Chapter 6

Zhang Xiaotian organized his words along the way, and finally couldn't help asking: "Well, what have you been doing these past two days?"

"You finally asked me." Lu Bai said as if to take credit for it, "I listened to you and found something to do for myself."

How come he's even more childish now that he's in college than he was in high school? Zhang Xiaotian wanted to laugh seeing him cock his tail.

"What did you do?"

"I've joined the college basketball team," Lu Bai said. "We'll have training on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and occasionally we'll play against other colleges. Come and watch!"

"Okay." Zhang Xiaotian agreed.

"Can I pick you up after class when I'm free?" Lu Bai asked again.

"Why are you picking me up? It's not like I can't find the way."

"It's boring for me to stay here. Can't I go to study with you?" Lu Bai grabbed Zhang Xiaotian's bag and put it on his back. "Promise me, or I won't give it back to you!"

"It's up to you, come whenever you want." Zhang Xiaotian said.

Five minutes before the end of evening self-study, the class monitor held a brief class meeting.

"Given that our class's enthusiasm for participating in activities is so low, for activities like lectures and quizzes, we'll just pass the rounds in order of student numbers."

The students below complained bitterly.

"I can't help it," the class monitor said, crossing his arms at the podium. "Some school activities don't earn credits, but they do require a few people from each class to act as the atmosphere group. But no one from our class ever signs up, and it's not good to always let those easygoing kids take the rap. Let's all be considerate."

"There are two activities this time, one is a publicity event about fire safety, and the other is a red ribbon lecture. Two people will participate in each activity, and each will get 0.5 credits. There is also a situational drama about campus safety. The number of participants is not limited but must be five. If you can rank in the top three at the school level, there will be a reward of 0.5 to 1 credit. We will start with those whose student numbers end with 1." The class monitor quickly assigned tasks and ended the class meeting before the bell rang.

"Tian'er, I remember our school numbers were pretty close." Lu Bai walked beside Zhang Xiaotian, carrying his bag. "I'm number 4, what's yours?"

"Number 5." Zhang Xiaotian said.

"Number 5, let me calculate..." Lu Bai nodded roughly, "That's a sitcom."

There's no limit on the number of people, but at least five, so number five is a must. Zhang Xiaotian nodded.

"It's okay. It's said to be very exciting. Just act casually when the time comes." Lu Bai said.

"You'd better be a little more serious. You can get credits for it." Since changing his part-time job to tutoring, Zhang Xiaotian has had more free time. He is idle anyway, so it's a good opportunity to find something to do. Besides, no college student can resist the temptation of credits.

"That's only available after you've entered the school level," Lu Bai said. "Besides, it's not that easy to get into the school level competition. I might as well accompany you to a few more lectures later."

“How can you know if you don’t try?”

So in the next few days, Zhang Xiaotian took out the script and memorized two pages whenever he had time, and his level of seriousness was second only to preparing for the in-class exam.

"I admire people like Xiaotian who get things done right away," said Zhou Bin, student number 7, who will be participating in the sitcom. "The script makes my head hurt. Can we really remember so many words in such a short time?"

"I understand, Bin. For you who have lost all your brain cells from working day and night, memorizing these few pages is a bit too difficult." Xu Yan had just finished taking a shower and was now lying comfortably in bed playing with his mobile phone.

"Ah, Xu Ma, don't you have your Bin'er in your heart?" Zhou Bin pretended to wipe away tears, "Xiaotian, look at Xu Ma, you don't feel sorry for us at all!"

"Huh?" Zhang Xiaotian, who had been reciting the questions, turned to look at Zhou Bin. "I didn't listen carefully to what you two were talking about just now."

"Damn, it's okay." Zhou Bin walked over and flipped through his script, shocked. "I didn't expect you to be so serious, Xiaotian. With you here, I think I'm sure to get the credits."

"Don't get your hopes up." Zhang Xiaotian turned around and continued watching. "I just hope we don't make too many fools of ourselves on stage."

"What did you guys say?" Lu Bai pushed open the shower door and walked out, covered in steam. "I just heard Zhou Bin wailing. What happened? Did he get beaten up?"

"I was bullied by this script." Zhou Bin covered his face with his hands and looked painful.

