She returned to her seat absentmindedly, furrowing her brows lightly and feeling uneasy in her heart. Seeing her like this, Chen Gongzi thought she was feeling cold and considerately took off his coat and handed it to her.
Jiang Mingqin accepted it, her expression once again changing, and several times, she thought about asking Chen Gongzi to accompany her outside. But after a moment, she wondered if she was making too big of a deal out of it. After all, Yin Minglu was just performing one act.
According to what her classmates had said, several male students would be going on stage, and Yin Minglu was just one of them. It might be a big chorus or a street dance performance. No matter how she thought about it, he wouldn’t steal her limelight. She didn’t need to be so nervous, but she felt a bit unsure, which made her lose her confidence for no reason.
Thinking this way, she calmed down a bit, but when she overheard the conversation of the girls sitting in front of her, her expression became nervous again.
They were saying, “What are our male classmates going to perform? There’s no hint at all, it’s all so secretive. I don’t see them preparing any props. Could they just go up and sing a song?”
“I guess they’re afraid of us making fun of them,” one girl chuckled while covering her mouth, not having high expectations for the boys’ performance.
“But I see them taking it seriously. The performance should turn out well. Besides, with Yin Minglu on stage, even if he just stands there and doesn’t say anything, a lot of people will applaud him,” another girl said with confidence.
That’s right, as long as the boy goes up and stands for a moment, with his handsome face, many people will support him. Jiang Mingqin’s heart tightened, and a sense of anxious emptiness flooded her emotions. She turned her head, lifted her watery eyes, and was about to make an excuse to Chen Gongzi that she wasn’t feeling well and wanted to leave before the show started, but the host had already begun announcing the program.
“Now, let’s welcome the students from Class 5 of the first year to bring us the campus sketch ‘Teenage Love.’ Everyone, please look forward to it!”
As soon as the term “Teenage Love” was mentioned, everyone in the audience perked up, clearly intrigued. The hall filled with various discussions and chatter, and some even discreetly glanced at the teachers’ expressions.
“Teenage love? That’s an interesting theme.”
“I think it’s going to be so boring. It’s probably one of those themes that oppose teenage love.” After all, the teachers and school leaders were present, and the students couldn’t openly promote teenage love, right?
Jiang Mingqin was also somewhat surprised. She thought those boys were going to perform something else. Seeing that Chen Gongzi’s gaze was already fixed on the stage, as if he had become interested, she had to bite her lip, feeling embarrassed to bring up the topic of leaving again.
After announcing the program name, some students quickly began arranging the stage and bringing various props, all of which were familiar and common items like tables, chairs, benches, blackboards, chalk, and a countdown calendar. Most students were becoming increasingly sure of their guesses.
“Ah, it’s definitely going to be about counting down to the college entrance examination and warning everyone not to neglect their studies for romance.”
“I agree, these younger students are really not interesting.”
“That’s right. Does teenage love put food on your table? I remember last night, I was walking on the track with my girlfriend, and we ran into the headteacher patrolling with a flashlight to catch couples. We got caught red-handed and were punished to write a 3,000-word self-critique. It still makes me angry when I think about it!”
“This program is probably aimed at pleasing the school leaders today. They want to impress the school leaders and gain their favor. Shameless. I’m definitely going to boo the actors later.”
“Count me in! I’m going to boo them too!”
Seeing that the sketch had already sparked discussions before it even started, Jiang Mingqin couldn’t help but smile slightly.
Amidst the noisy chatter, the actors gradually took the stage, and those familiar faces were all seated. There was a paper wall in the middle, apparently symbolizing two different classes. There were both male and female actors inside. Strangely, as Jiang Mingqin searched carefully, she couldn’t find any sign of Yin Minglu.
Although the school uniforms for boys and girls were both sporty, they had different colors. The girls wore red, while the boys wore blue. Jiang Mingqin tried hard to spot someone in the blue uniform but couldn’t find him. Coincidentally, the girls in front of her were also whispering.
“Where’s Yin Minglu? Why isn’t he on stage? Could it be that he’s not feeling well and couldn’t perform?” Thinking that he had been working hard on the sports field all day and now had to perform on stage in the evening, like a model student for the class, the girl’s face showed genuine concern and worry.
“Don’t worry, maybe it’s not his turn to come out yet,” another girl reassured her. “I noticed that there’s no empty table and chair on the stage. He might be playing the role of a teacher. Let’s be patient and watch.”
“Okay.” After agreeing, the girl focused her attention on the stage, but even as the scene unfolded, apart from a few who were still concerned about him, most people had already forgotten about him.
The narrator continued, explaining that Class 1 and Class 2 were elite classes, and the relationship between the two classes was like water and fire. Each class had its own outstanding academic star, and they competed for the first place in the grade during monthly exams, joint exams, and mock exams. The two academic stars had long heard of each other’s names but had never met.
One day, when the academic star of Class 1, Zheng Jiangning, happened to pass by Class 2, he was suddenly attracted by a beautiful girl sitting by the window. He stopped in his tracks, and his heart pounded.
