Mixed Chapter 13
byAwards Ceremony
Chen Zhiyu knew that Chi Nuan had been with Song Shixue for the past two days, so she hadn’t messaged her to disturb her.
When she heard the door open, she still felt a little excited. After all, her meal buddy was back, and she wouldn’t have to eat alone anymore.
The moment Chi Nuan entered the room, she saw Chen Zhiyu pouting, looking as if she had suffered a great injustice.
“Chi Nuannuan! You’re finally back!” Her hands weren’t idle; she pretended to wipe away tears. “Do you know how I’ve spent the last two days!”
One roommate teased, “Zhiyu, do you have a crush on Chi Nuan?” Shu Yu immediately chimed in with agreement.
Chen Zhiyu gave a wry smile. “Sisters! You wrong me! I am a die-hard straight woman!”
Chi Nuan stood by, finding their “improv skit” both funny and exasperating.
“You guys are something else. I’m going to take a shower first, okay.”
As soon as Chi Nuan went in, Chen Zhiyu quickly pulled out her phone and messaged her.
“You better give me a detailed account of everything that happened over the last two days later, or don’t even think about sleeping!”
Chi Nuan was drying her hair when she saw the pop-up message and shook her head helplessly.
“Zhiyu truly lives up to her title as the Queen of Gossip.”
After getting ready, Chi Nuan lay in bed and sent Chen Zhiyu a written account of everything that had happened over the past two days.
“Chi Nuannuan, tell me, does someone with Teacher Song’s personality truly live happily every day?”
The chat box kept showing “Typing…”
Chi Nuan typed on the screen, then deleted it.
Every time she spent time with Song Shixue, Chi Nuan felt that she carried a lot of worries and lived a very tiring life.
It was as if she never lived for herself. Like an empty shell.
In the end, all her thoughts condensed into a few short words: “Probably not happy.”
“I think so too.”
Chi Nuan didn’t want to continue the topic.
“Oh right, Zhiyu, the results for a photography competition I entered a while ago are out.”
“Then you definitely won first prize!”
“You have that much faith in me? Hahahaha.”
“Of course! You are the legendary figure of our photography department this year, after all.”
Chi Nuan couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“Yes, I’m going to the Cultural Center to receive the award this Saturday.”
“So, do you want me to go with you? Our top student Chi.”
“If you have time.”
“Deal, it’s settled then! By the way, for such an important competition, will Auntie Chi go?”
“Mom probably needs to catch up on sleep during the day.”
“Alright then.”
Sleepiness washed over Chi Nuan. She turned off her phone, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.
Soon, the Saturday awards ceremony arrived as scheduled.
Chi Nuan and Chen Zhiyu arrived outside the venue forty minutes before the ceremony began.
“Chi Nuannuan, this is way too grand. I heard they are even doing a live online broadcast.”
“A broadcast? Will she see it?”
Although the question was whispered, Chen Zhiyu still heard it.
She looked at Chi Nuan in disbelief. “No way, Chi Nuannuan, is there nothing else in your head besides Teacher Song right now?”
Chi Nuan looked a little embarrassed and rubbed her nose. “Alright, alright, let’s go in first.”
Song Shixue sat in a car far away, the window rolled down halfway. The sight of the two girls laughing and playing was reflected in her sunglasses.
A sour pang of jealousy unexpectedly rose in her heart.
Chi Nuan and Chen Zhiyu found their seats and sat down.
Less than three seconds later, Chen Zhiyu shifted away from her seat, feeling guilty. “If I just sit down like this, will the organizers kick me out?”
“Don’t worry, I messaged them beforehand.”
She breathed a sigh of relief and sat down. “That’s good.”
The lights came on, and the host stepped onto the stage.
“Good afternoon, distinguished guests and judges. We sincerely welcome everyone to the 7th Annual Hangcheng Youth Photography Competition…”
Chi Nuan took out her phone, snapped a picture of the stage, and then clicked into her chat with Song Shixue.
She looked at the screen; her most recent conversation with Song Shixue had stopped on Monday night. It was just a simple “Good night” that she had initiated.
A helpless sigh escaped her throat.
