dress rehearsal
In the afternoon, under the mango tree, the sixth group of Class B was rehearsing their performance of "Twelfth Night".
Yan Songqi held the script high, then swung it down in a flash. Lu Er, receiving the instruction, said, "If it's just my presumptuous men's clothing that's hindering our joy, then wait until all the details about the place, time, and encounters are fully connected, proving that I am indeed Viola, before embracing me... Thanks to his help, I was fortunate enough to save my life and be able to serve this noble duke..."
Yan Songqi, who plays Sebastian (who is also Sebastian), continued: "Miss, you were mistaken... But I swear on my life, your hopes have not been dashed. You are now the fiancée of both a woman and a man."
“If this is indeed true, it seems to be a mirror that doesn’t lie. In that case, I should also share in the good fortune of this most fortunate shipwreck.” Ruan Xiyan looked at Lu Er, who seemed like a true duke, his eyes exuding a noble air. “You once told me a thousand times that you would never love a woman as much as you love me.”
Lu Er: "I am willing to swear again to prove all of that. I will keep all those vows in my heart, like the raging fire hidden in the celestial sphere that separates day and night."
"Give me your hand, I want to see what you look like in women's clothes."
After saying this, Ruan Xiyan stretched out his left hand in front of her eyes, as if he wanted to hold something. Looking at his face, Lu Er inappropriately recalled a dream. On the night after that "explosion," Ruan Xiyan appeared in Lu Er's dream.
He held his own hand to his lips and said over and over again, "We are Lovers."
A dream seemed to flash through Lu Er's mind during this rehearsal, making her feel as if her fingertips, about to rest in his palm, were in slow motion, stretching for an hour. Three seconds later, her hand curled into his, returning to calm.
Xu Ting said to the script: "Your Highness, after you have thought all this over carefully, if you don't mind and are willing to recognize me as a relative instead of a wife, then our two families will celebrate our wedding on the same day. The venue will be my home, and I will cover the expenses."
...
After one round of rehearsals, everyone had memorized their lines perfectly. But Yan Songqi always seemed dissatisfied; he frowned, touched his chin, and paced back and forth.
So all five of them followed him as he paced back and forth. Xu Ting couldn't take it anymore: "Team leader! What are you doing?"
"..." Yan Songqi remembered what he was dissatisfied with, and he scanned the faces of the five people. "You read without any emotion. We are performing a play, not reciting a text."
Sun Yuanyuan pouted, "Team leader, it's already quite an achievement that we can memorize it in such a short time, let alone perform it with emotion. Isn't that too much to ask? Besides, my sister and I are playing several roles!" Sun Yuanyuan nodded in agreement.
Yan Songqi said, "The lines can be cut, but we can't let the teachers watch us perform a puppet show. I think the actor's emotional investment is more important than the fluency of the lines. Of course, memorizing the lines perfectly is the foundation."
“You two have more roles, so I won’t make any demands.” Yan Songqi had made up her mind and said seriously to the remaining three, “Xu Tinglu’er, Ruan Xiyan, you… including me, all need to act more expressively.”
He emphasized a few more points to Lu Er: "You're practically the lead, so when you're acting, you need to really understand the character's inner emotions. For example, how did she endure the excruciating pain of parting with her beloved and still say those sweet words to the Duke without hesitation? And..."
Yan Songqi hesitated for a moment, then, not wanting to be too harsh, said, "Could you act out a little bit of being full of love... no, being moved? It doesn't have to be too obvious. We're not professional actors, so just... don't all have a cold expression."
Lu Er remained silent: "...Okay, team leader."
After giving his instructions, Yan Songqi announced, "Come back tonight for one more rehearsal. Tomorrow is the final dress rehearsal, and the performance starts the day after tomorrow."
—
The day before the performance, at noon, Lu Er and his group went to shops near the summer camp base to rent formal attire.
The clothing rental shop wasn't large, but it had so many dresses that you couldn't take them all in. Hanfu, Lolita dresses, wedding gowns… Xu Ting stared at a bright green Qi-Xiong Ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and wouldn't look away: "I love this!"
“It suits you perfectly, Tingting, especially with this hairpin.” Sun Yuanyuan picked up a hanging magnolia hairpin and said in a cooperative tone.
Yan Songqi broke their composure: "We're going to perform a Western play, not a period drama." He gently tugged at Xu Ting's collar and led her to the other side. "You need to buy a court-style dress."
Lu Er remained rooted to the spot. Sun Yuanyuan looked at her and said, "Little Ear, in the original story, Viola is a woman disguised as a man, right? So you should buy men's clothes, shouldn't you?"
Lu Er was also thinking about this: "That should be the case. But in the end, the Duke made Viola change into a formal dress. Should I rent two?"
“Yes, that’s right.” Yan Songqi turned around and added, “I need you to rent two sets. Please change them before you leave the stage to express your gratitude. Thank you for your hard work.”
Lu Er started by looking at men's clothing. She walked towards the section selling European court-style clothing, where Ruan Xiyan was choosing dresses, and the two of them looked at them together.
Lu Er picked up a piece of clothing, and Ruan Xiyan glanced at it a few times: "This color is too dull. A servant who can woo a princess on behalf of the duke can't be dressed too plainly, can he?"
Lu Er thought so too. She put down the first one, and Ruan Xiyan picked up another one and held it up against her: "How about this one?"
