When the stage lit up again, Su Hao was still hunched over a desk, writing in his diary.
"April eighth, cloudy. It's been a month since I met Junior Sister Mengxin, and my love for her has grown deeper. Today, I will confess my feelings to her, hoping for success."
Leaving this message, Su Hao put down his pen, stood up, put on his jacket, and walked out the door.
Amidst pleasant music, Su Hao arrived at a romantic restaurant.
"Senior, why are you treating me to dinner here today? It's very expensive," Li Shuxin looked around, saying softly.
"To have dinner with you, I'm willing to pay any price." Su Hao looked at Li Shuxin, who was dressed up for the occasion, his eyes full of adoration. "Mengxin, you truly look beautiful today."
"Senior also looks very handsome today," Li Shuxin chuckled.
"Just call me Shihao. Shall we order first? See what you'd like to eat." Su Hao waved, calling over the waiter.
The audience below immediately gasped, because the waiter was actually dressed in a maid outfit, and it was Liu Xiaoran playing the role.
"Ladies and gentlemen, here is the menu." Liu Xiaoran winked at Su Hao and handed over the menu with a smile.
Backstage, the original waiter looked at the beautiful and charming Liu Xiaoran and chuckled.
"Senior Sister Xiao Ran looks so good. To have her replace me, I have no regrets."
"Brother, want to go to the internet cafe to play after the show?" The senior next to him patted the waiter's shoulder. "I suddenly realized you're very suitable for playing Nasus."
"How could you agree to a last-minute change? What if it scares Shuxin and Su Hao?" Not far away, Jiang Yuhan looked at Lin Yingchun in disbelief.
She couldn't understand why Lin Yingchun would let Liu Xiaoran go change into a uniform just because Liu Xiaoran casually mentioned she could also be a waiter.
"They're not that fragile, and the audience's reaction shows that this change is good. Beauties always attract people." Lin Yingchun looked at Liu Xiaoran on stage. "Consider it our compensation to Xiao Ran."
"Compensation? What compensation?" Jiang Yuhan was utterly bewildered.
"You'll understand later," Lin Yingchun smiled, not saying more.
On stage, just as Lin Yingchun had said, Li Shuxin was not flustered by the last-minute change and smiled as she looked at Su Hao.
"Senior, you order, I'm not familiar with the dishes here."
"Alright."
Su Hao thought Li Shuxin was startled by the last-minute change, so he nodded, took the menu, and after flipping through two pages, ordered two steaks and a bottle of red wine.
"Senior, we're still students, is it okay to drink alcohol?" Li Shuxin leaned forward and whispered.
After speaking, she glanced at Liu Xiaoran, who had already walked away, worried that she might overhear.
"Of course, there's no problem. We're already adults. Not only can we drink, but we can also do more things, like fall in love." Seeing that Li Shuxin was acting normally, Su Hao breathed a sigh of relief and said softly.
"Love?" Li Shuxin paused, then sat up straight. "Senior, you're so handsome, you really could consider a relationship. There must be many senior sisters who like you, right?"
"There are some, but I've rejected them all. Because I already have someone I deeply love. Mengxin, I've been truly happy during the past month I've spent with you," Su Hao gazed at Li Shuxin with deep affection.
"I'm also very happy to have a friend like Senior," Li Shuxin seemed to understand, lowering her head to avoid Su Hao's gaze.
"Mengxin, since we're both very happy. Then you… you…" Seeing Li Shuxin lower her head, Su Hao's expression stiffened, and he forced a smile. "Will you be my girlfriend?"
"I'm sorry, Senior, I don't have any thoughts about that at the moment," Li Shuxin politely refused.
"W-why not? Mengxin, did I do something wrong to upset you?" Su Hao excitedly reached out, wanting to take Li Shuxin's arm, but she dodged him.
"Senior, you're very good, you're handsome and thoughtful. But I really don't want to be in a relationship. Wouldn't it be better if we just stayed friends like before?" Li Shuxin said softly.
"Stay friends? Hahaha, stay friends!" Su Hao murmured twice, then leaned back in his chair, laughing nervously.
"Senior? Are you alright? I'm so sorry I disappointed you," Li Shuxin said with concern, seeing that Su Hao's emotions were a bit unstable.
"I'm fine. Mengxin, do you already have a boyfriend?" Su Hao held his forehead, his voice becoming low.
"No, Senior, I already said I'm not interested in a relati—"
"If you don't have a boyfriend, why won't you accept my pursuit?" Su Hao suddenly slammed the table, interrupting Li Shuxin.
Li Shuxin trembled all over, her heart stopping in fear at Su Hao's sudden rage.
"Mengxin, I truly like you. From the first moment I saw you, I fell in love with you. Why? Why don't you like me?"
Su Hao stared at Li Shuxin with wide eyes, like a wolf spotting its prey.
"Love has no reason. Liking is liking, not liking is not liking." Li Shuxin collected herself and stood up, somewhat flustered.
"Senior, I'm not feeling well. I can't have dinner with you today."
"Where are you going?" Su Hao took a step forward and grabbed Li Shuxin's arm.
