Friday afternoon,

The backstage area of ​​the auditorium at Jiangcheng No.1 Middle School

Like a cheap perfume bottle that has exploded due to excessive excitement.

The air was thick with the cloying, chemical scent of cheap hairspray.

It powerfully overpowered the powdery smell of foundation and the rancid smell of backstage lunch boxes.

It condensed into a thick, suffocating torrent.

The first-year high school dance team is doing leg stretches.

Several girls in stylish short skirts were chattering excitedly about the shades of lipsticks.

The sound engineer is adjusting the microphones in front.

The piercing whistling sound would occasionally drill into your ears, making your head ache.

Lin Que sat on a stack of discarded cushions in the corner.

He took Lin Jianguo's Polaroid camera and snapped a bunch of photos.

Only when he ran out of photographic paper did a smile finally appear on his face as he looked at the photos.

He took an unopened lollipop out of his pocket.

That was something Wu Di had insisted on giving him.

It's said to prevent fainting due to low blood sugar caused by stress.

He looked around at the chaotic crowd, feeling rather bored.

"Make way! Make way, everyone! Props crew, move that screen to the left!"

Li Ze held a rolled-up program in his hand, his voice so loud it could drown out the speakers.

He was wearing a sharp black suit today, his hair was slicked back, and his chin was slightly raised.

It was as if the entire backstage area was a stage built just for him.

Li Ze stopped as he passed Lin Que.

He looked Lin Que up and down in his unremarkable school uniform.

He let out a very short, sharp hum through his nose.

"Lin, you're not planning to wear this on stage, are you?"

Li Ze pointed to Lin Que's slightly faded sweatpants.

Lin Que unwrapped the candy and popped the lollipop into his mouth; it was strawberry flavored.

"What's the problem? I'm going to give a recitation, not to participate in a beauty pageant."

"This is the New Year's Eve party, and the city leaders are all sitting below."

Li Ze frowned and reached up to straighten his bow tie.

"Can you show a little respect for the stage?"

When the lights come on later, your school uniform will look all dusty and drab.

Anyone who didn't know better would think he skipped class to get in.

"That's perfect."

Lin Que said vaguely.

"That's more realistic. Isn't the main theme of our school to recall the bitter past and appreciate the sweet present? I call this staying true to the theme."

Li Ze was momentarily speechless:

"Fine, keep being sarcastic."

Lin Que, don't blame me for not reminding you, during the rehearsal just now,

The skit performed by Class 5 of Grade 11 was a huge hit, and the whole audience burst into laughter.

"By the way, Lin."

Li Ze seemed to suddenly remember something.

He tapped his palm professionally with the program booklet rolled up in his hand.

"The production team made a slight adjustment to the process."

We've decided to put your recitation after the skit "Exam Storm" as the grand finale.

You know, a successful party,

It's all about perfectly orchestrating the audience's emotional curve.

When the audience's emotions are pushed to their peak by comedy, a strong 'anchor' is needed to bring the atmosphere down and complete the transition from revelry to reflection.

This position is crucial; not just anyone can hold it.

He smiled slightly.

"We all agree that only you, the grand prize winner, deserve this honor."

So, I'm handing over the most important position to you.

Wouldn't this be the highest tribute our production team can give you?

Wu Di, who was listening nearby, was furious.

"Brother Que, he..."

"Director Li is right."

Lin Que stopped Wu Di and stood up.

His lazy demeanor finally subsided somewhat, and he looked at Li Ze and smiled.

"I really have to thank Director Li for his trust in such an important position."

Looking at his ungrateful appearance, Li Ze's contempt deepened, and he turned and left.

"Brother Que, are you crazy? He's pushing us into a fire pit!"

"That skit was so lively, wasn't it just deliberately designed to make you ruin it?"

Wu Di was so anxious that he kept stamping his feet.

"No."

Lin Que smiled, a smile that held a hint of amusement.

"He handed me a bucket of oil."

Wu Di was even more confused:

What kind of oil?

Lin Que stood up and patted Wu Di on the shoulder.

Stretching his stiff neck, he said slowly:

"Oil that makes a fire burn brighter."

As they were talking, Shen Qingqiu walked around from the front desk in her high heels.

Are you ready?

Shen Qingqiu walked up to Lin Que, her voice very low.

"The photos and background music are all in here. I've already spoken to the sound engineer, and he'll only leave you a single overhead light."

"OK, thank you, Teacher Shen!"

Lin Que took the USB drive and twirled it between his fingertips.

Shen Qingqiu looked at his nonchalant attitude, opened her mouth,

He seemed to want to give some instructions, but in the end he just sighed:

"Lin Que, I don't expect you to perform exceptionally well, just don't cause any trouble."

Those photos…

"teacher."

Lin Que put away the USB drive, his smile fading, and looked at her with unusual seriousness.

"Some words seem too sentimental to say in normal circumstances, but in certain situations, they are like wine."

Tonight, I'm in charge of pouring the drinks; whether they get drunk or not is their problem.

Shen Qingqiu was stunned for a moment, then shook her head helplessly.

She reached out and straightened his slightly rolled-up school uniform collar.

"Go ahead. Wait backstage."