Life-Saving Days by the Husky’s Side

The “magic mirror” answer almost made Liang Jingxiu crack.

Ji Shaoyan and Yan Yunhui couldn’t help but laugh in spite of themselves and asked how his class chose the role. When they learned that it was from a lottery, Ji Shaoyan asked, “Was it your idea?”

Zhou Li raised an eyebrow.

Ji Shaoyan guessed with a smile, “They definitely wanted you to play the prince. If you weren’t satisfied, then you could only come up with a new idea.”

Zhou Li thought to himself that Ji Shaoyan was still the only one who understood him, and voiced out a single “en”.

Liang Jingxiu was beyond curious and wanted to know who was playing Snow White, the Queen and the Prince. Zhou Li briefly explained that their class leader was successfully chosen as Snow White, the queen was an introverted boy, and the prince was played by a girl.

Liang Jingxiu said, “What about our Tiantian? She didn’t get anything?”

Zhou Li said, “She will be the boss of the seven dwarfs.”

Liang Jingxiu burst into laughter, finding this set up more than interesting. “I’m definitely coming to see your class play that day.”

Zhou Li said, “Feel free to come bei.”

Anyway, he was just acting as a mirror, so he’ll just be stupidly standing somewhere most of the time. It was a role without pressure. He looked at the trio. “Your classes are still undecided?”

“Nope, they only started promoting the festival so it’s just discussions for now,” Liang Jingxiu said. He seemed to remember something, and brought up with a wide grin, “A-Yan and his class also put on a play last year. He had the role of a vampire. Back then, everyone at school went insane and photos were handed out. Even now, you can still find them on the school forums.” 

Zhou Li’s curiosity was suddenly aroused. He took out his phone to log into the forum and flipped up the photo after a momentary search.

He stared at a photo of Ji Shaoyan sitting on a magnificent chair, one hand resting over another, wearing a long white coat with golden hems and cosmetic contact lenses on his eyes. His face was painted pale white and his lips were cleanly smeared with a gorgeous layer of lipstick, slightly hooked upwards for a performance to the camera. The powerful and enchanting aura instantly attacked him in waves.

He couldn’t help holding his breath and stared at it several times over. The first question that came out was, “Everyone got a copy?”

Liang Jingxiu smiled and said, “En, good-looking, isn’t it? This was the poster for their class at the time.”

Zhou Li glanced at Ji Shaoyan. “What role?”

Ji Shaoyan keenly sensed that he seemed a little unhappy and the corners of his lips immediately hooked upwards, assuring that he was simply a role that did nothing but buy soy sauce*. Zhou Li said, “Oh, you didn’t bite people’s necks?”

[T/N: a role for decoration; buying soy sauce means basically means spectating something that doesn’t have to do with you]

Ji Shaoyan said, “Didn’t bite any.”

The smile on his face couldn’t be hidden even if he tried. Because they were under public eyes, he didn’t move his hands and feet. He was about to happily ask if a certain someone was drinking vinegar when he heard a somewhat familiar voice come up from their side.

“Hello, senior.” Song Yingshi’s little sister walked over and greeted them with a smile. “What a nice coincidence, you’re here too ah.”

Zhou Li thought she was talking to herself, but when he looked up, he found that she was facing Liang Jingxiu.

Song Xiao-mei* pretended only to notice Zhou Li now after her initial greeting, and added with a smile, “Senior, you are also here.”

[T/N: little sister]

Zhou Li nodded at her, not saying anything.

Liang Jingxiu smiled with squinting eyes and briefly conversed with her.

Song Xiao-mei smiled sweetly. She turned to look at Ji Shaoyan and Yan Yunhui. Seeing how these two didn’t pay attention to her, she was clever enough to not hang around for too long. She waved to them in a playful manner and left to join back with her classmates at the coffee counter.

Her classmates were all stunned at this encounter. “You know Ji-shao and the others?”

Song Xiao-mei’s heart puffed up with pride and she let out an “en” with an indifferent expression.

Her classmate was beyond envious. “How did you guys meet?”

Little Sister Song smiled and blinked. “It’s a secret.”

With that, she grabbed her takeaway coffee and said goodbye to Liang Jingxiu and the others, then left with her classmates.

