Chapter 32 It is said that Wang Kan originally intended to fight...

It is said that Wang Kan originally planned to sing and play the guitar, but now, due to tonsillitis, she can only produce a hoarse, breathy voice. Since her solo singing cannot suddenly become a solo performance, she had to withdraw from the competition.

Fang Minzhou wanted to scold him for being so rude, since his throat was already sore, yet he kept talking and singing. But seeing him slumped listlessly on the table, she couldn't bring herself to say anything harsh.

Wang Kan suddenly handed her a sketchbook with a drawing on it, on which was a crying face with wide, thin tears streaming down its face.

Fang Minzhou: "..."

She looked at Wang Kan, who was pouting, exactly like the expression he had drawn. He even pretended to close his eyes tightly, but when he opened them again, he burst out laughing first.

After laughing for a while, seeing that Fang Minzhou didn't react, Wang Kan felt a little embarrassed, but pretended to be indifferent, shrugged, took the notebook back, and rummaged through the drawer to find the textbook she would need for the next class.

Once his gaze was no longer on her, Fang Minzhou finally curled up the corners of her mouth, but immediately cleared her throat and suppressed the smile.

It's rare to have a day of peace and quiet, but... I'm actually a little unaccustomed to it.

Like the last practice before the competition, they stood in the formation used in the competition at the back of the classroom, a total of four rows. Fang Minzhou stood on the far left of the second row, and Wang Kan stood behind her. Fang Minzhou did not hear Wang Kan's voice until the end of the practice.

She couldn't help but turn around and glance at him.

Wang Kan looked at her too, and the two stared at each other. Suddenly, he started moving his mouth, in an exaggerated way, as if he was reproducing how he had been lip-syncing just now.

This time, Fang Minzhou couldn't hold back and was amused.

Wang Kan whistled silently.

Fang Minzhou rolled her eyes.

Fang Minzhou felt a mix of emotions.

She thought Wang Kan was carefree and irresponsible, but perhaps that was also why he could take things in stride no matter what happened. If it were her, she would definitely feel very sorry for him.

Or perhaps he says he wants to win the championship but actually doesn't care? Then... what is he truly serious about? She doesn't think anyone doesn't crave applause and flowers, especially at their age. Even if next month, no one might remember who the top ten singers were.

In the past, such performances and competitions at No. 1 Middle School were held in the school auditorium, but this year, for some reason, the stage for the arts festival performance was set up on the playground. Perhaps it was thought to be more interactive, so when it was time to gather, all you could see were teachers and students carrying chairs, like ants carrying food in the twilight.

Some boys will help girls move chairs. Some are simply happy to help, some have an excessive desire to perform, and some are being ordered around. However, most people still move their own chairs.

After eating, Fang Minzhou returned to the classroom with Ouyang Qian and several other girls. They slowly moved the chairs to the playground, with two rows for each class. She and Ouyang Qian sat side by side.

Ouyang Qian knew this would definitely cause her trouble. Sure enough, Wang Kan arrived, picked up a chair, and stood aside to watch her. But she looked back at him, looking blank, pretending not to know what he meant. Fang Minzhou went even further, bending down to tie her shoelaces.

Ouyang Qian chuckled inwardly, finding Wang Kan's expression quite amusing.

Finally, Zheng Yanhang poked him, "What are you doing?"

Wang Kan took a deep breath and had no choice but to sit down behind Fang Minzhou.

Because the seats had to accommodate three grades, there was very little space between them. Fang Minzhou didn't want Wang Kan to sit behind her, and a strange feeling welled up again. She leaned back in her chair and sat up straight.

Although Wang Kan couldn't see Fang Minzhou's expression, some of her little gestures made him want to laugh. Her ponytail was tied a little higher than usual tonight, revealing a small patch of skin on the back of her neck that her collar couldn't cover. After staring at it for a while, Wang Kan thought this position was fine; it was quite close.

The program was handed out before the performance and passed to Fang Minzhou. She glanced at it and noticed that among the popular and classic performances, the song "Mianmian" next to Wang Kan's name stood out.

“Mianmian…” she murmured the word to herself, her pursed lips parted slightly and touched lightly, her tongue pressed against her front teeth. Thinking of the “Minmin” hidden in Wang Kan’s slightly hoarse singing voice that night, Fang Minzhou’s face began to burn.

It was dark, but the stage lights were blindingly bright.

Fang Minzhou vaguely remembered the melody of the song, but had no idea what the lyrics were. Although Wang Kan couldn't sing it anymore, she was still scared, afraid it contained something shocking or shocking, and felt extremely ashamed. Finally, she decided not to torture herself anymore and took out her phone to search for it. Luckily, she had brought it with her today.

When I saw the lyrics, I was a little dumbfounded.

Like... songs about heartbreak and breakups.

But that night, Wang Kan sang in a relaxed and cheerful manner, and pretended to be affectionate. Even though that affection seemed frivolous, it was not sad at all.

Fang Minzhou understood. Just like the song "Little Insect" performed backstage last year, Wang Kan had used a few words from it to his advantage, a case of using someone else's talent to curry favor.