"Senior… Senior… please don't be like this," Li Shuxin turned her head, shaking her arm, trying to break free from Su Hao's grasp.
"Don't be like what? Mengxin, can't I even touch your arm now?" Su Hao lowered his head, his expression becoming distorted.
"Senior, you… you've changed." Looking at Su Hao's hateful face, Li Shuxin suddenly shook off his hand. "You look just like that hooligan we met when we first met!"
"You say I'm a hooligan?" Su Hao murmured softly, then suddenly raised his voice and waved his hand heavily.
"I'm telling you, I've become like this because I love you! I love you too much!"
"Senior, you're losing control of your emotions." Li Shuxin took a deep breath and bowed to Su Hao.
"I'm truly sorry today. I appreciate your liking of ordinary me, but I really have no intention of being in a relationship. Senior, goodbye!"
With those words, Li Shuxin quickly left.
Su Hao stared blankly at her retreating figure, not chasing after her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your steaks are here. Huh? Where's your lady friend?" Liu Xiaoran walked onto the stage, carrying prop steaks.
"She left. She's not my lady friend." Su Hao slumped onto the chair Li Shuxin had used, as if all his strength had been drained.
"Did you two have a fight? All young couples are like this; just coax her later and it'll be fine," Liu Xiaoran said indifferently.
"We didn't fight." Su Hao looked up, smiling bitterly. "She rejected my confession. She's not my lady friend."
"I'm sorry, I spoke out of turn." Seeing Su Hao's despairing expression, Liu Xiaoran felt a pang in her heart and almost wanted to pull him into a comforting embrace.
"It's fine, pour me a glass of wine," Su Hao raised his glass.
"Okay." Liu Xiaoran nodded.
"Pour one for the opposite side too," Su Hao gently swirled his glass, narrowing his eyes at the blood-red wine.
Liu Xiaoran dared not say more and quickly went to pour another glass.
"Cheers!" Su Hao drank the red wine in one gulp, to the empty chair.
Then, a rumble of thunder sounded, and heavy rain began to fall.
"It's raining. Do you want to call your… female friend?" Liu Xiaoran said softly.
"Yes, I'll call her," Su Hao said with a smile, pulling out his phone.
"Senior? Is there anything else?" Li Shuxin's pleasant voice came through the receiver.
"Nothing much, I just wanted to ask if you got caught in the rain."
"No, I'm already in a car."
"That's good." Su Hao subconsciously nodded, a hint of apology appearing on his face. "I'm truly sorry about earlier; I scared you. I'll treat you to another meal tomorrow to make it up to you."
"No need, Senior. It's good that you've returned to normal. I have class tomorrow anyway, so dinner is out."
"Alright, alright, then be careful on your way." Su Hao's lips curved upwards, his hand tightly clutching the wine glass.
Then the call ended, and Su Hao suddenly slammed the wine glass onto the table, blood flowing out.
"Ah! You… your hand is bleeding! I'll go get the first aid kit!" Liu Xiaoran exclaimed, because she saw that Su Hao's hand was really bleeding, not a prop.
The audience was also a bit surprised, not expecting Su Hao to be so dedicated.
"No need for the first-aid kit." Su Hao casually grabbed Liu Xiaoran's arm and looked up, "This is what I deserve. My hand should have been injured a month ago!"
With that, Su Hao slowly stood up and left the restaurant.
Liu Xiaoran watched Su Hao's retreating figure anxiously, but since they were acting, she couldn't do anything.
Stepping out of the restaurant, a howling cold wind greeted him, making Su Hao's clothes flap loudly.
Backstage, under the worried gazes of Jiang Yuhan and others, Lin Yingchun waved her hand, and icy rain fell, turning Su Hao into a drenched mess.
A close-up appeared on the large screen, allowing everyone to see the rain flowing onto Su Hao's hand, turning into blood as it dripped down.
Aunt Meijing in the audience frowned, looking at Su Hao with a pained expression.
"Brother Su Hao was already bleeding, and now he's wet. It must be very uncomfortable. This is just acting, why make it so realistic?" Peilin rubbed her eyes, tears about to fall.
"Exactly! I don't know which scoundrel designed this! Don't they know wounds shouldn't touch water?" Wan'en slammed the armrest, her face full of anger.
Not far away, Nali looked at the close-up on the big screen, her expression instantly solemn, and she applauded sincerely.
She was sitting quite far away and initially thought the blood on his hand was just a prop blood pack that had burst. Now she understood that Su Hao was truly injured.
Led by her, thunderous applause erupted throughout the venue.
Professionalism is the bottom line for actors, but in today's society, professionalism has transformed from a basic requirement into a virtue that garners praise.
It's hard to say if this is progress or regression for the times.
On stage, hearing the audience's applause, Su Hao remained expressionless, walking through the wind and rain to a streetlamp.
Looking up at the orange-yellow light, Su Hao slowly knelt, gripping the streetlamp with his blood-soaked hand.
"Zhang Mengxin, you are mine! You will never escape! Hahahaha!"
Amidst Su Hao's crazed laughter, the stage slowly dimmed.
fatal love Act Two Confession, ended.