After Ji Shaoyan waited for the small group to completely leave the store, he said, “Still not resolved?”

“Almost.” Liang Jingxiu evoked a smile harbouring malicious intentions. “Aren’t we so close to the school festival? I have decided to send them a big gift.”

The group of them talked until classes were about to start again and went back to the main building.

The school festival was scheduled to be held in half a month and all classes prepared intensively.

The forum and private groups chats were even more lively. One of the hot topics at the centre of every discussion was the hopes that the second year classes will continue to perform plays, giving a bunch of suggestions for different genres, especially wanting the divine school grass to shoot for promotional posters again.

The members of Class 1 were thinking the same thing.

Because they won the title of “Most Popular Performance” out of all high school classes last year with just that one poster.

However, reality soon dealt them a painful blow——the divine school grass quit.

This time, he didn’t even want to play a soy sauce role. He claimed he wanted to give other classmates a chance to display their talents but the truth was, he just wanted to accompany his boyfriend. It was that obvious to so many people. After school, he went with Zhou Li to the rehearsal room.

It was reasonable to say that a class rehearsal should not be allowed to be seen by outsiders, but Ji Shaoyan’s status was far too secure that even the class monitor wanted to hear his opinions, so she gladly let him in.

The story of《Snow White》is very simple. Practically everyone has heard of it. The monitor wrote the script in just one afternoon and printed a copy for every person, wanting them to run through it once.

However, when the actors took their place, she hesitated.

The queen was a very introverted boy, who talked very little, wore black-rimmed glasses and was only 165 meters tall. On the other hand, their Snow White was their class leader, standing at 1.83 meters tall, born with a very burly stature. The contrast between the two people standing together was very eye-catching. They all swore an oath before drawing lots that none of them could back out if they were drawn a role, otherwise, these two definitely would have quit.

The class monitor mentally berated herself for listening to Zhou Li’s suggestion and was stuck between laughter or tears. “There’s no way. There is no way we can follow the normal plot. You guys can just freely improvise and let’s try a comedic route.”

Zhou Li couldn’t help but ask, “Can I also improvise?”

The monitor glanced at this magic mirror and humbly asked for his advice. “How do you plan on improvising?”

Zhou Li smiled and said, “For example: Welcome, and thank you for using the Magic Mirror. For normal facial photos, please call 1. For consulting questions, please call 2. For a boredom relieving chat, please call 3. For a stress relieving song, please call 4.”

The rehearsing crowd burst into bright laughter and roared, “4, Zhou-shao, give us a song!”

Tang Zixin screeched, “No, don’t——!”

But it was too late. No one could stop the Prince of Love Songs who was allowed to put on a show.

Zhou Li immediately burst into song for them, roaring lyrics that sent the crowd into a dreamlike state. They deeply felt that this was not a song that relieved stress, but one to drive people mad.

They couldn’t help peek at Ji Shaoyan, only to see that his expression had not changed a single bit. He was staring at Zhou Li with a smile, as if he were singing the songs of nature.

This is fucking…without a doubt, definitely true love! They turned their eyes back to the stage, sourly.

After the short performance, everyone went into position.

The class monitor thought Zhou Li’s idea was good and kept this setting. So Queen Little Glasses walked over according to the script, awakened the Magic Mirror and called out ‘2’. When he heard Zhou Li ask what’s wrong, he stammered, “Magic Mirror, moo…poo is the prettiest person in the land?”

[T/N: in Chinese, the verbal errors are just the words with wrong inflections, so it won’t make sense if it is literally translated. I just made the little queen mess up on alliterative parts]

Everyone: “……”

This sentence made people roar in laughter again, and Little Glasses’ face immediately burst into a flaming red.

The class monitor held back a smile and quickly stopped them, knowing that Little Glasses was too introverted and nervous, so she comforted him with a few words before continuing.

Zhou Li took his part very seriously. “It is Snow White. She is now even more beautiful than you, Queen.”

Little Glasses was currently wound up incredibly tight. He glanced at his lines and stiffly spat out, “Damn it, I must mill…mill her off!”