"Don't hold me back, Tian'er." Lu Bai walked over to Zhang Xiaotian and rested his chin on his head. "Are you so serious about reciting the poem, my little disciple?"

"Stop messing around and wipe the water off your body." Zhang Xiaotian was busy memorizing his lines and had no time to pay attention to him.

"Okay, you're really ambitious." Lu Bai stood up, straightened Zhang Xiaotian's messed up hair, and asked, "When will you go on stage?"

"Next Monday," Zhang Xiaotian said. "At 7:30 p.m."

"Then I won't watch your competition. I have to go to the lecture." Lu Bai said.

"I'll record Tian'er's heroic figure for you." Zhou Bin said, and gestured a few times in front of his eyes, "With my sharp eyes."

"Whose sky is this?" Lu Bai waved his fist at Zhou Bin. "This is my sky. You have no right to it."

"Okay, okay, Tian'er." Zhou Bin rolled his eyes at him and was hit on the head by Lu Bai.

Zhang Xiaotian's last-minute effort proved to be worthwhile; his class actually took first place in the hospital and would soon represent the medical school in a school-level competition. Before Tuesday night's study session, Zhou Bin immediately shared this joyous news with everyone.

"You have no idea how amazing we are on stage. That's it!" Zhou Bin said passionately, giving everyone around him a thumbs-up. "Just our acting skills have completely blown away everyone in the video class next door!"

Zhang Xiaotian tried to stop him from talking nonsense, but it was too late.

"Then you still have to participate in school-level competitions?" a classmate asked.

"Let alone those at the school level, we wouldn't be afraid even if someone came from the city!" Zhou Bin was still beaming with joy, and when he looked up he saw Lu Bai coming in from the back door.

"Lu Bai, Xiaotian has been promoted to the school level!" Zhou Bin hurried over to greet him. "You didn't see Xiaotian's performance yesterday? He almost won an Oscar!"

Zhang Xiaotian could no longer bear it: "Zhou Bin, stop talking, it's just that I'm more familiar with the lyrics..."

"Don't be embarrassed, Xiaotian. Compared to all those people who can't even memorize their lines, our class is simply too good!"

"I just recited it a few more times out of fear of embarrassment," Zhang Xiaotian said. "I didn't expect that we would be considered outstanding."

"Advancing to the school level is indeed a great thing, but our current level won't rank high in the school-level competition." The class monitor flipped through his phone and showed everyone the list of classes that had advanced to the school level. "Give it a try, and a bicycle will become a motorcycle! Brothers, it seems we need to practice more."

"Still practicing, squad leader!" Zhou Bin said with a sad face, "Let me go..."

Lu Bai walked past Zhou Bin, who was arguing with the squad leader about cutting back on rehearsals, and went straight to Zhang Xiaotian.

"Advanced to the school level, Mr. Zhang?"

Zhang Xiaotian wanted to elbow him, but Lu Bai grabbed his arm instead. Unable to pull it out, he let him hold it. He used his other hand to swipe his phone and saw a new message from the squad leader in the sitcom group.

Tomorrow afternoon, during the free class, let’s go to the annex building and find an empty classroom to rehearse. Everyone, get there early!

"You guys have some practice." Lu Bai's voice came from above. "I think the squad leader is very energetic."

"Maybe he didn't expect our class to get this far, so he must be a little excited now." Zhang Xiaotian replied without even raising his head.

"So when is the next match?"

"Two weeks later." Zhang Xiaotian said.

"I'll skip study the day after tomorrow and go watch it." Lu Bai said.

"Just don't get discovered." Zhang Xiaotian instructed him.

"Then I'll accompany you during the rehearsal for the next two days!" Lu Bai stretched out his arm and put it on Zhang Xiaotian's shoulder.

"No, don't come." Zhang Xiaotian said, "Just come on the day of the competition."

After the study session, almost as soon as the bell rang, the study room was almost empty. Zhang Xiaotian was not in a hurry. While cleaning up, he talked to Lu Bai: "You can take a shower first when we get back to the dormitory. I..."

Before he could finish, Lu Bai received a call. He raised his phone to Zhang Xiaotian and turned to answer it.

