Chapter 25

Fu Chunying was at her wits’ end over the issue of Qin Xiaoxiao’s dance pants as the lead dancer.

“Can you help me borrow a needle and thread?”

Fu Chunying was stunned. “You want a needle and thread to fix the zipper yourself?”

“Mm.” Qin Xiaoxiao nodded.

She hadn’t spoken earlier because she was studying the damaged zipper. Fortunately, it wasn’t too hard to fix and could be resolved.

“Alright.” Fu Chunying steadied herself and took out her phone. “I’m not sure if the school store has any. I’ll have Jiang Zhousi go out and buy a sewing kit right away.”

She quickly dialed a number and said a few words.

Then she turned to Qin Xiaoxiao. “I asked him to go buy it, and I’ll also go borrow one to see if I can get it faster.”

“Mm.”

Fu Chunying left.

Putting down the dance pants, Qin Xiaoxiao sat on a chair by the wall to wait.

Two or three minutes passed.

A figure kept moving back and forth at the doorway.

Qin Xiaoxiao’s spot was somewhat concealed and cleverly positioned. By turning her head slightly, she could see outside, but anyone outside would have a hard time noticing her unless they looked carefully.

Creak—the half-closed door was pushed open from the outside.

Qin Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow and greeted the person who entered, “Senior Wang.”

Wang Xin stepped into the room and saw Qin Xiaoxiao inside. A flash of panic crossed her face before she forced an unnatural smile. “Xiaoxiao, why are you still here?”

“Still?” Qin Xiaoxiao stood up. “The dance costumes are here. Shouldn’t I be here?”

“I…”

“On the other hand, Senior Wang, what are you doing coming here alone again and again?” Qin Xiaoxiao’s gaze swept over the dance pants on the table.

Qin Xiaoxiao’s tone was no different from usual, but to someone with a guilty conscience, it sounded like an interrogation.

“I… what are you talking about? I wanted to go to the Green Volunteer Association’s office to find someone and came to the wrong place. I’ve never been here before…”

“Someone saw you, and there are cameras,” Qin Xiaoxiao said calmly, suspecting that Wang Xin’s intelligence might not be up to par. “Why did you damage my top?”

“It’s not the top! You…”

Wang Xin realized the slip in her words and bit her lower lip.

“Qin Xiaoxiao, I borrowed the… Senior Wang.” Fu Chunying greeted her perfunctorily. “During the check earlier, Senior Bai said you were missing. So, you were here.”

“No… I just remembered I have something to do. Goodbye…”

“Hey!” Fu Chunying reached out to stop her.

She didn’t manage to stop her in time.

Fu Chunying’s face showed dissatisfaction. “Senior Wang, she…”

“Give me the needle and thread,” Qin Xiaoxiao said.

The priority now was to sew the dance pants and not delay the performance.

Fu Chunying couldn’t help but admire Qin Xiaoxiao’s calm demeanor. Judging from the members’ accounts and Wang Xin’s behavior, there was an eighty percent chance that Wang Xin had deliberately damaged Qin Xiaoxiao’s pants. If it had been her in Qin Xiaoxiao’s shoes, she would have impulsively chased after Wang Xin to yell at her.

In any case, Fu Chunying was quite angry. She stepped out, intending to report the matter to the former president of the club, but ended up running into her boyfriend first.

“Where are you going, Xiaoying?” he asked.

Fu Chunying glanced cautiously at her boyfriend’s side: the school bully, lounging lazily, yet impossible to ignore.

“I’m going to find the former president.”

Even from a distance earlier, Jiang Zhousi had noticed that his girlfriend’s expression was off.

The two were in the midst of their honeymoon phase, so he thoughtfully asked, “Did something happen? Do you need me to step in?”

Fu Chunying explained the situation in just a few words.

Jiang Zhousi immediately reacted, “What the heck, it was Wang Xin’s doing? And the one she targeted was Junior Xiaoxiao?”

“Yes.”

“This b****, is she out of her mind?” Jiang Zhousi cursed.

“So, the needle and thread you asked me to buy were for Junior Xiaoxiao? And she has to fix it herself? Can she make it in time?”

