"Is Tang Ning back?"

Ye Jinyan, who was already soaked to the bone by the sudden downpour, searched the school for a long time in the rain but couldn't find a single piece of Tang Ning's clothes. When he returned to the rehearsal hall, he looked at the people gathered there and hurriedly asked this question.

All they got in return were worried shakes of their heads from the students who remained inside.

This realization made Ye Jinyan clench his fists. In fact, he had already called Ningning when he noticed the rain, but her phone was switched off. This made Ye Jinyan panic. Without thinking, he ran out to look for her without even taking an umbrella. Some other classmates, seeing that something was wrong, also went out to look for her, including Jiang Yao and Yin Yuqing, who had not yet returned.

They had agreed that whoever found Tang Ning first would immediately call the others, but now he hadn't received a call, and when he returned to the rehearsal hall and didn't see Tang Ning return, Ye Jinyan's heart felt as if it had been thrown into an ice cave with a thud, and his whole body felt extremely cold.

He regretted it. From the very beginning, he shouldn't have chosen to let Ningning practice dance alone elsewhere just to appease her feelings. Although Jinsheng Boys' High School was known for its strict discipline, even the strictest schools have their exceptions, right? If Ningning encountered such an exception, he... he...

Without hesitation, Ye Jinyan turned around and ran out of the rehearsal hall again. Just as he went down the stairs and rushed into the rain, which had subsided considerably, a surprised voice suddenly rang out behind him like heavenly music.

"elder brother!"

Tang Ning, who was holding an umbrella, saw the familiar figure suddenly freeze under the streetlight in front of her and quickly called out.

"Is that you, brother?"

She had barely finished asking when Ye Jinyan, who was already soaked to the bone, suddenly turned around. When he saw Tang Ning standing just a dozen meters behind him, his face immediately showed a look of surprise and worry.

"Brother, what's wrong with you? Why didn't you bring an umbrella when you went out in this heavy rain? Look at you, you're soaked to the bone. Don't you know you've only been sick for a short time? What are you trying to do now..."

Before she could finish speaking, Ye Jinyan had already taken a step forward and rushed to her like a 100-meter sprinter, reaching out to hug Tang Ning, who was holding an umbrella, tightly in his arms.

Tang Ning's eyes widened in surprise, but a smile suddenly appeared on her lips.

Because she discovered—

Ye Jinyan's current favorability rating: 82.

May your brother live a long and peaceful life!

"Where did you go?"

The boy's slightly hoarse voice rang in her ear.

"I...I didn't go anywhere. I was dancing on the west playground before, and then it started raining, so I...found a place to take shelter from the rain, and then...someone lent me an umbrella, and I came back."

Tang Ning explained with some confusion.

Why is my phone off?

Ye Jinyan's calm question rang out again.

"What? Turned off? I didn't! I... Ah Yao..."

Tang Ning, who was being held tightly in Ye Jinyan's arms, looked at the person who had just appeared in front of her, sharing an umbrella with Yin Yuqing. Even through the distance and rain, one could still clearly see the complex emotions and unwavering determination on his face.

Upon hearing Tang Ning's call, Ye Jinyan finally regained his composure. Despite his reluctance, he quickly released his grip on Tang Ning, glanced back at Jiang Yao, and then softly explained, "I thought Ningning was missing, so I lost my composure. Now that she's back, she should call the other students who are still searching at school. I'll call now."

As he spoke, Ye Jinyan immediately took out his phone to make calls to other classmates to inform them.

Throughout the entire time, Jiang Yao remained standing only a dozen meters away from the two of them, without moving.

Yin Yuqing, standing beside him, probably sensed the awkward atmosphere and remained silent, though her mind was in turmoil. Wasn't Jin Yan Tang Ning's brother? Why… why did the way he rushed over and hugged her just now seem more like… more like…

Yin Yuqing pursed her lips, not uttering those two words aloud.

Ye Jinyan quickly finished making all his calls.

