“The senior class leader brought clothes, everyone, hurry up and change! Be careful not to damage them; I worked hard to rent these,” said the ponytailed female class leader as she walked in, carrying two large bags of clothes, interrupting Jiang Mingqin’s thoughts.
Everyone immediately rushed to get their clothes and changed. The boys were sent to the restroom, while the girls stayed in the classroom and changed.
Every time they had to perform a parade at the sports meeting, it was a time for various classes to showcase their talents. This rare celebration boosted the enthusiasm of the entire school. This year, their class, Grade 1 Class 5, was determined not to be outdone. They decided to go with a Republic of China theme. The girls wore blue school uniforms, and the boys wore long robes and traditional clothing. They vowed to surpass the neighboring classes’ performances with their scholarly and elegant appearance.
“Is everyone changed?” The female class leader urged repeatedly, looking very nervous. “Hurry up! We’re about to enter the field, and we need to follow the positions we rehearsed before. We are freshmen, and we can’t embarrass ourselves in front of the seniors!”
Someone exclaimed, “Class leader, please stop talking; the more you talk, the more nervous I get!”
“I can’t help it; I’m nervous too,” the female class leader said, her hand over her heart, looking around anxiously. “Where are our leaders, Yin Minglu and Jiang Mingqin? Have they not changed yet?” This was her first time organizing an activity since entering high school, and she couldn’t afford any mishaps!
“They’re coming, they’re coming! They’ve changed their clothes! Class leader, we can go out now!”
“Signs, signs! Zheng Jiangning, hold the signs up!”
After a flurry of activity, with the experience from the rehearsal two days ago, the class quickly regained their composure. With the loud voice on the broadcast, they walked out.
“In the crisp autumn weather, under the bright sun, colorful flags fly on the sports field. On this carefree day, now approaching us is Grade 1 Class 5’s parade, with the theme of the Republic of China. Their slogan is: ‘Just like the young students, in the prime of our lives. Watch as we guide the country and show our strength. The future belongs to us!'” The host’s voice was enthusiastic and passionate, delivering the lines with great energy.
Everyone’s attention was focused on the approaching parade, including the audience. After watching groups dressed as emperors, empresses, and eunuchs, the excitement was further elevated.
Yin Zhongyuan wasn’t interested in the young kids’ cosplay, but he wore a suit and lazily squinted his eyes. It wasn’t until he heard “Grade 1 Class 5” that he nudged his brother’s elbow and reminded, “Hey, our boy is coming out! Where’s my camera? Hand it over quickly!”
Upon hearing this, Yin Yunqiu looked into the distance and indeed spotted his younger son’s figure among the students. Their class was unique; the girls wore blue tops, long black skirts, white socks, and black shoes, with either neat short hair or two twisted braids. They looked elegantly beautiful. The boys were dressed in long robes and traditional clothing, or they wore a neat black Zhongshan suit, exuding youthful vigor.
The leader of the group, a handsome young man with rosy lips and white teeth, stood out. He wore a dark-colored robe, had black hair, and sported old-fashioned Western-style glasses. He had a gentle appearance and wore a smile on his face. He was like a firefly in the dark, capturing everyone’s attention with just a glance, earning admiration from the crowd.
Next to him, the girl was also exceptionally beautiful. She wore a light purple qipao and held a paper umbrella. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and her expression appeared melancholic, as if she had stepped out of a classical painting. The two of them naturally exuded an era-appropriate charm, garnering praise from teachers and onlookers alike.
If Yin Minglu’s good looks had attracted the attention of most of the girls, then Jiang Mingqin’s pure and lovely appearance, without any makeup, captivated the boys in the audience.
In the bustling sports field, Yin Yunqiu’s gaze was focused on the young man leading the parade, even as he gradually disappeared from view with his classmates.
He couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia, thinking that the little child who used to crawl all over him, both active and quiet, was now growing up. He remembered holding that child in his arms, feeling the warmth and softness, making him forget the fatigue of a day’s work. Now, in the blink of an eye, that child had shed his childishness, growing taller like a young jade, shining among the crowd.
In that young man’s life, many people had gradually appeared: friends, classmates, teachers, and various characters. His role as a father was gradually diminishing. Yin Yunqiu was not without a tinge of melancholy, but as children grew up, parents had to learn to let go. Perhaps this was the inevitable path for every parent.
The tall father once protected his fragile child, but as the child grew up, it would only be a matter of time before he supported the aging father. This was the power of mutual care and companionship through the years.
Yin Yunqiu thought to himself that his child wasn’t even sixteen years old yet, and he couldn’t help but worry. He needed to live at least until the age of sixty to support his child’s sky. He had to witness his child getting married and having children before he could truly let go of his worries.
