Chapter 005 – Freshman Welcome Party

The freshman welcome event was bustling with excitement. A huge crowd had gathered—not just the girls from their own university, but even girls from the school across the street had come to join the fun.

Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the legendary young master of the Jiang family from Haicheng.

But Shen Qingli wasn’t particularly interested. She told Qian Xiqiao, “I don’t really want to go to the welcome party tonight.”

Qian Xiqiao immediately turned her head. “Why not? Do you have plans tonight?”

Shen Qingli shook her head. “No. I just don’t want to see someone.”

That someone, of course, was Jiang Junwen.

Qian Xiqiao grabbed her hand. “Come on, let’s go together! It only happens once in a lifetime. Wouldn’t it be a pity to miss it?”

After years of hard work, they had finally gotten into A University. There was only one freshman welcome event—missing it would feel like their college experience wasn’t complete.

Shen Qingli thought for a moment and agreed. It made sense—there would be lots of good performances at the welcome event. Besides, she was only in the audience and wouldn’t be going on stage. She probably wouldn’t even run into Jiang Junwen.

They went early to reserve seats. Qian Xiqiao managed to secure spots in the third row—very close to the stage.

Jiang Junwen was scheduled to be the final act.

Meanwhile, a senior from the logistics team was carrying snacks and bread to the backstage area but didn’t have enough hands. She happened to know Shen Qingli and called out, “Ali, can you help me out? Bring this box of bread to the backstage. The performers didn’t have time to eat dinner.”

Shen Qingli saw how swamped the senior was and remembered how she had been the one to welcome her and help her settle into the dorm when she first arrived.

So she nodded. “Sure, no problem, Senior.”

She took the box of bread and made her way through the crowd to the backstage area.

Backstage, many upperclassmen were already in costume and makeup, standing around chatting in small groups.

Shen Qingli set the bread box down on a table near the entrance and instinctively glanced toward the dressing room.

In her past life, she had come backstage specifically to bring Jiang Junwen his favorite berry-flavored bread. He was allergic to peanuts, and many of the snacks had nuts. She had been worried he’d eat the wrong one and have an allergic reaction before the performance.

But this time, she couldn’t be bothered with whether he lived or died.

They were all adults now—surely he could recognize the word “nuts” on a label. He didn’t need someone babysitting his snack choices.

Shen Qingli dropped off the bread and left. She was backstage for less than five seconds.

Inside the dressing room, Jiang Junwen, Yu Zhenghao, and Li Wenyao were sitting around playing games.

Jiang Junwen was a drama major, while Yu Zhenghao and Li Wenyao studied vocal performance. The three of them had been in a band together back in high school and used to perform regularly at Yu Zhenghao’s family’s bar.

Suddenly, Yu Zhenghao shouted, “Damn it, Jiang Junwen! What are you spacing out for? Shoot already!”

Annoyed, Jiang Junwen exited the game and stared at the dressing room door, a hint of irritation flashing across his face.

Li Wenyao tugged at Yu Zhenghao and asked Jiang Junwen, “Ah Wen, are you waiting for someone?”

Their performance was scheduled last, and it was still over an hour away.

Originally, they had planned to go grab dinner, but Jiang Junwen had unexpectedly refused to leave.

Before Jiang Junwen could respond, someone knocked on the door.

This was their private dressing room. No one would knock unless they had a reason.

Li Wenyao was just about to get up to answer, but Jiang Junwen beat him to it. He walked quickly to the door with a sour expression and said coldly, “I’m not eating…”

Before he could finish, he froze.

A girl stood at the door. His brows furrowed tightly. “Who are you looking for?”

The girl was startled by his icy tone. Looking aggrieved, she said, “Young Master Jiang, I—I heard you were performing tonight, so I…”

Bang.

Jiang Junwen slammed the door in her face with a dark expression.

He turned around, sat on the couch, and seemed to radiate a freezing aura.

Li Wenyao: “…”

Yu Zhenghao scratched his head and asked in a low voice, “Ah Wen, don’t you like Lan Xing anymore?”

Jiang Junwen paused. “That was Lan Xing? I didn’t get a good look.”

Yu Zhenghao looked speechless. “Didn’t get a good look? Then who did you think it was?”

Irritated, Jiang Junwen snapped, “Just play your game.”

He was extremely annoyed.

But hearing Lan Xing’s name jogged his memory. In his previous life, during the start of college, he had dated a campus beauty—but only briefly, maybe a month or two.

Later, when Luo Shuyao disappeared without warning, he lost it. How could he remember someone like Lan Xing?

Oh, right. There was also the time when he was secretly dating Lan Xing backstage, and Shen Qingli caught them.

He remembered her expression then—shocked, red-faced—and how he had teased her about it.

Now, Jiang Junwen irritably glanced at the time again.

Why hadn’t Shen Qingli come yet?

Why was everything playing out differently than last time?

Finally, Jiang Junwen couldn’t wait anymore. He walked out of the room—only to see people passing out bread nearby. Yu Zhenghao went over, and someone asked, “Zhenghao, want some bread?”

Yu Zhenghao grabbed three. “Sure, I’m starving. I’ll just have something light.”

He returned and handed one to Li Wenyao and one to Jiang Junwen. “Eat something. It’s too late to go out now. Let’s eat properly after the show.”

Jiang Junwen took one look at the bread—it was nut-flavored.

His expression darkened. He frowned and casually tossed it aside. “I’m not hungry,” he muttered and turned back into the dressing room.

Yu Zhenghao picked up the discarded bread, puzzled. “What’s with Ah Wen today? It’s like he ate gunpowder. Who ticked him off?”

Li Wenyao slowly bit into his bread and shrugged. “Who knows. Maybe he argued with his family again.”

Jiang Junwen fought with his family all the time. After every fight, he would crash at Yu Zhenghao’s bar.

Yu Zhenghao nodded. “Probably because of Yaoyao again.”

Luo Shuyao’s father was currently under investigation, and things weren’t looking good.

Everyone was trying to distance themselves, including Jiang Junwen’s parents.

Even if they weren’t cutting ties completely, they definitely wouldn’t allow further involvement.

But Jiang Junwen refused to listen and insisted on staying with Luo Shuyao—something his parents would never approve of.

It wasn’t until Jiang Junwen finally went on stage that he saw Shen Qingli.

Just like in his previous life, she was sitting in the third row on the left.

Next to the aisle, wearing a simple white T-shirt, her long black hair was tied up in a bun. She was looking down at her phone.

All the other girls were screaming and cheering for his appearance.

But Shen Qingli?

She looked like she was annoyed by the noise and had put on her headphones.

Jiang Junwen: “……”

He was here to sing—and she put on headphones?

Could she even hear him?