The rehearsal didn’t go very smoothly after that.

After everyone changed into their performance costumes, some of the originally designed movements and stage effects were far from expectations. Everyone rehearsed while discussing, making modifications, and trying repeatedly, and time passed quickly.

At first, Yang Yue would pay special attention to the direction Shu Ziqin was sitting, but as time went on, he gradually became fully focused on the rehearsal and paid no attention to anything else.

After several revisions at a crucial point, Zhao Qinqing and the male student in charge of stage arrangement had some disagreements. Neither of them could convince the other, and the opinions of the other cast members were also not unified. It was impossible to reach a consensus in a short time. After a whole day of rehearsal, everyone was tired and impatient, and the atmosphere quickly became sour.

Yang Yue felt that both sides’ suggestions were equally valid. He tried to mediate for a while, but when it didn’t work out, he didn’t bother to intervene anymore. Even with the protection of band-aids, wearing uncomfortable shoes was not pleasant; his feet hurt a lot. While everyone was still arguing, he quietly ran to the bench and sat down next to Shu Ziqin.

“Which one do you think is better?” he asked Shu Ziqin.

Shu Ziqin didn’t hesitate to tell him, “I like the proposal from that girl.”

Yang Yue asked further, “Why?”

“According to her proposal, when you perform this movement,” Shu Ziqin said while imitating Yang Yue’s posture from earlier, “you are right in the center of the stage.”

Seeing his awkward posture as he twisted his waist and flicked his non-existent long hair, Yang Yue burst into laughter. “Am I that foolish?”

Shu Ziqin straightened up again and also laughed, “You look particularly good doing it, so you’re suited to stand in the center of the stage.”

Yang Yue patted him on the shoulder, “Not bad, young man, you have potential, and you have good judgment.”

Shu Ziqin smiled and tousled his hair, asking, “Senior, is your foot still hurting? I noticed that your movements weren’t quite natural when you walked over just now.”

“A little,” Yang Yue said, stretching out his leg with the sandal strap, “My feet are too big, and I can’t find shoes that fit.”

Shu Ziqin brought his foot, wearing sneakers, closer to Yang Yue’s, and they were placed close together. “It’s not big at all, right?”

Being tall with naturally large bone structure, Shu Ziqin’s sneakers looked bulkier compared to the sandals, making Yang Yue’s feet appear small and delicate.

Yang Yue’s self-esteem was somewhat hurt. He retracted his foot and asked, “How tall are you?”

“187 centimeters,” Shu Ziqin said, “I measured it last week.”

Yang Yue’s mood worsened.

“…What do you usually like to eat?” he asked.

Shu Ziqin thought for a moment, “Noodles, steamed buns, bread… I also like hot pot!”

Yang Yue, who loved drinking milk, keenly felt the unfairness of the world.

“Um…” Shu Ziqin lowered his head, looking at his still extended long legs, “Senior, after the rehearsal, would you like to go eat together?”

Yang Yue looked him up and down, asking, “Do you want me to change out of my costume before going, or do you want me to go like this?”

Shu Ziqin widened his eyes and looked at him in surprise, as if he had imagined some kind of scene, suddenly becoming nervous, “Either way, it’s fine!”

Yang Yue chuckled.

He chuckled and shook his head, thinking to himself, “Ah, all men are the same.”

“…But it might be inconvenient to dress like this,” Shu Ziqin continued, “Senior, you really should change your shoes.”

Yang Yue ignored what he was saying, wrapped his arm around his, and deliberately leaned his entire body against him, saying, “Then, are you going to treat me?”

Shu Ziqin froze completely.

Yang Yue felt even more pleased. He remembered the scene a few hours ago when Shu Ziqin helped him put on the band-aids. He felt a bit embarrassed at that time, and now he wanted to repay him double.

“We agreed on a reward just now, right?” he sweetly smiled at Shu Ziqin, “You helped me a lot today, so I definitely want to repay you. I’ll give you a chance to treat me to a meal, so you better cherish it.”

This shameless remark might even leave a treat-happy person like Jing Tian dumbfounded and unable to respond, torn between crying and laughing.

However, Shu Ziqin, with a serious expression, licked his lips and nodded without any objections, as if this was a reasonable reward: “Oh, okay!”

After saying that, before Yang Yue, who was unexpectedly still in a daze, could react, he asked again, “Senior, what do you like to eat?”

“I…” Yang Yue glanced around, “I’m a glutton for little kids.”

Shu Ziqin blinked his eyes blankly.

“…I only eat those like you,” Yang Yue ran his finger along Shu Ziqin’s facial contours, “Fair-skinned, innocent, very nourishing.”

“I…” Shu Ziqin blushed heavily, “What do you mean fair-skinned and innocent, I… Senior, I’m asking you seriously.”

This look is really adorable.

Yang Yue loved most seeing others flustered by his teasing, his playful nature surged, intensifying his actions.

