Host

The snow this season was heavier than Mu Qingxi had imagined, though this time it was sleet, and the cold was biting. The streets were slick with ice, and one had to tread carefully; a single misstep could send you tumbling, just as had happened to several people ahead of her.

“Oh no!” A girl in leather boots had just taken a spectacular fall.

It was Saturday, a day she could have stayed home. It was a rare weekend with two days off, yet here she was, hurrying to school. Before she left, her mother had cautioned her not to take a taxi—there’d been an accident the previous night because the roads were too slippery. “Just walk, don’t take any cars,” her mother had insisted.

She had nodded obediently. There was a special warmth in being cared for, and she laughed inwardly at the feeling.

Tonight was the New Year’s Eve gala, so she had to be there for rehearsal. As one of the hosts, Mu Qingxi had already memorized her script, making revisions where she felt it needed improvement.

Today, she would finally meet the two male hosts. Mu Qingxi was genuinely curious to see what kind of mysterious hosts they were.

She walked slowly, gazing at the withered branches around her, each one thickly coated with icicles, clear and dazzling. She couldn’t resist the urge to taste one.

Reaching out, she grasped an icicle, broke it off the branch, took off her glove, and, holding the icicle between three fingers, brought it to her lips for a tentative lick. It was cool, but not chilling—just a refreshing sensation that spread through her whole body.

The auditorium.

The school auditorium was about the size of a football field, flanked on either side by stone columns. A short flight of steps led to its main entrance, where the white doors were shut, though the clamor inside was unmistakable.

She pushed open the doors with effort. Inside was a scene of lively chaos, all the performers bustling about. As she entered, some people glanced her way—it was the first-year students. No matter the school, freshmen were always at the bottom of the pecking order; whatever they did, the seniors ruled. Besides the large stage at the front, the auditorium was filled with tiered seating and a few aisles.

Mu Qingxi slipped in, closed the door behind her, and walked along the side. The hosts’ dressing room wasn’t here; Guo Chen had called to say he and Qin Yu had already found the outfits—three sets for each of them—and that she should go straight to the dressing room upon arrival.

It was said the principal placed great importance on tonight’s gala—some high-ranking officials were expected to attend, and everything had to go off without a hitch.

The hosts’ dressing room was indeed unique. When she entered, she saw the small room had been divided in two: one half for makeup, and the other split into two tiny changing stalls. Everything was thoughtfully arranged.

“Mu Mu, you’re finally here, come in!” Qin Yu called out.

Mu Qingxi smiled and answered. The other two must be the male hosts; she hadn’t expected one of them to be Bai Fanhao.

“You’re a host?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’m the legendary male host. Mu Mu, go get changed first, then we’ll do our makeup,” Bai Fanhao replied with a smile.

Mu Mu? Since when did he get to call her that?

Mu Qingxi turned to look at the other boy, questioning him with her gaze.

The sunny, handsome boy smiled and said, “Hello, Mu Qingxi. I’m Guo Chen, president of the student council and one of the male hosts for tonight. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“No need to be so formal. I should really thank you for inviting me to host the show! Funny how, up till now, the four of us hosts are still a big secret—apart from close friends, nobody else knows!” Mu Qingxi said playfully.

“Mu Mu, you’re right. I’ve noticed this gala is just strange—hosts are a secret, the guest officials are a secret, everything’s a secret. It’s so mysterious,” Qin Yu chimed in.

“I think so too. Seems like only a handful of parents were invited. Wei Yu, are your parents coming?”

As Qin Yu and I chatted cheerfully, Bai Fanhao came over and told us to hurry and eat some breakfast, which he had already bought and placed on the table. After eating, we should change into our costumes—the rehearsal would begin soon. We could go watch from the audience.

“The hosts don’t rehearse on stage?” Qin Yu asked.

“We do, but the others rehearse on stage. We rehearse offstage so we’ll be a surprise later,” Guo Chen explained.

No matter. Breakfast first.