After this song that evoked memories was finished, the cheers and screams from below still didn't stop for a long time. The short videos recorded by the students below had already started spreading everywhere, and there was even a live broadcast.
Obviously, it was a performance by three people, but the person in the center position seemed to have a heat - absorbing aura. With his unique and attractive temperament, everyone was involuntarily drawn to him.
One could imagine how many more little fans Ryder would unconsciously gain after tonight.
Starting from the clumsy hand - gesture dance, where he occasionally couldn't keep up, after going through it once, he soon became more natural and smooth.
Aria couldn't help but think of the time when she went to the student office to give the Christmas apples. The few of them were being secretive, with sweat on their foreheads. At that time, Ryder, who was leaning against the sofa, looked as leisurely as ever.
But he was clearly looking down at the video on his phone.
It was only when he looked up and saw her coming that he casually turned off the phone and pretended that nothing had happened.
However, based on Aria's understanding of his stubbornly proud and cool - looking self, it wasn't hard to guess that in order not to let her notice, he must have tidied himself up in advance.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but laugh.
He was really super cute.
Sydney hugged Aria's arm, pouting in dissatisfaction. "What's this? The real girlfriend is right here, and these crazy girls don't know that the president is already taken?"
Aria just smiled and didn't say anything.
"You're still laughing?" Sydney poked her head in frustration. "Those heart - gestures were clearly for you!"
"Okay, okay. I know, all right?" Aria found it both funny and annoying. Everyone had the freedom to like whoever they wanted. She couldn't possibly stop other girls from liking him, could she?
She would be jealous to death if she did.
Moreover, a boy like Ryder would never lack pursuers. He was like a beautiful dream.
Moths would fly into the fire, and every girl had a girlish dream.
But as long as the person he liked at this moment was her, the only one he saw was her, and he was standing there for her, that was enough.
The excited crowd originally thought that the performance would end after one song. But to their surprise, Finn Alvarez and Oliver Kim gave Ryder the middle finger and then went down, while Ryder still stood there lazily without moving.
"What? Is there more? Is there more?"
"Damn, is the president going to go all out today?"
"So what special day is it today?!"
Ryder completely ignored the commotion below. He leisurely withdrew his gaze from the little girl who was only talking to Sydney, and walked to the edge of the platform on his own, then sat down, propping himself up.
He lazily swung his legs and turned his head.
Everyone looked at him curiously. Following his gaze, they all looked over. After a moment, Ryan Bennett poked his head out from the side of the podium, walked up in a few steps, and was holding a guitar in his hand.
He handed it to Ryder, and Ryder took it, raising his eyebrows.
Ryan Bennett made an "ok" gesture.
Getting the response, Ryder waved his hand at him.
Go down.
Ryan Bennett: "..."
On the self - cultivation of a tool - man.
So understanding.
Ryan Bennett thought of Finn Alvarez and Oliver Kim, who were shivering in the backstage, putting on their padded jackets. He once again felt that they were really unlucky.
He couldn't help but admire Ryder to the core. Not only did he give his windbreaker to his girlfriend when he went out, but when he came back, even though he was freezing, he still didn't forget to show off to them.
—— "Oh, by the way, my girlfriend was worried about me and insisted that I drink ginger tea to prevent a cold. Do we have that in our dorm?"
Come on, how could there be such a thing in a boys' dorm!
This guy was really something.
The people in front of the podium crowded forward, but quite tacitly, they stopped at the edge of the track and didn't move forward any further. Many times, their fanaticism towards Ryder was like the moon in the sky.
His sense of distance would discourage many people, making them stop in their tracks, yet they couldn't help but want to get close to him. It was a contradictory and longing feeling.
Aria looked at him quietly.
She was thinking differently from the others. She was thinking that he must be very cold.
He wasn't even wearing warm clothes. The shirt was much thinner than a sweatshirt. Why was this guy so disobedient?
Showing off like this.
Even if he sang in a big cotton - padded jacket, she would still like him just the same.
Ryder tugged at the collar of his shirt, placed the guitar in his arms in the right position. His cold - white, slender hands held it, and the joints were already red from the cold when he bent his fingers, but he seemed not to feel it.
He casually lowered his head, revealing a section of his vulnerable neck. His fingers lazily plucked the strings, tuning them skillfully.
He didn't take the microphone. The ear - hanging microphone was still on. He tapped the ear - mic with his finger bones to make sure it was working, and then said in a soft voice, "Let me say a few words."
The quiet whispers below immediately stopped.
"I'll take a few minutes of your time. I'm very grateful to those who stayed to witness this for me." He lifted his eyelids, easily found the little girl looking at him in the crowd, and hooked his lips into a smile.
Aria's heart couldn't help but start pounding wildly.
"Before, I played tricks and took advantage of my birthday to ask the little girl for a title. I didn't expect my girlfriend to be so soft - hearted and agree," Ryder lowered his head and smiled. "I thought about it for two days and still felt that I really wronged her."
Ryder's eyes were gentle, with a faint smile slowly spreading in them. He said in a lazy voice, "So I have one more song that I want to sing to my girlfriend."
On the dim stage, only one spotlight remained, shining down from above, reflecting the boy's serious yet leisurely figure. He lowered his eyelashes, and his slender, fair fingers gently plucked the guitar strings.
"Passed by people coming and going"
"Even if I don't like, I have to appreciate"
He started singing in a low voice, his fingertips hooking the strings. His lazy voice was tinged with a sexy hoarseness, and the whole place fell silent.
He slowly raised his eyes and looked at Aria quietly. His eyes were incredibly gentle, clean and frank, as if telling her about his unique preference and concern for her.
Aria blinked, and the moisture she had been holding back suddenly filled her eyes without warning.
She didn't know if it was a coincidence or not. He had once thought that she had someone else in her heart, but he didn't know that this song seemed to echo her silent and stubborn joy over the years.
He thought it was about him, but in fact, it was about her.
Aria's eyelashes trembled. Her gaze at him was moist and distant. At this moment, all of this would be let go, and it was infinitely complete.
Ryder curved his lips and mouthed silently, "Don't cry."
Aria's eyelashes fluttered, and she curved her lips.
Yeah, don't cry.
She smiled silently. At the moment when Ryder lowered his head, her lips moved slightly. She said "thank you" seriously and devoutly to the boy sitting there, playing the guitar and singing a love song for her wholeheartedly.
Thank you, Ryder.
Time teaches people to grow, forget, and move forward. Youth only lasts for a few years. How many people can be so stubborn for so many years and finally have their wishes come true.
Aria seemed to see that poor girl who used to lie on the desk and cry quietly, stretching across time. Standing here, as long as she reached out her hand, she could hug the boy she loved.
The boy raised his eyebrows with a playful smile, indulgently hugged her, kissed her, being unrestrained and rogue, his voice full of laughter. "Aria."
"Little classmate?"
"—— Girlfriend, do I have a proper title now?"
The girl's eyes curved with a smile.
Yes, you've always been the only solution, the first priority.