CY – Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

Li An, as expected, didn’t have any good intentions.

“He said he was too busy as Class Monitor to rehearse the program, so he dumped the whole thing on me,” Lu Bai flipped through the list of participants in his hand, scratching his head. “This is going to be difficult.”

Zhang Xiaotian leaned in and quietly read the words on the list: “Poetry recitation. Have you found your script and such?”

“We can just find something online,” Lu Bai said. “Actually, I don’t have any high demands. At least, it shouldn’t embarrass the class, and it should be better than last year.”

Last year’s chorus was quite embarrassing. Zhang Xiaotian watched him scrutinize the list and couldn’t help but lean closer.

“What are you looking at?” Lu Bai asked him. “You don’t know anyone.”

“Can you handle it?”

“More or less,” Lu Bai said. “I may not have eaten pork, but I’ve seen pigs run, haven’t I? Just you wait and see, I’ll make it brilliant!” Soon, Lu Bai scheduled a time with five other classmates, setting a time after dinner every day to practice in the classroom.

After school in the afternoon, Lu Bai waited for Zhang Xiaotian to leave together.

“I saw the others went to buy food. Can you still buy something this late?” Zhang Xiaotian saw him waiting for him and had to speed up.

“I’ll just buy something simple, I don’t have much appetite,” Lu Bai watched Zhang Xiaotian meticulously arrange his things. “Classmate, do you have OCD? Your books are stacked so neatly?”

“Mind your own business,” Zhang Xiaotian got up and motioned for Lu Bai to follow him. “As for you, acting like you have no appetite, is the rehearsal difficult?”

“Not really,” Lu Bai said expressionlessly. “It’s just that this matter is a bit disgusting. If it doesn’t go well, it’ll seem like I did it on purpose.”

“Didn’t you say you could make it brilliant?” Zhang Xiaotian said. “If you do it well, you’ll slap his face then.”

“Deal. You slap him once, I slap him once. Li An’s face won’t stop swelling for days,” Lu Bai laughed so hard he couldn’t stand up straight. “Classmate, you’re really wicked.”

“Likewise,” Zhang Xiaotian saw his mother standing at the school gate and quickly walked a few steps away from Lu Bai.

Lu Bai followed Zhang Xiaotian out and said goodbye to his mother before leaving. Little Tian’s mother stared at Lu Bai’s receding figure and suddenly said, “Isn’t that the student I saw last time? I see him with you all the time.”

“Mm,” Zhang Xiaotian nodded.

Little Tian’s mother placed the lunchbox in Zhang Xiaotian’s hand and asked again, “Then it seems you two have a good relationship.”

“It’s okay, just like with others,” Zhang Xiaotian fiddled with the lunchbox. “If there’s nothing else, I’m going home, Mom.”

“What was his name again?”

“Lu Bai,” Zhang Xiaotian said again. “I really need to go, Mom. There’s a test paper I haven’t finished.”

Little Tian’s mother nodded and reached out to straighten Zhang Xiaotian’s collar. “That’s right, focus on your studies. It’s enough to get along with your classmates.”

Zhang Xiaotian didn’t say anything and turned to walk back into the school gate.

He looked at a problem repeatedly, but had no clue. His fingertip twirled the ballpoint pen around and around, and Zhang Xiaotian was also repeatedly pondering his mother’s words today.

Usually, besides grades, she didn’t care about his school life. Why did she specifically ask for Lu Bai’s name this time?

He looked up at the front of the classroom. Lu Bai was leading a few people in rehearsal.

“Rush forward bravely, wash away a century of filth, towering waves crash against the canyon, surging… how many twists of fate have surged.”

“I always feel like we’re missing something,” Lu Bai held the script, frowning, and said.

Someone was unhappy. “You keep saying we’re missing something. You’re taking this little performance so seriously!”

“Hey, hey, hey, don’t argue!” A boy familiar with Lu Bai came out to mediate. “Old Lu, don’t be so demanding. We’re all amateurs who were roped in to make up the numbers. This is already very good.”

“Exactly, the class teacher doesn’t have any requirements either!”

The five people bickered, making as much noise as the snack street at the school gate. Zhang Xiaotian couldn’t focus on his problems anyway, so he propped his chin on his hand and watched them gesture. The argument escalated. Lu Bai sat among them in silence, appearing to embody the saying that silence is golden. Perhaps he was tired of listening to them argue these past few days.

He was having a hard time too.

At this moment, classmates gradually returned to the classroom. Those few people also lost interest in rehearsing and returned to their seats. Zhang Xiaotian put away his lunchbox and took his water cup, planning to get some water.