As if sensing the gaze from the audience, Yin Minglu suddenly looked up and looked in his father’s direction. When he saw his family, he smiled, raised his eyebrows, and even pouted, blowing a kiss to them. In an instant, his scholarly and elegant appearance vanished, replaced by a mischievous and playful teenager. Seeing this, Yin Zhongyuan couldn’t help but laugh, and Yin Yunqiu’s lips, which were initially straight, also curved slightly.
Yin Yunqiu wanted to remind his younger son that the class teacher and school leaders were watching him, and the local TV cameras had captured his earlier performance. He would probably be called to the teacher’s office for a talk later. Thinking that his child might be scolded and look pitiful, Yin Yunqiu smiled with a hint of amusement.
Seeing this scene, Mr. and Mrs. Jiang, who were sitting not far from the Yin family, couldn’t help but chuckle.
Initially, their attention had been focused on their daughter, who had grown more beautiful over the years. However, gradually, their gaze was drawn to the young man next to their daughter. They watched as he walked elegantly, exuding grace and charm, and how he carried himself with impeccable manners. He had a dignified appearance and clear eyes. He seemed like a Republic of China-era handsome youth, full of vitality and charisma. They couldn’t help but feel fond of him.
They thought that their daughter’s male classmate was also quite outstanding. Standing next to their daughter, he didn’t pale in comparison; instead, he excelled even more. It was said that outstanding people always attracted each other. They believed that their daughter would become even more outstanding by associating with such a person.
Only Jiang Mingyao furrowed his brows and looked at the bespectacled young man with suspicion. He felt that the young man’s face was strangely familiar. There had been a moment when the young man turned back and smiled, and it seemed as though he saw a shadow of his father’s younger self. In their family’s photo album, there were pictures of his parents’ wedding during their youth, and his father had appeared very refined and gentle at the time. There was a slight resemblance between the young man and his father in those photos.
He shook his water glass, nearly spilling the water. After coming back to his senses, he rubbed his temples, chuckled, and thought, “Could it be that I’m getting dazzled by the sun?”
He didn’t dare to think too much about it, but the young man’s face had left an impression in his heart, creating ripples of curiosity.
…
On the second day of the lively and busy sports event, the entire school knew that a high school freshman named Yin Minglu was exceptionally strong, appearing slim but possessing astonishing physical fitness. He could effortlessly run a 5,000-meter race without breaking a sweat, and his hair never seemed out of place.
In the javelin throw, he even broke a record. His jumping ability was astounding, surpassing even the athletic students. He kept breaking records one after another, and many people started questioning their life choices while watching him.
For three whole days, this young man was in the spotlight. Jiang Mingqin watched in frustration as he appeared countless times on the local TV station. Every time he shone, the cameras were glued to him, leaving no room for anyone else. Meanwhile, she was nearly deafened by the screams of her classmates.
The girls around him were shouting and jumping in excitement, eagerly offering him water whenever he needed it. Sometimes they even dragged her along, claiming they were all part of the same group.
Who in the world wanted to bring him water? She wished she could pour it on him instead. She kept cursing in her heart, wondering why he didn’t stumble during his runs or slow down. Was he even human? Not only did he not make any mistakes, but he also kept performing better.
She blamed her useless biological mother for getting kicked out of the Yin family for her infidelity. Otherwise, like in her previous life, she could have raised him to be a waste. Why did he have to end up with a healthier body than in his previous life, unlike her? Clearly, he had a long life ahead of him. Thinking about it made Jiang Mingqin feel stifled.
Everyone was watching him, including the mayor’s son, who she had been keeping an eye on. He often had his gaze fixed on the young man, seemingly drawn to him unconsciously. This made Jiang Mingqin uneasy, fearing that her efforts over this period of time would be in vain. So she racked her brains to find a way to divert his attention.
To her relief, Yin Minglu was still just a mortal. He couldn’t perform magic tricks, and taking on ten different competition events was already astonishing enough. He didn’t sign up for more.
As the lively sports event came to a close, the Mid-Autumn Festival performance began.
Many parents and leaders were seated in the audience, and the local TV station’s photographers were present as per the school’s request. There were three trophies in front of the principal, ready to be awarded to the first, second, and third place performers.
Jiang Mingqin smiled confidently. Her moment had finally arrived. She had practiced her skills diligently since childhood, all for this moment when she could shine and stand out in front of this large audience.
After a few lackluster performances from other classes, her turn came quickly. In the fiery music, she swayed her skirt and took the stage with her male partner.
