Xiao Liu Hu
White Li and Sitiao Shizhi’s eyes met in the air, like two invisible lightning bolts colliding, sparks flying.
Even though no one spoke, the people nearby could feel the force of their silent rivalry.
The class monitor glanced back and forth, then silently swallowed.
Lin Du spoke, finally breaking the silence.
“What arrangements?”
“A ball.”
Sitiao Shizhi’s gaze shifted from White Li to Lin Du.
“It’s called—Twilight Gala.
I proposed that Class Four and our Class Three put on a joint performance.
I’ve already found the other four pairs of dancers—the best in the first and second years.
Two people per group, five groups total.”
She snapped her fingers, then continued.
“Now I just need the centerpiece… that one person.”
Sitiao Shizhi paused, took a few steps forward, her finger lightly pointing at Lin Du, then withdrew it.
“You and me, just like last year’s school anniversary,” Sitiao Shizhi tilted her head slightly, as if reminiscing.
“We’ll take first place, right?”
When White Li heard the words “last year’s school anniversary,” her eyes widened involuntarily.
‘There’s a ranking for this school anniversary performance?
No, that’s not the point.
The point is—they performed together last year?’
White Li’s gaze unconsciously landed on Sitiao Shizhi, sizing her up.
She wasn’t very tall—maybe just a little taller than White Li—but her proportions were much better, with a slender waist and long legs.
She wore a brown skirt and white stockings, with black loafers on her feet.
Standing in the sunlight, she looked like she had stepped out of a magazine.
White Li’s Ghost Brain activated, and a scene appeared in her mind:
Under the spotlight, a girl in a white dress twirled gently, the hem blooming like a flower.
A boy in a black tuxedo stood straight-backed, one hand holding the girl’s, the other lightly resting on her waist.
They spun and moved to the music, every step on the beat, every turn just right.
And at the very center of the stage—Lin Du and Sitiao Shizhi.
It would indeed be a pleasing performance—handsome man, beautiful woman, aristocratic dance.
Everyone would applaud, everyone would exclaim, “So beautiful.”
Then the next day, the school forum would be full of photos of them standing side by side, the comments section filled with “Get married.”
She looked down at herself.
‘Short stature, underdeveloped figure, just an ordinary person without ears and a tail—completely unremarkable.
I’m 140 centimeters standing next to Lin Du’s 175—I probably only reach his chest.
What am I supposed to play?
His walking stick?
His backpack?’
White Li’s hands slowly clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms.
She remembered the script for “Demon King and Hero” in her hands, those hackneyed lines—after all, it was just a “going through the motions” in the class monitor’s words.
It really was boring, not as good as the aristocratic ball, not as pleasing to the eye as the beautiful couple.
‘Lin Du deserves better…’
As she thought, the little flame that had barely sparked in her heart seemed about to go out.
“Sorry.”
White Li jerked her head up.
Lin Du stood two steps in front of her, blocking her from Sitiao Shizhi.
“We already have a script and arrangements for our performance, and the program schedule has been submitted.
I can’t let everyone’s hard work go to waste.”
He paused.
At those words, the flame in White Li’s heart suddenly flared up again.
‘This guy… is this the first time he’s actively refused Sitiao Shizhi?
Though last time with the birthday invitation, he didn’t really agree either—he just didn’t get a chance to speak before the invitation was torn to pieces.
This time, he actually said no in front of everyone.’
Sitiao Shizhi’s expression shifted slightly, the usually confident mask cracking.
She bit her lip, then frowned, her gaze moving from Lin Du’s face to White Li behind him.
White Li subconsciously sidestepped to avoid eye contact.
‘Now Lin Du has offended the Young Lady too.
I hope this time the Young Lady loses interest in him.
What kind of Young Lady chases after an ordinary high school student every day like a fangirl?
This isn’t a dating game, and Lin Du isn’t the protagonist.’
Sitiao Shizhi’s lips slowly curled into a faint smile, like a child discovering a new toy, finding it interesting.
“Heh…”
“Well then… that’s all.
I was being presumptuous.
See you around.”
Sitiao Shizhi bowed slightly, her tone calm, as if nothing had happened.
She turned and walked toward the door, the hem of her brown skirt gently swaying.
“Young Lady—” the follower behind her started to speak, but Sitiao Shizhi gave a light cough, and both followers immediately shut their mouths.
They lowered their heads and followed her out.
The door closed slowly behind them.
“No way…”
White Li was stunned.
‘Lin Du rejected her like that, and she’s not angry—she seems to be enjoying it.
This woman is terrifying.
She can’t be one of those… BDSM types, can she?’
White Li remained frozen in place, staring at the closed door, her mind a mess.
“White Li,” Lin Du turned to face her.
“Let’s keep rehearsing our lines.”
Seeing that White Li didn’t respond, he waved a hand in front of her eyes.
“White Li?”
“Oh!”
White Li snapped out of it and nodded.
“Okay!”
She lowered her head, rubbed her nose with the back of her hand, then turned and walked to her seat, picking up the crumpled script.
For some reason, her heart was beating a little faster.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
Her voice was small, as if she were talking to herself.
She wasn’t sure if Lin Du heard.
Lin Du stood next to her and opened his own script.
They stood a few steps apart, taking turns reciting their lines.
Their voices echoed back and forth in the empty classroom, like a ping-pong ball bouncing on a desktop.
After one run-through, Lin Du closed his script and looked up.
“Do you… have any opinions or suggestions?”
White Li rubbed the edge of the script with her fingers.
She had been about to say, “No, let’s just muddle through as is.”
After all, everyone’s time was precious, and it wasn’t like they were really going for a prize—she wasn’t the competitive type.
But just as the words were about to leave her mouth, the image of Sitiao Shizhi’s face popped into her mind—that arrogant expression, that confident smile, as if victory was already in her pocket.
It really made White Li feel defiant.
The flame in White Li’s heart burned hotter and hotter.
She raised her head and took a deep breath.
“I think… the plot needs some adjustments.”
She stared straight at Lin Du.
“I want to be first place at this year’s school anniversary!”