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By June, the countdown to the official performance had begun.
The logistical work was finally all sorted out, but Yin Mengxi hadn’t slowed down one bit. She was now busy with promotional preparations for the play, working back at the Youth League with Jiayi and the others—designing posters, writing promotional copy, creating pull-up banners… like a little spinning top that never stopped.
Because of how busy she was, her visits to Xiaohongding became less frequent, reverting to about once a week. Each time she returned, the logistics team would tease her, saying things like, “Xixi, you’ve finally graced us with your presence,” and asking, “Which is your true happy home—the Youth League or the drama club?” She’d purse her lips and reply, “I like both,” earning herself the nickname “Master of Diplomacy.”
Her relationship with Xiao Zhi also seemed to undergo some subtle changes.
He continued to diligently lead rehearsals as usual, but almost every time she stood in the wings preparing props, he would glance over at her. She always noticed immediately, sometimes cautiously meeting his gaze, other times pretending not to see it. During lunch breaks, when everyone occasionally gathered to play cards, she joined in one day, and he happened to be there too. When he glanced at the empty seat beside him, she quickly understood and quietly went to sit next to him, staying there for the entire noon. On nights when rehearsals ended late—Wednesday and Friday sessions lasting until ten-thirty—he lingered a bit longer during the last two rehearsals, seemingly discussing details of the upcoming performance with Guo Yue. He only left after seeing her come out from backstage with the logistics team.
Vague, ambiguous.
To outsiders, these were unclear, unsubstantiated observations, but only the parties involved truly understood. She could sense these special favors directed solely at her, and the top-tier sweetness made her dizzy. She was eager to solidify these fleeting moments, yet felt immensely grateful just to have them.
In reality, others besides her noticed these special interactions.
—For instance, Tang Fei.
Girls are often perceptive, especially Tang Fei, who as Xiao Zhi’s childhood friend could clearly detect any subtle changes concerning him.
—He seemed to show some particular attention to that freshman from the Youth League.
Not much, just a little. For example, when he looked at her, his gaze lingered longer than it did on others. Sometimes, while Tang Fei was rehearsing Ye Jing’s scenes on stage and would glance at him twice to confirm his approval, she noticed his eyes flickering toward the shadows in the wings—and that freshman always happened to be standing there. He occasionally spoke to her, mostly about drama club matters, but there were always a few sentences unrelated to work, like recommending nearby restaurants with good flavors or sharing tips and precautions about selecting general elective courses.
This was unusual.
The captivating Senior Xiao could be gentle and polite, but he wouldn’t show special favor to anyone. He treated everyone with equal kindness and calmness. Yet crossing that line even slightly was incredibly difficult—so why could this girl receive such treatment?
...Could it be that he liked her a little?
Sometimes ignoring something makes it seem insignificant, but once you start thinking about it, everything becomes problematic. Tang Fei now felt as if she were looking through a magnifying glass; the more she observed Xiao Zhi and Yin Mengxi, the more abnormal their interactions seemed. Her heart sank further, filled with panic and anger.
She shared these suspicions with Yang Yuanyuan, who initially didn’t believe her, saying, “How could that be? That girl isn’t as pretty as you. How could Senior Xiao possibly like her?—Besides, she’s only a freshman. How long has she even known Senior?”
Tang Fei hoped it was all just her overthinking, but she trusted her instincts and insisted there was something abnormal between them.
“You’re right. Better safe than sorry…”
Yang Yuanyuan was fiercely loyal, already siding with her best friend. Cleverly, she whipped out her phone and furiously scrolled through last semester’s school forum posts. After a while, she found what she was looking for and shoved the phone in front of Tang Fei, loudly declaring, “Look at this! Doesn’t this look like that girl from the Youth League?”
What she found was the photo taken last semester when Xiao Zhi walked Yin Mengxi back to her dormitory. Both figures were captured from behind, faces unseen, but the height ratio and body proportions… it really did look like Yin Mengxi!
Tang Fei’s face darkened instantly, her hands clenching tightly. Yang Yuanyuan, however, seemed even more agitated, angrily cursing on the side: “Damn it! I knew there was no way someone would willingly do so much extra work. Turns out she’s after Senior Xiao! Acting all innocent and obedient, fooling the entire logistics team—who would’ve thought she’s such a big white lotus!”
“Tsk! What bad luck!”
“Feifei, you absolutely cannot let this person steal your ground!”
Of course, Yin Mengxi knew nothing of these conversations. She was still running back and forth between the Youth League and the drama club. That morning, she had just finished setting up pull-up banners and audience guidance stickers outside Xiaohongding with Yushan and Stone. In the afternoon, she went with the logistics team to print paper tickets and distribute them across departments. By the end of the day, she was half-exhausted.
Guo Yue was especially grateful to her, repeatedly thanking her and promising: “Xixi, don’t worry. I’ll put this out there—you can count on me. After the performance, I’ll definitely apply for a labor subsidy for you, double the amount. Go on a nice summer vacation!”
