“?”

“No way…”

“Where is he?”

Hua Xin snapped back to reality, staring blankly at the two graceful figures slowly ascending the stage from left and right. Lin Qingyu and Xiao Ling stood out today, one in a pure white gown, the other in a light green one.

Xia Yan had vanished as if evaporated into thin air.

The girl leaned forward slightly, glancing left and right, but Xia Yan’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

What did he mean?? (tearing up)

Was this the final blow? (furious)

Was this his hidden backup plan?? Did he really think it’d be so easy to… to… (heartbroken)…

Hua Xin pressed her lips together.

She then pretended nothing had happened, keeping her eyes on the two dazzling beauties onstage. Unbidden, Xia Yan’s voice echoed in her mind…

Did he think it’d be so simple to break her defenses? Heh… as a true man… (sniffling)…

She couldn’t hold back the sobs. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She pinched her nose shut to stifle the sound.

Who the heck wouldn’t want a good life? Why sing about it? A hundred kinds of lives… (crying)… She longed for that second kind too—a quiet, ordinary life, free from shadows and messy illnesses! (pleading)

Who’d want…

Who’d want to be a gloomy sewer rat like this? (sniffling)…

Hua Xin held her breath, grabbing fistfuls of innocent fake grass from the lawn. She yanked it viciously, as if each blade were Xia Yan’s brother.

(I’ll castrate you… I’ll castrate you… I’ll yank off your balls…)

(I’m done with you, why target me like this…)

(You and me… no, all three of us—let’s end this together…)

“My future is mine to command~ Every move I make, I pour my soul into~”

A sweet voice flowed through the speakers, washing over the entire field. It seemed to cleanse Xiang Guan’s very soul. His eyes held no worldly desires—only vibrant life pulsing to Xiao Ling’s melody.

Oh no. (crying)

Oh no!! (crying)

Mu Feng watched Xiang Guan, whose soul now seemed dyed green, and silently wailed inside. He moodily tore open a snack pack, took a bite, and instantly felt an explosive spiciness flood his mouth. Tears streamed down uncontrollably.

Who the heck bought these spicy strips?! (furious)

I’ll kill you!! (crying)

He gulped down the lemon water in one go, but it did nothing for the burn. Mu Feng coughed helplessly, pounding the grass in despair.

Save me… save me…

His trembling hand reached toward the half-filled cup of lemon water the girl had left on the ground…

(I’m blowing up with you!!)

Hua Xin steeled herself, grabbed the lemon water beside her, and drained it in one swig.

Mu Feng: “…………”

Mu Feng’s movement jolted Xiang Guan back to life, snapping him out of his trance.

Xiao Ling’s voice was beautiful, ethereal, smooth… and utterly… loyal!! (fuming)

Xiang Guan fought the urge to rush to the stage edge. His eyes bloodshot, he grabbed his phone and dialed a WeChat call to Xia Yan: *beep beep beep beep beep*…

Loyal, loyal, loyal…

Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude…

He had to find Brother Yan now. After their performance, he’d report to Lin Qingyu—or his candlelit dinner with Xiao Ling would be ruined!

“Hello?”

“Brother Yan, where are you? (flattering)”

“No more acts after this, right? We’re all waiting for you at the east side of the field.”

“Well…” Xia Yan’s voice came from the other end, a faint smirk on his lips. His tone carried quiet relief as he murmured, “I’m by the small woods. I was heading back to the dorm for a power bank, but ran into Sang Biao halfway. Just petting him a bit.”

As he spoke, a flurry of urgent meows crackled through the phone.

“OK, waiting for you back.”

He hung up but still headed toward the small woods.

He had to complete this mission perfectly. Only then would that wicked woman Lin Qingyu pay him.

Xiang Guan: run away.

Mu Feng: dead.

After hanging up, Xia Yan crouched helplessly on the road, watching Chunqiu hiss at him. He coaxed gently, “Brother Biao, what’s wrong today? You were eating my sausages just two days ago. Why try to kill me now?”

“Meow meow! (My boss ordered me to scratch you.)” Chunqiu replied.

————————

“Music fans, classmates—are you ready?!”

“Ready!!”

Most had gathered around the stage, crowding the band. Clearly, the welcome party was reaching its finale.

A voice brimming with midlife vigor boomed from the stage, snapping Hua Xin out of her murderous haze.

Who was that?

The girl stared in shock at the near-bald figure. His clothes blazed like a flamingo—vibrantly “captivating.” His voice pierced through, his appearance equally piercing…

*Clang~*

A sharp suona blast tore across the field.

Thankfully, the speakers weren’t too loud, keeping the sound from escaping the school grounds.

“When the east is dark, the west shines bright~ I dry my sorrows under the setting sun~”

The crowd: “WOW!!!! ＼(`Δ’)／”

Hua Xin shrank back, unnerved by the frenzied crowd…

What kind of ritual was this? (terrified)

She stood up, wanting to put distance between herself and the chaos.

But as she straightened, a sharp cramp shot through her lower belly. Her spine went cold, panic flashing across her face.

(Oh no, oh no, oh no…)

(Backpack… there’s a spare in my backpack.)

How could she forget? During *that time*, no spicy food or cold drinks! She’d gorged on spicy strips and lemon water—karma struck fast. (crying)

She shouldered her bag, clutching her aching stomach, and trudged toward the activity hall upstairs. She remembered the restroom location. With the event on, it shouldn’t be locked…

Yet.

Mu Feng, lying motionless in the grass, vanished unnoticed.

——————

Don’t leak, don’t leak, don’t leak…

Hua Xin struggled up the stairs, step by slow step, following her memory toward the restroom.

After twists and turns down a corridor, she finally reached the spot where she’d found 300 yuan days ago.

“Phew…”

She sighed in relief. Just as she stepped toward the men’s restroom, a wave of stale smoke hit her nose, mixed with coughing and spitting sounds.

Oh no, with the event tonight, it must be packed. (crying)…

Hua Xin’s head turned stiffly toward the women’s restroom beside it. Silent as still water—no sounds inside.

Just borrowing it. Just once. This isn’t weird. This isn’t perverted.

She was a girl right now!!!

So quiet… no one should be inside… (thinking)…

Absolutely no one!

Gritting her teeth, she slipped in, tiptoeing to the farthest stall.

Three minutes later.

Hua Xin emerged, relaxed and refreshed. She washed her hands.

“I’m ready for the final battle.”

“Just waiting for you to return… hypocrite.”

She smirked coldly, pulled on her mask, and walked out with her head down.

………………

As the girl exited the women’s restroom into the corridor, a tall figure in a pure white gown watched her back thoughtfully.

She slipped quietly back into the restroom, walked to the farthest stall, and slowly opened the door.

A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, as if she’d found something amusing. Her lips curled into a faint smile.