"Stop right there!"
A gorgeous girl bolted forward, practically dragging Wu Xinxi behind her as they chased after Mo Lü. Her voice echoed through the hallway.
Mo Lü finally turned, annoyance written all over his face. Great. The girl who had interrupted his singing just now.
What did she want now?
She pushed Wu Xinxi in front of him like she was presenting evidence in court.
"You owe her an apology!"
Mo Lü blinked at the trembling girl. "Who is she again?"
The pretty girl nearly combusted.
"She's my friend! The one who confessed to you, got rejected, made cookies for you—WHICH YOU THREW AWAY—and you even insulted her! Her name is Wu! Xin! Xi!"
"I don't care what her name is."
He shrugged and turned to leave, as if the whole thing bored him.
The girl was pissed off. Hearing "I don't care" directly from him hit harder than any rejection message could.
She stormed after him. "Hey! If you're not interested, just say so! Why act like such a jerk? Ever heard of basic human decency?"
Mo Lü stopped, clearly done with them. He walked back and halted right in front of Wu Xinxi.
"Uh… Wu Something, right? Look, girls confess to me every day. If they all lined up, the line would reach the Eiffel Tower. So don't overthink it."
He patted her shoulder gently, as if consoling a toddler.
Then—because apparently he wasn't done—he added,
"You like baking, right? Open a bakery. I'll shoot your promo video. I'll even give you ten percent off. See? I'm thoughtful."
His voice dipped into a teasing tone, and he even winked.
Wu Xinxi's soul nearly left her body.
But her friend looked ready to swing a chair at him.
"You still need to apologize!"
Mo Lü smirked.
"I never apologize. But… if you insist, I'll make an exception. Only if you two win first place in today's singing contest."
"WHAT."
Wu Xinxi tugged at her friend, trying to flee.
"Fine! We accept!" her friend snapped.
And just like that, the trap closed.
Mo Lü personally escorted them to the student council office, acting like a VIP staff member.
"Please fill out this registration form," he said sweetly, already picturing their humiliation on stage. It made him positively cheerful.
"Name?" he asked.
"Wu… Xin—"
"Not you." He looked at the other girl.
"Zeng Shunxi," she said.
He wrote her name slowly, unexpectedly captivated.
What a poetic name.
And shockingly—he remembered it.
_____________________________________
The Competition
Talent after talent filled the stage. The applause was endless. This school was full of monsters—musically gifted monsters.
Finally, Mo Lü walked onto the stage as host.
"Thank you, contestants, for the incredible performances. And now… welcome our last-minute entry—please clap loudly for… the PANCAKE & FRIED DOUGH STICK duo!"
The crowd erupted in confused gasps and laughter.
Mo Lü stepped offstage, satisfied, throwing a wicked look at Wu Xinxi and Zeng Shunxi. The name he gave them?
Perfect. One thin, one chubby, Pancake and Fried Dough Stick—it was comedy gold. He could barely keep a straight face.
______________________________________
The Disaster Performance
"If our meeting was just an accident…"
"I never knew what true love was…"
They started off wrong. Immediately wrong.
Different lyrics. Different timing. Total carnage.
Mortified, Zeng Shunxi signaled Wu Xinxi to dance to salvage the moment.
Wu Xinxi misunderstood completely.
When they moved, their butts collided with a loud thump.
The audience LOST IT.
Trying to save it, Zeng Shunxi twirled—
Her short white tutu flew up.
Wu Xinxi panicked and rushed over, blocking her like a human shield.
Pancake wrapping Fried Dough Stick.
Iconic. Horrifying. Unforgettable.
What should've been a cute love duet turned into a full clown show.
Mo Lü was dying of laughter. Literally wheezing.
But then… something shifted.
Her embarrassed, off-key voice…
Her blushing face as she tried—really tried—to keep going…
Her soft, awkward charm…
Something about Zeng Shunxi hit him out of nowhere.
He suddenly stopped laughing.
And for the first time…
The lyrics they were butchering sounded strangely sincere.
"I never knew what love really was,
until you cleared the clouds like a breeze…
bringing back my hope.
Because some people…
can never be replaced."