Chapter 9, Competition

Fang Ying: "... ..."

Fang Ying was taken aback

The surroundings are quiet, and looking up, one can see a few stars scattered in the sky, solitary.

Fan Zhiyang nodded slightly with a blush

Fang Ying continued to swing her legs while listening to the guitar. After a moment, she stared at Jiang Xichi and noticed something, "... Did you put on makeup?"

As the new school year has progressed for over two months, everyone has shed their initial shyness, and their true personalities have begun to emerge. Middle school is different from elementary school; as everyone enters puberty, there is a need to express a certain "individuality." Tasks that lack personality, such as this kind of drudgery, are not something anyone is willing to participate in

Fan Zhiyang's face has turned pale, and if the number one "troublemaker" in the class also helps Wei Ming, then today...

Although she only understood these few sentences, Fang Ying still sat upright, observing him with neither servility nor arrogance, neither hurried nor slow. The clear voice was familiar to her, yet also somewhat unfamiliar

Is it possible?" Fang Ying interrupted him impatiently, "Would Jiang Xichi like someone like me?

Hello. Fang Ying sat down beside him

What is wrong with Zhenzhen? Do you think you are particularly impressive, believing that others are unworthy of you?

Jiang Xichi is very handsome

Over there, Kong Zhenzhen sniffed and softly urged: "Wei Ming!"

Then everyone spoke a little more quietly, but after a moment, it remained the same

On the table, there is an unsealed balloon in a plastic bag, with a pump placed beside it. Fang Ying knows how to inflate it, but when it comes to the step of "popping" it, she is at a loss. After fiddling with it for quite a while, she still hasn't managed to pop it, and most of the air has already escaped.

Have I ever said such a thing

Is it just you?

Students from Class 3 entered the venue one after another. Sitting next to Fang Ying was Min Shengnan. The host, Lori, began the opening remarks, and Fang Ying asked Min Shengnan to wake her up when Jiang Xichi came on stage. She then pulled the hood of her sweatshirt down to cover her face and fell asleep.

I have heard of the name Fang Ying Primary School before, but I never connected it to a person. Gu Yuluo, like Jiang Xichi, is one of those "other people's children"—good grades, good looks, and occasionally bringing a trophy back to the school. In the entrance examination for Qingye Middle School, Gu Yuluo ranked first, scoring four points higher than Jiang Xichi

Zhenzhen, this person does not know what is good or bad, I must seek an explanation from you today

Jiang Xichi cast him a dismissive glance and said, "I have made myself clear."

It is such a pity not to have secured first place

Wei Ming was sitting far away from the table, leaning his head back, casting a sideways glance at Fan Zhiyang on the podium, "What are you in such a hurry for? Do you want to show off in front of the teacher again?"

Do I mean this?

There was no one in the classroom, and the door was locked. She went to the playground alone, climbed onto the parallel bars, and sat quietly on top.

At the end of October, a joint English speaking competition among three schools will be hosted, and this year it is the turn of Qingye Middle School to be the organizer. Before the afternoon classes, Fan Zhiyang, the English teacher, instructed to select a few volunteers from the class to help set up the competition venue.

You say you haven't reported it, so you haven't? Which class monitor doesn't file a report...

各位女士们，下午好！我真的很高兴能站在这里发表演讲

Min Shengnan appeared to be frightened, her face flushed red.

The moment Fang Ying's hand touched the skin on his face, Jiang Xichi's entire body stiffened. He instinctively wanted to brush her away but forcefully held back. After a few seconds, he finally grasped her sleeve and gently pushed her away, saying, "... ... It was Teacher Ma who did it."

The next item is a two-minute impromptu speech drawn by lot. Fang Ying did not even understand the topic of the speech; she only heard Min Shengnan exclaim, "How difficult..."

Wan Zilin gently comforted Kong Zhenzhen, while Wei Ming blocked Jiang Xichi's path, saying, "Clarify your words."

Let him elaborate on the impact that China obtaining the right to host the Olympic Games in 2001 will have on the country

Your deskmate

Jiang Xichi paused his movements, his expression somewhat complicated

Everyone has quieted down at this moment, watching with great interest as Wei Ming confronts Fan Zhiyang

A single beam of light shone upon him on the stage. A song that was not particularly well performed allowed him to express a unique quality, distinct from the original artist. Clean yet stubborn

For a moment, Kong Zhenzhen tucked her phone into her pocket and stood up as well. She glanced over at Wan Zilin, who was flipping through an entertainment magazine, seemingly oblivious to the commotion on this side.

Fang Ying waited for about ten more minutes before returning to the classroom. In the corridor, she overheard people discussing the recent match

As Fang Ying had just left her seat, she heard the sound of a chair being dragged behind her. Turning around, she saw it was her deskmate.

Wei Ming's expression was complex, "What you mean is, you also have feelings for Jiang Xichi ... ..."

During this period of preparing for the talent show, he picked up the guitar that he had put down for more than a year and practiced every day in the corridor. Fang Ying was across from him, giggling and shouting over, "It sounds so bad!"

Would you like to review a bit?

During his time at school, Jiang Xichi consistently kept to himself and did not participate in Fang Ying's "small group"; however, outside of school, Fang Ying had already taken him on a tour of the Qiao Hua District.

Kong Zhenzhen's voice was tinged with a sob: "Wei Ming!"

Report report ... ...

Fan Zhiyang was taken aback, and Wei Ming was also taken aback

Gu Yuluo's waist sways gracefully, light and elegant, as if she truly is the peacock princess under the moonlight

Gu Yuluo looked at Fang Ying, and Fang Ying returned the gaze. In the realm of provoking others, Fang Ying has always been the champion.

Fang Ying is a bit annoyed, "I knew Jiang Xichi first"

Furrowing his brows, he asked Jiang Xichi, "Who is the person opposite?"

