Chapter 137

Thursday morning.

After nearly two weeks of morning runs, Li Luo and Ying Chanxi finally didn't get up early this morning, conserving energy and stamina for the upcoming sports meet.

Instead, Xu Youyu knocked on Li Luo's door at six a. m., calling him to get up and eat breakfast.

"Did the sun rise from the west?" Li Luo rubbed his eyes as he stepped out of the bedroom, looking at Xu Youyu. "Aren't you usually the last to get up, ten minutes before we leave?"

"It's the sports meet today," Xu Youyu rolled her eyes. "There's a pile of stuff to oversee at the student union—I'd feel better getting there early."

"I see." Li Luo walked into the kitchen, glanced at the leftover rice in the rice cooker and the contents of the fridge, then said, "Then let's not make it complicated—just have egg fried rice."

"No problem." Xu Youyu followed him into the kitchen. "I'll help you crack the eggs."

"Don't drop any eggshells in again."

"That was last month! Stop bringing up old grievances, okay?"

"Fine, fine, hurry up." Li Luo took a bunch of green onions and three slices of ham from the fridge, placing them on the cutting board to prepare.

Xu Youyu fumbled with three or four eggs, carefully and meticulously cracking each one into a bowl, stirring them evenly with chopsticks, and checking for any shell fragments.

"Hey, by the way, that wrist support you gave me." After finishing the eggs, Xu Youyu turned to Li Luo. "I've used it for a few days—it's really helpful. My wrist doesn't hurt as much anymore."

"Glad it helps." Li Luo scooped out the rice, poured oil into the wok, waited for it to heat, then dumped in the cold rice and began stir-frying.

Once the rice grains separated and were coated in oil, he promptly poured in the beaten eggs, then stir-fried vigorously until the egg mixture evenly coated each grain.

When the mixture formed a cohesive mass, he added the sliced ham, gave it a quick stir, sprinkled in the chopped green onions, and the egg fried rice was done.

"What kind of keyboard do you like?" Xu Youyu asked suddenly as Li Luo divided the fried rice into three plates. "What switch type do you prefer?"

"Blue switches sound better," Li Luo said. "Why? Are you planning to return a gift?"

"I keep eating your cooking and accepting your presents—if I don't give you something back, it'd be rude."

Xu Youyu picked up a plate of fried rice, walked out of the kitchen, and turned back to him. "If my mom found out, she'd scold me for being clueless and irresponsible."

"You don't have to be so formal," Li Luo smiled. "Aren't you the one who tutored me? I even made it to 27th in the whole school because of you. And you promoted me to vice president of the literature club too."

Hearing this, Xu Youyu felt even more embarrassed.

Ying Chanxi had helped with his studies; as for the vice presidency, she'd just dragged him in as free labor—it hardly counted as a favor.

"Anyway, I'll buy you a gift. If you like blue switches, I'll get you one." Xu Youyu said. "I've been eyeing a new keyboard lately—I'll buy both."

"Then I'll thank you in advance."

"You're welcome." Xu Youyu nodded happily, heading to the dining table. "By the way, do you know what Chanxi likes?"

"Uh…" Asked this, Li Luo blinked, glancing at the collection of plush toys lined up on the windowsill, momentarily speechless.

But Xu Youyu said: "I heard Zhusheng say Chanxi likes plush toys?"

"I thought so too," Li Luo sighed, pointing at the window sill's disaster zone. "But now it seems not."

"But I saw how much Chanxi liked the Pikachu you gave her," Xu Youyu said. "She keeps it right by her pillow."

"Really?" Li Luo paused, hadn't noticed that—he rarely entered Ying Chanxi's room. "Then maybe she just likes Pikachu."

"I can tell." Xu Youyu grinned, pointing toward the balcony where their three sets of laundry hung.

Among Ying Chanxi's undergarments and personal items, there were patterns of Pikachu.

Li Luo glanced once, then immediately looked away, serious: "I didn't see anything."

"Fake modesty." Xu Youyu rolled her eyes. "I've seen them—there's also Doraemon. If I bought her a Doraemon plush, would she like it more?"

"... You could try."

Li Luo twitched his mouth, checked the time, saw Ying Chanxi still hadn't woken up, and walked toward her room: "I'll go wake her up."

At her door, he knocked: "Get up. If you don't, I'm coming in."

Knowing Ying Chanxi slept in her pajamas, Li Luo had no qualms. When she didn't respond, he opened the door and stepped inside.