Lu Bai had been standing still, but suddenly he slung an arm around someone’s shoulder and walked out of the classroom. Zhang Xiaotian, also going to get water, followed. He heard Lu Bai say to that boy, “Don’t mention others, but Zhang Yang, you definitely weren’t putting your heart into it just now.”

The boy named Zhang Yang seemed to be the one who was initially unhappy. Hearing this, his voice rose sharply. “What do you mean, Lu Bai?”

“I don’t mean anything,” Lu Bai said. “Last year, our class performed a chorus, and you weren’t this uncooperative.”

“It’s already very good that I come to rehearsals every day. What more do you want?” Zhang Yang’s eyes were about to bulge out.

“Don’t be angry, I might not have explained myself clearly.” Lu Bai forcefully clasped his shoulder, and Zhang Yang tried to break free but couldn’t. “What I mean is, you shouldn’t only be capable of this much.”

“You…” Zhang Yang seemed surprised that Lu Bai would say this, and his words got stuck. “Of course, I don’t need you to tell me.”

“Then what’s with today’s rehearsal? Are you in a bad mood?”

“If it were up to my mood, I wouldn’t even be in this program.” Zhang Yang showed some impatience, but still said, “In my opinion, we should just rehearse it casually. Li An agreed to just read the script, and the class teacher didn’t say anything. Why do you insist on memorizing it? Exams are coming up soon. If you’re not worried, I am!”

“Oh, oh,” Lu Bai said thoughtfully. “Is that so.”

“It’s not me saying this, Old Lu,” Zhang Yang continued when Lu Bai didn’t show any particular reaction. “You also know that this program is just to get by for the school. Otherwise, why wouldn’t they let those who always stand out in class participate? Isn’t it because they think participating in activities wastes time, and they don’t want those few people to waste their time?”

“I know, what you’re saying makes sense,” Lu Bai sighed. “But now that this is on our plate, we can’t avoid it. Let’s just do it to save face and put on a good show, shall we?”

Lu Bai patted Zhang Yang’s arm as if coaxing a child. “Do you know why I agreed to Li An so readily?”

Zhang Yang didn’t say anything.

“It’s because you’re also participating that I agreed! I know you’re much better than me in artistic matters. Otherwise, I alone flailing around here couldn’t handle it.” Lu Bai lowered his voice, like a cult leader trying to recruit someone. “With you here, and setting an example for them, everyone will cooperate with me. Then our efficiency will increase, and that’s what really saves time.”

After speaking, he looked around and saw Zhang Xiaotian, who had come out to get water, and signaled him to come over.

Zhang Xiaotian walked over, and Lu Bai quickly grabbed him and asked, “Classmate, tell me, did our classmate Zhang Yang’s recitation have the most feeling during the rehearsal just now!” He then winked at him.

Zhang Xiaotian felt a bit speechless inside, but he still played along with Lu Bai and nodded. “Yes, his was good.”

“You two are something else,” Zhang Yang said with a look of disdain, but his tone was no longer as stiff.

“Just bear with it for a bit. We only have a few days to rehearse. Since we’ve started, let’s do our best,” Lu Bai continued. “When the time comes, we’ll stand up straight on stage, and we won’t lose face. Don’t you think so, Xiaotian?” He then threw a charming glance at Zhang Xiaotian beside him.

“Fine,” Zhang Yang didn’t know if he had heard him, but his tone had improved considerably. “It’s only because it’s you, otherwise I wouldn’t rehearse.”

The two reached an agreement, and Zhang Yang turned back to the classroom.

“You’re really good at deceiving people,” Zhang Xiaotian clicked his tongue.

“I just want to finish up early,” Lu Bai smiled. “Listening to them argue every day is tiring.”

Zhang Xiaotian looked at him smile and couldn’t help but ask, “It’s not like it’s impossible to just go through the motions, right? Everyone said this program isn’t important.”

“Then we’ll embarrass ourselves in front of the whole school? I won’t do it,” Lu Bai stretched his arms, put his hands on his hips, and said to Zhang Xiaotian. “Besides, if we can do it well, why shouldn’t we do it well? Right, our Xiaotian?”

“Then good luck,” Zhang Xiaotian squinted at him and said, “Don’t call me Xiaotian.”

“Why?” Lu Bai asked. “I heard your mom call you that too.”

“Don’t call me that,” Zhang Xiaotian couldn’t explain it to him clearly. “Just use something else.”

“Then what should I call you?” Lu Bai thought for a moment. “Zhang Xiaotian… Tian’er? Does anyone call you Tian’er?”

It’s not as good as Xiaotian. Zhang Xiaotian resisted rolling his eyes and walked towards the water room with his water cup. Lu Bai quickly chased after him.