Fu Chunying felt a bit conflicted. Was her boyfriend’s reaction a little too outraged?

“Yes, it’s for her. It should be in time.”

“Junior Xiaoxiao is so pitiful—Ah Chen? Where are you going?”

Jiang Zhousi watched as his friend walked off without a word, guessing he might be heading to find Junior Xiaoxiao.

Lately, Ah Chen had been flying back and forth to visit his sick grandfather, so he hadn’t been at school. Today, as soon as he returned, he came to school with Jiang Zhousi but didn’t immediately go to find Junior Xiaoxiao like Jiang Zhousi had expected.

Could it be that something had happened between Ah Chen and Junior Xiaoxiao recently? Perhaps a rift in their relationship…

“Zhousi, I feel like you seem very concerned about Qin Xiaoxiao.”

Jiang Zhousi, suddenly hearing this, replied, “Huh?”

Seeing his bewildered expression, Fu Chunying couldn’t help but feel an inexplicable sense of grievance and jealousy. “You even call her ‘Junior Xiaoxiao’ so affectionately.”

“Affectionate? It’s just being polite,” Jiang Zhousi said, half laughing, half exasperated, as he explained. “The reason I pay attention to her is because of Ah Chen. The one I’m most concerned about is you, Xiaoying.”

“Or… do you prefer I call you ‘Junior Chunying’?”

The misunderstanding cleared, Fu Chunying playfully glared at him, blushing. “I don’t like it.”

Then she asked curiously, “Because of Ji Wenchen? What’s the connection between Qin Xiaoxiao and Ji Wenchen?”

…

By the time he came back to his senses, Ji Wenchen had already reached the edge of the small grove.

The cool night breeze chased away the lingering heat of the day.

He pulled out a lighter and a pack of cigarettes, gave it a couple of shakes, took one between his lips, and tilted his head to light it.

The crimson glow from the cigarette reflected against his prominent nose and pale lips, exuding a sharp yet slightly dissolute handsomeness.

Wang Xin, who had been following him halfway, couldn’t help but step closer, closing the distance between them.

She had liked Ji Wenchen for over a year. This time, returning to the school to watch the anniversary celebration, she had been hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

How lucky—she really did see him.

“Who’s there?” Ji Wenchen glanced over coldly.

The slender Wang Xin stepped out from behind a tree, taking small steps. “It’s… it’s me. My name is Wang Xin.”

“It’s you?”

Wang Xin didn’t notice the cold impatience in Ji Wenchen’s tone and was somewhat surprised. “You… you know me?”

Ji Wenchen took a drag from his cigarette.

To Wang Xin, even the way he smoked was utterly captivating.

It was rare for her to be this close to him, alone. The tranquil night gave Wang Xin courage. She gracefully tucked her straight hair behind her ear. “Ji Wenchen, I really li… I previously asked someone to deliver you a love letter, but it was probably thrown away before it reached you—w-where are you going?”

Ji Wenchen walked over to the trash can, extinguished his cigarette, and tossed it in.

Wang Xin, who was following closely behind, stammered, “Ji Wenchen, I want to say… I… I really like you.”

“You’re done talking?”

“Yes. Can you accept my feelings…?”

“Was it you who damaged Qin Xiaoxiao’s dance costume?” Ji Wenchen suddenly turned to look at her.

Wang Xin was stunned by his cold, piercing gaze and the words from his mouth. “I… I… it wasn’t me…”

“You’d better tell the truth.” The curve of Ji Wenchen’s lips carried a hint of mockery.

Wang Xin trembled. Under the pressure of his intimidating presence, she couldn’t lie at all. “It… it was me.”

If it weren’t for Qin Xiaoxiao taking her love letter but not delivering it to Ji Wenchen, and even secretly trying to seduce him behind her back—Wang Xin thought of the rumors she had heard and felt both hatred and jealousy toward Qin Xiaoxiao.

“She agreed to pass on my love letter but didn’t…”

“She did.” Ji Wenchen’s every word seemed to be squeezed out through gritted teeth. “I threw it away.”

“You…” Wang Xin looked utterly incredulous, followed by heartbreak, which quickly turned into fear.

