Chapter 116 Part 1: Jiang Xiao’s Loss of Control

Song Qiuyu had already submitted an application to the Class Counselor in advance and received approval, so she dared to bring Jiang Xiao with her into the Opera House.

However, Jiang Xiao soon told her about what Xie Zhuran and Lin An discovered after she left the dorm that morning—the cos costume she had left hanging out on the balcony.

Among the things they found was, of course, that Large Fake Breasts piece, which she had washed and hung out to dry together.

Fortunately, although she wasn’t there at the time, Jiang Xiao was present and, as someone in the know, helped explain the situation for her.

After passing on this information, Jiang Xiao simply followed quietly behind her.

He looked just like a messenger robot.

Song Qiuyu, however, couldn’t remain silent all the time.

She felt she should say thank you, but lately, she had already thanked Jiang Xiao too many times.

Maybe it would be more reliable to take some practical action instead.

“By the way, once we successfully land this business order, Jiang Xiao, what do you want to eat?”

She pursed her lips slightly, turned her head, and smiled at Jiang Xiao as she spoke.

“Hm?”

Jiang Xiao met her gaze and was momentarily caught off guard.

“You helped explain things for me, so as a thank-you, I want to ask your opinion first. When everyone discusses what to eat later, your choice will already count as two votes.”

As she spoke, Song Qiuyu looked toward the stage not far ahead and quickly reminded him to remember to take off their shoes before stepping on it, so as not to dirty the stage.

Usually, this wasn’t a problem during practice, but now both of their shoes were soaked from the rain, especially Jiang Xiao’s.

Plus, to help Jiang Xiao desensitize and get used to it faster, she had him walk on the floor wearing only stockings.

If the floor got dirty, their feet would naturally get dirty, and they’d have to wash them immediately afterward.

With this lousy weather, who knew if it would even dry by tomorrow?

Jiang Xiao pondered quietly, his gaze dropping to the floor.

His thoughts briefly returned to three years ago.

Shen Xi had a catchphrase: “Jiang Xiao, you’re really great!” But she didn’t just praise him repeatedly—instead, when she said it often enough, she would immediately take action.

Like giving him rewards.

Shen Xi understood what he wanted, perhaps even better than he did himself.

Was this a coincidence matching some hidden signal?

“I haven’t thought about it yet.”

Jiang Xiao was silent for two seconds, then shook his head and looked up at Song Qiuyu.

“Alright, just let me know when you do!”

Song Qiuyu nodded.

She stopped walking and squatted down, pulling her delicate white silk-clad feet out of the rain-soaked canvas shoes.

Then, like creamy milk ice cream, her feet landed on the stage.

The temperature difference between her warm soles and the cold floor made her toes curl slightly, the tips of her small toes pressing against the stage first.

“Heh…”

She placed the wet canvas shoes to the side and stepped steadily across the soft, smooth white silk as she walked toward the chair holding her backpack.

Jiang Xiao also squatted, took off his wet shoes, and stepped onto the stage in clean socks.

“By the way, Jiang Xiao, when you practice alone, do you ever imagine something as me?” Song Qiuyu suddenly sounded nervous.

She was making small talk, removing her warm coat, folding it a few times, and draping it over the chair back.

“When I practice alone, I imagine this backpack as you.”

She sighed, grabbing her waistband and pulling her jeans down.

“You have no idea how slow I get into the mood when I’m imagining a backpack as you.” She unfolded her skirt, and two long white silk legs slid out from inside her jeans, until her feet were fully revealed.

Jiang Xiao quietly watched as she also draped the jeans she’d taken off over the chair, then opened her backpack zipper and took out a White Wig along with White Cat Ears and a White Cat Tail to put on.

She was still facing away from him, tidying herself.

If she looked down, she’d see the expression on his face was far from calm.

Jiang Xiao held his breath.

He could hold on.

“Hm? Jiang Xiao, why aren’t you saying anything?”

Song Qiuyu adjusted the White Cat Ears on her head.

Then she turned around, the White Wig flowing down to her waist fluttering with the breeze, and the White Cat Tail swaying lightly behind her.

Jiang Xiao’s eyes immediately brightened.

This catgirl outfit suited her even better than he had imagined.

Only the cat ears were slightly crooked.

Even so, it wasn’t a major flaw—it just made her look adorably naive and easy to tease.

“I did.”

He looked at her, recalling the image of her he had imagined, his gaze darkening.

“Ah?”

Song Qiuyu seemed taken aback.

Before she could react, Jiang Xiao suddenly walked toward her and reached out his hands to touch the wig on her head.

“I did imagine it.”

Jiang Xiao didn’t intend to say more.

Song Qiuyu was stunned for a moment but wasn’t really surprised. If Jiang Xiao didn’t imagine her like this, that would be strange.

