On the first day of school in September, the "Anniversary Tribute" became the most talked-about topic among the students of Class 17, Grade 8.
The preparations for the skit were in full swing. The class unanimously agreed that the main members of the acting group must meet certain appearance standards—according to the latest news Shen Fuxuan had gathered, the middle school's anniversary event would be held at a provincial grand theater. At that time, several cameras would be aimed at the stage, live-streaming the performers.
The footage captured by the cameras would be projected onto a large screen behind the stage, allowing even the audience in the back rows to see everything clearly.
Han Peng suggested, "Let’s have Jiang Yubai play the male lead! Jiang Yubai has the best looks. If he’s the lead, the cameras will capture him, and I guarantee no one will lose focus."
Duan Qiyan sneered, "Who said Jiang Yubai has the best looks?"
Duan Qiyan’s underlying implication was: I look better than Jiang Yubai.
However, Tang Tingting, the class arts committee member, once again dismissed Duan Qiyan’s opinion: "I also think Jiang Yubai should be chosen as the male lead. Although Jiang Yubai is younger than us, he stands out the most in a crowd, you know?"
Stands out?
Was Jiang Yubai even worthy of the adjective "stands out"?
While silently criticizing, Duan Qiyan shot a sidelong glance at Jiang Yubai.
Duan Qiyan not only wanted to be the male lead but also aspired to earn the title "Zhao Benshan of Provincial No. 1 Middle School." If the classmates elected Jiang Yubai as the lead, Duan Qiyan would only become a supporting character—a situation he absolutely did not want to see.
Jiang Yubai was Duan Qiyan’s imaginary rival.
As for Jiang Yubai himself, he seemed completely detached from the heated casting discussions. He unscrewed his thermos, calmly poured half a cup of water, leaned back gracefully in his chair, and drank with an air of elegance, as if the person being discussed wasn’t him at all.
Duan Qiyan provocatively challenged him, "Jiang Yubai, have you ever performed in a skit or a play?"
Jiang Yubai cleverly replied, "I can start honing my acting skills from today."
Duan Qiyan let out a cold, mocking laugh. Curling his lips slightly, he placed his hands on his hips, exuding an imposing aura, and announced to everyone, "I once played an important role in the Cultural and Arts Festival of the Normal University Affiliated Elementary School, receiving rave reviews from the entire school."
Tang Tingting immediately exposed him: "Duan Qiyan played the little horse in The Little Horse Crosses the River ."
"HAHAHAHAHA..." Shen Fuxuan couldn’t hold back his laughter, crouching on the floor, unable to stand up.
Duan Qiyan’s face turned pale with a hint of red, while Tang Tingting added more details: "Duan Qiyan didn’t even show his face. He wore a horse’s head—a cardboard horse head covering his entire head. If the host hadn’t announced Duan Qiyan’s name, none of us would have known he was the one playing the horse."
Shen Fuxuan, barely managing to steady himself against a desk, slowly stood up: "Duan Qiyan, even if you’ve performed in a skit, your face was covered by a horse head. No one in the audience could see your expressions, so it’s as if you’ve never honed your acting skills. You’re not even as good as Jiang Yubai—at least Jiang Yubai has a humble attitude."
Duan Qiyan was left speechless by his remark.
Lin Zhixia casually asked, "Shen Fuxuan, do you want to join the acting group?"
"Acting is boring," Shen Fuxuan declared, slapping the table. "I want to be the director—the head director, the one who commands the entire production!"Shen Fuxuan held the dual positions of "vice class president" and "math class representative." With excellent grades and high prestige, he often helped classmates solve problems. Additionally, his mother was the principal of Provincial No. 1 Middle School, so few in the class ever opposed Shen Fuxuan's opinions.
Shen Fuxuan naturally became the director group leader.
He appointed Jiang Yubai as the male lead.
Lin Zhixia immediately sought Jiang Yubai's opinion: "Are you willing to be the male lead, Jiang Yubai? If not, just tell me—I can assign you to another group. Don’t force yourself."
Jiang Yubai tightened the lid of his water bottle. He reached into his desk and touched the garden wooden box Lin Zhixia had given him.
