Chapter 49

Xu Qi’s stage play had already begun rehearsals. When Shen Yu first heard him describe it, she thought the role he offered her was just a supporting part. After considering it for two days, she agreed.
But when she received the script, she realized she was actually the female lead.
She felt a bit deceived.
When she asked Xu Qi about it, he admitted sheepishly, "I was afraid you wouldn’t agree at first, so I didn’t tell you the truth. But this role really suits you perfectly. Don’t rush to refuse, read the script first, then decide whether you want to take it or not, okay?"
Although people said Xu Qi was aloof, in private, with those he was close to, he was gentle and soft-spoken. He was also very persuasive, easily winning others over. With a personality like his, actors would surely enjoy working with him as a director.
After reading the script, Shen Yu didn’t refuse again.
The stage play told the story of a child from a poor family who secretly learned to dance beside a dance school while growing up. Later, as an adult, they achieved great success through their self-taught dance skills and eventually found fulfilling love.
The story itself wasn’t particularly outstanding, but Xu Qi wanted to incorporate some technological light and shadow effects into the stage production to make it more dazzling. There would also be many large group dance segments. Shen Yu didn’t fully understand these aspects, but it sounded like it would be a rich and vibrant play.
However, the main prerequisite for realizing these beautiful ideas was a substantial financial investment. Fortunately, Xu Qi’s family was wealthy, and no matter how extravagantly he spent, the Xu family would support him. So, adding special effects to the stage play wasn’t a problem.
Xu Qi planned to have the first performance of the stage play ready by the next semester. After Shen Yu accepted the script, they began rehearsing diligently.
Even the rehearsal space was provided by Xu Qi. The phrase he repeated most often to the cast was, "Don’t worry about the budget."
Every time the other girls in the play heard him say this, they would swoon, their eyes sparkling, and say how incredibly handsome Xu Qi looked when he spoke those words.
But Shen Yu always felt there was more flattery than sincerity in their remarks.
Xu Qi’s appearance could at best be described as delicate and refined, not quite handsome. Besides, he was too thin. Sometimes, when she saw him in a hoodie with his collarbones showing, he looked almost skeletal.
A truly handsome person should be… someone like Shen Xiao!
Thinking of Shen Xiao made Shen Yu angry again. When he was sick the other day, he must have been delirious, spouting all sorts of strange things and even claiming she had a crush on him.
It was utterly ridiculous. Not only did she have no interest in dating at the moment, but even if she did, she wouldn’t choose a major antagonist, and her nominal brother at that! Though they weren’t related by blood, they lived in the same house, ate the same food, and saw each other constantly. Even if they weren’t biological siblings, they were practically like brother and sister. With that kind of relationship, the idea of dating felt just too strange.
Actually, whether to date or not wasn't her biggest concern. What truly frustrated her was that Shen Xiao refused to listen to her explanations! That lunatic was so stubborn about his own assumptions that he wouldn’t even let her defend herself.
He insisted she was just being stubborn and refusing to admit she had a crush on him. Shen Yu was so exasperated she could only laugh bitterly.
Later, unable to swallow her anger, she tried to confront him again, but he flat-out refused to discuss the topic any further. It left her feeling utterly stifled, as if she had valid arguments but no chance to voice them.
Over this matter, she even considered giving him the cold shoulder for a few days. But then he coolly remarked, "You’re just feeling guilty. You definitely have a crush on me."
Hearing him harp on about her "crush" day in and day out, she was starting to forget how to write the words "secret crush"!
Ever since he recovered from his illness, something seemed off with him. He insisted on picking her up and dropping her off at school again. Feeling a bit guilty about him going out of his way every day, she suggested he stop. But his immediate response, "Are you feeling guilty?", shut her down completely.
On Wednesday afternoon, since there were no classes, Shen Yu headed to the rehearsal space Xu Qi had rented. It was in an office building not far from the school. The place used to be a dance training school, but it had closed down, likely due to poor business. The interior was well-suited for stage play rehearsals, so Xu Qi had rented it early on and even renovated it, clearly, he had money to burn.
There was a fruit shop downstairs in the office building. Every time Shen Yu came, she would buy some fruit to bring upstairs. By now, she had rehearsed with the group several times, and they had grown familiar enough to feel comfortable around each other.
While buying fruit, she texted Shen Xiao to let him know she had arrived at the rehearsal space. If he was coming to pick her up, she asked him to wait at the fruit shop.
Once before, he had waited for her right next to the fruit shop.
After sending the message, she headed upstairs with the fruit.
In the rehearsal room, those who had arrived early were already practicing. The room was heated, and everyone was sweating from the intense rehearsal. When they saw Shen Yu bringing fruit, they cheered and rushed over to grab it all.
Xu Qi was marking up his script and smiled when she walked in. "Good afternoon, Auntie!"
Shen Yu: “…”
When Shen Xiao first came up with that nickname, it had made both of them awkward for a while. But after they got to know each other better, Xu Qi actually started using it regularly, leaving Shen Yu speechless every time.
Shen Yu turned to the students dividing the fruit and said, "Xu Qi doesn’t get any fruit today. Don’t share with him!"
