smoothly
The 20-minute drama performance went very smoothly. After the performance, our homeroom teacher, Mr. Yao Chunsheng, came backstage to look for the students.
Teacher Yao Chunsheng, 32, was so excited that tears came to his eyes. "The students performed really well. They lived up to our rehearsals these days. Everyone's performance was lively and lovely. Maybe because we have never been exposed to drama, some of the plots and performances were a little immature, but in my mind, your performance is the best!"
"You are the first class of students I taught as a head teacher. When I took over after the first-year high school class division, I was very nervous, wondering if I had the ability to lead you well and be responsible for your lives. But you always gave me a lot of surprises, which made me feel a great sense of accomplishment and happiness. I was really touched. Even though our class may not be ranked first in the class, your efforts never let you down. I would like to thank the classmates who worked hard for this drama, as well as any exams and activities in the class, and especially thank Chen Xiyu, the monitor of our Class 3, for his dedication and responsibility, and for leading the classmates very well. As well as Wang Yuyao, the academic committee member, Li Zhi, the arts committee member, Yao Nuannuan, the psychological committee member, Xie Yanzhi, the discipline committee member, and Xue Kaiqi, the physical education committee member." Teacher Yao's eyes were red after she finished speaking.
Teacher Yao's heartfelt words truly moved the students in Class 3. They were all dressed in their play costumes, their faces painted, and their hair styled like their characters. After hearing the teacher's words and the applause from the audience, perhaps feeling that their efforts over the past few days had paid off, their eyes welled up. Some of the more sensitive female students even started crying. Chen Xiyu, for example, was sobbing and wiping tears with the back of her hand.
"Teacher, thank you for your trust and encouragement in us. When you were not sure whether we could perform well, you booked performance clothes for us in advance. The material of these clothes is obviously not cheap. It must have cost you a lot of money." Tan Zhao said.
Chen Xiyu had just finished wiping the pearls from her eyes. "Yes, teacher. Our class fees weren't much to begin with, and we all made it possible for each other to succeed. As our homeroom teacher, you respect us, so we will repay you with our hard work. You just said you wanted to express your special thanks to every student in our class, and to me as the class monitor. We also want to express our deepest gratitude for your cultivation of us. Without your understanding and respect, listening to our ideas, and respecting our opinions, we wouldn't have been able to perform this play so smoothly."
The students expressed their gratitude to the teacher, and some boys took the initiative to hug the teacher.
Yao Chunsheng's tone was full of emotion: "Good children, you know how to be grateful. How could I be so lucky to have such outstanding students like you? After the performance, we will have a dinner together. I will treat you to delicious food!"
The students all cheered "Yeah" and "Thank you, Teacher Yao!"
"Okay, everyone, go get dressed. I've been so sentimental that no one has had time to change."
After the crowd dispersed, Tan Zhao went to talk to Teacher Yao. Chen Xiyu noticed Tan Zhao walking in the opposite direction and looked back.
For some reason, she felt that Tan Zhao might be leaving.
Chen Xiyu had just walked out of the locker room after changing her clothes when someone called her from behind.
"Chen Xiyu"
It’s Tan Zhao.
Chen Xiyu turned around and saw Tan Zhao, who had changed into a blue school uniform, hurriedly coming out of the boys' locker room.
"What's wrong, Tan Zhao?"
Tan Zhao took two or three steps to walk up to her. The boy was much taller than her. Chen Xiyu slightly raised her head to look at him.
Tan Zhao looked at the girl in front of him. She had a neat low bun, with a few strands of hair hanging from her ears, perhaps accidentally pulled out when she changed clothes. Her bangs were tucked behind her ears, revealing her fair face. The makeup artist had applied a light cherry-colored lipstick, making her cherry lips look even more lovely.
Tan Zhao reached out his hand to her neck and helped her pull out a piece of hair that was accidentally pressed into her clothes.
Chen Xiyu didn't dare to move, her breathing felt like it was about to stop. She turned her eyes away and didn't even dare to look at Tan Zhao. She felt her heart was beating so fast.
"I have to leave. I won't be able to make it to the dinner party tonight."
Chen Xiyu raised her head and looked at him again.
"Are you going to Keio?"
"Well, my brother is waiting for me at the door at two o'clock. It's almost time now."
Chen Xiyu pinched the corner of her school uniform with her fingers and nodded.
"How long will you be gone this time? I attended a summer camp in junior high school. Although it wasn't for study but for fun, it seemed like I stayed there for many days."
Tan Zhao pondered this and didn't give her a clear answer. "The competitive exam results will be released in three days, and Jiada will start its winter camp the day after the results are released. It will last for 20 days."
"If I do well in the exam, I should be able to go directly to the winter camp of Jiada University. Of course, if it doesn't go so well, I will return home in despair on the second day of school on New Year's Day."
Tan Zhao joked with a smile in his eyes.
"I wish you all the best, Tan Zhao. You should not come back just as school starts on New Year's Day. Wait until your winter camp at Jiada University is over. You are so good at physics, so everything will go smoothly and be safe."
Tan Zhao nodded seriously, "Yeah. You too."
"I haven't seen Brother Han Xu for a long time. I'll take you to the door."
——
Chen Xiyu and Tan Zhao were walking side by side on the campus, talking and laughing.
When he was still some distance away from the door, Tan Zhao was stunned when he looked outside.
Chen Xiyu followed his gaze towards the door, but did not see the flashy motorcycle that she had seen when they first met. Instead, she saw an exquisite and luxurious white Porsche Cayenne.