Within that garden lay the beliefs of Captain Lin Zhixia. Jiang Yubai seemed to touch the very essence of those beliefs and said with unusual determination, "I’m willing."
Even though Jiang Yubai showed no hesitation, Lin Zhixia still felt somewhat uneasy.
Jiang Yubai was the best-looking boy in the class and highly perceptive. However, the male leads in skits were usually comedic roles. Lin Zhixia felt Jiang Yubai was better suited for roles like "legion commander," "Prince Charming," or "Jedi Knight."
After some thought, Lin Zhixia couldn’t help but ask, "Can I play the female lead?"
The class fell silent.
Though inwardly flustered, Lin Zhixia remained calm and resolute on the surface: "If no one objects, I’ll be the female lead."
Shen Fuxuan spread his hands: "I thought you’d be the scriptwriter. The soul of a skit is the script. If you don’t handle it, what will we do about the script?"
Indeed.
Shen Fuxuan had voiced the class’s collective concern.
Lin Zhixia had written several full-score essays. Well-read and knowledgeable, she drew from a wealth of refined references spanning civilizations and histories across time and cultures. She was the Chinese teacher’s favorite student.
If Lin Zhixia didn’t write the script…
Who could take on such a responsibility?
As the class discussion reached a stalemate, Wan Chunlei volunteered, "I’ll write the script!"
All eyes turned to Wan Chunlei. Smoothing her coat, she carried herself with the poise of a seasoned leader: "I was the elementary school division third-place winner in the city’s fourth junior chess tournament. I approach tasks with logic. How about I write the script? Do you all trust me?"
"I trust you," Lin Zhixia nodded.
Once Lin Zhixia spoke, the other students quickly agreed.
Without any effort, Wan Chunlei became the scriptwriting group leader. The quality of the performance now rested entirely on her shoulders, and she immediately felt the weight of responsibility. She selected seven classmates to assist her.
That afternoon, Wan Chunlei borrowed a small classroom to hold a script meeting.
Aside from the eight scriptwriting group members, Jiang Yubai, Lin Zhixia, and Shen Fuxuan also attended.
Eleven students gathered together, holding blank draft papers, deep in Meditation.
Wan Chunlei clenched her hand into a fist, resting her chin on it like a statue of The Thinker. She murmured to herself, "What should we perform? What do you all want to act out?"
Shen Fuxuan smiled and said, "‘Journey to the West’—Three Attacks on the White Bone Spirit."
Jiang Yubai stated seriously, "‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’—The Battle of Red Cliffs."
Shen Fuxuan’s smile widened: "Wow, Jiang Yubai, you want to act out the Red Cliffs from ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’? How would we assign roles? Would you be Zhou Yu, and Lin Zhixia be Xiao Qiao?"Jiang Yubai playing Zhou Yu and Lin Zhixia playing Xiao Qiao—this hypothetical scenario made Jiang Yubai feel embarrassed. He knew that Zhou Yu and Xiao Qiao were a married couple. As a middle school student, he shouldn't involve himself in adult themes. Moreover, he and Lin Zhixia were close friends, making it even more inappropriate for them to portray Zhou Yu and Xiao Qiao.
Lin Zhixia, unlike Jiang Yubai, hadn't considered the "Zhou Yu and Xiao Qiao as spouses" aspect at all.
She calmly analyzed: "According to the 'Zizhi Tongjian,' the Battle of Red Cliffs resulted in heavy casualties. When Cao Cao retreated, the roads were muddy, and fierce winds raged, making it difficult for the army to advance. Cao Cao ordered some sick and weak soldiers to carry grass and lie prostrate on the ground, allowing cavalry horses to trample directly over them, crushing many to death."
The scene described by Lin Zhixia shocked the entire scriptwriting team.
"We can't perform the Battle of Red Cliffs," Wan Chunlei said firmly. "Teacher Zhang emphasized that the school anniversary should be lively and celebratory, not something with countless deaths and injuries."
Another student in the scriptwriting team asked, "Then what can we perform? 'Granny Liu Visits the Grand View Garden' from 'Dream of the Red Chamber'?"
