Peeping

“Student Ning Rou, do you know why I asked you to come here?” (Nervous head shake) “This is your transcript from the last theory test. See for yourself.” (Steals a glance, expression turns anxious) “Sigh.”

The counselor sitting across from her rubbed the bridge of her nose.

“Student Ning Rou, I know you possess terrifying talent in performance, and I know you won the Acting Grand Prix, but that doesn’t mean you can abandon your theoretical courses.”

“In this academy, an ordinary student failing three subjects would already be called in for a formal warning. You failed four in a single testing period. This is no longer just a matter of whether your attitude is correct or not.”

The counselor pushed aside the books on her desk, leaning forward on her palms to stare Ning Rou down.

“In fact, if this were anyone else and not you, they would likely be sitting in the Dean’s office right now. Tianhua Academy is a top-tier institution; we pride ourselves on excellence in both art and theory. Principally, a student failing a theory test is something we cannot tolerate.”

“Then… what should I do…”

Ning Rou wasn’t particularly brave to begin with; she was clearly panicking now, her small face turning pale.

The counselor shook her head. “You are a special-invitation student, so the academy is willing to give you a chance. Next month is the scheduled makeup exam. As long as you pass all four subjects then, there won’t be any further issues.”

“But next month isn’t that far away…”

“Which is why you should hurry and find a way. Seek out the professors or instructors of those courses for tutoring. The academy cannot grant you special privileges forever.”

“You need to take makeup exams for theory?”

“Yes, it’s so hard… and I tried to go to the professors for guidance, hoping they could highlight the key points for me… but they all said they didn’t have time…”

Inside the rehearsal room, Ning Rou’s brow was knit with worry. A massive weight sat on her chest; currently, even her favorite Cloud Cookies couldn’t brighten her mood.

In the past, she would usually share such troubles with her best friend, Xiao Yuehua. But as she spent time with Professor Nangong and grew familiar with him, he had subconsciously become the first person she turned to.

Furthermore, although her relationship with Xiao Yuehua had seemingly returned to normal, she often felt an overwhelming sense of “strangeness” whenever they were alone in the dorm.

Clearly, nothing had changed. Yet, it felt like everything was different.

Actually, if she were to be honest, there was one difference. She still hadn’t confessed to Yuehua that she was now acting as the Professor’s “teacher.”

At first, it was simply because she didn’t want Yuehua to overthink it or be provoked. But now… Ning Rou had developed a tiny bit of selfishness. She wanted to keep this secret—a little secret that belonged only to the two of them.

As for why, Ning Rou didn’t quite understand it herself. Perhaps, because they shared this connection, she and the Professor were “best friends” in a certain sense?

Yes, it must be because of that.

However, the Professor was fundamentally different from Yuehua. Faced with her predicament, he didn’t comfort her like Yuehua used to. Instead, he simply cast a scrutinizing gaze her way, his stiff face showing an expression that looked like he was staring at an idiot.

“So, how many subjects did Student Ning Rou fail?”

“Well… it’s…” Ning Rou flushed and held up four fingers.

“So, a total annihilation.” The Professor sighed. “It truly is a matter of gains and losses; there are no absolute geniuses in this world.”

“Is… is that the attitude a student should have toward a teacher?” Ning Rou glared back huffily, looking like a puffed-up pufferfish.

Unfortunately, the Professor clearly didn’t mind her resistance. A guilty Ning Rou, even when glaring, possessed zero “killing intent.” He shook his head.

“Student Ning Rou, sometimes you really are like a child. And for the record, I’m not just talking about your temper.”

“What! Does the Professor think I can’t hear the subtext? You’re clearly insulting me!”

“Let me finish speaking first…”

Before she could explode, a cool finger pressed against the center of Ning Rou’s forehead, easily suppressing the little pufferfish’s movements.

“Has Student Ning Rou forgotten my identity?”

“Identity?”

“While saying this to you might sound like I’m bragging… I am still an academy professor. I’m not some hollow fraud. Regarding your current predicament, I might be able to help.”

“Oh, right!” Ning Rou blinked, and in the next moment, her eyes lit up as she tightly grabbed his finger. “Does the Professor mean you’ll help me cancel the—Ouch!”

Before she could finish, she winced and clutched her forehead.

The Professor calmly withdrew his hand. “I don’t advocate for ‘backdoor’ behavior. What I meant was, I can tutor you for free.”

“Ugh—”

Ning Rou instantly collapsed onto the table in despair, ignoring how her weight pressed against her chest, causing her school uniform buttons to let out a faint groan.

“So I still have to study theory…”

“Yes. Even though you are my ‘teacher’ right now, you can’t escape this.”

“I don’t want to… it’s going to be so boring…”

However, the development of events caught Ning Rou by surprise.

Unlike the “duck-stuffing” style of education the other teachers used in public classes to just get through their work, the Professor implemented a tailored approach that ignored the cost of time.

“Professor, what does it mean when it says: ‘The movements and expressions of a performer are not determined solely by emotion, but should correspond with the environment and background’? How can a movement correspond with a background?”

“To explain this, I should provide a few examples. Have you read the classic novel Flower Dance and the Seven Days?”

“Uh… n-no…”

“How about Eris?”

“I… I’ve seen it, but it was so dry I don’t remember much…”

“These are the supplemental readings recommended by the curriculum. You really should settle down and study them.” The Professor shook his head, troubled. “Then, is there any dramatic work that left a deep impression on you? Classical theater, modern scripts, anything.”

“Deep impression… does The Lost Boy and the Wolf count?” Ning Rou scratched her cheek awkwardly. Even though they were familiar, showing her lack of theoretical knowledge in front of the Professor was still embarrassing.

Fortunately, he didn’t get angry. Instead, he nodded as if acknowledging her. “That’s a quite excellent piece of contemporary literature. Your taste is good, Student Ning Rou.”

As he spoke, he tapped a few keys on the nearby computer and pulled up a video clip.

“Look at this scene. Because the boy is stranded on the grasslands and being stalked by a wolf pack, the surrounding environment is dangerous and oppressive…”

The Professor’s voice was focused and gentle, quickly pulling Ning Rou’s attention into the screen.

And outside the window of the rehearsal room…

A pair of bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at the backs of the two, the gaze as dark and cold as stagnant water.