Renovation

The grand hall, which was previously empty and bleak, had been completely transformed into a bright and beautiful place perfect for hosting events.

Pale and breaking paint from the walls were replaced with white coated in a protective layer to prevent dirt. The cement floor had been cleaned and smoothed out in a shine.

The stage was repainted by the Art Club in coats of gold and white to mimic royalty. And with the help from the committees, a luxurious chandelier hung in the middle of the hall, the crystals glistening in the light.

All of them were fake of course. Budget wise, they did well and everything had come into motion. All that's left is to supervise the event and enjoy the afterparty.

"Officer, where should I put this?" a student carrying several empty cardboard boxes, approached.

Jiang Shen pointed backstage. "Just leave it in the backstage. I'll talk to the president of the drama club if they have any use for it."

The student nodded and scurried off backstage. Meanwhile, Jiang Shen helped clean up the remaining boxes left from the decorations they placed down.

Tomorrow would officially be the talent showcase and Jiang Shen had to get up especially early.

Night had fallen as Jiang Shen hurriedly went home. Fortunately, she hadn't come across her grandfather in the past few days as the family descended into peaceful times.

Changing into pajamas and falling asleep, the last thing on her mind was a wish that everything would go smoothly.

...

It was dawn and Jiang Shen was already in school. Last night she had gotten a message that the decorations displayed on the tables were ruined. Apparently, birds had sneaked in from a skylight that one of the students forgot to close and practically tore down the bouquets of flowers.

She had to make new ones with the scratch materials from backstage before the showcase started, unless the audience wanted to see a blank grand hall with nothing to show for.

"Let me help you."

Jiang Shen was in the middle of gluing satin roses when someone spoke up behind her. She didn't bother to look around as she smiled and said, "What're you doing here so early in the morning?"

Yang Mu chuckled. He didn't expect that she could recognize his voice, causing him to smile widely, his heart feeling giddy at the thought. "I saw you rushing out at dawn while I was walking my dog."

He sat down in front of her and grabbed a strip of ribbon. "Now teach me how to make those."

Jiang Shen watched him mimic her movements and laughed. She scooted next to him and carefully showed her hand movements slowly so that he could follow.

Without missing a beat, Yang Mu scooted closer and let their shoulders touch, before following her instructions in a concentrated expression.

"Not like that, like this..." Jiang Shen held his hands and folded the strip of ribbon into a petal like shape before gluing it together with a glue gun.

Yang Mu couldn't help but unconsciously stare at her hands. It felt cold to the touch and her hands were unlike a girl's. With calluses on her fingers, likely from playing instruments.

"Do you play instruments?"

Jiang Shen stopped what she was doing and looked surprised. "How'd you know?"

Yang Mu pointed at her hands. "I couldn't help but notice the calluses on your hands."

Jiang Shen gripped her hands and said, "Why? Because they're not smooth and slender like a girl?"

She had never been the type to fuss over herself since young. It was a trait she had developed after seeing girls her age acting tender. No need to worry about her body turning ugly, she could always take care of it after.

But the repeated attempts at practicing musical instruments had long made her hands filled with calluses.

Yang Mu's heart softened as he tenderly looked at her. "No, because my heart aches for you."

A sudden act of affection made Jiang Shen widen her eyes in shock. A blush crept up on her face. She had wanted to laugh it off as a joke, but his face looked so serious it would look bad on her if she did.

Finally she sighed and shook her head. "Is this how you talk to girls overseas?" She jokingly said.

After all, foreign girls did have their own natural charm. Surely, a man with impeccable looks such as Yang Mu would've flirted with a few girls here and there?

"Only to you," He softly said.

His voice sounded melodious to her ears and a sense of nostalgia flooded her. However she couldn't pinpoint why. Just that his voice naturally calmed her.

Jiang Shen gazed at his eyes. She couldn't fathom what he was thinking right now. If it was a joke or not. But a gut feeling in her told her it might not be.

She coughed and said, "Let's try to finish these satin roses. We have to make at least ten for every table. When the others arrive we'll be able to finish in time for the showcase."

Yang Mu didn't pursue the topic and hurriedly began to glue the satin ribbons together quite skillfully, not at all acting clumsy awhile ago.

It made Jiang Shen suspect if he was messing with her from the start, or if he really was unaware.

By the time the others had arrived, the two of them successfully made five bouquets. Half the time, with twice the effort.

Jiang Shen held her hand up and high-fived Yang Mu. "Great teamwork!"

Yang Mu smiled and pet her head lovingly. "It's only natural."

The way he acted affectionately made the students around them act weirdly. Some were shaking in their boots at the shock while others felt it was a match made in heaven.

The nerves of being the organizer of the event had caught up to Jiang Shen, making her anxious to complete everything on time. The fact that news of Yang Mu's deliberate display of affection went completely over her head.

Yang Mu, unperturbed by his obvious actions, said goodbye and left the hall.