Chapter 69 P-Floating
After confining them for almost a month, the base, fearing that their beautiful mental state would become even more beautiful, mercifully released them to go out for some fresh air, but they could not go too far and had to return to the base before 5 p.m.
The city was too far for them to go back, but they could take a tricycle parked by the roadside to a nearby town. The five of them, plus Su Beichen and Shen Zhi, made a total of seven people, and two tricycles set off.
The area is surrounded by mountains, water, and fields, with lush rural scenery suitable for sketching. The training camp is a targeted training program, so the base probably won't let them out to sketch.
Chu Beiling thought he could wait until the training camp ended and springtime arrived before coming over. He turned to the old man driving the tricycle and asked, "Grandpa, where is this?"
The old man driving the tricycle said, "In Tongxiang, if you have time when you get to town, you can take a bus from there and get to Wuzhen in about forty minutes. You can go there and have some fun."
Chu Beiling thanked him sweetly, then turned to Xing Yu incredulously and said, "The school actually brought us all the way to Jiaxing." After thinking for a moment, he looked at Xing Yu and asked for his opinion, "Xing Yu, since we're already here, I'd like to go see Wuzhen!"
“Go if you want to,” Xing Yu said.
Chu Beiling's eyes curved into a smile, revealing two white canine teeth, and he habitually said, "Okay, then I'll ask Li Dong and the others if they want to come along."
Xing Yu paused for a moment, pursed his lips, and ultimately said nothing more.
Chu Beiling noticed his subtle change in mood in time: "What's wrong?"
Xing Yu shook his head and said curtly, "It's nothing."
Chu Beiling pouted, thinking to herself: "It's nothing? It's freezing! They practically have 'I'm unhappy, come and comfort me' plastered on their foreheads. And they still say it's nothing?"
Well, who told him to be Princess Xing? He needs to be coaxed.
Chu Beiling waved his hand and said, "Forget it, let's not call them, lest they disturb our date..."
The young master, who was always talking nonsense, realized something was wrong and stopped himself in time, changing his tune: "Just the two of us will go, we won't invite them."
Chu Beiling actually preferred to be alone with Xing Yu. At the base, they spent most of their time together, and now that they had finally come out, it felt like they were being disturbed by so many people.
They're all friends, and it's not very kind of me to only want to be alone with Xing Yu, but Princess Xing is unhappy, so I'm her black knight.
How could he let the little princess be unhappy?
Well, so be it if he's not fair. He's not a good person anyway.
Chu Beiling leaned close to Xing Yu's ear and whispered, "Let's go secretly, okay, Brother Yu?"
The blue motorcycle tricycle roared through the fields and mountain roads. Due to its excessive power, the gasoline-smelling interior trembled. On the smooth road, they were bounced around like roasted chestnuts. Their shoulders, thighs and arms, which were close together, would collide with each other from time to time, be thrown into the air, then separate, and then collide with each other again in the next second.
Amidst the roaring and commotion, Xing Yu glanced indifferently at Chu Beiling, replied with a "Okay," and quickly looked away.
Xing Yu's heart was racing, and he was breathing shallowly.
That was close! I almost broke free and confessed my feelings to him.
Chu Beiling's hand, which was on his wrist, slowly moved and squeezed his wrist, forming a circle in his palm. Xing Yu turned his head and looked at him with a displeased expression: "What's wrong!"
"I accidentally touched your heartbeat and wanted to confirm it." Chu Beiling quickly let go of his hand.
He wondered if heartbeats were contagious, but he felt his heartbeat was getting faster and faster, following Xing Yu's lead.
Xing Yu's Adam's apple bobbed, his feelings somewhat complicated. Chu Beiling could always easily catch his emotions and gradually realized the ambiguity in his words, but never thought about it carefully.
—I don't know if Chu Beiling is unwilling or afraid, or deliberately avoiding it, or if he still can't figure it out!
Which one exactly?
Xing Yu didn't even dare to ask the most basic question, fearing that if he spoke, things would be over between them. So he could only suppress his intense agitation and pretend to be nonchalant, maintaining his calm facade.
At this moment, Chu Beiling spoke up: "What should we do? Xing Yu, I forgot to take out my sketchbook. I've been drawing so much lately that I even forgot to bring such an important thing with me."
Xing Yu slowly exhaled and naturally replied, "It's okay, I brought it."
Chu Beiling was somewhat satisfied and a little smug: "Well, then I'll use yours for now."
Xing Yu's sketchbook and his art book are both loose-leaf, so they can be opened at any time. He can sketch first and then color them later without much trouble.
Chu Beiling then remembered that there were two other people in the carriage, and he turned around to strike up a conversation with them.
Just then, Shen Zhi, who was sitting opposite, half-covered his mouth and whispered something in Su Beichen's ear. No one knew what he said, but Su Beichen, who had an icy expression, actually smiled.
Chu Beiling felt that something was off about the two of them. They didn't seem like friends; their intimacy was far beyond that of friends. If they weren't friends, what else could they be...?
