Chapter 10 An Unremarkable Special Admit

Chapter 10 An Unremarkable Special Admit

But he wasn't an ordinary extra.

He was an extra with a very long waiting time.

This was the request of Mr. Jiang, who was in charge of the sophomore year. He said Ning Song was a new student and it was his first group activity, so he needed more opportunities to be on stage.

But he was too ordinary to play the lead role, so they made him Sheng Yan's sidekick. First, Sheng Yan's performance would definitely be the hottest this year, and secondly, being the sidekick of the main character meant more screen time, which was good for exposure.

Of course, there was also an unspoken intention: standing next to each other, the stark contrast between the wealthiest young master of Upper East School and the poorest special admit would certainly generate a lot of buzz.

If it weren't for the fierce competition for the role of the younger brother and the fact that the rich young masters couldn't be offended, Mr. Jiang would have wanted Ning Song to play the younger brother; that would have been interesting.

Ning Song was quite satisfied with this role. The only request he made to Chen Mo was that he wanted fewer lines.

He believed acting was something that required talent, and clearly, his talent didn't lie in that area.

Chen Mo replied with just one sentence: "Acting alongside Sheng Yan, you don't want more lines?"

What kind of BL novel logic is this!

He shook his head vigorously, and Chen Mo seemed quite surprised, looking at him a few more times.

Probably everyone else in this world, except for him, the awakened one, wanted to act alongside Sheng Yan!

For example, Qiao Qiao: "A sidekick to Sheng Yan, wow, I'm happy for you."

Are you this happy? Does your Deng Xun know about it?

"I've never performed on stage before," he said.

Actually, back in the orphanage, they often put on shows. Sometimes it was for their own entertainment, like during holidays and various performances, and sometimes it was for potential adoptive parents.

But he never had a part.

Because he had a limp.

It was probably because of this that he was abandoned.

Fortunately, he was naturally optimistic and wouldn't get upset over such things!

"Have you ever acted in a stage play?" he asked Qiao Qiao as they walked.

Qiao Qiao said, "I did, actually, and even with Pu Daxi, back in junior high! He played Mr. Darcy, and I played Collins." Seeing Ning Song's confusion, he explained, "The relative of the heroine who wanted to marry her but couldn't!"

"There was a female lead too? Did you cross-dress?"

"At that time, we were collaborating with the girls' school next door. Lihua Girls' High, and their school beauty played the heroine. After the performance, she confessed to Pu Daxi."

The outcome of the confession was obvious, no need to ask.

Pu Daxi definitely wasn't interested in girls.

"How about Pu Yu's acting skills?"

It was hard to imagine someone with his personality acting.

Qiao Qiao said, "He just stands there, and that's enough!"

... Impossible to argue with that.

Sheng Yan was even more handsome and spirited than Pu Yu, and he had a bit of a mixed-race look. Playing a European king from the Middle Ages should be quite impressive.

"Do you remember you said Sheng Yan's family runs an entertainment company?"

"They do everything. Video streaming sites, entertainment companies, and gaming companies—they dominate all of them."

Ning Song was taken aback and asked, "Grand Gaming?"

"Yeah. 'Supreme King' is theirs."

"No wonder his family doesn't want him to enter the entertainment industry."

Turns out they really had a throne to inherit.

"The eldest son just plays around," Qiao Qiao said. "He's the only child, so he'll definitely take over the family business eventually."

As they talked, they arrived at the school swimming pool.

Since it was the weekend, there were more people in the pool than usual.

He even saw their class president, Chen Mo.

Chen Mo had a well-proportioned build, lean muscles, and wore goggles. When he saw them, he gave a brief nod and dove into the water.

His pale, slender body moved like a flying fish through the water.

"Wow, he swims so fast," Ning Song marveled.

Qiao Qiao said, "Every year, our class president always wins the swimming league among the four public schools."

Chen Mo had risen from a white badge to a golden badge in just over a year due to his excellence.

He was the most outstanding special admit, blazing a path forward.

Ning Song thought that being like Chen Mo was the best way for a special admit. If he didn't mention it, no one would even know he was a special admit, because he was so exceptional that even if he was somewhat rigid and boring, he could still stand firm in a class-divided noble school.

