Heartthrob, Your Image is Crumbling!

Chapter 401: The Sky Fell

Hard to forget, the first time I saw youThose mesmerizing eyes~

In my mind, Your silhouette, Lingers on~

Holding your hands, feeling your tenderness.

Several performances had already passed, and soon it was time for Zhou Yuwen's guitar and vocal segment. Although it was just a small themed class meeting, Zhou Yuwen's popularity was absolutely phenomenal.

From the unfamiliar students standing at the back of the classroom chatting, to the female students leaning on the windowsills outside looking down at their phones, they had all come specifically for Zhou Yuwen.

Before Zhou Yuwen arrived, none of these people showed the slightest interest in the performances on stage. They had all been preoccupied with their own affairs.

That was until Gu Yaoyao stepped onto the stage. She was guest-starring as the host today, dressed quite appropriately in a white office lady suit and a matching pair of high heels.

With a radiant smile, she announced, "Thank you to all the previous students for bringing us such entertaining performances."

"Next, please welcome the talented singer of love songs from our Horticulture Class 13-2, Zhou Yuwen, as he brings us Yu Chengqing's 'Can't Help But Love You'!"

"Whoo~"

As soon as she finished speaking, enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. The students who had been looking down at their phones all raised their heads, and some even pulled out their cameras, ready to record.

As Zhou Yuwen walked up to the stage, he brushed past Gu Yaoyao, feeling a bit dissatisfied with her introduction.

'What did she mean, talented singer of love songs?'

Gu Yaoyao seemed to read the unspoken question in his eyes and simply gave him a playful smile.

Once Zhou Yuwen took the stage and began strumming the song, the cheers from the crowd were undisputedly the loudest of the entire event so far.

Zheng Yanyan and Su Qing were over there, cheering wildly for Zhou Yuwen!

Seeing this, Jiang Xinyi looked quite disgusted. She muttered, "Why are those two acting like they've lost their minds?"

Shen Yu offered an awkward smile upon hearing this and explained to Jiang Xinyi, "They've always been like that."

Just afraid that I will fall in love with you~

Don't dare to let myself get too close~

Afraid I have nothing I can give you, Falling for you is something I can't help but do~

This time on stage, Zhou Yuwen did not sing an original song, but Can't Help But Love You was still an excellent choice. Aside from its catchy lyrics, the melody was exceptionally cheerful, making it perfectly suited for a small-scale performance like this themed class meeting.

Su Qing and Yan Yan had gotten glow sticks from somewhere and were waving them enthusiastically at Zhou Yuwen.

They had long since left their seats and were standing right below the stage, looking as if they might leap up there at any second.

Zhou Yuwen could only offer a wry smile when he saw this.

Actually, at the very beginning, Zheng Yanyan just wanted to declare sovereignty to everyone. She wanted to show that even though she and Zhou Yuwen had broken up, their relationship was still very good.

She had no intention of fighting over anything with Su Qing. She simply wanted to cheer for Zhou Yuwen and get him to notice her.

Meanwhile, Su Qing simply didn't want to let Zheng Yanyan steal the spotlight.

Thus, the two ended up competing right there.

Naturally unwilling to let Su Qing overshadow her, Zheng Yanyan pushed forward desperately.

As for Su Qing, she was not about to show weakness and threw herself forward as well.

Zhou Yuwen played his guitar toward them for a moment before shifting his gaze to the others, his eyes sweeping across the faces of Lu Lin and the other two sitting at the back.

Lu Lin met Zhou Yuwen's gaze without backing down, while Shen Yu looked somewhat shy when their eyes met.

As for Jiang Xinyi, she stubbornly glared back at him. The look in her eyes seemed to be blaming Zhou Yuwen, as if asking him what the deal was with Zheng Yanyan and Su Qing.

Seeing Jiang Xinyi's pouting, almost little girl-like expression, Zhou Yuwen felt deeply helpless. At that moment, he remembered what You Changjin had told him earlier.

To be honest, when You Changjin brought it up, Zhou Yuwen was genuinely stunned. He had immediately retorted, "Teacher You, what are you talking about?"

"Sister Xinyi is your ex-girlfriend. Even though you guys broke up, she still counts as my senior. What nonsense are you spouting?"

Zhou Yuwen was truly bewildered at the time.

He could develop a private relationship with Jiang Xinyi, and it wouldn't have a single cent to do with You Changjin.

