The dismissal bell became the salvation of the entire class.
Zhou Ping hummed a nameless tune leisurely, unhurriedly stuffing the homework scattered on his desk into his backpack.
He turned his head to look at Zhang Sheng, who was sitting behind him.
“Are you done yet?”
Zhang Sheng had already finished tidying up and nodded vigorously.
“Let’s go, first to the convenience store.”
Zhou Ping tossed out the sentence and was already striding out of the classroom, his movements decisive, completely different from his earlier dawdling while packing his bag.
Zhang Sheng quickly followed, but his heart began to grumble.
He was ninety-nine percent sure that Zhou Ping had stayed at school today for Song Yuqi.
But looking at Zhou Ping’s posture, heading straight for the school gate with no intention of turning towards the auditorium, he really seemed to be going straight home.
The two arrived at the convenience store one after the other.
Zhou Ping, familiar with the routine, retrieved his phone, which he had left with the owner in the morning, and then casually swept through the shelves.
Zhang Sheng watched him stuff potato chips and cola into the bag, and his last bit of hope completely faded, finally letting out a sigh of defeat.
He had gotten excited for nothing.
He had even been prepared to buy all the spicy strips in the convenience store tonight.
Today’s Zhou Ping was strange from head to toe.
Seeing Zhou Ping finish paying and turn to walk towards the school gate, Zhang Sheng completely gave up and followed him.
“Where are you going?”
Zhou Ping’s voice suddenly came from ahead.
Zhang Sheng was startled and asked back with a puzzled expression: “School’s out, aren’t we going home?”
Zhou Ping turned around, a look of complete nonchalance on his face.
“School’s out, why would I go home?”
He paused, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
“The graduation party tonight, aren’t you watching it?”
Zhang Sheng’s mind went blank with a 'buzz'.
A few seconds later, he finally reacted.
He had been played by Zhou Ping from beginning to end!
“Damn it, you little rascal!” Zhang Sheng was so angry he almost jumped, pointing at the bag in Zhou Ping’s hand, “Then why did you come to the convenience store? I thought you were really going home!”
Zhou Ping shook the phone in his hand, looking completely unconcerned.
“First, I need to call home and say I’ll be back later.”
He then raised the plastic bag full of snacks.
“Besides, the auditorium probably hasn’t started letting people in yet. Why go so early? To save seats?”
He glanced at Zhang Sheng, his expression as if to say, “You’re too young.”
Zhang Sheng completely lost his temper and could only give Zhou Ping’s retreating back a middle finger.
This guy, his tactical mind is dirty!
“Hurry, hurry! Let’s go watch Song Yuqi’s farewell performance!” Zhang Sheng immediately put on an excited expression again, urging Zhou Ping.
Farewell performance, huh… Zhou Ping muttered, his fingertips still seemingly feeling that strange hum from their morning touch…
Backstage of the multi-functional conference room, the clamor was mixed with a peculiar scent of hairspray and cosmetics.
A dozen girls in performance costumes chattered together, making final checks in front of the mirror, the air thick with pre-show excitement and nervousness.
“Captain, after this performance, are you really going to Peninsula?”
A girl who was stretching her legs stopped, her voice full of reluctance.
Song Yuqi, surrounded by the others, was carefully checking her eyeliner in a small makeup mirror.
Hearing the question, her hand movements paused, and she looked at the familiar faces behind her in the mirror.
“Yes,” she softly replied, putting down the mirror, “After this performance, the position of Street Dance Club President will have to be handed over to you all.”
She casually brushed a strand of eye-catching blonde hair, twirling it around her fingertip.
“This blonde hair, I had to beg our homeroom teacher for it until my mouth was sore.”
The girls burst into laughter.
“I can only be this arrogant this one time,” Song Yuqi pouted, with a hint of smugness and a touch of regret.
“Look, it’s already starting to fade here. It’s temporary, not very good quality.”
She had indeed gone all out.
For this last stage, she had spent several weeks beforehand trying to persuade her homeroom teacher and the dean of students.
“You should have seen how pitiful I looked back then,” Song Yuqi mimicked her past self, pressing her palms together and winking, “I almost cried while hugging the dean’s leg.”
“Fortunately, my grades are usually good, and I haven’t caused them any major trouble, otherwise, there would have been no chance.”
After all, this was the last time.
She wanted to give her high school career, and her sisters behind her, the most perfect ending with the most “explosive” performance.
“Captain… we’ll miss you.”
Someone whispered, and the backstage instantly fell silent, the previously lively atmosphere tinged with a hint of farewell sadness.
“Street Dance Club, get ready! You’re next!”
At the backstage entrance, the teacher in charge of prompting poked his head in and shouted.
This shout was like a shot of adrenaline, instantly dispelling the sadness.
Song Yuqi abruptly stood up, clapped her hands sharply, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Everyone, cheer up!”
Her voice was clear and forceful.
“Let the whole school see the strength of our Street Dance Club!”
“Let’s go, let’s go, get ready to go on stage!”
With the teacher’s call, the girls giggled and jostled each other, walking down the dim backstage corridor towards the side wing of the stage.
The corridor was very dark; only the thudding of their feet on the floor and the hushed teasing of their friends could be heard.
“Wenting, I think I just saw your guy, sitting in the third row, craning his neck.”
The girl called Wenting laughed and playfully hit her friend.
“What ‘my guy,’ speak properly!”
Despite saying that, the smile on her lips couldn’t be hidden.
“Peiqi, where’s your childhood friend from the photography club? Didn’t he say he was going to take your first set of 'stage god' pictures?”
“He’s here, he’s here. We just met. He told me to perform well.”
Listening to her friends’ conversations, Song Yuqi’s steps unconsciously paused for half a beat.
A figure unexpectedly flashed into her mind.
The sleepy-eyed junior from that morning who apologized in a hurry after bumping into her.
And… that strange feeling that made her heart skip a beat when their fingertips touched.
Will he… come to watch?
As soon as the thought emerged, she forcefully suppressed it.
Song Yuqi shook her head, her eye-catching blonde hair cutting a sharp arc in the air.
What’s wrong with you, Song Yuqi!
He’s just a junior you accidentally bumped into this morning; you’ve almost forgotten his name. Why are you overthinking things?
This is your last performance, focus!