On the academic ranking board of Upper East School, first place was Pu Yu, and second was Chen Mo.

If not for the point system that significantly disadvantages students admitted through special channels, Chen Mo would have been a bearer of the black plaque long ago.

Ning Song tested the water temperature before getting in; it was warm.

He took off his bathrobe and stepped into the water. His bony spine, slim waist, and barely any flesh on his buttocks were evident. He had two dimples on his lower back, which should have been attractive, but on him, they only emphasized how thin and bony he was. It wasn't just that he was thin; his skin, while pale, lacked luster, devoid of the vitality typical of a young man.

Qiao Qiao looked at his bony frame and said, "Aning, you're too skinny. You could be boiled directly for rib soup after a wash."

"You've said it eight hundred times." As he got more familiar with Qiao Qiao, he no longer pretended to be well-behaved around him, showing a bit of youthful defiance and liveliness.

Qiao Qiao laughed, "Come on, I'll teach you today."

"Don't rush, let me warm up first."

He stood in the shallow end, splashing water on himself to adjust to the temperature.

"I'll do a lap then." Qiao Qiao put on his goggles and dove into the water, deliberately doing a fancy flip.

Ning Song only knew the dog paddle, splashing water as he swam. His pale, thin back floated on the surface, but his hair was abundant, just light in color and slightly curly, floating like a thick patch of seaweed in the water.

Chen Mo, having just finished swimming, stood by the poolside catching his breath, watching him after taking off his goggles.

Drops of water fell from his pale, muscular chest.

"Your form is wrong," Chen Mo suddenly said.

"Huh?"

Chen Mo gave him some pointers, but seeing that Ning Song didn't get it, he decided to get into the water. He reached out to support Ning Song's body, "Relax."

Ning Song stretched out his arms and legs, remaining still.

Chen Mo: "...Too relaxed."

Ning Song tensed up again.

Chen Mo: "..."

Ning Song had experienced near-drowning before. He felt that overcoming his fear was already worthy of great praise.

Qiao Qiao returned from his lap and saw the class monitor supporting Ning Song to teach him. He immediately stood quietly to the side. Ning Song, under immense pressure, kept flailing while exhaling and seeking help from him. Qiao Qiao smiled and said, "Listen to the class monitor; he worked part-time as a lifeguard last semester. He's much better than me!"

The class monitor sternly said, "Don't thrash about."

"A little ticklish," Ning Song awkwardly said.

"You're so sensitive," Chen Mo said expressionlessly.

But he stopped touching Ning Song's waist, "Keep your feet straight, your waist close to the water, head down... don't tremble."

His slender body was trembling, looking pitiful.

Chen Mo sensed something and placed his hand horizontally under Ning Song's abdomen, patting him twice, his voice softening a bit, "I'm supporting you from below. Don't be afraid; you won't be in danger. Relax. Trust me."

His sternness now provided a sense of security, coupled with his deep, soothing voice, giving off a fatherly vibe—gentle yet authoritative.

Qiao Qiao stopped swimming and sat by the poolside, watching. Suddenly, he realized something.

Ning Song has such a good figure.

This "good figure" wasn't referring to muscle definition; he was bony. But it referred to his proportions.

Small head, long legs, the only flaw might be his slightly narrow shoulders.

But his leg-to-body ratio was astonishing.

Because he was so thin, almost to the point of being unhealthy, no one paid attention to his proportions.

If he gained a little weight, his figure would be incredible.

It would blind those gossiping girls in school!

He became excited and suddenly heard his phone vibrating in his bag. He checked it and said, "Aning, your phone is ringing."

Ning Song, who had just found a rhythm, said, "Can you check who it is?"

Qiao Qiao pulled out Ning Song's phone and glanced at it, "It's your mom."

Chen Mo released him, "Go answer it."

Ning Song climbed out of the water, shook his hands, and took the phone from Qiao Qiao.

Mrs. Ning's voice came through, "Xiao Song, where are you?"

"At the school swimming pool," Ning Song said, "My classmate is teaching me to swim."

