CY – Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

The next day, Zhang Xiaotian arrived earlier than usual, but he still couldn’t see Lu Bai.

“They’re all at the main stage now.”

Yin Li was busy moving tables downstairs and couldn’t talk much. Han Chengcheng, following behind her to help, picked up the conversation. “Lu Bai and the others arrived early. They just finished a rehearsal. Xiaotian, you can just watch the performances later. They’re really handsome!”

After saying that, she winked at Zhang Xiaotian and continued to help Yin Li move chairs and cardboard boxes. Zhang Xiaotian didn’t want to be idle, so he joined in moving things. Class One had been assigned a poor viewing spot this time, with some areas completely unusable for seating, so they had to move their own class’s tables and chairs down. Everyone in the class who wasn’t busy pitched in, and they didn’t finish until just before the opening ceremony was about to begin. At that moment, the broadcast was already organizing the class formations for entry. The class teacher quickly called everyone to their designated positions.

Although it was sunny the day before, the temperature plummeted today, and there was even a light drizzle. Zhang Xiaotian, being tall, stood in the back row near the inner edge of the track. Everyone around him was familiar but he couldn’t recall their names, and he had no intention of chatting.

The broadcast was still organizing the formations. Someone complained, “Why is it so cold all of a sudden?”

“It’s raining, of course it’s cold,” someone said, zipping their jacket all the way up, hiding half their face behind the collar. “This pointless standing in formation is endless.”

“Exactly, we’ll freeze to death later.” Several people chatted amongst themselves. Zhang Xiaotian didn’t intend to join in, just pulled his collar up to block some of the cold wind. The class formations took forever to complete, and the familiar “March of the Athletes” played on repeat. As Zhang Xiaotian listened, his mind began to wander, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the main stage.

There were too many people over there, dressed in various costumes, moving back and forth, making it impossible to count. Zhang Xiaotian remembered Lu Bai’s reminder from yesterday and patiently searched for a while longer. But it was too far from the main stage, and he wouldn’t be able to see clearly even during the performance.

“Should have come even earlier,” Zhang Xiaotian pouted and turned his head away from that direction. He hadn’t expected to be standing so far away.

The music suddenly changed, and the host went on stage for a brief warm-up. No one was in the mood to listen to the host. Shivering in the light rain and cold wind, the students were all freezing. Someone couldn’t help but want to curse, but as they uttered a few words, the class teacher noticed.

“Quiet down, everyone.” The class teacher was dressed very warmly. “I’m not expecting you to win any awards in the competitions, but we have to get the Spiritual Civilization Award, right? If I catch anyone talking, while everyone else is resting, you’ll be sitting on the side writing practice papers!”

With that, no one dared to speak.

Finally, the class formations began to enter, circling the track once before standing on the grass in the middle of the field. Class One entered first and thus stood in the very center, directly facing the main stage. After all the classes had entered, the performances began.

School was usually too strict, and they only turned a blind eye during major events. Therefore, the classes that had the opportunity to perform showed off their unique talents. It was rare to see a class like Class One being so passive. Suddenly, there were constant songs and dances in front of the main stage, the warming effect far superior to that of the host just now. The students still standing on the ground didn’t feel bored anymore. Occasionally, they would recognize a familiar song and sing along. Some even whistled at the boys and girls dancing on stage, causing a burst of laughter. It was unknown if that person was caught by their class teacher later.

Zhang Xiaotian wasn’t very interested in these. He was only worried that he wouldn’t be able to see clearly when Lu Bai and the others came on stage. His current position was closer than before, but there were people in front of him. He couldn’t help but shift to the side, trying to find the best viewing angle through the gaps between people. His eyes were fixed ahead, and he neglected his footing. Without paying attention, he stepped on someone’s shoe. Zhang Xiaotian quickly lowered his head to apologize, and suddenly heard the host announce the name of Lu Bai’s performance. He suddenly looked up, startling the person.

“…I’m really sorry.” Zhang Xiaotian felt a little embarrassed, but the other person didn’t mind.