Xu Qi laughed helplessly. "That’s harsh. I really won’t dare do it again."
Then, holding his script, he came over to discuss the scenes they were rehearsing that day.
Whenever the topic turned to the stage play, Xu Qi would drop his playful demeanor and become serious, especially when discussing his area of expertise, his eyes seemed to light up.
Aside from being on the slender side, Xu Qi had a refined and delicate appearance. Though his facial features were fairly ordinary, when combined, they gave off a pleasant and agreeable impression. He had fully monolidded eyes, which lent him a somewhat Korean-style vibe.
If not compared to anyone else, Xu Qi’s looks were actually quite decent.
With a good personality, wealth, capability, and not-bad looks, he certainly had what it took to be a popular figure among the girls.
"Today’s scene might be a bit challenging; it probably won’t go very smoothly," he said, then turned to look at a tall boy eating fruit nearby and asked, "Xu Xu, how’s your arm strength? Can you lift Shen Yu?"
Xu Xu chuckled and replied, "Should be fine. I didn’t go to the gym for nothing."
Xu Xu was a junior in the acting department and had been Xu Qi’s long-time partner. This time, he played the male lead in the stage play, sharing many scenes with Shen Yu.
Compared to Xu Qi, Xu Xu’s looks were more of the standard, conventional handsome type. In Shen Yu’s opinion, this kind of appearance was a dime a dozen in the acting department, not particularly distinctive.
As her thoughts drifted, her mind inadvertently wandered again. Shen Xiao’s handsome face suddenly surfaced in her mind, it was downright haunting!
Xu Qi said, "Let’s give this part a try. First, run through the lines, then work on the blocking and movements."
Shen Yu nodded, took out her script, read through it once, and began rehearsing with Xu Xu.
The scene depicted her, after losing a competition, locking herself in the dance studio and practicing frantically. Later, Xu Xu, unable to stand by and watch, went over and lifted her up.
Since it involved performance elements, this series of actions needed to be fluid and aesthetically pleasing, testing the actors’ chemistry.
The lines weren’t difficult, and even the emotionally charged dialogue was handled well by both of them. Unfortunately, when it came to rehearsing the movements, they hit a snag. After several attempts, Xu Qi remained unsatisfied.
As a result, Xu Xu was thoroughly exhausted. After lifting Shen Yu multiple times in a row, he was drenched in sweat.
Xu Qi told them to take a break before continuing. Shen Yu went to her bag to grab her water and glanced at her phone, noticing a missed call from Shen Xiao.
She quickly called back.
When Shen Xiao answered, he said, "I’m almost downstairs. When are you coming down?"
Shen Yu: “…”
She had only been up for a short while; it hadn’t been that long.
So she asked him, "You came early today?"
Shen Xiao replied, "I finished some business nearby and came straight over."
"I still have quite a while to go. How about... you come up and wait?"
"Which floor?"
"Eighth floor. You’ll see it as soon as you step out of the elevator."
After hanging up, Shen Yu turned to Xu Qi and said, "My brother is coming to pick me up soon. Is it okay if he waits here?"
Xu Qi, recalling the last time he encountered Shen Xiao, couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine. Still, he nodded in the end and said, "Of course, let Shen... Uncle be our first audience member."
Shen Yu: “…”
Shen Xiao arrived quickly. Just as they were about to resume rehearsals, he appeared at the door of the rehearsal room.
Dressed in a shirt and trousers, he looked quite slender, with his trench coat casually draped over his arm. A cigarette dangled from his lips as he stood arrogantly outside the glass door, looking like someone there to collect protection money.
Aside from Xu Qi, everyone else was seeing Shen Xiao up close for the first time. They couldn’t help but sneak curious glances, yet, intimidated by his powerful aura, none dared to meet his gaze directly.
Shen Yu walked over to open the door and let him in. As soon as Shen Xiao stepped inside, he scanned the room thoroughly and asked, "When can we leave?"
Shen Yu replied softly, "Wait a moment. Please sit on the sofa over there and wait for me."
Shen Xiao frowned and said, "Then I'll see what you've been up to."
Shen Yu: “…”
Since they were acquainted, Xu Qi also came over to greet him. After a moment's thought, he obediently said, "Hello, Uncle Shen."
Shen Xiao walked to the sofa, sat down, extinguished his cigarette, and crossed his legs. "Hmm, how are you getting along with your Aunt Shen Yu?"
Everyone: "..."
Shen Yu looked embarrassed and quickly tried to lighten the mood. "Senior Xu, let's continue rehearsing."
Her words successfully pulled everyone out of the awkward atmosphere, and they resumed practicing the lift from earlier.
At first, Shen Xiao watched calmly as Shen Yu recited her lines and danced. But when Xu Xu stepped in, Shen Xiao's composure finally cracked. As Xu Xu gathered his strength, wrapped his arms around Shen Yu, and lifted her into a spin,
Shen Xiao abruptly stood up, rolled up his sleeves, and strode toward the center of the room.
Had they been hiding upstairs all this time just to pull these kinds of stunts?
Damn it, these wild men just wouldn't quit!