On a cool, pleasant early autumn evening, the entrance of the city's main bookstore building was bustling with a large crowd. The group was evenly split between men and women, with the vast majority holding a book in their hands, some even raising support signs. Every face was filled with an expression of anticipation.
Even passersby could sense that something important was happening at the bookstore today—someone significant must have arrived to excite the crowd so much.
Moreover, among these fans, there were not only young people but also some middle-aged individuals who appeared to be intellectuals, and even elderly people with graying hair and glasses. The books in their hands all bore the same name.
You Mingxu stood outside the building, feeling a bit warm but able to endure it. The weather hadn't turned cold yet, and many people were still wearing short sleeves or, at most, long sleeves. Only she was dressed in a trench coat that covered her entire body, with the collar turned up, along with a baseball cap and a face mask. This drew a few extra glances from those around her.
You Mingxu stood firm and unmoving amidst the surging crowd.
Only when most people had already entered and the sound of the host's voice could be heard from inside the building did You Mingxu walk to the counter, buy a copy of Yin Feng's book, and use the receipt to gain entry.
The bookstore building had four floors, and as soon as You Mingxu stepped inside, she found it almost impossible to move. Every floor was packed with people, and the event atrium on the first floor was completely jammed. It was a sea of dark, densely packed heads.
In the center stood a massive backdrop printed with a collection of books and a portrait of a man wearing thin-framed glasses and a shirt. You Mingxu looked at him as if he were a stranger: intellectual, scholarly, steady, and wise.
Without a doubt, this was an old photo.
She tried to crane her neck for a better look but was completely blocked by the crowd in front of her. However, this didn't stop a detective. She quickly assessed the surrounding terrain and the distribution of the crowd, then chose a spot on the second floor and made her way there.
As expected, the crowd here was sparser. She easily and skillfully slipped to the front, leaned lazily against the railing, and looked down.
There, she saw the center of attention, surrounded like a star.
Yin Feng was dressed exactly as he was in the poster. To add a more mature vibe, his hair was styled in a voluminous flip, and he wore a pair of glasses. But at a glance, You Mingxu felt his demeanor was completely different from the person in the poster. He was smiling sweetly at the audience, his eyes bright, clearly carrying a touch of childishness.
Two girls beside You Mingxu were chatting: "Wow, Yin Feng's smile is so adorable!"
"Let me tell you, I'm a long-time fan. Yin Feng has always been such a tough guy—he's even a fitness enthusiast! He posted photos of his eight-pack abs on Weibo! Those muscles, wow... But I never expected he had such a cute side too. Don't you think he has such a youthful vibe today? I'm totally smitten!"
You Mingxu couldn't help but smile.
She thought to herself, Abs... yeah, he definitely has them. Suddenly, she recalled last night in bed—Yin Feng wearing next to nothing, his T-shirt pushed up above his waist, revealing his firm, well-proportioned abdomen. And him, red-eyed, holding her down, muttering wild, passionate nonsense...
The smile vanished from You Mingxu's face. Her throat felt dry and tight. From her vantage point, she continued to stare down below.At this moment, the host said, "Everyone has come from all directions, with many readers even traveling from other cities just to see Teacher Yin. Our Teacher Yin cares deeply for his readers—how could we not have some special treats? Guess what's next?"
"Piano, piano, piano—" the entire audience almost shouted in unison.
A black piano had long been placed at one side of the stage.
You Mingxu watched Yin Feng. In her eyes, he appeared as a delicate young man, smiling somewhat shyly, his eyes sparkling. Perhaps unaccustomed to the shirt collar, his face slightly flushed as he tugged at the neckline, undoing a button.
The audience erupted into excited screams.
He, however, froze for a moment, seemingly puzzled by the reaction. Then he lifted his head and slowly scanned the surroundings, as if searching for something. You Mingxu was startled and instinctively lowered her head, hiding her face in her collar.
After a while, she looked up and saw he had already taken a seat at the piano, his profile serene. You Mingxu rested her chin on one hand and quietly watched.
He sat perfectly straight. Even though You Mingxu knew nothing about music, she could sense the elegance in his every movement. As his hands descended, a cascade of light, melodious notes flowed forth like shimmering light in the night sky, radiating in all directions.
The entire building erupted into enthusiastic applause, which soon quieted down as everyone fell silent, listening to the renowned prodigy play with effortless grace.
The dark surface of the piano reflected blurred shadows of light. The man in the white shirt had removed his glasses and was playing with intense focus. At this moment, he neither resembled the fool who usually pestered You Mingxu nor the scheming, dominant man from the photographs. Or perhaps, both personas merged into one within the artistry he excelled in. Rapid notes spread under his fingers, and from head to toe, he exuded a certain steadfast, gentle temperament. He appeared more mature than You Yingjun, yet far purer than the Yin Feng of the past.
You Mingxu kept her gaze fixed on his face.
Just then, he reached a climactic passage, and the audience gasped in awe. Seeming rather pleased with himself, he flashed a grin.
For no particular reason, You Mingxu smiled too.
That smug fool.
Everything was quiet, natural, and inexplicably unfolding. After his smile faded, his expression momentarily froze. Then he slowly lifted his head and looked toward the second floor.
With uncanny accuracy and without any warning, his eyes landed precisely on the corner where You Mingxu stood.
You Mingxu stiffened slightly.
It was too late to evade. Even with her face mask and baseball cap, only her eyes visible and her figure concealed by her trench coat, she could clearly feel his gaze locking directly with hers across the crowd.
That dry-throated sensation surged within her again. In that instant, her thoughts grew sluggish as she silently met his gaze.
Then she saw him smile at her. It was like sunshine after snowfall, like spring blossoms warming the earth. A light seemed to shine upon his clean features and bright white teeth. He even stopped playing, letting his hands rest between his legs, and simply looked up at her—just as obediently as he did at home.Everyone in the venue was puzzled and looked up in the direction he was gazing. You Mingxu immediately took two steps back, retreating from the crowd. The girls who had been standing around her were flattered, covering their faces and looking around, trying to see who Yin Feng was smiling at.
Yet, for the first time ever, You Mingxu felt her ears burning. She made her way through the crowd, went downstairs, and walked out of the bookstore in one breath. She thought to herself: Damn it, is this guy really a dog? How could he still find her like that?!
—
The night grew deeper.
Yin Feng gently pushed the door open, and the living room was shrouded in darkness. You Mingxu’s door was closed, with light seeping through the crack.
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