13 Your Screams Are Music to My Ears

"I laugh now at the face of adversary

Because I am with you

But without you, I am merely an empty shell

Of rage and despair unknown to man

Let us sing and dance and make merry

Act like the skies are always clear

Stay with me, my beloved

In this secret world with no pain and grief"

Ma Jianyu sang the chorus of his own song as a sample and also an audition piece. His high voice was melodious and heartfelt.

Everyone clapped, agreeing that though he may be a little crazy, there's no denying he has a nice voice.

"Thank you, thank you! I am but a humble performer!" He bowed deeply and flamboyantly, his ego visibly getting bigger from praise. "You can practice for yourself and anyone who wants to try next can just volunteer."

A hand immediately raised up.

"I'm ready."

It was no other than the talented president, She Haoran!

"Mr. President learns so fast!" Ma Jianyu exclaimed. "Are you sure you don't want to practice a bit more? There's still a lot of time."

"I know how to read musical notes so I already knew the melody before you sang." She Haoran said, smiling. "I am a bit nervous so I want it to be the one to audition first and get it done with."

Mo Aini snorted. (Nervous? Him? What bullshit, this is part of his tactic!)

If he showed everyone how good he was, they would be intimidated and get nervous during their own performance. He would also become assertive and bold in Mo Jiagei's eyes.

As always, She Haoran is being calculative, especially in no small matter like winning Mo Jiagei's heart.

"Well, up to you, I guess." Ma Jianyu offered him the spot at the stage. "Good luck, good sir! The stage is yours!"

She Haoran walked gracefully to the stage, his posture as perfect as ever. Some of the girl members in theater club swooned.

Standing in precisely the middle of the stage, he began singing.

"I laugh now at the face of adversary," He sang this with a wry tone, a little ironic.

"Because I am with you." Then he changed immediately, becoming sweet and affectionate.

"But without you, I am merely an empty shell." His voice then changed into something slower, more sorrowful.

Then, he gritted his teeth. "Of rage and despair unknown to man!"

"Let us sing and dance and make merry." He sang this in a lighter tone, a little euphoric.

"Act like the skies are always clear." His eyes misted naturally, an elegant display of vulnerability.

"Stay with me, my beloved." With this was a slight desperation.

"In this secret world with no pain and grief." He ended on a bittersweet note, capturing the audience's attention.

At first everyone was dazed with the performance, and then applauded.

"A man of many faces." Ma Jianyu concluded, clapping lightly. "I have never seen anyone perform so versatile before. You have great talent, Mr. President. Why have you only joined theater now?"

"Well...." She Haoran looked directly to Mo Jiagei. "It had only now caught my attention."

Mo Aini rolled his eyes. (It's because of my freaking sister, we get it! No need to act so mysterious.)

After a while, everyone practiced their pieces. Some mob characters perform, but it was irrelevant. Mo Aini was not auditioning to anything and was just waiting for the Love Interests to perform. Eventually, Gou Manchu raised his hand up.

"I think I get it now." He said, standing from his small chair. "May I give it a try? My name is Gou Manchu. "

"Absolutely!" Ma Jianyu nodded. "Do your best, dear giant!"

Gou Manchu cleared his throat, and started to sing. His voice was resonating, and has a deep vibrato.

"I laugh now at the face of adversaryyyyy~

Because I am with youuuuu~

But without youuuuu, I am merely an empty shelllllll~

Of rage and despair unknown to mannnn~

Let us sing and dance and make merryyyy~

Act like the skies are always clearrrrr~

Stay with me, my belovedddd~

In this secret world with no pain and griefffff~"

Many were suprised by Gou Manchu's balladeer singing style, but Mo Aini had already read it from the bio. Still, he was proud of his jock roommate. The audience applauded and he gave Gou Manchu a thumbs up.

"You did really well, my friend. Who knew a man of you stature would have such a warm and sonorous voice?" Ma Jianyu complimented. "Anyone else?"

"C-Can I.... Ahem, Can I try next?"

A small hand raised from the crowd, along with a green head that sprouted like a small mushroom when he stood up.

"Sure, what's your name, boy? Are you a junior?"

