Zhao Qingyu’s tone was flat, revealing no fluctuations in her emotions. Her sharp, bright eyes showed no hint of reproach, only a faint trace of puzzlement.
But Song Rui, hiding behind Shen An, felt a shiver run through her. She could already sense the clear skies being overshadowed by dark storm clouds, the wind howling, thunder rumbling and flashing in the clouds. A tempest was brewing!
Even before she had entered this university, Song Rui had already heard of Zhao Qingyu’s name.
It was quite a coincidence: the two women had attended the same high school.
Song Rui had been a freshman when Zhao Qingyu was a senior.
In contrast to Song Rui’s obscurity, Zhao Qingyu was the most dazzling and radiant presence no matter where she went.
In the relatively free environment of university, Zhao Qingyu’s reputation had soared even higher—though most of it was ill fame.
From countless rumors, Song Rui had formed her own impression of Zhao Qingyu’s style: one word—ruthless.
Explaining all these old stories would be complicated.
But no matter what, among the people Song Rui least wanted to provoke or offend, Zhao Qingyu ranked at the top.
“Uh, I think Senior Sister, you misunderstood. I wasn’t trying to throw it away.”
Shen An unfolded the crumpled registration form. “I just saw it was wrinkled and wanted to smooth it out.”
It wasn’t the cleverest excuse, but Zhao Qingyu nodded cooperatively.
“I remember now—I think I saw you at the registration desk,” she said, changing the subject lightly. “You’re in the English Department, right?”
“Yes, Class 1 of the English Department. Shen An.” He introduced himself and pointed to Song Rui behind him. “This is Song Rui, my classmate and the academic committee member.”
Zhao Qingyu smiled faintly upon hearing this. “I’m in the English Department too. I assume you’ve heard of me?”
A hint of smug pride curved her lips. She didn’t mind the bad reputation at all—in fact, she seemed faintly proud of it.
“Honestly, no.”
Shen An’s response caught her off guard, leaving both Song Rui behind him and Zhao Qingyu in front of him stunned.
He looked at Zhao Qingyu sincerely. “I haven’t even asked your name yet, Senior Sister.”
Zhao Qingyu narrowed her eyes and laughed. “My surname is Zhao. Zhao Qingyu.”
“Senior Sister Zhao! I’ve heard so much about you, truly!” Shen An’s exaggerated expression was so perfunctory that even Song Rui couldn’t stand it.
Ignoring his feigned enthusiasm, Zhao Qingyu slowly pulled a pack of tissues from her pocket and handed it to him.
Shen An stared at the tissues, a trace of confusion rising in him.
“Don’t you need to use the bathroom?” Zhao Qingyu said flatly. “No need to thank me.”
“Uh, I don’t need to use the bathroom.”
“Really? Then why did you crumple it up like that?” Surprise and mischief flickered in Zhao Qingyu’s eyes. “I thought you were desperate to go and had no tissues, so you resorted to this.”
“Sorry, it seems I misunderstood you.”
She leaned in slightly, a faint, elegant perfume wafting from her. Her lips curved into a serene, gentle smile that paired perfectly with her exquisitely beautiful face, exuding elegance laced with an irresistible allure that stirred the imagination.
Unfortunately for her, Shen An wasn’t Yang Bin. These little tricks had no effect on him.
“Then I won’t keep you from using the bathroom, Senior Sister.”
He chuckled lightly and reached for Song Rui’s small hand, ready to leave.
Song Rui froze, looking at him in bewilderment.
Zhao Qingyu frowned slightly. “Do you want to join the Art Troupe?”
“I was planning to, but not anymore.”
Shen An smiled.
“Why?” Zhao Qingyu turned, crossing her arms. “Is there something about the Art Troupe that doesn’t suit you?”
“Hmm, from the sound of it, are you part of the Art Troupe, Senior Sister?” Shen An asked in return.
“Mm-hmm.”
“Then do you think I’d fit in with the Art Troupe?”
Zhao Qingyu sized him up carefully and said softly, “Your looks are good—meets the Art Troupe’s standards. It’s just a shame…”
“If you were a bit more enthusiastic, you’d be perfect.”
“More enthusiastic?”
“Yes. At least show a little more patience.” Zhao Qingyu’s voice was impossibly gentle, as if she could switch her tone at will—from aloof to eager.