It's okay for friends to be this close; he and Xing Yu are the same way.
He's probably overthinking it.
Noticing the scrutiny, Su Beichen turned his head and asked, "What's wrong?"
Chu Beiling was caught peeping, and he smiled awkwardly: "It's nothing, I just thought you two had a pretty good relationship."
He glanced at Xing Yu, and suddenly felt a warmth in his chest. The young master quickly looked away and said to Li Beichen, "Same as the two of us."
Su Beichen raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"
Su Zhi asked curiously, "How long have you two been together?"
Chu Beiling frowned slightly, feeling that Su Zhi's words were a bit strange, but it didn't seem like a big problem for friends to say they were just hanging out together.
"First year of high school, I guess," Young Master Chu replied after thinking for a moment.
That's not a big problem. Although he and Xing Yu have known each other since childhood, they only really became close in their first year of high school.
After asking Xing Yu for his opinion and obtaining his consent, Chu Beiling told the two people opposite him some trivial and interesting stories about him and Xing Yu.
Chu Beiling didn't mention anything about Xing Yu's private affairs, only talking about the two of them.
After the boy opened his notebook, the two people opposite him began to tell their story.
As Chu Beiling listened to Shen Zhi talk about his relationship with Su Beichen, that feeling of 'not being friends' returned. This thought popped up, but he quickly convinced himself to let it go; there was nothing wrong between friends.
He and Xing Yu are the same, it's not a big problem.
Chu Beiling and Shen Zhi chatted the whole way. Su Beichen only became more talkative when Su Zhi was mentioned. Otherwise, he was like Xing Yu, occasionally chiming in with a few words.
The four teenagers chatted about all sorts of things, laughing and talking along the way. When they talked about studying art, what they wanted to do in the future, and what majors they wanted to study at art academies, they were quite excited.
Shen Zhi's face changed.
Chu Beiling knew that Su Beichen had passed both the joint entrance exam and the entrance exams for the China Academy of Art and the Central Academy of Fine Arts, but he chose to repeat a year because he failed the academic exam. Shen Zhi was the opposite; he had high scores in academic subjects, but he failed the entrance exam for the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and he chose to repeat a year because he planned to take the exam for the Central Academy of Fine Arts.
Just as Chu Beiling was about to comfort the other person that it was okay to do it again, she heard Shen Zhi say, "Speaking of this makes me angry."
He glared at Su Beichen: "This guy is something else. During the college entrance exam, he didn't write the Chinese essay and handed in a blank last page of the math paper. Otherwise, he would have gone to the Central Academy of Fine Arts long ago."
Su Beichen put his arm around his shoulder and comforted him, "Okay, don't be angry. It's been half a year. Besides, I just wanted to spend time with you."
Shen Zhi slapped his hand away: "I'm angry that you don't care about your own future. The Central Academy of Fine Arts only admits a few dozen students every year. Can't you go to the Central Academy of Fine Arts and wait for me?!"
They had already argued about controlling the college entrance exam scores once after the results were released, and bringing it up now makes Shen Zhi's stomach hurt again.
Su Beichen pinched his cheek: "Okay~ don't be angry, I was wrong, okay? Besides, it's no big deal to do it again."
Chu Beiling and Xing Yu exchanged a glance, both seeing the awkwardness in each other's eyes, a desire to disappear on the spot. At the same time, they admired Su Beichen's courage in ruining the college entrance examination for Chen Zhi.
While admiring it, Chu Beiling, like Shen Zhi, didn't quite approve of this approach. Although they said they could do it again, no one wanted to do it again. Not only was studying hard, but it was also irresponsible to themselves.
Each year, the Central Academy of Fine Arts admits only a few dozen students to each major, making it a highly competitive selection process, and the number changes every year. No one can guarantee that they will not make a mistake if they try again.
However, Chu Beiling was truly impressed by Su Beichen's level of friendship.
To his surprise, Su Beichen directly asked him, "Little Prince Fanfan, what would you do if you were in his shoes?"
"..." Chu Beiling felt like cursing. They were arguing, why did they have to drag him into it, especially something so important.
Even if you ask him, there's no way to choose.
A long silence followed.
Chu Beiling took a deep breath and said very seriously, "Xing Yu and I will both pass the exam."
Although the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) only admits a few dozen students to its animation program each year, he and Xing Yu are both colleagues and competitors. However, the only possibility for them is to both be admitted to CAFA's animation program.
Su Beichen said, "What if?"
Chu Beiling said unhappily, "Don't curse me!"
"Absolutely not," Su Beichen said frankly. "There are too many unexpected possibilities in the art academy entrance exam. You need to consider these possibilities in advance in order to avoid them as much as possible."
Shen Zhi, who was standing to the side, said quietly, "So you knew. I thought you didn't."
Su Beichen realized he had dug a hole for himself and quickly tried to salvage the situation: "I was really wrong, don't be angry." He reached out and pinched Chen Zhi's cheek: "Don't be angry, you don't look good anymore."
