"Not talking..." Xu Lu shut his mouth angrily, snatched Lu Yige's scrap paper, and wrote on it: If we're not talking, then we're not talking. I don't want to talk to you either!
Lu Yige wrote back: You said it.
Xu Lu wrote a huge "YES," then turned around.
Lu Yige laughed for quite a while before saying, "Are you a child or what? I was joking."
Xu Lu twisted back around, glared at her, and mouthed: Still not talking.
Lu Yige shook her head with a smile.
The finals of the recitation contest were held on Wednesday afternoon. The entire school had to attend as the audience, including the seniors.
The homeroom teacher said there was no way around the school's arrangement. "You can bring a vocabulary book or a notebook and watch—use the time reasonably."
Lu Yige and Jiang Yu arrived backstage early. A female makeup artist came over to do their makeup.
Lu Yige refused. "Sis, there's no need to do mine. He's the one going on stage—I'll just sit in a corner and play the piano."
The makeup artist agreed. They were short-handed and pressed for time.
Lu Yige sat to the side watching Jiang Yu get his makeup done. It was probably his first time; he kept frowning with his eyes half-closed, his whole body tense. It looked a little funny.
Afterward, there wasn't much visible difference. Jiang Yu was handsome to begin with; after makeup, there was instead a faint sense of incongruity.
The makeup artist was quite satisfied. "You won't see it now. Once you're on camera, you'll know the effect."
The recitation contest would be recorded in full.
Jiang Yu went on ninth—an excellent position. Too early and you're easily forgotten; too late and the pressure is overwhelming.
Lu Yige waited backstage with him, listening to waves of cheers from outside.
"Are you nervous?" Jiang Yu asked.
"Not really."
"I am, a little." Jiang Yu stared at the curtain, as if he could see the stage through it.
"You've entered so many competitions—what are you afraid of?"
Lu Yige looked at him, reassured. The first prize was destined to be his.
Jiang Yu said calmly, "This is our first time working together."
Lu Yige: "..."
Jiang Yu: "Can I hold your hand?"
Lu Yige: "..."
"Ahem." Lu Yige cleared her throat. "We do have to hold hands during the curtain call."
"It's our turn next."
Lu Yige smiled. "I'm ready."
Side by side, Lu Yige and Jiang Yu walked onto the stage. Facing the vast auditorium and the sea of heads, she felt an indescribable sensation.
Jiang Yu held her hand and bowed to the audience, whispering, "Don't be nervous."
"Mm." Lu Yige nodded and walked over to the piano.
The instant her fingers touched the keys, she felt grounded. She began to play with ease.
Jiang Yu's recitation was powerfully emotive; she felt her own emotions and fingertips rise and fall with his voice.
After it ended, she was a little dazed, led by Jiang Yu to bow and step offstage.
"How did it feel?" Jiang Yu's voice was as clear and cool as during the recitation.
Lu Yige snapped back to herself, excited. "We've got this in the bag."
Even without knowing the result, based on their performance alone, she believed Jiang Yu had it locked.
"I think so too," Jiang Yu said with a smile.
When everything was finished, all ten contestants waited onstage while the judges rushed to tally scores.
Lu Yige returned to the audience and sat beside Luo Qing.
Luo Qing looked thrilled. "Yige, do you know? Your performance was incredible. I was about to fall asleep, and the moment you started, I woke right up."
"You woke up because we know each other," Lu Yige joked.
"No—it was genuinely stunning," Luo Qing praised. "Yige, when you play the piano, you're so beautiful and charismatic. If I were a guy, I'd fall in love with you on the spot."
Lu Yige tapped her on the head. "What are you saying?"
"Now, we will announce the results," the host's voice rang out, echoing through the auditorium.
"It's happening, it's happening," Luo Qing said, clutching Lu Yige's hand.
"Why are you so nervous?" Lu Yige asked.
Luo Qing replied, "He's our class's—no, the entire senior year's—only representative. We're counting on him to bring honor."
"Third prize goes to..." The host announced three names.
"Not him."
"Wait."
"Second prize goes to..." Two more names were announced.
"Still not him," Luo Qing said anxiously.
Lu Yige said, "There's still first prize."
"But there's only one first prize..."
At the same time, the host announced, "The winner of first prize is—Jiang Yu."
Thunderous applause erupted. Luo Qing shouted, "Well done!"
Lu Yige smiled and nodded. Though she'd known the outcome all along, she was still a little excited—perhaps swept up by the atmosphere.
The recitation finals, with only ten contestants, lasted just an hour and a half. They could still make it back in time for the last class.
The final class was Chinese. The teacher looked pleased. "I hear our class's Jiang Yu won first place in the recitation contest—no small feat. With the pressure of senior year, let's watch a movie this period."
The class erupted in cheers; a few students once again shouted, "Long live Chinese! Long live the teacher!"
Lu Yige smiled happily. She loved this kind of class atmosphere.
The movie was the classic Italian film Life Is Beautiful. Her previous high school teacher had shown it to them too, but it was the kind of film you never tired of, no matter how many times you watched.
"Wait for me after school," Jiang Yu said.
"Why?"
"They told me to go to the finance office to collect the prize money."
Wow—Lu Yige couldn't help marveling at the school's efficiency. She remembered a prize money payment from her own high school that had been delayed nearly an entire semester.
Next week was Jiang Nian's birthday; this weekend Jiang Yu would be picking out a phone for her.
"You deserve it," Lu Yige said, looking at him. Bet you didn't expect this—before the money even hit your hands, I've already seen the ending.
Jiang Yu's voice was low. "Thank you."
"No need, no need." Lu Yige waved it off. "This prize was made for you."
Jiang Yu smiled and said nothing more.
The citywide joint exams were on Thursday and Friday. Lu Yige was well prepared and felt great afterward. She told Xu Lu that this time the gap between them would definitely be within ten points.
Xu Lu pushed up his glasses. "Alright. I'll be waiting."
On Saturday, Lu Yige once again woke up naturally at seven. Damn circadian rhythm. She pulled the blanket over her head and went back to sleep.
When she woke again, it was already 10:30. Satisfied, Lu Yige washed up leisurely and went downstairs.
While eating something that was neither quite breakfast nor lunch, Jiang Yu pushed the door open and came in.
He was carrying a bulging backpack, sweat clearly visible on his face.
"Where did you go?" she asked.
Jiang Yu sat down and pulled a phone out of his backpack.
So he'd gone out early to buy Jiang Nian a phone.
As he unboxed it, he said, "I got myself a new phone."
Lu Yige: ?
"You?"
"Yes." Jiang Yu opened his backpack to reveal a pile of test papers. "I know you don't lack anything. You mentioned Tianli 38 Sets before—I bought the full set. Thank you for helping me."
Lu Yige: ...
This wasn't how the plot was supposed to go.
She asked carefully, "Isn't Jiang Nian's birthday next week? You're not getting her anything?"
"Chi Yexuan would be upset. And even if I gave it, it would be pointless."
You're remarkably farsighted, young man.
Lu Yige was still stunned when Jiang Yu glanced at her and said, "I'm going back to my room."
"Okay."
Back in his room, Jiang Yu saw the message Jiang Nian had just sent.
Xiao Yu, will you come celebrate my birthday with me next week?
I'll come cook you a bowl of plain noodles, Jiang Yu replied.
***
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