Chapter 16: Why Is It Always You?
How on earth had he managed to write such a masterpiece of a campus folk song?
Gan Hengxu couldn't figure it out.
"Deskmate of Yours" wasn't demanding in terms of vocal range. It was simple, easy to sing, yet its melody was beautiful and flowing. Combined with its exceptional lyrics, it was nothing short of divine.
He considered himself well-versed in folk music, but the moment he heard this song, his confidence shattered.
Just an ordinary high school student who had never stood out before...
...and the first thing he released was an absolute nuclear bomb.
They're both high school students. So why is Pu Tong this incredible?
He couldn't understand it.
"Xie Mu, what do you think?" Gan Hengxu nudged his deskmate with his elbow, curiosity written all over his face.
"Ask him. Why are you asking me?" Xie Mu rubbed his temples. "You've been driving me crazy all day—talking to yourself, humming bits of the Deskmate of Yours, then beating your chest and sighing about how inferior you are."
"I... I'm not close with him! Why don't you go ask him?"
"You think I'm close with him?" Xie Mu sighed. "Though... there's another possibility."
"What possibility?"
"Love."
"Love is the greatest magic of all."
"Maybe it's because he's secretly in love with Yu Wanwan that he was able to write music that resonates so deeply with people."
Gan Hengxu instantly deflated.
"...That... I don't know how to do."
The moment Xie Mu saw his reaction, he understood the real problem.
Gan Hengxu had grown up under strict family discipline and devoted himself wholeheartedly to music. He probably had never been in a relationship before.
"Want me to help you come up with something?"
Gan Hengxu looked up at the helping hand Xie Mu had offered and fell into thought.
Isn't this guy supposed to be a playboy?
He's probably dated plenty of girls. There were even those dating rumors with Tang Luocheng. If he helps me...
The thought instantly rekindled the light in his eyes. He stared eagerly at Xie Mu, making the latter's skin crawl.
Wait...
You don't necessarily have to date a girl to experience love... right?
Xie Mu suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
Although he wasn't exactly experienced in romance either...
...he was definitely straight.
"D-Don't come any closer..."
"What are you thinking?" Gan Hengxu frowned. "I figured you've got plenty of dating experience, so I wanted you to teach me how to pursue a girl."
"Oh."
"That's different."
Xie Mu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, shaking all the inappropriate thoughts out of his head.
Truthfully, he'd never been in a relationship either.
The whole "playboy" image had been fabricated by his management company.
In fact, he wasn't even close to Tang Luocheng. They had simply chatted a bit more than usual during one event, and the media had blown it into dating rumors.
He had only agreed so confidently because he didn't want to lose face in front of his friend.
Now...
...he was already regretting it.
Still, Pu Tong really was impressive.
Handsome, talented...
...and he might actually end up winning Yu Wanwan's heart.
"Achoo!"
Pu Tong sneezed.
Who's cursing me now?
Ever since missing the chance to explain things to Yu Wanwan that morning, he hadn't found another suitable opportunity.
The celebrity students were actually quite busy. Since the variety show was still filming, their breaks were often occupied by production arrangements.
Perhaps because of all this, Pu Tong found himself distracted throughout chemistry class.
Even if he never explained things, it wouldn't have any real impact on him...
...but Yu Wanwan kept giving him strange looks.
If I keep dragging this out, something bad is bound to happen.
He absolutely couldn't allow one of those cliché romance plots where misunderstandings pile up because nobody bothers to explain themselves.
Those stories were torture.
He made up his mind.
Today, no matter what, I'm clearing this up.
If he really couldn't find an opportunity...
...then he'd call her on QQ after getting home.
Talking over the phone was his last resort.
Some things were simply easier to explain face to face.
Besides, this whole mess had started because of him.
She deserved a proper explanation.
The problem was...
...he couldn't exactly drag Yu Wanwan away in broad daylight.
The whole country was watching.
"So..."
"What exactly were you trying to tell me this morning?"
To his surprise...
Yu Wanwan was the one who asked first.
Apparently she had been wondering about it too.
"I wanted to explain everything."
"But it's a little complicated, and there are too many people in the classroom."
"You know what I mean."
"Then..."
"Do you have time?"
"This afternoon's extracurricular activities."
"The camera crew will probably be filming the boys' sports field for the second episode since the theme is sports."
"I should have some free time."
"Then..."
Pu Tong had almost suggested the stairwell again.
But that place had already been exposed.
He needed somewhere else.
Somewhere nobody would see them together.
"The abandoned old school building on the west side of campus."
"It's been empty for years."
"There shouldn't be anyone there."
"What do you think?"
It was only a few minutes away from their classroom.
Normally no one passed through there.
"...Huh?"
Yu Wanwan stared at him.
He's... this bold?
Taking me somewhere completely deserted?
Once we're there...
I won't even be able to escape!
Even if I scream myself hoarse, nobody will hear me.
Terrifying!
He looks so well-behaved... but underneath he's actually harboring wicked intentions... overcome by lust...
"What are you thinking?"