But there was absolutely no reason for You Changjin to come over and act as a matchmaker, right?

'Was he out of his mind?'

It was likely that You Changjin hadn't thought it through when he said those things to Zhou Yuwen. Upon seeing Zhou Yuwen's strong reaction, he suddenly realized his mistake and said, "Oh, no, it's nothing. I was just asking casually."

Zhou Yuwen gave a wry smile. "How could you just ask that casually? Did you hear something?"

"No, what could I have heard?"

At first, You Changjin refused to admit it, but under Zhou Yuwen's suspicious gaze, he couldn't hold out for long. He ended up telling Zhou Yuwen everything Liu Jing had said to him previously.

To tell the truth, Zhou Yuwen was quite shocked when he found out.

"This is just pure nonsense," Zhou Yuwen muttered under his breath.

'I knew Aunt Jing thought highly of me, but I never expected her to be this aggressive about it.'

Zhou Yuwen's remark about it being nonsense resonated deeply with You Changjin. With a wry smile, he replied, "It really is nonsense, isn't it?"

"Yuwen, even if things didn't work out between Xinyi and me, you are still my student. If, and I mean purely hypothetically, you and Xinyi ended up together, where would that leave me? How many people would laugh at me?"

You Changjin said, his heart heavy with gloom.

Zhou Yuwen could tell that You Changjin didn't actually want to set him up with Jiang Xinyi; he was simply venting his frustrations.

So, Zhou Yuwen reassured him, "Alright, I understand, Teacher You. Sister Xinyi is an excellent girl, and there isn't a guy alive who wouldn't like her. But I know my boundaries. In any case, I won't actively pursue her."

"Really?"

You Changjin asked.

Zhou Yuwen replied, "Of course."

"I am just a nineteen-year-old guy who just started university. How could I pursue a twenty-five-year-old woman who also happens to be my teacher's ex-girlfriend?" Zhou Yuwen said.

Hearing this, You Changjin nodded in relief.

He said, "Having your word on this is enough."

With that, he stopped chatting with Zhou Yuwen, simply telling him to practice his song well and that he wouldn't disturb him any further.

Looking back at Jiang Xinyi's position now, their eyes met. Jiang Xinyi was looking at him with a faint, lingering gaze.

Meanwhile, the lyrics flowing from Zhou Yuwen's mouth were:

Just afraid that I will fall in love with you.

Don't dare to let myself get too close!

It was a very upbeat song, and similarly, the students listening to it were incredibly joyful. The ones at the front were all Zhou Yuwen's classmates, cheering and shouting at the top of their lungs.

Many students from other classes had also squeezed in at the back, singing along with Zhou Yuwen.

Outside the classroom, quite a few more students were rushing over.

"Hurry up, hurry up!"

"How did it start so quickly!?"

One student after another ran up the stairs, eager to hear Zhou Yuwen sing.

And the vast majority of those running up the stairs were girls.

There was only one boy who stood out.

His face was etched with anxiety, and he wore a set of clothes that didn't fit him very well. He stumbled forward in a daze, constantly muttering Sister Hui's name in his heart.

By the time he finished Can't Help But Love You, the classroom was absolutely packed with people who had come to listen. Zhou Yuwen was originally planning to step down at this point, but the crowd's enthusiasm was through the roof, and they kept chanting, "One more song!"

Swept up in the atmosphere, Zhou Yuwen looked at Gu Yaoyao and the others, asking, "Should I do one more?"

Gu Yaoyao nodded hastily, looking incredibly happy as she took the lead in applauding.

There weren't many strict rules for their class's themed class meeting, and most of the other acts were just filler anyway. Only Zhou Yuwen's performance could truly be considered a show, pulling in such a massive crowd.

The Student Union members who had come to score the event also nodded repeatedly after hearing Zhou Yuwen sing.

"One more song!"

Liu Shuo, who had squeezed his way to the front, was leading the chants.

Seeing that it would be rude to refuse such overwhelming hospitality, Zhou Yuwen strummed the guitar strings once more, treating everyone to a soulful rendition of A Little Love Song.

This is a simple little love song...

The style of this song was completely different from the previous Can't Help But Love You.

While the last one had people jumping and bouncing along, this one was meant to be listened to quietly. Of course, those who knew the words would gently hum along.

I think I'm very suited, to be an ode singer...

