This sparked a small wave of commotion. 　　The night winds at this time of year carry a hint of heat, and the sizzling sounds from the barbecue stalls, along with the clinking of beer glasses, create a unique atmosphere characteristic of this season, full of lively, smoky charm. 　　Chen Mo didn't talk much. He ate his food from the bamboo skewer, taking bites here and there, while listening to the group's idle chatter. They talked about gossip from their own school to other schools. After listening for a while, Chen Mo learned that several of the girls present were from other schools. 　　Among them were girls she didn't recognize, who had noticed Chen Mo the moment he arrived. Finally, they couldn't resist and quietly asked the people next to them who he was. 　　After all, among a group of guys who were drunk and swearing, Chen Mo seemed low-key, but in fact he was the most conspicuous. 　　He was wearing the simplest white T-shirt and jeans. 　　His skin was visibly white under the dim light, and even his hair seemed submissive tonight. Whether it was the prominent wrist bones resting on his knees or the subtly visible collarbone beneath his T-shirt, everything about him appeared perfectly slender. He sat quietly, offering brief answers when asked questions, but mostly just chatting with Gou Yiyang beside him. 　　When the boy heard that a girl was asking about him, he couldn't help but sigh and said with a smile, "Don't dream about it. Is our Young Master Mo an ordinary person? Go and browse the campus forum of our No. 1 High School. He's all the talk about now." 　　"What legend?" The girl became interested and even asked, "As famous as Xi Siyan from your school?" 　　The girl blushed slightly when she mentioned this name. 　　Chen Mo couldn't help but marvel at how popular this person was even at another school. 　　The boy who had spoken earlier immediately said, "That's not the same concept." 　　"for example?" 　　“For example, I’m a terrible student,” Chen Mo chimed in with a laugh. “I smoke, drink, and get into fights. I have a long history of embarrassing mistakes, and there’s likely to be more in the future. Don’t compare me to Xi Siyan; it’s embarrassing.” 　　Actually, Chen Mo was thinking that looking at Xi Siyan's face too much, threatening to send him off the fourth floor if he didn't make it into the top ten, would really shorten his lifespan. 　　Hearing this, Gou Yiyang suddenly asked, "Seriously, is Xi Siyan really serious about getting you into the top ten?" 　　Chen Mo looked over, "How did you know?" 　　"Oh, so it seems it's true." Gou Yiyang didn't even bother to answer, and continued, "Everyone thought you had no hope, but now it seems that's not necessarily the case." 　　Chen Mo: "May I ask what you mean by 'everyone'?" 　　Gou Yiyang said in the most casual tone, "In our class, everyone has been wanting to skip the White Snake class for a long time, but who knew that you would be the one to stand up for us in the end? We're all waiting to see how it goes." 　　Chen Mo: "..." 　　He didn't drink tonight, but his head was throbbing with pain. 　　This topic has been constantly discussed lately, and now everyone feels that he absolutely has to make it into the top ten. 　　We ate barbecue until 9:30 pm. 　　The night market was still bustling. 　　Chen Mo paid the bill, refusing the offer from several people to split the cost with him. It was unclear whether they were embarrassed to let him pay alone, or if they hadn't had enough of making a scene. 　　Someone suggested continuing the party by going to a karaoke bar all night. 　　Chen Mo's sleep schedule had been quite regular lately, but not wanting to spoil the fun, he went along. 　　At this age, entertainment options are limited to internet cafes and karaoke bars, playing games and dating early. They might even feel like they're committing a crime just by going into a bar. The karaoke bar they chose had decent decor, with a glittering, opulent atmosphere inside. The soundproofing was good, with only faint sounds coming from the private rooms. 　　A group of people booked a large private room. 　　Chen Mo sat in the corner of the sofa, feeling drowsy. 　　A group of boys were wildly dancing and fighting over the microphone, belting out high notes, while the girls were looking at their phones and whispering amongst themselves. 　　Just as Chen Mo was about to fall asleep, he felt the sofa next to him sink slightly. 　　He glanced at her and saw that the girl's face was as red as an apple in the dim light. As if he had a premonition, Chen Mo leaned back. 　　Unfortunately, the girl didn't notice at all, and cautiously asked with her head down, "Chen Mo? Can we add each other as friends?" 　　"Why?" Chen Mo heard himself ask. 　　It's not that I can't add it, it's just that I don't want to add it with some tacit, ambiguous purpose. 　　Sure enough, the girl glanced at him and bit her lip, saying, "I just think you... are a nice person." 　　"Ha." Chen Mo couldn't help but chuckle softly. 　　He really wanted to tell the girl in front of him that back in the day, when he frequented various entertainment venues and dealt with all sorts of bloated, self-important businessmen, he had put his arm around the waist of a hostess and let a "princess" kneel down to pour him drinks. 　　To say he's a good person? 　　However, nowadays, he just smiles sheepishly and says, "Sorry, I don't add people casually." 　　"I didn't mean anything by it." The girl's face seemed to turn even redder, and she whispered, "Can't we just be friends?" 　　Chen Mo felt a little helpless. 　　He got up, grabbed a glass of orange liquor from the table, and drank it all in one gulp. 　　As she put down her cup, she looked over, smiled, and sighed, "You're quite pretty, but I don't like girls." 　　"Ah, ah?" The girl parted her lips slightly, stared at him with wide eyes, as if in disbelief, and stammered, "You, you mean..." 　　"Yes." Chen Mo nodded. "I'm gay." 　　Just as the glass clattered against the table, someone changed the song. 　　So much so that Chen Mo's words became the only sound in the entire private room, clear enough for everyone to hear. 　　As the intro to the next song began, someone's microphone fell to the ground, the sharp ringing sound proving the impact of that statement at that moment. 　　The second floor of the KTV at this time. 　　Xi Jianxing was being pressured into drinking in the VIP room until he was completely drunk and was about to give up. 　　Seeing the tall figure push open the door and enter, he quickly said, "That's enough for today... Um, I have to go back... Him? He won't do, this is my nephew, he's still a high school student. You guys have some decency. I'm leaving now, everyone. See you later." 　　We finally got out of the private room.

Chapter 34