[T/N: In Chinese, he says ‘I need to sprinkle/scatter her’, since they have similar pronunciations to ‘kill’]

Everyone: “Hahahaha!”

Little Glasses: “……”

This time, the class monitor couldn’t hold back. She felt that he was too stiff, so she motioned to the others to familiarise themselves with their lines, then called Little Glasses aside, patiently unravelling his nerves.

Zhou Li wandered over Ji Shaoyan, sitting down beside him and asking, “Is it boring?”

Ji Shaoyan smiled and said, “It’s quite interesting.”

He glanced at Zhou Li. “Magic Mirror.”

Zhou Li said, “En?”

Ji Shaoyan asked, “Who is the prettiest person in the land?”

[T/N: technically ‘best looking’, but I’ll use prettiest for continuity sake]

Zhou Li narcissistically scoffed, “Do you even need to ask? Of course it’s me.”

Ji Shaoyan asked again, “Who is the one who treats you best in the land?”

Zhou Li smiled.

In this world, the Zhou family and his little brothers were all good to him, but to say who was the best… He answered, “Ji Shaoyan.”

Ji Shaoyan looked at him. “Then, who is your favorite person in this world?”

Zhou Li thought to himself that this answer held no suspense at all.

Since his transmigration, the person by his side has always been him.

He calmly answered, “Ji Shaoyan.”

Ji Shaoyan felt a growing warmth in his heart and held the other boy’s hand.

The monitor finished soothing Little Glasses and was about to have everyone return to their positions when she was met with this view. She couldn’t help but pause in her movements.

These two were so good-looking and the scene of them staring into each other’s eyes was too beautiful, making people feel that it would be incredibly rude if they interrupted.

Fortunately, Zhou Li was aware of his surroundings and looked at her before letting go of Ji Shaoyan, standing back up to work.

They only rehearsed once and then dispersed, because the actors free improvisations were far too freeing.

When the guard was ordered to kill Snow White, the class leader stood up while rolling up his sleeves, demanding the guard to take him so he could kill the little chicken. Little Glasses was so scared that his soul almost drifted out of his body and the rehearsal was stopped by a group of desperate people.

The class monitor was also aware this was the first day and was slightly anxious, so she asked them to go home and think about how to perform well. Just like that, it was over.

Zhou Li followed Ji Shaoyan downstairs and climbed into the Ji family’s car.

He had already explained to Zhou Luwen beforehand and Zhou Luwen has always been very reliable; not even a single punctuation mark in a secret message would be revealed. Thus, today Ji Tianyang and Zhou Luwen left in the same car once again, while Ji Shaoyan left with the Ji family’s car.

The sky had already darkened, and Ji Shaoyan took Zhou Li to a restaurant for dinner before returning home.

As soon as he entered the house, the housekeeper told him that his grandfather was waiting for him in the study. He paused in his steps, nodding with a smile, and knocked on the study door once he went upstairs.

Grandpa Ji said, “Come in.”

Ji Shaoyan opened the door and walked in, going to the chair in front of the main desk and taking his seat. He knowingly asked, “Does Grandpa need something from me?”

Grandpa Ji looked at him. “You and that kid from the Zhou family?”

Ji Shaoyan said, “It’s true.”

He had known this confrontation was going to come up very soon.

There were too many people who saw him and Zhou Li together at school and some of them had contacts with his stepmother. Once they go home and mention this to their parents, those parents will poke at his stepmother, and sooner or later, his grandfather will come to know about them.

Grandpa Ji’s jaws tightened.

A-Yan matured early as a child and his thoughts ran deep. It was impossible for him to remain young and pure for too long, and on top of his father’s messy affairs that disgusted A-Yan to no ends, if his grandson said it was true, then it means he was planning for them last a long time.

He solemnly questioned, “Did you think about it?”

Ji Shaoyan lightly let out a sigh. “Grandpa, since I was a child, I have never lived freely. Now that I am with him, I am very happy every day. Isn’t it like you’ve always said; what else do people live for in this world?”

Grandpa Ji wanted to try a few words of persuasion, but when he heard these words, his heart went soft.

Although he knew that A-Yan had a talent for selling misery, he didn’t want to say anything else anymore, and instead asked, “What about on his side?”