“It’s okay, it’s crowded, it’s normal to step on someone,” the person said, crossing their arms, their tone sounding friendly. “Lu Bai must have bragged to you too, right?”

“Mm.” Zhang Xiaotian hadn’t expected him to start a conversation like this, nor that he knew Lu Bai.

“He brags everywhere, making me so curious,” the person said. He no longer stood in his own class formation but stood right next to Zhang Xiaotian. He was waiting for Zhang Xiaotian to join him in making fun of Lu Bai. After a while, seeing no response, he looked down at Zhang Xiaotian and noticed his evident discomfort.

“What the heck, man, you…” He was a little displeased, but then suddenly remembered something and asked, “You don’t remember me, do you? We even ate at the same table!”

When? Zhang Xiaotian frowned, finally remembering a time when he had dinner with Lu Bai and Lu Bai’s friends. There was another person at the same table. At that time, he had just arrived in Class One, and he didn’t even recognize most of the people in the class. He had thought they were all in the same class and he just hadn’t paid attention. It turned out they weren’t classmates.

“Sorry… My name is Zhang Xiaotian.” This made it even more awkward.

“It’s okay. My name is Lu Yibo.” Lu Yibo slapped Zhang Xiaotian on the back. “Next time we meet, you better not forget me!”

Zhang Xiaotian endured the pain and nodded. Lu Bai’s friends were indeed passionate.

As they spoke, Lu Bai and the others had already taken their positions on stage. The boys were in sharp suits, and the girls were in long, flowing dresses. As the background music started, it truly looked quite impressive.

Zhang Xiaotian couldn’t help but step forward. He had been present for most of Lu Bai’s rehearsals in class and remembered the formation, so it wasn’t difficult to find Lu Bai.

“Damn, it’s too far, and they’re all dressed the same. How can I tell who’s who?” Lu Yibo cursed.

Zhang Xiaotian looked at Lu Bai’s back from afar. Hearing Lu Yibo’s words, he felt rather smug, yet also felt he was being incredibly bored. Observing someone from across a vast crowd, when that person couldn’t see him, gave him a sense of security. Zhang Xiaotian secretly felt pleased and unconsciously moved further forward.

Lu Bai was different today. When they were together before, if there were others around, Lu Bai would be as lively as a hyperactive husky running around. But when he was alone with Zhang Xiaotian, Lu Bai would be “lazier,” including but not limited to leaning on him, talking very close to him, and always seeking physical contact. Zhang Xiaotian wasn’t used to it at first, but later he let it be. Ever since transferring to Class One, whether he wanted it or not, Lu Bai was always around Zhang Xiaotian, so Zhang Xiaotian thought he knew him quite well.

But now he wasn’t sure. This was the first time Zhang Xiaotian was seeing Lu Bai from such a distant perspective. He was calm and confident, which surprised Zhang Xiaotian. Even his voice sounded different from usual. The feeling of someone you thought you knew suddenly revealing another side was novel. Zhang Xiaotian felt a little excited. He felt a bit hot and reached down to unzip his jacket a little. Lu Yibo next to him heard the sound and turned back to ask, “Are you hot, man?”

“A little,” Zhang Xiaotian replied, his gaze fixed on Lu Bai in front of him, his answer a bit absentminded.

“So thin yet so resistant to the cold!” Lu Yibo clicked his tongue. “I really didn’t expect that.”

“I have a high metabolism,” Zhang Xiaotian replied.

The performers, like Lu Bai, had to wait until their classes returned to their seats before they could go back. When he changed back into his clothes and returned, his classmates were already seated. He stood at the front of the class, looking for an empty seat, but first, he saw Zhang Xiaotian.

Zhang Xiaotian had placed his and Lu Bai’s chairs in a shaded area towards the back of the class and had even taken off his own jacket to cover it. After covering it, he looked up and saw Lu Bai walking over.

“Great, deskmate, is there no one next to you!” He was holding a large paper bag. Zhang Xiaotian guessed it contained his suit. He didn’t ask, picked up Zhang Xiaotian’s jacket, and sat down directly. Then, as if he just remembered, he asked Zhang Xiaotian, “This isn’t a seat you were saving for someone else, is it? Is it okay for me to sit here?”

