The air backstage at the concert hall was thick with the faint scent of rosin. Staff members hurried back and forth as they made final checks before the performance began. Chi Hanqing sat on a chair in the corner while his long fingers unconsciously stroked the neck of his violin. His fingertips were ice-cold. Today he had traded his white shirt and jeans for a well-tailored black performance suit. The suit emphasized his slender frame and narrowed at his waist to create a striking silhouette. A pure white bowtie was fastened around his neck and nearly blended with the cool tone of his skin.
As he tilted his head to adjust a string, the elegant lines of his neck stretched out. The faint blue veins were visible beneath the surface like a stream flowing quietly under a layer of ice. Other teenagers in formal attire filled the hall while they chatted and adjusted their appearances. Occasionally someone would glance toward the corner where Chi Hanqing sat and their eyes inevitably reflected a sense of awe.
The young master of the Chi family rarely attended social events but he never missed a concert. Outsiders assumed his family was simply protective but those in the know understood the truth. The strict family rules left him with no freedom. He played the violin and attended these events solely because of the preference his mother had for the instrument in her youth. Posters on the walls featured the names and photos of Chi Hanqing and several other rising stars. What others saw as glory Chi Hanqing felt as a heavy shackle that made it difficult to breathe.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. His heart jumped and he instinctively held his breath while scanning the room. Seeing that no one was paying attention he pulled out the device. It was a new message from the unsaved number stating that the sender had arrived.
Zhou Fan had actually come. Chi Hanqing bit his lip but he could not hide the smile that curled at the corners of his mouth. Another message arrived wishing him luck and stating that the sender would wait at the backstage emergency exit after the show. To have the person he liked watching his performance with a sweet date waiting afterward made the joy in the eyes of Chi Hanqing unmistakable. Just then a staff member entered to announce that the show was starting. Chi Hanqing sent a quick confirmation then silenced his phone and stood up.
He straightened his spine. The boyish excitement and shyness vanished and were replaced by a mask of perfect and cold tranquility. He picked up his violin and walked toward the stage entrance. The glow of the spotlights at the end of the tunnel looked like a portal to another world.
Shortly after Zhou Fan received the reply the lights in the concert hall dimmed. He turned off his screen and focused on the stage. The ticket he held was for a VIP seat that offered an excellent view close to the stage. Zhou Fan sat there in a simple hoodie and casual pants with his dark hair messy as he chewed on a lollipop. He looked entirely out of place among the other audience members in their suits and gowns. However Zhou Fan did not care. He felt that being eye-catching might even help Chi Hanqing spot him from the stage.
The spotlights focused and applause rang out. A figure stepped out from behind the curtain and stood at the center of the stage. Zhou Fan froze because it was Chi Hanqing. Under the lights Chi Hanqing looked like a completely different person from the crybaby Zhou Fan knew. He looked like a meticulously crafted work of art radiating a cold and dazzling light. He possessed an air of nobility that made him seem unapproachable like a flower on a high mountain.
Zhou Fan swallowed and sat up straight while staring at the figure under the spotlight. The boy was noble and perfectly unreal. A strange and intense sense of loss rose in the heart of Zhou Fan. He had not cared when Teacher Jiang first mentioned the family background of Chi Hanqing. He had not taken it to heart when Dai Lin warned him of the power of the family. But at this moment Zhou Fan truly felt the distance between them. The campus environment acted like a utopia that allowed people to ignore reality.
Zhou Fan had never intended for this relationship to last long. Yet realizing the insurmountable gap between them made him feel a trace of depression. While his own family was well-off they were just ordinary people. He could not compare his background to that of the director of a major corporation. If Chi Hanqing had not happened to fall for him at the basketball court they would never have crossed paths. Yet the young master had said he wanted to attend the same university as him. Zhou Fan curled his lips into a self-mocking smile.
On stage Chi Hanqing tucked the violin under his chin and bowed slightly. His eyes scanned the dark audience before locking onto Zhou Fan. In that brief moment Zhou Fan saw him give a nearly imperceptible smile. The bow fell gracefully onto the strings and notes began to flow. The clear tune carried an indescribable sadness. Zhou Fan glanced at the program he had received at the door and saw the piece was titled Moonlight.
