The games remained ongoing. Someone became the next host and got a song as a punishment. All of the present students cheered and clapped with infectious excitement. Never thought that they would be able to watch such a talented fellow face to face.
For a moment, the entire hall suddenly burst into a loud phrase of her name. "Ye Xianru! Ye Xianru! Ye Xianru!"
Just like that, the whole place brightened up in joy and passion. After a while passed by, when the crowd already eased down a bit, Ye Xianru once again shocked everyone when she, as fast as possible, announced.
"The wind blows for everyone who'd sing earlier!"
In an instant, the whole place panicked, like some sort of exorcism was being held there. The hysterical and frantic shout filled the atmosphere and all those people there seemed somewhat lost their way the masses in those circles. Whether the boys or the girls, all were not exceptional. Whereas, in the midst of those don't-care-anymore situations, the fear of losing slippers, losing their sleeping eyemask or any other more were no longer in sight.
There's no doubt that everyone has gone mad for the games.
The other person waited, waited and waited with a laugh like some sort of a female ghost, a high-pitched voice overwhelming any other shout, or even higher maybe.
In the end, it didn't take long for everyone to finally get their own seat, except for none other than Li Shuina herself. When everyone already had their own seat, she was still in the circle, looking a bit clumsy and a bit blurry. The punishment hadn't been set and she was supposed to comply and yet, she stood there with her eyes sweeping around the area. That is, when she realized she was the end game.
Surprisingly, a flicker of an idea crossed her mind when her line of sight stopped at something.
She lifted her hands higher than she was. A series of smiles play across her features, immediately sending an ominous sign towards Shu MengMeng, which her eyes catch on.
"Host. Can I suggest something?"
This is getting bad. Shu MengMeng could distinctly sense what Li Shuina was trying to do.
"Oh?". Ye Xianru immediately looked at Li Shuina with a light smirk. "Then..what could it be?", her face filled with anticipation.
"I'm not sure if I could bring two more over."
Shu MengMeng suddenly froze. 'Two. Where would she get two?'
The host, as excited as she was, gave her instant approval without beating around the bush. And just like that, Shu MengMeng was sent to her side, and unexpectedly, Mu Gu was included in the group. Originally, Shu MengMeng had no intention of taking part but with someone present, she couldn't refuse — to see what may come next.
Presented with such unpredicted freakish moments, Jun Yi, his friend and the boys were thoroughly entertained. Grinning from ear to ear, they seemed to be eagerly awaiting for something even more thrilling to unfold. Well, funny enough, after all the tumult, they still ended up in their row of seats with the group.
On the other hand, Ye Xianru was utterly amused. One is a school belles, one is presented with the title of 'Most talented students in girl dormitory', whilst the other one is merely a library on-duty students, almost transparent.
Spirit blazing in fire. Her eyes were almost bursting into tears accompanied by a tingling feeling on her stomach. Ye Xianru demanded for the punishment, "Now, what would it be? Can I hear your thoughts!"
Buzzing with excitement, the crowd cheered, ultimately Jun Yi's friend, "They should dance with a silly pose!"
The three of them stood still, fired up eyes attacking each other as if blaming. They tried to hide awkwardness when the loud cheer silently puts anxiety inside. But still, after all they had no spare reason to refuse and must go through it.
At the moment, a song boomed out from the speaker behind.
With the penalty begun, everyone was entertained by such silly moves. No one would have foreseen, despite how good their names are in the story of others, they could finally witness something that's truly worth the day. Shu MengMeng and Li Shuina may appear to yield to each other but their competitive spirit was actually on fire. Worst is — it actually, for the second time of them leaving Mu Gu as good as driven off the stage.
Amidst, Mu Gu was supposedly focusing on the moves but as she did it, as she lifted her head forward, glancing over the crowd, her gaze met him — Jun Yi. His flickering eyes at a time would dart to hers and the crowd. His broad smile as clear as sunlight, and the curved of his eyes as soft as the moonlight. His amused gesture was so openly visible, causing unrestrained throb. And like sunlight, the others were desaturated by him solely.
Mu Gu was completely being held captive by it.
****
At long last, the night pressed on with only one game. The crowd, after all, didn't agree to change to the next games, thus, be it may. A total of ten people were punished, and soon, given a hidden task. They may execute when the time comes.
Everyone already dismissed and was ready to go home. The same occured to her.
With the bag clung onto her, she moved it to her chest, making it easier to get something. It's the first time she had no spare clothes left. It seems like she can only make do with it. Her fingers motioned the zip open and reach a mask and a hat. Before she reach the parking lot, she wore it, covering her face.
