Chapter 57: An Unconventional Invitation

No matter what significant events had unfolded over the weekend, Monday inevitably found Bai Chen back in class, punctually attending lessons.

His daily schedule was so relentlessly packed that he often felt less like a student and more like a corporate drone.

Bai Chen could easily formally join the Demon Hunter Guild, allowing him to dedicate himself entirely to a singular pursuit.

His academic concerns would naturally be handled by the branch guild, leaving him only to collect his diploma upon graduation.

Yet, Bai Chen harbored little interest in becoming a full-time demon hunter, even though both his parents had pursued that very profession during their lives.

This month, beyond the regular monthly exam, a comprehensive unified test loomed at the end, inevitably burdening Bai Chen with immense pressure.

However, today brought his favorite physics class, not because of any particular aptitude for the subject, but rather due to the eccentric lecturer.

“Have I ever told you about my escapade fighting at the roller rink?”

From the podium, the physics teacher, whose sparse, reflective scalp gleamed under the lights, recounted his tale with evident relish.

“When I was a boy, there was a roller rink in town, and I’d often skip class to go play there.

One time, I even got into a fight with another kid because we had the exact same model of skates.

We really went at it back then…”

The entire class listened intently, some even chuckling at the amusing anecdote.

Bai Chen glanced at the clock, noting that nearly half the lesson had elapsed, signaling that the teacher’s storytelling segment should soon conclude.

Every class, the physics teacher would devote roughly half the time to narrating his past experiences, much to the students’ enjoyment.

While he might have seemed an unreliable instructor, he consistently managed to finish the day’s curriculum before the bell, despite his prolonged digressions, never once extending class time.

Even more remarkably, despite his unconventional teaching methods, the students’ physics grades were never poor, including those of Bai Chen, who, despite his struggles, would painstakingly unravel problems, his thoughts tangling into knots before he finally found a solution.

The moment the dismissal bell rang, the physics teacher instantly dropped his chalk, having just completed the final step of a particularly challenging problem.

“All right, class dismissed.”

He darted out faster than any student, leaving those with questions no choice but to pursue him to his office.

Bai Chen, however, was different; he remained engrossed in a fierce battle with the day’s problems.

As Bai Chen diligently worked on his draft calculations, a flyer suddenly appeared on his desk, and looking up, he met the smiling gaze of Old Zhu.

“Old Bai, we’re good brothers, aren’t we?”

“Spit it out, I’m busy.”

“Just take a look at this.”

Bai Chen sighed, knowing full well he wouldn’t be able to solve the problem before the next class began.

He picked up the flyer Old Zhu had placed on his desk and quickly scanned its contents.

“The Wanhua Plaza performance?” Bai Chen narrowed his eyes. “Didn’t that already happen last month?”

“It was supposed to, but something unpleasant occurred at Wanhua Plaza last month, so it was postponed.”

“What happened?” Bai Chen’s residence was quite close to Wanhua Plaza, making him wonder what significant event could have transpired without his knowledge.

“Haven’t you been watching the news?” Old Zhu shrugged. “Three perverts were ‘walking their birds’ (TL Note: A Chinese slang term for publicly exposing one’s penis) in the plaza, and the organizers deemed it inauspicious, so they postponed it by a month.”

‘Walking their birds’?

Before Old Zhu mentioned it, Bai Chen hadn’t thought much of it, but the moment he did, the image of those three men’s varying ‘birds’ flashed into his mind, making him instantly want to run to the restroom to wash his eyes.

“You probably don’t know this, but our school’s drama club successfully secured two slots in the performance,” Old Zhu continued. “Everyone was ready to go, but then the organizers postponed it by a month.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

Bai Chen wasn’t involved in any clubs, but Old Zhu was a member of the drama club, and he had specifically come to ask Bai Chen for a favor.

“Because of the schedule change, some students can no longer make it, so I’m looking for some replacements.”

“Why ask me? I can’t act.”

“I’m not asking you to play the lead; it’s just a minor supporting role with very few lines,” Old Zhu said with an awkward smile. “You won’t even have to face the audience constantly; you just need to deliver your lines with the right emotion.”

“Even then, I can’t.

I still need to study…”

Before Bai Chen could finish, Old Zhu dramatically knelt before him, startling Bai Chen into lifting his leg to prevent him from grabbing onto his thigh.

“Oh, Old Bai, among everyone I know, you’re the most reliable! Please, I’m begging you!”

“Can’t you ask your girlfriend?”

“Xiao Li is busy; you wouldn’t believe how much she has going on at home.

It’s a miracle I even managed to get away.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Chen’s mind conjured a series of melodramatic soap opera plots, and he inwardly grumbled, ‘Wealthy families truly do have endless troubles.’

“Get up, everyone’s watching you.”

“Great Immortal Bai, I won’t get up until you agree.”

