There are two most torturous things in this world: the first is that I have an 8 AM class, and the second is that a wicked teacher has scheduled the course for the evening.
What is the difference between this and high school evening self-study?
Having evening self-study in high school is one thing, but still having to do it in university?
Doesn’t that mean we worked hard for nothing?
Such thoughts clouded the minds of almost everyone in Acting Department Class Six of the School of Arts.
Fang Wei sat beside Zhuge Yu in a corner of the dance studio.
With just one glance, he saw the students’ Degen Value rising like the tide.
Somewhere in this world, there must exist the **[8 AM Class Magical Beast]** and the **[Evening Self-study Magical Beast]**.
Of course, it wasn’t just the students.
Even the teacher, as a fellow laborer, had grown impatient sitting at the front.
She let the students split into small groups to do their own things.
The New Year’s Eve Gala.
As soon as Fang Wei followed Zhuge Yu into the dance studio, he heard the news.
The University of Nantong did not celebrate Christmas.
The old leaders would only use credits to force students to perform on stage to bring honor to their departments.
This actually had nothing to do with Fang Wei since he wasn’t even in this class.
He had followed her purely because Zhuge Yu was still not quite adapted to returning to class, so he came along to support her.
After all, this child’s previous experiences at school had not been great.
Perhaps “disliking school” could no longer describe it; it should be called “school-phobia.”
However, things were fine.
Since there were no classes in the afternoon, he had accompanied Zhuge Yu back to touch up her makeup.
In truth, he felt Zhuge Yu looked great even without it, but she lacked self-confidence.
‘When will she realize that beautiful women only become more beautiful with makeup?’
After they walked into the classroom, the radiant Zhuge Yu still attracted many gazes.
Despite her shrinking back like a thief, she was still caught by several female classmates.
“Little Yu!”
Several girls, who usually never interacted with Zhuge Yu, ran over to chat with her.
One with high emotional intelligence even handed her own performance script to Zhuge Yu.
Female creatures were as full of schemes as they were talented at making friends.
“You look so beautiful today! What shade of lip glaze are you using? The effect is amazing.”
“Your skin is so good. Do you have some secret maintenance routine?”
“Why does my blush make me look like a paper doll? How can I look as natural as you?”
“Get out of here! You apply your eye shadow and blush with your hands. It would be a miracle if it looked good.”
Four girls surrounded Zhuge Yu, their chirping and curious gazes wishing they could turn into X-rays to see through her.
There were also girls constantly stealing glances at Fang Wei.
Their topic shifted quickly, moving from cosmetics to romance in no time, and they subconsciously paired Zhuge Yu and Fang Wei together.
Thus, the people enduring the fire of gossip instantly became two.
“N-No, he is not my boyfriend….”
Zhuge Yu’s voice was practically squeezed out from between her teeth.
Fang Wei believed that if he weren’t by her side, Zhuge Yu would definitely be like a startled rabbit, turning her head and running out of the school in a flash.
But that group of girls completely took Little Yu’s explanation as shyness.
They straightforwardly showed Fang Wei what the openness and vitality of a female college student looked like.
“Handsome, handsome! So you’re also from our department? Are all the boys in Class Three as handsome as you?”
The girl who took the initiative to talk to him didn’t participate in the chat, nor was she there for Zhuge Yu.
She made no attempt to hide her purpose.
“Hee-hee, anyway, we’re all from the Acting Department, right? We’re still short an actor for the New Year’s Eve Gala. Are you interested in joining us, handsome?”
This girl teased him while handing over a script.
She seemed to be the Study Representative for this class because the girls who gathered around were clearly divided into two groups: those gossiping with Zhuge Yu and those targeting him.
Fang Wei felt he must have been targeted from the moment he walked in.
He took a quick look and saw the script was about the program for the School of Arts’ New Year’s Eve Gala.
Several departments were rehearsing together.
The Class Three teacher had prepared the stage play *Cinderella*.
The original female lead, the student playing Cinderella — or should he say, *Cinderella* — could not perform.
That name looked familiar to Fang Wei… *Hiss*, was she the one he beat up last time?
So she was still at home on medical leave…
As for the actor for the Prince…
Well, that shouldn’t have anything to do with him.
That boy had turned tail and run in fear back then.
Although he wasn’t beaten, the subsequent cleanup was quite harsh.
Because of this, both roles were currently vacant.
Fang Wei only glanced at it before refusing.
If he were asked to play a bit-part soldier, that would be fine.
But to play the Prince?
To have a stage kiss with another woman in front of Qi Qiancao and Xia Yuanhua at the New Year’s Eve Gala?
