Curtain Call

It was the last day of the show for the theatre troupe Mingze had joined. He performed so well that he completely managed the main lead role from Oliver, now Oliver was forced to be his understudy in case something happens to him. 

Xie Mingze didn't feel guilty about stealing the role from Oliver. He heard from professor Yan that the role was originally his, it was only because he pulled some strings that he managed to steal the role. Adding the fact that he treated him like some shit while he was playing a minor role. 

Everyone was busy with the show, the break was about to commence. After the break there would be a 15 minutes break for the actors before the second half of the show started. Fen Yichen handed him a bottle of water. 

"Ming you were great out there."

"You were too."

How Fen Yichen managed his time, to be able to make the shows was a big mysterious. There were times he would see Kim Sinian with eyebags on his eyes walking like a zombie. The dude's best friend at this point is coffee. 

Apparently since they are already third year they are doing a lot of thesis and work. They were trying to finish everything this semester, because next semester would be for OJT until their fourth year. 

Looking at the person sitting beside him, he doesn't look sleep deprived. His face was even shining like he got more than 8+ hours of sleep. Yichen's appearance was completely different from the people in the same department, maybe this is why they keep on calling him the study male god. 

"Kim Sinian told me you are busy with thesis." Mingze tried to make some idle talk while waiting for the break to finish. He was resting his legs and it's not like he could play with his phone, Mingze was afraid of misplacing it after the show begins.

"I'm already done with that." If his face could speak it would say 'What, like it's hard?'

It was a relief that Kim Sinian was not there or he would just faint from anger. They were all suffering while one person could do it fast and was doing another course at the same time. It's a huge difference, they were built too different. 

When the heavens were giving all the blessing, the mortals are busy trying to get atleast a bit and Fen Yichen was up there in heaven and donating. 

"Wow you guys are too good." Zheyan for some reason managed to enter the backstage. Nobody know who allowed him. 

"Thanks for watching." 

"Hmp I won't miss it for the world. You know how I admire the theatre." Zheyan said while trying to widen his eyes, showing his sincerity.

"Don't lie, I heard professor said that everyone who watches this show would get an additional grade in his subject." This time it was Yichen who broke through Zheyan's lies. In the first place Zheyan was never serious about pursuing music. 

The man was tone deaf and barely passing his subjects. The only reason he entered here was because he was rebellious and he was looking for an artist for his game company. If he wanted an arstist he should had joined the art department not the music. 

"Well I need all the points I can get, but bro I'm also here for you. I'm your supporter."

Xie Mingze who was about to be touched before just silently rolled his eyes at his friend. It doesn't matter what's his purpose atleast he came for their last curtain call. His parents can't make it because of work, so Zheyan volunteered to video tape everything for Xie Mama and Papa to watch at home. 

"The show is starting, be ready."

It was their signal, Mingze bid farewell to Zheyan who was going back to his seat. Yichen on the other hand needs to go back to the front of the stage where the piano is, so they went their separate ways. 

The show began, everything was going well until a certain. There was scene where Mingze had to change shoes since he was playing cinderella. The show was a gender bender cinderella with a bit modern twist to it, to make it more on the comedy side. 

The moment Mingze wear the glass slipper shoes, he felt something prick his feet. Something sharp had definitely lunge itself on his feet. It was painfully he wanted to cry, but he was on stage and the show must go on. 

The princess, Hanya was playing was surprised when she saw blood dripping down the floor. Luckily it was not obvious from the audience, still Hanya could guess something was wrong. 

The audience watching from their seats Mingze crying was tears of joy from finally finding the princess. From so much pain psychological tears couldn't stop from dripping Mingze's face. 

"Thank you for finding me princess, but I have to return the shoes to you. I'm merely but a maid. The person you danced at the bar is not the true me." This line was an adlib. He removed the bloodied shoes from his feet and gave it back to Hanya. 

Hanya knew she should also adlib to get the story back in line, her eyes looked inside the shoes and saw thumbtacks inside. 

"I know, but I still want to know the true you. Not just the person wearing this shoes that night, but the true you."

Fen Yichen was a bit closer than the audience and could clearly see everything that happened on stage. Since he was the one playing the piano, he couldn't just bolt and check Mingze. The show was coming to an end, it would end in about five minutes. For that moment, it felt like the longest five minutes in his life.

Mingze gritted his teeth and performed with the thumbtacks buried in the soles of his feet. It was unknown how painful it was, but he managed to finish everything until the curtain closed and the light on the stage dimmed.