21

Pei Xu walked toward Zhai Xingchen and asked: 'You knew I was coming?'

Zhai Xingchen said: 'The Production Team just talked to me—they told me. What made you suddenly think of coming to our Dance School?'

'Nothing to do. Came to wander around your school.' Pei Xu glanced at Zhai Xingchen, saw him looking back, silently shifted his gaze away, pressed his thin lips. 'Since we ran into each other, want to show me around?'

Zhai Xingchen said: 'Our school's huge.'

Zhai Xingchen and Pei Xu chatted as they walked along the tree-lined avenue toward Changming Lake. Zhai Xingchen looked back and suddenly laughed.

Pei Xu turned around and saw the Production Team sneaking along behind them, filming from a distance.

'Want me to call them over?' Zhai Xingchen asked.

'No.' Pei Xu said. 'You should be mentally prepared too... I'm a boring person, not much to say.'

Even if the Production Team came over to film, they wouldn't get anything useful.

He also knew why the Production Team was focusing on him.

Zhai Xingchen smiled and nodded: 'I know.'

Pei Xu wasn't a talkative person to begin with. Now that feelings had sprouted, seeing Zhai Xingchen made his heart warm, and he was even more at a loss for words.

But the beautiful thing about Zhai Xingchen was that anyone with him felt comfortable.

Even him, who didn't know what to say.

Zhai Xingchen took Pei Xu around Zhongwu Academy—Changming Lake, the library, the Teaching Building, the Dormitory Building, Culinary Street, and the seaside Playground.

It was lunch break, so the Playground was empty except for a few guys shooting hoops.

The weather was perfect today—the sky a clear blue like something out of an anime.

Pei Xu took a long stride and climbed up to the bleachers. Zhai Xingchen followed right behind. They walked up to the highest point, where you could see the endless ocean.

The Production Team didn't follow up. They stood on the Playground with three cameras—one on Zhai Xingchen, one on Pei Xu, one for the wide shot.

Zhai Xingchen was saying something. Pei Xu was quiet, nodding every so often. Eventually they sat up high on the bleachers, warm sunlight on them, both silently watching the sea.

The bleachers were old, a bit worn, but the sun was good. The two of them sitting there looking at the sea looked like a movie scene.

They sat there for half an hour, chatting about who knows what.

The Production Team finally couldn't hold back and sent up a drone.

The drone buzzed over their heads. Zhai Xingchen checked the time, stood up, and said: 'I gotta go rehearse.'

Pei Xu nodded, didn't get up, sat there looking up at him: 'Same place as last time?'

Zhai Xingchen nodded: 'You coming to watch?'

Pei Xu said: 'I want to sit a bit longer. I'll watch later.'

'Then I'll head off first.' Zhai Xingchen said.

'Is Yan Zhi picking you up this afternoon?' Pei Xu asked.

Zhai Xingchen nodded: 'He said he'd come at six.'

Pei Xu watched Zhai Xingchen run all the way down the bleachers. When he got to the crew, Zhai Xingchen stopped to say hi to them.

Pei Xu let out a long breath. Today wasn't that hot, but he was sweating—his ears were red, sweat trickling down from behind them.

He pressed his lips together. The white sun lit his face translucent—high nose bridge, sharp jawline, dark hair, long legs stretched out, both hands resting on his legs, fingers slightly curled, veins standing out on the backs of his hands.

When Pei Xu got to the Rehearsal Hall, he slipped in quietly, and arrived late. By the time he got there, Zhai Xingchen had already assumed he wasn't coming.

Pei Xu sat in the dark, quietly watching Zhai Xingchen in the crowd.

He was supposed to go back to the company that afternoon, but he sat there for over an hour.

This rehearsal was more detailed than usual—there were hardly any full performance segments. Usually it was one specific detail, the dance teacher adjusting it over and over. They weren't wearing costumes either, just white practice clothes. Every move, Zhai Xingchen might do it three or four times. Without the wide flowing skirts, his dance movements were clearer—every jump, leg hold, spin, flip. The beauty of the costume was gone, leaving only the beauty of his body.

