Chapter 14 Holding Tight

Chapter Summary: Everyone saw two hands clasped tightly together through the gap.

Backstage at the auditorium.

Fu Xianyin looked at Cheng Zhaozhao, who was constantly on the go, and said with a smile, "Who is going to go on stage? You seem more nervous than me."

Cheng Zhaozhao let out a breath and said, "You still have to talk! Aren't you nervous at all about going on stage with so many people watching you?"

She looked at Fu Xianyin's half-finished test paper and complained, "You still have the mind to write a test paper."

Fu Xianyin: "Compared to that, I'm more nervous about next week's monthly exam."

Cheng Zhaozhao sighed, "Forget it, I don't understand the world of academic geniuses."

Fu Xianyin smiled and continued doing her practice problems.

She was telling the truth; the upcoming monthly exam, just a week away, felt like a mountain weighing on her. This was her first monthly exam since transferring schools, and Chen Huimei took it extremely seriously.

At 3 a.m. yesterday, Chen Huimei called her again, saying that Fu Yeyang got first place in the grade in the back-to-school exam, and that the conversation inevitably turned to her monthly exam next week.

Fu Xianyin shook her head, trying to shake away Chen Huimei's shrill screams from her mind.

She did some more practice problems before Chen Yan came over.

Fu Xianyin stood up: "Hello, teacher."

Chen Yan: "How are the preparations for the program going?"

Fu Xianyin: "Gu Linzhao and I have worked together many times. We have memorized the script very well, so there won't be any problems."

Chen Yan's gaze fell on the paper that Fu Xianyin had spread out, and she felt a mix of emotions.

The cultural performance is just around the corner, and the auditorium is in chaos, while backstage it's even busier. Everyone is either nervously preparing or checking their costumes and outfits.

Only she could find a small corner in such a messy place to concentrate on doing her homework.

When Chen Yan first met Fu Xianyin, she instinctively thought that the girl was an art student. Not only was she beautiful, but she also had stage experience. Chen Yan even thought at the time that as long as the girl's academic performance was passable, she would definitely be able to get into a good art school next year.

Now it seems that this child's academic performance is more than just passable.

Chen Yan: "That's all. There are usually no special circumstances during poetry recitations." Her gaze fell on Fu Xianyin's face, and she asked, "Why is your makeup so light?"

It looks like I didn't even apply foundation; I just used concealer to cover up the dark circles under my eyes and put on some lipstick.

Fu Xianyin laughed: "I don't wear makeup much myself, and I'm not very good at layering it."

Chen Yan: "Didn't you hire a makeup artist?"

Fu Xianyin: "It's too much trouble. Finding a makeup artist requires leaving school, and leaving school requires asking for leave." She repeated: "It's too much trouble."

Chen Yan: ...

He's a typical example of someone who relies on his good looks.

She sighed, "Then come here, I'll give you some more nourishment."

Fu Xianyin couldn't refuse, so she had no choice but to follow Chen Yan to the dressing room.

Her skin was naturally very good, delicate and fair; the only blemish was the dark circles under her eyes from staying up late, which she had already covered up herself. Chen Yan didn't reapply her foundation, just pressed some powder on it, and then started applying her other makeup.

Fu Xianyin's eyebrows didn't really need any shaping, so Chen Yan just applied some eyebrow powder as a token gesture, and her high nose bridge also saved her the trouble of applying highlighter and contour.

Chen Yan simply applied some earth-toned eyeshadow, added a slight hook to the outer corner of the eyeliner, brushed on mascara, and applied a thin layer of blush. Finally, she added a touch of shimmering highlighter to the eyelids and the tip of the nose, and the makeup was finished.

After applying the highlights, Chen Yan looked left and right, and had to admit a fact.

With a face like that, there's really no need to hire a makeup artist.

To put it simply, it takes skill to make this face look ugly.

"Thank you, teacher."

Fu Xianyin blinked her curled eyelashes and said.

Chen Yan: "Alright, go and get ready again. If you drink water or eat something later, remember to touch up your lipstick before going on stage."

"good."

With 15 minutes left before the cultural performance began, and her performance being in the middle to back section, she had less than two hours to perform.

Just enough time to finish one exam paper.

Fu Xianyin was hesitating whether to go downstairs to get a biology exam paper when she heard Cheng Zhaozhao's voice:

"Yinyin, you're done with your makeup? So fast!"

Cheng Zhaozhao skipped over, leaned closer to look at her, and then covered her mouth and said, "Wow, so beautiful, I'm dying of beauty."

Fu Xianyin was amused by her: "I was already wearing makeup, so Teacher Chen helped me with eyeshadow and mascara, which is why it was quick."

