ADTCP Ch12

After a light rain on the day of the welcome party, the weather in Nancheng cooled a few degrees, and the new semester officially began.

At Nancheng University, red banners with yellow letters reading “Welcome New Students” hung across nearly every banyan tree along the roads. Recruitment booths for student clubs packed the sidewalks so tightly there was hardly room to move, with voices chattering, laughing, and calling out all around.

Tao Zhen paid no mind to the seniors working hard to hand out flyers. He was too busy pushing along two big pink suitcases toward the girls’ dormitory.

Waiting at the entrance was Jia Jia, a girl who had already added him on WeChat through the freshman group chat. Loaded down with bags, she broke into a nearly tearful look of gratitude the moment she saw him:

 “Tao Zhen! Thank you! That taxi driver really pissed me off, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have known what to do!”

The blond boy wiped the sweat off his forehead and flashed a dazzling smile. His bright, clear voice rang out: “It’s nothing, really. Just lending a hand. Old men who bully girls deserve to be taught a lesson!”

“Wuwuwu… Everyone else went to club recruitment, only you were willing to come help me,” Jia Jia said, still deeply touched. If not for propriety between men and women, she might have rushed up to kiss him. “I’ve wasted so much of your time, let me treat you to a meal later, okay?”

“No need!” Tao Zhen still smiled, shaking his head. His Dior jacket was smeared with dust, but he didn’t care, brushing it off casually.

Seeing that, Jia Jia felt even more guilty. She quickly pushed her luggage inside, then came back with a few wet wipes to hand him. “At least let me come with you to check out the booths? I know some of the student union seniors, what department do you want to join? I can introduce you!”

Tao Zhen wasn’t really interested in small school groups like this, but it felt wrong to refuse her kindness again and again, so he agreed and went with her to the recruitment fair.

He hadn’t looked carefully before, but now he noticed the sidewalks were lined with boards printed with club names, everything from the Youth Volunteer Association and Tech Innovation Society to cosplay and anime clubs. Bustling, colorful, and varied, like a hundred schools of thought in full bloom.

At first he was just there for fun, but soon Tao Zhen found himself getting serious. His eyes skimmed past the booths one by one, until they stopped dead on a particular one.

“Hey, Tao Zhen, I see a senior I know. Let’s—”

Jia Jia raised her hand to wave, smiling back, only to see him frozen in place as though under a spell, staring straight at a booth with a long line in front of it.

She blinked curiously, following his gaze.
“Eh? Tao Zhen, so you like music?”

Tao Zhen snapped back to himself, jerking his eyes away like he’d been burned. He fiddled nervously with the hem of his shirt, stammering: “N-no… I just… um…”

“I just wanted to look. Do you know why the music club is so crowded?”

“Oh, you asked the right person!” Jia Jia’s attention shifted instantly. “I know a senior from the music club. She told me it’s amazing, they get to host school events, hear performances as good as professionals, and they have lots of perks too. Team-building, games, everything.

“And the best part? The music club is all about having fun. The bar for joining isn’t high. As long as you really love music and aren’t just here for credits, even if you can’t sing in tune, you can join!”

She was animated as she spoke, and Tao Zhen’s eyes grew brighter. Hearing that last part, his hand clenched involuntarily.

Usually carefree, the blond boy suddenly looked cautious, almost timid.

Jia Jia assumed he was just shy because his singing was bad. Smiling to reassure him, she tugged him toward the music club booth. “Don’t be embarrassed! I’ve been tone-deaf since childhood, and I still want to join. Come on, let’s check it out together.”

Tao Zhen hesitated two seconds, then nodded firmly and lined up with her, eyes shining as he stared toward the front, hardly daring to breathe.

It was only a preliminary sign-up, so the line moved quickly as students filled out forms. Before long, it was their turn.

The senior at the booth spoke gently, sliding paper and pen toward them as she explained the process:

“As you all know, we get a lot of applicants. If we did in-person auditions, it would take all day. So instead, the interviews are online. Each applicant records a video of themselves singing a cappella, sends it to this email, and includes a short statement of why you want to join. Deadline is next Monday.

“We’ll notify you by text within two business days.”

No need to perform on the spot in front of hundreds.

Tao Zhen let out a breath of relief. All his worries vanished. He carefully wrote his round, neat name, then rubbed his sweaty palm against his shirt hem. “Thank you, senior!”

The senior shook her head: “No need. We welcome anyone who loves music. We don’t need you to sound perfect, we just need you to care enough.”

Tao Zhen blinked, startled. Then a rush of heat spread through his chest, fizzing through his whole body.

Maybe… maybe he really could start from here.

A few seconds later, he broke into a smile. His clear, dog-like eyes curved, lips parting to show two bright tiger teeth. “Mm!”

The smile stunned the people around him, even Jia Jia went still.

Not far away, a refined-looking young man chatting with a friend stopped mid-sentence, staring directly at Tao Zhen.

But Tao Zhen didn’t notice the gaze at all, too absorbed in his joy at discovering the music club. When Jia Jia went off to greet a senior she knew, he cheerfully took his leave and wandered off.

Hmm… what song should he sing for the audition?

Could he record the video himself? Would it look better if someone else filmed it?

Maybe he should call Zhu Wensheng, ask if he was free to meet up…

Thinking this, Tao Zhen pulled out his phone, opening the dial screen. But before he could press the button, he bumped straight into a bespectacled young man.