Wan Chunlei commented, "Granny Liu's visit is warm, simple, and amusing. But what does it have to do with the centennial anniversary of our Provincial No. 1 High School?"
The scriptwriting team fell into collective silence once again.
Lin Zhixia rested her chin in her hands, quietly observing her classmates. Since she had joined the acting group, she wouldn't overstep and take over the scriptwriters' responsibilities.
Jiang Yubai lacked Lin Zhixia's level of insight.
He suggested directly: "The predecessor of Provincial No. 1 High School was a school established in 1906. We can create two scenes—one set in 1906 and the other in 2006. Our skit will contrast the changes over the past century, promoting the school motto: 'Broad Learning, Prudent Thinking, Cultivating Virtue, and Clarifying Morals.'"
The school motto of Provincial No. 1 High School, "Broad Learning, Prudent Thinking, Cultivating Virtue, and Clarifying Morals," combines famous lines from "The Doctrine of the Mean" and "The Great Learning" in the "Book of Rites."
As soon as Jiang Yubai finished speaking, Shen Fuxuan exclaimed, "That's a great idea! It highlights the theme of the centennial celebration and reminds the audience of the school motto. Teacher Zhang will definitely love it."
In the brightly lit small classroom, Lin Zhixia pressed her hands on the desk and suddenly stood up: "Jiang Yubai's idea is excellent. I support it."
Most of the students in the scriptwriting team shared the same view. Unable to come up with a better idea at the moment, they unanimously passed Jiang Yubai's proposal.
Wan Chunlei immediately threw herself into preparing the script. She titled it "Changes" and divided it into two parts—1906 and 2006.
The scriptwriting team worked overtime and completed the first draft of "Changes" within two days.
Wan Chunlei focused on the theme of "educational opportunities for girls."
Through two dramatic scenes, she recreated history and reality: In 1906, during the late Qing Dynasty, boys and girls were not allowed to attend the same schools, and institutions for girls were scarce. In 2006, Provincial No. 1 High School admitted both male and female students, with nine years of compulsory education free of tuition and fees. Female students could actively participate in class discussions, and female teachers could teach from the podium. A century of history had driven social progress and educational innovation and development.
The script "Changes" promotes a spirit of "reflecting on school history and embracing a love for learning."All eight members of the scriptwriting team had great confidence in "Changes." After cross-checking with each other and finalizing the version, they sent the electronic draft to Shen Fuxuan.
Shen Fuxuan gathered a group of friends and went to the copy shop near the school entrance, directly printed 36 copies of "Changes," and distributed them to every student in Class 17 of the second grade.
Everyone received the script, read it repeatedly, and praised the scriptwriters for their excellent work—well-written, clever, smoothly flowing, and highly meaningful—confident it would win the "First Prize for School Anniversary Performances."
Teacher Zhang, the homeroom teacher, also liked the script very much. Although it didn’t meet his requirement for something "lively and festive," he recognized the spiritual and cultural depth behind the lines and felt deeply gratified. He encouraged everyone to approach rehearsals with enthusiasm for learning and to embody the high-spirited determination of the Olympiad class.
Teacher Zhang’s high praise spurred the acting, directing, and prop teams of Class 17 to eagerly begin rehearsal preparations.
The junior high division of Provincial No. 1 High School had an arts building with two rehearsal halls. With the centennial school anniversary approaching, rehearsal slots were hard to come by, so Class 17 of the second grade could only use one rehearsal hall at noon on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
This meant that on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Lin Zhixia couldn’t go home for lunch or her midday nap. At first, she felt a bit unhappy, but then she remembered that she was the class monitor of Class 17 and the female lead in "Changes." Both emotionally and logically, she should motivate the whole class and take every rehearsal seriously.
The eight scriptwriting team members had stayed up late for four consecutive days working on the script. In comparison, Lin Zhixia felt she wasn’t suffering at all. She ought to cheer up and live up to the expectations of her entire class!