Seeing that he had finished his work, Tang Ning, who was standing next to him, awkwardly held up her phone, which had already turned off. "So...so my phone ran out of battery and turned off. But I didn't mean to...Brother, please don't be angry, okay? It's all my fault!"

Hearing Tang Ning say that, Ye Jinyan glanced at her phone with a helpless expression. He was about to say something when the night wind became so cold that he couldn't help but shiver.

"Oh dear, brother, you're all wet! You just recovered from a serious illness, and your immunity is still low. What happened to you? Why didn't you bring an umbrella when you came to see me? What if you get a fever and feel unwell? No! Wearing wet clothes will definitely make you catch a cold! Let's hurry back to the car. I remember you left some dry clothes in the car. After you change, we'll go home quickly and have Aunt Wang make you lots of ginger tea. Drink it all down!"

After Tang Ning finished speaking in a rapid-fire manner, she didn't care whether Ye Jinyan agreed or not. She grabbed his hand and started to walk towards the parking lot. Just as she was about to turn around, she realized that Jiang Yao seemed to be behind her.

"Ah Yao! My brother's clothes are all soaked, I have to take him back to the car. Rehearsal should be over by now, right? When the other classmates come back, could you help me and my brother apologize to them? We'll treat them to soft drinks tomorrow as a thank you! My brother and I will be going now, bye Ah Yao!"

As she spoke, Tang Ning took Ye Jinyan's hand and jogged towards the car.

"Be careful, is your foot injury healed?"

"You're worried about my foot injury? You should be worried about whether you'll catch a cold tonight! Honestly, if you're going to ask someone for help, just ask someone for help. You know it's raining and you don't even bring an umbrella. You're just trying to make me worry!"

"I'm sorry, it was my fault..."

"Well...no, actually, I was the one who made a mistake first. I shouldn't have made you worry before I even noticed my phone was dead!"

...

The sound of the two apologizing to each other was carried directly to Jiang Yao's ears by the night wind, who had a sullen face.

He stared intently at the two figures as they walked away, his fists slowly clenching without him even noticing...

That suffocating feeling that felt like my chest was about to explode came back again, and even... even mixed with a hint of indescribable bitterness.

Jin Yan and Tang Ning are half-siblings, and no one in the entire school knows this better than him.

They are not related by blood, so...

Jiang Yao didn't want to think about it anymore.

For the next day and night, he was so engrossed in his own thoughts that he didn't hear Yin Yuqing speak to him at all. Whenever he had a spare moment, his eyes would unconsciously fall on Tang Ning, who was sitting upright at the back. Even Xu Xingbai, who was sitting next to her, found him slightly obstructive.

How could such a terrible piece of trash be allowed to sit next to Tang Ning?

"Ah Yao, Ah Yao, Ah Yao!"

Sitting next to him, Yin Yuqing kept calling his name. Seeing that Jiang Yao, who would always respond to her immediately in the past, was acting as if he hadn't heard anything and completely ignored her, Yin Yuqing followed his gaze and saw Tang Ning's fair and even dazzling profile. A trace of sadness and resentment quickly flashed in her eyes.

Ah Yao...

Why, why is even A Yao now... why is everyone's attention drawn to Tang Ning, while she has nothing!

With a forceful stroke, Yin Yuqing's black pen left a deep mark on her book.

The evening rehearsal arrived quickly. Perhaps because he had drunk plenty of ginger tea last night, Ye Jinyan, who had been caught in the rain, did not fall ill again. However, because they had just taken a test, the physics teacher took over their first evening self-study period to go over the test with them.

Therefore, Ye Jinyan will arrive at the rehearsal hall a little later.

However, this didn't affect Tang Ning much; she just...

Just by dancing these familiar steps, she would unconsciously think of Mu Sheng under the dim light. She had learned almost all of her dance steps with his help, so it was very easy for these familiar movements to remind her of him.

To Jiang Yao, who was dancing with her, Tang Ning appeared to be frequently distracted.