Jiang Mingqin was performing a Latin dance. She could also do ballet, but she felt that ballet was too elegant and wouldn’t set the right mood. Her classmates might find it dull and boring. After careful consideration, she chose the passionate and lively Latin dance.
Latin dance was an athletic competitive dance with a strong style, testing the dancer’s skills and requiring explosive power. She was naturally weak and her physical fitness wasn’t on par with Yin Minglu’s. After completing the entire dance, she might be physically exhausted, but she didn’t care.
She wanted all eyes to be on her, to be all about her, with no room for anyone else. She hoped that after tonight’s performance, she might become famous throughout the school, and the gaze of Chen Gongzi, who might be filled with fiery passion after Yin Minglu’s disappearance, would be all hers. She felt a surge of excitement that was hard to contain.
The young girl on stage indeed captured the attention of the entire audience. She wore a revealing tight black dress, and the swaying hemline blossomed like a flower. With her enthusiastic dance moves, her two long and fair legs and her slender waist firmly held everyone’s gaze, making them almost forget her unnoticeable male partner.
Not to mention the fact that the young girl’s petite face, large and bright eyes, wavy long hair, and delicate features made her look like a sexy fairy in the night. It was a stark contrast to her innocent and pure daytime appearance that could easily ignite strong protective instincts in males. This intense contrast led to catcalls and cheers from the audience, even the school leaders in attendance couldn’t contain themselves.
*Cough, cough*
The principal’s cough was like a small stone thrown into the ocean, instantly drowned out by the thunderous applause.
A lively Latin dance performance had indeed made the girl the undisputed campus goddess and the most beautiful school flower in the eyes of the male students.
After the dance, Jiang Mingqin was out of breath, and her male partner had to support her. She had almost no strength left, her face pale. As she returned to her seat, she noticed that almost everyone around her was staring at her, as if they had been conquered by her extraordinary performance and striking beauty.
In the admiration of her male peers and the envy of her female peers, she couldn’t help but feel an indescribable sense of satisfaction. This was what she deserved.
“Are you okay?” Chen, the young master, asked with concern, his tone much softer than during the day, showing genuine worry for the girl’s resilience.
She shook her head, her cheeks flushed with a slightly unhealthy color. She shyly smiled and said, “I’m fine, just need a little rest.”
“You really pushed yourself too hard. Don’t force yourself in the future. The honor of your class doesn’t always have to depend on you. You’re just too soft-hearted, always agreeing to every request.” Chen Gongzi gently admonished, his expression warm and caring, making the girl both gentle and endearing.
What he didn’t know was that class honor had nothing to do with dancing, and the strenuous dance was a request from the other party herself. Initially, the class leader had called for anyone with special talents to step forward and bring honor to the class. However, no one volunteered, so Jiang Mingqin pretended to “volunteer” under the encouragement of her best friend. Everyone knew she could play the piano, so they readily agreed.
Little did they expect that the other party would actually want to dance, which genuinely shocked them. Many times, they worried that she might faint on stage while dancing and tried to persuade the young girl to change her performance, but for some reason, she insisted on not changing it.
In Jiang Mingqin’s mind, she thought, “Although I started playing the piano at the age of three, I gave it up for a while and only picked it up again at the age of eight. Since I also need to focus on dancing, painting, and studying, I couldn’t specialize in the piano. So, my piano skills are actually average.”
She had abandoned her initial plan to play the piano when she heard that a senior school beauty would be performing piano at the Mid-Autumn Festival. That beauty came from a musical family and was highly accomplished in piano, having studied it since she was a child. Her piano skills were almost at a professional level. Jiang Mingqin didn’t want to compete with her, so she changed her performance to the lively Latin dance, fearing that she would embarrass herself on stage.
As she expected, she successfully stole the show, and she believed that even the senior school’s beauty wouldn’t be able to outshine her now.
As for Yin Minglu, where was he now? Did he know that the person he had pursued was now sitting beside her, showing concern and care? Where was he? The girl lowered her head, in a place where others couldn’t see her, her lips curled into a self-satisfied smile. When she raised her head again, her expression was soft and harmless.
At this moment, she really wanted to see the expression on his face. Was he feeling like a loser, only able to look up to her performance on the stage? So, she found a female classmate from her class and casually asked, “Where is Yin Minglu? Why haven’t I seen him?”
The classmate replied, “Oh, he should be backstage preparing for his performance.”
What performance? He was actually performing too? Why didn’t she know? Jiang Mingqin’s face stiffened, and she had a feeling that something was slipping out of her control.
—
Author’s Note: Thank you to the angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solution~
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