Chapter 45: A Basketball Game and a Confession
After the game ends, the students in the stadium leave one after another.
Zhang Yi wants to use the restroom. Fan Xiaoyu, who's more familiar with this place, takes her out first, leaving Xiang Yang waiting for Xing Zhaoyan.
Xing Zhaoyan is hurriedly packing up his things. A classmate sees this and puts his arm around his shoulder and asks, “What's the rush? Aren't we going to a KTV to celebrate?”
Xing Zhaoyan smiles and says, “I have something to do later. I won't be going. You guys go.”
“Got a date?”
It's not a date for two, but Xing Zhaoyan still smiles and nods. “Yeah, she's waiting for me.” He says this and looks at Xiang Yang, who's standing in the audience waiting for him.
Xiang Yang is wearing a light-colored printed dress with a hemline that reaches her ankles. Her long hair is loose, with slightly curled ends. From afar, she looks like a classy beauty.
Xing Zhaoyan's classmate also notices Xiang Yang's presence. He raises his eyebrows and jokingly says, “It's been so long. When are you going to introduce her to us brothers? Why don't we do it today, since we're here?”
Xing Zhaoyan refuses. “We'll see. She's shy and easily embarrassed. I'll treat you all to dinner and formally introduce you to her later.”
“Okay!” The classmate doesn't push any further.
Just as Xing Zhaoyan is about to go find Xiang Yang, he doesn't expect that a girl will walk up to him in a delicate and charming manner. She hesitates for a moment before daring to look up at him and say, “Xing Zhaoyan, congratulations on winning the game. Why don't I treat you to dinner later? As a…”
Xing Zhaoyan immediately says, “Thank you. I don't need to. I have a date with my girlfriend. She's waiting for me.”
Seeing the girl's eyes widen in disbelief and tears welling up, Xing Zhaoyan apologizes again. “Thanks for your kindness.”
When Xing Zhaoyan comes to Xiang Yang, he asks with a smile, “Did you wait long?”
Xiang Yang shakes her head and then points at the place where he was standing on the court. “Did that girl have something to tell you?”
Xiang Yang notices that the girl's gaze has been fixed on this side and hasn't moved.
“Nothing. She said she wanted to treat me to dinner, and I refused.”
Xiang Yang replies, “Oh,” and doesn't dare to ask any more questions.
Xing Zhaoyan says, “Let's go. I'm going to change clothes, then we'll go eat.”
“Okay.”
Xing Zhaoyan finds that after Xiang Yang appeared at the stadium, whenever a girl came to confess, his excuse that he had a girlfriend became more convincing. After a while, there were fewer people coming to bother him. Xing Zhaoyan is very satisfied.
In their second year of college, the two of them meet less often because of the increased number of major classes, the student council, and club activities at the school. But they still keep in touch.
Although Xing Zhaoyan has become increasingly occupied, he consistently demonstrates his thoughtfulness towards her, ensuring that she perceives his attentive care.
In the words of Zhang Yi and the others, “This is enviable.”
Xiang Yang has long been accustomed to their teasing. She lets them be.
In terms of her studies, Xiang Yang has always been a top student ahead of her peers. Her piano skills are something other classmates can't match. Coupled with her serious attitude towards her studies, her willingness to work hard, and her already existing foundation in piano, singing, and dancing, she naturally becomes a favorite of all the teachers in the department. She also becomes a role model for other students.
In her third year of college, Li'an City holds the tenth “Star Voice” talent show competition. This talent show has been popular for several years. It has helped debut many newcomers.
The teachers at the school strongly encourage students to participate. Even if they can't make it to the end, it's a rare opportunity to participate.
In Xiang Yang's dorm, the other three girls aren't very interested. Some of them aren't interested in becoming singers, and others feel that it's too much pressure. But Xiang Yang, after repeated persuasion from her teachers, reluctantly signs up.
There are over twenty thousand contestants in the preliminary rounds. The first round is just simple a cappella singing. Although Xiang Yang is a little nervous before she begins, she relaxes after she goes in and sees that the judges are all very friendly. She's also relaxed before she starts singing.
She performs normally and still suprises the judges a little.
After Xiang Yang receives praise, her spirits are uplifted as well.
As expected, she successfully advances to the next round.
What follows is a continuous competition. After a few rounds of competition, Xiang Yang lives up to expectations and becomes the champion of the tenth “Star Voice” competition in Li'an City.
When Xiang Yang steps onto the stage to accept her award at the last competition in Li'an City, she looks back on the past three months and feels a lot. She also understands that something is different from this moment on.
During the winter break, Xiang Yang needs to participate in closed training with the champions from other cities to prepare for the upcoming national competition.
She wakes up early every day and participates in physical training, body training, vocal training, dance training, musical instrument training… They learn everything in a targeted manner.
After the long and arduous training ends, the new semester begins. The national competition for “Star Voice” follows.
