Chapter 60
Preparations for the arts festival are in full swing, with the playground bustling with activity.
"Put the piano here, be careful!"
"Where's the Minister of Etiquette? Go and take a count of the students who are participating. Try to contact those who aren't here!"
"Microphone! Has anyone seen the spare microphone?"
"The drum set is still in storage. Can two boys help carry it offstage?"
Lin Li stood on the edge of the commotion, hands in his pockets, but his gaze was drawn to the figure moving through the crowd—Tong Yao.
She held a stack of lists in her hand, her brows slightly furrowed. Sometimes she directed and coordinated, sometimes she looked down to check the lists. Fine beads of sweat glistened on her forehead in the sunlight.
Seeing her busy as a spinning top, Lin Li's insistence on "not liking to join in the fun" instantly crumbled.
He almost instinctively raised his hand and shouted:
"I'll go move it!" The voice was loud and clear, tinged with eagerness to make a name for himself.
Tong Yao looked up at the sound, her gaze lingering on his face for a brief second before she nodded in agreement.
She looked around, wanting to find someone else to go with her, but everyone had their own tasks and couldn't leave for the moment. She had no choice but to put the list away for the time being and simply say to Lin Li, "Come with me."
Tong Yao led him around the noisy stage and towards the quieter gymnasium at the back. Pushing open an inconspicuous side door, they found themselves in a warehouse filled with miscellaneous items.
Lin Li's eyes widened in surprise: "Wow! There's a warehouse here?!" He spent all his time on the playground and in the gymnasium and had never noticed this "secret base" before.
Tong Yao rolled her eyes at him, her eyes clearly saying, "What do you know besides playing games?" Obviously, the score from the stairwell hadn't been settled yet.
Lin Li keenly sensed her displeasure and immediately moved closer, like a large dog admitting its mistake, stretching its head towards her and speaking in a coaxing tone: "I'm sorry, Tong Yao. If you're still angry, hit me a few times to vent your anger, don't hurt yourself."
Tong Yao remained expressionless, reaching out her hand—not to hit him, but coldly pushing him away with a single finger pressed against his forehead—her voice flat: "Lin Li, I'll say it again, from now on, you're not allowed to touch me without my permission."
"...Hmm." Lin Li awkwardly touched his nose, like a dog that had been scolded by its owner, drooping its head. He knew that sometimes he did act impulsively without thinking.
The warehouse was cluttered with various items, and the drum kit parts were scattered around. Lin Li rolled up his sleeves and, without a word, took the initiative to carry the heaviest drums and the bass drum. Tong Yao silently picked up the relatively lighter stand and drumsticks and followed behind him.
On the way back to the playground, silence fell between them. Tong Yao looked ahead, then suddenly spoke, her tone unreadable:
"Why didn't he sign up for the arts festival?" With his musical talent, he should have been an active participant.
Lin Li was struggling to move the drum when she heard this. She became embarrassed, her ears turned slightly red, and her voice lowered a few decibels:
"I...I'm shy."
"..."
Tong Yao paused, turned her head, and gave him a once-over with a look that seemed to say, "Are you kidding me?" He was shy? This guy, whose skin was so thick it could stop bullets, who could chat nonchalantly in front of the entire school without batting an eye, was saying he was shy?
"Really!" Lin Li felt even more uncomfortable under her gaze and muttered softly, as if sharing some huge secret, "Actually, I'm a person."
Tong Yao finally couldn't hold back any longer; her lips twitched slightly as she asked, "Do you think I believe that?"
"Absolutely true!" Lin Li tried to be more convincing, even swaying slightly shyly. "Don't let my cheerful and handsome appearance fool you; I seem like a carefree and sunny person. Actually, I'm a very introverted and easily embarrassed person!"
He emphasized that his attempt to prove he was "introverted," coupled with the way he carried the drum, made him look particularly ridiculous and... utterly unconvincing.
Tong Yao watched his desperate attempts to prove himself, only to find himself full of holes. In the end, she simply looked away and casually said, "Hurry up and move it, they're waiting to use it over there." But as she turned away, a barely perceptible smile crept onto her lips, which she had been trying to suppress.
