WP 25

When Si Shaorong arrived, Zheng Youli had just stepped down from the stage. Since they had met before at Jiang Yibai’s house during class, Zheng Youli greeted him politely.

Si Shaorong had just come in from outside. The lighting in the bar was dim, while the stage lights were blindingly bright, and his eyes had not yet adjusted. When someone suddenly greeted him, he was startled and gave a surprised yelp. Zheng Youli raised his phone to shine a light on his own face and muttered, “Am I really that dark? Even Mr. Jiang didn’t see me.”

Si Shaorong stood there in silence.

Feeling awkward, he gave a small greeting. Zheng Youli led him over to where Jiang Yibai was surrounded by a few guests who were teasing him.

“We haven’t heard you sing in ages. We’re at least acquaintances, right? Sing one for us.”

“Come on, just one song. It’s not a big deal. Or is it because you can’t sing alone now? No one to duet with anymore?”

As Si Shaorong walked over, Jiang Yibai spotted him at once and immediately said, “Hey, the person I was waiting for is here. That’s enough, all of you scatter.”

Someone glanced back, saw that Si Shaorong looked quite decent, and teased, “Boyfriend?”

“Yeah,” Jiang Yibai grinned, a dimple forming on his cheek. “Jealous?”

“Tch,” the person sneered, but their eyes gleamed with mischief. They turned to Si Shaorong and said, “Handsome guy, why don’t you ask your boyfriend to sing one for us? What a coincidence to run into him today. We used to come hear him sing all the time, we’re old friends.”

Si Shaorong looked at Jiang Yibai and said, “If he doesn’t want to, then forget it.”

He spoke in a completely direct tone, with no patience for polite pleasantries. The person who had been talking was immediately left speechless, a sentence caught in their throat that could neither go up nor down, and stared at him wide-eyed.

Jiang Yibai found it hilarious. He poured a drink for Si Shaorong, pulled him over, and called out, “Xiao Zheng, come sit here and rest for a bit.”

Zheng Youli gave those people a sidelong glance, then sat down and said to Jiang Yibai, “Teacher, I want to hear you sing too.”

“Tch, what a clueless kid.” Jiang Yibai sipped his drink, the glass covering his mouth. “Don’t go egging me on like them. I’ll report you to Li Xun.”

Zheng Youli muttered under his breath, “That won’t do any good.”

Jiang Yibai nearly choked on his drink. He thought about it and realized it was true. That pure bottom, Li Xun, how could he possibly handle this strong young man?

Jiang Yibai sighed mournfully for Li Xun for a long while, then turned to the persistent group and said, “I used to sing for money. Now you want me to go up and sing for free? No way.”

They said, “It’s just money. We can pay you. You sing, and we’ll pay.”

Si Shaorong was puzzled. What was going on here? If he did not want to sing, were they really going to force him?

He was just about to speak up and chase them away when Li Xun came over. Seeing the group still lingering there, his smile turned rather odd. “Well, it’s rare for you to come by. What’s this, a little reunion?”

The group, seeing Li Xun, returned equally fake smiles and said, “We just haven’t heard Jiang Yibai sing in a long time. Thought we’d ask him.”

“He don’t even work for me anymore. He’s just a guest now. You think it’s still like before, where you can make him sing just because you say so?” Li Xun said. “There’s a new band that’s been playing here recently. Just some students who formed a group on their own. Why don’t you go listen to them instead?”

Seeing that Jiang Yibai refused to budge and that Li Xun was clearly siding with him, the group had no choice but to drop the matter and turn to leave.

Si Shaorong felt something was off. Li Xun’s smile seemed strange, and those people’s reactions were strange too. He glanced at Jiang Yibai again and saw that he was quietly sipping his drink. When he noticed Si Shaorong looking, he even tossed him a playful wink. Si Shaorong remained suspicious but did not press the issue. He simply said, “How much have you had? You should stop.”

“Not much. Li Xun’s buying,” Jiang Yibai replied. “Relax. I can hold my liquor.”

