When Lin Ye walked over, the staff member from the Cultural Department was visibly stunned.
"Are you the performer for Magician's Hand?"
"That's me." Lin Ye nodded.
"Are you going to wear that outfit for your performance?" The staff member scrutinized him from head to toe.
"I was in too much of a hurry when I came out; I forgot to change clothes."
"Then do you want to go back and change before coming? This rehearsal today is the final one and needs to follow the party's full procedure to ensure there are no issues."
The staff member looked at Lin Ye with a serious expression.
However, Lin Ye shook his head.
"No need, because changing clothes is also part of my performance."
"Oh? I almost forgot you're performing magic. Well, I'm quite looking forward to it then."
"Alright, you can go wait in the waiting area over there. We'll call you up in order. You're the 8th act, right after the crosstalk finishes."
"Okay." After agreeing, Lin Ye walked to the waiting area.
At this time, other performers for other acts were also waiting there in the waiting area.
Seeing Lin Ye approach alone, two boys, one fat and one thin, wearing traditional Chinese gowns, clearly crosstalk performers, quickly came over.
"Classmate, what are you performing? Singing? Why are you alone?"
The fat one from before asked with curiosity.
"Definitely." The thin one chimed in as his straight man.
"No, I'm not singing; I'm performing magic." Lin Ye smiled.
"Magic! Wow, brother, that's a bit more technical. Did you accidentally draw lots like us? If we hadn't been drawn, we wouldn't have wanted to come."
"Who says it isn't?"
"Neither of us knows how to perform crosstalk."
"Exactly!"
"Uh, I feel like you two are quite suited for crosstalk." Lin Ye assessed the two of them before saying seriously, "I wasn't drawn; my roommate sold me out."
"Is that so? Then you're pretty unlucky."
"Does that make sense?"
"Are you two from Tianjin?"
"How did you know?" The fat one asked, shocked. "Do I have an accent?"
"No way." The thin one shook his head.
"By the way, brother, are you nervous? There are a lot of amazing people at this Freshman Party. We two are pretty nervous."
"Indeed."
"It's alright, not very nervous. I feel like you two don't seem very nervous either." Lin Ye said, suppressing a smile. He felt his stereotype of Tianjin people had deepened.
"I only look not nervous, but actually, I'm almost peeing myself."
"Hmph!"
"It's okay, brother, none of us are professionals. Just do your best on stage. It's not the Spring Festival Gala, why take it so seriously? Just think of everyone in the audience as pigs."
"Sigh."
"Alright, thank you both. I was a little nervous originally, but now I'm much better." Lin Ye looked at the two with a smile.
"You're welcome."
"It's nothing!"
"Later, my son and I will cheer you on from the audience."
"You bastard!"
After chatting with these two amusing individuals for a while, Lin Ye was indeed no longer nervous at all.
However, the other people present were clearly a bit nervous; some were taking deep breaths, others were doing their final rehearsals.
As soon as six o'clock arrived, the rehearsal officially began, and the two hosts ascended the stage amidst stirring music.
The male host was in a suit and tie, handsome and tall, while the female host wore a light blue, floor-length gown, appearing both intellectual and elegant, as well as stunningly beautiful.
The former was Si Yunshuo, the campus heartthrob of Jinghai University of Science and Technology, and the latter was Xia Shiyu, the campus belle of Jinghai University of Science and Technology.
Both were influential figures at Jinghai University of Science and Technology, existing as campus gods and goddesses.
Their appearance immediately drew cheers from everyone present.
Listening to the cheers from the audience, a hint of pride clearly flashed across Si Yunshuo's face.
Following this, the two began their opening remarks, just like a formal party.
After the opening remarks, the first song and dance performance officially began.
The song and dance performers were students from the Jinghai University of Science and Technology Student Art Troupe, all of whom were professionals.
Their opening dance immediately amazed everyone present, and even Lin Ye nodded repeatedly.
"Professionals are professionals. Seeing their performance makes me feel even more pressure."
"Indeed."
The crosstalk brothers sitting next to Lin Ye echoed each other.