His body was really beautiful—tall and slender, lean waist, long limbs, a beauty with no hint of sensuality, like a work of art. Paired with that exquisitely beautiful face, he seemed born for the stage. Very alluring.

So many pretty boys on stage, but only he had that swoon-worthy quality.

Zhai Xingchen was like a different person. The Zhai Xingchen in the Red and Blue Signal was gentle, lively, domestic. The Zhai Xingchen on stage was dazzling, sharp, serious.

It wasn't just their department rehearsing—other departments arrived one after another, and the Rehearsal Hall started getting noisy. Pei Xu got up to leave.

Maybe he'd been sitting in the dark too long. When he came out into the sun, Pei Xu actually felt a bit dizzy.

'Hey, senior!'

He turned around and saw an extremely pretty girl running up to him with her phone: 'Can I add you on WeChat?'

Pei Xu said: 'Sorry, no.'

The girl froze, watching Pei Xu walk away.

Just then, students from the Modern Dance Academy were heading into the Rehearsal Hall. Pei Xu walked against the crowd alone—his tall frame, his outstanding presence, he drew almost everyone's eyes. Many passed by and turned back to look at him.

Three girls and one guy chased after him in succession, asking for his contact info.

The crew member filming from the high platform said: 'Look at this troublemaker Pei Xu.'

He was alone, dressed in black, hoodie pulled up, dressed so casually, yet drawing so much attention. Walking against the crowd, like he was carving out his own wave through the sea of people—aloof, resolute.

After Zhai Xingchen finished rehearsing, with Yan Zhi not here yet, he went to the Flower Shop first. Since they already had Baby's Breath at home, he didn't buy Baby's Breath.

The Flower Shop had everything. He picked around for a while, figured since he was going to cause a stir, he might as well go big.

He bought a bouquet of Pink Rose.

Yan Zhi was surprised when he saw it: 'You like roses?'

Zhai Xingchen said: 'I didn't know what to buy, just grabbed something random. Didn't want to buy the same as you guys. Actually if we're talking favorites, I still like Baby's Breath the most.'

Yan Zhi laughed when he heard that.

'Why'd you change clothes again?' Zhai Xingchen said.

This germaphobia was really intense.

'I usually change after a meal, if I can.' Yan Zhi said.

He was wearing a white T-shirt today with a gray casual blazer over it—he looked very high-end.

This guy really knew how to dress. With his tall frame and gold-rimmed glasses, 'texture' was practically written on him.

Zhai Xingchen had danced all afternoon and worked up a lot of sweat. Even though he'd showered that morning and wasn't exactly smelly, Yan Zhi was a serious germaphobe.

He remembered the little detail of Yan Zhi keeping his distance from Hu Ying when she was sweaty.

So he tried to stay as far from Yan Zhi as possible. After getting in the car, he told Yan Zhi: 'I might smell.'

'Do I?' Yan Zhi turned to look at him.

Zhai Xingchen said: 'You might smell sweat. I sweated a lot today.'

He didn't expect Yan Zhi to suddenly lean toward him slightly and sniff.

Zhai Xingchen pressed his lips together, looking at Yan Zhi.

He didn't expect Yan Zhi to say: 'Smells nice.'

'Huh?'

Yan Zhi said: 'A little fragrant.'

After saying that, Yan Zhi felt a bit awkward too. He changed the subject: 'Buckle your seatbelt.'

Zhai Xingchen went to buckle up. Yan Zhi pressed his lips together and started the car.

He actually really hated the smell of other people's sweat, especially most men's. He was sensitive to smells—male animals generally had stronger body odor, men's sweat was heavier than women's. Back in school, after every basketball game, he'd wait until the dorm smell had mostly dissipated before going in.

Even Hu Ying, striking as she was—if she was sweaty, Yan Zhi was a bit put off.

But maybe people really can't help being double-standard.

