The following day, Xiao He was invited to visit the National Theatre.

The National Theatre of China, officially known as the National Centre for the Performing Arts, is a bureau-level public institution directly under the Beijing Municipal Government and a national-level performing arts center in China.

This place serves as a showcase for outstanding cultural arts from around the world. It comprises multiple zones, attracting exceptional performing talents from all over the country and hosting various types of performances. It is a paradise for many actors to pursue their dreams and realize their artistic expression.

Although the name of this building has been changed over time, with the word "old" added before it, and the brand-new, modern, and technologically advanced grand theater has moved to a planned new arts district, just like the New Calligraphy Association, this old theater still stands here and undertakes important exhibition obligations. It also opens its doors from time to time to several well-known colleges in Beijing, receiving students from various colleges and giving them a stage to showcase their talents.

Undoubtedly, it is open, inclusive, and filled with the atmosphere of art, nurturing visitors here in an equal and gentle way, and cultivating everyone's artistic sensibilities.

But many more people may never have been here in their lives.

Xiao He was originally one of them.

The moment he stepped into the theater, the first thing he saw was not the grand and dignified yet composed foyer, but rather the dark-patterned terrazzo floor. Looking at the smooth, rounded edges worn smooth by time, he couldn't help but chuckle.

There's no other reason than that the floor really had the simple decorating style of the last era, which reminded him of the school floors in his old days. They were basically terrazzo floors with gray cement patterns, which, apart from being old-fashioned and not showing dirt, didn't leave a deep impression or seem particularly strange.

Later, for various reasons, this style of floor tile gradually disappeared from public view. When we saw it again, we suddenly realized that it had become one of our childhood memories...

Seeing these old-fashioned decorations, reminiscent of returning to one's alma mater, in a nationally and even world-renowned grand theater immediately alleviates much of the apprehension one might feel when facing such a grand and sophisticated setting.

As Xiao He continued to observe the layout of the hall, he discovered that it also featured a lot of Chinese and Western design elements. It was clearly a collision of two different cultures, one Eastern and one Western, but the resulting Chinese and Western design was quite interesting. Xiao He had seen similar buildings many times before, and each time he was amazed by them.

I have to say, these designers' ideas are truly unique.

Just as Xiao He was about to look elsewhere, a group of young people suddenly came down from the stairwell.

Most of the young people were dressed as students, some of them carrying bags, and their eyes looked exceptionally clear. Although the overall formation was rather loose, they were generally together, chatting and laughing as they walked, which added a touch of youth and joy to the otherwise serious atmosphere.

At this point, it was too late to avoid it.

Xiao He had barely looked up when he met their bright, sparkling eyes, and the group of young people who had been chattering together suddenly stood frozen in place, as if they had fallen silent.

The moment their eyes met, that highly recognizable face immediately made everyone recognize the person's identity.

The name came out almost instinctively.

"Holy crap? Is that Brother Xiao?"

"What? What? Where? Really?"

"Ah, it really is Brother Xiao!"

"Wow! What's he doing here? Is he here for a visit too?"

"Oh my god, what incredible luck I had today! To run into him at the Grand Theater!"

Xiao He didn't try to hide his identity much today. He took off his hat and mask as soon as he came in with Yang Heng. His clothes were also very simple. When he stood in the center of the hall, he had a calm and reserved demeanor, which was not like that of a big star at all.

Xiao He had originally planned to come in casually, since he wouldn't run into any fans chasing after celebrities, so there was no need to hide his face like that, lest he leave a bad impression on the senior leaders of other theaters. However, he didn't expect to run into a group of young students as soon as he entered.

Unsurprisingly, before Xiao He and Yang Heng could say anything, a crowd of people had already gathered in front of them.

"Brother Xiao, is that really you?"

"Brother Xiao, Brother Xiao, may I take a picture?"

"Brother Xiao, I've been a fan of yours for four years! Brother Xiao, look at me!"

Xiao He hadn't expected the students to be so enthusiastic, most of them being his fans. However, he couldn't refuse their enthusiasm, so he immediately switched into "business mode," a smile spreading across his face: "Wait a minute, everyone, please be a little quieter, take your time, everyone—"

"Ah, I almost forgot." Yang Heng quickly helped to stop the people around them, frowned slightly, and then sighed helplessly, "They are all students of [N O V E L I G H T] Peking Opera, visiting here. I'm sorry, I didn't expect to run into them."

Xiao He nodded knowingly: "It's alright, it's alright—everyone's here to visit, so please keep order here and be a little quiet. Thank you for your cooperation..."

The last sentence was addressed to the excited students at the scene.

Before they could even sign the first document, a shout came from beside them: "What's going on? What are you doing? What kind of behavior is this, standing around like this!"

Upon hearing this stern rebuke, the surrounding students seemed to hear the whispers of a terrifying demon, instantly becoming obedient. Even the two female students who had initially been shouting excitedly suddenly shut their mouths and dared not speak.

Xiao He breathed a sigh of relief, feeling gratified that the situation was finally under control, and at the same time looked curiously in the direction from which the sound came.

The first thing I saw was a man of average appearance.

The other person looked to be around thirty years old, with a low nose bridge and thin lips. When looking at people, his gaze was straight and critical, without the slightest hint of a smile. He was wearing a crisp white shirt with a gray suit, his trousers were perfectly pressed, and even his leather shoes were polished to a shine.

It's clear that this must be the students' teacher.

As he walked over, he first glanced at Xiao He's face, then looked down at Xiao He's clothes with a slightly scrutinizing gaze, before finally fixing his gaze on Yang Heng next to Xiao He. He frowned and said indifferently, "Junior Brother Yang."

Yang Heng was already somewhat displeased from the beginning. When he saw the person in front of him, he only slightly raised his eyelids and nodded indifferently, "Oh, it's Senior Brother Li."

Although Xiao He felt that Yang Heng's personality was not bad and he was quite warm when they had a brief interaction before, in fact, Yang Heng only showed this side to those peers who were capable—or rather, he would only show a reluctant good attitude to those who were worthy of being his opponents.

To others, Yang Heng was a cold and quiet genius.

Yes, and only geniuses have such privileges.

In Yang Heng's eyes, everyone else was the type not worth spending much time paying attention to.

Xiao He took a step back, his gaze quickly sweeping over the two "brothers" in front of him, secretly pondering the situation before him.

This guy doesn't look like someone easy to get along with...