Wow.
…That much?
Yin Mengxi blinked, feeling tempted yet skeptical. In the end, her distrust of Guo Yue won out, and she simply said, “Thank you, Senior.”
“What, you still don’t believe me?” Guo Yue frowned.
“Come on, Senior,” Peng Zechuan chimed in, undermining him. “Last year, you said you’d treat everyone to dinner. Two plays later, I haven’t even had a cucumber salad.”
That hit a nerve. Guo Yue chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head. Just then, Xiao Zhi happened to walk by, and Guo Yue grabbed him, saying, “It wasn’t that I didn’t want to treat everyone—it was because our scholarships were delayed. This time, I’ll definitely treat everyone. If I can’t, then Senior Xiao will—he’s loaded and can take the whole group to Haidilao!”
Whoa!
Several students nearby heard this and began clapping enthusiastically, trying to secure this bargain. Yin Mengxi secretly laughed at Xiao Zhi’s helpless expression, thinking how unlucky he was this semester—not only dragged in by his roommate to fill gaps but now facing the danger of having to pay for a group meal.
“We’ll talk about it after a successful performance,” he seemed to accept his misfortune but still encouraged everyone a little. “If it doesn’t succeed, it’s just Sha County snacks.”
The contrast was too stark. Under its shadow, Haidilao seemed even more enticing. The backstage buzzed with anticipation, everyone’s goal shifting from “successful performance” to “bankrupting Senior Xiao.” Surprisingly, this motivated them even more.
June 10th arrived—the official performance day.
Yin Mengxi woke up at five in the morning, meeting with the logistics team at six to confirm lighting and sound at the venue. At seven, she returned to the Youth League office to fetch the shared camera, capturing one final record of the production team’s pre-performance state.
Carrying the heavy equipment back to the theater in the scorching summer heat, she was drenched in sweat. Upon entering, she encountered Xiao Zhi, who glanced at her damp hairline and the beads of sweat trailing down her neck into her collar. His brows furrowed slightly. Taking the heavy machine from her hands, he handed her a pack of tissues, saying, “Take it easy. No need to rush.”
Still catching her breath, she suddenly realized she probably didn’t look very presentable at that moment, so her face flushed again. After hastily wiping herself with the tissues, she explained to him, “I’m going backstage to shoot footage…”
He sighed, glancing at her obvious dark circles, his brows furrowing even more. “You’re not resting enough. You’ll burn out during finals season.”
Hadn’t she?
She already had three papers and two reading reports piled up, plus four closed-book exams and two open-book exams. Last night, she stayed up until three finishing a group assignment and only slept for two hours before getting up again.
“It’ll get better after tonight’s performance,” she touched her dark circles, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Things will lighten up once I submit my drafts.”
“Don’t overwork yourself,” he still seemed concerned, reminding her again. “Take care of your health.”
Words of concern always warmed the heart. She felt soft inside, even shy to respond with a simple “Okay.” He glanced at her pink earlobes, his eyes reflecting some emotion. The wind between the valleys hadn’t stopped—it gradually ruffled the treetops of both their hearts.
“Do you need to move the equipment backstage?” he carried the machine for her, walking into the theater with her. “Are you handling everything alone today?”
“No, our department head will personally handle the filming during the actual performance,” she quickly explained. “I’m just here to capture some backstage footage first.”
He nodded, understanding. Together, they entered the bustling backstage makeup room, where recruited makeup volunteers were applying foundation and makeup to the actors—including Tang Fei, who was unusually punctual.
When Tang Fei saw Xiao Zhi enter, she initially looked pleased—but her expression darkened upon noticing Yin Mengxi following him. She watched them stand together and heard Xiao Zhi offer to help set up the camera.
“No, no, I can handle it myself,” Yin Mengxi told him. “It’s a bit tricky, but I’m familiar with it and can set it up quickly.”
After pausing, she added, “If it’s not stable, the camera might fall and break—and I really can’t afford to replace it.”
He raised an eyebrow, seeming intrigued, and gestured for her to demonstrate. She hesitated, perhaps feeling a bit self-conscious showing off in front of him, but she secretly wanted to impress him. After a brief refusal, she bent down and skillfully assembled the equipment with practiced ease.
“Done—”
She stood up, looking at him with bright, sparkling eyes, clearly expecting praise.
He fully understood her little game. Nodding, he obliged her wishes, complimenting her: “Impressive.”
Just those two words were enough to satisfy her. If she were a flower, she’d be in full bloom right now. If she were a little rabbit, she’d be wagging her short tail.
“I’ll leave you to your work then. I’ll go find Guo Yue,” he smiled at her. Had there been fewer people around, he might have been tempted to pat her head. “See you this afternoon.”
She obediently replied, “Okay,” her eyes gazing at him sweetly, like syrup pulling threads, reluctant to look away until he left.
Slap.
A compact powder case crashed to the floor, its small mirror shattering.
“Sorry.”
Tang Fei picked it up, sitting expressionless at the makeup station.
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