"Be normal."
Pu Tong looked at her helplessly.
"O-Oh."
"Okay."
Yu Wanwan nodded awkwardly.
She simply couldn't stop her imagination.
In just those few seconds...
...she had already imagined visiting Pu Tong in prison years later while carrying his child.
Weird.
This is way too weird.
Although everyone called it the "old campus," most of the facilities were still perfectly functional.
The new campus simply looked more modern.
The walk between the two campuses only took a few minutes.
Yu Wanwan wasn't particularly familiar with the area...
...but she still arrived at the agreed location on time.
One thing worth mentioning—
Most middle and high school students were rather shy.
Even though students from other classes looked surprised to see her...
Very few actually came over to greet her.
Looks like my fanbase really does skew toward middle-aged people...
"You're earlier than I expected."
Pu Tong had been waiting for quite some time.
He had also carefully checked the surroundings.
Beware of fire.
Beware of thieves.
Most importantly... beware of cameramen.
"So?"
"What did you want to say?"
"I'm in a hurry."
Yu Wanwan frowned.
Despite all the wild scenarios she'd imagined...
She could tell that, given Pu Tong's personality, there was no way he'd gone through all this trouble just to play games.
"It's actually pretty simple."
"I need to explain everything that's happened recently."
She silently gestured for him to continue.
"First..."
"I really didn't write that song."
"I don't have that level of ability."
"As for where it actually came from..."
"I have reasons I can't tell you."
"You don't have to believe me."
"I just needed to explain."
"And second..."
"I really wasn't secretly in love with you."
"It's not that there's anything wrong with you."
"It's just..."
"High school students should focus on their studies."
"That's all?"
Yu Wanwan tilted her head.
"What else would there be?"
"I thought you were going to tell me you actually wrote the song for your middle school deskmate."
"Looks like that isn't the case."
She sighed.
"Well..."
"That's actually not bad."
"...Uh..."
"I mean..."
"Why are you so stubborn about something like this?"
"What I think doesn't really matter."
"What matters is what all those gossiping people think."
"Instead of wasting time explaining it to me..."
"...why don't you explain it to them?"
"They're impossible to explain things to."
"Once people start forming a chain of assumptions, they'll overanalyze anything you say."
Pu Tong rubbed his forehead.
"You're not wrong."
"But..."
"Whether people believe you isn't the point."
"Explaining yourself is your attitude."
"If you don't even try to explain..."
"...how can anyone believe you?"
Pu Tong fell silent.
She was right.
His experience had made him overthink everything.
It had become a restraint.
Maybe...
...having the courage to simply try, like a normal young person, wasn't such a bad approach.
Yu Wanwan had taught him something today.
Maybe...
I'll post a clarification on Weibo tonight.
"I'll make a statement."
"As for whether you post one..."
"That's up to you."
Yu Wanwan frowned.
"What happened this morning really wasn't good."
"I already spoke with the school."
"I didn't want my fans disrupting normal school order either."
"What are you going to write?"
"I'll just say we're ordinary friends for now."
"And ask everyone not to interfere with the school's order."
She yawned.
"Congratulations."
"No one's going to bother you anymore."
For now?
Why does that wording sound a little strange?
"And..."
"You?"
Pu Tong hesitated.
The biggest reason he'd wanted to explain everything...
...was because he didn't want Yu Wanwan misunderstanding him.
"Me?"
"I'm not stupid."
"I'm not the kind of girl who'd fall for someone just because he sang one song."
She yawned again.
"And I could tell from the beginning."
"You don't like me."
"So I never misunderstood anything."
"That's great!"
"You think I'm one of those anime or light novel heroines who falls head over heels just because the male lead is kind?"
Yu Wanwan rolled her eyes at him.
"Don't underestimate me, idiot."
With that...
Their business concluded.
The two left separately, one after the other.
Watching Yu Wanwan's departing figure...
Pu Tong stood there for a moment, lost in thought.
She's a lot smarter than I gave her credit for.
He had mistakenly believed that staying silent would remove him from the situation.
Instead, things had only become worse.
He had mistakenly believed Yu Wanwan would misunderstand him.
In reality...
She had seen things more clearly than he had.
Pu Tong had always assumed that, because he'd lived a second life, he was somehow extraordinary.
But now he realized...
He too had fallen into the trap of overestimating himself.
He was still just an ordinary person.
He had only lived a few years longer than everyone else.
As long as someone was human...
They would have flaws.
They would make mistakes.
"The student need not be inferior to the teacher, nor the teacher superior to the student."
It was a famous line he'd once quoted to his Chinese teacher.
Just because he'd been reborn...
Did that automatically make him better than everyone else?
Apparently not.
"A young phoenix's song surpasses that of the old phoenix."
Looking down on others...
...was a bad habit.
He had truly learned something from Yu Wanwan today.
Just as his thoughts drifted elsewhere...
He once again came face-to-face with Old Yang...
...who was carrying a camera and pointing it directly at him.
"...Why is it always you?"
(End of Chapter)
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