Chapter 50: Ling Wu Plays Guanyin

By the end of July, every class had begun to set about preparing for the Art Association performance.

Ling Wu was in the piano room of the art gallery practicing the "Moonlight Sonata."

The stage play for the Art Association was participated in and completed by the Special Student of each class; this year's theme seemed to be about "mythical legends," which was, in any case, very meaningful.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

The door to the piano room was knocked upon.

Ling Wu stopped the hand pressing the keys: "Please come in."

The door was pushed open. Standing outside the piano room was a girl who looked very shy, wearing her hair in a neat high ponytail, a black school badge pinned to her school uniform jacket, nervously twisting her fingers.

A Special Student.

Ling Wu recognized her; she was classmate Yang Wanyue, the person in charge of the stage play performance next door.

"Come in first." Ling Wu fetched a cup of water and handed it to her: "Don't be nervous."

Yang Wanyue took the water: "Thank you."

Ling Wu nodded: "Classmate, what is the matter?"

"It's just... it's just." Yang Wanyue felt uneasy in her heart, took a breath, and finished speaking sincerely and quickly in one go: "Classmate Ling Wu, our stage play performance has run into a temporary problem. A classmate accidentally fell down the stairs and was hospitalized. Today is our last rehearsal, and we've looked all around but no one is willing to help us."

"I heard piano music in this piano room, so I came to knock and ask. If it's convenient for you, could you fill in for us? The part is very small, just standing there acting as a mascot, with only two lines of dialogue."

Ling Wu frowned slightly, not rushing to reply.

Yang Wanyue often browsed the forum and had seen people call Ling Wu easygoing and kind-hearted, so she immediately pressed her palms together: "Please help... I beg you, classmate Ling Wu."

A stage play performance was not a big deal, anyway.

Ling Wu nodded: "Alright, lead the way."

Yang Wanyue was so happy she was about to cry: "Thank you! Thank you, classmate Ling Wu, you are such a good person, not at all like those cold and heartless nobles."

Ling Wu closed the piano room door, lowered his eyelids, his voice like a low murmur: "Not like them?"

Yet I have the same dirty blood flowing in my veins as they do.

"Of course not!" Yang Wanyue patted her chest: "I've never seen anyone as approachable as you."

Ding!

Good Person Card +1

Ling Wu smiled at this without a word, then changed the subject: "What is the role that has been vacated?"

Yang Wanyue: "Guanyin Pusa."

Soon, they arrived at the rehearsal site for the stage play.

Qi Yu was dressed in moon-white robes trailing on the ground, wearing a lotus flower crown on his head, his hair tied in a high, ribbon-like ponytail, holding a three-foot-long sword that looked like glazed glass; he was truly bright and clear as the breeze and the moon.

Ling Wu: "Your costumes and props are quite good."

Yang Wanyue waved her hand: "They are all provided by the Academy. These performance facilities are the top-tier ones of the Empire. This year's myth theme was designated, so we cannot afford even the slightest mistake."

Ling Wu: "Designated?"

"Mm." Yang Wanyue covered her lips with her hand: "The Academy invited several shareholders from the Four Great Families to this year's Art Association. It is said that the theme of the stage play was designated by Young Master Yin's uncle."

"He believes in Buddhism and is very interested in myths and legends."

Yin Huaiyu only had one uncle, a man in his early 40s named Yin Cilan.

Yang Wanyue kept talking to herself, not noticing the terrifyingly cold expression on Ling Wu's face beside her, like solid ice frozen in the depths of winter.

"Classmate Ling Wu..."

"What's wrong with you?"

Ling Wu came back to his senses, his complexion somewhat poor: "It's nothing."

Qi Yu over there had clearly also seen him arrive and ran over in a few steps, the jade pendant at his waist jingling: "Ling Wu, why are you here?"

"I was originally practicing piano in the piano room over there." Ling Wu pointed in a direction: "Then, at the invitation of your person in charge, I came over to help you fill in for a role."