Even now, with a touch of playful reproach, it sounded utterly pleasing.
What a voice—she’d be a waste not doing voice acting, Shen An thought to himself. He smiled on the surface. “That’s exactly why I’m backing out. Patience is the one thing I lack most.”
“Besides, I don’t think the Art Troupe suits me. I have no experience performing on stage. Sorry about that.”
“Tsk~” Zhao Qingyu covered her mouth as she laughed. “No problem. I can teach you slowly.”
“I have plenty of patience.”
This second encounter was worlds apart from the wary distance of their first meeting.
“Don’t you want to learn more?” she pressed. “No need to jump to conclusions so quickly. Maybe the Art Troupe is perfect for you.”
“Alright, I’ll be honest.”
Shen An sighed. “I do want to join the Art Troupe, but…”
His gaze swept over the bewildered Song Rui behind him, and he said in a tone full of regret, “I promised her we’d join together. I can’t just leave her behind.”
Song Rui: ?????
“Her?”
“Yeah!” Shen An’s mind turned quickly. “I came here with her. I got a registration form, but she didn’t.”
“Could you maybe make an exception, Senior Sister?”
Shen An looked at Zhao Qingyu pleadingly, his expression perfectly beseeching.
Only now did Zhao Qingyu truly look at Song Rui, who was cowering behind him, trembling slightly.
Under Zhao Qingyu’s scrutiny, Song Rui felt utterly timid and could only muster a stiff, forced smile.
Before Zhao Qingyu could decide, Shen An spoke first. “I guess this request is putting you in a tough spot, Senior Sister.”
“Never mind then. Looks like the Art Troupe and I aren’t meant to be.”
With that, he took Song Rui’s small hand again, pretending to leave.
“Wait,”
Zhao Qingyu called out to him.
Shen An turned back. “Senior Sister?”
“Her looks are good too. No need to be so strict.”
Zhao Qingyu rested her chin on her hand and said softly, “But I can only give her one interview chance. If she doesn’t pass, it just means she’s not suited for the Art Troupe.”
Song Rui found this unbelievable.
Shen An furrowed his brow. “Won’t that cause you any trouble, Senior Sister?”
“I forgot to mention—I’m the deputy troupe leader of the Art Troupe,” Zhao Qingyu said calmly.
“Oh!” Shen An slapped his forehead and turned excitedly to Song Rui. “You’re the deputy troupe leader? I had no idea!”
Song Rui wasn’t sure how to react to Shen An and could only nod dumbly.
Then, the excitement faded from Shen An’s face, and he sighed. “Even so, it might still cause you some trouble, Senior Sister.”
“You don’t have to bend the rules just because we’re in the same department…”
At this point, Zhao Qingyu saw through Shen An’s little scheme.
She let out a soft chuckle. “It’s got nothing to do with that. I just think you’d be a great fit for the Art Troupe.”
“Even a dark horse needs someone to spot its talent. I hope to be that person for you.”
Shen An fell silent at her words.
He nodded and handed the decision to Song Rui. “What do you think?”
Song Rui was still lost in a haze of confusion when Shen An suddenly asked her opinion. Astonishment nearly spilled from her eyes.
Huh…
She still gets a say?
“Of course. He’s fought hard to get you this chance—don’t waste it lightly.”
Zhao Qingyu smiled at Song Rui, her words laced with meaning.
Shen An stepped forward, blocking Zhao Qingyu’s gaze on Song Rui. He looked at Song Rui gently. “If you want to, we’ll go for the interview together.”
Truth be told, Song Rui’s mind was still a whirlwind of chaos.
She had thought all hope of joining the Art Troupe was lost and was already wondering what other group she could join instead.
But Shen An had pulled off a miraculous save for her…
What left her even more at a loss was Shen An’s gentle, encouraging gaze.
This opportunity was entirely his doing.
He could have decided without asking her—especially since she never had strong opinions anyway.
So she hadn’t expected him to ask for her input.
And her opinion seemed to be the deciding factor.
Song Rui had never experienced anything like this before…
Shen An patted her shoulder and chuckled softly. “Don’t zone out. We don’t want to waste the Senior Sister’s time.”
“Oh…”
Song Rui nodded in a daze.
“Oh what? Do you still want to join the Art Troupe or not!” Shen An rolled his eyes.
“I… I…” Song Rui whispered, “I do.”