It took Lin Zhixia only a few seconds to convince herself. At home, she told her mom, "Mom, Mom, our school is holding a centennial celebration at the end of September, and our class is preparing a skit…"
She tugged at her mom’s apron and tilted her head slightly, "Well, maybe not a skit—more like a play. Mom, I’m the female lead in the play. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I won’t be able to come home for lunch or a nap; I’ll be rehearsing at school. The other students in my class will be rehearsing with me."
When Lin Zhixia first started junior high, Mom often worried that she was too young and might get bullied in class. Instead, Lin Zhixia not only became class monitor but also made many friends. Rehearsing a performance with her classmates didn’t sound like a bad thing, so Mom agreed and asked, "Xia Xia, how long will you be rehearsing?"
Lin Zhixia answered truthfully, "We’ll rehearse for two weeks straight, from noon to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays."
Mom felt a bit sorry for her daughter, "Xia Xia, are you tired?"
Lin Zhixia shook her head, "Xia Xia isn’t tired."
Mom asked again, "What will Xia Xia eat for lunch?"
Lin Zhixia leaned against her mom and said coquettishly, "Xia Xia can have lunch in the school cafeteria."
"Is the cafeteria food good?" Mom stroked her head, "How about I ride my bike to your school and bring you lunch at noon?"
Before Lin Zhixia could answer, Lin Zeqiu suddenly appeared behind her. He must have overheard Lin Zhixia and Mom’s conversation, because he declared rudely, "Lin Zhixia is going to be spoiled sooner or later.""No way," Lin Zhixia turned her head to look at him. "I don't want Mom to bring me lunch either—I insist on eating in the school cafeteria!"
Lin Zeqiu took a box of strawberry yogurt from the refrigerator. Before he could open it, he noticed Lin Zhixia's pure, untainted gaze. In this household, whenever he ate anything strawberry-related, he had no choice but to endure Lin Zhixia's intense stare—unless she also had strawberries in her hands.
He had no choice but to shove the strawberry yogurt into Lin Zhixia's hands and find a box of yellow peach yogurt for himself. He quickly opened it and had just taken a sip when something suddenly occurred to him, causing his expression to darken abruptly. He grabbed Lin Zhixia and pulled her into his bedroom.
Lin Zhixia was still holding the strawberry yogurt in both hands, not yet having tasted the strawberry flavor, when her brother, with a stern face, began interrogating her seriously: "Lin Zhixia, tell me—if you're the female lead in the school play, then who is the male lead?"
Lin Zhixia guessed what her brother was getting at. She thought he was so old-fashioned and nagging. She decided to be straightforward: "Our homeroom teacher, Teacher Zhang, approved our performance. The eighth-grade dean has already reviewed our script. Why do you care who the male lead is? There's absolutely no romantic storyline between me and the male lead."
Her brother's expression grew even more unpleasant.
Gloom seemed to weigh down his brows as he clutched the yellow peach yogurt. He paced two steps in the narrow bedroom before saying, "You're only eleven years old. What do you know about romantic storylines? What TV dramas have you been watching at home?"
"TV dramas usually have romantic plots. Why can't I watch them?" Lin Zhixia showed no trace of shame.
Searching her memory, she added, "Brother, when you watch TV, you don't seem to deliberately avoid the romantic scenes between male and female leads either. 'Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire,' Brother."
Lin Zhixia's attempt to "redirect the trouble" didn't affect Lin Zeqiu in the slightest.
Lin Zeqiu had already guessed part of the truth. Since his sister refused to tell him who the male lead was, he grew even more suspicious that Jiang Yubai was the male lead in that school play. Thinking further—just because Lin Zhixia said there was no romantic storyline, did that mean there really wasn't?
Even if their eighth-grade class seventeen had chosen family-friendly fairy tales like "Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty," "Snow White," or "Beauty and the Beast," they would still include ending scenes of the prince and princess living happily ever after.
Lin Zeqiu had originally thought that since Lin Zhixia had been noticed by the high school competition class coaches, her academic focus would completely shift toward high school and university-level knowledge. With her participating in Olympiad competitions for mathematics, physics, and computer science, how could she still have the time and energy to maintain her "best friend" from middle school?