Ji Shaoyan smiled, “The Zhou family owes him, they naturally won’t stop it.”

Grandpa Ji examined him. “That time you injured your ankle, was it for him?”

Ji Shaoyan said, “Grandpa, we didn’t know each other back then.”

Grandpa Ji thought this was the case too. He finished discussing the subject at hand and waved his hand to let him go as he pleased.

Ji Shaoyan opened the door and went out. He came across Ji Tianyang in the corridor.

Ji Tianyang was going downstairs to pour himself a glass of water, but unexpectedly ran into him. He immediately stopped in his steps and called out, “Ge.”

Ji Shaoyan returned a gentle “en” and secretly passed his eyes over the other boy. Seeing that his expression was basically the same as the stupid little brother in the past, he thought to himself that the title of Film Emperor wasn’t for nothing, then passed him in the hallway.

Ji Tianyang took the cup back to his bedroom and saw his mother just enter the room. After hearing her say not to go near his Grandpa recently, he asked, “Why?”

Madam Ji smiled and said, “Your brother got together with a man, your grandpa is probably furious as hell.”

She asked, “I heard that the news in school has already spread far, did you know about this?”

Ji Tianyang said, “I knew.”

Madam Ji slapped him and reprimanded him. “You knew and yet you didn’t tell me. If you told me earlier, I would have already told your grandpa.”

Ji Tianyang was rendered speechless. “After so many years, have you not seen what kind of person my brother is? He dares to make it public, even if it’s the truth, grandpa still won’t be angry.”

Madam Ji doubted, “That can’t be ba?”

Ji Tianyang didn’t want to talk nonsense with her anymore. “If you don’t believe me, observe and see for yourself bei. I’m going to do my homework.”

Madam Ji stopped bothering him and left the room, half-believing and half-in-doubt.

At this moment, Zhou Li was also experiencing the same situation.

Whoever Madam Zhou had a meal with early today wasn’t important; what was important was that she heard her son had got together with Ji Shaoyan, so she went home and called the other family members in to a meeting, only to find that Xiao-Wen and her other son already knew about it.

Madam Zhou asked, “Why didn’t you two tell us?”

Zhou Luwen said, “I think, for this kind of thing, it’s better for him to tell us himself ba?”

Madam Zhou said, “But then, he didn’t tell us either ah.”

Father Zhou frowned, “Could it be that he is afraid we’re prejudiced?”

Madam Zhou thought this could be possible, then reflected back on how much Zhou Li must have been suffering during this recent period, immediately feeling distressed.

Thus, when Zhou Li came back, they deliberately selected a movie centred around homosexuality and pulled Zhou Li over to watch together.

Madam Zhou audibly sighed. “How moving.”

Father Zhou: “En, true love does not distinguish between genders.”

Madam Zhou: “How beautiful.”

Father Zhou: “It’s very beautiful.”

Zhou Lubo: “……”

Zhou Luwen: “……”

Zhou Li understood after only a few sentences. He guessed that the brain-dead fans at school saw that posting photos wasn’t enough, so they went to target their parents.

He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so he took the initiative to come out of the closet, then patiently answered a series of some gossipy questions from the Zhou family before successfully returning to his bedroom.

There, he posted a status in the group chat filled with anonymous numbers——came out of the closet successfully, the family are all very supportive, yay~

‘Yay’ your ass!

The unknown contacts rolled their eyes and angrily cursed him out.

Life gradually became more normal and another week passed in a blink of an eye.

On Friday night, Zhou Li received a call from Aunt Qian.

After school started, she had called them twice, wanting them to go back for a meal, but this request was pushed back by them with the excuse that they needed to study.

He thought her purpose for reaching out was the same this time, but it turned out to be different. He didn’t know where she heard it from, but she knew he would send a luxury car to pick up his little brothers to make up classes in the city on the weekends, so she wanted him to bring her children along.

Zhou Li wore a smile with an unclear meaning. “Auntie, do you really believe we are making up lessons?”

Aunt Qian: “……”

Zhou Li smiled and said, “It’s fine to let my little cousin come. Everyone can play together, after all, the city-life is more extravagant than home.”