Jiang Yao, who had long been accustomed to the fact that whenever he was with Tang Ning, no one else would ever appear in her eyes but him, felt a sharp and bitter feeling well up in his heart again, which made him unconsciously tighten his grip on Tang Ning's fingers.

"hiss!"

Tang Ning snapped out of her daze with a wince of pain, looked up at Jiang Yao in front of her, and immediately saw the slight gloom and displeasure in the boy's eyes.

Seeing this, Tang Ning was still confused and asked directly, "A Yao, what's wrong?"

Whom are you looking for with such focus? Jin Yan?

Are you so distraught because he didn't come?

What about me? Why don't you see me in your eyes? You promised you came to Jinsheng High School because of me! You promised you liked me!

Have you started to change?

Jiang Yao couldn't help but keep asking Tang Ning the same questions in his mind.

But he only managed a forced smile. "Nothing. But what's wrong with you? What are you thinking about so intently? You can't even concentrate on dancing with me?"

As he said this, his eyes remained fixed on Tang Ning's without looking away.

Sure enough, the next second I saw a fleeting look of guilt in her eyes.

This discovery made Jiang Yao's heart sink. Then he heard Tang Ning immediately avoid his gaze and clumsily cry out, "Ah Yao, my foot hurts... it suddenly started hurting. It's probably because I've been dancing these past few days. I... I want to go downstairs and rest for a bit, is that okay?"

After saying that, she tried to turn around and walk off the stage, but Jiang Yao's hand, which was tightly gripping her wrist, did not loosen at all.

Tang Ning struggled for a moment, "I...I really hurt my legs..."

He simply stared at her silently, without letting go.

Seeing this, Tang Ning looked around anxiously, but her eyes suddenly lit up the moment she saw Yin Yuqing rehearsing the dwarf scene. "Yin Yufeng, Yin Yuqing, could you please do me a favor?"

Yin Yuqing, who had been keeping an eye on the commotion out of the corner of her eye, was momentarily stunned when she heard Tang Ning's request and turned to look at them blankly.

"Me, me?"

She pointed to her nose.

"Um!"

Tang Ning nodded vigorously. "My foot suddenly hurts a bit. Can you come and rehearse with A Yao? I know that you've been worried about my foot injury these past few days, and you're also worried that everyone's hard work will be wasted because of me. So you've been silently memorizing my dance moves and lines, right? That's why you're the most suitable person to rehearse with A Yao!"

"Also, I think what you said before was absolutely right. I was too selfish. Knowing that my foot injury hadn't fully healed, I still insisted on playing the female lead in 'Snow White.' Well then, since Yin Yufeng has already memorized my lines and dance steps, let's prepare two plans. If I can, I'll go on stage myself that day. If not, can Yin Yufeng take my place? It might be a bit tiring for you these next few days. Do you mind?"

Tang Ning said this in a teasy tone.

As soon as she finished speaking, almost everyone present looked at Yin Yuqing differently. If the goddess hadn't mentioned it, they wouldn't have known that Yin Yufeng was secretly memorizing her lines and dance steps. Is this... really necessary? What is he trying to do?

Almost all the boys present felt that something was wrong, but they couldn't put their finger on what was wrong.

It just felt strange.

Upon hearing Tang Ning's words, Yin Yuqing initially felt a surge of secret joy, but upon seeing the expressions of the boys present, this joy quickly turned into deep embarrassment and resentment.

Why would Tang Ning say something like that out of the blue? Besides, wasn't she thinking about everyone's hard work? If Tang Ning's leg injury really prevents her from going on stage, wouldn't all the effort and time they've spent these past few days be wasted?

Why, why is everyone looking at her like that?

"I...I can't do it, I'm not qualified. In everyone's heart, there's only you, no one else. I can't..."

Before she could finish speaking, Tang Ning had already begun to comfort her.

"It's okay, it's fine to have it prepared, right? Everyone has worked so hard these past few days, and we don't want our signature performance for the school anniversary celebration to be unavailable. Besides, my leg is really hurting right now, so please help me out, okay? Please!"