Su Beichen began to coax the two men, who were pouting and fuming, and they clearly forgot about their presence.
"..." Chu Beiling felt that he and Xing Yu suddenly seemed a bit superfluous.
Chu Beiling coughed lightly and looked at Xing Yu beside her with a hint of curiosity: "If I mess up the exam, what will you do?"
"Didn't you say you'd pass the exam with me?" Xing Yu looked at him quietly, his dark pupils like a deep pool, holding countless thoughts.
Feeling a little guilty under Xing Yu's gaze, Chu Beiling met Xing Yu's eyes and explained, "Well... you know, I can't stand being read aloud; if I do, I'll mess things up."
Therefore, he never dared to confidently say that he would definitely do this or that.
In particular, he always makes mistakes in important exams. Although he can pass with a low score, the art academy exam, as Su Beichen said, has too many uncertainties.
I really can't guarantee that.
In front of Su Beichen, Chu Beiling could stubbornly tell him that he would definitely pass the exam, but when facing Xing Yu, he only wanted to tell Xing Yu that he was genuinely worried that he would mess up the exam.
Chu Beiling blinked, waiting for Xing Yu's reply.
Both rationally and subjectively, Chu Beiling would never want to see Xing Yu deliberately mess up the exam just so he could have another chance if he failed to get into the Central Academy of Fine Arts.
Chu Beiling hoped that Xing Yu would wait for him at the Central Academy of Fine Arts.
But he also had a small selfish motive, hoping that Xing Yu would say something—
I'll stay with you.
After an unknown amount of time, Xing Yu met his burning and expectant gaze and asked, "And you~ what do you want me to do?"
Chu Beiling shook his head and said softly, "I don't know either." After a short while, he asked, "So, you'll do whatever I tell you to do?"
Xing Yu nodded seriously: "I will do whatever you want me to do. I will listen to you. The choice is yours..." After a slight pause, he continued: "Don't feel burdened or have any other thoughts. I promise you, I can take responsibility for my choice. It is a result of careful consideration."
“But I still believe you can do it,” Xing Yu raised his hand and pinched his soft earlobe: “So we’ll go to the Central Academy of Fine Arts together as agreed.”
Chu Beiling's heart involuntarily sank into a soft spot, sweet and tender, giving his bewildered and anxious heart a feeling he had never experienced before, an indestructible sensation.
He nodded solemnly: "Yes."
Two minutes later, two tricycles stopped one after the other on the busiest street in town, and several young men and women got off the vehicles.
Xu Tunan stepped forward and asked, "The driver said you can take a bus to Wuzhen from here. Are you going?"
Chu Beiling and Xing Yu exchanged a glance. Xu Tunan pointed at them and said with displeasure, "Why are you looking at each other like that? Are you plotting to abandon us and sneak off on your own?"
"..." That was really what he and Xing Yu were planning, but it seems like it won't work out.
It's okay, once we get to Wuzhen, he and Xing Yu will go out and have some fun on their own, Chu Beiling thought.
There's a quaint old-fashioned commercial street here. A few young men and women plan to stroll around the town for a while and grab something to eat before heading over.
The surrounding shops and snack stalls were all occupied by the students who had been released from their cages.
Chu Beiling had been eating noodles, vegetables, and eggs for a month, and he was almost completely craving them. The smell of barbecue made him unable to resist. He walked over to a small barbecue skewer shop and ordered a lot of food. There were so many people that the owner couldn't serve the food for a while.
Taking advantage of the long wait, Chu Beiling used the opportunity to get rid of all the other eyesores and told them to go ahead and check things out so as not to delay their trip to Wuzhen.
“Okay, let’s go take a look ahead. You guys hurry up and catch up.” Li Dong pulled Sheng Xia forward, then asked her, “What do you want to eat?”
Shengxia pointed to a shop assistant pounding mochi in front of a store not far away: "What's that?"
Li Dong smiled and said, "Making glutinous rice cakes."
Shengxia's eyes lit up, and she quickly pulled her over.
Xu Tunan watched the two girls walk away and then turned back to Chu Beiling, saying, "Don't finish them, leave me a few skewers."
Chu Beiling waved his hand: "I know, you can go now."
"Thanks," Xu Tunan said, then quickly followed Li Dong.
Chu Beiling put her hands in her pockets and watched the group walk away. She couldn't help but sigh, "I've known Li Dong for over ten years and I've never seen her so gentle and patient with anyone. Since Sheng Xia came, she's become even more gentle and patient. She protects Sheng Xia like a mother hen protects her chicks, as if she's afraid we'll eat Sheng Xia up. Lately, she's become more and more obsessed, even guarding against girls."
Xing Yu said thoughtfully, "Perhaps we treat her differently, and summer is different for her."
Chu Beiling asked in confusion, "What's the difference? Aren't they all friends?!"
Xing Yu turned his head to meet his gaze, restraining himself again and again, but finally couldn't help but ask under some pretext: "Have you ever thought about another possibility?"
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