The lights on the stage dimmed, and under the faint starlight, Sang Wan stepped onto the platform. She gracefully settled onto the round stool at the center, her hands resting on the microphone stand while her long legs bent and hooked over the railing below.
The lights blazed back to life in an instant, a beam of light casting a hazy glow around her.
Yue Bai watched the dazzling figure on stage with burning intensity. The music began to play softly.
Sang Wan swayed gently to the flow of the melody, her eyes half-closed as she tapped out the rhythm.
The large screen behind her and the side screens simultaneously displayed her face.
Her voice rose with the song, the light and comfortable melody drifting across the sports field.
Sang Wan was singing a ballad, and the unique gentleness in a girl’s voice lent the entire piece an extra layer of charm.
When the song ended, the stands erupted in enthusiastic applause. Yue Bai clapped along with the crowd.
On stage, Sang Wan pressed a finger to her lips, signaling for quiet.
The applause gradually faded, and everyone assumed she had another song to perform, their faces lighting up with anticipation.
Yue Bai licked her lips and unconsciously took half a step forward. In a daze, she thought she saw Sang Wan tilt her head and smile at her.
Before she could make sense of it, Sang Wan stood up. Someone removed the standing microphone and the stool from behind her.
Yue Bai stared blankly at the figure on stage. No microphone? Was she about to play an instrument?
“Little Bai.” Zhou Qingyan emerged from backstage, the two of them shrouded in darkness. “You’ll see a whole new side of your Senior Sister Sang soon. Excited?”
Yue Bai’s gaze remained fixed on Sang Wan, sparing Zhou Qingyan only a sliver of attention. “Excited.”
Zhou Qingyan curved her lips into a smile, her arms crossed with a microphone in one hand.
In the next moment, the stage lights brightened considerably. Yue Bai watched as Sang Wan pulled something from her pants pocket and slipped it onto her face.
When she turned around again, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses with delicate chains adorned her features.
“Wow.” The stands instantly buzzed with excitement, a fresh wave of fervor sweeping through the crowd.
Yue Bai’s pupils dilated, her eyes unblinking as she waited for Sang Wan’s next move.
“Looks like she put in some real effort.” Zhou Qingyan noted Yue Bai’s subtle expression and muttered to herself, “Little Bai, you have to hold out longer. Don’t get swept away so easily.”
Sang Wan adjusted her glasses with one hand, her smile completely vanishing from her face. She lowered her head, her hands clasped in front of her abdomen, long hair fully obscuring her features.
A powerful beat exploded from the speakers. Sang Wan snapped her head up, her feet moving in sync, every action landing precisely on the rhythm.
The strap on one side of her shirt whipped through the air with her movements, dancing like a living soul. Her long hair flew wildly, the thin chains glinting, strength blending seamlessly with softness.
Yue Bai had never seen Sang Wan like this—so commanding. She stood frozen in place, her vision filled only with Sang Wan’s dynamic dance.
As the final pose landed, Sang Wan shook out her wrist, casually removing the glasses. The microphone, previously set aside, returned to her hand.
Even after such an intense performance, Sang Wan’s voice remained steady. A smile glimmered in her eyes as she bowed toward the stands. “Thank you.”
The applause crashed like stones into water, resounding endlessly across the stands.
“Oh ho, not bad at all. See that? Beneath your Senior Sister Sang’s gentle face hides some real fire. Not only does she sing beautifully, but her dancing’s on point too. Stamina like that must be impressive.” Zhou Qingyan’s eyes crinkled with amusement.
“Fire? What’s that supposed to mean?” Yue Bai shifted her gaze to Zhou Qingyan.
The latter just laughed without answering and headed back to the wings, leaving space for the next performers.
Amid the roaring applause, Sang Wan descended the stage via one set of stairs. At the same time, Wen Mo and Jia Bing ascended from the other side to transition into the next act.
Once offstage, Sang Wan made a beeline for Yue Bai. Her features were exquisitely painted, and she took Yue Bai’s wrist, leading her a few steps to the side.
“Senior Sister.” Yue Bai’s mind replayed snippets of the dance. “I had no idea you could dance like that.”
The powerful moves had stunned her, and Yue Bai’s gaze drifted unconsciously to Sang Wan’s abdomen.
Away from the stage, a trace of fatigue showed on Sang Wan’s refined face. She slouched lazily. “Yeah, it’s been ages. Little Bai, I’m so tired.”
“Could you give me a hug?” Sang Wan’s tone softened considerably.
“Senior Sister.” Yue Bai wrapped her arms around Sang Wan’s waist, pulling her close and patting her back with heartache. “You haven’t danced in so long—jumping right back in like that is bound to wear you out, especially with moves that big.”
Sang Wan’s face, hidden in the darkness, lifted slightly. Her eyes shone brightly amid the stage music and the noisy cheers from the stands. She hugged Yue Bai back, closing her eyes in contentment.
“Mm.” Her soft response was so faint that Yue Bai barely caught it.
“Little Bai, let’s head back.” Sang Wan checked the time mentally. Hugging too long might give away her act.
Yue Bai let out an “Ah.” “Not staying to watch the rest?”
Sang Wan pulled back her sleeve, revealing a section of pale forearm. “I worked up a sweat dancing. It’s getting chilly tonight—I want to go back and shower first. If you want to keep watching, you can catch the livestream at home.”
The sweat on her forehead had cooled and dried in the wind, sticking uncomfortably to her skin. “I hate the feel of sweat on me.”
Yue Bai instinctively covered the exposed arm with her hand, her warm palm pressing against skin of similar temperature. “Pull your sleeve down. Don’t catch a chill.”
Sang Wan murmured agreement and tugged the sleeve back into place, then followed Yue Bai’s hand and clasped it. “Okay.”