After months of living here, the bedroom had taken on a distinctly feminine style.

Whether it was the cartoon desk mat by the window, the various trinkets and decorations, or the giant panda plush on the bed—it was unmistakably Ying Chanxi's room.

Hearing Li Luo enter, Ying Chanxi turned on her side, letting out muffled groans, clearly still half-asleep.

Li Luo walked to the bedside, suddenly remembering what Xu Youyu had said, and instinctively glanced at the nightstand.

Sure enough, Yan Zhusheng's Pikachu sat quietly there—clearly cherished by Ying Chanxi.

"Wake up." Li Luo pinched her cheek.

Ying Chanxi groaned again, barely opened her eyes, and stretched lazily in bed: "Alright, alright… I'm so tired."

"What time did you go to sleep? Still not rested?"

"Around two…"

"What were you doing?"

"I was just a little nervous… never ran 1500 meters before. Thinking about it kept me awake."

"I'm performing on stage today and I'm not this nervous. You're really slacking."

"Mind your own business! Annoying."

"Can you get up now? Or do you want to sleep more?"

"No more sleep. I'm getting up."

"Alright, your fried rice's already plated." Li Luo turned to leave, but then his gaze landed on her pillow—he paused, softly "Huh?" "What's that on your pillow? Looks familiar."

"Ah?" Ying Chanxi panicked, yanking the blanket over her head, covering the pillow. "Nothing! Just a pillowcase! I'm changing clothes—go out!"

? TtkΛn? ￠o

"Oh, okay." Li Luo didn't think more of it, nodded, and walked out to the living room to eat.

After hearing Li Luo's footsteps fade, Ying Chanxi peeked out from under the blanket, glanced at the small blanket on her pillow, and let out a quiet sigh of relief.

This blanket was the one Li Luo gave her when she was little—he probably forgot all about it, didn't even recognize it.

Such a dummy.

Thinking this, Ying Chanxi folded the small blanket and placed it on the bedside, then changed into her school uniform and went out to wash up before heading to the living room for breakfast.

……

Seven o'clock in the morning.

The bell of Yuhang No. 1 Middle School rang, followed by the "Athletes' March," played only during the flag-raising ceremony.

Across the entire school, three grades totaling forty-eight classes, stirred into motion to the stirring marching music.

Zhu Yufei, the sports committee member of Class Eight, led his class down from the third floor in formation; when they reached the track on the playground, they arranged themselves into a square according to the drill practiced in PE.

The opening procession was still somewhat dull.

Class One, Gao Yi, chanted their slogan—"Class Eight, Class Eight, Unstoppable, Filled with Spirit, Kings of the Field!"—as they passed before the podium, then marched in formation and lined up on the lawn in order.

Once all forty-eight classes had taken their positions, it was the turn of the school leadership on the podium.

The director of instruction spoke, then the vice principal, and finally the principal.

The only good news was that after the director of instruction finished speaking, a group of girls from the dance club, dressed in bright dance skirts, surged out from behind the podium and performed a dance on the track.

After the vice principal finished speaking, it was the anime club's turn—the members, wearing various anime mascot costumes and cosplay outfits, performed a quirky dance.

"Damn, does the anime club really wear these all the time?" Zhang Guohuang grumbled in the formation. "Glad I didn't join."

Xu Yinghuan beside him shot him a look of disdain, then asked curiously, "Where are the monitor and Zhusheng? Didn't they say the rock club would perform? The principal's already done speaking—when are they coming out?"

"It's the finale. That's only natural."

As the students of Class Eight waited eagerly for Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng to appear, Gao Er's Wei Duo also stared at the podium.

She had once been the lead singer of the rock club and knew how the event was planned; she kept her eyes fixed on the empty space behind the podium.

Many students hadn't noticed that the rear half of the podium today was covered by a large curtain.

Since the podium's surface and walls were all red, matching the curtain's color, few paid it any attention.

All attention had been drawn to the dance club and anime club performances.

During the school leaders' speeches, hardly anyone bothered to look up at the podium.

But Wei Duo squinted, silently waiting for the principal to finish.

The moment the principal declared, "I hereby declare the 63rd Annual Yuhang No. 1 Middle School Sports Meet officially open!"—a steady drumbeat erupted from behind the podium.

Chas! Chas! Chas!

With Niu Qingling's opening beat, the keyboard, guitar, and bass followed the drum rhythm into the intro of "Brave Heart."