“…Sit down.” It was reserved for you anyway.

“Ah, I’m exhausted,” Lu Bai said, placing the paper bag between them and slumping onto the chair as if he had no bones. “I got here super early, didn’t even have time to eat. I’ve been busy since I arrived, and now I’m sleepy, tired, and hungry.”

Hearing him say this, Zhang Xiaotian remembered his promise from yesterday and said, “I was a little late.”

“Handsome?” Lu Bai sat up again at the remark. “You didn’t get to see up close, but it’s my fault too, I didn’t tell you the time.”

“It was okay,” Zhang Xiaotian replied, looking down. Then he looked up again, carefully examining Lu Bai’s face, feeling like he had returned to his usual self.

“Handsome, right! Even if he’s handsome, don’t stare at me like that, it’s embarrassing,” Lu Bai said, though he clearly enjoyed it. He raised an eyebrow at Zhang Xiaotian, seemingly waiting for Zhang Xiaotian to praise him more. Their eyes met, and Zhang Xiaotian was the first to break eye contact. He deliberately turned his head away and, after thinking for a moment, continued, “You should participate in more events like this.”

“What? What do you mean?” Lu Bai didn’t understand at first, but when he did, he was even more surprised. “Holy cow, deskmate, this doesn’t sound like you!”

“Can’t you take a compliment?” Zhang Xiaotian was a little annoyed by his words.

“Hehehe.” Lu Bai gave a silly grin.

So silly. Zhang Xiaotian couldn’t help but cover his forehead. He was truly an idiot.

“Oh, right,” Lu Bai took out the paper bag he was holding. “I couldn’t go to the supermarket yesterday, so I brought some food today. Let’s eat!”

Food? Not his suit? Zhang Xiaotian watched as he opened the paper bag like he was showing off a treasure. Inside were various snacks and bread.

“What about your clothes?” Zhang Xiaotian asked.

“Left them in the classroom, easy to take back to the shop at noon.”

“Oh.”

Lu Bai picked up a piece of bread, then put it down. “Oh what, do you want me to put them on and show you again?”

“Hey, hey, hey, I want to see!”

Zhang Xiaotian was about to say it wasn’t necessary when a voice suddenly interjected. It was Lu Yibo from the next class, who had been standing next to Zhang Xiaotian earlier.

“My spot was too far, I couldn’t see you at all. I even wanted to stand in the front row to see you.”

“Who are you calling ‘old man’?” Lu Bai put away the paper bag and high-fived Lu Yibo, who had walked over.

“Stop interrupting, I’m serious,” Lu Yibo said. “The crowd in front was so dense, and you guys had your backs to us, so it was impossible to tell who was who.” He glanced at Zhang Xiaotian next to him.

“By the way, Zhang Xiaotian, weren’t you next to me? Couldn’t you see either? Lu Bai, put it on again for us to see!”

Lu Bai froze and turned to look at Zhang Xiaotian. “Impossible! He just said I was handsome!”

“Nonsense, I couldn’t see, how could he have!” Lu Yibo said confidently. “It’s half the field away, and neither of us has X-ray vision.”

Lu Bai hesitated, the more he thought about it, the more he felt Lu Yibo was right. At such a distance, with their backs turned, it was impossible to see clearly. But Tian’er had just praised him for being handsome… Wait! What did Tian’er just say?

He said, “It was okay”!? Did he really not see, and was just trying to placate him?

Zhang Xiaotian watched Lu Bai’s emotions shift like clouds. He didn’t understand and felt inexplicably confused.

Why was this person suddenly changing his expression? Didn’t he know himself whether he saw it or not? Was there any need to lie to him?

“I really saw you,” Zhang Xiaotian said again, but Lu Bai didn’t seem to believe him at all. He then looked at Lu Yibo standing to the side, feeling a little resentful but also gritting his teeth.

“How about… I put it on again?”