He never expected that Lin Zhixia and Jiang Yubai would become connected through a school anniversary performance.
He had miscalculated.
After much deliberation, he still felt deeply concerned.
He simply told their parents that he wanted to accompany Lin Zhixia during her rehearsals. He even claimed that Lin Zhixia might not adapt well to eating in the school cafeteria, and that having him around would make her more comfortable.
Both Mom and Dad praised him for being considerate, thoughtful, and such a gentle, good brother.
This September, Lin Zeqiu entered ninth grade.He remained a top student in the advanced class and an outstanding figure in the ninth grade. He had given up the Olympiad class and never taken another exam.
But he still frequently heard news about the Olympiad class.
His younger sister, Lin Zhixia, not only dominated the eighth grade but also ventured into the high school division, sweeping through the competition teams of three subjects. For a while, Lin Zeqiu felt that all his classmates were quietly discussing his sister.
Several girls from the ninth-grade Olympiad class even came to the door of Lin Zeqiu’s classroom, explicitly asking to see him. Lin Zeqiu, with his striking looks, was already accustomed to students from other classes stealing glances at him. However, the thought process of the Olympiad class seemed somewhat different—the reason these ninth-grade Olympiad girls sought him out was because they admired his sister.
Pointing at Lin Zeqiu, they exclaimed, "This is Lin Zhixia’s brother! Her real brother!"
One of the girls casually asked, "What’s Lin Zhixia’s brother’s name?"
Another replied, "No idea. Doesn’t matter, I guess."
After saying these three sentences, the girls drifted away. Lin Zeqiu stood alone at the doorway, his tall shadow falling on the floor, covering a patch of pristine white tiles. The more he had once yearned for the Olympiad class, the more he later detested the word "competition."
Undoubtedly, Lin Zhixia’s presence cast a shadow over Lin Zeqiu’s middle school life. But he never complained to her. He did his utmost to ignore the outside noise, insisting on commuting to and from school with Lin Zhixia every day. He believed that, as a brother, he had already pushed himself to his limit.
Then, the eighth-grade Class 17’s school anniversary performance pushed Lin Zeqiu to expand that limit even further.
At noon on Tuesday, Lin Zeqiu bought a fried chicken burger in the cafeteria. To save time, he wolfed it down without caring about his appearance and headed straight for the rehearsal hall in the middle school’s arts building.
The security guard at the arts building stopped Lin Zeqiu and asked which class he was in. He lied, claiming to be a student from eighth-grade Class 17, about to play the male lead in a drama. The guard, noting his good looks and leading-man demeanor, casually glanced at his student ID and allowed him into the arts building.
In his over two years at Provincial No. 1 Middle School, Lin Zeqiu had never once set foot near the arts building. He couldn’t be bothered to even glance at his own class’s rehearsal for the school anniversary, let alone participate personally.
But now, he drifted like a lonely ghost, hovering before the rehearsal hall door.
After lingering for a few seconds, Lin Zhixia spotted him.
She waved at him, calling out, "Brother, Brother!"
Without hesitation, she introduced him openly to her many classmates: "This is my brother. His name is Lin Zeqiu, and he’s in the ninth grade at our school. Brother! Do you want to watch our rehearsal? Come right in. You’ll be the first audience for 'Changes.'"
By this point, Lin Zeqiu had no way to retreat. He strode confidently into the room, his tall and straight posture drawing countless gazes. Soft exclamations arose from the eighth-grade girls. Ignoring everyone’s reactions, he found a chair and sat down by himself.In the rehearsal hall, Shen Fuxuan called out loudly, "Brother Lin is here to watch our rehearsal. This shows his trust in us. Everyone, stay focused and continue running through the script of 'Changes'!"
In the "Changes" drama group, all the actors' costumes and accessories were provided by Jiang Yubai. Jiang Yubai's mother operated a clothing business with chain stores of her brand in major cities across the country, and in recent years had even expanded into the Southeast Asian market.
Although Jiang Yubai wasn't a member of the props team, he had arranged almost all the necessary items, providing them free of charge to the entire class. The students in the props team didn't have to worry at all about class fund expenses; they only needed to properly store the props and reasonably arrange the backgrounds.
