Zhang Chenxi had a deep impression of this patron who frequently tipped him, and he often chatted with her about their views on various online topics.
[Xizhao]: "I really forgot this time. I am so sorry. Why don't you unfollow me and curse me out?"
[Jieyue]: "??? Minor refund warning."
[Xizhao]: "Damn, kid, you're not actually a minor, are you? Tell big brother the truth, and big brother will refund your money.Ji Mingyue chuckled inwardly. *I still prefer the way you looked bowing your head to apologize this afternoon.*
[Jieyue]: "I was just kidding, hee-hee. Where's the song I requested? Why haven't you sung it yet after all this time?"
[Xizhao]: "I'm really busy, kid. Sigh, once you reach my age, you'll understand."
...Ji Mingyue was speechless.
[Xizhao]: "Alright, alright, aren't I here to record it now? It'll be out tomorrow. Thanks for your support, oh."
[Jieyue]: "What's there to thank? What's with all the polite nonsense? So fake."
[Xizhao]: "Kid, do you know why you can't find a boyfriend?Ji Mingmoon stared at the message, her eyes widening.
"I can't find a boyfriend? I spent billions on Note to tip you, and you actually mock me for not being able to find a boyfriend? The people lining up to pursue me could stretch all the way to France!"
Besides... she seemed to have a so-called boyfriend now, anyway.Ji Mingyue vowed in her heart to give her little junior a thorough lesson the next time she saw him.
[Jieyue]: "Get lost."
Zhang Chenxi didn't reply anymore. Just as he was about to open the recording software, he suddenly realized he had forgotten to wear the light jacket he always wore in his previous videos, so he gave up on recording.
That jacket was a promise between him and someone else. That person had once told him:
"Whenever you sing on Note, wear this light jacket I gave you!"
He had readily agreed and promised to keep that vow.
Because only then would every song he sang on Note feel as if it were sung exclusively for her.
Aside from that, he had promised her many other things, too. He had vowed to take her to see the magnificent scenery of the vast ocean and to visit the stranded Bruce Willis.
He had also sworn with absolute certainty that he would tenderly care for her injured legs until she could walk freely without any hindrance.
He had even told her with unwavering conviction that they would always be together.
Yet, things did not go as wished; in the end, none of these beautiful promises came true.
Regarding that relationship, Zhang Chenxi felt a lingering guilt. After entering university, the two of them grew apart as they spent more time away from each other than together. Arguments and conflicts piled up, and ultimately they couldn't escape the fate of parting ways.
Though relationships were a matter between two people, Zhang Chenxi could never understand why he hadn't chosen to communicate properly with her back then, instead acting on a sudden impulse and agreeing to break up.
Why was it that he had promised to take care of her feelings and tolerate her little temper tantrums, yet chosen silence when later arguments arose?
Zhang Chenxi didn't consider himself a fickle scumbag who abandoned people after toying with their affections, but he had ended up doing the very thing he least wanted to do in this relationship.
And this had become a knot in his heart that made Zhang Chenxi deeply doubt himself: whether he was truly worthy of a good relationship.
Now that the two of them had gone their separate ways, he didn't want to fail even at keeping this seemingly insignificant promise.
And so, every time, he would silently slip on that profoundly meaningful light jacket...
Zhang Chenxi closed the recording software, apologized to [Jieyue] on Note by saying he had run into some matters, and then walked in circles around the sports field, lap after lap.
He didn't return to the dorm until past nine o'clock when he began to feel a chill in the air.
What he didn't know was that after he had spent half an hour pacing around the sports field, a breathtakingly beautiful woman had sat down on the bleachers.She sat there quietly, cupping her chin in both hands, her beautiful eyes fixed on Zhang Chenxi as she watched him pace in circles, lost in thought.
The background of every video Zhang Chenxi posted was the sports ground, so of course Ji Mingyue could find him. The only reason she hadn't recognized her junior by the sports ground before was because there hadn't been any identifying details to go on.
After receiving Zhang Chenxi's apology, Ji Mingyue had hurried over without delay.
………
………
Because Zhang Chenxi often came to borrow keys and always brought back local specialties for the dormitory aunties whenever he went home for winter and summer breaks, the aunties all knew him. After telling him to be careful next time, they let him right in.
"Well, well, Dog Xi, how dare you lie to your bro! Just you wait, I'll—"
Seeing Zhang Chenxi's dejected appearance, Wang Jiuri swallowed the rest of his sentence.
"Dog Xi, did the senior girl dump you?" Sun Dong asked with a leering grin.
Zhang Chenxi rolled his eyes at him. "The senior girl and I really, really, really have nothing going on."
Zhang Chenxi grabbed his basin and went out to take a shower. When he came back, he flopped onto his bed like a corpse.
[Genie Girl]: "Hey, what's wrong with you? Where's the photo?"
[Puyue Cat]: "Image.jpg"
What Zhang Chenxi had sent was a photo he took of Ji Mingyue's back as she walked out the school gate after they said their goodbyes.
Since the senior girl had agreed to pretend to be his girlfriend, taking a picture should be fine, right?
[Puyue Cat]: "Good luck tomorrow. After the exam, I'll tell you something."
Looking at herself in the photo, Ji Mingyue fell into deep thought. It seemed her junior wasn't quite as obedient as she had imagined.
[Genie Girl]: "Wow, the senior girl is so pretty! I'm so jealous. What are you going to tell me? Are you inviting me to come to Longcheng to play?"
[Puyue Cat]: "...There's nothing to do in Longcheng. We'll talk after you finish your exams."
Seeing that Genie Girl wasn't pressing any further, Zhang Chenxi logged out of Penguin and remembered the task the senior girl had given him.
For the graduation gala performance, since he couldn't do anything else, he could only sing.
Wasn't the senior girl worried that he really wouldn't have any special skills and would end up looking totally awkward? Zhang Chenxi thought to himself.
Having made up his mind, Zhang Chenxi decided to consult Ji Mingyue about it.
"Senior girl, um, for the gala, can I sing?"
[Sending Sorrow to the Bright Moon]: "Of course. Have you figured out what you want to sing?"
[Puyue Cat]: "Would 'Memories' be okay? It really fits the graduation season."
[Sending Sorrow to the Bright Moon]: "That works. Let me know if you need anything else."
[Puyue Cat]: "Senior girl, if there's only a backing track, it might feel a bit monotonous. Can I find someone to play the piano for accompaniment?"
[Sending Sorrow to the Bright Moon]: "Of course. I was actually just thinking about that."
The moment Zhang Chenxi agreed to perform an item, Ji Mingyue had already prepared to accompany him herself.
[Puyue Cat]: "That's fantastic, senior girl! Then I'll go contact her. She should be willing to help."
[Sending Sorrow to the Bright Moon]: "Who is it?"
Through the screen, Zhang Chenxi couldn't sense the chill in the text.
[Puyue Cat]: "A high school classmate of mine. She happens to be at our university too."
[Sending Sorrow to the Bright Moon]: "Let me handle this arrangement instead."
[Puyue Cat]: "Senior girl, her piano playing is really amazing. I've collaborated with her before, so nothing will go wrong."
High school classmate? Same university? Collaborated before? Ji Mingyue sharply picked up on those details.
[Sending Sorrow to the Bright Moon]: "This event is a bit special, so she might not be able to get in. Don't worry, I'll arrange it properly for you."