Students from Gao Er and Gao San had seen the rock club perform before, so they weren't too surprised.

But many in Gao Yi had no idea what the rock club was capable of; they assumed the opening ceremony ended when the principal announced the games were open.

Only when the sudden rock music blared did everyone freeze in confusion, then instinctively search for the source.

At that moment, a group of student union members rushed onto the stage, quickly removing the chairs and tables used by the school leaders as they departed, clearing the stage.

The next second, the red curtain on the podium slowly drew open, revealing the entire band behind it!

Niu Qingling beamed with confident, exuberant energy, casually striking the drums and controlling the song's rhythm.

Xie Shuchen stood in another corner, posing in what he thought was a cool stance, fingers tapping the keyboard to produce each note.

Li Luo and Shao Youpeng stood like guards on either side of Yan Zhusheng, one playing guitar, the other bass, swaying to the music.

Meanwhile.

In the center, Yan Zhusheng gripped her microphone, closed her eyes, and her soft, rosy lips parted gently with the music:

"I'm not a stone~"

"Nor a single tear~"

"I'm just a little bird~"

"Searching for the way home~"

Smoothly entering the pre-chorus, Yan Zhusheng's clear voice instantly seized every ear in the crowd.

Even Wei Duo was momentarily stunned.

After the brief verse ended, Yan Zhusheng on stage took a deep breath, suddenly opening her eyes, her clear, bright gaze fixed straight ahead—

"This is the feeling of flight!"

"This is the feeling of freedom!"

"Dancing in the wind against a sky drenched in blood!"

"With a heart that never cries—brave and bold!"

The piercing high notes surged through every body in the crowd.

Even the students of Class Eight, who had been prepared, were instantly captivated by Yan Zhusheng's voice.

The Gao Er and Gao San students, who had expected something, now stared at the girl on stage in disbelief—hard to imagine such a powerful, explosive rock song could come from someone so small.

"This sounds familiar—isn't this the girl who sang on the playground during military training?"

"Yes, yes! I know her! Her name is Yan Zhusheng!"

"Didn't you bring her a drink before? No wonder you remember so clearly."

"Damn! So what if I brought her a drink? She's singing like a god! I'd go give her one right now!"

Not just the boys—even the girls in the crowd were instantly drawn to Yan Zhusheng.

Xu Yinghuan looked up at the stage, unable to help exclaiming, "So cool! I never noticed—when she sings, Zhusheng instantly turns into a total badass! Absolutely awesome!"

On her first public appearance before the entire school as lead singer, Yan Zhusheng won over nearly every listener.

Even Li Luo, harmonizing beside her, or Shao Youpeng, who delivered a bass solo during the interlude, paled in comparison to her radiance.

When singing "Blooming Life," after finishing the first chorus, Yan Zhusheng raised her left hand to the back of her head and casually untied her hair tie.

Her waist-length hair cascaded down, dancing in the autumn breeze; she grabbed the microphone, stepped forward a long stride, and sang:

"I want a life that blooms!"

Like standing atop the peak of a rainbow!!

Like traveling through a glittering river of stars!

Possessing power beyond the ordinary!

The song ended.

Yan Zhusheng's hair was disheveled, her breath slightly ragged, the microphone slowly slipping from her hands.

The final note still seemed to linger in everyone's ears, echoing endlessly.

Li Luo and the others put down their instruments and walked over to Yan Zhusheng.

The five of them faced the audience, exchanged a smile, then bowed in perfect unison as Niu Qingling softly counted, "Three, two, one."

But most people's gazes remained fixed solely on Yan Zhusheng, until her tall, slender back vanished behind the backstage entrance—only then did many reluctantly pull their eyes away, filled with regret.

Only two songs? That's not nearly enough!

Just cancel the sports meet and give this girl a concert instead—I'd even pay for a ticket!

……

"Well done." Li Luo stepped backstage, slapped Yan Zhusheng's palm, and grinned, "That was incredible."

"Mm." Yan Zhusheng nodded, already back to her expressionless face, tilting her head toward Li Luo to kindly remind him, "You played several wrong notes today—more than usual."

Li Luo's face darkened: "... When will you ever learn to read the mood before speaking?"

Yan Zhusheng shook her head, then said seriously, "What I mean is, Student Li, you still need to study seriously with me—I'll teach you properly."

"Then I'm truly grateful, Professor Yan."

Yan Zhusheng nodded in satisfaction and patted his shoulder: "You're welcome."