“Great!”
Shen An turned to Zhao Qingyu. “Thank you so much, Senior Sister—this time for real.”
Zhao Qingyu smiled faintly. “Wait here for me, then.”
With that, she walked toward the bathroom.
At that moment, Chen Nannan was just coming out of the bathroom.
She had been wondering where Shen An and Song Rui had gone without telling her.
Her gaze swept over, and she spotted Shen An and Song Rui at the same time as the approaching Zhao Qingyu.
Almost on instinct, Chen Nannan called out respectfully, “Senior Sister Zhao!”
Zhao Qingyu blinked rapidly, a touch of surprise flashing in her eyes at Chen Nannan’s sudden appearance.
But after a moment’s thought, she spoke with a hint of deeper meaning. “Nannan, you’ve really gone out of your way.”
Chen Nannan gave a shy smile. “Oh, it’s nothing. I just brought them here for a quick look.”
Zhao Qingyu merely exchanged greetings with Chen Nannan. With a single glance, she turned and stepped into the restroom.
Chen Nannan let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, clutching her chest in relief, still a bit shaken.
Phew~
How had she run into Senior Sister Zhao so suddenly?
Like Song Rui, Chen Nannan harbored a fear of Zhao Qingyu.
But the nature of their fears differed, rooted in their vastly different relationships with her.
Song Rui and Zhao Qingyu were complete strangers. Everything Song Rui knew about her came from hearsay.
Chen Nannan was different.
She had spent some time around Zhao Qingyu and held a deeper, more personal understanding of the woman.
“You two just said hi to Senior Sister Zhao?” Chen Nannan walked over and asked quietly.
“Yeah, Senior Sister Zhao was pretty warm and welcoming,” Shen An replied with a bright smile.
Song Rui could only nod awkwardly.
From everything she’d heard, it was hard for her to picture Zhao Qingyu being enthusiastic.
“Senior Sister Zhao seems to have high hopes for me. She wants me to join the Art Troupe,” Shen An said softly. “I roped her in, and Song Rui wants to join too.”
He was explaining it to Chen Nannan.
A flicker of surprise crossed Chen Nannan’s face. “High hopes for you?”
“Yeah. She said I have the right look—it’s just that I lack a bit of enthusiasm and patience.”
Shen An sounded just like an innocent, sunny boy, blurting everything out without a hint of guile.
“She even said she’s got plenty of patience and wants to be the one who discovers my talent—like my own personal patron.”
There was a note of excitement in his voice, mingled with a touch of subtle self-admiration, as if being noticed by Zhao Qingyu was validation in itself.
Chen Nannan shifted uncomfortably as she listened. In a cool tone, she said, “You were just saying you didn’t want to join the Art Troupe. A few sweet words from Senior Sister Zhao, and you’ve changed your mind?”
“It’s not quite like that, Senior Sister,” Shen An replied with a light cough. “That was right in front of her, and she’s the Deputy Troupe Leader, after all. You’ve got to give her some face.”
“I’m really not planning to join. I’ll find a way to get them to pass on me in the first round of interviews.”
Chen Nannan huffed. “Who knows what you’re really thinking. What if you pass?”
“If I pass? Then I’ll find a way to get myself kicked out! My heart belongs to the Basketball Club now!!”
“Don’t talk nonsense.” Chen Nannan pursed her lips.
The speaker meant nothing by it, but the listener took it to heart.
Song Rui stood silently behind him, a faint ripple stirring in her chest.
He said he didn’t want to join, yet he’d tied himself to her hopes, giving Senior Sister Zhao a reason to offer her a chance.
So…
Had he done it for her? For… her?
“Song Rui.”
“Song Rui?”
“Huh?” Song Rui snapped out of her daze.
“Why are you spacing out again?” Shen An turned to her with a grin. “The interview’s coming up soon. You’ve got to put on a good show—I can only help you this far.”
Song Rui pressed her lips together, a strange glint flickering in her eyes. Was it a spark of hope?
“Mm. I… I won’t let you down!”
She clenched her fist, her words solemn as a vow.
Shen An waved it off casually. “Whether I end up disappointed or not doesn’t matter. The important thing is not to disappoint yourself, got it?”
“Mm!”
Chen Nannan watched the odd light blooming in Song Rui’s eyes.
A quiet turmoil stirred in her own heart.