The music was at times gentle and at other times felt as if it were struggling. The boy played with rhythmic grace. Zhou Fan saw him close his eyes while his brows furrowed slightly. Zhou Fan did not understand complex music theory but he felt he could sense the emotions of Chi Hanqing through the music. He felt he could see the lonely and struggling boy who had spent years devoted to someone in secret. When the piece ended Chi Hanqing lowered his violin and bowed. Thunderous applause erupted in the hall. Zhou Fan let out a long breath then stood up and left his seat.
Chi Hanqing returned backstage and placed his violin in its case. The area was a mess of activity as other performers prepared to go on. His teacher offered a few words of praise before moving on to someone else. Seeing an opportunity Chi Hanqing slipped out the back door. The hallway was quiet and deserted. He found the emergency exit and pushed open the door to the stairwell.
He wondered if Zhou Fan had not arrived yet and felt a pang of disappointment. He looked down to check his phone for messages. Just then hurried footsteps sounded from the stairs behind him and a warm and familiar embrace wrapped around him. The muscular arms of the boy circled his waist and pulled him so tight it almost hurt. Chi Hanqing panicked for a split second before relaxing.
Zhou Fan laughed and called him treasure while noting that the performance was amazing. He leaned down to kiss the slender back of the neck of the boy before loosening his grip. Chi Hanqing turned around and looked up into the handsome face and bright eyes of Zhou Fan. His love overflowed and he instinctively wrapped his arms around the neck of Zhou Fan to initiate a kiss.
Initially Zhou Fan simply let the boy kiss him clumsily. But when the tongue of the young master licked at his lips with dissatisfaction Zhou Fan opened his mouth. The kiss tasted of orange candy and was not as gentle as usual. It carried a sense of urgency and possessiveness. Chi Hanqing could feel a hidden trace of insecurity within the actions of Zhou Fan. Zhou Fan sucked on the lips and tongue of the boy as if he were trying to confirm that this person was real and that the dazzling person on stage actually belonged to him.
The legs of Chi Hanqing went weak and he struggled for breath. He responded to every movement while his hands gripped the fabric of the hoodie of Zhou Fan. The cold mask he wore under the spotlights shattered and left only instinct and dependency. A small whimper escaped his lips. Zhou Fan pulled back slightly with their foreheads touching as they breathed heavily.
Zhou Fan told him to say that he liked him. The eyes of Chi Hanqing were misty from the kiss. He did not ask why and simply obeyed. Zhou Fan smiled then tilted the chin of the boy and kissed him again.
The date was merely a few moments alone in the stairwell. Chi Hanqing was still in his performance suit and his appearance was so striking that he could easily be recognized by someone who knew his parents. Zhou Fan did not mind the location. He had bought some snacks and they sat together on the stairs while talking in low voices and sharing kisses. As the concert neared its end Zhou Fan tidied up the snack packaging. He reached out to straighten the bowtie of Chi Hanqing and fix his messy hair. Zhou Fan teased him to get back before he was caught.
The eyes of Chi Hanqing dimmed. He asked if Zhou Fan felt wronged being with him. Zhou Fan arched an eyebrow and was surprised by the question. He laughed and asked if the other boy felt wronged being with him. He felt that if he had the same background as Chi Hanqing they would not have to hide like this. Chi Hanqing said no without hesitation. Zhou Fan noted that neither did he and told the boy to go.
He tucked an orange candy into the pocket of Chi Hanqing and turned to leave. His figure disappeared around the corner like a wind that could not be caught. Chi Hanqing stood there while gripping the candy in his pocket. Even though they had just parted he already felt a sense of longing. He closed his eyes then took a deep breath and pushed open the door. Back in the hall he put on his mask of cold detachment. His teacher waved him over with a smile and asked where he had been. Chi Hanqing noted he went out for some air. The teacher did not doubt him and patted his back while offering to introduce him to some guests.