Zhai Xingchen's sweat—he really thought it smelled good.

It wasn't perfume-style fragrance, or the everyday 'smells nice' kind. Sweat carries a person's skin and fat scent—everyone has their own body odor. Zhai Xingchen's scent was the kind that could turn him on.

Thinking of Zhai Xingchen covered in sweat, a flame shot up inside him.

He really wanted to bury his face in Zhai Xingchen's neck and breathe him in.

By the time they got back to The Red and Blue Signal, Wen Nu and the others were already getting dinner ready.

Huo Cheng came back especially early today—left work ahead of time. An old friend had invited him to dinner and he didn't go.

He even took the initiative to help Wen Nuo and the others prepare dinner.

He hoped to take some of the burden off Zhai Xingchen. He felt Zhai Xingchen handling dinner for so many people alone was too much work, too tiring.

Wen Nuo and Lin Qingning were both gentle people, and Huo Cheng was good at chatting. The three of them together—logically the atmosphere should have been lively, full of laughter. But Huo Cheng was quiet, as if deliberately or not drawing a line between himself and the Red Team Guests.

The three of them quietly got the prep work mostly done.

'Someone's back.' Wen Nuo heard the door and said.

'Zhai Xingchen?' Huo Cheng called out loud.

'Yeah. Huo-ge, good evening.'

He heard Zhai Xingchen answer him.

Hearing Zhai Xingchen's bright voice, Huo Cheng, who'd been quiet for a while, broke into a grin: 'The chef is finally back.'

Like his whole spirit came alive at once.

But then Huo Cheng saw Zhai Xingchen walk in with Yan Zhi, carrying a bouquet of Pink Rose.

The smile on Huo Cheng's face froze instantly.

Wen Nuo and Lin Qingning were also stunned for a moment.

Zhai Xingchen set the bouquet on the dining table: 'Didn't we agree the kitchen is my territory? Why'd you guys start in again?'

'Hu Ying told us what you're making tonight. We figured we had nothing to do, came to help clean up first.' Lin Qingning smiled: 'Who bought the flowers? Yan Zhi?'

'I did.' Zhai Xingchen said.

Huo Cheng's frozen face instantly came alive again. Wen Nuo glanced at Huo Cheng secretly, pressing his lips together.

'Why'd you buy flowers too?' Huo Cheng asked with a smile. 'Wasn't what I bought yesterday enough? Just say the word, I'd have bought more today.'

'Can't keep having you spend money.' Zhai Xingchen smiled. 'I bought Pink Rose—anyone who wants some, take it.'

'Hu Ying definitely likes them.' Lin Qingning smiled.

'Where is she?'

'Upstairs showering.'

They had agreed last night when chatting that Hu Ying might be back early today, so she had Zhai Xingchen write a list and went to the supermarket herself to buy all the ingredients for tonight.

Zhai Xingchen looked at the groceries Hu Ying had bought. Huo Cheng stood beside him, the lingering unease still in his heart.

That moment of panic earlier had cast a heavy shadow.

He had thought Yan Zhi had given the Rose Flower to Zhai Xingchen.

He couldn't let this situation keep developing.

So he said to Yan Zhi: 'You still free tomorrow? Still picking up Xingchen?'

Yan Zhi looked at Huo Cheng, 'mm'-ed.

He could tell nothing good was coming when Huo Cheng opened his mouth.

Sure enough, Huo Cheng smiled: 'Don't just focus on Xingchen. There's another car-less one here too.'

Wen Nuo, hearing this, immediately said: 'I take the bus, taxis are fine too.'

Yan Zhi saw Lin Qingning and Zhai Xingchen both looking at him. No matter how he looked at it, there was no second answer he could give. So he said: 'Sure, I can drive everyone.'

Huo Cheng smiled.

Yan Zhi slightly restrained his mild expression, turned to look at Huo Cheng. Huo Cheng didn't look at him, turned to pick through the Rose Flower Zhai Xingchen had bought.