‘That scene would definitely evolve into a No-Holds-Barred Fighting Championship.’
“Well? How is it? It’s the lead role! The boys in our class would love to have this chance.”
“About that… I think the boys in your class are also quite suitable.”
Fang Wei squeezed out an awkward yet polite smile.
“I’ll pass. I’m fine being part of the audience.”
“But handsome, if you go on stage, you’ll have priority dating rights for all three years of university!”
The girl hinted with an exaggerated, strange tone.
Fang Wei shrugged and shook his head.
‘Sister, if this face didn’t already have three years of dating rights, you wouldn’t have approached me.’
“Alright then ~”
The girl serving as the Study Representative revealed a cunning smile, then exchanged a look with the girls beside her, smiling without a word.
Fang Wei felt the surrounding atmosphere was a bit strange.
After this girl finished talking to him, she immediately ran to the teacher’s side and whispered something.
“Teacher, that boy said he is very interested in our stage play.”
“???”
As Fang Wei’s eyes widened in shock, the Study Representative gave him a “V” for victory!
‘Wait, is everyone in the Arts Department this thirsty?!’
Fang Wei felt he should immediately grab Zhuge Yu and run away.
However, before he could react, the acting teacher walked over.
A smile of approval for a “teachable student” hung on her lips.
Her gaze swept over Fang Wei’s face, giving him no room for rebuttal.
Suddenly, she waved her hand and delivered a divine oracle.
“Tell me how many credits you want!”
She turned on the small loudspeaker at her waist, clapping her hands to attract the students’ attention while shouting:
“Okay, okay! Everyone, stop playing on your phones! There is a student from our department who wants to try out a performance. If it’s good, we can settle on him. If not, we’ll change again.”
These words nearly shocked Fang Wei to death.
Zhuge Yu, who was barely managing to deal with her classmates, also looked over at him, wondering what was going on.
“You actually have talent in this area?”
“No, I feel there’s something wrong with the atmosphere of your class.”
Fang Wei turned to the group of Class Three boys and found those guys were casting gloating looks his way.
Who in their right mind would want to perform that thing?
Instead of playing games in the dorm during the New Year’s holiday, you’re going to act for the leaders?
“Brother, you aren’t the first,” one boy mouthed.
This group of slackers didn’t even want to earn credits!
Fang Wei knew he was out of luck this time.
Under the acting teacher’s praise, he was still pulled out.
The surrounding students spontaneously formed a circle, leaving a space in the middle.
Fang Wei took a deep breath.
Fine.
At worst, he would just act poorly.
If he played it at the level of a mediocre idol actor, he didn’t believe the teacher would still want him.
He stood in the center with the script.
The teacher and the Study Representative, who had committed all these evil deeds, exchanged some words.
It looked like the Study Representative would be the one acting with him.
At this moment, Fang Wei felt like a husky mixed in a pack of wolves, looking completely out of place, yet everyone was crowding around him.
He had no choice but to cast a look for help toward Zhuge Yu.
Although he knew General Little Yu couldn’t help him, looking at her made him feel a little better.
But to Fang Wei’s surprise, the moment his gaze met Zhuge Yu’s, she shrank her neck, her eyes filled with struggle.
Then, as if she had made a major decision, she stepped into the crowd before the Study Representative could walk over to rehearse lines with Fang Wei.
She blocked the Study Representative, reached out to take the script, signaled the teacher, and then walked tremblingly toward Fang Wei.
Like an ostrich wanting to bury its head in the sand, she didn’t dare look at anyone.
As they stood face-to-face, Zhuge Yu whispered, “I know this awkward feeling is very painful, so… I won’t leave you alone….”
The script in Zhuge Yu’s hand was crumpled.
She suppressed her messy breathing, her chest heaving violently, but she finally lifted her head.
The teacher, who loved a good show, led the students in another round of applause.
After the scattered clapping ended, it was finally time for the two of them.
It was better for two people to be awkward together than for one person to be awkward alone.
Fang Wei gave Zhuge Yu a helpless smile.
Just as he was about to speak, a group of girls’ voices came from outside the door.
Several girls were talking and laughing as they walked through the corridor, approaching this way.
Among them was a voice that made the two who were starting their rehearsal feel familiar and terrified.
Upon hearing Qi Qiancao’s voice, Fang Wei’s brain felt like it had been struck by lightning, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.
And now, the girl who could match his brainwaves was also frightened, her face turning pale.
Zhuge Yu’s legs went soft, and she nearly fell to the ground.