Jiang Yubai had snatched the male lead role, thus becoming Duan Qiyan's number one enemy. However, within the "Changes" drama group, Jiang Yubai wholeheartedly helped his classmates, and Duan Qiyan couldn't find any fault with him. Eventually, Duan Qiyan even subtly came to believe that Jiang Yubai was indeed the perfect choice for the male lead.
Jiang Yubai's role was very important. He played two characters by himself. In the "Changes·1906" segment, Jiang Yubai was a new youth who had cut his queue and changed his attire, advocating for "personal liberation and educational reform." In the "Changes·2006" storyline, Jiang Yubai was an ordinary student who accidentally wandered into the school history memorial hall. Together with several other actors, he traced the school's hundred-year development process, observing major historical changes through the lens of "ordinary people."
As the chief director, Shen Fuxuan spoke a few brief words to help Jiang Yubai get into character.
Then, Shen Fuxuan raised a megaphone and shouted with full work enthusiasm: "Let's start over from the first section of the first act! Duan Qiyan, I must single you out for criticism - stop forgetting your lines!"
Duan Qiyan quickly flipped through the script and roared: "I won't forget my lines again!"
The first act officially began.
Jiang Yubai walked into the audience's view. He recited a series of lines, introducing the era's background and describing his inner confusion.
At this moment, Lin Zhixia made her dazzling entrance.
She wore a silver hairpin, draped a silk outer garment, and carried a bamboo basket in her hand, dressed like a young lady from the late Qing dynasty.
Lin Zeqiu's gaze remained fixed on his sister without blinking.
Lin Zeqiu watched helplessly as Lin Zhixia grabbed Jiang Yubai's sleeve. What Lin Zeqiu found most unacceptable was - Lin Zhixia addressing Jiang Yubai in a soft, delicate voice as: "Young master."
Young master?
What the hell kind of feudal dregs was this?
Lin Zeqiu slammed the table and stood up: "How can this kind of program participate in the school anniversary? The eighth-grade selection will definitely eliminate you. There are 18 classes in the eighth grade, but only 7 classes' programs can be selected for the school anniversary. Yet you're still immersed in the 1906 worldview..."
The afternoon sunlight was brilliant, casting the window frame's grid pattern onto the wooden floor. In the spacious rehearsal hall, the eighth-grade students stared blankly at Lin Zeqiu.
Lin Zhixia spoke up: "Brother, please watch the entire plot before giving your evaluation. We're not immersed in 1906. The focus of our play is the school's establishment and inheritance, the changes and development of the times, and the reform and significance of education."
In front of her classmates, Lin Zhixia adopted her class president demeanor, speaking to Lin Zeqiu in an official, businesslike tone.However, in Lin Zeqiu's eyes, Lin Zhixia had always been a "Mommy's cling-on" since childhood—a delicate crybaby who wouldn't let go of their mother once she latched on. She was timid, spoiled, hot-tempered, and not to be trifled with. This was the first time Lin Zeqiu witnessed her being regarded as the authority by a group of peers.
In short, Lin Zhixia commanded the scene.
She calmly continued acting.
She played the role of a girl from a wealthy family. She yearned for education but felt unfulfilled, harboring ambitions with no outlet, silently envying the only son of their wealthy merchant neighbors.
Jiang Yubai was that only son of the wealthy merchant.
Duan Qiyan played Jiang Yubai's teacher. For this role, he deliberately wore frameless round glasses and donned the traditional long gown typical of scholars in the late Qing Dynasty.
The arts committee member Tang Tingting played Duan Qiyan's wife in the play. Of course, Tang Tingting and Duan Qiyan had no physical contact or emotional scenes. They were a theatrical couple devoid of eye contact.
When Duan Qiyan saw Lin Zhixia approaching slowly, he shooed her away: "As a mere woman, do not come again to this boys' school."
