No One Else Will Do But You - Chapter 29

The Rehearsal

The script was an inspirational version of the Snow White story, adapted by Huang Wen Yu and several literature-loving girls in the class.

Shu Luo looked at them helplessly. Weren’t they making things difficult for him? Why did every performance, no matter the type, seem to revolve around Snow White?

“Class Leader, I’ve already arranged the costumes. My aunt happens to be coming to watch our class perform that day, and she’s a makeup artist. She’ll bring all her tools to transform you into a true princess.”

Shu Luo looked distressed: “I… I don’t want to be a princess, and I don’t need such elaborate makeup. Just something simple is fine.”

“If the makeup is good, maybe no one will recognize you. Makeup can completely change a person, you know.”

I feel like… there’s a trap.

In the end, he gave in.

For the past few days of rehearsal, he had been keeping a low profile, publicly acting as the Chief Rehearsal Director. In reality, he was “Snow White.”

Since he was a boy and quite tall, they found seven small, petite girls in the class to play the Seven Dwarfs, and Huang Wen Yu took the role of the Queen. They also found a boy to play the Magic Mirror. Now, they just needed a Prince.

Following the standard plot progression, the author would likely have to call in Jiang Mu.

And so, it truly was Jiang Mu. They were going to use every piece of melodrama they could.

In the original story, the Prince had a minimal role, appearing only at the end. In this adapted version, the Prince was an action-oriented character who appeared earlier. He not only kissed the princess awake but also defeated the Evil Queen, turning it into an inspirational story about fighting a “cult.”

Who even uses a Magic Mirror these days? Isn’t that what you call a cult? Can a mere Magic Mirror randomly determine a person’s beauty?

So, this would be a realistic version of Snow White, not just a simple love story.

When they asked Jiang Mu to play the Prince, he frowned. But when Huang Wen Yu told him that Shu Luo was the female lead, he suddenly became very interested.

“What’s wrong? Getting ready to laugh at me?” Shu Luo narrowed his eyes dangerously, as if any wrong word from Jiang Mu would lead to his immediate demise.

Jiang Mu smiled faintly at Shu Luo: “No, I’m very interested. If Luo Luo is Snow White, that means you’ll be wearing a dress, right?”

“…” Is watching a boy wear a dress something to be so happy about?

Shu Luo stalked ahead a few steps in annoyance. Jiang Mu was clearly planning to make fun of him.

Jiang Mu took a long stride forward, grabbed his arm, and said: “No, I didn’t mean it that way. I just think it will be a lot of fun. High school should have some memorable, unforgettable moments, shouldn’t it?”

Hearing his tone, Shu Luo felt he wasn’t genuinely mocking him, which allowed him to relax. Otherwise, he would have felt completely miserable.

“Brother, don’t you think it’s weird for a boy to wear a dress?”

“It’s not like you have a fetish for it. But even if you did, I wouldn’t mind.”

Shu Luo glared at him: “I don’t!”

“I was just joking,” Jiang Mu’s smile deepened, and his gaze was gentle.

From a distance, Huang Wen Yu looked at the scene with envy: “This Snow White and the Prince are truly a perfect match… a match made in heaven…”

The Last Seven Days

There were only seven days left until New Year’s Day.

They had to intensify rehearsals, squeezing time from breaks between classes, P.E. class, lunch breaks, after-school hours, and the last evening study session.

“Later, Magic Mirror, when you answer my question, you have to be overly dramatic. You need to look like a cult leader the moment people see you.”

“…” Shu Luo was speechless. How does a cult leader talk? How do they speak?

The boy playing the role, Huang Zi Hui, was also distressed. A cult leader’s vibe? How does a cult leader speak? I heard cult leaders speak with great wisdom, don’t they?

Seeing Huang Zi Hui’s confused expression, Huang Wen Yu was beside himself with frustration.

“You need to be dramatic when you talk to me, like you’re trying to brainwash me. Even though I’m clearly ugly, you have to tell me I’m the most beautiful and make me believe it!”

“…” That’s too hard.

Huang Zi Hui was now utterly stunned. How did he end up with such a demanding role? He thought he could get by just on his looks.

Seeing his blank expression, Huang Wen Yu decided to put on a dramatic demonstration himself.

His expression was perfect and sufficiently dramatic—he looked like a pyramid scheme recruiter, brainwashing you, telling you you’re the most beautiful, making you feel euphoric, and ultimately making you believe it.

Shu Luo tried to hold back his laughter, careful not to be too obvious. He stood behind Jiang Mu, the hand clutching his clothes hem trembling from stifled amusement.

