Chapter 20
The next day, Zhang Xiaotian arrived earlier than usual, but still couldn't see Lu Bai.
"They are all on the rostrum now."
Yin Li was busy moving tables downstairs and had little time to chat. Han Chengcheng followed behind her to help and continued her conversation: "Lu Bai and the others arrived early and just had a rehearsal. Xiaotian can just watch the show later. It's really handsome!"
After saying this, she winked at Zhang Xiaotian and continued to follow Yin Li, helping to move stools and cardboard boxes. Zhang Xiaotian didn't want to be idle, so he joined in. This time, the seats assigned to Class 1 were not in a good position. Some places were completely unavailable, so they had to move their own desks and chairs down. Everyone in the class who had nothing to do joined in, and they were busy until the opening ceremony was about to begin. By then, the broadcast was already organizing the formations for the various classes to enter the venue, and the class teacher quickly called everyone to their designated positions.
It had been sunny the day before, but today the temperature had plummeted, and there was even a light drizzle. Zhang Xiaotian was tall, standing in the back row, near the inner circle of the track. Both in front and behind him were people he knew well, but whose names he couldn't remember. He had no desire to chat.
The radio was still organizing the team. Someone complained, "Why is it so cold all of a sudden?"
"It's raining, of course it's cold." One person quickly zipped up his shirt, hiding half of his face behind his collar. "We're standing in this long line."
"That's right, we'll freeze to death soon." Several people nearby started chatting away. Zhang Xiaotian had no intention of interrupting, simply pulling up his collar to block out the cold wind. The class formations continued uninterrupted, and the "Athletes' March," a song he'd heard since childhood, played on repeat. As Zhang Xiaotian listened, his mind wandered, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the podium.
There were so many people over there, all dressed in all sorts of costumes, moving back and forth, it was hard to tell how many there were. Zhang Xiaotian remembered that Lu Bai had specifically reminded him yesterday, so he patiently searched for a while longer. But it was too far from the podium, so even if the performance started, he wouldn't be able to see it clearly.
If I had known, I would have come earlier. Zhang Xiaotian curled his lips and turned his head away, not looking over there. Who knew he was standing so far away?
The music suddenly changed, and the host came on stage to warm up the audience briefly. No one paid attention to what the host was saying. The students were all shivering in the drizzle and cold wind. Some people couldn't help but swear, but they were caught by the class teacher before they could say a few words.
"Everyone's quiet." The class teacher, himself dressed warmly, said, "I don't expect you to win any prizes in the competition, but you have to win the Spiritual Civilization Award, right? If I catch anyone talking, I'll let them sit aside and do their exams while everyone else is resting!"
Now no one said anything.
Finally, the classes entered the field in formation, marching around the track before standing on the grass in the middle of the field. Class One was the first to enter, standing in the middle, facing the podium. The performance began only after all the classes had entered.
Normally, the school was too strict, turning a blind eye only during major events. Therefore, the classes that had the opportunity to perform each showed off their talents, and it was rare for them to be so passive as Class 1. For a moment, there was a constant stream of singing and dancing in front of the podium, a warm-up performance that was far superior to the previous host's. The students still standing on the ground floor weren't bored anymore, occasionally singing along to a familiar song. Some even whistled at the dancing boys and girls on stage, drawing laughter. I wonder if that person was caught by their own teacher later.
Zhang Xiaotian wasn't particularly interested in any of this; he was simply worried about Lu Bai and the others coming up and not being able to see clearly. His current position was closer than before, but there were people all around him. He couldn't help but sway to the side, trying to find the best vantage point amidst the crowds. With his eyes fixed on the front, he lost his footing and accidentally stepped on someone's shoe. Zhang Xiaotian quickly bowed his head to apologize, but then he heard the host announce the name of Lu Bai's show. He jerked his head up, startling the person.
"...I'm really sorry." Zhang Xiaotian blushed a little, but the man didn't mind.
