Chapter 159 Part 2: The Girl Who Has Fallen in Love?

Today’s schedule wasn’t too hectic; they only needed to rehearse the stage play at the Opera House in the morning.

The afternoon and evening were entirely theirs to arrange as they wished.

Only a few scattered exams remained during Finals Week, all scheduled in January, with the last one, unfortunately, falling on the afternoon right before the start of Short-term Holiday.

Those lucky enough would leave campus earlier than them.

So, after breakfast, Song Qiuyu took Jiang Xiao straight to the Opera House.

Along the way, couples could be seen everywhere, their affectionate voices floating all around, and occasionally they’d run into a pair who would suddenly hug or lift each other up right there on the path.

Song Qiuyu was so embarrassed she felt like she was about to combust, but the couples in question continued their lovey-dovey displays, oblivious to the world, still kissing as if no one was watching.

Strangely, the more she witnessed, the more she felt a twinge of envy—not for the boy who was doted on by his girlfriend, but rather… for the other party.

She watched as another adorable girl leapt into her boyfriend’s arms.

Then, the two exchanged Christmas Gifts, both their faces shining with the happiness brought on by those four words: “to love and be loved.”

The laughter and chatter of boys and girls breezed past Song Qiuyu’s shoulder like a gust of wind.

She turned her head, chasing after that wind, to look at that kind of scenery one more time—just one more glance.

Song Qiuyu retracted her gaze. She thought the girl’s clinginess was cute, of course, but not in the way the opposite sex might find it cute. It was just purely from one girl to another.

Then, as usual, she began to search for her own shortcomings.

She was a girl now, but she wasn’t nearly as cute as that. What on earth did Jiang Xiao see in her?

Besides, in Jiang Xiao’s eyes, she was still a boy.

Could it be that as long as one had a good-looking face, nothing else mattered—not even gender?

She couldn’t make sense of it, no matter how she tried.

It must be Jiang Xiao’s own issue.

Jiang Xiao must have poor taste.

“Is there something on my face?”

“Ah…”

Song Qiuyu was startled.

“You’ve been staring at my face for a really long time.”

Jiang Xiao lowered his eyes to look at her. He didn’t really dislike the feeling of being stared at by her, but after a while, it got to be too much.

And when it got to be too much, he would start wanting to do things he probably shouldn’t.

When she heard this, Song Qiuyu quickly looked away, and she thought she vaguely heard Jiang Xiao give a quiet laugh, so she forced herself to look back.

“Oh. Well, I can’t help it, people’s eyes are naturally drawn to pretty things. So it’s not my fault—my eyes are just moving on their own.”

“Are you complimenting me on being handsome?”

Jiang Xiao caught the main point.

“I don’t think I’ve ever denied it, have I? Besides, before we left, you spent ages in front of the mirror getting yourself ready. We’re both bros, you don’t need me to admit you’re better looking than me, do you?”

Song Qiuyu sounded a bit annoyed.

“I could help you get ready, too!”

Jiang Xiao caught the main point again, but somehow it seemed a bit off.

“If it’s to make me look cooler and more handsome, then sure.”

Song Qiuyu wavered fiercely.

“I guess that’s not impossible.”

“What a pity. I think you look better with a cute and pretty style.”

Jiang Xiao sighed.

“That’s your opinion! I don’t want your opinion, I want my opinion!”

That line didn’t come from Song Qiuyu.

Song Qiuyu turned her head and caught sight of the first couple bickering.

The reason for their quarrel seemed to be that the girl didn’t like the Christmas Gift the boy gave her.

After a bit of fussing, it became a game of ‘you chase me, I run; you chase me again, I run again’, until finally, the girl was coaxed back into a good mood.

Seeing the boy humbly trying to please his girlfriend, Song Qiuyu felt a jumble of emotions.

She remembered once seeing a video online of a boy kneeling and begging his girlfriend not to leave him.

Uh-oh, somehow she had a feeling Jiang Xiao was perfectly capable of doing something that pathetic.

She wouldn’t allow it. No way would she let the Jiang Xiao she’d taken care of for so long kneel to another woman!

Not even for the best woman in the world.

“Ahem, ahem!”

Jiang Xiao coughed twice, poking the absent-minded

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

Song Qiuyu suddenly felt so much sympathy for the person in front of her, and so much guilt, that her voice unconsciously turned soft and gentle.

Jiang Xiao paused, taken aback.

He deliberately touched his neck, pretending it was freezing, dropping a heavy hint: “I still haven’t ever received a Christmas Gift from my girlfriend.”

After so long as friends, Song Qiuyu could sense Jiang Xiao’s mood with just the twitch of a single hair.

Now, she understood him instantly.

She felt a dull annoyance in her chest, helpless: “Fine, I’ll give you one. Just this once, alright? And by the way, it’s not girlfriend, it’s…”

“Mm, I know.”

Jiang Xiao interrupted.

He remembered that whenever she got something good, she never forgot about her bro.

He continued, “But since you agreed to give me a gift, you can’t give one to Xie Zhuran and the others, too!”

“That’s fine, nothing wrong with saving a little money.” Renting another apartment costs a lot anyway.

“Let’s go, time to rehearse.”

Jiang Xiao wasn’t surprised at all—Song Qiuyu’s thoughts were always so obvious.

“Mm.”

Song Qiuyu nodded, sneaking a few glances at Jiang Xiao as he kept touching his neck, her eyes turning as her lips curled up.

[After rehearsal, I’ll go buy a scarf as a Christmas Gift.]

When they arrived at the Song Opera House, since rehearsal hadn’t started yet, the entire 602 Dormitory sat down together to discuss the Group Assignment.

“Lao Song, you should take the role! You and Lao Jiang have played a couple so many times—what’s one more?”

Xie Zhuran was all in: “Besides, maybe playing a cross-dressing role will get you extra points!” “No way!”

Song Qiuyu’s eyes were resolute.

“Such a coward!”

Xie Zhuran put on a look of mock disdain. “Can’t you learn from me? If Lao Lin’s got no objections, I’d love to cross-dress for a higher score.”

“I object!”

Lin An raised his hand.

Xie Zhuran was stunned, giving Lin An a look like he was a traitor.

Come on, Lao Lin, consider the atmosphere, will you?

At that moment, Jiang Xiao also raised his hand.

That action drew everyone’s attention— even the onlooking Drama Club members.

They all started whispering.

“Playing a couple is fine, isn’t it? They’ve got such great chemistry, it’d be a waste not to go for the high score.”

“They’re not an actual couple, though.”

“Maybe something happened between them recently, and now they’re avoiding each other?”

“You people really have nothing better to do. Instead of worrying about the juniors’ Group Assignment, maybe worry more about your own Final Thesis!”

At the mention of the Final Thesis, the chatter died down a little.

Then Jiang Xiao spoke up in a calm voice: “As for the girl in the script, I personally suggest asking Sang Tian and the others for help. Cross-dressing doesn’t suit this part.”

“Oh?”

Lin An perked up.

“That’s what I thought, too. So before I came, I already checked with Sang Tian. She said their dorm has free time all week, so they can help us out.”