Chapter 539: Cao Zei Is Exasperated

To show her gratitude, after training ended the next day, Xia Nuannuan invited Chen Xi and Wang Zijun to have dinner together.

For a period of time afterward, every day after classes ended, everyone would divide into two groups to train.

On the musical instrument group's side, the progress of Qin Tian and the other three was much smoother, so their training time was relatively short, and it was considered quite relaxed.

Only Cao Mingliang often had to stay behind after training ended to practice additionally on his own under Wang Zijun's guidance.

The training on the dance group's side was much more arduous.

Especially for girls like Xia Nuannuan and Shen Siqi who had no dance foundation, it was only after their body joints ached for several days that they got used to the rhythm of the dance training.

After the two groups had finished training separately to a sufficient degree, they gathered together and officially began rehearsals.

Amidst a fulfilling and peaceful daily routine, time passed day by day.

Before one knew it, September was drawing to a close.

The counselor also conveyed the college's notice in the class group chat: the welcome gala would be held on the evening of the last day of September, which was the same day the freshmen's military training performance ended.

After receiving the notice, the class group chat suddenly became lively.

"There are two days left, everyone keep up the good work, I believe in you all!"

The counselor sent a message in the group to encourage and cheer everyone on.

During the time they were training, she would occasionally go over to watch the excitement when she was free.

It was already nine o'clock in the evening, and inside Male Dormitory 208, the four of them were sitting in front of their respective computers, seeing the message in the class group chat.

"I thought the gala would be held after the National Day holiday arrived, and I was even prepared to go back during the break to practice more. Now I'm out of options!"

Cao Mingliang said with a helpless expression.

Chen Zhuang glanced at him and grinned, saying, "Anyway, you're not just there to make up the numbers; learn from the ancients—when the time comes, just don't make any sound with those drums, just going through the motions will be enough."

"Pfft!"

Zhuang Zhe, who had just taken a sip of water, sprayed it out directly. After giving Chen Zhuang a resentful glare, he hurriedly pulled out a few tissues to wipe the water stains off his computer.

This computer was a gift bought for him by Tian Jing with money she earned from a part-time job during the summer vacation; he had always treated it like a treasure.

Of course, he was also very good to Tian Jing.

On Tian Jing's birthday, he paid to treat everyone to a meal and also bought Tian Jing flowers and gifts.

Qin Tian was also amused by Chen Zhuang's words and looked at Cao Mingliang with a beaming smile.

"Chen Dazhuang, can you shut up! 'Just don't make any sound,' I really don't know how you come up with that."

Cao Mingliang shouted with a dark face.

"What's wrong with that? It's better than you banging around randomly and throwing off everyone else's rhythm. With Brother Tian and the others carrying the performance, you just go through the motions; I think our program will be even more explosive."

Chen Zhuang suggested righteously.

"Get lost, you! You, a salted fish who doesn't put in any effort at all, are mocking me, a core member? How are you so shameless?"

Cao Mingliang was so angry he cursed loudly.

Chen Zhuang shrugged with a chuckle and said, "This is called self-awareness. You call yourself a core member? If it weren't for that senior teaching you, you wouldn't even know how to hold the drumsticks, right!"

"Get lost, get lost, get lost, you idiot, I can't be bothered to bicker with you."

Cao Mingliang waved his hand with a look of utter disgust.

"By the way, Cao Zei, you've been practicing additionally with the senior all this time, just the two of you—one teaching and one learning—didn't you spark any little flames?"

Chen Zhuang raised his eyebrows with a cheeky grin, revealing an expression that all men understood.

"Flames your sister, we have been training properly the whole time, alright!"

Cao Mingliang denied it irritably.

"That's not right, this isn't your style!"

Chen Zhuang looked at him, half-believing and half-doubting.

Qin Tian and Zhuang Zhe, who were quietly eating melons and watching the show, felt the same way about this.

That senior was definitely a beauty in terms of looks, and her personality was also very good—bright and enthusiastic—making it very easy for people to develop a good impression of her.

Given Cao Mingliang's flirtatious and sentimental nature, he shouldn't have let her go.

"Don't talk nonsense. The senior and I are just pure friends; I haven't crossed any lines at all."

Cao Mingliang stated his innocence with a solemn expression.

The three of Qin Tian looked at each other; seeing that he seemed to really mean it, they were even more confused in their hearts.

Had the sun risen from the west?

"Is this senior still single? Has she ever been in a relationship?"

Zhuang Zhe asked out of the blue.

"Doesn't seem like it!"

Qin Tian replied.

Xia Nuannuan and Wang Zijun were already very familiar with each other, so they naturally understood her situation.

"That's no wonder then!"

Zhuang Zhe nodded, showing an expression of "as expected."

"I think I understand too."

Chen Zhuang smiled very lewdly.

"Is that for real?"

Qin Tian looked at Cao Mingliang with a strange expression.

If it were really as they thought, he truly couldn't understand it.

"Zhuang Zhe, Chen Dazhuang, that's enough out of you two! 'No wonder' my ass, what the hell do you understand? What are you randomly imagining here?"

Cao Mingliang stood up angrily with a flushed face, pointing at the two of them and shouting loudly in a state of exasperation.

"Ahem, alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore."

Chen Zhuang chuckled and stopped the topic.

"Damn it, what kind of roommates are these!"

Cao Mingliang's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and he sat back down indignantly.

After two days of rehearsal and adjustments, some minor issues had also been resolved.

The members participating in this program, including ten male and ten female backup dancers, and the four people in the instrumental group including Qin Tian, totaled twenty-four people, and they had already achieved an extremely tacit understanding with each other.

As long as they weren't too nervous on stage and did what they were each supposed to do, this program would definitely be fine.

"Then we'll be heading off first!"

The two senior schoolmates responsible for the choreography said goodbye with smiles.

"Goodbye, senior schoolmates!"

"Senior schoolmates, thank you for your hard work during this time!"

"After the gala is over, senior schoolmates, we'll treat you to a meal."

"..."

Everyone spoke up one after another, expressing their sincere gratitude to the two senior schoolmates.

"Goodbye, goodbye, perform well tomorrow, we will also go to the venue to watch."

"Bye-bye, everyone has worked hard too."

The two senior schoolmates waved goodbye and then left the classroom.

"Then I'll be heading off first too, if there's anything, send a message in the group chat, see you tomorrow!"

Wang Zijun put on her instrument bag and said to everyone with a bright smile.

Everyone responded one after another.

"Senior schoolmate!"

Xia Nuannuan shouted out.

Wang Zijun wore a smile and cast her gaze toward her.

"Really, thank you for accepting my invitation!"

Xia Nuannuan expressed her thanks with a face full of gratitude.

"Oh my, we're such good friends, why talk about thanks or no thanks? Besides, aren't you treating us to a meal!"

Wang Zijun feigned an expression of slight impatience, turned around and walked out of the classroom, waving her hand with her back to everyone as she said: "I'm off, I'm off, tomorrow night, let's all work hard together!"

"This senior schoolmate is really cool!"

Watching her departing back, a girl in the class couldn't help but exclaim.

Several girls nearby heard this and all nodded in agreement.