Lin Zhixia's cheeks flushed, her eyes welling with tears, deeply immersed in her role as she replied: "Teacher Duan...In the Ming Dynasty's Hanlin Academy, "Jiaoxi" was the specific title for instructors. By the late Qing Dynasty, as modern schools were established nationwide, teachers in these new institutions were also called "Jiaoxi"—this was information Wan Chunlei had specifically researched.
So, Lin Zhixia addressing Duan Qiyan as "Teacher Duan" could be considered historically accurate, Wan Chunlei thought with great satisfaction.
Wan Chunlei clearly saw the expression on Lin Zhixia's face and couldn't help but marvel: "Lin Zhixia really knows how to act, she's so naturally gifted. She perfectly captured the heroine's demeanor I imagined while writing the script—she delivered everything I wanted."
Shen Fuxuan exchanged thoughts with Wan Chunlei: "Yes, Lin Zhixia performed the best." He paused before adding: "Jiang Yubai fell a bit short."
It was more than just "a bit."
Jiang Yubai stood beside Duan Qiyan like a wooden stake. Though possessing handsome features, his acting was undeniably poor.
Jiang Yubai had almost no vocal delivery skills. When reciting lines, he sounded like he was mechanically reciting texts during morning reading sessions.
Where was the emotion? Where was the understanding?
As the male lead, he couldn't just recite lines!
"Is it my fault?" Wan Chunlei began doubting herself. "Why can't such a bright student like Jiang Yubai grasp the deeper meaning conveyed through the dialogue? Could it be that our script isn't well-written?"
Shen Fuxuan stroked his chin: "Jiang Yubai playing a wealthy merchant's son should be typecasting. No one in our class comes from a wealthier family than him. If he can't perform well, no one else could do better."
Wan Chunlei agreed: "Exactly, he's so rich!"
Shen Fuxuan raised the megaphone: "Cut!"
All the actors froze in place.
In the center of the rehearsal room, Lin Zhixia set down her bamboo basket and darted in front of Jiang Yubai. She stood completely still, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on him. The surrounding noises gradually faded, clouds drifted with the wind, and all sounds ceased, as if only the two of them remained between heaven and earth.Lin Zhixia said, "Jiang Yubai, think of 'Changes: 1906' as a temporal branch of 'Exploring the Universe.' I know you're not used to memorizing lines written by others or reacting within a framework set by someone else. The 1906 era background somewhat suppresses your personality. So, how about this—you're the protagonist of a side story in 'Exploring the Universe,' and we've traveled back to 1906, acting out the script like we're in a comic. Do you think that works?"
Jiang Yubai noticed Lin Zhixia's hairpin was crooked. He raised his hand to adjust it but suddenly caught sight of Lin Zeqiu from the corner of his eye. Jiang Yubai slightly turned his face toward Lin Zeqiu's position, where Lin Zeqiu shot him a cold, ruthless, and terrifying glare.
Instantly, Jiang Yubai felt a surge of intense competitiveness. He murmured, "Alright."
Lin Zhixia thought her words had inspired him. Happily, she circled around Jiang Yubai, saying, "Jiang Yubai, Jiang Yubai, let's continue rehearsing."
She gave Shen Fuxuan an "okay" gesture.
The many students in the directing team took their positions, and Shen Fuxuan coordinated, "Alright, let's start over—'Changes,' Act One, Scene One!"
This time, Jiang Yubai seemed like a different person. He successfully portrayed the arrogance and recklessness of a wealthy young man. Even as a progressive youth in 1906, he couldn't escape the limitations of his era. In this scene of 'Changes,' he supported women's education but opposed co-education and the abandonment of traditions.
Class Physical Education Monitor Cao Wu played the role of a butcher from the late Qing dynasty.
Cao Wu, dressed in a gray-blue short jacket and holding a piece of fake plastic pork in his left hand, walked up to Duan Qiyan and said, "Instructor Duan, when did you take on a female student? If girls enter the school, how can the boys focus on their studies?"
Jiang Yubai went against his conscience and replied, "Indeed, co-education should not be allowed."
Instructor Duan said, "It's akin to committing evil."
