C18 I Am Just like a Thug

Back in class, Han Yuxuan looked at Ling Yifei with concern and asked, "Classmate, are you okay? I hope the teacher didn't give you a hard time." Ling Yifei was surprised by Han Yuxuan's concern. It seemed this pretty girl actually cared about him.

"I'm fine, really. And thank you for going to find the teacher earlier." Ling Yifei smiled as he expressed his gratitude to Han Yuxuan.

"Oh! Don't mention it. It was nothing." Han Yuxuan's cheeks flushed with embarrassment upon seeing Ling Yifei's smile. She quickly lowered her head, which made Ling Yifei chuckle to himself.

With the previous month's incident behind them, Ling Yifei's timing was perfect, coinciding with the release of the first monthly exam results. Grade Two, Class Three had clinched first place, and Jiaang Xueer, in a grand gesture, invited the whole class to celebrate at a KTV.

Many signed up, enticed by the free outing. "Han Yuxuan, are you coming?" Jiaang Xueer approached her. Han Yuxuan wasn't particularly fond of Jiaang Xueer, who carried herself like a proud princess, and was on the verge of declining.

"Ling Yifei, you should join us too," Jiaang Xueer invited.

"What? Am I hearing things? Doesn't she usually dislike me? And now she's inviting me to sing? She must be up to something!" Ling Yifei immediately suspected Jiaang Xueer's motives. However, Mrs. Zhao had asked him to keep an eye on Jiaang Xueer, so, with her in mind, he reluctantly accepted.

Seeing Ling Yifei nod, Han Yuxuan found herself inexplicably not objecting.

The group agreed to meet up after school that afternoon.

When the time came, they gathered at the agreed-upon location. Besides their classmates, two others joined them – Situ Yun and Liu Susu. Situ Yun gave Ling Yifei a hostile look.

They made their way to a lavish KTV named Royal KTV. True to its name, the interior was as opulent as a palace, and Jiaang Xueer had reserved the grandest private room.

The room buzzed with conversation and laughter. Initially, everyone was a bit reserved, with only a few brave souls stepping up to sing. This was the moment Situ Yun had been waiting for. He adjusted his clothes and strode confidently to the karaoke stage, ready to make an impression.

"Let's have some quiet, please," he announced into the microphone. "I'd like to dedicate this next song to someone special. I hope she enjoys it." He then stood silently, poised as a girl in the audience let out an excited scream.

"Wow, he's so handsome! A real Prince Charming! I'm so jealous of Jiaang Xueer!" she exclaimed, casting an envious glance at Jiaang Xueer, who offered only a slight, serene smile in return, attentively awaiting Situ Yun's performance.

The song "Especially Love for Someone Special" resonated throughout the room. "No promises, yet you hold on tighter. Without you, my world is an endless downpour..." Situ Yun's vocal talent shone through, and he delivered the song flawlessly.

After three minutes, the room erupted in enthusiastic applause. "Thank you," Situ Yun said, bowing to the audience as if it were his own concert. Descending from the stage, he flashed a smile at Jiaang Xueer and cast a mocking look at Ling Yifei.

Following Situ Yun's performance, many girls sent him flirtatious glances. Handsome, from a well-off family, and a good singer—his devotion to women made him the quintessential Prince Charming.

The girls sang several popular songs together while Liu Susu and Jiaang Xueer whispered and giggled among themselves, occasionally casting meaningful glances at Ling Yifei, their smiles sly as foxes.

"Could I have your attention, please? Yes, that's right. Ling Yifei is a new student in our class. This gathering is not only to celebrate our class award but also to welcome him. Let's give a warm round of applause to our new classmate," the host announced.

Applause filled the room once more. "How about a song from our new classmate?" Liu Susu wasn't about to miss this chance and stoked the fire.

"Yes! Let's hear one from Ling Yifei, come on!" The applause and calls reverberated throughout the room. At that moment, Jiaang Xueer, Liu Susu, and Situ Yun all wore smirks, eagerly anticipating Ling Yifei's next move.

Realizing he couldn't dodge the request, Ling Yifei shrugged and made his way to the karaoke machine. From the crowd, a pair of shy yet hopeful eyes followed him — Han Yuxuan. She couldn't pinpoint when this boy, who lit up with a smile, had caught her attention.

Once on stage, Ling Yifei addressed the crowd with modesty, "Since you all seem so eager to hear me sing, I'll give it a try. Please, don't laugh if I'm off-key." Situ Yun snickered to himself, eagerly anticipating the moment Ling Yifei would turn into the butt of the joke.

"This one's 'Let's Get Married' by Qi Chen," Ling Yifei announced as the music began. "A pure white wedding dress, flowers in hand, as beautiful as a fairy tale..." His voice took everyone by surprise, especially the three onlookers who wore expressions of sheer astonishment.

Situ Yun's face could have dripped with gloom. This wasn't the script he had in mind. Could this kid really sing so well? Watching the adoring female fans below, Situ Yun felt an overwhelming urge to swear.

The girls in the audience were utterly captivated by Ling Yifei's voice, imagining themselves as the blissful princess in the song, surrounded by the grandeur of a wedding hall, dressed in a bridal gown, with Cupid flying overhead — it all felt so tangible.

A tear escaped the corner of Han Yuxuan's misty eyes. Ling Yifei's rendition transcended perfection. Indeed, which girl doesn't fantasize about such a romantic wedding?

As the song concluded, the girls remained with their eyes closed, savoring the moment. Only Situ Yun looked sour, especially when he noticed Jiaang Xueer's infatuated gaze fixed on Ling Yifei on stage.

Ling Yifei's charm was on full display — his handsome, sunny features exuded an enigmatic allure, like a black hole beckoning exploration. He bowed gracefully before descending the stage.

Silence enveloped the room, an eerie stillness that lingered until, ten seconds later, applause erupted. Han Yuxuan was the first to snap out of the reverie, her clapping rousing the rest from their daydreams.

The applause swelled, relentless and enthusiastic. Not just from the girls, but the boys too, clapping vigorously. The looks they gave Ling Yifei had changed — the men with envy, the women with the intensity of hungry wolves.

Ling Yifei's family background might not have been as prestigious as Situ Yun's, but his singing voice hinted at a man with a past, and a man with a story often has a fatal attraction for women.

"You sing so well!" Han Yuxuan complimented Ling Yifei as he stepped off the stage.

"Heh, I'm a jack-of-all-trades; there's nothing I can't do!" Ling Yifei teased, sharing a joke with the charming girl before him. Yet she nodded earnestly, seemingly taking his words to heart.