Chapter 205: Becoming the Female Lead

Chapter 205: Becoming the Protagonist

The somber and solemn hues of winter gradually faded as the brushstrokes of spring began to fill in the blanks of the world.

Yi Fengchu's Department of Religion and Philosophy issued a notice that they would soon be co-hosting an inter-departmental gala with the neighboring two departments, requiring each class to prepare several performances.

"But," when she heard this news during a break, Yi Fengchu paused for a moment and raised a critical question, "there aren't many people in our department."

The publicity officer complained with a wry smile, "That's exactly why our class might have to involve everyone... Seriously, why do universities still organize such activities?"

After a discussion within the class, they decided to stage a play.

The play was adapted from a dark love story from medieval Europe, telling of a pair of lovers who could not gain their families' approval or blessing, agreeing to elope at midnight to escape the constraints of society. However, when the protagonist arrived at the agreed-upon spot, all he saw were the deep woods and the shadows of leaves, with no sign of his lover.

The protagonist wandered hopelessly through the forest, encountering a talking wild rose, a sinister and mysterious wizard, and a righteous and kind knight along the way. He endured trials, received help, and faced deceit, eventually arriving beneath an unusually thick cherry tree.

The soil at the base of the tree was somewhat damp, emitting a sweet yet pungent scent of blood—beneath the roots lay the decapitated head of his lover.

Upon learning that his lover had been executed, the protagonist was overwhelmed with grief, cradling her head and walking deeper into the dark forest, never to be seen again.

Some say that she transformed into a moth in the depths of the forest, forever resting beneath that cherry tree.

As her lover became part of the woods, she turned into a moth of the forest, dancing eternally with her love.

In today's literary analysis classes, this story is often interpreted as a critique of the strict codes of medieval times and a metaphor for how society collectively deprives individuals of their freedom.

"Besides actors, we also need a director, logistics personnel, lighting and sound technicians..."

The publicity officer counted on his fingers, listing them one by one, then cautiously asked Yi Fengchu, "Yi, would you like to take on some of the narration? It's a bit easier."

Since the incident in Bee-Ant Village, the classmates have maintained a secret curiosity and an unspoken gratitude towards Yi Fengchu, and they now subconsciously assign him easier tasks.

According to their observations, Yi Fengchu always appears lethargic, not the type who would enjoy being forced into the spotlight to perform for an audience.

After all, he is a recluse of great virtue, living quietly among ordinary people; how could one force him into such a role?

But after a brief moment of thought, Yi Fengchu declined.

Consider the elements involved in this stage play:

The viewing and witnessing of several audience members;

The actors on stage, dressed in elaborate costumes and painted with makeup;

The realistic settings, dialogues, and props;

And most importantly—the fate of characters personally recited and proclaimed by the god of destiny.

This is nothing short of a highly ritualistic and mysterious ceremony!

Under the influence of mystical forces, no one can guarantee that the story written in the script will remain just a "story."

Perhaps one day in the future, it will come to life in the real world, becoming reality.

"Then… how about playing the gentleman who appears at the end of the story?"

The publicity officer flipped through the script with a rustling sound, stopping at the last page: "This character has very few lines and scenes, serving more as a tool to wrap up the theme."

"He is a gentleman who happens to pass through the forest, learns of the tragic story between the two main characters from the locals, and is deeply moved. In the end, he writes a verdict under the cherry tree, vindicating the protagonists."

A character like this wouldn’t bring any mysterious influence.

Yi Fengchu didn’t mean to put his classmates in a difficult position, so he readily agreed.

A few days later, in the school auditorium.

In front of the empty audience seats, the students, dressed in Western European vintage costumes, took the stage for rehearsal.

Some of the costumes were rented, while others were brought by the students themselves.

For instance, what Yi Fengchu wore was an elegant European suit that his mother had enthusiastically sent from abroad during the New Year.

Yi Meishan often traveled the world and occasionally sent back all sorts of peculiar items, many of which were not suitable for everyday wear. Yi Fengchu had kept them at the bottom of his wardrobe... never expecting they would come in handy on such a special occasion.

It was a complete set: a white shirt, a vest, a short cloak, breeches, and short boots, all meticulously hand-sewn with excellent tailoring.

This kind of attire was very demanding on the wearer’s demeanor, but it suited Yi Fengchu perfectly, without any sense of incongruity, as if a well-bred gentleman from an oil painting had stepped out of the frame.

As the play neared its end, Yi Fengchu finally made his way to the front of the stage.

Holding a cane borrowed from a classmate, he walked with the cloak swaying gently, the tip of the cane tapping the ground rhythmically, the soft clicks echoing like ripples spreading across the quiet stage, inexplicably making all the onlookers hold their breath.

The gentleman portrayed by Yi Fengchu faced the audience, reading out the verdict on behalf of the law and the divine, declaring the protagonist free and innocent.