As the narrator read this part, the actor playing Zheng Jiangning happened to look at the girl who had been immersed in her work. All eyes in the audience were also drawn to her, wanting to see the girl who had captured the academic star’s heart and was described as beautiful.
Unfortunately, the girl never looked up from her books throughout the scene, as if all her attention was focused on the problems in front of her. The sound of her writing filled the air, and her long hair, soft and smooth, hung down over her cheek, partially concealing her fair neck.
The hair strands seemed to enhance rather than hide, making people want to see her face clearly.
As if hearing the silent request in everyone’s hearts, the girl finally lifted her head from her books. As soon as people saw her face, those in the front row, who had the clearest view, couldn’t help but take a sharp breath. Undoubtedly, it was because the girl’s features were truly delicate. Her dark eyes seemed to hold a hint of moisture, her nose was perfectly straight, and her lips were as rosy as if outlined with lipstick. Her cute and lovely facial appearance was reminiscent of an exquisite and adorable doll displayed in a shop window, exuding a gentle and innocent charm.
“Oh my God! She’s a goddess!” A male student couldn’t help but exclaim under his breath. He didn’t notice his grip on the mineral water bottle was too strong, and it burst, splashing the student in front of him with water.
But most of the boys couldn’t bear to break the enchanting moment of the girl and boy gazing at each other.
When the girl’s face appeared on the big screen, even the girls in the audience couldn’t help but be captivated. They felt a strange and complex mix of emotions: this girl was indeed beautiful, and upon closer inspection, she appeared to be wearing makeup. Of course, she would look beautiful with makeup! If I wore makeup, I’d definitely look a hundred times more beautiful than her! Look at those eyelashes and the eyeliner, the lips with lip gloss, and the fair skin, she must have used foundation. This beauty is fake! These boys are so shallow! If she takes off her makeup and has pimples and blemishes all over her face, can you still call her a goddess?
But aside from their disdain, the girls also had a strange feeling about the girl: for some reason, they couldn’t quite bring themselves to dislike her. Perhaps it was because the girl’s features were soft and not aggressive, or maybe it was because she had an outstanding aura? Or perhaps it was because she was taller than most girls. They were uncertain and confused in their thoughts.
Only the girls from Class 5 looked at each other strangely, witnessing various reactions from the audience, including people running up to ask for the girl’s name. They felt an urge to laugh but had to suppress it, and their expressions showed a mix of amusement and discomfort.
Jiang Mingqin couldn’t believe her eyes and lifted her head, her face contorted in disbelief.
Most men are visual creatures, and Chen Gongzi was clearly drawn in as well. He couldn’t help but ask Jiang Mingqin, “Is she from our class? Why haven’t I seen her before?” He often came to visit the girls’ classes, and after searching his memory, he couldn’t recall ever encountering this person. With such a strikingly beautiful appearance, most people wouldn’t forget after seeing her just once.
At the moment when the girl raised her head, due to the angle, it seemed like she made eye contact with him. In that fleeting moment, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
To put it delicately, he felt the desire to get to know a pretty girl and wanted to appreciate her up close. To put it bluntly, he wanted to “win her over.” This was the first time he had such an urgent desire to get to know a stranger, and he couldn’t suppress this thought.
“She’s from our class, but…” Jiang Mingqin hesitated and struggled to find the right words. For some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
But before she could say anything, Chen Gongzi had already continued watching the sketch with great interest, his expression mirroring that of most of the other male audience members, who were seemingly enchanted.
According to the narrator, academic star Zheng Jiangning had fallen head over heels for the girl. Most of the male audience members could understand his feelings; after all, even academic stars were just ordinary people, and it was only natural for them to like beautiful girls.
He started pursuing the girl using the typical tactics that most boys would use when pursuing a girl. He bought her breakfast, left little love notes, and even waited for her outside her classroom. As time passed, the girl’s attitude changed from initial coldness to a smile, and she even allowed him to hold her hand.
Her charming appearance melted the hearts of many in the audience. Especially her pure white hand, when she tucked her dark hair behind her ear, was incredibly alluring. Her serene and angelic look made people feel like they had experienced a romance along with Zheng Jiangning.
When the two of them held hands, the whole room erupted in cheers, almost lifting the roof. Amidst the cheers were countless insults from male students, and if you listened closely, you could even hear some sour comments.
The days passed with the little couple’s romance and the rivalry between the two class academic stars. They scolded the Class 2 academic star for using underhanded tactics to protect his first-place position, like falsely accusing classmates of cheating during exams or reporting Zheng Jiangning for early romance, among other things. It was clear that he had a small mind.
On the other hand, they thought that romance was really sweet. Boys and girls of this age were in the midst of youthful restlessness, and having a vague affection for the opposite sex was normal. The more parents and teachers tried to forbid it, the more they felt excited and delighted to defy the rules. So, as Zheng Jiangning faced various obstacles, his affection for the girl grew deeper.
“If you look closely, the numbers on the calendar have changed again. Previously, there were over forty days, but now there are only a few days left until the college entrance exam.”