She still clicked “Send.”
“Teacher Song, I’m already at the awards ceremony.”
Song Shixue was currently standing in the back resting area.
She noticed the message from Chi Nuan. Her fingers tapped on the screen, and soon, a solitary “Mm” was sent back.
She watched as groups of award recipients came and went on the stage.
Finally, it was time for the last award, the most exciting one, the one belonging to Chi Nuan.
“Next, we will present the First Prize for this competition—Chi Nuan’s work, Human World’s Smoke and Fire, Heaven’s Starlight! Let us welcome Chi Nuan to the stage with a round of warm applause!”
Chi Nuan navigated through the crowd and walked toward the podium.
As all the lights converged, Chi Nuan was bathed in a golden glow.
In this moment, the star shone with its most dazzling brilliance.
Chen Zhiyu was genuinely happy and proud of Chi Nuan. Her throat was nearly hoarse from cheering, and a few tears streamed down her face.
Chi Nuan looked toward Chen Zhiyu’s location, her eyes full of gratitude.
Song Shixue was also silently watching from below the stage. She stood in the darkness, looking at the star radiating light and heat on the stage.
Her eyes were filled with admiration and affection for Chi Nuan, and the two small dimples beside her mouth became more pronounced as her smile widened.
It seemed even an iceberg could melt.
Song Shixue raised her phone and captured this glorious moment of Chi Nuan.
However, she didn’t send it to her. Instead, she set the photo as the chat background for her conversation with Chi Nuan.
Chi Nuan tightly held the trophy in her hand and spoke into the microphone, her voice slightly emotional. “Thank you to all the judges for granting me this honor. And thank you to my family and friends who have always supported me. I will continue to maintain my passion for photography!”
She paused briefly.
“Finally, I want to say, I hope you have a pleasant day today.”
Below the stage, Song Shixue’s breath hitched, and she felt a jolt of electricity run through her body.
“Was that meant for me?” Song Shixue’s heart pounded rapidly. “Did Chi Nuan… spot me?”
Chi Nuan left a slight smile and stepped down from the podium.
Chen Zhiyu was now looking at her with utter admiration.
Chi Nuan had returned to her seat, but Chen Zhiyu still hadn’t recovered from the shock.
She had to marvel once again at how crazy Chi Nuan’s actions were when she fell for someone!
This time, Chen Zhiyu gave her two thumbs up. “Chi Nuannuan, this is practically a public confession to the entire internet! With this kind of courage and determination, you’ll succeed at anything you do.”
“If this is broadcast live, you’re going to become famous!”
“Mm, I want her to see it.” Whether she became famous or not didn’t really matter; it just meant it would be easier for Song Shixue to notice if she did.
Chi Nuan didn’t care about anything else.
Just as Chen Zhiyu predicted, shortly after the awards ceremony ended, Chi Nuan generated quite a buzz online.
The moment Chen Zhiyu opened Weibo, she saw a screen recording of the final part of the live broadcast, titled, “Another day of envying someone else’s love!”
She held the phone up to Chi Nuan’s eyes. “Well, you’ve become a little famous now, you big romantic!”
A stream of comments scrolled into view.
They were mainly divided into three factions: one praising Chi Nuan for being both beautiful and talented; another envying the person Chi Nuan had confessed to; and a third believing Chi Nuan shouldn’t have said that last sentence in such a setting.
On the other side, Song Shixue was also following this “minor commotion.”
Among the comments, there were some truly excessive remarks: “This person did it on purpose, just seeking attention!” “I’m done, she really thinks she’s a big star, copying others with a public confession, it’s disgusting.”
These words pierced Song Shixue’s eyes and stung her heart.
Her expression turned serious, and she immediately reported the inappropriate comments.
“I hope she hasn’t seen these words.”
Her good friend Chen Zhiyu felt the same way.
Fearing that Chi Nuan might see some of the malicious comments, she hastily snatched the phone back.
Chi Nuan, however, took it in stride. She believed there was nothing wrong with what she had done, and how those netizens chose to think was their business.
She clicked into her chat with Song Shixue again, took a selfie holding the trophy in her left hand.
She clicked “Send.”