Meng Siyou slipped in through a side door, just in time to witness Yi Fengchu’s performance—

The familiar cloak and cane instantly reminded Meng Siyou of a deity who had once descended in a dungeon, causing his heart to skip a beat.

He almost thought the Narrator had descended again!

But fortunately, in the next second, Meng Siyou met Yi Fengchu’s dark and calm eyes... They were human eyes, sparkling with youthful, humane light, not the cold snake eyes of the narrator.

Meng Siyou immediately relaxed, his tense shoulders slumping as he dropped his guard.

He was certain that although Yi Fengchu’s lines were delivered without a pause, the keen senses of a divine being had undoubtedly already spotted him.

Thus, Meng Siyou found a corner to sit in, waiting for the rehearsal to end while quietly observing the students passing by.

“What brings you to A University?” During the intermission, Yi Fengchu sat beside Meng Siyou, asking curiously, “Has the Anomalous Affairs Bureau decided to send you for further education?”

Due to the disruption caused by the Playground of the Gods, Meng Siyou, whose education had only reached high school, smiled awkwardly upon hearing this.

...Damn it, how could a pure human like him have a lower academic qualification than a divine being?

Choking back his frustration, Meng Siyou countered, “You didn’t foresee my arrival?”

“If everything was known in advance, what would be the point of living?” Yi Fengchu casually twirled his cane, “Do you enjoy having movies spoiled for you?”

“I guess not.”

Meng Siyou nodded, relaxing a bit more.

This conversation served to remind Meng Siyou more vividly of the differences between Yi Fengchu and his terrifying father:

The latter was accustomed to controlling everything from behind the scenes, an invisible curtain shielding Him from the gaze of mortals, making it impossible to fathom His thoughts and intentions. People could only stand in awe and witness history, watching as He brought down one high-ranking entity after another;

While the former...

was once a classmate.

In Meng Siyou's view, this point held a certain significance unrelated to the mystical world.

Regardless of whether Yi Fengchu possessed a divine aspect beyond human, and regardless of whether he wielded the power inherited from his father god, he shared a significant portion of his life’s journey with countless other mortal children—this was enough for Meng Siyou to distinguish Yi Fengchu from other divine beings.

Waving his hand casually, Meng Siyou got straight to the point, explaining his purpose: "The Bureau received a report suggesting that an anomalous event might be occurring within the A University area. I happened to be nearby, so I decided to come and take a look."

Yi Fengchu fell into thought. "What kind of anomaly is it?"

"Something like those classic campus ghost stories. Someone posted online about hearing whispers near their ear at midnight, but in a daze, they assumed it was a classmate next door talking, so they went back to sleep. The next day, when they woke up, they realized—they lived in the dormitory at the end of the corridor, where there was no ‘next-door room’."

"Another person claimed they ran into a classmate on the road and greeted them normally, only to later find out through online contact that the classmate had taken sick leave and hadn't been at school for days..."

Such ghost stories are quite common in every university, hard to verify, and generally not enough to prompt action from the Anomalous Affairs Bureau.

"Since you're here, you must lean towards believing the authenticity of these legends?" Yi Fengchu mused.

"Because these legends have surged in the past week, it doesn't seem like pure fabrication, and..." Meng Siyou's expression grew serious, pausing before continuing, "they all share a common trait: the anomalies all point to 'people who theoretically should not exist.'"

It was this striking similarity that prevented Meng Siyou from dismissing these legends as mere fiction.

Yi Fengchu agreed, "It sounds like the influence of a specific factor."

Of course, Yi Fengchu trusted his intuition more.

The moment Meng Siyou spoke, Yi Fengchu had a corresponding intuition—that these legends were indeed real.

As they talked, a new round of rehearsals began.

The lead actress, Li Yin, stepped back onto the stage to rehearse the scene where the protagonist walks hopelessly through the forest, searching for traces of their lover.

Her performance was exceptionally vivid, her eyes brimming with the pain and melancholy of a missed appointment, yet also revealing a hidden, girlish anticipation.

A few fake trees were sparsely arranged on the stage, rough and unconvincing, but this did not hinder the lead actress's performance at all. Her gaze fluttered like a light moth, lingering among the fake trees, as if still hoping to see her lover’s figure appear before her.

Though she was walking on a flat stage, Li Yin’s steps mimicked a stumbling gait, as if truly navigating through a dark, dense forest, occasionally tripping over weeds and dead branches along the way.

Yi Fengchu heard the director, a classmate, mutter in awe, “I didn’t know Li Yin had such acting talent? She’s improved so quickly, from amateur performances to matching professional actors in just a few days!”

“No… Li Yin, she has become the leading lady!”

Yi Fengchu looked thoughtfully at the stage and said to Meng Siyou, “The anomaly you’re looking for has appeared.”

“Huh?”

Meng Siyou was taken aback, following Yi Fengchu’s gaze to the actress on stage, dressed in an elaborate gown.

Yi Fengchu slowly repeated the director’s words, altering just a few, but changing the meaning entirely:

“—Li Yin, she has become the leading lady.”