Tang Ning pleaded.

"That……"

Yin Yuqing looked directly at Jiang Yao behind her.

Seeing this, Tang Ning quickly pulled her hand out of Jiang Yao's hand and turned to look at Jiang Yao behind her. "Ah Yao, why don't you dance with Yin Yufeng first? My legs really hurt, I want to go down and rest for a bit."

Hearing Tang Ning say that, and looking at Yin Yuqing who was looking expectantly to the side, Jiang Yao was momentarily at a loss for words to describe his feelings.

He didn't understand why Tang Ning was being so generous. Didn't she already know that Yu Qing was a girl? Didn't she know?

Then why make her rehearse with him?

He really doesn't understand!

Why does she say she likes him so much, yet still push him towards Yuqing? Doesn't she get jealous? Didn't we agree to try for one last three months? Is this her effort?

Watching Tang Ning walk away without looking back, Jiang Yao felt an inexplicable surge of irritation.

This restlessness couldn't be dispelled even when Yin Yuqing came to his side and looked at him intently. In fact, it seemed to be getting worse.

Meanwhile, Tang Ning, sitting in the audience, continued to wander off in her thoughts, but she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Why is that?

Because Jiang Yao's current favorability rating is 65.

What's this?

Are scumbags inherently despicable?

Food tastes better when it's in high demand; does that mean food delivered to your door is cheaper?

Tsk tsk.

"Bang!"

"ah!"

Just as Tang Ning was thinking this, she suddenly heard a cry of pain coming from the stage.

She quickly looked up at the stage and discovered that Jiang Yao, who was just as distracted as she was, had lost his grip and failed to catch Yin Yuqing, causing her to fall heavily to the ground.

"Yu Feng!"

Jiang Yao, who finally came to his senses, hurriedly reached out and helped Yin Yuqing up from the ground.

Others, including Tang Ning, also anxiously gathered around.

"How are you? Are you alright?" Tang Ning asked worriedly.

Before Yin Yuqing could even answer, someone kindly interjected, "That's too dangerous. Yin hasn't practiced this before. Why don't I do it? After all, this is my..."

"It doesn't hurt, I didn't fall and hurt myself, I can do it! It was just an accidental mistake!"

Before Tang Ning could finish speaking, Yin Yuqing interrupted her hastily.

However, after she finished speaking, she realized that almost all the classmates present were looking at her with surprise. Yin Yuqing suddenly realized what she had said, but it was too late to take it back.

"Tang Ning, you should do it. Yu Feng, go and rest for a bit. You haven't learned to dance before. Although you remember the steps well, you're still very awkward when you dance. It's better for you to rest."

Before Tang Ning could say anything, Jiang Yao, that straight-talking guy, had already told the truth.

Ugh, how tragic!

Didn't you see the girl's face turn pale? She was slapped in the face to her face, and by the person she liked at that! She must be so embarrassed!

"Then... I'll go rest over there first!"

After stammering out these words with a pale face, Yin Yuqing got up without hesitation and walked off the stage.

Almost the instant she stepped off the stage, tears streamed down her face like beads from a broken string.

But at that moment, she didn't know why, she didn't want anyone to see her cry, so she kept her head down as much as possible, and didn't dare to raise it after she got off the stage.

She glanced at the stage, seemingly casually, and noticed that Jiang Yao had already started dancing with Tang Ning, his face showing no trace of his earlier inattentiveness or lack of interest in her.

This discovery made Yin Yuqing panic, so much so that she walked out of the rehearsal hall without thinking.

She was running away, running away from all her recent discoveries, running away from... Jiang Yao's differential treatment.

As she walked, she unknowingly arrived at the foot of the school hospital.

With teary eyes, Yin Yuqing looked at the building in front of her. A person involuntarily flashed through her mind. She clenched her fist, lifted her foot and walked into the school hospital. She stopped in front of a room on the second floor, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.

Soon, a man opened the door from the inside.

"Dr. Mu, you told me before that if I was unhappy about anything, I should come to you. Do you still stand by that promise?"

