Rise and Slay: From Scandal Queen to Academic Genius

Chapter 402: Chapter 378: Ji Xizhi Under the Mask?!

When arriving backstage, Ji Xizhi watched Director Jin rush around giving orders and decided not to disturb him.

The backstage for the graduation ceremony was already cramped; besides the program team, there were some students in charge of the event logistics preparing in the back.

A crowd gathered together, and the air gradually became thin.

The school representative, seeing this, didn’t care whether it was the program team or not, and directly drove most of the program team staff to the hallway outside.

The crew who were driven out were initially a bit angry.

"I was already standing against the wall in the corner, and you kicked me out! How am I supposed to film backstage highlights now!"

"I wasn’t in your way! How can we collaborate like this?"

"Schools are so troublesome, there’s clearly so much space left..."

Everyone was complaining one after another until they lifted their heads and saw Ji Xizhi standing opposite them, all their anger instantly subsided, and they went silent.

Staff: "..."

Ji Xizhi was already driven out; what more could they say! Standing outside was all right then!

Several staff simultaneously scratched their noses and scattered around.

Ji Xizhi, who came out first before them, wasn’t forced out; she just figured there was no point in staying inside and was in the way, so she came out voluntarily.

After stepping out, Ji Xizhi initially went to find a random empty classroom nearby to wait.

Ji Xizhi tried several classrooms along the corridor but found them all locked, unable to enter. Just as she was about to give up and planned to wait at the backstage entrance.

A soft voice suddenly came from behind.

"Hey, classmate, excuse me, I have a part-time gig, are you interested in helping? The payment is daily cash settlement, tonight to be exact, if you just..."

Ji Xizhi turned around to see a girl dressed in a mascot costume with a headpiece tucked under her arm, sweating heavily, with her eyes lowered, yet her lips trembled slightly from fatigue.

Ji Xizhi: "Are you talking to me?"

The girl continued: "Yes, I——"

Seeing Ji Xizhi, the girl swallowed her remaining words, her face showing shock.

"Ji... Ji Xizhi?!"

Ji Xizhi responded with a sound.

"Ahhh Zhi Zhi, what are you doing here!!"

The tiredness on the girl’s face vanished entirely upon seeing Ji Xizhi.

Ji Xizhi pointed toward the backstage: "The crew needs the venue for filming later."

The girl suddenly remembered: "Oh right, right, there is such a thing!"

She still smiled, though her lips were strikingly pale.

Ji Xizhi, seeing this, instinctively took out an unopened bottle of water from her bag and handed it over.

The girl’s face lit up with excitement upon receiving the water from Ji Xizhi, she spoke stammeringly, "Thank...thank you for the water from Zhi Zhi, really thank you!"

Ji Xizhi then took out a pack of tissues and passed them to her, and asked: "What part-time job were you talking about just now?"

Upon hearing this question, half of the girl’s smile faltered, turning into a worried expression.

"This job here!" The girl patted the stuffed head under her left arm, "Today was supposed to be awarding certificates to graduates, we were supposed to swap shifts wearing this mascot costume, but the other classmate bailed on me, they told me they can’t come just now, I need to find someone to help last minute!"

B City University had an outstanding graduate return to donate to alma mater, they designed a mascot representing the school, so in recent years, the school invited people to play the mascot at graduation ceremonies, hand out certificates, and conduct ceremonies.

Usually, for roles like the mascot, the school selects student part-timers, supporting their work-study programs.

However, during this season, with the heat rising, and lack of ventilation in the assembly hall, wearing a mascot costume only adds to the discomfort, given the graduation ceremony isn’t brief, they usually alternate between two people to ensure safety.

Today there were originally two set for the job, but with one suddenly bailing, this girl was starting to struggle, she took a break trying her luck to see if any passing freshman or sophomore could help part-time.

And then... she happened to catch Ji Xizhi.

The girl was both delighted and distressed, she spoke with Ji Xizhi briefly, intending to go back and wear the headpiece again.