As the night thickened, Mu Gu was alone when it's time to go home. Naturally, she took the most frequently used path to stay safe until she arrived at the library. She wheeled her bicycle to stay on the safe side of the road rules while enjoying the night as she went. At this time, her body was already drooping from the large scale of energy used as it's been a long time since she'd done anything challenging.
****
Again, a night had passed.
She woke up buried under stacks of books, not remembering what she did yesterday after arriving at her place.
As usual, she tidied up her bedding, showered, and went to school early, so she could catch a few more minutes of sleep.
It was almost the start of study time.
Mu Gu opened her eyes, wishing that today would finally be quieter — and it might appear so. Mu Gu's features softened and her breath became lighter as well. 'Finally! Finally!', a series of expressions flashed up all over her face as it couldn't be contained anymore. She was truly, and fully happy about it.
Nothing will disturb her anymore.
She stretched her head up and down, then either side of her body to the left and right. However, just when her eyes followed the movement of her head to the right side, she was startled. Jolt overcame her first before a faint gasp escaped her soul.
"Y..yo..you..you..?", Mu Gu stuttered. Initially, she'd wanted to say his name but couldn't bring it to mind as it was in a mess.
"Mmm?", a teasing tone murmured low. Head leaned to one side, facing her with both hands laid on the desk. "Jiějie, good morning. How are you today?"
'No way' she thought. Lips tightly sealed in thin lines before her eyes fluttered, mostly because Jun Yi was there without any notice. It was her class.
Jun Yi grinned, barely holding back laughter. "You want to know?"
"About what?". Mu Gu swiveled her head to the front. If she's going to watch him any longer, she might end up vomiting blood.
Jun Yi laid his head on the table, reading her expression. "Mmm…", he think for a while, then muttered again, "About why dìdi ( younger brother ) is here?"
Mu Gu cleared her throat. She asked, "Why?"
He waited for a while as if waiting for her curiosity to increase. In a quite unpredictable time, he suddenly taunted. "I won't tell you", his lips curved in a brief, teasing smirk.
Mu Gu looked at him, flushed. Her lips drew apart slightly, wanting to say something, but no.
She was rendered silent until there came a knock on the door. Both Mu Gu and Jun Yi's attention shifted towards the sound.
"Jun Yi's here?".
Another tall man in his sportswear paused at the doorway. Hair disheveled in sweat and muscles stood out, apparently the evidence of his earlier training. His vision roved over the room, and his face was deadly serious until it stopped at Jun Yi.
His complexion finally relaxed after he sees him.
"Jun Yi! You're here!", a broad smile immediately concealed his frightening mien.
"Hey, your friend is here", Mu Gu tried reaching her hands to Jun Yi only to realized that he long had distanced himself from her before his friend could notice. How swift he was that Mu Gu still hadn't reacted a bit since earlier. It truly made her froze for a whole seconds.
Well, it doesn't matter.
Mu Gu opened her bag, rummaging the inside and fished a pen and a sketch books out. She put it on top of the desk afterwards, ready for something.
"Lil Mu Gu! Good morning!", Shu MengMeng as bright as always, despite for the other day.
"Good Morning!"
A loud bang on the table shocked her. Mu Gu stopped the stuff she was doing and turned her head to the left side. Rather than being assured, Mu Gu was silently fearing the meaning of Li Shuina's sneer. In fact, Li Shuina was merely fed up by Shu MengMeng's antics but her burning competitive spirit just won't let her being crushed in defeat.
Mu Gu took a deep breath. "Can — "
She hadn't even finished her words when Li Shuina cut it off with hers. Her finger sharply pointed, "Shu MengMeng! Why were you here?"
Shu MengMeng snorted, it was either meant as disdain or was simply hilarious, both were acceptable. "Why? Mu Gu is just my Little Mu Gu", and her words firmed up, "Who are you?"
"You got no idea?", Li Shuina jeered at her. Slowly, she bent down her body closer to Mu Gu's shoulder. His palm tenderly clutched on it and the sight truly was performing a sweet sisterly bond between them. "Of course, Little Mu Gu….is my sworn sister. Am I right?", Li Shuina whispered through Mu Gu's ear. Though it was sent out in a soft, harmless tone, its meaning was far more than that. It was hinting at a compromise.
'This two!', Mu Gu bit her lips, trying not to snap.
Anger leads to losing calm and is the root of endless problems, thus it can't be preserved or ones would lost their soul amidst.
Yes. Mu Gu definitely can swallow everything back, as long as it doesn't cross the line.
To stop them, Mu Gu forced a smile as she wore the mask of civility, "Two sister. Can we just sit and talk nicely?"