He began introducing the bar to Si Shaorong, told him a bit about Li Xun, and pointed toward Zheng Youli. “That’s the little boyfriend of the boss just now. He’s also my student. You two have met.”

“Mm.” Si Shaorong nodded. His social circle was not as complicated as Jiang Yibai’s. Most of the people he knew came from the web fiction scene. Now he found himself genuinely curious about Jiang Yibai’s former lifestyle, so he began to look around the bar.

“This place has been around for years. Back when I was still a student, I saw their hiring notice and came in to apply,” Jiang Yibai said. “Li Xun back then was still a rich playboy, nowhere near as grounded as he is now. Just take that scene earlier. If it had been the old him, he definitely wouldn’t have handled it so nicely. Might’ve even ended in a fight.”

“His attitude was always take it or leave it,” Jiang Yibai said with a laugh. “If he didn’t like someone, he would not even care about the money. He’d just throw them out.”

Si Shaorong found it entertaining. Zheng Youli was intrigued as well and asked, “I heard from Li Xun that you two nearly got into a fight back then. So how did you even pass the interview?”

Jiang Yibai gave a loud snort. “That was just a misunderstanding. I didn’t know he was the boss. I saw him at the back door cornering some kid and thought he was trying to rob him, so I stepped in.”

Zheng Youli raised his eyebrows. “Cornering a kid… so he’s always liked them young?”

“No, no,” Jiang Yibai laughed. “Don’t get the wrong idea. If you say that, he’ll accuse me of stirring up trouble. That kid worked in the kitchen. He got caught stealing, and Li Xun grabbed him on the spot.”

Zheng Youli let out a quiet ‘oh’ and swirled his drink, seeming to ponder something.

Jiang Yibai clicked his tongue. He really must have had too much to drink. He was just talking about anything now. Li Xun would probably scold him for it later.

He set down his glass and was just about to say they should head home. After all, Si Shaorong had come all this way. At the very least, they could go for a walk together outside. A moonlit date, perhaps?

Suddenly Zheng Youli said, “I just remembered something.”

Jiang Yibai looked at him. “What?”

“Those guys from earlier,” Zheng Youli said, “weren’t they fans of your old band?”

Jiang Yibai fell silent.

Si Shaorong was a little surprised. He turned and looked at Jiang Yibai.

Jiang Yibai gave a helpless smile. “You’ve got a pretty good memory, huh?”

“I told you. I used to come listen to you guys all the time,” Zheng Youli said. “Some of them used to come a lot too. They even made fan signs for you. Always holding them up. Judging by their age, they haven’t changed much. I still remember one guy who was pretty close with your drummer, right?”

He thought for a moment, then said with certainty, “It was the one who was talking to you just now, wasn’t it?”

Si Shaorong thought for a moment. He hadn’t really gotten a good look at that person’s face earlier, but now that he considered it, the man did seem quite young.

Jiang Yibai sighed. “Ran into some old fans, that’s all.”

He patted Si Shaorong’s leg and stood up. “Want to go for a walk?”

Si Shaorong noticed that Jiang Yibai’s mood seemed to have dropped, and he couldn’t tell whether Zheng Youli had said something wrong.

But it was only a few casual remarks, and Jiang Yibai had already said they were just old acquaintances. So why did he not seem happy at all?

A hundred questions spun through Si Shaorong’s head as he got up to follow. Just then, another person approached.

It was one of the live singers who had just come off stage. He was stylishly dressed, with a nose ring and streaks of dyed hair. As soon as he came down, he headed straight toward their table.

“Jiang ge, someone specifically asked for you to sing.”

Jiang Yibai was taken aback and looked over. Sure enough, it was that same group from earlier. They were still at it, now trying to use the other performers to get their way.

“I’m not going. What are you doing?” Jiang Yibai kept his tone light and smiling. “Just because they told you to come over, you came? Isn’t this your own stage?”

“They said they’d tip me if you sang a song,” the singer replied cheerfully. He clearly didn’t realize the undercurrent between the two sides and probably thought these were just overly enthusiastic fans. “You haven’t been on stage in ages. Why not have a little fun?”

