On September 30th, the freshman welcome party at H University began in the auditorium.
Several of Leon's dorm mates arrived backstage and were pleasantly surprised to see Leon, dressed in a sharp suit, discussing something with a beautiful girl.
"Wow, clothes really do make the man. Leon looks so sharp, he's outshining even the most handsome guys on campus," Daniel Zhang praised.
Michael Fang, enviously said, "I'm practically drooling."
"This suit must have cost a fortune," John Wu remarked with a smile.
Not just expensive, but outright lavish.
The student council at H University was unique in all of China. It was less a student organization and more a microcosm of future officialdom. Wealthy, powerful, and influential figures all lined up for student council positions.
No wonder the sponsorship for the hosts' outfits was astonishing.
Leon gave his friends a thumbs-up, tugging at his shirt collar, feeling a bit out of place.
"You should see how dashing Leon looks when he's serious," Yvonne Shi said, covering her mouth with a laugh.
The guys unanimously agreed, saying Leon never promoted himself well enough. Unlike that so-called campus heartthrob, who always gazed wistfully at the sky, tears streaming down his face, even though he was only 1.5 meters tall, yet had a bunch of girls swooning over him.
What's the most important thing these days?
Talent? No, promotion is what matters most.
"Too bad Leon was snatched up by a freshman just a year after coming to H university. She's got quite an eye…" Yvonne teased.
Michael Fang chuckled, "We've got a beautiful girl in our class with an eye for talent too, but…"
Leon cut them off, telling them to quit teasing him.
Just then, Emma Su arrived at the auditorium.
On stage, the staff were doing final checks on the lights and sound; the performers, already made up, were in the performers' area, preparing for their acts.
Backstage, Emma saw Leon, Yvonne, and others laughing and chatting. She walked over with a smile.
"You're having a lively discussion. Isn't the event about to start?"
"Secretary Su!" the three guys greeted politely.
"You're Leon's roommates?" Emma's smile was warm and inviting. "But the event is about to begin. You might disturb the other performers."
"We're just here to cheer him on," John Wu nodded, pulling his friends along to leave.
Michael Fang looked back longingly, seeing Leon surrounded by two beautiful girls, and sighed. "When did Leon get so lucky? He's got a beautiful girlfriend and still has pretty girls laughing with him. Poor, innocent Leon is gone forever."
John Wu glared at him. "Get back here, or I'll kick your butt!"
...
Emma assessed Leon and nodded, her eyes showing a hint of admiration. "You have a very understated elegance, Leon."
"A lucky man to receive such praise from Secretary Su," Yvonne nudged Leon.
After discussing some script details, Leon looked up and saw Celia Qing waving at him from a distance.
"Secretary, I have a program to attend to. I'll be right back."
"Alright. Make sure to comfort your girlfriend and help her not get stage fright. That's your duty as her boyfriend," Emma winked.
Leon nodded helplessly.
"Lily Lin, come see how handsome your boyfriend is," Celia shouted.
Leon wondered what the fuss was about—it was just a suit.
"Senior," Lily Lin nodded, her cheeks flushed.
"Are you alright, Lily?"
"I'm fine…"
"Relax, we've rehearsed so many times. You two need to make sure you exchange those affectionate looks on stage," Celia pleaded. "'Childhood' is a duet, after all. Without interaction, it'll be too plain. During rehearsals, Lily only dared to glance at Leon briefly yesterday, and it lasted just a few seconds."
"You can't force these things," Leon smiled.
...
Finally, it was time for the audience to enter. As soon as the doors opened, people flooded in like a tide, sweeping the student opening the door a few meters along. In less than ten minutes, the seats were packed, with many standing in the aisles; people outside were still trying to get in.
"Emma, there are so many people here today," said a man with scholarly gold-rimmed glasses. He was Bob chao, the Minister of Entertainment and one of the main organizers of the event.
"Yes," Emma nodded.
"They must be here to see the legendary 'Beast Senior'!" Yvonne giggled.
The senior hosts couldn't help but laugh along.
Leon ignored her, focusing on the hosting details. Seeing him in the zone, Yvonne put away her playful smile.
At 7 p.m., the event kicked off with a lively song titled "The Wind of H university" performed by a dance team comprised of second and third-year students. The energetic performance immediately enlivened the atmosphere.
After the opening dance, fireworks burst forth as the four hosts, elegantly composed, walked to the front of the stage. Despite it being Leon's first time hosting, he matched the others' steps perfectly.
"Honorable leaders, teachers, dear students, good evening!" The audience erupted in applause.
"Is that Leon? He looks quite handsome!"
"He seems very dependable!"
"His voice is so magnetic; I'm already captivated."
Many students had only heard of the infamous 'Beast Senior' by reputation. Seeing him in person, their impressions were completely overturned, leaving them momentarily speechless.
The noise and whistles from the audience overwhelmed the microphones, causing chaos right at the start. The Dean, seated at the front, felt embarrassed as the leaders had never received such a raucous welcome.
Thus, he ordered the disciplinary officer to quiet the hall immediately.
After the first song, the second program featured new art student Scarlett Ning singing Teresa Teng's "South Sea Girl." Dressed in a red sarong, her graceful and delicate performance, filled with soft, enchanting charm, transported the audience to a seaside scene.
As she finished, the audience seemed still lost in the moment, creating an awkward pause.
A single clap from the side broke the silence, quickly followed by a wave of applause. The leaders at the front turned red with embarrassment, sharing awkward glances.
"The Art Department has a remarkable student this year," the old principal laughed.
Scarlett Ning descended the stage with a melancholic yet tender smile, the applause still echoing. Passing Leon, who was about to introduce the next act, she playfully winked at him. "I owe you one again, Beast Senior, hee hee…"
Leon was taken aback.
This scene was observed by the backstage crew, igniting their jealousy.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the audience, William Jiang's eyes widened. "Wow, H university really is full of beauties," he thought.
"This girl is as beautiful as Lily Lin," William gulped.
"Wait, did she just flirt with Leon? Am I seeing things?" William exclaimed.
"No, you're not. Leon is quite impressive when he's serious," Jason He smirked.
"Hmph, even a pauper looks good in a custom-made suit from the Susanna Noble Workshop in Italy, sponsored by the Student Council. That's another reason I hate him," William grumbled.
"You said you wanted him to embarrass himself. How do you plan on doing that? He's stealing the show," Jason's tone was dismissive.
"Just wait," Jason said quietly.
At that moment, Bob chao, the Minister of Entertainment, across the room, flashed a sly smile, to which Jason nodded with a grin.