Zhang Xiaotian packed up and went out to look for a few places before finally finding him in the tea room. Lu Bai was still whispering something on the other end of the phone when he saw Zhang Xiaotian standing at the door. He covered the receiver and said to him, "Wait for me."

Zhang Xiaotian didn't say anything, but used his lips to tell him not to rush, then stood at the door to find the script and recite it.

There were fewer and fewer people in the building, and gradually only the sound of Lu Bai whispering on the phone could be heard. Zhang Xiaotian didn't know when he stopped memorizing the questions. He just kept looking down at his phone, but his attention was actually on Lu Bai.

"...It's only been a few days since school started. Has it been over a month? I didn't even notice." Lu Bai spoke softly. The other party seemed annoyed because Lu Bai hadn't contacted her for a long time. "Okay, I'll call every week from now on."

"The school food is pretty good. I'm used to it."

"...I've adapted quite well. My former classmates are still here, so don't worry about me."

Former classmates? Zhang Xiaotian guessed that Lu Bai was referring to him, and couldn't help but look up at him. Lu Bai happened to look at him and smiled at him: "Mom, I won't say anything for now. My classmates are waiting for me to return to the dormitory. I will call you next week."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Xiaotian walked towards him and asked, "Did your aunt call you?"

"Yeah." Lu Bai walked towards the stairs side by side with Zhang Xiaotian, and looked down at the script in his hand.

"How's your recitation going?" Lu Bai asked him, "Do you want me to practice with you?"

Zhang Xiaotian handed him the script: "Come on."

Lu Bai took it and flipped open a page, reading aloud: "I'm a little short on money lately, can you lend me some money... I can't stand it, it's so embarrassing to read it out loud!"

"You can't stand this? Fortunately, it's not you who goes on stage." Zhang Xiaotian reached out to take the script back, but Lu Bai dodged him.

"What is this plot about?"

"It's about campus loans." Zhang Xiaotian reached out to grab it again, "Do you want to take the exam or not? If not, I'll take it on."

"Wait a minute, wait a minute, let me take a look." Lu Bai hid and looked at her, then asked, "Is this Zhang Ting who asked to borrow money from you your girlfriend?"

"It's in the script!" Zhang Xiaotian hit him, "Give it back to me!"

"Hey, be gentle!" Lu Bai flipped through the pages one by one. "She's the only girl?"

"See for yourself." Zhang Xiaotian said.

"I haven't recognized all the people in our class yet." Lu Bai hummed softly.

Zhang Xiaotian felt something was a little strange, but he couldn't figure out what was strange.

"That's impressive." Lu Bai nodded as he read. "You've memorized so many words. Why haven't you been so serious about this before?"

I've been getting serious a lot. Zhang Xiaotian wanted to glare at Lu Bai, but after their eyes met, he couldn't help but look away: "I just don't want to embarrass myself on stage."

"A serious man is the most attractive." Lu Bai said, "You have captured my heart. I bow down to you."

"You can do it." Zhang Xiaotian waved at him.

"Lu Bai!"

After the training, Lu Bai was just walking towards the locker room when the captain came jogging and called him from behind.

"How's it going? Are you tired from training? Let's go out for dinner later. Wanna join us?"

"No, brother." Lu Bai slowed down his pace and walked alongside him, "I have to go to evening self-study later."

"Oh, evening study..." The captain paused, then continued, "We're playing a game against the School of Chemical Engineering next week. Several of the older seniors on the team have classes that day and can't play. I think you're pretty good, so why don't you fill in?"

"What's the number?" Lu Bai asked.

"It hasn't been decided yet, we're still coordinating." The captain said, "Are you going to go? Give me a definite answer."

"Not necessarily." Lu Bai said, "I'll give you a definite answer when the specific time is announced, Captain."

"Hey, you kid?" The captain frowned. "We have to seize the opportunity. We don't have many activities in medical school to begin with. If we have more classes, we won't have the chance to participate anymore."

"Yeah." Lu Baitou didn't even raise his head, turned on his phone and checked the time.