_
Back on the platform, the two worked together to set up the drum. Tong Yao immediately threw herself into other tasks, holding a walkie-talkie and coordinating with all parties in a clear and calm voice, as if the little incident had never happened.
Lin Li stood there, watching her busy and focused back, feeling a little empty and a little unwilling.
He looked around and saw Luo Yan holding a notebook, counting the number of tables and chairs not far away. Occasionally, she would look up and her gaze would seem to sweep in his and Tong Yao's direction.
"You play the flute very well. Since you have this ability, don't waste it. You're usually so thick-skinned, but you're thinking about being shy at a time like this. You need to be brave and show yourself, you idiot."
Tong Yao unknowingly stood next to Lin Li, and then added...
"You should have brought a flute, right?"
After saying that, Zhou Mingfang called Tong Yao away to help.
That was a great blow!
Don't waste...
Be bold in expressing yourself...
Lin Li stood there, stunned, and nodded mechanically. He suddenly remembered what he had told Luo Yan before: "I'll show you my skills when I have the chance."
Now, looking at this place that is about to become a stage, and seeing Tong Yao putting her heart and soul into this event, a thought quietly sprouted like a new bud breaking through the soil.
He took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, and walked towards the student council members who were adjusting the sound system.
"Excuse me," Lin Li began, her voice tinged with barely perceptible nervousness, "is it still possible to register for the arts festival program?"
The senior student who was adjusting the sound system looked up and pushed up his glasses: "Theoretically, it's closed, but... what do you want to apply for? If the program is special, maybe we can jump the queue."
"A flute solo," Lin Li said, feeling her cheeks burning. "I brought my own flute."
The senior student raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised, and looked Lin Li up and down: "Okay, then give me your name, class, and the name of the program."
Tong Yao, who was not far away, seemed to be busy, but she caught the conversation over there.
When she heard Lin Li announce "flute solo," her hand, which was writing, paused almost imperceptibly, and her eyelashes trembled slightly, but she quickly resumed her smooth writing motion, as if she hadn't heard anything.
This is more like him...
-
Meanwhile, Luo Yan, on the other side, clearly heard the entire process. Her fingers, gripping the notebook, tightened slightly, her knuckles turning white. He... ultimately signed up after all.
Was it because of Tong Yao? Because he wanted to show off in front of her? That line, "I'll show you something in private," was indeed true. All his courage and changes were for only one person. And she, along with her insignificant expectations, was never even in his sight.
After registering his information, Lin Li felt both excited and nervous. He walked to a relatively quiet corner and carefully took out a flute from his backpack, which was wrapped in a cloth bag. Holding the cool bamboo flute in his hand calmed his nerves somewhat.
He looked up, his gaze passing through the bustling crowd, and landed on Tong Yao again. She was standing on tiptoe, trying to hang a decorative ribbon higher up, looking somewhat strained.
Lin Li almost instinctively wanted to rush over to help.
However, the moment he took a step, he remembered Tong Yao's cold words, "Don't touch me," and the distant look in her eyes when she pushed him away. He abruptly stopped, as if nailed to the spot, and could only watch helplessly.
Just then, a tall figure walked over—it was a senior from the student council's sports department. He easily took the ribbon from Tong Yao's hand and neatly hung it up. Tong Yao looked up at him and gave him a grateful smile.
That smile was extremely irritating to Lin Li.
A sudden surge of inexplicable anxiety and jealousy welled up inside him. He gripped the flute tightly in his hand, the hard texture of the bamboo flute digging painfully into his palm. He wanted to rush over immediately to assert his dominance, but he was afraid of angering Tong Yao again, and even more afraid of embarrassing her in front of so many people.
This feeling of being caught in a dilemma made his chest feel tight.
He turned abruptly, no longer looking in that direction, and stared down at his flute, thinking defiantly: Just you wait, when the arts festival starts, I'll definitely show you!
The arts festival has begun.
The campus was filled with a festive atmosphere. Colorful flags fluttered in the wind, and the makeshift stage backdrop stood out brightly in the sunlight. Students carried their stools and sat down according to their class areas, chattering excitedly as the performance began.