Snap! Bai Chen pressed a hand to his forehead, understanding why this guy could stroll so casually through a garden of troubles; his shamelessness was simply outrageous.

Had it been anyone else, Bai Chen would have firmly refused, but his friendship with Old Zhu was nearing two years, and they had helped each other out on countless occasions during that time.

“Is the rehearsal intensity high?”

He glanced at the flyer, noting that the performance was scheduled to begin this weekend.

“Not at all.

Your role genuinely has very few scenes; you just need to practice coordinating with the others.”

“…Alright, I can only rehearse during lunch breaks.”

“That’s plenty, plenty!”

Old Zhu leaped up in delight, his face still adorned with that same wide grin, which sent shivers down Bai Chen’s spine.

“Is there anything else?”

“Actually, we’re still short one person, specifically for the role that plays opposite yours.

Would you mind helping me try to recruit them?”

Bai Chen naturally knew he was referring to Mo Qiu.

He glanced towards the corner of the classroom, where she sat, head bowed, engrossed in a novel.

“Why Mo Qiu?”

“Just as a bonus.

You’re familiar with her, so it would be perfect for acting opposite each other.”

Acting, huh… wouldn’t that be too difficult for Mo Qiu?

Recalling how her smile had terrified customers at the Midsummer Night restaurant last weekend, he couldn’t imagine her being suitable for something like this.

“Don’t worry! If it’s too much, we can prepare masks for both of you.

Covering the upper half of your faces will solve the problem.”

“We can even cover our faces?

What exactly are our roles?”

“A pair of lovers who commit suicide at a ball.”

“…”

For a fleeting moment, Bai Chen suspected Old Zhu was deliberately playing a prank on him, but he knew Old Zhu wasn’t the type to make such jokes.

Of all things, lovers, and lovers who commit suicide at that.

A performance, conducted under the gaze of hundreds of people.

Wouldn’t that be far too intense for Mo Qiu?

No, wait.

If Mo Qiu could complete a performance under so many eyes, wouldn’t she become more proactive and outgoing?

Furthermore, unlike last time, Mo Qiu could wear a mask, and Bai Chen would be by her side the entire time, ready to intervene if anything went wrong.

After several moments of contemplation, Bai Chen decided it was a viable plan and rose to walk towards the corner of the classroom.

Before he could utter a word, Mo Qiu, as if anticipating his approach, looked up, her vacant eyes fixed on him.

“Bai Chen, is something the matter?”

“…”

Bai Chen found this task more challenging than he had imagined; he opened his mouth, but no sound emerged.

For some reason, his gaze fell upon the girl’s cherry-red, full lips, and the events of last weekend flashed vividly before his eyes.

‘Was that considered an indirect kiss?’

Bai Chen didn’t quite understand the meaning behind Mo Qiu’s actions.

‘Had she truly intended to kiss me then, only to shy away and use her finger instead?’

With that thought, Bai Chen suddenly began to imagine the sensation of the girl’s lips.

‘Were they as soft and springy as jelly?’

As a child, only his mother had been willing to hold and kiss him, but that was long before he started elementary school.

Bai Chen was too nervous to speak, and Mo Qiu simply watched him, silent.

‘No, I need to say something quickly.’

His gaze fell upon the book in her hands, and Bai Chen forced a smile. “You’re still reading that novel?

Do you like it a lot?”

“Mm, third reread.”

It certainly seemed she couldn’t put it down.

“Remember not to read it during class.

It would be troublesome if it got confiscated again.”

“Okay.”

“…”

“…”

‘Speak!

Why aren’t you speaking?’

Bai Chen’s heart pounded as if it would leap from his chest, and he tried to reassure himself repeatedly.

‘It’s just inviting her to a performance, to act opposite me, to play a pair of lovers who commit suicide together.

It’s not difficult at all… Bullshit!

It’s incredibly difficult!’

“Um, are you interested in acting?”

“Not interested.”

Oh, well.

Bai Chen felt as though he had already been rejected, yet he was unwilling to leave just yet.

In a flash of inspiration, a viable plan popped into Bai Chen’s mind.

“Do you have time during lunch breaks?

How about I take you to visit some clubs?”

“Why visit clubs?” Mo Qiu tilted her head, her high ponytail swaying behind her.

“I’m… bored by myself.”

“I see.”

Mo Qiu put down her novel and turned to face him, her ample chest rising invitingly.

“If you’re bored, you can use me to vent…”

“Stop, stop, stop!” Bai Chen quickly interrupted her. “Just come with me to visit the clubs.”

“That works too.”

“Then it’s settled.

See you tomorrow during lunch break.”

Watching Bai Chen practically flee, the young woman couldn’t help but murmur:

‘Visiting clubs, isn’t that even more trouble?’

‘As for me, if he wanted to enjoy himself, all he’d need is a deserted corner.

A hug, a lap pillow—and if he wanted to go further, then we’d have to consider soundproofing.’