Chapter 37: League of Poor Students (14)

The Cultural Festival was coming and Ming Shu was going to finish her punishment of cleaning the playground. During that time, Cheng Yan didn’t show up at all, as if he had vanished.

“Ah, the rehearsal is over.”

“Let’s go. Let’s have snacks, I’m hungry!”

“Are you nervous?”

“No, I’m not nervous…”

The students who finished rehearsal left one by one. Ming Shu and her classmates still rehearsed, though, because someone arrived late.

When they finished their rehearsal, almost all the other students had left.

“Mengmeng, quickly. I’m inviting you to eat delicious food.” Ye Miaomiao ran out, dragging Ming Shu who hadn’t even taken off her costume.

Food!

Ming Shu’s eyes shone, but she still stopped Ye Miaomiao and took off the costume. She was afraid of being sent to a mental hospital if she left with it on.

Ye Miaomiao found a Huoguo restaurant near the school and invited Ming Shu there.

It was their first time at this restaurant and Ye Miaomiao was unclear about its menu, so she ordered the super spicy dish. As a result, she felt extremely hot while eating.

“Huhuhu…” Ye Miaomiao fanned her tongue with hers hands, tears flooding her eyes. “Mengmeng, don’t you think it’s too spicy?”

It’s so so so spicy!

Why is Mengmeng so calm? How is she not even sweating?

“En… I don’t think it’s very spicy.” Ming Shu picked up some meat with her chopsticks and asked, “Is it very spicy?

“It’s very spicy.” Ye Miaomiao drank juice quickly. “Mengmeng, I remember you didn’t eat spicy food before.”

“I also don’t know how I ate spicy food before.” Ming Shu picked up more meat.

“…”

She put down her juice quickly and ate some meat. Although it was spicy, it was really delicious. The two enjoyed it happily.

After finishing the Huoguo, they left the restaurant. Then Ye Miaomiao answered a call from home and they parted ways.

Ming Shu walked around. Finally she went to the dessert shop and bought lots of food. When she exited, carrying a plastic bag full of her purchases, she saw some people walking toward her and her smile shrank.

Why is it him again?

It’s him!

It’s him!

Troublesome!

Cheng Yan walked with several people, apparently accompanying them somewhere. He was also surprised to see her.

Then he slightly smiled and whispered to the two followers who had helped Ming Shu clean the playground before. The two of them looked at Ming Shu and winked at her vaguely, then left with the others noisily.

With one hand in his pocket, Cheng Yan walked through the crowd to Ming Shu. “Lu Meng, long time no see.”

“What’s up?”

“I’ll walk you home.” Cheng Yan tried to take the bag from Ming Shu, but Ming Shu hid it behind her back suddenly and stared at him with alarm, as if he was going to rob her snacks.

“…” She hadn’t been so alert when he showed up.

Thinking of her habit of protecting food, Cheng Yan took back his hand and placed his fist against his lips. He coughed to hide his original intention and said, “It’s getting dark. I’m going home now so I’ll send you back on my way.”

He was smart. If he said that he wanted to walk her home, he would surely be refused. But the result was different if he went home too.

As expected, Ming Shu looked at him for a few seconds and then walked forward, carrying her bag. She didn’t refuse Cheng Yan’s offer.

It was not very late now. Many young people hung around under the colorful lights.

Cheng Yan’s stare roved over the crowd only to fall on Ming Shu in the end. He organized his thoughts and said, “I’ve heard that you joined the stage-play drama?”

“What, do you have an opinion?” Ming Shu bit her spoon as she answered, tilting her head.

“No, how dare I have an opinion.” Cheng Yan smiled. He kept silent for a second, then moved closer to Ming Shu suddenly. “Lu Meng, you really can’t give me a chance?”

“If I didn’t give you a chance, would you disappear?”

“No.”

“So what’s the point of asking me that?” Ming Shu said.

Cheng Yan laughed in a low voice. “Lu Meng, I find you more and more interesting.”

“I find you more and more interesting too.” Ming Shu’s tone implied other meanings.

“In what way am I interesting?” Cheng Yan asked, not realizing Ming Shu’s real meaning.

Ming Shu pointed at her head and said, “Don’t give up, maybe you’ll be cured one day.”

“…” What do you mean?

Do you mean I’m sick in the head?

Why am I crazy for liking her?

Cheng Yan was a little frantic. Why was she so stubborn? Because of his followers’ suggestion, he purposely didn’t show up before. But she had no reaction to that, which was different from what his followers told him.

Why was it so hard to pursue a girl?

Ding!

It was a message. Seeing that it came from Ye Miaomiao, she read it.

Mengmeng, I left my bag at school. Can you go back to look for it for me? My student ID card is in it. It will be troublesome if I lose it. I’m busy and can’t go back now. Please.

Ming Shu read that twice, then directly called back to confirm.

The call was answered, but it was noisy on that side and Ming Shu couldn’t hear clearly. “Mengmeng, it’s loud over here. Did you receive my message?”

“Yes.” Ming Shu threw out the plastic ice cream bowl and returned to the school. “Where did you put your bag?”

“Maybe the auditorium. I brought it when I went to rehearse. I can’t remember clearly. Go to the rehearsal room and the auditorium and search.”

“En.”

…

Because tomorrow was the Cultural Festival, there were still some people at school preparing. Ming Shu went to the rehearsal room first and didn’t find Ye Miaomiao’s bag there. Then she went to the auditorium.

But, the follower…

Ming Shu thought for a few seconds. Then she stopped in the corridor of the auditorium and crooked her finger, beckoning Cheng Yan.

Cheng Yan walked quickly to her without any suspicion or hesitation. “What can I do for you?”

Ming Shu smiled and pushed him suddenly, surprising Cheng Yan. He fell into a room behind him. Then Ming Shu quickly closed the door.

“…” Why is it so hard to pursue a girl?

Not to mention he’d been hit by her, now he was locked in some room!

You’ll be forever alone!

Cheng Yan groped for the switch and turned on the lights. Maybe it was a room to store stage props, because there were many stage props all in a mess. He looked around and found there was a window through which he could escape.

It wasn’t that easy to restrain him.

Cheng Yan left through the window. He returned to the auditorium through another room and walked to the stage where the performance was going to be held tomorrow.

Before he was nearby, he heard somebody talking.

“Lu Meng, it’s late, why didn’t you go home? What are you doing here?” It was the headmaster’s loud voice.

“Ye Miaomiao lost her bag here. I’m retrieving it for her.”

Even though he couldn’t see her face, he could still hear the smile in her voice.

“All right, you go. Remember to turn off the lights when you leave. Return home as soon as possible!” The headmaster walked toward the place Cheng Yan was. He moved quickly to the corner to hide.

After the headmaster left, Cheng Yan emerged from the dark corner. Meanwhile, Ming Shu stepped out with a schoolbag. When she saw him, a murderous look seemed to appear on her lovely face for a moment.

But when Cheng Yan looked at her more closely, she still had that smiling and innocent expression. She was surrounded by yellow light as if her whole body was radiating warmth.

Cheng Yan furrowed his brow. Had the murderous look been his imagination?