New Year's Day arrived as scheduled.
Thanks to Zhu Yaya's diligent efforts, she could finally walk steadily in high heels, and her hosting training was yielding better and better results.
When Zhu Yaya went to buy breakfast at the Tian Tian Breakfast Shop that morning, the owner's wife, to cheer her on, even gave her a steamed bun as a gift.
It was also a rare day, as Scott High School only held classes in the morning. The afternoon was a holiday, leaving time for students performing in the evening to prepare.
Zhu Yaya, Duan Zong, and Wu Jie were taken by Ms. Wang to the venue for tonight's New Year's Eve gala—the Scott High School auditorium—to familiarize themselves with the stage and blocking.
The auditorium was already decorated for the gala, though the level of decoration was... well.
High Emotional Intelligence Duan Zong nodded approvingly: "Quite splendid and magnificent."
Low Emotional Intelligence Zhu Yaya was somewhat disdainful: "What the heck! This is so tacky! Such a strong vibe of rustic nouveau riche!"
Wu Jie said, "This New Year's Eve gala is sponsored by the Murong Group. The decorations very much reflect the Murong Group's style."
Zhu Yaya: "..."
So the legendary richest man in China liked this kind of flavor. She could already imagine the usual way Murong Xiongzheng, Murong Beichen's father, dressed.
It was also around this time that Xu Chun found out someone had signed her up for a dance performance at the New Year's Eve gala.
Xu Chun was brought backstage by a teacher who told her to prepare for tonight's performance, to get familiar with the stage, and so on.
But Xu Chun, with her large, Kajilan-like eyes on her delicate face, stared stubbornly, mixed with a touch of despair and anger: "Teacher, I never signed up for a dance performance at the New Year's Eve gala! I've never learned dance! I don't know how to dance!"
Zhu Yaya had just finished a quick run-through with the other two hosts and returned backstage when she saw that familiar figure from behind.
Hey! It's Xu Chun!
Having tailed Xu Chun for so long, she was very familiar with her silhouette. One could say she could probably sketch it even with her eyes closed.
As a bystander who loves drama, how could she not watch the show?
Zhu Yaya quietly found a corner to squat in, holding her fruit box.
It seemed Shen Wandan had bribed this teacher. Regardless of whether Xu Chun could dance or not, the teacher kept insisting, "I don't care if you can dance or not, you're going on stage anyway!"
"Then why didn't you notify me earlier?" Xu Chun continued, her face full of sorrow.
"We clearly did notify you! Student, don't make false accusations! This New Year's Eve gala stage is very important. You have to go on, whether you want to or not! Otherwise, get out of Scott High School!"
Hearing the teacher's words, Xu Chun understood: someone had bribed the teachers, and that person's goal was clear—to make her a laughingstock in front of the entire school.
Xu Chun looked around, meeting nothing but faces eager to see her fail. A trace of fragility and confusion appeared on her face, enough to make even Zhu Yaya's heart ache.
Xu Chun gritted her teeth: "Fine!"
The teacher smiled with satisfaction: "Student Xu Chun, your dance performance is the seventh one. Go prepare quickly." After saying that, he turned and left to attend to other matters, ignoring Xu Chun, who stood there helpless.
It was now almost 4:30 PM, with less than an hour and a half until the New Year's Eve gala began. But Xu Chun not only had no dance prepared, she also had no costume and hadn't even done her makeup.
Currently, Xu Chun was wearing a bulky cotton-padded jacket, her face completely bare. The auditorium's heating was on, and she was so warm she had started sweating.
By this time, Zhu Yaya had been called by Ms. Wang to change into her host's gown and was then pulled by a makeup artist to a dressing table to get ready.
Zhu Yaya's hair was pinned up, with a silver-white leaf-shaped hair clip adorning her raven-black locks.
The makeup artist applied her makeup gently, sighing with admiration, "Your skin texture is truly amazing! Ah, youth really is wonderful!"
Zhu Yaya casually agreed a couple of times, continuing to watch Xu Chun through the large mirror while still holding her fruit box.
Seeing the fruit box, the makeup artist smiled and said, "What? Are you planning to eat fruit while getting your makeup done?"
Zhu Yaya gave an awkward smile: "We hosts have to talk non-stop. I'm just worried my mouth might get dry. I'm thinking about the hosting effect for the New Year's Eve gala." She grew more confident as she spoke.
The makeup artist thought that made sense: "Then I won't apply lipstick for now. I'll touch up your makeup right before the gala starts, so you don't end up eating it."
"Thank you, that would be a big help!"
"Hey, it's my job."
After finishing with Zhu Yaya, the makeup artist was about to go do makeup for other performers when Zhu Yaya stopped her.
Zhu Yaya pointed at Xu Chun's reflection in the mirror. Xu Chun was pleading with backstage staff for help with her costume and makeup but was being ignored: "She's a performer too. Why aren't you doing her makeup?"
The makeup artist looked around cautiously. Seeing that not many people were paying attention, she whispered to Zhu Yaya, "Someone gave orders not to help her. Jobs aren't easy to come by these days!"
Zhu Yaya raised an eyebrow. Had Shen Wandan bribed everyone backstage?
Forget it, forget it. This wasn't something a mere drama watcher like her should get involved in. Anyway, Murong Beichen would come to help her before long.
Xu Baoying and the school choir arrived. Their costumes were uniform: black formal wear for the boys, little white dresses for the girls.
As soon as Xu Baoying saw Zhu Yaya, she immediately left the group to find her, dragging a stool over to sit beside her: "That gown is nice! You look really beautiful today!"
Zhu Yaya shot her a sidelong glance: "So I'm not good-looking normally?"
"Yeah, you finally noticed!"
"Get lost."
...
Xu Baoying caught a glimpse of the helpless Xu Chun in the mirror and frowned: "Why is she here?"
"Someone signed her up for a dance performance."
"Then why isn't she preparing?" Xu Baoying looked at the watch on her wrist. "There's not much time left!"
Zhu Yaya spread her hands: "She was just notified about the performance, and someone bribed the staff not to help Xu Chun."
"That's pretty pitiful. But whoever would do this... it's very likely a member of our Young Master Chen's fan club."
Zhu Yaya, knowing Xu Baoying was also deeply infatuated with Murong Beichen under the male lead's halo effect, said mysteriously with her god's-eye view: "Soon, you won't think she's pitiful anymore." You'll be jealous.
Xu Baoying didn't sit there for long before being called away by the school choir for a rehearsal and stage run-through.
Zhu Yaya shook her head, feeling sorry for her: "What a shame. You won't get to see it. You're going to miss the exciting scene."
Xu Baoying just thought Zhu Yaya was being her usual crazy self and ignored her: "Miss what? Is Young Master Chen not coming?"
He really will come!
Zhu Yaya smiled without saying a word.
