Even though it was rather dim beneath the stage and even though the stage was quite far from the fifth row, Ji Yi could tell with just one look that it was He Jichen.
He actually came to the show and he stood up. Is he coming up on stage to be with me?
Ji Yi was about to say something when all of a sudden, her mouth froze while slightly gaped. Her eyes were transfixed on his silhouette.
He Jichen was sitting in the middle of the fifth row. When he stepped out, he had to walk past many people.
Someone probably recognized him while he was walking through because the atmosphere in the fifth row seemed a little rattled.
Despite the commotion around him, the cold aura from his body never changed as though he hadn't felt a thing.
Ji Yi's gaze followed He Jichen as he weaved through the crowd. When he stopped at the walkway between the seats, she instinctively held her breath.
On the left, there was the stage. On the right, there was the exit.
In that very moment, she put everything on the line and bravely gambled in complete disregard for everything else.
In front of everyone, she bet on whether he would stay after she confessed for the whole world to hear or leave her there, incredibly embarrassed.
Even if he got up on stage, she would still have to face a world of chaos, but he wouldn't be leaving her alone for the world to laugh at.
Quite a lot of people beneath the stage immediately zoomed in on Ji Yi's expression. Everybody watched as she stared in one direction then followed her gaze. Even the people in the back row stood up.
Almost everyone's gazes fell on He Jichen's body.
Everybody was waiting for him to make a decision.
As each second passed, the whole gymnasium remained silent for a minute. He Jichen stood in the walkway and slowly moved towards the stage.
Ji Yi's fingers instinctively clutched onto the award and microphone more tightly. All of a sudden, she became unusually nervous. Her heart started to race uncontrollably and with each beat, it seemed like it was going to jump out of her throat.
Through the whispering sea of people, He Jichen's gaze was transfixed on Ji Yi on the stage for a while. He raised his feet, strode up the steps and walked over towards the stage.
He walked slowly and solemnly but also calmly.
But Ji Yi couldn't help but hold her breath as she stared at He Jichen drawing closer.
He Jichen walked over to the walkway which happened to also be the same path Ji Yi took when she entered. As he passed the third row, Qian Ge, who was sitting right by the walkway, looked like she wanted to stand up and stop He Jichen. However, she only managed to make it halfway when Xie Siyao, who was sitting next to her, dragged Qian Ge back down.
Really quick yet really slow.
As quick as the blink of an eye. As slow and drawn out as a century.
He Jichen reached the foot of the stage.
He raised his head and she lowered hers. They held their gaze for about three seconds before a seriousness and earnestness suddenly replaced the dull expression on his face. Then he raised his feet and strode up the stairs. With each step, it felt like his once-in-lifetime chance as he set foot on the stage with complete seriousness.
He took a few steps toward Ji Yi and stopped about five meters away from her.
Ji Yi's eyes started to well up as she stared at him, but the corners of his lips curved upward into a smile.