Jiang Xichi looked up and saw, "Gu Yuluo from Class 5."

Fang Ying does not pay much attention to these aspects of interpersonal communication, but she also knows that at this moment, she should not say "yes"

As soon as the voice faded, Fang Ying, who had been lazily lying down and sleeping, suddenly stood up from her seat

After a moment of stalemate, Wei Ming let out a low grunt and stepped aside, "Jiang Xichi, let's wait and see!"

Gradually, people began to walk out of the auditorium, suggesting that the event had concluded

She remained silent, and Wei Ming took it as an implicit agreement. "Isn't this rather unkind of you? You clearly know how Zhenzhen feels about him"

My deskmate is Min Shengnan, who is petite and always wears a school uniform that resembles a burlap sack. She sports a pair of rather unrefined glasses, and her low presence often makes Fang Ying forget that she has such a deskmate.

Upon hearing this, Kong Zhenzhen turned her head in surprise to look at Fang Ying and Jiang Xichi

Fan Zhiyang, both anxious and angry, picked up the blackboard eraser and tapped it on the desk, "Silence!"

It is said that I heard a girl from Class 3 went to confess her feelings to Jiang Xichi when the event ended

There are also Fan Zhiyang, Kong Zhenzhen, and Min Shengnan, and Min Shengnan is...

Fan Zhiyang was so anxious that he was on the verge of tears, "I have never reported anyone..."

Conference Hall

It sounded like "hug," and everyone immediately burst into laughter

That is Jiang Xichi

The drum set, flute, violin... That Gu Yuluo from Class 5, who had been glaring at her for quite a while, is the one performing the peacock dance

Before the competition was about to start, Fang Ying returned to the audience seats. She had always been indifferent to such competitions; if it were not for Jiang Xichi, she would not have come today.

Even if she speaks in Chinese, it may not be clear.

Fang Ying clutched her stomach and laughed heartily. After a moment, she suddenly felt two scrutinizing gazes directed at her from across the way, and she immediately turned her head to glare back at them.

Hmm," Fang Ying swayed her legs, "Why aren't you reciting the script?"

Looking up, Fang Ying was standing at the door. After a pause, she said, "I will wait for you at the bike shed"

I have heard that they often report us to Zhang Jun behind our backs

Jiang Xichi slung the bag over his shoulder and walked forward, bypassing Wei Ming

Fang Ying did not know why she suddenly no longer wanted to listen, so she stood up and quietly left through the aisle on the left.

Fang Ying did not return to the classroom, but instead went around the red curtain to the backstage. Jiang Xichi sat alone in the corner, while everyone else was nervously reciting their scripts; only he, holding a guitar, was casually strumming the strings.

Following Min Shengnan's instructions, Fang Ying tried twice and succeeded, then expressed her gratitude to Min Shengnan

Gu Yuluo finally felt embarrassed and withdrew her gaze

Then came Jiang Xichi's guitar performance. He sat down on the stool, crossed his legs, embraced the guitar, casually played a passage, and began to sing: "I remember all my life, raining down as cold as ice..."

Fan Zhiyang mobilized for a long time on the podium, yet everyone was either doing their homework or listening to music, completely ignoring his presence

Min Shengnan also did not dare to look at her, softly saying: "I... I will go help."

Uncertain how much time had passed, someone shook her arm. Fang Ying opened her eyes to see Jiang Xichi already on stage. His suit, which appeared somewhat exaggerated up close, looked perfectly elegant on stage. As soon as he spoke, a girl in the audience gasped softly.

Fan Zhiyang led the three individuals to the venue, where one person received a task from a teacher in the organizing committee. Fang Ying and Min Shengnan's task was to inflate balloons

"I didn't skip class, I came over to help you set up the venue as a volunteer," Fang Ying said, showing him a thumbs up, "I inflated hundreds of balloons, and they are all about to burst."

What does the question mean

Fang Ying had her hands in her pockets and asked, "What about you? Where are you going to help?"

The classroom fell silent at the moment, and those playing music were hurriedly trying to turn off the switches

Have you skipped class again

Pushing open the classroom door, there are only a few people left inside

Fan Zhiyang: "I ... ... I do not ... ..."

Gu Yuluo's impromptu speech was somewhat lacking, but the talent showcase score was very high

Fang Ying: "Where can I help?"

By 3 o'clock, the venue was fully set up. The competition starts at 4 o'clock, but Jiang Xichi and his team were already preparing backstage

Fang Ying did not plan to return to the classroom and intended to enter directly at 4 o'clock. She swung her legs for a while, listened to Jiang Xichi practice guitar for a bit, and suddenly noticed a girl across from her who had been staring at her.

That... Min Shengnan did not dare to look at Fang Ying, "When hitting, leave the tail a little longer, and do not hit too hard..." She demonstrated, "Then like this... just wrap it around, and it will be tied up.

I have already memorized it

The impromptu speech has concluded, and now we have the talent showcase that everyone enjoys.

Fang Ying slammed the book onto the table, her voice cold and sharp: "What are you laughing at?"

With Fan Zhiyang included, we finally gathered four people, enough to report to Teacher Ma

Fang Ying laughed heartily, "The eyeshadow is still sparkly!" She reached out to pinch his head, "Have you put on lipstick too?"

Fang Ying was sitting quietly, feeling inexplicably a bit depressed.

After Jiang Xichi left, Wei Ming turned his attention to Fang Ying, "Aying, are you going home with Jiang Xichi?"

"No need." He lowered his head, his fingers brushed across the strings, and a series of crisp notes sprang forth

As Gu Yuluo made her first appearance in her outfit, the boys below erupted in excitement, with applause, gasps, and strange calls filling the air