Jiang Xinyi still preferred hearing Zhou Yuwen sing slow songs. A track like A Little Love Song perfectly aligned with her aesthetic tastes. It wasn't just her; beside her, Shen Yu was equally entranced as she gazed at Zhou Yuwen.

The fanatic fans of the song all pushed to the front to listen to Zhou Yuwen sing.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chao and a few other boys were chatting at the back, expressing how truly envious they were of Zhou Yuwen.

"It feels like almost everyone who came to our class is a girl, all of them Zhou Yuwen's fangirls." "No kidding! The talented singer of love songs is famous throughout the entire university town!"

Listening to the guys gossiping in front of her, Lu Hui was completely absent-minded.

Earlier, she had overheard a few people mentioning that Li Qiang was not from Jingcheng.

That revelation had struck her like a massive blow.

Just thinking about Li Qiang right now made her feel a bit nauseous.

She had actually used her hand to help Li Qiang...

Thankfully, it was only her hand.

Thinking about it carefully, it made sense. Li Qiang completely lacked that distinct aura of a Jingcheng native.

She had been utterly deceived by him.

At this moment, Lu Hui's mood was at an absolute low point.

After a moment of hesitation, she decided she didn't want to stay here any longer. She thought she would just send Liu Shuo a message and head home first.

Lu Hui felt that she was actually quite insatiable.

If she hadn't been so greedy, how could she have been fooled by Li Qiang?

Now she was drawing water with a bamboo basket—all for nothing. In the end, she would have been better off just staying obediently by Liu Shuo's side.

She heard that Zhou Yuwen's Xianlin Delivery had already expanded to major colleges and universities across Southern Jiangsu. His career was growing bigger by the day, and Liu Shuo was considered his primary confidant. Seeing as Liu Shuo had already bought a car in his freshman year, he was bound to become increasingly successful in the future. She might as well just stick with Liu Shuo honestly.

Just as Lu Hui made up her mind, someone tapped her on the shoulder from behind.

Lu Hui didn't register it at first, not until the person had been tapping her for a good while and then softly called out, "Sister Hui."

"?" Lu Hui turned around and was instantly startled when she saw Li Qiang looking at her with overwhelming emotion.

"Sister Hui!" Li Qiang was genuinely agitated to see her and couldn't hold back his words.

Fortunately, Lu Hui immediately covered his mouth.

Feeling a sudden wave of guilt, Lu Hui glanced forward, only to find that everyone was completely captivated by Zhou Yuwen's singing. No one had noticed them.

Lu Hui breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly pulled Li Qiang outside.

"Whatever it is, let's talk outside!"

And just like that, Li Qiang followed Lu Hui out the door.

However, even though the scene was chaotic, with so many eyes present, someone was bound to have noticed Li Qiang and Lu Hui.

Shortly after, Liu Shuo, who was watching Zhou Yuwen sing at the front, began to find it all quite dull. He finally remembered his girlfriend sitting at the back and thought about going to find Lu Hui, only to discover that she was no longer in her seat.

Curious, Liu Shuo casually asked someone nearby and learned that Lu Hui and Li Qiang had gone outside.

"Li Qiang?" Liu Shuo thought for a long time but couldn't recall who that boy was.

Nevertheless, following the direction pointed out to him, Liu Shuo decided to head outside and look for them.

It was noisy and clamorous inside the classroom, but as soon as he stepped out, the atmosphere instantly quieted down.

Night had already fallen, and the moonlight overhead filtered through the treetops, casting a glow into the corridor.

It was completely silent outside.

As Liu Shuo was pondering where that damn woman Lu Hui had run off to...

He suddenly heard a voice from the adjacent classroom: "Sister Hui! I miss you, I can't live without you!"

"?"

Liu Shuo froze for a moment and focused his eyes in that direction.

Inside the classroom, the boy named Li Qiang was tightly hugging Lu Hui from behind, pouring out his lovesick heart.

But Lu Hui's expression was utterly cold. She pushed Li Qiang away, saying, "Don't do this. Our relationship hasn't reached that level of intimacy."

"S-Sister Hui, what's wrong? Does Liu Shuo have some kind of blackmail on you? Tell me, we'll figure out a solution together. Please don't treat me like this, okay?" Li Qiang pleaded, his face etched with pain.

Lu Hui's expression was resolute. "Don't say that. Liu Shuo is my boyfriend."