Lin Li sat in a corner backstage, clutching the bamboo flute tightly in her hand, her palms sweaty.
The impulsiveness and courage he had shown earlier deflated like a punctured balloon as he faced the sea of faces below the stage. His heart pounded in his chest; he could even hear his own rapid heartbeat.
"Next up, Class 5, Grade 11, Lin Li, flute solo—'The Original Scenery of My Hometown'!" The host's announcement came clearly through the microphone.
Lin Li took a deep breath, feeling her legs go weak.
Just then, a calm gaze fell upon him. He subconsciously looked up and saw Tong Yao standing by the side of the stage curtain, coordinating the props' entry and exit.
She seemed to sense his nervousness, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment. Without a smile or words of encouragement, she simply gave him a very slight, almost imperceptible nod.
That subtle movement acted like a calming pill, instantly stabilizing Lin Li's wildly beating heart. He took a deep breath, gripped the flute tightly, and stepped onto the stage.
The blinding lights shone on him, while the audience below was a blurry mix of faces and whispers.
He felt a wave of dizziness, but Tong Yao's words, "You played the flute very well," echoed clearly in his mind. He closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and brought the flute hole close to his lips.
The first note trembled almost imperceptibly. But soon, the melodious, ethereal flute music stabilized, flowing gently like a mountain spring, gradually washing away the noise of the scene. The melody carried a touch of nostalgia and tranquility, as if transporting people away from the bustling playground and into a vast, peaceful wilderness.
Lin Li was completely immersed in the music, forgetting her nervousness and the audience below the stage.
His eyes were slightly closed, his eyelashes casting fine shadows under the light, and his profile, focused on playing the flute, showed a rare calmness and handsomeness.
The audience gradually quieted down. Many people looked at Lin Li on stage with some surprise, a person completely different from her usual lively self.
Tong Yao stood in the shadows of the side curtain, watching quietly. The light outlined his serious features, and the melodious flute music reached her ears. Her eyes flickered slightly, and a faint, yet genuine, smile unconsciously curved her lips. This idiot, when he gets serious… isn't so bad after all.
Lin Li's flute performance ended amidst applause. He walked off the stage, radiating excitement and joy, completely immersed in the immense happiness brought by his successful performance and Tong Yao's subtle approval.
He didn't even notice the figure in the corner backstage who had been watching him intently, his gaze gradually cooling and freezing.
Luo Yan watched him circle around the area where Tong Yao might appear, like a large dog that had been rewarded. Even though Tong Yao only walked by in a hurry and did not stop, the silly smile on his face did not diminish at all.
The last ripple in her heart caused by the flute music subsided completely, replaced by a cold, settled despair.
He will never belong to me.
This realization was like a cold file, repeatedly grinding against her heart, bringing a pain that was almost numbing.
Since she couldn't have him, couldn't get his attention, then... she should at least have something of his that was entirely her own.
A more secretive and twisted thought, like fungi growing in the darkness, spread wildly in her mind—to collect.
It's not the kind of "appreciation" that can be returned or shared, but rather a complete and unknown possession.
Her gaze no longer focused on chasing his figure, but rather, like the most precise scanner, began to lock onto the traces he had unintentionally left behind.
After the art festival ended, the crowd gradually dispersed, and staff began cleaning up the venue. Luo Yan quietly helped with the cleanup, her actions seemingly no different from those of others.
Her opportunity came soon.
After Lin Li finished his performance, he casually stuffed the flute back into his cloth bag. Perhaps because he was too excited, while playing around with his classmates, the strap of the bag got caught on the corner of a chair. He pulled hard without caring, and the flute slipped out of the bag and fell to the ground with a "clatter," rolling into the shadow of a pile of junk.
Lin Li herself was discussing the performance with Huang Wen and was completely unaware of this small accident.
Luo Yan's heart skipped a beat. She held her breath and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, quickly walked over, pretending to bend down to tie her shoelaces. Her fingertips trembled slightly when they touched the bamboo flute that still retained his body heat and the scent of his lips.
She swiftly and deftly retrieved the flute and tucked it into the wide sleeve of her school uniform. The cool bamboo against her skin brought a shiver of satisfaction.
This is her first piece in her collection.
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