Chapter 47

Chapter 47

The backstage dressing room of the auditorium was filled with gloom. The Opera Club members groaned, looking skyward—how had things come to this?

Only Tian Ruan went about his business as he changed clothes and removed his makeup.

Yevgeny demanded in an operatic tone, "Oh, Tian Ruan, do you not feel even a shred of guilt?"

Tian Ruan replied expressionlessly, "No."

"..." Yevgeny was heartbroken. "Our whole act was a disaster. No student will ever want to join the opera troupe again. Good grief!"

Tian Ruan thought to himself that if anyone was willing to join this ragtag group, they must be just as crazy.

To avoid being just as crazy, Tian Ruan said, "I might not be suited for opera performances. I’m quitting."

"What?" Everyone was shocked. Yevgeny immediately changed his tone. "This was just a minor slip-up. I don’t blame you."

Tian Ruan: "But staying here would only be awkward. Every time I see the troupe leader’s face, I just want to laugh."

Yevgeny: "...Go to hell, then—get lost!"

Tian Ruan swiftly packed his things and booked it.

Yu Ti floundered. "Uh, I came with him. Since he’s leaving, I’m out too!"

Yevgeny: "..."

The auditorium gradually emptied. To maintain order, the leaders left first, while the students had to wait until they were all gone before moving. As a result, the grounds were now swarming with big shots.

"...Henbie, tell me—was Tian Ruan that Stella Dew?" Madam Du caught on belatedly.

Du Henbie scoffed. "Of course he was."

Spotting the rakish He Lansi not far away, he said, "I’ll go talk to a friend. You head back first, Mom."

Madam Du agreed, but her gaze drifted toward the person her eldest son was speaking to—a tall, drop-dead gorgeous young man with champagne-colored, slightly long hair.

The butler Dew smirked. "It’s been a while since the young master last had a boyfriend."

Madam Du sighed. "The ones he likes are always so flighty. Nothing stable."

"A steady personality like the young master’s would be better."

"That’s exactly why he’s too easily deceived." Madam Du glanced around. "Where’s Yu Jingmo?"

Dew bit back a grin. "He’s probably gone to pick up the young master."

"Being older has its perks—he knows how to care for people." Madam Du actually wanted to see Tian Ruan backstage too, but she didn’t want to spook him. After all, they’d only just reunited and weren’t familiar yet.

The moment Tian Ruan ran outside, he saw so many big shots walking along the main path. Instantly feeling like a thief, he hid behind a maple tree, unaware of the leaves falling onto his head.

Popping his head out from behind the tree, his gleaming eyes scanned the area. "...Where’s Yu Jingmo?"

"So you secretly call me by my full name behind my back." A low, velvety voice cut in suddenly.

Startled, Tian Ruan whirled around, widening his eyes at Yu Jingmo, who was now standing right in front of him. His amber-brown pupils darted nervously, and his pale cheeks were still smudged with makeup.

"Mr. Yu, you scared me." Tian Ruan quickly adjusted his demeanor, preempting him. "Talking behind someone like that—almost gave me a heart attack."

Yu Jingmo lowered his gaze to the young man before him, reaching out to pluck the small red maple leaf from his hair. "Watching your performance nearly scared the soul out of me."

Tian Ruan: "...You knew which one was me?"

"My own spouse—how could I not recognize you?" Yu Jingmo chuckled, amused by the flush on Tian Ruan's cheeks. He didn’t wipe it away, wanting to admire it a little longer.

Tian Ruan, however, ducked his head, presenting the crown of his hair to Yu Jingmo, his ears turning red as well. "D-Don’t tease me."

Yu Jingmo let out a low laugh. Since taking over the Yu family, he’d rarely felt such genuine amusement.

"..." Tian Ruan glared at him in embarrassment. "Stop laughing."

Yu Jingmo, who seldom showed emotion, quickly suppressed his smile and roughly ruffled the young man’s soft, fluffy hair. "Let’s head home."

Since it was already dismissal time, Tian Ruan simply followed Yu Jingmo home.

In the car, he said, "I quit the Opera Club."

Yu Jingmo: "Hm. Staying there would’ve just made you a joke."

"Stop saying that!" Tian Ruan puffed out his cheeks in anger.

Yu Jingmo poked his puffed cheek. "No need to be embarrassed. Besides me, hardly anyone recognized you."

Tian Ruan only grew more horrified.

Back at the estate, Tian Ruan wanted nothing more than to collapse on the sofa and play possum.

Liu Ma said sympathetically, "Madam, school must be so tiring. Let me whip up some hearty chicken soup for you."

Tian Ruan: "Yes, please! I’d love some."

He needed comfort—not just for his body but his pride. But who could provide it? Just then, his phone chimed with a WeChat notification.

Lu Qiuyan: You didn’t go to the auditorium for the opera performance today?

Tian Ruan: Nah /thinking

Lu Qiuyan: Too bad. Let me tell you—it was a riot.

Tian Ruan: What was so funny?

Lu Qiuyan: So anyway... long story short... and then—boom!—they all died, LOL... /laughing

Tian Ruan: ...A complete trainwreck is kinda funny, I guess.