Just then, Instructor Duan's wife, Tang Tingting, emerged from the inner room. Tang Tingting, with bound feet, walked slowly and spoke in an affected tone, "Oh, where did this girl come from, deliberately coming to a school full of boys? Will she ever be able to marry in the future?"
Tang Tingting acted her part perfectly. She raised her eyebrows and lightly leaned against the doorframe, though inwardly she was fiercely despising her character: Whether she can marry or not, what business is it of yours? Are you so idle that you have to meddle in others' affairs?
Tang Tingting's gaze met Lin Zhixia's. Lin Zhixia was still pitifully defending herself, "Instructors are people, students are people..."
At this point, according to the plot of 'Changes,' Lin Zhixia was supposed to burst into tears and timidly lament the hardships of her life in 1906.
But after a moment's thought, she improvised her lines.
She straightened her posture and faced the butcher, the instructor, and the wealthy young man directly: "Instructor Duan, have you read the 'Sutra of Immeasurable Life'? The sutra says—'Good and evil transform, chasing what is born. Paths differ, meetings are uncertain.' Instructor Duan, you're well-educated and widely read—do you truly understand what is good and what is evil? Do you understand what paths are, what pursuits are? You say I'm committing evil, but I feel I'm acting with great kindness and boundless merit!""Stop! Stop right now!" Shen Fuxuan interrupted. "Lin Zhixia, how could you change your own lines?"
Lin Zhixia hugged the bamboo basket, her face slightly flushed. "The original lines were a bit weak."
Before Wan Chunlei could say anything, Lin Zeqiu, who had been watching from the sidelines, chimed in: "Hey, are you guys serious? Didn't Lin Zhixia improve them? In her version, the female lead isn't crying all the time anymore. Who wants to watch something all weepy and sentimental at the centennial celebration performance?"
Just as Shen Fuxuan was about to retort, Wan Chunlei stopped him.
After thinking for a moment, Wan Chunlei strongly agreed: "Exactly! What Lin Zhixia's brother said is absolutely right! The characters Cao Wu, Jiang Yubai, Duan Qiyan, and Tang Tingting are already foolish enough. If there isn't a single intelligent person in the 1906 scene of 'Transformation,' the audience will find it too tragic. The 1906 scene of 'Transformation' should serve as a bridge, leading to the reforms of 2006. Lin Zhixia needs to present the most advanced ideas in 1906."
Shen Fuxuan nodded in agreement.
Wan Chunlei clapped her hands together: "Lin Zhixia, just go with your instincts! You're the daughter of an official's family! You should have an imposing pride! An advanced intuition! The courage to pursue education! You're the strongest, the smartest! You should compete with men! A hundred years from now, your name will appear in the school archives, and tens of thousands of students will look up to you as a role model!"
"Okay!" Lin Zhixia agreed immediately.
Wan Chunlei then asked: "Lin Zhixia! Can you remember the lines you changed? Everyone else's lines remain the same—they're meant to be stubborn characters anyway."
"Of course I can remember!" This was the first time Lin Zhixia had shown her special talent in front of her classmates from Class 17, Grade 8.
Lin Zhixia told her classmates: "If I want to remember something, I'll never forget it."
Everyone except Jiang Yubai and Lin Zeqiu mistakenly thought Lin Zhixia just had a slightly better memory than ordinary people. But her performance astonished them. She remembered every line she had modified clearly and could even remind others when they forgot their lines.
Lin Zhixia's mental capacity seemed to transcend the script itself.
For this performance of "Transformation," all the students of Class 17, Grade 8 had rehearsed continuously for two full weeks. They passed the grade-level selection and were successfully chosen for the performance lineup of Provincial No. 1 High School's centennial celebration.
On the day of the centennial celebration, all the students from the props and acting groups woke up early. They arrived at the provincial grand theater by 7:30, where their teacher led them backstage. This was Lin Zhixia's first time participating in a large-scale cultural performance, and she was playing the female lead. She followed closely behind Jiang Yubai and even lightly tugged on his sleeve. Sensing her unease, he comforted her: "Lin Zhixia, don't worry. You'll definitely perform well."
Lin Zhixia smiled. She nodded gently and responded: "Mm!"
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