Break time wasn't loud.
Just small groups talking.
XinYue was still holding her script, going over her lines again.
Zhao Xia, on the other hand, was bored in exactly five minutes.
"I don't understand how you can read the same thing again and again," she said.
"It's called practice."
"It's called torture."
XinYue ignored her.
Zhao Xia leaned back in her chair, eyes wandering around the room—
And stopped.
"…Why is he looking here?"
XinYue didn't even need to ask who.
"Probably not you," she said calmly.
"Wow," Zhao Xia looked at her. "Supportive friend."
XinYue finally glanced up.
Lu Shiye.
But—
He wasn't looking at her.
His gaze shifted away the moment Zhao Xia noticed.
Like it didn't matter.
Like it was nothing.
"…See?" XinYue said.
Zhao Xia narrowed her eyes slightly. "That was not nothing."
---
"Back to practice," the teacher called.
This time, they were divided into smaller groups.
"Pair up and rehearse your scenes."
XinYue picked up her script.
Automatically, she looked toward Lu Shiye—
But he was already walking in another direction.
Not toward her.
Toward—
"Zhao Xia," he said.
Zhao Xia blinked. "Me?"
"You're free, right?"
She looked around.
She was.
"…Yeah."
"Help me with timing," he said. "Teacher said my pauses are off."
That was clearly not true.
XinYue knew it.
Zhao Xia knew it too.
"You're asking me?" Zhao Xia said. "I'm not even the lead."
"Doesn't matter."
Simple.
Direct.
Like he already decided.
Zhao Xia stood up slowly. "Fine. Don't blame me if I ruin your 'perfect acting.'"
He gave a small shrug. "We'll see."
---
XinYue watched them for a second.
Then looked back at her script.
"…Of course," she muttered.
Not annoyed.
Just… noticing.
---
"Start," Zhao Xia said, crossing her arms like a strict judge.
Lu Shiye didn't argue.
He started his lines.
Same confidence.
Same control.
Zhao Xia listened carefully this time.
Then—
"Stop."
He did.
"You're too smooth," she said.
He raised an eyebrow slightly. "That's a problem?"
"Yes," she said. "No one talks like that in real life."
He looked at her for a second.
Like he was actually thinking about it.
"…So?"
"Break it," Zhao Xia said. "Pause randomly. Make it messy."
"That'll sound worse."
"It'll sound real."
A pause.
Then—
"…Okay."
He tried again.
This time—
Less perfect.
More human.
Zhao Xia tilted her head slightly.
"…Better."
He noticed that.
A small, almost invisible smile appeared.
"You're strict," he said.
"You asked for help."
"Did I?"
"Yes."
"…Right."
---
Across the room—
XinYue was definitely not reading her script anymore.
She glanced up again.
Zhao Xia was talking.
Lu Shiye was listening.
Actually listening.
Not like before.
Not like he does with everyone.
Something about it felt…
Different.
---
"Your turn," Lu Shiye said suddenly.
Zhao Xia frowned. "What?"
"Act."
"I'm not in this scene."
"Still."
Zhao Xia rolled her eyes. "Fine. Don't laugh."
"I won't."
"Promise?"
"No."
"…Wow."
But she still did it.
She took the script.
Started reading.
At first—casual.
Half-serious.
Then—
She got into it.
Her expressions changed.
Her tone shifted naturally.
No overacting.
No trying too hard.
Just… real.
When she finished—
It was quiet for a second.
"…You're better than half the people here," Lu Shiye said.
Straight.
No exaggeration.
Zhao Xia blinked. "You're lying."
"I'm not."
"…You sound serious."
"I am."
She looked away slightly.
"Don't say that loudly," she muttered. "People will expect things."
He didn't reply.
But he noticed that too.
---
From the side—
XinYue smiled a little.
"…This is going to get interesting," she whispered.
---
After practice—
Zhao Xia picked up her bag.
"Done. I'm tired."
"You did nothing," XinYue said.
"I did emotional labor."
"That's not a thing here."
"It is now."
They started walking out—
"Zhao Xia."
She turned.
Lu Shiye.
Again.
"…Yeah?"
"You're coming tomorrow?"
She frowned. "It's practice. Of course."
He nodded once.
"Good."
That was it.
No extra words.
But it didn't feel normal.
---
As they walked away—
Zhao Xia leaned closer to XinYue.
"…Okay, now I'm confused."
"Why?"
"He's weird."
XinYue smirked slightly. "You're just noticing?"
"No," Zhao Xia said. "He's specifically weird with me."
XinYue didn't reply immediately.
Then—
"Yeah," she said. "I noticed."