Zheng Youli sensed that something was off. He frowned and stood up. “I’ll go talk to them—”

“Hey.” Jiang Yibai pulled out a cigarette and waved him off with a raised hand. “Stay out of it.”

So this really wasn’t going to blow over. If he walked out now, it would look like he was backing down. But if he went up on stage, it would feel like he was being forced into it. With the cigarette between his lips and his eyes flicking toward Si Shaorong, a thought suddenly struck him.

“You’ve never heard me sing, have you?”

Si Shaorong gave a startled “Huh?”

Jiang Yibai said, “Let me sing you a song. As your boyfriend. Want to hear it?”

Si Shaorong stared at him for a moment. Under the dim lights, Jiang Yibai’s expression was calm. He wasn’t angry or upset, just smiling quietly at him.

As if possessed by some strange impulse, Si Shaorong asked, “Are you really going to sing just for me?”

Jiang Yibai paused for a moment, then suddenly broke into a grin. “If you want a private concert, I don’t mind. From now on, I’ll sing only for you.”

“Alright.” Si Shaorong nodded.

Jiang Yibai snapped his fingers with a smile and leaned in to say a few words to the young performer. The other nodded and quickly ran off.

Jiang Yibai took Si Shaorong’s hand and led him to a prime spot near the stage. Then, in full view of the crowd, he leaned in and kissed him.

Si Shaorong’s heart pounded in his chest. He had never experienced anything like this before. For a moment, it felt thrilling, even a little intoxicating. Especially now, with Jiang Yibai looking strikingly handsome—cigarette held loosely between his lips, eyes half-lidded, a faint smile playing at his mouth. The stage lights flared behind him, casting a radiant glow that made him look impossibly dazzling.

Jiang Yibai stepped onto the stage. As soon as someone recognized him, the crowd began to stir.

Whistles and applause erupted around the room. Li Xun also took notice and hurried over, frowning as he asked Zheng Youli what was going on.

Jiang Yibai had not performed in a long time, but once he was up there, he showed no trace of stage fright. He adjusted the microphone with practiced ease, tested the sound, and called to the audio tech in the back, “Turn off the reverb.”

The tech gave him an OK gesture. Jiang Yibai brushed his hair back with one hand, revealing a smooth forehead, then flashed a smile at the crowd below.

The audience roared. People shoved forward in excitement, pushing the troublemakers aside. The faces of those who had tried to provoke him earlier were now twisted in contempt.

Jiang Yibai raised his hand and made a calming gesture. The noise quickly died down.

Si Shaorong stared at him, captivated. He had never seen Jiang Yibai like this before. When he was teaching, he was always patient and gentle. When speaking with him, he was often playful, teasing. When joking with Li Xun and the others, he came across as roguish and free-spirited. But now, he radiated a wild arrogance, a striking charisma. He looked like someone who would never bow to anyone. The stage beneath him seemed like nothing more than a toy. Every movement spoke of complete control.

Jiang Yibai cleared his throat and said, “I’ve had a bit to drink tonight, so if I don’t sound great, I hope you’ll all forgive me. There’s a song I’d like to dedicate to my boyfriend.”

Jiang Yibai snapped his fingers, and the familiar rhythm of “Shape of You” rolled out across the room.

The stage lights gathered and converged beneath his feet, forming a soft glowing circle of focus.

He began to sing:

I’m in love with the shape of you
We push and pull like a magnet do
Although my heart is falling too
I’m in love with your body

The lights fanned out across the stage. In the back, Li Xun was saying something. The dim, hazy light above the stage brightened, cutting through the space like a beam across an endless sea, landing squarely on the heart of someone in love.

Jiang Yibai’s voice had a slight rasp from the alcohol, but in that moment, he owned the entire bar’s atmosphere.

I’m in love with your body
Every day discovering something brand new
I’m in love with the shape of you

Si Shaorong stared blankly, and Jiang Yibai’s eyes stayed locked on him the entire time. As they looked into each other’s eyes, it felt like the whole venue had cleared out, as if this performance really was just for the two of them.

