Chapter 15 Let's try it too
Forgive her for not being able to do well. Shen Xingzhi's handsome face smiling at her was already attractive. When they looked at each other, his heart and eyes could only see her. Who could resist this!
Ren Limeng tried hard to smile heartily, without revealing her crazy greed. However, she gripped the chopsticks even tighter with her right hand. She tried to remind herself to stay steady. It was just a small smile, no big deal.
Suddenly, Ren Limeng felt a faint pain in her hand.
Strange, she wasn't pinching herself with her fingernails to maintain her balance when holding the chopsticks in her right hand today? How could it still hurt?
Ren Limeng had just lowered her head when she heard Shen Xingzhi’s somewhat worried voice, “Limeng, you…chopsticks, be careful!”
Ren Limeng looked at her right index finger. The chopsticks between her index finger were slightly split, and the tip of the wooden fork was piercing her fair skin, leaving a circle of red marks.
"These chopsticks..."
Ren Limeng was speechless for a moment, then carefully stretched out her arm and slowly separated her right palm from the chopsticks with her left hand. "I didn't notice. Bad review! I want to give a bad review to these chopsticks in the cafeteria!"
Her attention was completely on Shen Xingzhi just now. She hadn't taken her eyes off him since she sat down. Who would have thought that these disposable chopsticks she used every day could "backstab" her? Was Shen Xingzhi just laughing at her carelessness?
When Ren Limeng thought of this, she looked up suddenly, not paying attention to the small wound that was bleeding faintly. She only wanted to confirm Shen Xingzhi's thoughts in her mind.
The only thing left in Ren Limeng's sight was Shen Xingzhi's suddenly standing back. The curve of her mouth gradually converged, and a trace of panic flashed across her eyes.
Ren Limeng later recalled that the only word in her mind was "fear of gain and loss". At that time, a move or even a look from Shen Xingzhi could affect her mood for the whole day. Apart from sighing that her love-brainedness really didn't end well, she didn't know how else to comment on it.
But once the "love brain" is immersed, no one can stop it.
Ren Limeng stared at Shen Xingzhi intently, and found that when he hurried back, he was holding a pair of brand new disposable chopsticks in his hand. Her eyes seemed to brighten up as if the rain had stopped. After all, even a fool could tell who the new chopsticks were for.
"Li Meng...hand!"
"ah!"
Listening to Shen Xingzhi's helpless voice and noticing his suggestive look at the table in front of her, Ren Limeng widened her eyes and just then realized that a pack of opened tissues had been placed next to her bowl and chopsticks.
"I'm... fine, no bleeding!"
As she said this, she obediently took out a tissue and wet it on her right index finger. Seeing the small red dot on the paper, she smiled to hide all her emotions.
"Some disposable chopsticks are of poor quality and are prone to small thorns and split ends. You can sharpen them before use."
Shen Xingzhi sighed lightly, opened the plastic packaging of the chopsticks in his hand, took out the chopsticks with both hands, crossed them, smoothed the two chopsticks, and handed them to Ren Limeng.
"Yes! Thank you!"
Even though she knew that Shen Xingzhi's behavior might just be a normal interaction between friends, she couldn't help but smile, and felt that her mood for the whole day had improved. It was worth it that she "abandoned" her favorite canteen egg-filled pancakes today and got up early to wait for him.
"Senior Xingzhi, don't worry. Even if more junior students ask for my WeChat, I won't date them!"
There was no way, because she was just attracted by Chen Xingzhi's style. From his looks to the details, the more she got to know him, the more moved she became. He had already grasped her tightly without her realizing it. He had clearly never expressed his love for her, but as they spent more and more time together, she felt that she was falling deeper and deeper.
Just like her proactive explanation at this moment, even though he didn't ask any more questions, she couldn't help but express her opinion actively.
Anyway, Shen Xingzhi didn't refuse. No matter whether he didn't know or didn't care, as long as she was happy with him, that was enough!
"You're so busy as a junior, why are you always thinking about love? Can you focus on your work? Have you memorized the script?"
Shen Xingzhi shook his head helplessly and glanced at Ren Limeng lightly. Ren Limeng felt that she had a masochistic physique. Shen Xingzhi obviously didn't say anything good, but she felt that the smile in the corner of her eyes was about to fly away.
"Memorize it! Senior Xingzhi, if Director He says my smile is stiff again today, you have to help me. Today is...my birthday, and getting scolded would be terrible!"
She went through so much trouble and went to look for him early in the morning, but actually... she just wanted to casually mention this matter and hear him say "Happy Birthday". The girl who secretly loves him was filled with tears!
"Your birthday? Aren't you turning twenty next month?"
"It's my lunar birthday! I'll always be eighteen anyway! Of course, one more birthday is better! How about... if you help me out today, I'll treat you to dinner tonight as a thank you, okay? So, happily decided!"
"...It's your birthday, so we should be giving you a gift. Oh, forget it. I'll treat you...Ren Limeng, who will always be eighteen, happy birthday."
Chen Xingzhi looked at Ren Limeng's fawning and cute expression, and knew at a glance that she was definitely not as familiar with the script as she said, but in the end, he just smiled helplessly.
After being partners for so long, he could feel that they were becoming more and more familiar with each other, and he allowed their familiarity to develop.
Facing Ren Limeng's sincere smile, his bottom line seemed to be lowered unconsciously. He always felt that the school girl was young, so his heart gradually softened.