Li Shuina's eyes fluttered. "Mu Gu. What do you mean? Doesn't we being good here? Look. No fight, no commotion, just peace", and made a peace sign.
"Yeah. It's true", Shu MengMeng proved the point.
"Is that so? Then it's good", Mu Gu managed to stop the flow of conversation with a polite, stiff laugh. In truth, it really doesn't appear so, but since they've already refrained from further moves, she decided to just resign in peace and keep her mouth shut as to not stir more troubles.
"Wait."
Mu Gu's eyes flared open. Something was about to flash across her mind. Shu MengMeng asked why but Mu Gu simply uttered the same word twice.
Mu Gu's body froze for a moment as she stood up.
Both Li Shuina and Shu MengMeng assessed her if something might have happened to her that they didn't see. For example, a statue's spirit entered her.
"What do you call me again?", finally she opened her mouth, questioning them.
Heavy air hangs around for a little while.
"Were you angry?", Li Shuina muttered low and a bit hesitant.
Shu MengMeng on the other side suddenly grabbed Li Shuina's hair and pulled her head closer. She whispered to her, barely audible but strong. "Can't you sense something was changing?"
Li Shuina yelped in restraint and instantly grabbed her hair back in equal force. Since Shu MengMeng had set into this action, she is determined not to lose, either the action or the next words spoken."But her voice doesn't seem so? Can't you hear how soft, how mellow, how graceful her voice is?"
"Do you think someone who's born with that face could be angry?", Shu MengMeng tightened her grip.
Li Shuina exerted more force and retorted low. "Of course! You and I can get mad, so why don't she?"
Shu MengMeng applied greater strength. Her words uttered in each character. Her face got closer to Li Shuina's breath. "Then, is she angry - or - not?"
Li Shuina put her hands down. "You had a point", folded her hand to chest and grumbled again, "But I'm not going to agree with you, I'm just compromising with Mu Gu's feelings."
"Yeah, sure, do whatever", Shu MengMeng rolled her eyes, whether she was annoyed or simply gave in.
Li Shuina and Shu MengMeng looked at each other and then turned to Mu Gu again. After seeing her bewildered did they finally came to realise that Mu Gu absolutely had no idea about it. Before their whole being was the truth uncovered. Their instinct suddenly worked better and they began cowering, trying to flee.
As if suffering a heart condition, Mu Gu fell to her chair, barely breathing. "How do you know?"
Their steps paused."What?", both answered.
Mu Gu's tone, low and dispirited, "I mean, how do you know this name? Where did you learn about it?"
At the crucial moment, Li shuina suddenly enlightened. This isn't herself, who will just run away from anything. She actively straightened her shrinking body and stood her ground." You..You just had realized!", Li Shuina pointed at Mu Gu and took a wary bounce backward. "Actually, your name has been spoken a thousand more times already. It's widely known throughout the entire school!"
Mu Gu looked at the ceiling as if envisioning the future for her current circumstances. For the briefest moment, she actually recalled something — someone's reaction towards her name. She wondered if everyone that knows had the same impression as him.
"Tch. Such twisted personality", Shu MengMeng sized her up with a judging look.
Li Shuina got that. Shu MengMeng did it on purpose. She knew that Li Shuina wanted to get closer to Mu Gu so that she would get a hold on Shu MengMeng's weaknesses, but who would know that Shu MengMeng was merely using Li Shuina's plan to provoke her. In this way, the main focus would be on Mu Gu and less on her, yet it happened the other way around. The focus was still glued to her but in such a twisted way.
Honestly, there's another reason as well. The key was on Mu Gu herself. During their relentless pestering, Mu Gu was almost all calm, neither taking action nor complaining. It truly was admirable and that makes both of them catch their eye on her. You say, between Li Shuina, and Shu MengMeng, who would she rather choose?
"Fine! I give up!", Li Shuina declared. "I don't want to be in this game anymore!", and walked away. She didn't want Mu Gu to choose anymore, saving her from more trouble.
"Suit yourself. As long as you don't bug me anymore", Shu MengMeng could finally breathe upon receiving Li Shuina's claim. Then, she made her way closer again to Mu Gu. Her palm pressed on the chair and her head facing down towards her, "Thank you for receiving the 'gift'. And this 'another gift', I'm quite happy to take. If there's another one, I'll come to you again."
Shu MengMeng's last gaze was quite unpredictable — in an unsettling way, as if this was not the end yet.
Mu Gu sighed — and another sigh rose again. " Turns out, I am but a pawn in their game."
'But!', Mu Gu's iris widened in a flash, "Doesn't that also mean that...that I finally found peace again?!'