She wasn’t sure just how ‘unsmooth’ Jiang Xiao’s imagination was.

She had to help him properly.

Jiang Xiao adjusted the position of her cat ears, then withdrew his hands and lowered his gaze—just in time to meet hers.

Her beautiful apricot-colored eyes were already adorned with Red Contact Lenses, shining like red rubies.

At this moment, she looked at him intently with curious eyes.

She was clearly wondering what he was doing.

But it was only curiosity; she didn’t reject his sudden closeness.

“Your cat ears are crooked.”

After less than two seconds of eye contact, Jiang Xiao couldn’t hold back anymore, forced himself to look away, and said coldly, “Just so you know.”

“Oh, that’s how it is!”

Song Qiuyu suddenly understood, then habitually said, “Thanks, Jiang Xiao.”

Jiang Xiao remained silent.

According to the script, their scene started with him sleeping in bed and Song Qiuyu meowing as she climbed onto it.

Though there was no bed on the stage, only a chair, as a professional short-video creator, she knew how to find a hidden bed—the stage itself!

“Jiang Xiao, you’ll have to lie on the floor for a while.”

Seeing Jiang Xiao move to a spot and lie down wordlessly on the stage floor, Song Qiuyu looked at her discarded coat and decisively picked it up.

“What’s wrong?”

Jiang Xiao looked curiously at her as she came over.

“The floor is still too cold. I’ll lay my coat down for you to lie on. Then you can use the backpack you brought as a pillow!”

Song Qiuyu wore a “Aren’t I clever?” expression, gently patting the coat in her arms.

Jiang Xiao pondered.

“After all, what if you catch a cold again? If you get sick, I’ll have to take care of you.”

Seeing Jiang Xiao was unmoved, she sighed deliberately, as if taking care of a sick Jiang Xiao was a huge burden, hoping he would be sensible and obedient.

Jiang Xiao frowned and surveyed her from head to toe.

Looking at their current state, anyone would think Song Qiuyu was the more fragile one.

“Don’t worry.”

He couldn’t help but reach out to touch her fluffy head.

“Uh…”

Song Qiuyu stiffened slightly and stared at Jiang Xiao in surprise.

But she didn’t seem to dislike it—in fact, being petted felt pretty nice.

“I’m not that fragile. You should take better care of yourself, Song Qiuyu. You’re wearing less and must be colder than me.”

His hand brushed over her two cat ears.

Jiang Xiao hadn’t planned to do anything, but since the ears were fake, he secretly pinched them twice.

So soft.

The cat ears on Xi’er’s big White Cat at home should feel just as soft—he really wanted to touch them.

Song Qiuyu was completely oblivious.

“Well then, since you insist.”

Song Qiuyu thought for a moment, then reluctantly pouted, “At least use the backpack you brought as a pillow.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Xiao nodded.

He laid his head on the backpack and lay down on the stage floor, closing his eyes and pretending to be asleep according to the script.

Song Qiuyu also closed her eyes, took several deep breaths, and then opened them.

How could the feeling of imagining Jiang Xiao compare to the real Jiang Xiao?

Her heartbeat sped up uncontrollably as she grew nervous and shy about the flirtatious lines and actions she should have been used to by now.

But this kind of emotion was undoubtedly a double-edged sword—as long as she felt it, it would definitely affect Jiang Xiao.

Jiang Xiao was definitely nervous now; he couldn’t afford to be the weak link!

He was so tense that cold sweat dampened his back.

Then, pretending to be uncomfortable while sleeping, he turned onto his side, facing the front of the stage.

Suddenly, Song Qiuyu’s gentle and cute girl voice rang out, making him shudder.

It was a voice Jiang Xiao had never heard before.

It seemed Song Qiuyu had truly practiced hard from yesterday until now, even modifying her voice.

The meowing came like a succubus whisper drawing near.

“Don’t sleep anymore, human. Come play with me. If you keep sleeping, I’ll have to play acid-base neutralization with you…”

Song Qiuyu shyly stuck out her butt and crawled behind Jiang Xiao like a real White Cat.

She had agreed to take this business order; the lines were written by her own hand.

She was the one who invited Jiang Xiao to practice together.

No matter what, she wanted to do her best.

Song Qiuyu summoned all her willpower, stretched out a delicate white hand like a cat’s paw toward Jiang Xiao’s nape, lightly scratching again and again, seductively teasing him: “Meow, human, meow~”

A cold sweat trickled down Jiang Xiao’s cheek as he clenched his hands tightly beside him.

It was his turn.

He suddenly opened his eyes, his vision still not fully focused.

The soft White Wig fell faster across his cheek.

Cool, carrying that scent that stirred his heartbeat.

Jiang Xiao recalled his lines.

At this moment, two pure white cat ears came into his sight first.

“Human, you’re awake. You’re already the toy of a cat!”