Right after getting dumped, He suddenly learned that his best buddy was the legendary cold-as-ice school beauty. - Chapter 64

The instant Ji Qingqian raised her hand, nearly every eye in the room turned toward her.

This newly crowned campus beauty carried undeniable presence.

No one expected this icy, aloof goddess to show interest in something like this.

Not to mention the people she barely knew—her own dorm sisters were equally stunned as they watched Ji Qingqian rise.

…Wait, are you… joining in for fun?

In truth, someone else had also raised their hand.

The moment they saw it was Ji Qingqian, they immediately lowered their head and gestured politely, silently signaling, “Please, go ahead.”

No desire to compete.

Ji Qingqian didn’t hesitate.

She strode forward, and classmates automatically parted, forming a clear path.

Sun Bing was equally astonished.

After nearly half a month of casual interaction, he still didn’t know Ji Qingqian well.

Yet, privately, he regarded her almost like a future sister-in-law, observing her quietly.

This time, during the selection song, he hadn’t expected to coax the most popular campus beauty onto the stage.

He knew it was impossible.

Ji Qingqian’s personality, her calm and detached aura, clearly communicated disinterest in such events…

And yet… what?

Still, as an active police officer in the armed forces, Sun Bing quickly regained his composure despite the shock.

“What song?”

He started up the music software.

As the opening notes began to play…

“Yibei.”

Before Liu Jie could call him, Lu Yibei had already turned.

Xia Li, who was facing the same direction, froze, bewildered:

“…Brother Yibei, this isn’t how you play this game, right?”

At least wait for someone to call you first!

She followed Lu Yibei’s gaze.

“It’s Ji Qingqian…”

Liu Jie spoke quietly, yet his excitement leaked through: “I didn’t expect she’d actually go up there…”

Not just Liu Jie—Lu Yibei himself had no idea what the heroine intended.

He instinctively glanced at the screen.

[Qingqian: You better turn around.]

…Just for this?

The melody sounded oddly familiar, but Lu Yibei couldn’t place the song immediately.

Hao Pang reminded him:

“Ekin Cheng’s ‘Bravery,’ a Cantonese song. Inserted in the movie Young and Dangerous: Reloaded.

“Wait, isn’t that your movie?” Liu Jie asked in surprise.

For the record, the male lead of Young and Dangerous: Reloaded was Wu Yanzu.

Lu Yibei couldn’t help but chuckle.

A northeastern girl singing a Cantonese song in Jiangnan—what a cultural mix.

Then, the intro ended.

Ji Qingqian’s clear, crisp voice rose:

“…I am not fearless, nor am I without fear of death.”

“…But before a passionate, romantic kiss, how perilous cliffs and dizzying heights, I will make flat ground for you.”

Her eyes fixed on Lu Yibei.

One year ago…

Ji Qingqian had taken the most important exam of her life.

Previously, she hadn’t thought the college entrance exam mattered. She wasn’t diligent in class, yet her grades weren’t bad. She could easily scrape into an undergraduate program.

With a comfortable family, she never worried about her future.

But once certain feelings stirred within her, she began to care about those damn scores.

Without steady effort, there could be no breakthrough.

She had lost to Zhou Zhou by a full eighty points.

Eighty points.

Her parents were satisfied and even popped champagne in celebration.

Ji Qingqian locked herself in her room.

She didn’t want to speak to anyone, had no appetite, and couldn’t sleep.

She wanted to vanish somewhere, never speak again.

But if she did that, what would Lu Bei at the other end of the chat think?

Lu Bei was so good to her—could she really give up for this reason?

Could she accept it?

“…Loving you doesn’t follow logic, but instinct and intuition grab hold of you.”

“…Thinking of you, the one I admire, strength I never had suddenly fills my weakening arms.”

No.

Ji Qingqian told herself she wanted to start over.

“…Even if others disapprove, even if reason forbids, I throw myself into love, feeling no pain.”

No one understood.

Teachers didn’t understand. Family didn’t understand.

Ji Qingqian had always relied on talent alone. She had never considered effort.

And she seemed to… never need effort.

Everyone else in the school—even the top scorer—might repeat the year if unsatisfied.

But Ji Qingqian? No one thought she would.

She never cared.

“…No one is as radical, nor as brave as I am for you.”

“…Even when all traffic lights turn red, no one can stop me, charging forward like a thousand horses.”

She had thought about it—what if her score had been worse?

Even in Jiangnan, she couldn’t be sure her beloved would still be single, couldn’t be sure he would like her.

But she cast these doubts aside.

Because she…

“…I have no gentleness, only this bravery.”

Somewhere along the way, Ji Qingqian had fallen in love with Bravery.

She had longed to sing it for Lu Bei.

Softly, like telling a story, privately in his ear.

But that wouldn’t be brave—it would be timid.

So she chose today’s method.

Amid the bustling crowd, only Lu Bei could see her, his gaze fixed solely on her.

“Fall down, then rise again.”
“Like a roly-poly toy.”
“Even when you miss, give it your all to hit.”
“No support? Still brave.”
“All who long for love, love with courage.”

Thunderous applause erupted.

Ji Qingqian’s crisp, cold voice didn’t perfectly match the fiery style of the song.

Yet she sang brilliantly.

She was the center of attention, and by the end, more people were captivated than ever.

“Absolutely perfect,” Hao Zhangwen commented. A songwriter himself, he had a say in such matters.

Though, the Cantonese pronunciation wasn’t flawless—she wasn’t from Guangdong.

Xia Li narrowed her eyes like a wildcat:

“This freshman looks familiar.”

“Ji Qingqian, the freshman campus beauty,” Li Si answered.

Xia Li stared suspiciously at Li Si, scanning him up and down.

Li Si shrugged:

“I’m the president. Checking votes for the official account seems fair, right?”

He insisted he wasn’t lecherous.

Xia Li ignored him.

She was certain she hadn’t seen this freshman on the official account.

“…Ah, Brother Yibei.”

Finally remembering, Xia Li hurriedly called Lu Yibei: “Isn’t she the freshman who helped you move luggage on welcome day?”

Lu Yibei didn’t answer, his gaze fixed on the crescent moon.

Xia Li noticed his eyes looked slightly red and warned:

“Brother Yibei, we’re young—don’t stay up too late. As a CS student, you should start preventing hair loss early.”

Lu Yibei paused, then replied:

“Nothing. Just the sunlight is a bit glaring.”

Xia Li: “…?”

Wait, what sunlight?

Li Si laughed and explained:

“Moonlight is just reflected sunlight, Xia Li. Didn’t you learn basic astronomy in middle school?”

He glanced at Ji Qingqian, then at Lu Yibei, smiling silently.

Liu Jie and Zhao Sun regained focus, both sighing in admiration:

“This freshman really has talent.”
“Just this song alone rivals Yuezi Jie.”

Others heard a song.

Lu Yibei heard a story.

Ji Qingqian sang every word to him, recounting how she had slowly, step by step, approached him over the past year.

A girl unaccustomed to the world, yet she stepped forward alone, facing mountains and seas.

So fragile, so delicate, yet…

So brave, and radiant.

After Ji Qingqian stepped down, Lu Yibei received her message:

[Qingqian: How was it?]
[Lu Yibei: Amazing.]
[Qingqian: That’s all?]
[Lu Yibei: Truly amazing.]