Twenty-five contestants undergo constant random PKs and eliminations. Finally, the judges' scores, audience votes, and online popularity index determine the champions, runners-up, and third-place winners.
Xiang Yang constantly feels pressured during this time. Whenever she's under the spotlight on stage, she inexplicably becomes excited and focused. When she thinks back on it, she seems to forget everything, but that feeling of fullness fills her heart.
Xiang Yang seems to be blessed by the goddess of luck. From the first game, her singing skills have been recognized by all the judges. Her singing skills are superb. Her stage presence gradually becomes mature and stable. The whole person also becomes more confident and outgoing.
More and more audiences discover her skills and charm. She gradually builds a fan base that supports her. Her popularity is increasing rapidly.
On the night of the finals, her stunning performance and her gripping singing voice captivate the audience. The judges can't find words to describe it. In the end, they can only say that she's stunning. On that night, she unequivocally sits on the champion's throne.
Although this exciting news makes Xiang Yang happy for two days, her joy gradually fades because she's packing up to go back to school to catch up on missed lessons.
Don't rejoice over material things or grieve over oneself. Xiang Yang has always felt this way.
It's just that because she's been fully focused on preparing for the competition at the accommodation arranged by the program, and the places she goes to the most are the training room, the lounge, and the studio, she hasn't realized that so many people like her.
No wonder when the program's staff sent her to the airport, they asked her strangely, “Don't you want to disguise yourself a little?”
Xiang Yang hasn't thought that much about it. “Disguise myself? Why?”
The staff member doesn't continue. Xiang Yang looks at the fans holding signs with her name at the airport gate. She's a little stunned.
When she gets out of the car, the staff member, afraid that a girl with no experience like her wouldn't be able to handle it, takes her through the crowd of fans and rushes towards the airport.
The fans yell one after another. “Xiang Yang, I like you!”
“Xiang Yang, you're the best!”
“Xiang Yang…”
“Goddess, I love you…”
Xiang Yang feels dizzy but still remembers to say “Thank you!”
Finally, they accompany her to the security area. The staff member remarks, “Our show has garnered significant popularity. You are the reigning champion of this season. It is customary for fans to greet you at the airport. Luckily, the crowd is not overwhelming today. As you rise to fame in the future, you can expect a larger fan base. By the way, Xiang Yang, have you brought a hat or sunglasses? It would be wise to shield your face a bit.”
Xiang Yang is still shocked. After passing through security, she clumsily finds a hat and sunglasses to put on.
In the waiting area, she sits in a corner and plays with her phone, trying not to get up and move. But when she gets on the plane, two female students next to her recognize her. “You… You're Xiang Yang, the champion of ‘Star Voice,' right?” The last three words are clearly spoken with excitement.
Xiang Yang took off her sunglasses before boarding the plane. So she raises her head slightly. Seeing that they're still high school students, she smiles and replies, “I am.”
“Wow! No way! I never thought I could be on the same flight as you! I voted for you in every competition! You were great!”
“Thank you.” Xiang Yang says sincerely.
“That… Can we get your autograph?”
Autograph?
Xiang Yang doesn't have that kind of so-called star autograph style. She honestly says this. In the end, she asks them if they mind?
“No, we're so happy that you agreed to sign for us.”
Finally, unable to resist their pleas, Xiang Yang signs a dozen for them. They said that many of their classmates like her too. If they could get her autograph, their classmates would be so happy.
Xiang Yang is naturally happy to fulfill their little wishes.
When the plane lands, Xiang Yang deliberately slows down and lags behind. She takes a closer look and finds that there are indeed fans waiting to pick her up. Xiang Yang isn't good at dealing with this kind of thing at the moment, so she takes a detour and leaves from another exit.
As soon as she walks out of the airport, her phone rings. It's Xing Zhaoyan calling.
“Have you arrived?”
He asked her flight time, and she told him.
Xing Zhaoyan says, “I'm at the gate. Where are you?”
Xiang Yang tells him her exact location.
Xing Zhaoyan says, “Then find a hidden place to stand for a while. I'll be there in two or three minutes.”
Xiang Yang puts away her phone and thinks for a moment. A hidden place? Does Xing Zhaoyan know about my fans picking me up?
A short while later, a white Range Rover stops not far away. The car honks its horn. Then the driver's side window rolls down.
Xiang Yang takes a look and realizes that the person in the car is indeed Xing Zhaoyan. She walks quickly to the car. Xing Zhaoyan has already gotten out of the car and helps her take her luggage and put it in the trunk. He also specially opens the passenger seat door for her.
After Xiang Yang gets in, she's surprised. “Is this your car?”
Xing Zhaoyan nods. “How is it? I just bought it two months ago.”
Xiang Yang smiles. As she fastens her seatbelt, she says, “It's nice.”
Xiang Yang doesn't know that a camera has been following her movements since she walked out of the airport gate.
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