While speaking, they did not forget to encourage Lin Ye, telling him not to worry.
At this point, they also asked a question that the student union staff member had asked earlier.
"Brother, why are you wearing that? You're dressed too casually."
"Who says it isn't?"
"Our skills might not be great, but our appearance has to keep up, right? If the performance isn't professional, at least dress professionally. Look at us two, it's clear we're crosstalk performers, and with our looks, we just look professional."
"I've never heard that saying."
"It's okay, I brought clothes, I'll change into them during the performance." Lin Ye said calmly, his gaze fixed on the stage.
The three of them chatted idly, sometimes about the performances on stage, sometimes about which girl in the audience was the prettiest.
Before they knew it, it was the crosstalk brothers' turn.
As soon as they got on stage, they were so nervous that one of them tripped and fell, making the audience burst into laughter.
And they did not disappoint their Tianjin heritage, performing exceptionally well on stage; the laughter in the venue never stopped throughout their entire performance.
Even Lin Ye was laughing.
"These two guys were just playing dumb earlier, telling me they weren't professional. Aren't they pretty professional?"
"Indeed, no one who makes it to the final selection is simple."
As he marveled, their crosstalk performance got better and better, with great rhythm and continuous jokes, not inferior to those performed in theaters.
When their performance ended and they bowed in thanks, the performance hall erupted in warm applause.
Amidst the applause, the two amusing individuals quickly left the stage. After returning to Lin Ye's side, they did not forget to comfort Lin Ye once again.
"Brother, don't worry, it's really just like that. It's okay if the performance isn't perfect."
"Go for it!"
Hearing their encouragement, Lin Ye also nodded.
Just then, the host on stage walked up and announced the next act.
"We have just enjoyed a hilarious crosstalk performance, and next, we will welcome a fantastical magic feast."
"Let us give our warmest applause to Lin Ye from Civil Engineering Class of 25, who will perform the magic act—Magician's Hand! Please welcome him!"
As soon as the words fell, everyone's eyes turned to the edge of the stage.
Under the gaze of countless eyes, Lin Ye, dressed in ordinary casual wear, without makeup or styled hair, looking as if he had just rushed over after class, slowly walked onto the stage.
Compared to the dazzling and distinctly styled performers who had just been on stage, he appeared exceptionally ordinary, apart from his handsome face and upright physique.
Just as the fat and thin brothers had said, professional attire makes you look more professional.
Some who had seen Lin Ye's previous performance were fine, but those who hadn't couldn't help but suspect that Lin Ye was someone who had accidentally been chosen and was forced to perform.
And it was at this moment that Lin Ye, who had walked to the center of the stage, spoke with great confidence and poise.
"I apologize, everyone, but because I had class this afternoon, I didn't have time to go back to my dorm to change."
"Please give me one minute; I will change into the outfit for this performance."
As soon as he said this, everyone present showed expressions of surprise.
"Huh? What's he going to do? Change clothes in public?"
"No way, on stage?"
"Actually, it's not impossible. I feel like he has a pretty good physique. I wonder if he has abs." A girl's eyes lit up.
Just then, Lin Ye suddenly made a motion as if to take off his clothes.
Seeing his action, everyone present was momentarily stunned.
However, the next second, Lin Ye suddenly stopped with a smile.
"I almost forgot you were still watching me. It's better if I cover myself."
With that, Lin Ye reached into his jacket pocket, and in front of everyone, pulled out a large black cloth.
In front of everyone, he single-handedly held the black cloth above his head. What surprised everyone was that even though he had clearly let go, the black cloth did not fall down.
But before they could delve into that question, one piece of clothing after another was thrown out from behind the black cloth.
Outerwear, inner wear, shoes, socks.
At this moment, everyone's eyes widened once again.
Just as Lin Ye threw the socks out from behind it, the black cloth suddenly dropped.
Involuntarily, everyone present let out gasps of surprise, and some girls instinctively covered their eyes.
However, when the black cloth completely fell, the sight that appeared before them was completely different from what they had imagined.