Her remarks were coherent and logical.
At first, Duan Xiu thought she was a quiet one.
He took a step forward and leaned in for a closer look. He noticed that although the woman was wearing a mask, her eyes were clear and bright, like two pools of autumn water, an effect that no amount of colored contact lenses could achieve.
He was momentarily captivated, swallowed hard, and then took a step back the instant Song Xi's brow furrowed.
Song Xi politely said "Thank you" and left.
Duan Xiu stared at her retreating back, a strong interest igniting in his eyes.
Song Xi returned to her seat. Fortunately, the stand-up comedy hadn't started yet.
She sensed a subtle shift in the atmosphere. Strangely, the other girl seemed much more subdued, but her pretty face was a little pale, as if she had been frightened by something.
Song Xi looked at Ye Hai, who offered her a friendly smile, as if he knew nothing of what had transpired.
Although Song Xi was curious, she didn't press for details.
This was for the best; she could quietly enjoy the show.
The music started, signaling the beginning.
Song Xi glanced back at the girl. Her boyfriend hadn't returned either. Seeing her unsettled expression, Song Xi still asked, "Where's your boyfriend?"
The girl replied, "He doesn't like stand-up comedy. I dragged him here. Maybe he's… playing games outside."
The girl's voice trailed off, and Song Xi couldn't tell what she was afraid of.
Song Xi had a hunch that this incident was related to Ye Hai, but his composed demeanor made it seem impossible to get anything out of him.
She gave up and focused on the stage.
"Good afternoon, everyone, I'm A Xiu!"
A short-haired young man walked onto the stage, holding a microphone. What was even stranger was that he was wearing a white mask.
Did stand-up comedy require masks?
As if sensing Song Xi's thoughts, A Xiu said, "I'm sure some of you are wondering why I'm wearing a mask for stand-up. Is this guy too ugly to show his face?"
"No! A Xiu is the most handsome—" a girl in the audience suddenly shouted.
A Xiu nodded. "You're right!"
"Hahahaha!"
The atmosphere was thus easily ignited.
Song Xi curved her lips. She felt like she was beginning to understand the fun of stand-up comedy.
A Xiu said, "Are you all tired of the wallet-finding stories? That's okay, I'll tell it again for the newcomers. Wait, wait, I think I heard some 'ughs'—"
"You're disgusted! Love truly changes!"
"Alright, then today I'll tell you about losing my wallet."
"As everyone knows, I wasn't very bright as a child. I had a nickname in my village: 'Scatterbrain'..."
Thus, A Xiu spoke eloquently on stage.
His voice was clear and bright, amplified by the microphone. Combined with his comical gestures, his performance was full of punchlines, bringing the audience to roaring laughter with just a few words.
Song Xi, who had intended to observe and learn, found herself unable to resist and burst into laughter.
Hearing her laughter, Ye Hai's lips curved slightly.
Although he didn't understand what was so funny, and even found it rather noisy, seeing Song Xi so happy made it all worthwhile.
Lou Yu Ming and Yao Yi Fan, sitting in the last row, also didn't find it funny.
They had arrived just in time, each wearing a dark hat.
Lou Yu Ming hadn't wanted to wear one, but Yao Yi Fan had said that if they were recognized… Before he could finish, Lou Yu Ming, with a grim expression, put on the hat.
Everyone in the audience was intently watching the performance on stage, not paying the slightest attention to the two men in the back row.
Listening to the deafening laughter from the front, Lou Yu Ming was perplexed. "Is it that funny?"
Yao Yi Fan offered a deadpan review: "It's funny. The buildup to the punchline is gradual, and then there's a callback. Very clever."
"..." Lou Yu Ming asked, "Then why aren't you laughing?"
Yao Yi Fan turned the other side of his lips, which were slightly upturned, towards Lou Yu Ming. "I am."
Lou Yu Ming: "........."
"Where is Song Xi?" Lou Yu Ming scanned the area, but it was a sea of heads, too many to count.
Yao Yi Fan: "You can call her."
Lou Yu Ming picked up his phone.
Yao Yi Fan: "However, in such venues, phones are usually on silent."
Lou Yu Ming, who had just pressed the call button: "...You didn't say that earlier?"
"I assumed you knew."
"..."
The call, as expected, didn't go through. Lou Yu Ming's expression darkened. "How much longer until it's over?"
Yao Yi Fan glanced at his watch. "Sir, it has only just begun."
Applause thundered, erupting suddenly.
A Xiu's performance concluded, and he stepped off the stage.
The noisy environment was unbearable for Lou Yu Ming. Seeing another performer walk onto the stage, his temples twitched. He could endure it no longer and stood up. "I'm going outside."
"Understood, sir." Yao Yi Fan replied without looking back.
Lou Yu Ming couldn't fathom the charm of this stand-up comedy that had captivated even Yao Yi Fan, who usually seemed indifferent to everything. Although he did think the voice of the first performer, the one in the mask, sounded a little familiar.
He wondered if Song Xi felt the same way.
Lou Yu Ming went to the smoking area and lit a cigarette. A while later, he saw a young man walking towards him.
The young man was handsome and appeared to be in his early twenties.
For some reason, when Lou Yu Ming sized people up, he had started to pay attention to their age.
Twenty-one? Was he older than Song Xi?
Lou Yu Ming took a puff, squinting as he looked at the young man. He then began to find him somewhat familiar, until the young man suddenly called out, rushing over excitedly.
"Uncle Lou, what are you doing here!"
Lou Yu Ming's dark eyes narrowed into slits. Then, with a sudden realization, he said, "Duan Xiu?"