“Considering the theme, I bet they’ll break up after the college entrance exam, right? Or maybe it’ll be a tragic ending where one of them gets into college and the other doesn’t, or they both get into different universities in different cities.”
“I think there’s a high probability of that, especially since the academic star’s grades have dropped.”
Indeed, academic star Zheng Jiangning’s grades had dropped significantly. His homeroom teacher criticized him, and even his parents were called in. But he was clearly deeply entangled and couldn’t extricate himself. The first place could only be conceded to someone else.
On a late-night self-study session just a few days before the college entrance exam, he secretly went to Class 2 to find the girl again.
However, what he saw was the girl giving a cold smirk, crossing her legs, and, in front of everyone’s eyes, removing her wig and red school uniform jacket. She revealed a short-haired boy with a blue school uniform shirt underneath. She even took out a damp tissue and gradually wiped away the traces on her face, revealing a handsome young face. Her voice, which had been gentle, turned into a deep male voice.
Beside her, a classmate said, “Congratulations, Boss, you’ve secured the first place.”
“Congratulations, Boss, you’ve defeated another competitor!”
“The person from Class 1 is no longer to be feared.”
It turned out that the young man was none other than the elusive and cunning academic star from Class 2, and amidst a chorus of “OMG,” the skit came to an end, leaving the audience utterly bewildered.
The beautiful girl had transformed into a boy, and the Class 2 academic star had played with everyone’s emotions for the sake of his grades? At first glance, this seemed to have no clear theme, and it even appeared absurd and full of glitches. However, it seemed to convey the message that as the college entrance exam approached, anyone showing interest in romantic relationships was up to no good, indirectly alluding to the negative impact of early romance on academic performance. It also seemed to expose the vicious competition among academic stars. In any case, the revelation that the “goddess” was actually a guy was a shocking twist.
The boys in the audience wore expressions of disbelief, their minds still haunted by the stunningly ambiguous face of Yin Minglu from before. The girls, on the other hand, started screaming uncontrollably when the boy removed his wig and makeup.
“He’s super handsome!!! A male god!!!”
How could there be someone like this, charming in feminine attire and dashing in masculine attire? He not only captured the hearts of boys but also made the girls scream. After the revelation, the boy’s popularity soared even higher. Now, everyone in the school would remember him. While most people looked like they were on the verge of a breakdown and seemed ready to invite this deceptive underclassman for a “chat about life,” the atmosphere was charged with energy.
“Oh my god, I genuinely feel like I went through a romantic relationship and got emotionally deceived. This underclassman is Yin Minglu from Class 5, right? I’ll remember that. As a senior, I need to educate him properly. Good kids shouldn’t resort to unethical means for the sake of grades.”
“I think I’m having a heart attack. 666. I really can’t risk early romance anymore.” He had completely forgotten his initial intention to boo the actors.
“Is this guy a male god or a goddess?”
“He’s nothing! He’s wasted my feelings!” Thinking back to the cute face of the girl, he could still recall the fluttery feeling in his heart moments ago, but now all that remained was heartache.
“Do you have no class at all? Can’t you admit that he’s incredibly handsome?”
The crowd erupted into arguments, with seemingly one-third of the people wanting to challenge Yin Minglu to a fight, one-third shouting “male god,” and the remaining few accepting the twist as something not too significant.
Chen Gongzi, too, stood dumbfounded in his spot. From a racing heart to a potential heart attack, it had only taken a few minutes for him to go from one extreme to another. His forehead veins throbbed incessantly as he couldn’t help but link the agile figure he had seen at the sports meet to the person before him. It was something he probably wouldn’t forget for the rest of his life.
These new junior students were truly audacious. They had come up with such a skit to prank their seniors. Should he praise their acting skills and appearance? They had managed to deceive most of the audience.
The enthusiastic atmosphere in the room had been stirred up by the plot twist. Everyone was discussing the skit, either cursing or screaming someone’s name. Regardless of gender, it seemed that everyone was talking about Yin Minglu. No one could remember who had performed in the previous act, and Jiang Mingqin had become cannon fodder.
This newly crowned campus goddess, within an hour, had become “outdated” once again.
The voices of discussions and whispers buzzed incessantly in her ears, almost driving her insane. No one knew how long she had prepared for tonight’s performance. The result was that she had been ruined by a poorly made school skit. No one remembered her. She tightly clenched her skirt, looked at Chen Gongzi who had been deceived emotionally but couldn’t help forgiving him, and her heart was filled with bitterness. As she lowered her head, her eyes couldn’t conceal the jealousy within.
—
Author’s Note:
I hope you didn’t step on a landmine… cough [raises the lid]
I actually encountered a cross-dressing school skit in real life, though being as clever as I am, I recognized it.
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated me with nutrient solution~
Love what you read? A little donation can go a long way!
![The Villain’s Golden Age of Beauty[Quick Travel]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/53343s.jpg "The Villain’s Golden Age of Beauty[Quick Travel]")
