Chapter 14

Sitting in the last row, Cheng Xiaoyu was the center of today's class discussion. The bet he made with the class president, Li Liwei, had almost become common knowledge, and even the busybodies from the neighboring class came to inquire who was going to run naked on the playground. Even when Cheng Xiaoyu became an internet celebrity, it didn't have as much impact as this event. After all, as the vice president of the student council, Li Liwei was much more well-known in the school. It was said that someone even opened a betting thread on the school's BBS, of course, betting with BBS points. The situation was one-sided, with almost no one betting on Cheng Xiaoyu to win.

Despite no one favoring this unremarkable fat boy, it didn't affect Cheng Xiaoyu's calm mindset at all. However, Wang Ou was always frowning, because he was one of the few who bet on Cheng Xiaoyu to win, and he bet all his points. As he put it, "My life (points are his life) is the sword that drives you forward. I bet my life's work to prove that friendship is the strongest armor for friends. Of course, after betting in a rush, he regretted it and beat his chest in frustration. Finally, during the break, he couldn't help but ask Cheng Xiaoyu if he had any plans.

Cheng Xiaoyu said calmly, "Not yet, inspiration is always hovering in my mind, they just need a chance to burst forth."

Wang Ou rolled his eyes and said, "Don't even think about a piano solo. I'm not trying to discourage you, but you really can't match Goddess Su." His tone was both worried and serious.

Cheng Xiaoyu knew Wang Ou was genuinely worried for him and felt a bit moved. He put his arm around Wang Ou's shoulder and asked, "Besides your偷拍 skills, do you have any other skills? Like playing an instrument?"

Wang Ou pondered, stroking his chin, "I was in the school drum and bugle corps in elementary school. Does that count?"

Cheng Xiaoyu's eyes lit up, "Big drum, small drum, or trumpet?"

Wang Ou scratched the back of his head and laughed, "Because I was tall, I was the one holding the flag at the front. My sense of rhythm is pretty good!"

Cheng Xiaoyu cursed and kicked Wang Ou's butt.

Wang Ou didn't mind and shouted, "Don't worry, Cheng Xiaofat, I'll run naked with you if you have to."

Cheng Xiaoyu smiled bitterly, it seemed no one thought he could pass the school selection. He didn't get discouraged and asked again, "Can you sing?"

Wang Ou replied irritably, "Who can't sing?"

Cheng Xiaoyu took off his glasses, breathed on them, and wiped them with a cloth, saying, "Sing a line for me to hear."

Wang Ou was taken aback, "What should I sing?"

Cheng Xiaoyu said irritably, "Anything."

"Running on the mountain, a flower..."

"Good, good, stop, stop."

"But I haven't finished singing!"

"No need, tone-deaf is exactly what you are."

Wang Ou wasn't convinced, "Bro, I'm known as the top mic hog at Fudan High School, dominating KTV for years. How could I only have this much skill? It's just that there's no accompaniment. With accompaniment, it would be a different story. If you don't believe me, let's go to Golden Years after school."

Cheng Xiaoyu didn't give him any face, "Save it, you should practice your running. Do you think KTV is free?"

Wang Ou cursed and jumped in front of Cheng Xiaoyu, making the popular sword-drawing gesture from the TV drama "Sword Roaring in the Nine Continents" and shouted, "You are already dead!"

Cheng Xiaoyu looked at this middle-schooler, and a spark flashed in his mind. He quickly said, "Say that again!"

Wang Ou thought Cheng Xiaoyu was going to kick him again, laughed, and ran away, shouting, "A warrior's sword should not be constrained by the scabbard but by your soul. I will end you and engrave your name on the sword, betting all my glory on it!" This was the protagonist's dialogue during a duel. Cheng Xiaoyu ignored him and hurried back to the classroom, sat down, and started drawing sheet music.

At lunchtime, Cheng Xiaoyu didn't leave the classroom. He saw the cultural committee member, Xia Shamo, still sitting at her desk. Cheng Xiaoyu gestured for Wang Ou to go to the cafeteria first. When the classroom was almost empty, he walked up and saw a tin lunch box on Xia Shamo's desk.

Cheng Xiaoyu walked up to Xia Shamo and said, "Hi!"

Xia Shamo looked up, her face turning red at the sight of the fat boy's lecherous smile, and she said softly, "What's up?"

Cheng Xiaoyu, trying to use a gentle tone, said, "Your name is SUMMER?"

Xia Shamo placed her chopsticks horizontally on the lunch box and said with utmost seriousness, "Not SUMMER, it's Shamo, like 'washing' and 'foam.' At that time, Chinese people generally didn't use English names, and even English teachers wouldn't foolishly give students names like Jerry or Tom, as they did in the previous life, for the fun of it. These names often accompanied people through their long online lives."

Cheng Xiaoyu said helplessly, "Okay, Xia Shamo, as the cultural committee member, you have an inescapable responsibility to me."

Xia Shamo, clearly inexperienced in dealing with such a rascal, blushed even more and said softly, "What should I do? And my name is Shamo, like 'washing' and 'foam.'"

Cheng Xiaoyu straddled the chair in front of Xia Shamo and lowered his voice, "I know you can play the guzheng. What else can you do?"

Xia Shamo looked up at the fat boy, and talking about the guzheng gave her a bit of courage, "I can play the guqin and a bit of the pipa."