"It's okay. It's normal to step on someone here because they're crowded." The man crossed his arms and spoke in a friendly tone, "Lu Bai also told you about it."
"Yeah." Zhang Xiaotian didn't expect that he would start chatting with him like this, nor did he expect that he knew Lu Bai.
"You're bragging everywhere. You've made me so curious." The man no longer stood in his own class, but stood next to Zhang Xiaotian. He was waiting for Zhang Xiaotian to join him in criticizing Lu Bai, but after waiting for a while without any response, he lowered his head to look at Zhang Xiaotian and found that Zhang Xiaotian looked uncomfortable and could not hide it at all.
"Holy crap, buddy..." He was a little unhappy when he suddenly remembered something and asked, "You don't forget me, do you? We even had dinner at the same table!"
When? Zhang Xiaotian frowned, finally remembering a time when he was having dinner with Lu Bai and his friends, and there was someone else at the same table. He had just arrived in Class 1 at the time, and the people there didn't even look familiar to him. He'd assumed they were all in the same class, but he hadn't noticed. It turned out they weren't.
"Sorry... my name is Zhang Xiaotian." This was even more embarrassing.
"It's okay. My name is Lü Yibo." Lü Yibo slapped Zhang Xiaotian on the back. "Don't forget me next time we meet!"
Zhang Xiaotian nodded reluctantly. Lu Bai's friends were indeed passionate.
As they were talking, Lu Bai and his companions were already standing on the stage. The boys were dressed in neat suits and the girls were wearing long skirts that trailed on the ground. With the background music playing, it really looked like the real thing.
Zhang Xiaotian couldn't help but stand forward. He was almost always present during Lu Bai's rehearsal. He remembered the formations, so it wasn't difficult to find which one Lu Bai was.
"Damn, it's too damn far away, and they're dressed similarly, how can I tell who's who?" Lu Yibo cursed.
Zhang Xiaotian watched Lu Bai's back from afar. He felt quite pleased with himself after hearing his words, but also felt that he was really bored. Like this, observing someone across a vast crowd, without that person being able to see you, felt really safe. Zhang Xiaotian felt secretly happy and unconsciously stood a little further forward.
Lu Bai was very different today. Previously, when he was with him, if there were others around, Lu Bai would be as lively as a husky running wild; but when he was alone, Lu Bai would become a little "lazy", including but not limited to leaning on him, talking very close to him, and always liking to make physical contact with him. Zhang Xiaotian was not used to it at first, but eventually let it go. Ever since transferring to Class 1, whether he liked it or not, Zhang Xiaotian had always had Lu Bai by his side, so Zhang Xiaotian thought he was quite familiar with him.
But now he wasn't sure. This was the first time Zhang Xiaotian had looked at Lu Bai from such a distant perspective. He was surprised by his composure and confidence, and even his voice sounded different from usual. It was a novel feeling to see someone you thought you knew suddenly show a different side to you. Zhang Xiaotian was a little excited. He felt a little hot, so he reached out and pulled his zipper down a little. Lu Yibo, who was standing next to him, heard the sound and turned around to ask him, "Hey, are you hot?"
"A little bit." Zhang Xiaotian stared at Lu Bai in front of him and answered absentmindedly.
"He's so thin and yet so cold-resistant!" Lu Yibo said, "I never thought."
"I have a fever." Zhang Xiaotian replied.
Lu Bai and his group had to wait until each class returned to their own stands before they could go back. When he changed his clothes and returned, his classmates were already seated. He stood in front of the class, trying to find an empty seat, but saw Zhang Xiaotian first.
Zhang Xiaotian placed his and Lu Bai's stools in the shade at the back of the classroom, and took off his coat to cover them. After covering them, he looked up and saw Lu Bai walking over.
"Great, classmate. Is there no one sitting next to you?" He was holding a large paper bag, and Zhang Xiaotian guessed that it must contain his suit. Without asking, he picked up Zhang Xiaotian's coat and sat down. Then, as if he had just remembered, he asked Zhang Xiaotian, "Isn't this the seat you saved for someone else? Is it okay for me to sit here?"