Their fingers intertwined. Yue Bai glanced down at their joined hands, feeling Sang Wan’s thumb brush teasingly over the back of her hand—a tingling itch that stirred inexplicable emotions. Unconsciously, Yue Bai flexed her palm.
“Senior Sister, my foot’s almost better. I’m planning to head back to the dorm in a couple days.” On the way to the Teachers’ Apartment, Yue Bai seized the chance to mention it.
“Mm, good. Wait until the weekend, though. With the sports meet giving us these rare days off, get some extra rest.” Sang Wan’s voice was gentle.
Yue Bai hesitated. “But… I don’t really have anything to move back. Except myself.”
She’d only brought toiletries and a change of clothes when she arrived—the beds were all Wen Mo’s and the others’.
Thinking of clothes reminded Yue Bai of the unwashed ones still in a box in the second bedroom. She could just pack them in a bag and take them to the dorm to wash.
“I’ve applied for the Teachers’ Apartment—it should be approved after the sports meet. I’ll need to borrow Wen Mo’s second bedroom for a few more days.” Sang Wan turned her head, shifting her body toward Yue Bai and looping her arm through hers. Her voice trembled slightly. “It’s a bit cold tonight.”
Yue Bai placed her hand over Sang Wan’s on her arm, the cool touch furrowing her brow. “You should’ve grabbed a jacket on the way out.”
Sang Wan nodded with a faint smile.
“Would you stay with Senior Sister a few more days? You know how things are between Wen Mo and Zhou Qingyan. It’s awkward for me being the third wheel with them.” Sang Wan gripped Yue Bai’s hand in return, lifting her eyelids lazily toward the distant streetlights. “Still, seeing them together all the time… I kinda envy it.”
As she spoke, Sang Wan’s peripheral vision stayed fixed on Yue Bai.
Yue Bai’s brow twitched. She glanced carefully at Sang Wan and probed, “Senior Sister, are you thinking about dating someone?”
Sang Wan had asked her something similar once, and she’d been firm—no interest whatsoever.
But now that Sang Wan seemed to have those thoughts, something felt off to Yue Bai. A stifled breath caught in her chest.
“Mm, a little.” Sang Wan smiled.
A dull ache throbbed in Yue Bai’s heart, an indescribable bitterness spreading through her. Her nose stung. “Senior Sister, do you have someone you like?”
Sang Wan chuckled lightly, dodging the question. She reached up to ruffle Yue Bai’s hair, the dark strands gleaming under the lights. “Once your foot’s fully healed, come run laps on the sports field with Senior Sister every night, okay?”
Sang Wan’s topic shift was too abrupt; Yue Bai couldn’t keep up. She worked her lips, calling out in mild frustration, “Senior Sister~”
“What’s up?” Sang Wan looked at her, puzzled.
“It’s just… do you have someone you like or not?” Yue Bai wasn’t one to pry into others’ privacy, but she couldn’t help wanting to know Sang Wan’s thoughts.
“Does it matter?” Sang Wan stopped walking, forcing Yue Bai to halt too. “Do you really want to know?”
Yue Bai pursed her lips. “Kinda curious.”
Sang Wan shook her head. She slipped her hand free from Yue Bai’s and took a small half-step closer, their clothes brushing together, breaths mingling.
Yue Bai’s eyes widened, Sang Wan’s face filling her vision as she leaned in.
“Senior Sister.” Yue Bai’s breathing quickened.
“I’m curious too.” Sang Wan’s gaze was tender and deep.
About when you’ll realize how I feel about you.
“Silly.” Sang Wan retreated with a helpless laugh, half-joking, half-serious. “Don’t worry—Senior Sister won’t start dating before you do.”
“Really?” Yue Bai didn’t quite believe it.
“Really.” Sang Wan nodded.
“What if I don’t date anyone through college?” Yue Bai asked curiously.
Sang Wan hooked her lips into a smirk and started walking again. “Then I’ll find a way to make you.”
“What way?” Yue Bai hurried to catch up with small steps.
“Seduction, how about it?” Sang Wan lowered her gaze. Since Yue Bai was such a face-connoisseur, she’d make good use of her own assets.
“Huh?” Yue Bai was stunned for a moment, thinking Sang Wan was joking. She couldn’t help but tease: “Is Senior Sister seducing me? If it’s really Senior Sister, I might not be able to help but fall for you.”
“Really?” The smile in Sang Wan’s eyes deepened.
“Yeah, Senior Sister isn’t just good-looking—she can sing and dance too. And most importantly, Senior Sister can cook. It’s hard not to love her, right?” Yue Bai gushed like the perfect little fangirl, praising everything about Sang Wan.
Sang Wan chuckled softly to herself after hearing that. She pressed her curved fingers to her lips before finally saying after a moment: “If Senior Sister really pursued you, would you be willing to be with her?”
“Of course I would.” Yue Bai playfully tapped her forehead, then grinned and shook her head. “But I know my place, so I won’t fight Senior Sister’s future partner for her, hehe.”
Sang Wan’s smiling eyes froze solid at Yue Bai’s last words.
Oblivious, Yue Bai kept going: “Senior Sister, I still think you should at least wait until junior year to date. Freshman and sophomore years are better for enjoying campus life.”
“Right, Senior Sister?” Yue Bai added at the end, checking for Sang Wan’s take.
Sang Wan stayed silent, head bowed. Her clearly defined knuckles gripped the dangling strap of her shirt, the streetlight stretching her shadow long behind her.
“Senior Sister?” Yue Bai called again, not hearing a reply.
“Little Bai, could you accept two girls being together?” Sang Wan’s knuckles were clenched tight.
