Ye Mingxuan.
Curiosity, sympathy, and spectator stares—a jumble of gazes left Ye Mingxuan’s disarray nowhere to hide.
He dared not meet Yu Sen’s eyes. The little wooden house he’d built in his heart collapsed completely, revealing the ruin within.
Ye Mingxuan’s eyes blurred with tears. He bit down hard on his lip, tearing off a piece of skin. Crimson blood seeped from the thin tissue, eerily vivid and grotesque.
His face drained of color as he lowered his head and ran out the door.
Yu Sen: “Mingxuan!”
He gave chase, but Ye Yufan burst out: “Yu Sen, where are you going?!”
Yu Sen: “Yufan, let go of me first. Mingxuan is in trouble now.”
Ye Yufan failed to grab Yu Sen and stomped his feet in frustration.
Yu Sen dashed out the door, but Ye Mingxuan was already gone, his whereabouts unknown.
Along the way, Ye Mingxuan encountered many people. He kept his hands tucked behind his back to avoid their gaze, the fabric in his grasp burning like a hot iron.
What should I do? What should I do… Why did this happen? Why did I mess up…
Ye Mingxuan ran headlong, the dim streetlights offering little guidance. He had no idea where he was headed when suddenly, a sliver of light appeared before him. A door swung open, spilling warm illumination into the street. Ye Mingxuan plunged headfirst into a solid chest.
Startled, he opened his mouth to apologize, only to catch a familiar scent.
Ye Mingxuan looked up. Tan Sizhe stared in surprise: “Mingxuan?”
“…”
They locked eyes for a few seconds. Ye Mingxuan’s nose stung. Choking back tears, he pulled the clothes from behind him and let a tear fall, sounding aggrieved: “The clothes… the clothes are torn…”
