“So cold…”
Ye Zhou lay flat on the bed, his eyes closed tightly due to a high fever as he muttered to himself.
Su Zhihan hurriedly set down the medicine and fruit. She kicked off her black low-heeled leather shoes, revealing her feet in black stockings as she climbed onto the bed.
Just as her hands braced themselves on either side of Ye Zhou’s body, he opened his eyes in a daze. There was no dialogue, only the exchange of looks as the tension between them slowly thickened…
At that moment, a genius in the audience remarked to himself:
“Aiya, no need to watch. It’s definitely a fake kiss. If she actually kisses him, I, Master Zhao, will pay for everyone’s tabs tonight.”
Back on stage…
Su Zhihan pursed her lips slightly, looking like a plump cherry as she slowly leaned down.
Ye Zhou subconsciously swallowed and held his breath, preparing to gently tilt his head so they could successfully execute a stage kiss.
But then, a loud crack echoed! The bed actually collapsed?
As expected, Su Zhihan was caught completely off guard. A strong masculine scent abruptly invaded her nose.
Her eyes widened, and her heart throbbed violently. Her first instinct was to get up, but she quickly remembered she was in the middle of a play and had yet to give the 150 audience members an ending.
So, she closed her eyes trembling and could only take the initiative to press her lips against his. Her movements were very clumsy.
She told herself in her heart: It’s fine, it’s only for a few seconds. It’ll be over in a flash.
On the other side, Ye Zhou’s situation was also less than ideal.
He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Seriously, what kind of quality was this bed? It collapsed after just one move?
So after all that, the kiss at the end of the Today’s Intel stage play only happened because Su Zhihan was forced into a real kiss by an accident.
Faced with the sweetness and softness of Su Zhihan’s lips, and even the restlessness stirred by her delicate body pressing against him…
A broken wooden board from the collapsed bed was prodding Ye Zhou in the waist at an angle. Although it didn’t pierce his flesh, it was painful enough to stop him from having any stray thoughts.
Something was wrong.
At this moment, shouldn’t I be feeling painful but happy?
Then why is my kidney area just feeling pain and more pain?
Su Zhihan’s trembling eyelashes…
Ye Zhou’s hand tightly gripping the bed frame…
Watching this scene from backstage, Jiang Yingxue stood with her arms crossed and her brows slightly furrowed, her thoughts unknown.
“Oh my god! Everyone look, am I seeing things? They really kissed?”
“Hiss, this is too intense. It’s just a play, is there a need for live ammo?”
“Just for the fact that this scene wasn’t faked, I’m a fan. From now on, I’m only watching the Drama and Film Club’s plays at Jianghai University. Watching others just makes my eyes hurt.”
Clap, clap, clap…
Accompanied by the cheers and applause of the 150 audience members, this stage play concluded as a classic scene created by the accidental kiss between Ye Zhou and Su Zhihan.
Love starts Platonic and ends Platonic.
Confidence isn’t about how much money or talent you have, but about having the courage to make a fool of yourself.
***
For a split second, Ye Zhou felt that stage plays weren’t as bad as he had imagined. They actually seemed quite good, and he was starting to like the feeling.
But liking it was one thing.
As soon as Ye Zhou and Su Zhihan stepped off stage, they were called to the Drama and Film Club office by President Jiang Yingxue.
The reason was simple. To outsiders, this play not only lacked flaws but had far exceeded their expectations.
To the insiders, however, the final segment hadn’t followed the script.
Facing a solemn Jiang Yingxue, Su Zhihan was the first to lower her head and whisper:
“I’m sorry, Club Leader Jiang. I don’t know why the bed suddenly collapsed. I think maybe I’ve eaten too much these past few days and gained a bit of weight…”
Jiang Yingxue couldn’t help but chuckle and palm her forehead.
“Su Zhihan, do you think I’m some kind of villain? I called you to the office to ask if you were injured.”
“After all, if there was a problem with the props, then that’s my responsibility.”
Su Zhihan patted her chest and let out a sigh of relief, her tone a bit embarrassed.
“I’m not injured, but Ye Zhou might be…”
Jiang Yingxue looked at Ye Zhou again, her hands crossed under her chin, a teasing smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
“So, as the human cushion, Mr. Ye Zhou, are you injured? Let me ask you, was it a good injury or a bad injury?”
“Ah… haha… neither, I think.”
Ye Zhou gave an awkward smile. His waist only felt a small sharp pain every now and then; it was nothing serious.
Just then, Chen Yuhe knocked and entered the office. She had presumably been called by Jiang Yingxue as well.
She was as full of energy as ever, giving Ye Zhou and Su Zhihan a big thumbs up with no shortage of praise:
“I watched your play from start to finish without even blinking. I’m still buzzing from it.”
“Oh! President, see? My eye for recruitment is pretty good, right?”
Jiang Yingxue rolled her eyes.
“Yes, yes, yes, it’s good. But I didn’t call you here to listen to you brag. A prop failed—were you not being responsible?”
But Chen Yuhe blinked her almond-shaped eyes with an innocent look.
“President… Jiang, is your brain tired and muddled? I wasn’t in charge of the props for this play.”
“Is that so? Then who was it?”
Jiang Yingxue rubbed her aching temples.
Chen Yuhe thought for a moment. “It was Lin Shulan…”
“Her?”
Jiang Yingxue froze for a second. “Where is she then? Why haven’t I seen a glimpse of her all day?”
“Oh!”
Chen Yuhe held up an index finger and spoke truthfully. “She just said her nicotine craving hit, but she was out of cigarettes, so she went out to buy some more.”
“Sigh…”
Jiang Yingxue slumped onto the desk, drained of energy. “You seniors better put in some more effort, or else we’ll become a laughingstock to the juniors.”
Chen Yuhe made an “OK” gesture with her hand, saying it all.
Ye Zhou and Su Zhihan looked at each other and smiled.
***
At the gates of Jianghai University under the night sky, the streetlights were dim and yellow. The crowds were sparse, with the occasional crisp ring of a bicycle bell passing by.
Ye Zhou and Su Zhihan walked together.
His face was full of apology.
“Even though it was an accident, if that was your first kiss, I’m really sorry. I apologize.”
Su Zhihan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“But didn’t you say it was your first kiss too?”
Ye Zhou blinked and nodded.
Su Zhihan shook her head and spoke softly.
“Then that’s that. Since it was an accident and it was the first time for both of us, no one owes anyone an apology.”
“Ah, the taxi is here. I’ll be going first. Bye, Ye Zhou…”
Ye Zhou waved and smiled faintly.
Even though she said that, he didn’t see a hint of anger on Su Zhihan’s face. Yet, the more it was like this, the more his heart felt a bit bitter.
Right then, a very conspicuous Silver BMW 3 Series stopped in front of Ye Zhou.
He knew at a glance it was Jiang Yingxue’s car. Thinking she was waiting for someone else, he didn’t think much of it and continued walking forward.
But the car followed him, and the window slowly rolled down, revealing a cold and elegant face.
“Get in. I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“There’s no need, Club Leader Jiang. I’m really not hurt.”
“Stop talking nonsense and get in the car.”
“You at least need a check-up. As long as you were injured in the club, I have the right to be responsible.”