"...Please sit down." Anyway, it was originally reserved for you.
"Oh, I'm exhausted." Lu Bai put the paper bag between them and immediately slumped down on the stool like a boneless person. "I arrived very early and didn't have time to eat. I've been busy since I arrived. Now I'm sleepy, tired and hungry."
After hearing what he said, Zhang Xiaotian remembered what he had promised yesterday, so he said, "I'm a little late."
"Is he handsome?" Lu Bai sat up again after hearing that. "You didn't even get to see him up close, but it's my fault too. I didn't tell you the time."
"Not bad." Zhang Xiaotian answered with his head down, then looked up and looked at Lu Bai's face carefully, feeling that he had returned to his normal self.
"He's handsome, right? Even if he's handsome, don't stare at me like that. It's embarrassing." Lu Bai said he was embarrassed, but his actions showed that he was very pleased. He raised an eyebrow at Zhang Xiaotian, as if waiting for Zhang Xiaotian to praise him more. Their eyes met, and Zhang Xiaotian was the first to give in. He turned his head away as subtly as possible, thought for a moment, and then said, "You should participate in more occasions like this."
"What? What do you mean?" Lu Baigang didn't react at first, but was even more surprised after he figured it out. "Oh my god, deskmate, this is not like you?"
"Can't you just listen to nice words?" Zhang Xiaotian was a little annoyed by what he said.
"Hehe." Lu Bai smiled foolishly.
How stupid! Zhang Xiaotian couldn't help but hold his forehead. He was so stupid!
"Oh, right," Lu Bai took out the paper bag he was carrying, "I didn't make it to the supermarket yesterday, so I brought some food with me today. Let's eat!"
Food? Not a suit? Zhang Xiaotian watched him open the paper bag like he was presenting a treasure. Inside were all kinds of snacks and bread.
"Where are your clothes?" Zhang Xiaotian asked.
"It's time to take it back to the store at noon after class."
"oh."
Lu Bai picked up a piece of bread, then put it down again after hearing this: "Oh what, do you want me to put it on again and show you?"
"Hey hey hey I want to see it!"
Zhang Xiaotian was about to say no when a voice suddenly came in. It was Lv Yibo, who was standing next to Zhang Xiaotian in the next class.
"I'm standing too far away, I can't even see which one you are. I really want to stand in the first row to see you."
"Who am I talking to here?" Lu Bai put away the paper bag and high-fived Lu Yibo who was walking over.
"Stop interrupting me, I'm serious." Lu Yi Bo said, "There are so many people blocking the way up ahead, and you all have your backs facing us, so we can't tell who is who." Having said that, he glanced at Zhang Xiaotian next to him.
"By the way, Zhang Xiaotian, you weren't next to me, so you couldn't see clearly either! Lu Bai, put it on again and show us!"
Lu Bai was stunned and turned to look at Zhang Xiaotian: "Impossible! He just said I was handsome!"
"Nonsense! I can't even see it, how could he?" Lu Yibo said firmly, "We're halfway across the playground, and we're not clairvoyant."
Lu Bai hesitated, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that Lu Yibo's words made sense. At such a distance, with his back to him, it was impossible to see clearly. But Tian'er had just praised him for being handsome... Wait! What did Tian'er just say?
What he said was, "It's okay!" Did he really not see it and was just trying to coax him?
Zhang Xiaotian watched the changing emotions in Lu Bai's eyes. He didn't understand and was baffled.
Why did this guy suddenly change his expression? Didn't he know whether he saw me or not? Was there any need to lie to him?
"I really saw it." Zhang Xiaotian said it again, but Lu Bai didn't seem to believe it at all. He looked at Lu Yibo standing aside, feeling a little unwilling, but gritting his teeth:
"How about...I wear it again?"
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