A Gilded Cage of Love - Chapter 9

I was admitted to the Chinese Department at Hong Kong University.

In my freshman year, I applied for a student loan.

That year, I buried myself in my studies and took on endless part-time jobs.

To earn higher scholarships, I participated in every school activity that could add credits without taking up too much time.

For example, the campus singer competition.

I have a slightly smoky voice and a natural talent for singing.

Especially Cantonese songs.

Back in high school, my music teacher noticed how quiet I was and called me up to sing.

He even joked, saying I was “Little Janice.”

But after practicing privately for a long time, it was only as the competition approached that I realized something.

At university-especially at a top-ranked one-many competitions are not just contests, but the first social arenas where young people step into society.

Many honored alumni come to present awards, most of them well-known corporate executives, children of officials, or heirs to wealthy families.

The contestants pulled out all the stops, wearing their best outfits.

It wasn’t about vanity for me, but at that time, I didn’t even own a decent dress.

To participate in the competition, I went to rent a dress.

The cheapest one in the rental shop didn’t fit very well.

The day of the competition was Christmas Eve.

Shopping malls and stores were all decked out in Christmas decorations.

There was even a huge Christmas tree in the teaching building.

Coming back inside to the backstage area, my mind wandered: everyone says Santa Claus rides a sleigh, but I’ve never seen snow.

It was on this day that I met Jiang Qin for the first time.

I was the second to last to go on stage.

Instead of choosing a Cantonese song, I picked Mayday’s “Life is Like the Sea.”

I was really into this song at the time-the melody felt like waves and freedom.

During my self-introduction, I was instantly drawn to Jiang Qin at first sight.

He sat in the corner of the front row, unlike the older leaders and alumni. He was strikingly handsome, with a cool and unique aura.

At that time, I only knew he was an outstanding graduate from a prominent family, nothing more.

He was tall, with features like a painting, and an exceptional presence.

At first, everything went smoothly.

I got the audience going, and the dimmed lights gave the phone flashlights their moment to shine.

More and more people waved their lights below, as if I were standing in a galaxy.

But just as the song was ending, the zipper on my borrowed dress broke.

I clearly heard the sound of the zipper sliding open at the back.

I was mortified. In that instant, all I could think was: I hope it’s just the zipper and the dress isn’t ruined, otherwise I’ll have to pay for it.

But all my practice paid off-I reacted instantly, letting down my carefully pinned hair to cover my embarrassment at the back.

My long hair fell like a waterfall, and as it swept out in an arc, the audience erupted in whistles.

I left the stage, breathing heavily, anxious to fix the zipper, only to sadly discover it really was broken.

Outside, they were already tallying the scores. Clearly, I didn’t have time to change.

Just as I was about to fix my hair and rely on it to cover me again, I saw that cool, composed figure standing at the dressing room door.

I paused, unsure how to address him.

I was about to speak when he took a long stride and draped his suit jacket over my shoulders.

The scent of cedar mixed with a faint trace of tobacco.

It was the first time I’d ever felt the presence of a man so close.

My face instantly flushed. I instinctively wanted to refuse: “Thank you, but…”

Jiang Qin’s voice was husky: “Wear it.”

I pressed my lips together, untied the belt from the dress underneath, cinched the suit jacket at the waist, and neatly rolled up the sleeves.

So it looked just like an oversized women’s blazer.

I smiled at him, “Thanks.”

But after the event ended, he left.

I knew his name and background, but that didn’t help-I was keenly aware I had no way to contact him.

Scenes from that night kept flashing through my mind, and I kept wondering how Jiang Qin had noticed.

No one else seemed to.

So I had the tailored suit dry-cleaned and put it at the very back of my closet.

With no way to return it to its owner, I could only let it stay there for now.