"A senior, actually." Shu Chuanli was offended. "I am Shu Chuanli from Class C."

"Oh, sorry. I mistook you as someone younger. Good luck, my boy!" Ma Jianyu still kept referring to him as a kid.

Shu Chuanli took the microphone, and inhaled deeply before singing.

"Hahaha! I laugh now at the face of adversary

Because I am with you"

He started with a jolly tone, dancing as well.

"But without you, I am merely an empty shell

Of RAGE and DESPAIR unknown to man!"

He scowled, but because of his appearance, it just looked adorable.

"Let us sing and dance and make merry

Act like the skies are always clear *winks*"

He gestured to the sky, using his hand make a rainbow shape.

"Stay with me, my beloved *teary eyes*

In this secret world with no pain and grief!"

He ended with his hand reaching out to the audience, trying to look sincere but he end up bringing the girls to yell "Kyyyyyaaaaa!!!" From his adorableness.

"A charming performance, to say the least. I want to keep you in my pocket— er, I want to keep your performance in my mind forever." Even Ma Jianyu was dazzled by the cuteness.

"It's not meant to be charming, I'm being sincere here!" Shu Chuanli stomped off while blushing, covering his face.

Mo Aini pitied the mousey geek. He really can't get out of the cute tsundere archetype even if he wanted to.

"You call this an audition for a play? More like a third-rate circus show."

Hu Chuntian walked to the stage, his chin up and tiger jacket swaying on his back.

"Let me see you do better then, Mr. Hu Chuntian." Ma Jianyu's expression soured. "Be thankful that my princess Mo Jiagei convinced me to let you join the club. I still have the power to kick you out any time I deem you unworthy."

"No need to threaten me, club president. My voice is incomparable to yours or any of the people here."

Many people found his egotism so shamelessness insufferable but didn't say anything about it.

Hu Chuntian blowed smoke on Ma Jianyu's face, threw his cigarette to the ground and stomped it with his feet. "Give me the mic and I'll give you a show."

Ma Jianyu reluctantly gave him the microphone, and stepped aside, arms crossed.

Hu Chuntian smirked, before he began singing the chorus.

"I LAUGH NOW AT THE FACE OF ADVERSARY!!!

BECAUSE I AM WITH YOU!!!

BUT WITHOUT YOU, I AM MERELY AN EMPTY SHELL!!!

OF STRANGE AND DESPAIR UNKNOWN TO MAN!!!

LET US SING AND DANCE AND MAKE MERRY!!!

ACT LIKE THE SKIES ARE ALWAYS CLEAR!!!

STAY WITH ME, MY BELOVED!!!

IN THIS SECRET WORLD WITH NO PAIN AND GRIEF!!!"

The people covered their ears from the explosive, heavy metal performance!

Mo Aini already knew that this was his style, but he was still dumbfounded. Does he really think he could win an audition by a singing a musical piece like he was screaming his lungs out?

But his sister, Mo Jiagei, was making heart eyes at him! She enjoyed this performance that doesn't even sound like singing, but continuous screaming!

Mo Aini smacked his own forehead. His sister really was hopeless.

Hu Chuntian dropped the mic, satisfied with his own performance. He left the stage with the same smug look that makes you want to punch his face.

"Anyone else?" Ma Jianyu asked.

Then, Mo Aini came with another bright idea.

"Me! Me!" He said with his Jie Taime voice, ran to the stairs, and purposefully tripped....

Right where Hu Chuntian is to catch him!

"Ack, what the hell!?" Hu Chuntian's reflexes made him catch him with both hands. "It's you again!"

"Ow!!!!! My ankle is sprained!" Mo Aini used his acting skills.

Ma Jianyu got worried. "Jie Taime! Does it hurt really bad?"

"Yeah, I think it's broken." He huffed and whined from pain. "It hurts a lot, I don't think I can make it to the clinic."

"Don't worry! We have a first aid kit here at the backstage for emergencies like this!" Ma Jianyu said.

Underneath his face mask, Mo Aini gave a wide, devilish smirk that no one could see. He gripped Hu Chuntian tighter, whispering to his ear.

"A-Tian, won't you help me bandage my foot?"

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