Chapter 102
Seeing Shen Shuyu’s resistance, Feng Xing earnestly persuaded him, “Shuyu, this role really belongs to you. No one fits it better than you. Besides, the submission deadline is almost here, and we’re just short one person.”
Shen Shuyu gave a cold laugh, unmoved.
Feng Xing looked at Wen Jiafei, then at Shen Xili. After a thought, he said, “The group that wins first place gets generous rewards and prize money. You two help persuade him? With the three of you plus this high-visual boy band I hand-picked, first place will be a breeze.”
Shen Xili said, “It still depends on Shuyu’s willingness. If he doesn’t want to, forget it.”
Although Wen Jiafei didn’t speak, his eyes signaled his agreement with Shen Xili.
Shen Shuyu glanced at Wen Jiafei and sighed. “Can’t you just submit a ‘TBD’ program first? We can discuss it later once we figure it out.”
This was him relenting.
But Feng Xing whispered, “We need to submit names. Can I put the three of you down first? Once we decide on the specifics, I’ll talk to the teacher.”
“…Whatever.” Shen Shuyu looked at the copy of Snow White Omega and His Seven Alphas still on his desk. God, just looking at the title was terrifying!
Feng Xing was satisfied. He waved the others away and quickly gathered his things to leave.
Shen Shuyu withdrew his gaze from Feng Xing and couldn’t help but glance at Shen Xili and Wen Jiafei in front of him. “What kind of magic potion did Feng Xing use on you? You two don’t seem like the type to agree to this.”
Shen Xili and Wen Jiafei were both incredibly busy. More importantly, although he knew the four of them would end up on stage, the roles seemed… mixed up, right?
The protagonist of the fairy tale was clearly supposed to be Shen Xili, and they definitely weren’t performing Snow White Omega!
Shen Xili shrugged lightly. “It’s interesting. Plus, first place has a reward. Who would complain about having too much money?”
Shen Shuyu looked at Wen Jiafei. Wen Jiafei silently turned his face away.
Actually, he didn’t know why he agreed either. It wasn’t entirely for the prize money. He just heard Feng Xing say Shen Shuyu’s program was short on people, and he agreed in a daze.
But he hadn’t expected his good friend’s program to be short not just on people, but specifically short of his good friend.
One could only say he had been duped.
Shen Shuyu propped his left cheek on his hand and tilted his head to look at Shen Xili. “Why do you keep running over to our Mecha Department if you have nothing to do?”
Shen Xili blinked. “If you hadn’t said that, I would have almost forgotten why I came.”
Shen Shuyu’s eyelid twitched. He watched as Shen Xili fished a small black box out of his uniform pocket. His fingers, joints distinct and elegant, placed it on Shen Shuyu’s desk. “A gift for you.”
For him?
Shen Shuyu looked at the box in confusion. It wasn’t very big and didn’t look like it could hold much. However, the mere fact that Shen Xili was giving him a gift was strange enough.
He didn’t open it immediately. Instead, he asked, “Why are you giving me a gift out of nowhere?”
Shen Xili chuckled lightly. “To thank you for saving me in the Survival War, of course.”
Shen Shuyu gave a long “Oh.” He asked casually, “Did you buy these wholesale? After all, the four of them helped you too.”
Shen Xili glanced at Wen Jiafei. He simply shrugged lightly and turned around. “Leaving now.”
“You haven’t answered my question!” Shen Shuyu shouted after him, but Shen Xili only raised his hand and waved without looking back.
So weird. Weird enough to make him a little afraid.
Shen Shuyu asked Wen Jiafei, “Did you receive a gift?”
Wen Jiafei was just about to sit down. Hearing Shen Shuyu’s question, he sat and replied, “No.”
Shen Shuyu stared at the small black box again. He didn’t open it, but instead put it into his bag.
Wen Jiafei asked, “Aren’t you going to look?”
Shen Shuyu shook his head. “Nope. I’ll look later.”
Wen Jiafei looked thoughtful.
After class, Shen Shuyu went home and headed straight for the sofa. Home was comfortable.
Taking a deep breath, he didn’t stay idle. He called out to the System in his mind a few times, but there was still no response.
It was truly strange. Counting the days, it had been five days. The System hadn’t sent a single message. This was the first time he had lost contact with the System for so long, and he wasn’t used to it.
