During Monday’s long break, Sheng Xia attended the affiliated school’s flag-raising ceremony for the first time. As expected of a provincial key school with deep pockets, even the flag-raising ceremony had large screen broadcasts on both sides, usually hidden in the light fixtures – Sheng Xia was seeing them for the first time.
Today’s speech under the national flag was given by a freshman representative, a clever girl who looked a bit nervous.
On such large screens, with such close-up shots, every blink was visible.
Sheng Xia couldn’t help wondering what Zhang Shu’s face would look like magnified. What expression would that unruly face have while reading such formal content? With thousands of people below, had he been nervous?
She suddenly felt a bit regretful for not seeing it last week.
“This effect doesn’t compare to Shu-ge’s speech last week!”
“No comparison at all!”
“Must be record-breaking last week? Should be included in the school’s documentary.”
The classroom duty students also joined in discussing last week’s flag-raising ceremony from afar.
The boy sweeping the floor suddenly clicked his tongue, standing by Zhang Shu’s desk, looking at a crumpled note in his hand, “Damn, Zhang Shu isn’t dating Sheng Xia, is he?”
“What?”
Zhou Xuanxuan turned around, “How is that possible? Zhang Shu was still eagerly watching Chen Mengyao’s rehearsal over the weekend.”
“Want to see?” The boy waved the note, and everyone gathered around.
Zhou Xuanxuan took it, another girl also leaning in close, reading word by word:
“Any questions?”
“?”
“You can ask me.”
“No.”
“You understand everything?”
“Is that not allowed?”
“Fine, of course, it’s fine, you’re the most capable.”
“[Speechless]”
“If you don’t understand just ask me, don’t go embarrass yourself outside.”
“Oh.”
After reading, the girl rubbed her goosebumps, “Eww~ so sickeningly sweet!”
The boy who found the note said: “You can tell it’s their handwriting, right? Too recognizable.”
Sheng Xia’s handwriting was as beautiful as a calligraphy textbook, everyone had seen it on the model essay wall. Zhang Shu’s was slightly messy, free, and flowing, also very distinctive.
Zhou Xuanxuan frowned: “Looking carefully at this conversation, there’s nothing to it?”
Another girl thought for a moment, also reversing her previous opinion, “Yeah, school just started, how could it be possible? Sheng Xia seems so well-behaved, you boys just love making things up, ruining people’s reputations!”
“This… I didn’t say anything?” The boy pouted.
Another boy said: “I think Sheng Xia’s responses were all normal, it was just Zhang Shu being flirty.”
“Hahaha you’re right, so flirty!”
Zhou Xuanxuan glared at that boy, “Zhang Shu likes Chen Mengyao, okay?”
Everyone knew Zhou Xuanxuan was close to Chen Mengyao – Chen Mengyao often came to their class to find Zhou Xuanxuan, and having previously pursued Lu Youze, Class 6 was quite familiar with her. The boy spread his hands, not dwelling on this topic, walking aside to start a “bro talk.”
“Don’t you think Sheng Xia is prettier?”
“Overall she has a good temperament, hasn’t looked at her face closely, figures too… no impression feels like she’s always looking down.”
“She does lack presence, not as eye-catching as Chen Mengyao, but, one time I was getting water next to her, she turned around, that face was like transparent… hard to describe.”
“What kind of description is that, a ghost?”
“Angel would be more appropriate, right?”
“You like her?”
“No no no, don’t make things up, just saying she’s pretty, okay?”
When Sheng Xia returned from the flag-raising to get water, she found almost everyone in line was from Class 6, including today’s duty students. Sheng Xia found it strange – usually duty students would get water and use the restroom while everyone was at flag-raising, why were they all lined up behind her today?
Whether it was her imagination or not, they all seemed to be observing her intentionally or unintentionally, making Sheng Xia feel uncomfortable all over. She nodded to Zhou Xuanxuan, whom she was relatively familiar with, as a greeting.
Zhou Xuanxuan also smiled slightly, “Morning, Xia Xia.”
The girl beside Zhou Xuanxuan called out, “Sheng Xia, wait for us, let’s go back to class together.”
The speaking girl was Zhou Xuanxuan’s desk mate and seemed to be called Li Shiyi. Sheng Xia had barely spoken to her, but still nodded, “Okay.”
She stood aside waiting, then heard Zhou Xuanxuan wave behind her, “Mengyao, over here!”
Sheng Xia saw a girl with chestnut curls walking over holding a water cup, her face radiating a bright smile. She wore the blue and white uniform top with missing ultra-short denim shorts barely showing underneath, and canvas shoes worn like slippers with the backs crushed down.
The morning sun slanted into the corridor, her long legs glowing white.
Many people around were secretly turning to look at her.