Yang Wanyue was in a hurry: "We still haven't finished with the costumes and makeup. Let's chat later; I need to take classmate Ling Wu to the dressing room."

Qi Yu nodded: "Alright."

On the other side of the art gallery, Yin Huaiyu had flamboyant pink hair, wore a well-tailored high-end suit, and sported a matching gemstone tie clip; with broad shoulders and long legs, he had a natural sense of nobility.

The man beside him was also in a well-fitting suit, the light gray waistcoat hugging his waistline perfectly. With one hand tucked into his suit pocket, the fabric showed not a single wrinkle. His thin lips were pressed tightly beneath a high, straight bridge of the nose; he possessed an extraordinary temperament and was much more steady than Yin Huaiyu beside him.

Yin Huaiyu: "Uncle, the stage play you specifically asked to see is right ahead."

Yin Cilan nodded: "Let's go over and take a look."

Just as they arrived at the stage play rehearsal area, Ling Wu had already left with Yang Wanyue, and the two parties did not cross paths.

In the dressing room.

Ling Wu had already changed into his costume, wearing a plain white Dunhuang-style outfit. The hem of the garment had faintly flowing golden light, sacred and solemn. On his arms, exposed on both sides, were Silver Lotus Bracelets. He wore a celestial crown and a white silk shawl, making him look androgynous and compassionate toward all living beings, as if he had flown right out of a mural.

Yang Wanyue clapped: "This look is simply stunning! Classmate Ling Wu, with you in this year's stage play, we don't have to worry about a lack of audience!"

"And the makeup."

"You are good-looking and your skin is delicate, so you basically don't need much makeup. We'll just dot the cinnabar on your forehead and apply lipstick."

Ling Wu sat in the chair, and the cinnabar on his forehead was quickly applied.

Yang Wanyue sighed: "A beauty that startles the heavens."

A voice came from outside: "Person in charge, come over here and take a look at this..."

Yang Wanyue shouted toward the outside: "Coming! Coming!"

She handed the lipstick in her hand to Ling Wu and instructed: "Classmate Ling Wu, once you've applied this lipstick, just come straight to the rehearsal area. There's an urgent matter over there looking for me, so I'll head over first."

Ling Wu: "Go ahead and get busy."

Soon, only Ling Wu was left in the dressing room.

He picked up the lipstick on the table, removed the cap, used his fingertip to smear a bit off, and prepared to apply it to his lips.

"That is not how you apply lipstick."

A young man's low, sexy voice came from behind.

Ling Wu still had lipstick on his hand; he glanced back and met Jing Du's gaze, the other man's falling eyes carrying a flash of amazement that quickly vanished without a trace, returning to normal.

Jing Du reached out a hand: "Give the lipstick to me."

Seeing Ling Wu did not move, he braced one hand on the chair Ling Wu was sitting in and leaned toward the tabletop, almost trapping the person entirely within his embrace, the scent of faint cold fragrance and cosmetic powder at the tip of his nose.

After Jing Du got the lipstick, he reminded him: "Look up."

Ling Wu did not move: "Young Master Jing, I can do it myself."

"You?" Jing Du sneered coldly: "By continuing to use your fingers?"

Ling Wu was noncommittal, his voice cold and clear: "Is that not allowed?"

Jing Du opened his hand to hook his thumb and forefinger around Ling Wu's chin, pinching the youth's white porcelain-like cheeks and forcing him to lift his head as if for a sacrifice; Ling Wu's eyelashes hung low, the cinnabar mark between his brows vivid, a picture of pure and peerless beauty.

Like a deity defiled by a believer.

Watching this, wicked thoughts rose in Jing Du's heart several times over.

He could not help but want to get closer to Ling Wu, closer, and closer still...

Jing Du pressed his thumb against Ling Wu's lips, rubbing back and forth with force, having a grand time, only finally placing the lipstick at Ling Wu's lips: "I never said it wasn't allowed."