Shen Shuyu sat up on the sofa. He intended to get something to eat from the fridge, but out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the bag he had tossed aside.
Shen Xili’s gift was inside.
After a moment’s thought, he got up, picked up the bag, unzipped it, and reached in to find the simple black box.
It was only about the size of his palm. Shen Shuyu shook it by his ear, but he couldn’t hear anything. Curious, he opened the lid. Inside lay a keychain.
The pendant on the keychain was a fish, shimmering with a silvery light, posed as if it were leaping.
Shen Shuyu picked up the keychain and dangled it in front of his face. As the light in the room shifted, the fish’s body reflected different lusters. It was actually quite pretty.
Shen Shuyu examined it for a while, but he became even more puzzled. Why would Shen Xili give him a gift for no reason?
Because he saved him in the Survival War?
Within their team, helping each other was normal. He had merely carried him away from the lone wolf. Was he really that moved?
Shen Shuyu puffed out his cheeks and sighed. What a headache. One thing after another.
He leaned back against the sofa. With the System gone, he could only take things one step at a time.
Shen Shuyu picked up the keychain again. The fish was mid-leap. He poked it with his finger, and the fish swung back and forth, left and right.
He chuckled watching it, then put the keychain back into the box. He opened the small drawer of the coffee table and shoved the black box into the very back.
Amor gradually transitioned from autumn to winter.
Shen Shuyu bundled himself up tightly. Every time he went out, he had to mentally prepare himself. He didn’t understand—it had only been a week, so how did it switch to winter mode so instantly?
Today was another Monday. No sooner had the driver dropped him at the school gate than Feng Xing ran over enthusiastically. “Shuyu, how was your weekend?”
Shen Shuyu ignored him. Feng Xing continued, “Counting the days, the anniversary is only a month away. When are you rehearsing with Wen Jiafei and the others?”
Shen Shuyu said, “Only a ghost would act in your Snow White Omega.”
Feng Xing exclaimed, “I never said we had to do Snow White Omega. You can make demands; there’s room for negotiation!”
Shen Shuyu thought for a moment. “You aren’t even going on stage. Why are you so anxious?”
“I’m the designated person in charge for the Mecha Department and the Reserve Department. Of course I’m anxious,” Feng Xing said. “Plus, when I went to see the teacher earlier, I heard that Wen Jiafei and Shen Xili both have difficult family situations. If they take first place, they can earn some prize money. Isn’t that great?”
Shen Shuyu glanced at him, puzzled. “Since when are you so interested in the two of them?”
“Isn’t mutual love between classmates normal?” Feng Xing said. “I figured, help where I can.”
Shen Shuyu didn’t believe it. Feng Xing groaned. “Fine, I’ll tell you the truth. I want to become an interstellar director in the future. This is a rare opportunity for me to show off my skills. Just help me out.”
Shen Shuyu stopped walking. He pulled his thick coat tighter and looked at Feng Xing. “You want to be a director? Why not just go to the film department? Mecha and directing—that’s a huge crossover.”
Feng Xing shook his head and sighed. “My dad won’t let me.”
Shen Shuyu looked at him while Feng Xing scratched his scarf. “My dad is a mecha mechanic. He spent his life at the Shen Group researching mechas and wants me to take his place after graduation.”
Shen Shuyu had only heard Shen Yisi mention Feng Xing’s parents once or twice in passing. The System had told him when Feng Xing first appeared that his father was a mecha mechanic with a high position in the Shen Group, which was why Feng Xing could grow up alongside Shen Shuyu.
Shen Shuyu thought for a moment and asked, “Will Chi Yanxun participate in this anniversary?”
Feng Xing looked at him in shock. “No way, you haven’t given up yet?”
He had thought Shen Shuyu became normal after seeing that Omega named Su Mu last week. Why was he asking about him again?
Shen Shuyu said, “I’m just asking.”
In the novel, the anniversary performance only detailed the protagonists’ relationship developing during rehearsals and that final first kiss. He had to figure out the early plot himself. Now that Chi Yanxun had a destined Omega, the plot was already disrupted, but he still wanted to try and pull the storyline back on track.
First, he had to start with whether Chi Yanxun would participate.
Feng Xing said, “He probably won’t participate.”
Feng Xing raised his hand and patted his shoulder. “Young Master, give it up.”
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