Chapter 04

“Bai Zining, please help me, just this once! I promise this is the last time.”

“No, last time you said the exact same thing.”

“But I’ve searched all over A University and really can’t find anyone more suitable for this role than you. The response to the last event was so good, the public account’s article even exceeded ten thousand views.” Xi Yun reasoned with logic and appealed emotionally.

When the last event was mentioned, Bai Zining immediately felt annoyed. Back then, after Xi Yun’s repeated persuasion and assurances of confidentiality, he reluctantly agreed to play the role of the mute princess in the play. As a guy, wearing a skirt and a wig to dress up as a girl was already a bit embarrassing if word got out.

But who would have thought that after the event, someone asked Xi Yun about the person who had just played the princess. That big mouth of hers spilled everything without hesitation: “It’s Bai Zining, a freshman in the Environmental Science and Engineering major.”

Soon after, his cross-dressing photos were posted on the confession wall again and again. His WeChat account was flooded with friend requests from strangers. Even more unbelievable was that some guys messaged him during the verification process, asking if this delicate little “bottom” needed a big strong “top” for exclusive protection!

Bai Zining was utterly speechless and blocked the person immediately. He held back and held back again, resisting the urge to publicly expose the guy.

“Alright, if you don’t agree, then forget it. I know it’s a bit difficult for you,” Xi Yun sighed and withdrew her hand. “It’s fine, really. At worst, this performance won’t be perfect, and we won’t get the Top Ten Clubs certificate. Actually, we were already one of the Top Ten Clubs last semester. People shouldn’t be too greedy. Wanting this and then wanting that…” She kept muttering, her voice growing quieter and quieter.

“Alright, fine.” Bai Zining patted her arm. “This is the last time.”

Xi Yun immediately lifted her head, her smile as radiant as a blooming sunflower. “Bai Zining, you’re the best! I think there’s no one in the entire Environmental Department, no, the entire A University, who’s as kind and beautiful as you!”

“Stop calling me beautiful!”

“Slip of the tongue! Handsome, I meant handsome, dashing, suave, debonair, tall, mighty, and overwhelmingly charismatic. You’re the ultimate hunk.” Having secured his agreement, Xi Yun was so overjoyed that she rattled off idioms one after another.

She had long known that this junior was the type to have a tough mouth but a soft heart. During last year’s club recruitment event, which took place not long after military training, everyone was tanned as dark as coal, except for Bai Zining. Amid the crowd, he stood out with his glowing fair complexion, making people wonder if they’d all been under the same sun.

Seizing the moment, she immediately persuaded Bai Zining to join the drama club. Although he didn’t often participate in club activities, when the need arose, his good looks were always enough to steal the show.

The performance was scheduled for a week later. The role wasn’t the lead but was crucial. According to the original script, the character was a tall knight disguised as a man, who, under unavoidable circumstances, had to revert to her female attire to attend a banquet with the male lead and complete a mission.

Xi Yun wasn’t wrong, A University was full of beauties. However, finding a beauty who was 1.8 meters tall and had acting experience was indeed quite a challenge.

In the early stages, Bai Zining’s role was played by another male student with a similar build to his. Bai Zining only needed to appear in the banquet scene, which didn’t have many lines. As a result, he only rehearsed the five-minute segment where his character appeared.

Two days before the performance, it was time to test the makeup and costume. Bai Zining had arranged a time with Xi Yun and the senior in charge of makeup to meet at the backstage of the auditorium.

However, a last-minute form needed filling, leaving him with only twenty minutes until the agreed time. He quickly changed his shoes, grabbed his phone, and dashed out the door.

Then, he ran straight into Zhu Shizhou, who had just opened the door.

“Ouch!” he yelped, stepping back two paces while clutching his forehead, which throbbed from the impact.

“Are you okay?” Zhu Shizhou was startled at first but quickly recovered and asked him.

“I’m fine,” Bai Zining answered instinctively, but then he thought about it that Zhu Shizhou wasn’t the type to ask out of kindness. If he said he was fine, would Zhu Shizhou follow up by saying he had an issue? Taking precautionary measures, he quickly added, “No, wait, I do have a problem. My head hurts. But force is mutual, so let’s just call it even. Goodbye.”

Zhu Shizhou chuckled at that and muttered softly, “Fool.” His voice was so low that if Bai Zining didn’t have sharp hearing, he might not have caught it at all.

Again? Once more insulting him!

“Who are you talking about?” Bai Zining stopped mid-step, glaring angrily.

Zhu Shizhou, however, denied it outright. “I didn’t say anything to anyone.”

No criminal ever confesses to their wrongdoing the moment they’re caught, and it’s rare for someone to admit to insulting another behind their back.

Bai Zining shot him a fierce glare. This wasn’t the first time Zhu Shizhou had insulted him, but to do something and not own up to it? Not a real man. Just wait, Zhu Shizhou, if it weren’t for his promise to Xi Yun today, he would definitely have it out with him.

The makeup artist was a junior and highly skilled. As she applied foundation to Bai Zining’s face, she praised, “Your skin is so delicate. What skincare products do you usually use?”

“Just regular men’s toner and lotion, nothing special,” he replied casually.

“Your eyelashes are so long, there’s no need for fake ones. But when the stage lights hit, the makeup might get washed out, so let’s add them just in case.”

“Whatever you think works, senior, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Pout your lips—actually, never mind, don’t. That’s a bit too much.”

The continuous compliments left Bai Zining embarrassed. His face turned so red that they didn’t even need blush anymore.

After getting his makeup done, Bai Zining went to the lounge to change into the dress. The drama club had bought two dresses for him to try on, planning to compare and choose the better one.

As soon as he came out wearing the first dress, the gasps of amazement from a few boys moving props nearby didn’t stop.

“Bai Zining’s legs are so slim and straight.”

“And really fair.”

“Dream legs.”

“Even better than last time. Can I take a picture first?”

“Get lost! Wipe your drool and make sure the props are set up,” Xi Yun shooed them away, then turned to Bai Zining, looking him up and down with undeniable amazement in her eyes. “Never have I felt so certain that my decision was absolutely the right one.”

Bai Zining stood still, lost in thought. When he heard those boys praising him earlier, a cool, detached voice suddenly echoed in his mind: “Fair-skinned, and have slim, straight legs.”

That was what Zhu Shizhou had once said was his ideal type of girl.

Bai Zining walked to the mirror and looked at his reflection. A bold idea surfaced in his mind.

If Zhu Shizhou is going to be ruthless, don’t blame me for being merciless.