Beside him, Zheng Youli said, “It’s a little different from before, but still incredible.”

A faint regret crept into Si Shaorong’s heart for never having seen Jiang Yibai during his university days.

Suddenly, a shrill voice rang out.

The ones who had tried to egg Jiang Yibai on earlier were now laughing. “See? He still went up. Make him keep singing. Don’t stop until his voice gives out.”

Someone tried to calm them down. “Why bother? What’s the point of all this?”

“What do you mean, what point? Back then he got to call all the shots. He wanted to form a band, so we formed a band. He wanted to disband it, so we disbanded. Everything was up to him. What, was he some big shot? Look at him now. I heard he’s teaching music classes. What a joke. That guy, teaching music? Please.”

“Alright, let’s just go.”

“No way. Make him keep singing. What, don’t we have anything on hand? Throw stuff at him.”

“Throw money. Record it.” Someone laughed. “Post it online. Say some music teacher was up on stage singing for tips. Strip him down. Stuff the bills into his pants.”

“You guys are messed up.” Someone nearby couldn’t take it anymore and rolled their eyes. “Too much money to burn? Come on, hand it over, I’ll spend it for you.”

“What’s it to you?” the hecklers shot back. For a moment, the scene grew tense.

Zheng Youli frowned and said to Si Shaorong, “Maybe there was some fallout back when the band broke up. Sounds like they never got over it.”

Si Shaorong didn’t want their noise to taint Jiang Yibai’s singing. He lifted two fingers to his mouth and let out a sharp whistle. The crowd quickly picked up the cue, clapping and cheering, and some of the drunker patrons even began dancing along to the music.

The hecklers’ voices were drowned out. Zheng Youli went to find Li Xun, who soon came over with some staff and half-dragged, half-carried the group out of the bar.

When Jiang Yibai finished singing, he blew a kiss to Si Shaorong. A girl tossed a flower onto the stage, which Jiang Yibai caught with a grin and a thank-you.

He steadied himself on the edge of the stage and jumped down, landing right into Si Shaorong’s arms.

“I drank too much,” Jiang Yibai said cheerfully. “Didn’t do my best.”

“It was amazing,” Si Shaorong said, unable to stop himself from planting a kiss on the tip of his nose. “Really amazing.”

Jiang Yibai melted at the kiss, every ounce of frustration evaporating on the spot. His brain short-circuited, and he practically collapsed onto Si Shaorong, saying, “I’m drunk. I need hugs and kisses from my boyfriend or I can’t get up.”

Si Shaorong’s face flushed red. He couldn’t stop the smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he kissed Jiang Yibai and wrapped his arms around him. “Want me to carry you home?”

Jiang Yibai was nearly melted into a puddle, half-draped over Si Shaorong as they made their way outside. “Ah, I’m so happy,” he murmured.

Si Shaorong hummed in reply. Once they were outside, he crouched down and motioned for Jiang Yibai to hop on.

Faced with those broad, solid shoulders, Jiang Yibai’s playful side took over. He jumped onto Si Shaorong’s back and slung his arms around his chest.

Si Shaorong was stronger than he looked. With Jiang Yibai on his back, he walked steadily down the street.

Li Xun came after them and called out, “You good?”

Si Shaorong shook his head. Li Xun didn’t say much about what had happened and just gave Jiang Yibai a loud slap on the ass before turning to go.

“Fuck,” Jiang Yibai blurted out. Si Shaorong adjusted his grip under Jiang Yibai’s legs and gave his butt a gentle squeeze. “Did that hurt?”

“It won’t if you rub it. Come on, rub it,” Jiang Yibai said with a grin.

Si Shaorong’s face turned even redder. Who the hell gropes someone in public? He glanced around. The street was empty at this hour, so he stepped over to the wall, turned his back to it, and rubbed Jiang Yibai’s ass right there.

Jiang Yibai couldn’t stop laughing. He clawed at Si Shaorong’s chest, making Si Shaorong yelp and try to twist away, but with Jiang Yibai on his back there was no escape. The two of them ended up laughing and wrestling, a tangled mess of limbs and breathless joy.