Lu Qiuyan: Stella Dew was the most ridiculous.

Tian Ruan: That was me.

Lu Qiuyan: ????

Lu Qiuyan: ............

Lu Qiuyan: Actually, it was... fine.

Tian Ruan: /sobbing

That evening, when Yu Shang came back, he barely acknowledged Tian Ruan. However, after dinner, he beelined for Yu Jingmo’s study. Convinced Yu Shang was snitching on him, Tian Ruan sneaked to the study door and pressed his ear against it, listening in.

However, the solid wood door had excellent soundproofing, making it impossible to hear anything.

Little Dad Tian Ruan waited right outside the door.

Inside the study, Yu Shang was indeed complaining. He said, "Little Dad is too reckless. I suggest adding him to the student council so I can keep an eye on him during my free time."

Yu Jingmo was busy reviewing documents he had brought home for work and didn’t even look up. "Leave him be."

Yu Shang said, "He’s impossible to reason with. Only you can talk sense into him."

Yu Jingmo finally lifted his chin slightly, his deep-set eyes calm and unreadable. "Who said he’s unreasonable?"

"...I can’t reason with him."

"Carrots and sticks are essential skills for a businessman. Did you forget all that?"

Yu Shang retorted, "Can I coerce him?"

Yu Jingmo: "No. He’s your Little Dad—still your elder."

Yu Shang thought to himself, *Just as I thought.* His father simply couldn’t bear to discipline Tian Ruan strictly. Outwardly, he remained composed and said, "I understand."

"Go on."

Yu Shang left the study, and as soon as the door closed behind him, his heart gave a sudden, violent thump, stifling a gasp. He silently turned his gaze toward Tian Ruan, who was lurking in the corner like a ghost.

Tian Ruan’s pale skin stood out starkly against the dark gray wallpaper. Combined with his all-white pajamas and the thick carpet in the hallway, he made almost no sound. The effect was straight out of a horror movie.

For the first time, Yu Shang was grateful for his ability to keep his cool—otherwise, he really would have been startled.

"Here to see Dad?" Yu Shang asked.

Tian Ruan: "Looking for you."

"What for?"

"Did you rat me out?"

"..."

Tian Ruan said, "I know what you told him, but I’ve already quit the Opera Society. I won’t mess up again."

Yu Shang jumped at the chance to tempt him: "Join the student council, and I’ll give you an extra 500 bucks in scholarship money every month."

"Done!"

"..."

Catching himself agreeing too fast, Tian Ruan added, "I’ll join, but Lu Qiuyan has to join the student council too."

Yu Shang took a deep breath. "Why do you rope him into everything?"

Tian Ruan: "Share the good and the bad. That’s what good friends do."

"Is that a condition?"

"Yes." Tian Ruan thought to himself, *Now that Lu Qiuyan’s the Du family’s adopted son, joining the student council isn’t a big deal. Plus, it gives the main couple more chances to interact. Heh.*

Tian Ruan realized that as long as something benefited the main couple, it didn’t count as going off-script.

Yu Shang rubbed his temples and pondered for a while before saying, "Fine, I'll go convince Lu Qiuyan."

Keeping an eye on both of them would be easier.

...So the student council has become a disciplinary program for troublemakers?

Yu Shang had no words.

The opera incident blew up on Deyin’s campus forum for three days until it was bumped down by newer hot topics. However, whenever the annual "Deyin Oddities and Anecdotes" summary was compiled, the Opera Club's "Stars and Sea" always made the top three in voting.

The identity of the actress who played the female lead, Stella Dew, was never figured out.

Tian Ruan ranked second in his grade, so the school adjusted his schedule to align more closely with Yu Shang's. As a result, they kept running into each other in other classes.

Unsurprisingly, Lu Qiuyan, who was in the top twenty of the grade, also frequently shared classes with Yu Shang.

Tian Ruan cheerfully played matchmaker.

He ate meals with them, did homework together, and even went to the bathroom with them... But when he discovered that Lu Qiuyan was bigger than him, Tian Ruan was crushed. Why? They were both bottoms, yet Lu Qiuyan was bigger—was this the privilege of being the protagonist?

In an attempt to boost his physical development, Tian Ruan binged on grilled oysters, only to overheat and suffer a nosebleed.

It happened during class. Blood suddenly dripped from Tian Ruan's nose, spreading across his workbook like splattered paint. He blanked out, and his first thought was: *I have a terminal illness!*

*Oh no, didn’t I get upgraded to a side character? How could I still get a terminal illness?*

His chest tightened, and he fainted.

The teacher was startled. Since only Yu Shang and Lu Qiuyan were close to Tian Ruan in class, Lu Qiuyan immediately carried him to the infirmary.

When Tian Ruan woke up again, he heard a deep, pleasant voice say, "Both of you, go back to class. I'll watch over him."

The scent of pine and snowwood grew closer. Tian Ruan blinked dazedly at Yu Jingmo's breathtakingly handsome face and suddenly felt aggrieved. "Am I dying?"

The corner of Yu Jingmo's lips curled slightly. "That insecure, huh? You just overheated from eating too many oysters."

Tian Ruan: "..."