The boy in front of her wore a dark expression, especially those typically aloof eyes, now brimming with a chilling coldness.

Even though it was summer, she almost started shivering.

What had Ji Wenchen just said? He questioned her, asked her if she had torn Qin Xiaoxiao’s dance costume. Yes, that’s what he said…

“I-I’m sorry, I was wrong.” Wang Xin lowered her head, blurting out in a panic. “I… I was wrong.”

“Those words should be said to her.” Ji Wenchen paused for a moment. “If she doesn’t forgive you—”

If Qin Xiaoxiao didn’t forgive her… what would happen? Wang Xin, not hearing the rest, raised her eyes, only to be frightened by the hostility in Ji Wenchen’s refined features.

…

The anniversary gala of No. 2 High School began promptly at 7:30 PM.

The Dance Club’s performance, 《Flowers in the Rain》, was scheduled as the second act.

“Rain, the celestial spirit descending from the sky; flowers, the messengers blooming on the earth. Look, gentle flowers are blossoming amidst the rain! Next, please enjoy the group dance 《Flowers in the Rain》, brought to you by the school’s Dance Club.”

The stage lights dimmed.

The sound of a gentle drizzle filled the air. As the lights gradually brightened, a graceful silhouette in the center of the stage began to sway, moving fluidly with the flutter of her wide sleeves.

The soft melody of a xiao flute flowed in, and the other dancers responded in unison—shaking their shoulders, extending their arms…

Typically, among the performances, this kind of classical dance wasn’t nearly as popular with the student audience as street dance or shuffle dance.

However, this particular performance stood out with its well-designed costumes and styling. One girl, in a costume slightly different from the others, was especially striking—and this was the main reason it drew so much attention from the students below the stage.

Clad in a pink dress with flowing wide sleeves, the girl on stage moved with light, agile steps. Sometimes she gracefully waved her arms like drifting clouds, other times she bent her slender waist with gentle fluidity. She seemed to meld seamlessly with the music, like a pink flower blooming amidst the rain.

In the middle of the audience, a handsome boy in a black short-sleeved shirt sat alone, with no one daring to occupy the seats on either side of him.

His elegant phoenix-shaped eyes were fixed on the stage.

His gaze was more serene and focused than ever before.

…

“My Xiaoxiao danced so beautifully!”

Yang Min greeted Qin Xiaoxiao at the side of the stage as she stepped down, showering her with compliments as if they were free. “It was absolutely stunning!”

“I barely had enough time to admire it before it ended! Ah, so beautiful!”

“You’re exaggerating,” Qin Xiaoxiao said with a soft laugh, pulling Yang Min aside to make way for other students coming on and off the stage.

She wasn’t entirely satisfied with her own performance on stage.

Her original body had a solid foundation in dance, and Qin Xiaoxiao herself had studied dance for many years in her previous life, even working as a dance teacher at an arts center later on. Performing at a school-level event like this was a piece of cake for her.

“I’m not exaggerating! This is the first time I’ve ever watched this kind of classical dance so seriously!”

“By the way, does your club still have anything else to do? Shouldn’t you change out of your costume now… your cousin!” Yang Min lightly nudged Qin Xiaoxiao’s arm, whispering in surprise, “He’s holding…”

“Qin Xiaoxiao!” Feng Maoxing squeezed through a few steps and thrust a bouquet of vibrant red roses in front of her. “Congratulations on completing your performance! Here, for you!”

Qin Xiaoxiao took a half-step back. “I refuse.”

“Xiaoxiao…” Yang Min’s eyes were filled with longing as she stared at the bouquet of flowers.

“Why won’t you take it when it’s for you?” Feng Maoxing blinked his starry eyes. “Don’t like roses?”

Qin Xiaoxiao’s temple twitched slightly. “Isn’t it a bit inappropriate for you to give this?”

“Why is it inappropriate? I asked the florist what kind of flowers would suit a beautiful girl, and they recommended these red roses. I think they suit you perfectly.”

“That florist…”

Qin Xiaoxiao’s gaze sharpened slightly as she glanced over Yang Min’s shoulder—

“Senior Wang.”