Cheng Xiaoyu was a bit disappointed, as this was quite different from what he had in mind. He sighed, "Do you know any Western instruments?"

Xia Shamo shook her head a bit embarrassedly. Cheng Xiaoyu stood up and looked at the cultural committee member with hair like dandelions, smiling, "Thank you for answering my questions."

Xia Shamo lowered her head, "No problem, if there's anything I can help with, just let me know."

Cheng Xiaoyu felt a bit regretful and decided to go to the cafeteria to find Wang Ou. As he walked to the door, he said, "Okay, if there's anything, I'll trouble you!" Just before the door, he couldn't help but shout, "Hey! SUMMER!" Xia Shamo, holding her chopsticks, looked up at the conflicted fat boy, "Can you sing?"

"Sing? I know a little, but I'm not very good," Xia Shamo replied hesitantly.

Cheng Xiaoyu was even more disappointed but thought it would be impolite to leave without saying anything, so he asked, "What can you sing?"

Xia Shamo replied softly, "I don't sing much pop music, just some opera arias like 'A Bright and Sunny Day' and 'Carmen.'"

Cheng Xiaoyu felt as if he had heard the most beautiful music, and he froze in the doorway.

He quickly took a few big steps back to Xia Shamo and patted her shoulder, "Committee member, I didn't expect you to sing opera!"

Xia Shamo seemed unaccustomed to Cheng Xiaoyu's enthusiasm and shrank back, "My mom is an actress at a small opera house in Shanghai."

Cheng Xiaoyu laughed, feeling like he had found a treasure, "Sing a bit then!"

"Here?" Xia Shamo asked in alarm.

Cheng Xiaoyu looked around the empty classroom and said, "It's fine, no one's here, just a few lines."

Xia Shamo, who seemed unable to refuse requests, blushed and stood up, "I'm not very good, don't laugh at me. I'll sing 'Love is a rebellious bird' from 'Carmen,' the Chinese translation. I'm not very familiar with the French version." Cheng Xiaoyu nodded in anticipation. Xia Shamo took a deep breath and stood up straight. Cheng Xiaoyu sat down solemnly.

As soon as she started singing, Xia Shamo immediately entered the state, no longer acting like a little girl. A natural and grand aura emanated from her, transforming her instantly.

"Love is just a common toy, not at all rare,

Men are just a pastime, what's the big deal?

Love is just a common toy, not at all rare,

Men are just a pastime, what's the big deal?

What is love, what is affection? It's just self-deception,

What is infatuation, what is obsession? It's just a play by men and women.

I like all men, regardless of their wealth or status,

I pursue all men, no matter how powerful they are.

Love is just a common toy, not at all rare,

Men are just a pastime, what's the big deal?

Love is just a common toy, not at all rare,

Men are just a pastime, what's the big deal?

L'amour, L'amour, L'amour."

Xia Shamo stopped here, seeing someone outside the window looking in. Cheng Xiaoyu rubbed his hands excitedly, feeling that things were starting to look up. The theme of "Carmen" has strong Hungarian and Gypsy characteristics, a free and unrestrained song that also contains a sense of sorrow and foreboding. Xia Shamo sang the most famous aria from "Carmen," with a moving melody and rich emotion. While Xia Shamo's expression of the music's emotion was not complete—she couldn't fully convey Carmen's flirtatiousness and her subtle dissatisfaction with life—her singing technique was quite standard, with steady breath control, accurate pronunciation, and stable high notes. This already made Cheng Xiaoyu overjoyed, and he had no other choice at the moment.

Xia Shamo was a bit uneasy, afraid that too many people would hear her singing. As soon as she finished, she immediately lowered her head and sat down. Cheng Xiaoyu laughed and said to Xia Shamo, "You sang well, much better than me. I have a piece, will you sing it while I accompany you?"

Xia Shamo pushed up her glasses and said, "Oh," then stammered, "I might not have much time to practice."

Cheng Xiaoyu, seeing Xia Shamo's gesture, guessed that she might not know how to refuse, so he said, "SUMMER, don't worry, it won't take up too much of your time. I'll give you the sheet music after school. Can you read sheet music?"

Xia Shamo nodded.

At this moment, Cheng Xiaoyu's phone rang, and Wang Ou was shouting for him to come to the cafeteria quickly. Cheng Xiaoyu replied that he would be there soon and said to Xia Shamo, "Let's go to the cafeteria for lunch, I'll treat you."

Xia Shamo shook her head vigorously and replied, "I brought my own, you go eat!" Cheng Xiaoyu didn't insist, knowing that their relationship needed to be built gradually. He said, "Okay, I'll go first. I'll treat you another day, and you mustn't refuse!"

Xia Shamo nodded.

When Cheng Xiaoyu walked to the door again, he couldn't help but look back at the girl who had brought him a pleasant surprise. Xia Shamo was using her left hand to pick up a steamed bun from the lunch box with her fingertips and her right hand to pick up a few pickled vegetables with her chopsticks, looking calm and composed. Cheng Xiaoyu quickly turned his head, afraid that Xia Shamo would notice his gaze, and hurriedly left. In that moment, he felt that this seemingly weak girl was actually very strong, like a dandelion in the breeze. You might think that a strong wind could easily scatter her pure shell and fragile will, but you don't know that she can ride the wind to any place she wants to go.

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