Lin Anxu, standing nearby, also showered her with compliments: "This beautiful lady has truly become a fairy!"

"You have such a sweet tongue," Fu Xianyin joked. "But I don't have any bread with me this time. I'll get some for you when we get back to the classroom."

Lin Anxu: "Let me make it clear beforehand, I'm not doing this for the cheese bread, I'm being sincere."

He looked at Gu Linzhao: "Right, Brother Zhao? This beautiful lady looks gorgeous today!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Xianyin tilted her head slightly, her beautiful eyes meeting Gu Linzhao's gaze.

The moment their eyes met, Gu Linzhao felt as if time had slowed down.

The girl's long, flowing hair was styled into a princess updo, the loose strands resembling satin. Her already fair face now seemed to glow, and her eyes, beneath her curled eyelashes, were like pools of clear, sparkling water.

After waiting for a while without any agreement, Lin Anxu reached out and nudged Gu Linzhao, saying, "Hurry up and agree with me, Brother Zhao."

Gu Linzhao stared at the spring water, and suddenly blurted out a sentence:

"You were already wearing makeup?"

"What's wrong, Brother Zhao?"

Lin Anxu looked up at the sky and sighed, "You're not helping me either, I really can't explain myself."

Cheng Zhaozhao reflexively retorted, "It's because you're a bad person. Look at me, Yinyin never doubts me."

The sounds of the two playfully fighting seemed to fade into the distance. Fu Xianyin looked at Gu Linzhao and smiled, "What kind of question is that?"

Gu Linzhao regretted it as soon as he finished speaking.

He didn't even know what question he had asked.

In that instant, his mind suddenly went blank.

"It's melted."

Fu Xianyin suddenly answered his question: "Although it's very light, I also wore lipstick to cover my dark circles."

She laughed: "Can't you tell from that level?"

Cheng Zhaozhao chimed in from the side, "They're such straight men, it's good enough that they can't tell you've put on makeup like that. Hey Yinyin, do you need to go back to the classroom to get something? I'll go with you."

"Okay. I'll go back and get a test paper." Fu Xianyin picked up her things and walked out.

Lin Anxu: "Then Brother Zhao and I won't go down. Give me the things, and I'll hold them for you."

Fu Xianyin didn't stand on ceremony with him. She handed the speech manuscript and pencil case to Lin Anxu, then walked past Gu Linzhao and went out with Cheng Zhaozhao.

The backstage area was messy, and Fu Xianyin leaned closer to Gu Linzhao as she passed by.

Gu Linzhao felt the fabric on his arm being rubbed, and almost at the same time, the faint floral scent of the girl was carried by the wind and entered his nostrils.

Gu Linzhao felt as if his five senses were suddenly magnified in that instant.

The time, which had been a few beats slower, suddenly sped up as if it were catching up.

In short, by the time Gu Linzhao realized what was happening, Fu Xianyin and Cheng Zhaozhao had already returned.

Fu Xianyin was holding her biology notes and exam papers, with two cheese bread rolls piled up in her arms.

She took the speech from Lin Anxu's arms and placed it on the table, gave Lin Anxu a piece of bread, and said, "Here, a reward for being sweet-talking."

She held the other bread wrapper in her delicate fingers and waved it in front of Gu Linzhao: "You didn't praise me, you didn't give me a reward."

Lin Anxu had already started eating when he saw the bread and laughed loudly, "See, Brother Zhao? I was just helping you out. Who told you not to say anything? Now you have no bread to eat, huh?"

Gu Linzhao: ...

He looked at the bread in front of him and suddenly felt a little itch to eat it.

He said softly, "I didn't say it looked bad."

Fu Xianyin held the bread and shook it: "I didn't say you said it wasn't good-looking, I meant you didn't say it was good-looking."

Gu Linzhao chuckled: "Are you reciting a tongue twister?"

Fu Xianyin rolled her eyes at him: "What I say is none of your business."

She was holding a piece of bread, about to start doing her homework, when suddenly a voice came from behind her:

"It looks great."

Fu Xianyin then handed the bread to Gu Linzhao with satisfaction: "See? I should have told you sooner."

Gu Linzhao took the bread without saying a word.

Fu Xianyin thought he was joking with her, but he wasn't.

He wasn't joking, nor did he want bread.

He was just...

Using the excuse of needing bread, he spoke the truth.

In the corner, Song Yaoge watched Gu Linzhao holding the bread and took two steps back.

Ji Zhumiao comforted her, "They must have been joking, Shishi, don't be sad. If it were you, Gu Linzhao would definitely say it looks good too."

Song Yaoge felt a pang of sadness in her heart.

