The warm winter sun pierced through the thick clouds and the cold air, spreading wantonly across the vast land of China. "Teacher Li, you're saying that the last program of this year's New Year's Eve party will be by Qiao Songyue from No. 3 Middle School?"
Inside the gymnasium, Lin Jinran was double - checking the final host script for the New Year's Eve party with Teacher Li. Caught off - guard by this news, she couldn't help raising her voice.
"Why would someone from No. 3 Middle School join our No. 1 Middle School's New Year's Eve party? I remember they also have their own New Year's Eve party this year."
Song Langqing, who was well aware of the relationship between Lin Jinran and Su Qinian, frowned and asked.
Teacher Li let out a bitter smile and her gaze fell on the last program in the host script. The title of the program was "Ready for Love".
It was a piano piece expressing love.
Over the years, all kinds of programs related to love had been nipped in the bud by the school leaders.
It was really unexpected that Qiao Songyue's piece was included in the program list.
Obviously, Qiao Songyue had pulled some strings.
"Yes, the last program is Qiao Songyue's, and the school leaders have approved it. We can only follow through."
Teacher Li patted Lin Jinran on the shoulder. Lin Jinran looked up at her, her beautiful glassy eyes as clear and bright as washed jade.
"It was a last - minute notice. Next Wednesday is the New Year's Eve party. The programs have basically been finalized and there won't be any changes. Lin Jinran, Song Langqing, you two should get familiar with the latest version of the host script. I'll prepare the evening gowns for you. After you go back, report your height, weight and other details to me."
Teacher Li discussed the relevant procedures with Lin Jinran and Song Langqing, and then let them leave.
After walking out of the gymnasium, Song Langqing and Lin Jinran went their separate ways.
It was the big break time. Lin Jinran stepped into the back of the classroom.
"Sister Lin, get out of the way quickly! The badminton is going to hit you!"
Before seeing the person, the voice came first. Lu Youchuan's hoarse voice rang out.
Lin Jinran instinctively looked up. Something was flying towards her.
It was moving so fast that Lin Jinran couldn't tell what it was.
She only saw a dark flying shadow.
Then, her arm was suddenly grabbed, and the familiar smell of body wash surrounded her.
Lin Jinran turned sideways following the force on her arm. The flying shadow brushed past her head and hit the wall behind, then fell.
"Lu Youchuan, I've told you so many times not to play badminton at the back of the classroom. It's easy to accidentally hurt others."
The boy stared at Lu Youchuan, his dark eyes as thick as ink.
"Yeah, do you know who you almost hit? That's the third - ranked student in the grade and in the class. She's very precious, okay." Tao Wan, who was sitting in the front, turned around and said crossly.
Lin Jinran's attention was immediately caught by the mention of being the third - ranked student in the grade. She tugged at Su Qinian's sleeve with her other hand. "Hey, is what Tao Wan said true? The results of the exam a few days ago are out. Am I the third - ranked student in the grade and in the class?"
The girl's eyes were filled with a hint of smile, and the corners of her mouth lifted into a faint smile.
She was standing beside the back door. The sunlight shone on her porcelain - like skin, making her seem to glow, just like fragile glass.
So close, yet so far away.
Su Qinian lowered his head slightly and met her clear eyes like autumn water. His heart skipped a beat.
A blush quietly crept up his ears. Su Qinian turned his head away and his gaze landed on the distant sky, on a few wisps of white clouds drifting away.
"Yes, the results just came out. You're the third - ranked student in the grade and in the class. When I went to the office to get the report card, the homeroom teacher was still showing off about you to the other teachers in the office, saying that you've made rapid progress, have a high ranking, are talented and hard - working. You're really good. The other teachers were so jealous."
The smile in Lin Jinran's eyes deepened and her eyes almost curved into a crescent.
"The third - ranked student in the grade and in the class?" she murmured softly. The sound was carried by the wind into Su Qinian's ears, tickling him.
Su Qinian realized that he was still holding her hand. Through the winter sweater, their body temperatures merged. He quickly let go.
"If you keep this up, it's possible for you to surpass me." Su Qinian said half - teasingly, half - jokingly.
Lin Jinran raised her eyebrows and smiled, not being polite at all. "Yes, I'm waiting to pull you off your throne as the first - ranked student in the grade. You've been sitting on it for so long. It's time for someone else to take your place."
"I'll be waiting to see." Su Qinian raised his eyebrows. "Next week is the New Year's Eve party. The day after is New Year's Eve. More than twenty students will be going. The dinner is set by the river because I heard there will be a fireworks show by the river this year. We can go watch the fireworks right after dinner."
"It sounds great."
"Brother Su, Sister Lin, you two are flirting right in front of me. Have you ever considered the feelings of this single dog? Believe it or not, I'll gossip about you two behind your backs."
The ignored Lu Youchuan was like a light bulb emitting 100,000 volts, brightening up the whole classroom.
Although the classroom was already bright, it didn't stop it from getting even brighter and providing light for the other students.
"Lu Youchuan, which eye of yours saw me flirting?" Lin Jinran was annoyed and couldn't help punching him.
Lu Youchuan said in a long - drawn - out tone, "Oh, really? Don't you guys look at the school forum? Everyone says that you and Brother Su are a perfect match. It seems like you're already a couple even if you're not."
"Cough..." Su Qinian coughed awkwardly and glared at him.
Lin Jinran: "..."
Why are they all shipping her and Su Qinian?
Lin Jinran was speechless.
Lin Jinran was angry.
Lin Jinran punched Lu Youchuan again. Lu Youchuan let out a pained cry.
Afraid that Lin Jinran would punch him again, he quickly picked up the badminton on the ground and ran away.
"This guy is always the first one to gossip and the fastest one to run away." Lin Jinran crossed her arms and glared at Lu Youchuan's back.
After venting her anger, Lin Jinran returned to her seat and remembered what Teacher Li had said. "Hey, do you know that Qiao Songyue is going to participate in this year's New Year's Eve party? Her program is arranged to be the last one."
This...
Su Qinian really didn't know. He frowned slightly, asking himself as well as talking to Lin Jinran.
"What does she want to do this time? Didn't I make myself clear before?"
"I don't know." Lin Jinran shrugged.
Indeed, after the basketball game at No. 3 Middle School, they thought Qiao Songyue had given up, but she didn't.
At the school sports meet a month ago, Su Qinian clearly rejected her. Everyone thought she had really given up, but she still didn't.
This time, at the New Year's Eve party, no one knew what else she wanted to do.
Was it just to play a piano piece?
Was it really that simple?
Sometimes, being too stubborn or being overly tenacious in the face of setbacks is not a good thing.