She couldn't help but feel "relieved" again that Wang Kan couldn't sing anymore, otherwise... and what if others discovered his intentions?

But... it's not without its regrets.

It's simply a pity.

A new message pop-up from Wang Kan suddenly appeared in QQ.

Fang Minzhou's breath hitched, and after a long while, she finally decided to click on it.

Wang Kan: It's so annoying not being able to speak.

Wang Kan: I was originally planning to surprise you with some cool moves [sweat], but luckily I sang a few lines beforehand.

Wang Kan: Actually, I used to think this song was quite sad, but now I want to laugh every time I hear it.

Fang Minzhou gripped her phone tightly. Her throat wasn't inflamed, but swallowing this mouthful of saliva was still difficult.

The competition has begun, and now a boy on stage is belting out "Chasing Dreams with a Pure Heart." Some people in front of him have stood up and are waving their fists and hands, casting shadows like a sparse forest of varying heights. The glowing phone screens are like small ponds under the moonlight.

Wang Kan sent a new message: But if you stop talking to me in the future, I can listen to this song until my heart breaks.

Fang Minzhou suppressed the urge to turn her head away.

His writing wasn't very good, but he often said surprising things, leaving her unsure whether to laugh, be angry, or cry. How was she supposed to respond?

Fang Minzhou: Understood

Wang Kan: /pouting

Wang Kan: /smug

The warm evening breeze in April melts unspoken secrets into sugar, coating the heart in sweetness several times over. The flowing syrup dries and turns into heart-shaped amber.

Fang Minzhou looked at the stage and slowly took a breath.

At seventeen or eighteen, during the transition to adulthood, there seems to be a special "first birthday ceremony" or "grasping ceremony".

There are many things in front of them, and many things that adults persuade or entice them to take. But their eyes are no longer innocent and ignorant. They appear obedient on the surface, but secretly hide some of their favorite little things. Then, together with their accomplices who have met their gaze, they play the role of children who have escaped from the banquet, secretly playing an ambiguous game of building blocks in a corner.

A word is a building block, a glance is too. Back and forth, the foundation is not solid, but the building is built higher and higher, teetering on the brink of collapse. There is often fear, but there is also a moment when I inexplicably swell up, standing on the edge, as if I really have the courage to ride the wind and go to an unknown place.

Fang Minzhou was suddenly nudged by Ouyang Qian next to her. She was startled, and Ouyang Qian was also startled. They looked at each other, then Ouyang Qian smiled, pulled her over, and held up her phone, "Take a picture."

Fang Minzhou realized what was happening, moved closer to Ouyang Qian, and the two of them put their heads together, smiling as they looked at the camera.

In the next picture, Wang Kan appears in the empty space above her head, making a peace sign and baring her teeth.

In the next picture, Zheng Yanhang is making a funny face, and Wu Cheng is smiling as if he was suddenly pulled in.

"You guys are so annoying!" Ouyang Qian complained.

"No problem, no problem," Zheng Yanhang said enthusiastically. "Come on, let me take the pictures for you."

Ouyang Qian: "No, if we're going to take pictures, let Wang Kan take them."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone fell silent.

Ouyang Qian glanced at Fang Minzhou, then at Wang Kan, then at Zheng Yanhang who didn't dare to breathe loudly, and Wu Cheng who remained calm and collected. "It's because Wang Kan is a better photographer."

Fang Minzhou: "..."

Wang Kan smiled silently.

Left with no other choice, Fang Minzhou faced Wang Kan's camera directly, took the picture, and quickly turned away. Honestly, she wanted to pinch Ouyang Qian and secretly glare at her, but the latter still had an innocent expression. Fang Minzhou was almost laughing in exasperation.

After the individual competitions were over, it was time for the class choir performance. The order was determined by drawing lots, and Class 8 was the third to perform.

The first row went up the steps on the right, followed by the second row. Fang Minzhou looked to the right to adjust her position when Wang Kan walked over and faced her. He raised an eyebrow at her slightly and quickly took a small, deep breath, probably to tell her not to be nervous.

Fang Minzhou thought to herself, "It's not like I'm singing solo, why would I be nervous?"

But when I looked straight ahead and my eyes were almost blinded by the headlights, my heart still raced.

The last time I stood on stage seemed to be during a choir competition in my first year of high school. I sang casually and left the stage. Now, even if I try to recall it, my mind goes blank, as if it has been overexposed.

Although everyone wasn't particularly dedicated during rehearsals, they all put on quite a show during the actual competition. The girls in front of and to Fang Minzhou's right sang louder and louder, so she couldn't hear her own voice, nor could she hear Wang Kan behind her.

She looked down at the audience, but couldn't see anything clearly; everything was blurred into a blinding ball of light. She looked into the distance, and could vaguely make out the outline of hills, like soft waves undulating in her heart.

A gentle breeze blew by, and her heart swelled again. When she came to her senses, Fang Minzhou realized that her voice was also unusually loud, much louder than when she sang in the bathroom.

The horizon disappeared into the night, and she suddenly wanted to hear her own voice.