The dress was indigo blue, and the cuffs were neatly ironed. Lu Er was quite satisfied: "Then I'll wear this." Taking off the dress, she thought it wouldn't be very friendly to just leave after Ruan Xiyan had already picked it out for her, so she said, "Shall I pick one out for you too?"
Ruan Xiyan smiled and said, "It would be impolite to refuse."
Lu Er's gaze drifted through a sea of dresses and skirts, finally settling on a burgundy gown. She blinked and pulled down the hanger: "This suits you perfectly."
Ruan Xiyan finally chose this one, and Lu Er turned around to pick out a dress. Suddenly, he shouted, "Choose the red one."
Lu Er turned around and saw his eyes drooping, but his smile was full of charm: "I mean, remember to choose a red dress too."
Lu Er responded with an "okay".
At 7 PM, the school cleared out all study hall time, giving all groups the entire evening to rehearse. At 8 PM, the drama performance began, with Class B's rehearsal for "Twelfth Night".
At this moment, on the street in front of Olivia's mansion, the Duke, played by Ruan Xiyan, is having a conversation with the clown, played by Sun Yuanyuan in drag.
Adopting the manner of Duke Orsino, Ruan Xiyan asked Sun Yuanyuan, "Do I know you, my friend?"
Sun Yuanyuan: "To be honest, Your Highness, my enemies make me better, and my friends make me worse."
Why?
“Your Highness, my friends praise me and make fun of me like a donkey, but my enemies frankly tell me that I am a donkey… The conclusion is like kissing: saying 'no' four times is the same as saying 'please' twice…”
Lu Er and Xu Ting stood by and watched. Xu Ting seemed to be talking to her, but also to herself: "If I read in English, I don't even understand what I'm saying. Fortunately, Yan Songqi has marked the Chinese characters in the script."
After hearing her words, Lu Er couldn't help but glance at the script and happened to see the line, "I am willing to suffer a thousand deaths, as long as you find comfort in your heart."
Next, we see the story of Antonio, played by Sun Yuanyuan, and Sun Yuanyuan, who plays a police officer in her second role, and their interactions with Osino and Viola.
Lu Er: "How could such a thing happen?"
Ruan Xiyan: "When did he arrive here?"
Sun Yuanyuan said respectfully, "Today, Your Highness. For the past three months, we have been together day and night, without being separated for even a minute."
Then the plot reaches its climax—Viola is burdened with numerous misunderstandings.
Ruan Xiyan called out, "Olivia!"
"What do you say, Cesario?"
Xu Ting stared at Lu Er, her disappointment almost tangible, making Lu Er's palms sweat. She acted so convincingly, it was as if she'd been possessed by Olivia all night.
"Your Highness, please consider the solution yourself."
...
"Where is Cisario going?"
Before that, Lu Er had thought of many ways to express her love. Xu Ting told her that the most effective way was to recall those moments when her heart raced.
Before her lines even began, Lu Er's thoughts sprawled out like countless tendrils and branches, searching for memories.
Meeting Xu Ting's eyes and Ruan Xiyan's gaze, Lu Er said, "I follow the one I love, I love him more than life and eyes."
She dared not look at Ruan Xiyan.
Because she discovered a terrible truth. The person who had brought her chaos and panic for so many days.
From beginning to end, it was Ruan Xiyan.
—
After the rehearsal ended, Yan Songqi finally showed a satisfied expression and clapped twice: "It's much better than yesterday. Let's perform like this when we go on stage tomorrow."
"Overall, this English drama gala is meant to improve our spoken English. So in the end, just do your best and don't feel pressured. It's okay if you don't win an award; participation is the most important thing."
Yan Songqi's words brought a warm light to everyone's hearts. Xu Ting looked at him and said, "Team leader, since you've said that, we'd be letting you down if we didn't win an award."
"I'll be so grateful if you can give me a test tomorrow without any spelling mistakes."
Everyone chatted and laughed as they walked back. Sun Yuanyuan exclaimed, "Ten-day summer camp, it's ending the day after tomorrow! It's the first time I've felt it go by so fast."
"Will we have a chance to meet again in the future?" Sun Yuanyuan asked reluctantly. "I don't want to be separated from you all."
Aside from Yan Songqi, a local from Qingshi, Lu Er and Ruan Xiyan, who live in Huai'an, Xu Ting is temporarily staying at his uncle's house in Qingshi, and the two sisters, Sun Yuanyuan and her brother, live in the city furthest from the group.
“It’s okay, you can just get into Qingdao University and then you’ll be able to reunite with Yan Songqi. Of course, that doesn’t include me, I’m going to Canada next year,” Xu Ting said.
Of the six, only Yan Songqi is a graduate this year; the other five are all about to enter their senior year of high school.
Sun Yuanyuan and Sun Yuanyuan sighed, "Whether we get in or not is a question." They then turned the conversation to Lu Er and Ruan Xiyan, "Which university do you want to apply to?"
Ruan Xiyan frankly said, "I want to go to the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University."
"Tsinghua University, and you're an art student. Little Ears, what about you?"
Lu Er's expression remained somewhat absent-minded after the rehearsal ended. Sun Yuanyuan shook her arm, bringing her back to her senses, her expression blank. Sun Yuanyuan then repeated the question.
"I haven't decided yet," Lu Er said.
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