Yin Yuqing asked hesitantly.

She didn't even know if she had come to see the right person. She had always... always been afraid of him, but she truly had no other choice. Perhaps... perhaps...

Upon hearing this, Mu Sheng, who was inside the door, raised an eyebrow and then smiled, "Of course."

Upon hearing his affirmative answer, a unique kind of surprise immediately shone in Yin Yuqing's eyes, and she immediately wanted to walk into the man's room.

She had barely taken a step when the man grabbed his coat from the hanger and stepped out, chuckling, "Sorry, I never like the smell of other people in the room. So, come with me!"

Upon hearing this, Yin Yuqing bit her lip awkwardly. Seeing that Mu Sheng had already started walking forward, she slowly followed in his footsteps.

It was fortunate that she didn't know that Tang Ning had just entered this room yesterday, otherwise she probably wouldn't have been able to stand it by now.

The top floor of the school hospital.

Sitting opposite Mu Sheng, Yin Yuqing chatted with him about all sorts of things, mainly expressing her disappointment, how her good intentions were misunderstood, her worries, and so on...

After saying that, she looked at the stars above her head and suddenly sighed, "Dr. Mu, do you think Tang Ning's leg is really healed? I really... really wanted to go on stage. I just hope she can't participate in the school anniversary celebration in the end..."

Having inadvertently blurted out her true feelings, Yin Yuqing quickly covered her mouth. "I didn't... I didn't mean that. I just wanted the school anniversary celebration to go smoothly, I..."

As she explained, she subconsciously looked at Mu Sheng, only to be met with his unfathomable dark eyes.

The sheer darkness sent a shiver down Yin Yuqing's spine. She hurriedly stood up. "Dr. Mu, I... I have to go! My classmates are still waiting for me in the rehearsal hall. I really have to go..."

As she spoke, she hurriedly walked downstairs to the school hospital.

Mu Sheng did not stop him.

Just as she was about to go downstairs, Yin Yuqing subconsciously turned around and glanced at the man behind her.

So, will he help her?

In the past, whenever she had something going wrong, she would talk to Dr. Mu and all her troubles would be completely resolved by the next day. Would it be the same this time?

Jiang Yao's unusual behavior made her panic and scared. She heard that there was a kissing scene at the end of "White Snow". She really... really didn't want Yao to kiss her. She liked Yao, she liked him very much. She could clearly feel that Yao liked her too before, but Tang Ning appeared. Yao changed. She couldn't let him change any further. She couldn't accept it.

As for your question about why she was so confident that coming to Mu Sheng would solve her troubles,

The main reason is that she had seen this man at her brother's funeral. Not only that, she also overheard that he was very rich and powerful, and that he also had a gun. Her brother was killed in a car accident while trying to save his niece. The next time she saw him was at Kim Seung Boys' High School.

Even if she were incredibly naive, she would know that the appearance of such a person was most likely related to her.

And the previous troubles had really been resolved, so she thought of coming here to give it a try this time...

Yin Yuqing is gone.

Mu Sheng was left alone on the top floor of the school hospital, his fingers tapping lightly on the table beside him. After a long while, he suddenly chuckled and looked up again, his eyes already icy cold.

Who would have thought that even Mu Sheng could misjudge someone!

Ha, that's interesting!

As for whether or not to help her?

Mu Sheng's mind immediately flashed through Tang Ning's happy face, shy face, embarrassed face, serious face...

A slight smile quickly appeared on his lips, and the icy coldness in his eyes rapidly dissipated.

So, will he help or not?

Author's Note: Will you help?

[Mini Theater]

Mu Sheng: I can't believe I've ever misjudged someone!

Tang Ning: Really?

Mu Sheng: Baby, I'm not talking about you. Of course I know you. You are so innocent, naive, cute, and shy... [Ten thousand words omitted here].

Tang Ning: Hehe, school doctor, I love you the most! Mua~

Yin Yuqing: ... [dog couple]