She recognized this brand of car because she had seen it in the garage of Xie Yan's house.
"My mother is here."
The door of the Porsche opened and an elegant and slim woman in a black suit stepped out.
The woman took off her sunglasses and looked over here.
When Chen Xiyu raised her eyes, she met the lady's gaze.
The first impression is of nobility, but not in a blatant, over-the-top way. Instead, she exudes a natural ease. Her features aren't overly flamboyant, but rather possess a gentleness that comes with age. Her eyes are slightly upturned, yet never sharp, like the delicate strokes of a meticulously crafted painting, each stroke imbued with refinement. Her skin is the kind of meticulously maintained whiteness with a natural glow, and even the loose hair at her temples is meticulously combed.
What's most unforgettable is her eyes, calm yet scrutinizing, like the undercurrent beneath the still surface of a lake. She's not smiling, her mouth naturally straight, the line of her lips as clear as if measured with a ruler. Yet, even this indifferent expression makes you subconsciously want to straighten your back—not out of fear, but because you feel that in her presence, any sloppiness would seem out of place.
The woman said a few words to the gatekeeper and the door opened.
Tan Zhao walked towards his mother.
"Mom, why are you here?"
"I've postponed my work for the past few days and will go to Keio with you."
"Just let my brother take me there. You don't need to ask for leave."
"You have to do well in the exam and don't let me down."
Tan Zhao did not respond.
"A Zhao, is this your classmate?"
Chen Xiyu met the woman's gaze and felt her elegant yet powerful aura, and for some reason he felt a little nervous.
Later, after Chen Xiyu came into contact with her, she understood that the feeling was like seeing a carefully trimmed white magnolia, with clean petals and elegant posture, but the branches contained unbreakable strength, and even the shadow revealed a calm strength.
"Mom, this is my deskmate Chen Xiyu."
Chen Xiyu nodded and said hello: "Hello, Auntie."
Tan Zhao's mother also nodded in response.
"Hello, classmate Chen, I'm Tan Zhao's mother, Tan Li."
"Student Chen, are you going to participate in the competition too? We're going to the high-speed rail station. I'd like to give you a ride if that's on the way."
"No, no, no, Auntie, I'm not participating in the competition. I just came out to get some fresh air. You don't have to worry about me. Goodbye, Auntie, goodbye, Tan Zhao."
Tan Zhao and Tan Li just left like that. Before getting in the car, Tan Zhao looked back at Chen Xiyu.
After getting in the car, Tan Zhao saw Chen Xiyu's increasingly smaller figure through the car window.
Tan Li: "You didn't tell me your deskmate was a girl."
Tan Zhao: "This is arranged by the teacher."
Tan Li held the steering wheel with one hand, and while waiting for the red light, he glanced at Tan Zhao, tapping the steering wheel with his long black nails.
"You treat her differently."
This is a statement, no questions asked, no answer required.
Tan Zhao turned his head away, originally looking at the scenery in front of him, and then turned to look at the scenery out the glass on the right. He didn't want to answer this question.
"Does she like you?"
“She loves everybody.”
Tan Li smiled lightly, as if he had not expected his son's answer.
"It does look cheerful."
"You like her, right? Is she the reason you transferred to F High School? I originally wanted you to go to the best Tongcheng No. 1 High School, but you insisted on choosing this high school that's far from home and not the best."
Tan Zhao didn't expect his mother to be so blunt, and he pinched the corner of his clothes with his fingers.
Seventeen or eighteen-year-olds are always shy and timid when talking to their parents about premature love. It wasn't so much that Tan Zhao was timid, but rather that, facing his mother's high expectations, he wasn't ready to tell Tan Li that he had long been in love with a girl, a college-bound student.
Fortunately, Tan Li did not ask any further questions and gave him respect.
"How's your preparation for this competition?"
"Well enough."
"Ah Zhao, you still remember the path I planned for you, right? Your tutor, Teacher Yang, told me that you have no interest in English and Chinese. I won't force you to improve your Chinese and English to top levels before the college entrance examination. The fact is, even if you spend a lot of time and energy to tutor these two subjects, it would be better for you to study physics and mathematics, which you like. If you take the college entrance examination, your grades won't guarantee you admission to the best university. But according to your strengths, relying on competitions to take shortcuts is the most beneficial way for you to get into the best university. That's why I asked my secretary to change all my work for the next few days to online. I will come to Qingying with you to ensure that you have the best living conditions and exam preparation environment. This competition is very important to you, Tan Zhao, do you understand what I mean?"
Tan Zhao pinched the corner of his clothes and nodded. Although Tongcheng was located in the south, Tan Li's house was heated enough that the car was warm. Tan Zhao felt his whole body burning.
"I understand, Mom. I will definitely do well in this competition."
——
It was already 7:30 pm when Tan Zhaohe and Tan Li arrived at Keio. There was a hotel receptionist at the high-speed rail station who was there to pick them up.
The suite that Tan Li ordered was very large, not far from where Tan Zhao was going to take the exam.
"Mom, don't we live in your house?"
In the past, when Tan Li came to Qingying to visit him, he would take him to stay in one of Tan Li’s private properties.
"Sold it." Tan Li responded lightly.
"I bought that property originally because I wanted to visit you every month. Now that you live with me, I'll just sell it. When you get admitted to Jia University, I'll buy a house there. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't come to Qingying anymore."
After hearing this, Tan Zhao gripped the handle of the suitcase tightly.
Ms. Tan Li and Wang Zhiwen really broke up completely. After the separation, neither of them wanted to set foot in each other's city again.
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