"Then what about me? What did I do wrong?" Li Qiang still looked completely innocent.

At this moment, Li Qiang was still wearing that ill-fitting Jack & Jones hoodie. It was obvious at a glance that the hoodie wasn't his. In fact, Lu Hui should have realized much earlier that none of the clothes he wore belonged to him.

But Lu Hui had never considered things from that angle.

Now, seeing Li Qiang's clothes again, a spark of anger flared in Lu Hui's heart. "What did you do wrong? I told you a long time ago! I hate it the most when people lie to me! And what about you?"

"What did I lie to you about?" Li Qiang asked in an innocent tone.

"Are you from Jingcheng?" Lu Hui cut the crap and asked directly.

Li Qiang, who had been trying to act tough, was instantly rendered speechless upon hearing this.

"I—"

"Li Qiang, I really didn't expect you to be this kind of man. I absolutely loathe being lied to. We are ending things here and now! I will transfer back all the money you've spent these past few days. Stop pestering me, or else I'll tell my boyfriend!"

Having said her piece, Lu Hui turned around to leave.

But Li Qiang, who had practically gone mad with desperation, couldn't just stand by and watch her leave. He was dying of regret. He should have told Lu Hui about his background ages ago, but he had never said anything because he was too afraid.

Now that he had been exposed, it was too late for regrets.

He lunged forward and grabbed Lu Hui by the waist. "Sister Hui, please don't go. I know I was wrong, okay? Give me one more chance, I beg you. I shouldn't have lied to you. Please, just give me one more chance?"

"Let go of me!" Lu Hui ordered firmly.

"Sister Hui, just give me one more chance. I'm begging you. Have you forgotten everything we've shared?"

"Sister Hui, we've been together for two months. Have you forgotten all the nights I spent with you?"

Li Qiang was genuinely crying now. He really liked Lu Hui, and his raw emotions were spilling out. Every night they had played Werewolf, every night they had spent together... Lu Hui's voice in the Werewolf game had been so sweet and gentle.

And now, Lu Hui was about to leave him forever.

Li Qiang couldn't accept this reality.

"Sister Hui, you do have feelings for me, right? Otherwise, you wouldn't have used your hand to help me. Sister Hui, consider it me begging you, just give me one more chance."

As he spoke, Li Qiang dropped straight to his knees in front of Lu Hui.

Lu Hui was absolutely sick of it. "Shut up!" she snapped. "Stop talking. I have zero feelings for you."

"No, I don't believe it. How could you not have feelings for me..."

Li Qiang felt incredibly wronged. He remembered that over the past couple of days while they were hanging out, when they shared a taxi, Lu Hui would lean against him on her own when she got tired.

He truly remembered every little detail. He also remembered that when they first started going out, Lu Hui had paid for most of their expenses.

Lu Hui was completely speechless upon hearing this.

She originally intended to use Li Qiang's lie to end this disastrous affair cleanly.

But Li Qiang was too relentless. Finally, on the verge of a breakdown, Lu Hui spat out in exasperation, "Why the fuck are you acting like a complete idiot? Is this a matter of right or wrong?"

"If I hadn't thought you were from Jingcheng, do you really think I would have ever paid you any attention?"

"Fuck, don't talk to me about playing Werewolf. Thinking about it now just makes me sick! Damn it!"

"?"

Lu Hui, who was always so gentle, suddenly speaking to him with such a harsh tone...

...caused Li Qiang to freeze instantly, staring at Lu Hui in utter disbelief.

Meanwhile, Lu Hui was looking at the Li Qiang in front of her with genuine, unadulterated disgust.

With a cold, contemptuous huff, she shook off his grip and marched away.

Leaving Li Qiang kneeling alone on the spot. For a moment, he didn't know what to say. The utter coldness and alienation in Lu Hui's eyes had shocked him to the core.

Lu Hui was also extremely frustrated. She had been putting up a perfectly good act, but this annoying pest had pushed her to the point where she simply couldn't keep it up anymore.

Emotionless, Lu Hui walked out of the classroom.

But as soon as she stepped out the door, she saw a figure standing there—Liu Shuo, his eyes as dark and menacing as a vulture's.

Liu Shuo stood perfectly still, like a frozen statue.

If Lu Hui hadn't come out, she would never have noticed him.

"Liu... Liu Shuo?" At that moment, Lu Hui felt as if the sky had fallen.