The youth steadied him with a quick grab, helping him back upright, then smiled politely.
“Sorry, too crowded around here… Hey, I think I saw you over there just now. Did you sign up for the music club?”

Tao Zhen looked up. He was in such a good mood that even being bumped into left him smiling. “Yeah! Did you sign up too?”

“No, I’m with the university’s arts troupe, the level above the music club. I’m the vice president. My name’s Bai Yuxuan.”

Now that they were closer, Bai Yuxuan looked Tao Zhen over with interest.
“What’s your name?”

Tao Zhen had made countless friends since childhood. He answered openly: “Hello, Bai Yuxuan. My name’s Tao Zhen.”

“Tao Zhen… wow, what a beautiful name.”

Bai Yuxuan’s eyes curved as he waved his phone. “How about we add each other on WeChat? If you have any questions or aren’t happy with anything about the music club, you can contact me directly.”

Tao Zhen had always been taught by his father that “more friends means more opportunities,” so he readily agreed and exchanged contacts.

When he noticed Bai Yuxuan’s profile picture was a pair of red boxing gloves, he made a small sound of interest. “Oh, you like boxing?”

Bai Yuxuan nodded proudly. “Mm. I know quite a few people in the boxing club, and I’ve picked up some knowledge myself. Do you like it too?”

“I don’t mind it.” Tao Zhen laughed as he backed out of the profile page, dialing Zhu Wensheng’s number. 

“Mostly, it’s the person I’m supporting, he’s into… uh, underground, no, I mean, he practices boxing too.”

 “And he’s like you, looks all refined and proper, like a student leader.”

Bai Yuxuan’s sharp ears picked up something off. “Supporting…?”

“Ah! No, no…”

Tao Zhen faltered. Being “kept” wasn’t something he could tell just anyone. So he corrected himself: “To be precise—my boyfriend.”

Bai Yuxuan’s body stiffened. A few seconds later, it was as though a jolt of electricity shot through his mind, loosening him. “Boyfriend…”

The next moment, his gaze on Tao Zhen grew hotter, filled with a fervent heat and a subtle, layered meaning:  “Well, isn’t that a coincidence? Sounds like your boyfriend and I might really have some affinity.”

“…”

Tao Zhen held his phone, then suddenly looked up, his expression complicated as he gave Bai Yuxuan a glance. Without a word, he discreetly shifted the phone farther away. “It’s… it’s okay, I guess.”

Bai Yuxuan smiled, as if wanting to say more.

But Tao Zhen’s internal alarm bells blared. He didn’t dare linger to chat about the club anymore. Rushing out a hasty goodbye, he ran off clutching his phone under Bai Yuxuan’s reluctant gaze, leaving the booth behind.

Too scary!

He hadn’t even met Zhu Wensheng and yet dared to flirt with him like that!

Fuming, Tao Zhen punched the trunk of a nearby tree hard, so worked up he didn’t even notice the call waiting tone had ended.

Only when Zhu Wensheng’s cool, pleasant voice called his name several times—“Tao Zhen?”—did he snap back.

Sweetly, he asked, “Mm! You’re done? Was it busy at the bar today? Are you tired?”

Under the harsh white lights, in the octagon cage, boys lay collapsed in a circle around him. Each one panted like a broken bellows, staring at Zhu Wensheng with terror.
He glanced over them lightly. “Not busy. Easy.”

“Okay… But school’s starting, you’ll have classes and work. It’s hard to balance. You should think about dropping the bar job for now.”

Zhu Wensheng lifted a leg, swept down an opponent struggling back up, and smashed a fist into his cheek. His answer was concise: “Mn. Got it.”

Relieved, Tao Zhen said: “Don’t worry, I can support you. If anyone at work dares bully you or harass you, just hit them back. I’ll cover the medical bills!”

The boys on the floor twitched, dragging themselves up by sheer will, only to be slammed back down again.

“No one will bully me,” Zhu Wensheng shook out his arm, pausing before adding, “Tao Zhen, actually, I’m not as poor as you think…”

“Alright, alright, I know you’re rich.”

Tao Zhen cut him off, his tone tender with pity, clearly taking his words as modesty. “Tomorrow, let’s go on a date. Are you free?”

Zhu Wensheng truly didn’t understand this world, why was it that telling the truth only made people doubt him?

He kicked away another boy trying to sneak attack from behind, gave up explaining over the phone, and decided to prove it in person tomorrow. “I’m free.”

“Tomorrow, I’ll pay.”

Tao Zhen’s eyes widened slightly, a trace of disapproval flashing there.

But he couldn’t bear to wound his younger boyfriend’s pride again, so he nodded, “Mm, okay,” and secretly booked a table at a trendy Omakase restaurant blowing up on social media.

The head chef there, it was said, had been brought back from abroad, arrogant temper, but extraordinary taste, bringing out the raw, wild essence of every ingredient…

Tao Zhen didn’t understand much, but he wanted to take his boyfriend to try it together.

Putting away his phone, he turned to head home. That was when he noticed the hand he’d used to punch the tree was reddened, his pale knuckles throbbing hot with pain.

He hissed a breath through his teeth, blew on it a long while, then sighed.

Poor, pure-hearted Zhu Wensheng, utterly clueless about the wolves and tigers around him. If not for Tao Zhen’s protection, wouldn’t he have been bullied to death already?