CHAPTER 57: THE RED LISIANTHUS

Ding Wei leaned forward uncontrollably.

For some reason, the moment he saw Rong Xingyu leap off the platform something in his chest twisted painfully.

It was a strange and indescribable feeling.

He raised a hand to press against his heart, his face dazed and confused.

It wasn’t like the usual composed and confident Ding Wei at all. But since everyone else around him was reacting even more intensely, no one noticed his change.

After the play ended, the audience’s cries for an encore were so loud that Rong Xingyu and the cast had to return to the stage three separate times to bow.

When they finally went backstage, Zeng Youzhen and Yue Yeqiao threw their arms around each other and shouting excitedly, "We did it!"

The others also cheered and jumped with joy.

Rong Xingyu, however, sat quietly to one side and smiling as he shook his head.

He then stood up, planning to go to the dressing room to change his clothes.

He still hadn’t fully shaken off the emotions from the final scene, his mood wasn’t nearly as light as everyone else’s.

When Rong Xingyu walked up to his personal locker, he stopped in his tracks.

His eyes widened slightly and his mouth fell open without him realizing it.

Inside, there was a bouquet of bright red lisianthus.

The bouquet was big and beautifully wrapped.

Every single flower in the bouquet bloomed vividly and crowding together as if whispering secrets to each other.

Rong Xingyu couldn’t help but reach out and gently brush his fingers over the soft petals.

Then, he noticed something.

There’s a small handwritten card tucked among the flowers.

The handwriting was as gentle and restrained as its sender.

[ Congratulations on finishing your performance.

Welcome back to the land.

You will never be a little mermaid who loves but cannot have. ]

At the bottom, there was only a single signature — "Ding."

As Rong Xingyu ran his fingers across the card, the small bit of sadness he had been feeling earlier disappeared completely.

When had Dr. Rong placed the flowers here?

There were still tiny drops of dew clinging to the petals.

Rong Xingyu quickly changed out of his costume.

He hugged the bouquet tightly in his arms and quickly go outside.

Dr. Rong should be hadn’t gone too far.

After running for a short while, Rong Xingyu spotted him under a streetlight in the distance.

He stopped to catch his breat and calming the quick rhythm of his heartbeat before walking toward him.

But as he got closer, he realized there was someone else standing across from Dr. Rong and it was the principal of Qibao Dwith School.

The principal had been hidden behind Dr. Rong’s tall figure before, so Rong Xingyu hadn’t seen him at first.

The two men were talking, both of them were so focused that they didn’t notice Rong Xingyu approaching.

Then he heard the principal address Dr. Rong with deep respect as "Chairman Ding."

A question mark slowly formed in Rong Xingyu’s mind.

Chairman?

When did Dr. Rong become a chairman?

Wasn’t he just the school doctor?

Suddenly, something flashed across his mind. It was a sharp sting, like a needle piercing through his head.

"Ugh..."

He winced in pain.

He raised his hand to clutch his head.

The bouquet slipped from his arms and fell to the ground with a soft thud.

When Ding Yixin heard the noise, he turned around and saw Rong Xingyu crouched on the ground while clutching his head in pain.

"Yuyu!"

Ding Yixin’s expression instantly changed and he quickly run toward him.

He crouched down beside him and wrapped an arm around Rong Xingyu’s trembling body.

The sharp pain in Rong Xingyu’s head was so intense that tiny beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead.

In that brief, piercing moment, he felt like he had caught a glimpse of something he had overlooked before and it was a small but crucial detail.

But it was too vague, so it slipping away before he could grasp it.

Rong Xingyu leaning weakly against Ding Yixin’s chest and mumbled softly without he realized, "Chairman Ding?"

Ding Yixin froze slightly. He lifted his head and glanced at the school principal standing nearby.

The principal looked shocked for a moment, then he quickly caught on to the situation and wisely excused himself, leaving them alone.

Once the principal was gone, Ding Yixin lowered his head again. His voice was low and deep while carrying a quiet concern.

"Yuyu, are you feeling unwell? What did you just say?"

Strangely, the stabbing pain faded as suddenly as it came.

If it weren’t for the sweat still clinging to his forehead, Rong Xingyu might have wondered if he had imagined the whole thing.

Hearing Ding Yixin’s voice, he blinked his eyes in confusion. "N-no, I’m fine. Did I say something?"

When he finally came to his senses, he realized Ding Yixin had pulled him completely into his arms.

His face turned slightly red.

He supporting himself on Ding Yixin’s arm and trying to stood up. He then said softly, "My head just hurt for a moment, but it’s fine now."

Ding Yixin didn’t stand up right away. Instead, he picked up the fallen bouquet from the ground.

"Maybe you’ve been too tired from all the rehearsals lately," he said calmly.

The bright red lisianthus flowers were still fresh and untouched by the fall.

Ding Yixin adjusted the wrapping carefully, then handed the bouquet back to him.

A faint smile curved on his lips. "I haven’t congratulated you in person yet. Your performance was wonderful."

Rong Xingyu’s ears turned pink. While holding the flowers close, he murmured, "Thank you, Dr. Ding."

"I was planning to take you out for a meal to celebrate," Ding Yixin continued gently. "But if you’re not feeling well, we’ll save that for next time. Make sure you get some rest."

"N-no need for a meal," Rong Xingyu said quickly while hugging the bouquet tighter.

It was the first time he had ever received flowers and he couldn’t help but adore them.