Aunt Qian let out a stuttered laugh, briefly leaving a few words before immediately hanging up the phone.

Zhou Li guessed that she wouldn’t come to harass him for some time after this and went to bed, perfectly content.

Time flew by and it was finally the school festival.

Since the event was scheduled to be held on Saturday and Sunday, Zhou Li brought the little brothers along.

In addition to the performances put on by various classes, some classes and clubs set up booths, selling small trinkets and such. The entire campus was very lively. Those who wished to watch the performances could go to the auditorium, and those who weren’t interested could wander and look around.

Zhou Li had a task and met up with the people in his class early in the morning to slip on a stunning vintage-looking outfit.

The outfit was dark blue in its entirety, with exquisite workmanship and intricate patterns painted on, giving off a very mysterious air.

The little brothers asked, “Aren’t you the magic mirror?”

Zhou Li said, “Do you see the chair over there?”

The boys turned their heads in unison and saw that the chair and his clothes were of the same color, with the same engraved patterns. There was also an oval frame of the same style, placed in front of the chair.

Zhou Li said, “My magic mirror is of a high-end aristocratic style, all I have to do is just sit there.”

The boys clicked their tongues a few times.

The world of the rich was truly far too different from theirs. They reckoned that just the outfit alone must’ve cost a lot of money. 

Liang Jingxiu looked at the program pamphlet and said with a smile, “Very nice, the junior high school group was assigned to the afternoon slots.”

Zhou Li understood that he wanted to send a big gift to the pair of dragon and phoenix twins. He simply neatened his sleeves and went to apply his makeup.

The time slots were drawn by lottery. They were scheduled for one of the middle slots, neither early or late. When the time came, they all appeared back-stage.

After these days of rehearsal, Little Glasses can already speak clearly. However, while it was fine during practise, finally going on stage was a completely different matter.

This introverted boy stood on the stage and looked at the crowd of people underneath. His mind went blank for a moment.

Seeing him stand there almost sluggishly, Zhou Li silently cursed in his mind and took the initiative to speak, voicing the opening lines of the magic mirror while trying to slow down his performance as much as possible to help Little Glasses calm down.

“Welcome, and thank you for using the Magic Mirror. Magic Mirror: the most sincere friend of mankind; even while knowing that you will be pissed off to death, the mirror will still tell the truth. For normal facial photos, please call 1. For consulting questions, please call 2. For a boredom relieving chat, please call 3. For a stress relieving song, please say 4.”

Little Glasses was still unable to recover. Feeling as if he had forgotten all his lines, he subconsciously uttered, “…4.”

Zhou Li: “……”

Ji Shaoyan: “……”

Everyone who has heard him sing: “……”

The audience laughed, thinking that this was a specially arranged show, so they waited expectantly for the magic mirror to open his mouth.

Although Zhou Li was off-tune more often that not, he knew he couldn’t mess this up. After a few seconds of silence, he found a melody that he could control: “Twinkle twinkle little stars, how I wonder what you are…”

Ji Shaoyan: “……”

Other people in the know: “……”

That is enough.

Zhou Li didn’t dare to waste time, continuing on, “Stress relief complete, are there any other services you require of me?”

At this time, the little glasses regained consciousness, and said with a sullen expression, “Magic Mirror, moo…is the prettiest person in the pan?”

The audience suddenly choked. “Hahahaha!”

Zhou Li calmly answered, “It is Snow White, Queen.”

Little Glasses tried to put on an angry appearance, his nerves immediately kicking in and causing him to forget a small part of the plot as he jumped directly to the order. “Damn it, you must mill her for me!”

Zhou Li: “……”

The guard: “……”

The guard’s face paled, wondering what he should do. His role was directly removed ah!

Backstage, the class monitor also lost the blood in her face, regretting her decision of listening to Zhou Li’s whims. If they never listened to him, there wouldn’t be so much uncertainty right now!

Zhou Li couldn’t just sit back and do nothing, going along with the flow and saying, “Yes, my master.”

With this acceptance, he stood up and walked around the frame, coming forth on the stage.

Oh, the audience became spirited.

This class is quite creative ah, having the Magic Mirror go to mill Snow White!