"Our medical school's basketball team is no different from other schools. It used to be just a decoration, but since your class arrived, it's really taken on a real team. If you could be a little more enthusiastic, I'd probably nominate you as the next captain." The captain himself was filled with emotion, but there was no one to support him. "I joined the team because I dreamed of a youthful college life. Although I don't really feel the youthfulness now, I've done it, so I have to do it seriously. You should be more serious too!"

"I know." Lu Bai refused to budge. "I'll think about it."

"Just make a decision in these two days!" the captain curled his lips.

Lu Bai nodded, and saw that the time on his phone jumped to the hour. He hurriedly said goodbye to the captain, turned around and walked out. As he walked, he clicked on Zhang Xiaotian's avatar and sent him a message.

Where are you? I'll pick you up for study.

Zhang Xiaotian replied to her after a while: We are rehearsing, and we probably need to practice again. Don’t come, see you in the study room later.

Lu Bai refused, but still asked for the location and rushed over immediately. When he reached the door, for some unknown reason, he did not go in directly, but walked to the back door and looked inside through the window on the door.

The annex building is usually deserted, and even though there was a crack in the double-glazed windows, no one had repaired it. Looking out the window, the crack divided the people rehearsing in the room into two groups. Zhang Xiaotian stood blankly on the left, leaning on his props, while the others were on the right, laughing and bustling with laughter. Lu Bai thought Zhang Xiaotian was funny and wanted to take a picture, so he took out his phone and zoomed in on him. He happened to see Zhang Xiaotian also smiling, and was startled. He saw Zhang Xiaotian, with a smile on his face, walking through the crack and standing with the others. Zhou Bin saw Zhang Xiaotian coming over and said something that made everyone laugh even more, and the laughter could be faintly heard through the door.

There is no one on the left side of the crack now.

Lu Bai felt panicky for no apparent reason. Zhang Xiaotian looked the same as before, just as quiet and conscientious. His eating habits, temper, and tone of voice were all exactly the same, yet something was different. Lu Bai stared at Zhang Xiaotian for a moment, then turned and walked away.

Zhang Xiaotian thought that Lu Bai would come to find him soon, but he didn't expect that Lu Bai didn't show up when they finished. He was worried about him and felt that the clock on the wall was running slower than usual.

"Let's stop here for today." After finishing the rehearsal, the squad leader said, "If we're any later, there won't be any food in the cafeteria."

"I'm too tired, squad leader!" Zhou Bin said unceremoniously, "I won't come tomorrow."

"It doesn't matter whether you come or not. If you hold us back on the day of the competition, I will give you a lesson." The squad leader rolled up the script and pointed at him. Zhou Bin quickly raised his hands in surrender.

"I was wrong, squad leader. I'll definitely come tomorrow!" He quickly packed up his things and headed out the door. "Let's go!"

The rest of the people also walked out one after another, leaving only Zhang Xiaotian behind. Zhang Xiaotian was still wondering whether to call Lu Bai, when Lu Bai's message came first:

I'm waiting for you in the study room and brought you dinner.

Zhang Xiaotian went to the study room and easily found Lu Bai sitting in the last row. He knocked on the table. Lu Bai looked up and smiled at him: "I brought you some fried rice. You must not have had time to eat it." Lu Bai pushed the rice towards him. "Eat it quickly."

Zhang Xiaotian didn't take it, but asked him: "What about you, have you eaten it?"

Lu Bai blinked: "Guess?"

"I'm not very hungry, you eat first." Zhang Xiaotian pushed the food back. "Didn't you have training today?"

Lu Bai shook his head: "You never finish it, so I'll just eat what's left."

What's the matter with always eating his leftovers? Zhang Xiaotian really didn't understand why Lu Bai had to do this. It had already caused him misunderstandings before, and he couldn't do it again. He took off the lid of the fried rice box, put a small amount of fried rice on top, and pushed the rest over.

"Is that enough? If not, let's go eat some after self-study."

Lu Bai didn't expect him to do this and didn't move for a moment.

"Why do you always pick up my leftovers?" Zhang Xiaotian said, "Isn't it better for each of us to eat our own food?"

Lu Bai looked at him and said nothing.

"Eat quickly, it's almost time." Zhang Xiaotian handed him the chopsticks. "When you find a partner, go pick up their leftovers."