*
At ten o'clock in the morning, the staff of the "Mountains and Seas" program team drove to pick up the five guests and took everyone to the Yantan Scenic Area.
In order to welcome the arrival of the "Mountains and Seas" program, the Yantan Scenic Area specially prepared a grand welcome ceremony. The staff members dressed in uniform red and black distinctive costumes were neatly arranged in a square formation. They picked up wooden sticks tied with colorful ribbons in their hands and rhythmically beat the horizontal wooden instruments in front of them. The strong and deep sound resounded through the vast sky and earth. The strong style seemed to merge with the blue sky, white clouds and green forests, magnificent and shocking.
"What kind of musical instrument is this? It has a unique shape!"
Listening to the rhythmic knocking sounds in front of her, Yan Baiwei, who was wearing black sunglasses, lowered her head to adjust the brim of her hat, looked at Li Qingzi next to her, and whispered to her.
“I don’t know, it feels very unique!”
Banggu.
Hearing Yan Baiwei's voice beside her, Ren Limeng was slightly distracted and answered Yan Baiwei on behalf of Li Qingzi in her heart. Her eyes swept over the two of them and continued to look at the wonderful performance in front.
After the performance, everyone applauded and cheered. After the performers left, a middle-aged woman and a young girl wearing the same distinctive costumes walked up to Shen Xingzhi and the other five.
"Hello everyone, I just brought you our special performance, 'Beat the Bang Drums.' I'm Teacher Li, who's introducing this special performance to you. Next to you is our teaching assistant, Teacher Zhu. Welcome everyone to Lin City!"
"Hello, Teacher Li and Teacher Zhu!"
After exchanging pleasantries, Teacher Li separated the group and stood in front of the remaining horizontal wooden instrument. He enthusiastically introduced it, "The banggu originated from the folk and was born from nature. It was used in primitive society to drive away wild beasts. Later, it became a magic weapon for men and women to express their feelings across mountains and rivers, symbolizing passionate love. Now, it is mainly used to welcome distinguished guests and pray for blessings and good fortune..."
Assistant teacher Zhu stood aside, watching Teacher Li who was talking about banggu with great enthusiasm. She seemed to put herself in the role of the guest and nodded as she listened. Ren Limeng noticed this small detail and became more and more certain in her heart that the so-called assistant teacher might indeed be the performance practice teacher arranged by the program team.
"Let's start by teaching you a few simple movements to express your feelings. You can stand back to back with the person next to you, holding wooden sticks in both hands and hitting the sides of the banggu. Then, separate, look at each other, and hit twice more... Yes, just like this..."
Teacher Li looked at Yan Baiwei and Li Qingzi who were practicing in pairs, then turned to Ren Limeng and Xu Chichi who were also imitating seriously, smiled and nodded, and noticed Chen Xingzhi who was standing alone in the C position.
“Everyone can try it with both left and right!”
Yan Baiwei looked at the focused camera and immediately separated from Li Qingzi. She raised her foot and prepared to walk to Shen Xingzhi's side, but Shen Xingzhi had already taken a step ahead and found Ren Limeng beside him, raising the drumstick in his hand.
"Ren Limeng, shall we try it too?"
Facing Yan Baiwei's sharp and oppressive gaze, Ren Limeng heard Chen Xingzhi's faint invitation, smiled unchanged, nodded slightly, and stood in front of Chen Xingzhi with confidence.
Compared to the close proximity when she and Xu Chichi were leaning back to back, when Ren Limeng straightened her body and leaned towards Chen Xing, she paid special attention to the distance between them, pausing slightly to leave an almost imperceptible gap.
The next second, a back as thick as a wall pressed firmly against her. Amid the noisy drumbeats, his movements were almost unnoticed by anyone except her, whose heartbeat accelerated instantly.
Ren Limeng subconsciously turned her head, and all she could see was Shen Xingzhi's angular profile, his smooth white neck, his clean jawline, and his slightly rolled Adam's apple that was prominent. The sunlight gave him a natural filter, and when Ren Limeng's gaze flickered, her eyes seemed to reflect a fascinating silhouette.
Fortunately, she always reminded herself that the camera was by her side.
Ren Limeng withdrew her gaze and completed all the striking movements and the final gaze without any danger.
There is a polite harmony in the smile between them. The picture is beautiful and natural.
"Let's discuss the weekend's performance!"
Yan Baiwei noticed Chen Xingzhi's avoidance, pursed her lips, and a fire rose in her heart. She stared at Chen Xingzhi and Ren Limeng who were smiling at each other. Thinking of Chen Xingzhi's cold treatment of herself, Yan Baiwei's voice was unconsciously mixed with anger, interrupting the practice of others.
"Why don't we use the banggu element? As a traditional instrument in Lin City, the banggu can definitely represent the characteristics of Lin City!"
Li Qingzi said with a smile, observing Yan Baiwei's gloomy expression. She unconsciously slowed down her tone and looked sideways at Ren Limeng next to Shen Xingzhi.
Shen Xingzhi was the most inconspicuous guest in this group. Unexpectedly, she faced Yan Baiwei directly at the first attraction. Didn’t she notice Yan Baiwei’s expression just now?
As a top figure in the circle, it was natural for Chen Xingzhi to refuse Yan Baiwei. It was a bit presumptuous for her, a nobody, to dare to get involved in them.
Yan Baiwei's personality will bring her bad consequences.
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