He wrapped his arm around Shu Ziqin’s, lifted his chin with his hand, raised his head slightly to look directly into his eyes, and chuckled, “I am serious too, you know.”

Shu Ziqin stared back at him for a while, then leaned back cautiously, evading his hand, “You’re just teasing me, I’m not stupid.”

Yang Yue couldn’t help but laugh again, slapping his thigh a few times with force.

“You’re like this with many people,” Shu Ziqin said, “I’ve seen it.”

Yang Yue pretended to be pitiful, “What do you mean? Are you rejecting me?”

“Of course not, what I mean is I know you’re joking with me, so…”

Before Shu Ziqin could finish his sentence, Yang Yue, seized by a fit of mischief, interrupted him abruptly.

“You think I’m fickle, not worthy of you, right?” he pretended to sniffle, “You think I’m dirty, not sincere with you.”

“…”

Shu Ziqin was thoroughly bewildered.

Yang Yue wanted to continue acting, but unfortunately, he couldn’t control his expression well enough, couldn’t hold back his laughter completely, and his tone twisted when he spoke, “You clearly told me straightforwardly, will you marry me or not?”

“…”

Shu Ziqin seemed to want to laugh too, but his face turned very red, he opened his mouth, looking unsure of what to say.

Yang Yue reached out to touch his face again, “Will you? I want a definite answer.”

Shu Ziqin’s skin not only looked fresh and fair but also felt good to the touch, smooth and addictive.

Shu Ziqin gently pursed his lips, nodded, “…Yes.”

“Haha,” Yang Yue couldn’t hold it in, bursting into laughter, “Hahaha!”

He slapped his own thigh vigorously, then realizing it was a bit painful, he switched to slapping Shu Ziqin’s. Shu Ziqin sat awkwardly, motionless, allowing him to slap haphazardly.

After a while, seeing Yang Yue still unable to stop laughing, Shu Ziqin finally spoke, sounding helpless, “Senior…”

His voice was soft and slow, sounding oddly aggrieved.

“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore,” Yang Yue said, then casually ruffled Shu Ziqin’s short hair, “Good boy!”

Shu Ziqin’s hair was already somewhat messy, he tidied it up instinctively, carefully smoothing it out.

“Okay,” he nodded satisfactorily, murmuring softly, “Now it looks handsome.”

Shu Ziqin sat obediently, then said, “It’s not just me, but teasing others like this isn’t good either.”

“What’s the harm, everyone’s happy,” Yang Yue shrugged, “Just joking around.”

“…What if someone takes it seriously?”

“How could they,” Yang Yue waved his hand, “They all know my gender.”

“Some people also like guys,” Shu Ziqin said.

“Guys who like guys wouldn’t be interested in me dressed like this,” Yang Yue said, “Why, are you really unhappy about it?”

Shu Ziqin shook his head vigorously, “Of course not!”

Yang Yue raised an eyebrow.

Shu Ziqin closed his mouth tightly, avoiding his gaze, “I definitely don’t dislike it.”

Yang Yue immediately revealed a mischievous smile and began to plot again. Seeing Shu Ziqin avoiding looking at him, he simply stood up, turned around, and stood in front of Shu Ziqin, looking down at him with a smirk.

Shu Ziqin was forced to look up, feeling uneasy, but what came out of his mouth was rather atmosphere-breaking, “Senior, please sit down, your feet must be hurting, you should rest for a while.”

“Thank you,” Yang Yue smiled at him, “You’re so considerate.”

With that said, without waiting for Shu Ziqin’s reaction, he very decisively turned sideways and lightly sat on Shu Ziqin’s thigh.

“Baby,” his finger still hooked under Shu Ziqin’s chin, “Are you satisfied with me?”

Shu Ziqin remained silent and motionless, completely petrified.

Yang Yue leaned closer to his ear, whispering softly, “If you like, I can be your temporary girlfriend for today.”

Most guys who got flustered like this around him were like that. Being single for a long time, they wanted to gain some benefits from him to satisfy themselves psychologically. Shu Ziqin had an honest and cute personality, and his reactions to teasing were amusing. Yang Yue didn’t mind giving him a taste of sweetness.

Seeing Shu Ziqin still having no reaction, Yang Yue considered whether he should go all out and kiss him.

Just as he was about to act, he faintly sensed something amiss and subtly shifted his butt.

Then, he muttered softly, “What the heck is this?”

Finally, Shu Ziqin reacted, swallowing hard.

Yang Yue lowered his head, shifted his butt again, feeling the unnatural sensation between his thighs, and soon frowned, “Damn it!”

As he spoke, he suddenly reached out his hand and used a move that almost all boys had used during their adolescence when joking around with the same sex: the “monkey steals the peach.”

Shu Ziqin hurriedly tried to stop him, but it was too late, and he immediately let out a cry of agony.

“Is this for real?” Yang Yue jumped off his thigh, looking down at his hand which still retained a slight sensation, “Seriously? You’re so easily excited, being a virgin and all?”