Jiang Mu remained utterly calm.

“Snow White, don’t you laugh! You’re up next,” Huang Wen Yu gave him a serious look.

Shu Luo immediately stopped smiling. The thought of being Snow White made him unable to laugh. The thought of the costume made him feel like crying.

“Are the costumes ready?” Jiang Mu asked softly.

“Mhm… but I really don’t want to wear it.”

Everyone knew the classic Snow White costume, but this Snow White would be a tall princess.

Jiang Mu’s lips curved upward. He leaned into Shu Luo’s ear and whispered: “I’m looking forward to it.”

Shu Luo glared at him with exasperation: “You’re a traitor.”

Huang Wen Yu saw the two whispering and immediately walked up to them: “No more secret talks! We haven’t finished going through the lines yet.”

Shu Luo gave an awkward laugh and quickly went back to review his lines.

Actually, in this story, the Narrator had the most lines.

Jiang Mu essentially took on two roles. In the first half, when he wasn’t on stage, he was the Narrator. In the second half, he stopped narrating and provided action to enrich the scene.

The school had only given them ten minutes, so they had to cut out all unnecessary scenes and parts of the story that everyone already knew.

Time was running out.

From the moment school let out in the afternoon, they were reluctant to even go eat dinner, focusing on quickly finishing the lines so they could each go back and memorize their parts.

“The teacher worked hard to get us ten minutes, so we have to put on a great performance! Our class is aiming for a comeback!”

As the sun set, Huang Wen Yu remained full of energy, his smile in the setting sun looking vibrant and vigorous.

Everyone seemed infected by his spirit, and the dozen or so people shouted “Go for it!” together.

“Alright, everyone hurry back to shower and eat. We’ll practice again during the last evening session,” Shu Luo said, stretching, and sending everyone off.

An Important Question

After everyone left, Shu Luo walked along lazily, a stark contrast to Jiang Mu beside him, who seemed perfectly composed.

The campus was much quieter after six o’clock. Everyone was busy eating or showering, except for a few athletes still training on the track and a small number of students who liked to exercise. Other areas were sparsely populated.

“Brother, do you think I’m doing a good job as class leader?” Shu Luo turned his head and asked.

Jiang Mu was surprised by the question. He hadn’t expected him to ask it.

“Yes, I think you’re doing very well.”

Shu Luo wasn’t satisfied with that answer: “Then do you think I am good?”

“Yes, you are.”

“…” Boring. That answer lacked any finesse.

Jiang Mu saw Shu Luo’s skeptical expression and said seriously: “Truly. Don’t you believe me?”

Shu Luo shrugged: “Brother, stop it. This is different from your usual promises. I’m asking you about my performance. You know me; I never used to like thinking deeply about issues. I feel like, well, I feel like I’m growing, but I’m also afraid I’m not doing a good job. So I need someone to evaluate me, to tell me what kind of class leader I am in your eyes, and how I’m doing.”

This speech genuinely surprised Jiang Mu. Indeed, watching someone grow up felt like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon—dazzling and a little shocking.

“You’re doing great, truly. You’ve slowly become responsible, no longer a willful child. You’ve shed your restlessness and slowly become calm. While your liveliness is still your nature, you now know how to distinguish the occasion. When you stand on the podium, you sometimes make it hard for me to look away—you have a natural brilliance. So, you really don’t need to care about anyone else’s opinion or any rumors. As long as you believe what you are doing is right, do it firmly.”

For as long as he had known Jiang Mu, he had always been like a guiding light for him, constantly leading him to grow and helping him understand the world. They truly played a role for each other, whether big or small. This feeling was genuinely different from the one he shared with Zhang Feiyang.

“Brother, will we always be like this?”

“Of course. Why? You don’t want to be?”

Shu Luo shook his head: “I suddenly feel a little afraid of the fear of loss. I suddenly realize how important you are.”

“From the first time I walked into your house, walked into your vision, I never planned to leave.”

Looking into Jiang Mu’s eyes, Shu Luo suddenly felt that phrase was incredibly heartwarming.

Shu Luo smiled happily, looked at the sunset, and said nothing more, placing his hands behind his back and walking ahead.

The shadow cast on the ground clearly showed a skipping movement, reflecting the owner’s joyous mood.

So, I need to become stronger, so that I don’t always have this fear of loss, this urge to try to get away from him.

The tall shadow followed the slender shadow in front, never leaving.

When his wings become fully feathered and he takes flight, it will be the time to carve out a path for the person in his heart. The future is not far; it just requires effort.