“No one calls you that, so I’ll call you that, Tian’er,” Lu Bai slung his arm over Zhang Xiaotian’s shoulder. “My Tian’er and I have such great chemistry, I just blink and you understand what I mean.”

Zhang Xiaotian looked at him looking so smug he was about to wag his tail. He found it amusing and lowered the hand that was about to push his arm away.

Perhaps because he didn’t want to study, Lu Bai seemed to be solely focused on the poetry recitation. Occasionally, when Zhang Xiaotian zoned out during class, he would see Lu Bai, while listening to the lecture and flipping through his book, pressing the list and recitation script under his arm. He would occasionally write and draw on it, and from time to time, he would ask for Zhang Xiaotian’s opinion.

“Tian’er, I paired Zhang Yang and Li Yuxin together yesterday,” Lu Bai pushed a piece of scratch paper towards Zhang Xiaotian with his fingertip. “But I thought about it when I got home and felt the effect wasn’t good. You watched our rehearsal yesterday, what did you think?”

“I didn’t watch,” Zhang Xiaotian propped his face on his hand and stared at the blackboard, not looking at the paper.

“Impossible,” Lu Bai pushed the paper towards him again. “Every time I turned around, I made eye contact with you. You were definitely watching us the whole time.”

“Illusion,” Zhang Xiaotian didn’t look at him and pushed the paper back.

“Come on, just look…”

“Lu Bai, have you learned everything and don’t need anyone to teach you anymore?” the chemistry teacher asked, her eyes narrowing. “Since you’re so willing to explain, then tell me, how did you do the next problem?”

“Damn it,” Lu Bai gritted out two words between his teeth, slowly stood up, tapped the test paper on the desk with his finger, and whispered to Zhang Xiaotian, “Which problem, Tian’er?”

“12,” Zhang Xiaotian replied in a small voice, covering his mouth with his hand. Seeing his pained expression, he was about to give him another hint about the method, when Lu Bai had already answered it successfully.

“With such a smart brain, why don’t you use it for the right things? I’ll wait for your chemistry grades to drop, and then I’ll scold you severely!” The chemistry teacher berated him a few times before letting him sit down. As soon as Lu Bai sat down, he picked up the list again and looked at it.

“Listen to the lecture a bit,” Zhang Xiaotian watched him for a while and tapped his notebook with his pen.

“I’m listening,” Lu Bai raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m multitasking!”

“You’re amazing,” Zhang Xiaotian imitated his gesture and raised an eyebrow.

“Then let me see,” Lu Bai pushed the paper towards him again. “Do you think their formation will look good if I put those two together?”

“Who is Li Yuxin?” Zhang Xiaotian asked.

“Geez, I forgot. You don’t know her,” Lu Bai pointed at the name “Li Yuxin” with his pen tip and then gestured to the side. “That girl by the window with short hair and fair skin is Li Yuxin.” He then muttered to himself, “No, the height difference between her and Zhang Yang is too much. It won’t look good together.”

“There are only six people in total, what kind of pattern do you want to create?” Zhang Xiaotian looked at the list again. “Who are the other few?”

“That boy sitting next to the podium, my former deskmate, Jiang Lei.” Lu Bai pointed at Jiang Lei with his chin. “Fourth from the back, the one wearing glasses, is Li Wenbo.” He then pointed out the positions of two other girls to Zhang Xiaotian.

While they were talking, Jiang Yan, who was sitting in the front, turned around for some reason and happened to meet Lu Bai’s gaze. The two of them tacitly gave each other the middle finger. Lu Bai chuckled for a moment, then leaned over to talk to Zhang Xiaotian again.

“Do you know why Jiang Lei moved to the front?”

“No,” Zhang Xiaotian shook his head.

“He and the girl behind him,” Lu Bai winked at Zhang Xiaotian at this point, “started dating last semester. He felt they were too far apart, so he told the class teacher that he couldn’t see the blackboard from the back row and moved his desk there himself. Look at them, still so lovey-dovey.”

Zhang Xiaotian also looked towards Jiang Lei’s side. Jiang Lei was looking at the blackboard, but his hand was behind his back, secretly passing a note to the girl behind him. The two of them were doing something under the teacher’s nose, but perhaps because it was a blind spot, the teacher didn’t notice.

“Let me tell you, they were always so clingy even before they started dating…” Lu Bai was about to elaborate when the bell rang for the end of class. Jiang Lei, sitting in the front, jumped up and called out to Lu Bai, “Lu Bai, come on, let’s go to the restroom!”

“I’m going to the restroom first,” Lu Bai also stood up. “Wait for me to come back and I’ll tell you, Tian’er!”

With that, he ran out the back door like a gust of wind.