She knew they were joking, and she also knew that if she asked, given Gu Linzhao's upbringing, he wouldn't refuse to compliment her on her looks.

But what she wanted wasn't to be praised for her looks; what she wanted was the right to joke with Gu Linzhao.

The boy's manners were open to everyone, but the right to joke freely with him was something she could never touch.

Ji Zhumiao pursed her lips and said, "Shishi, let's go, the arts performance is about to start. Sigh, Fu Xianyin is really stealing the spotlight this time. Several people from other classes just asked me if I had her WeChat."

"You're here too, why did you ask me to add Fu Xianyin on WeChat?"

"Do you think that if something goes wrong during Fu Xianyin's performance later, she might steal the spotlight even more?"

The noisy sounds seemed to be blurred, leaving only faint background noise in Fu Xianyin's ears.

She was focused on writing the test paper, and looked up after finishing the last word.

The timing was perfect.

She breathed a sigh of relief and decided to take the manuscript with her and read it as she walked.

Fu Xianyin twisted her slightly sore waist, and the manuscript accidentally fell to the ground. As she squatted down to pick it up, she saw Song Yaoge crawling behind the curtain.

Song Yaoge heard the sound of her dropping the manuscript, turned around abruptly, and unexpectedly met Fu Xianyin's gaze.

Fu Xianyin had only raised her hand halfway to greet someone when she saw Song Yaoge lift her skirt and run away.

She was a little confused, but didn't take it seriously. She sent Gu Linzhao a message asking where he was. After receiving a reply, she went to meet him and made final preparations before going on stage.

Unauthorized personnel were not allowed to enter the backstage area after the performance began, but Cheng Zhaozhao, as the arts and culture committee member, was not kicked out. She took Fu Xianyin and Gu Linzhao's phones and their homework, and gave them a thumbs-up.

Fu Xianyin returned the gesture of encouragement, and after the host announced the program, she and Gu Linzhao went on stage together while the curtain was being drawn.

A staircase was set up on the stage for the two to stand on. Once they were in place, the curtain was drawn and the lights came on.

The beam of light fell on Fu Xianyin, making it difficult for her to open her eyes.

The stage lights seemed brighter than during the rehearsal.

Fu Xianyin frowned slightly and forcefully opened her eyes.

As the background music played, Gu Linzhao recited the first line of the poem.

Fu Xianyin followed closely behind.

The script was so well-known that it could almost be recited from muscle memory. The two worked together seamlessly, and as the emotions gradually intensified, Fu Xianyin's voice rose.

However, after saying only one word, Fu Xianyin realized something was wrong.

Her microphone volume seemed to have been suddenly turned down.

Backstage, Chen Yan also noticed something was wrong.

She said, "Turn up the volume on Fu Xianyin's microphone."

The student in charge of the microphone operated it for a moment and said, "That seems to be a spare microphone; it's not connected to the control panel."

"A spare microphone?"

Chen Yan was furious: "Who was in charge of this part? They brought up a microphone that had no battery!"

The male singer's voice was already quite loud, and Fu Xianyin's microphone was too low. The climax was just around the corner, and if something went wrong at this point, the microphone couldn't be replaced.

On stage, Gu Linzhao glanced at Fu Xianyin, and then suddenly pulled the microphone off the microphone stand.

Fu Xianyin caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of her eye and instantly understood what she meant.

She also unplugged the microphone, and after Gu Linzhao finished reading his sentence, the two looked at each other and simultaneously raised their fists.

The microphones are exchanged while the fist is clenched.

Chen Yan, backstage, breathed a sigh of relief and said, suppressing her anger, "Alright, stop fussing."

The action wasn't abrupt; although switching microphones wasn't very natural, it was the best solution.

Fu Xianyin's hand holding the microphone trembled slightly.

As the show progressed, she and Gu Linzhao had reached the edge of the steps, and she was now standing right where the lights were shining directly into her eyes.

The intense, warm yellow light invaded her vision; for a moment, she could see nothing but light.

As the music ended and applause erupted, Fu Xianyin instinctively bowed. However, the spotlight made her already unsteady stance even more precarious, and the bow caused her center of gravity to shift, making her almost fall straight down the steps.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed her.

The boy's warm palm pressed against her cold arm, then released her the moment she regained her footing.

Fu Xianyin breathed a sigh of relief as the curtain slowly closed and the lights gradually dimmed.

Her vision was still not completely clear, so Fu Xianyin could only steady herself to avoid falling.

She watched the curtain slowly close, enduring those final, agonizing seconds.

My cold palms were suddenly enveloped by a strong warmth.

A second before the curtain closed, everyone saw two hands clasped tightly in the gap.