Mrs. Ning laughed, "I was just talking to Mrs. Pu about you. She wants to see you today. Coincidentally, Pu Yu is nearby and will be coming back soon. You can ride with him. You got into Upper East School thanks to her help, and you haven't thanked her in person yet. I miss you too."

Ning Song was surprised, "When is he coming?"

"He said he'll arrive at the school in about half an hour. I gave him your number; he'll contact you when he gets here."

After hanging up, Ning Song was still in a daze.

Wasn't his part-time task in this novel a bit too heavy?

It felt like he was going beyond a minor role!

Chen Mo watched him from the water and asked, tilting his head, "Still practicing?"

Ning Song quickly jumped into the water.

Chen Mo is a good coach; he could still squeeze in another twenty minutes of practice.

Chen Mo is usually very aloof. Today, he was unexpectedly enthusiastic—whether out of sympathy or because, as an excellent swimmer, he couldn't stand Ning Song's doggy paddle.

In any case, when Pu Yu arrived, Ning Song was happily swimming while holding onto Chen Mo's arm.

He had actually been keeping an eye on his phone all along. Learning to swim was one thing, but Pu Yu wasn't exactly easy to get along with, and considering their families' relationship, he didn't dare let the young master lose track of him.

As it turned out, Pu Yu came straight into the pool area without calling him first.

Today, Pu Yu wasn't wearing his school uniform; instead, he wore all black—a black pair of pants, a black hoodie, and under the hoodie's hood, a black baseball cap. The only color on him was a white arrow and the number 99 on the front of his hoodie.

His cold and gloomy presence was strangely captivating, like a thin, long blade.

More and more people were looking at Pu Yu, but he showed no expression, his gaze landing on Ning Song.

Ning Song quickly stopped and said to Chen Mo, "That's enough for today. I have something to do and need to leave early. Thank you, Class President."

Chen Mo nodded, watching him climb out and then gave him a hand. Ning Song was so light that Chen Mo lifted him out and placed him by the poolside. He looked up just as Pu Yu approached, slightly taken aback.

Ning Song hurriedly got up, drenched and with his spine's bones prominently visible, making him look very thin. The water was a bit chilly, giving his skin a sickly pale hue, but the two spots on his chest were red, as if all the blood in his body had concentrated there.

Pu Yu called out, "Ning Song."

Ning Song's first thought was:

So he's not mute!

Pu Yu asked, "Did you receive Aunt Liu's call?"

His voice was unexpectedly deep but not cold, rather gentle and mild.

If there was anything odd, it was the lack of inflection.

His speech was slow, conveying a sense of perpetual emotional stability, as if nothing could ruffle him, even if his lover were about to be taken away.

Only his eyebrows were sharp, arched in a gloomy manner.

Ning Song wrapped himself in a bathrobe, making his slender frame appear even thinner next to Pu Yu, who stood at 190 cm tall.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you'd come so soon." He checked the time—it was only fifteen minutes, and the young master had arrived early. "I'll go rinse off and change. Could you wait for me a moment?"

Pu Yu nodded, saying nothing.

Because he had heard his voice, Pu Yu felt different from before.

It seemed his silence wasn't due to being aloof or naturally reclusive, but rather because he was introverted and reserved, which made him seem more human and warm.

Ning Song hurried back to shower and get dressed. Qiao Qiao and the others watched the young master in surprise, who sat there playing games, relaxed yet composed.

Everyone exchanged glances but dared not speak, watching Ning Song run out with his hair still wet and a bag on his back.

The young master stood up, put his phone in his pocket, and led him out.

One tall, one short, with a significant height difference.

On the school forum, some bored boys were gossiping. Someone had secretly taken a photo of Ning Song at the pool and posted it in a group chat, where they were criticizing his frail physique.

"Didn't we already make fun of this a few days ago? Thought it was an old post resurfacing!"

"Knew he was skinny, but not this skinny!"

Then someone posted another photo.

Ning Song, carrying his bag, followed behind Pu Yu.

"The last-ranked student at Upper East School is walking with the top-ranked one!"

"Pu Daxi, the crown prince of Upper East School with the best family background, who always goes solo, is actually acquainted with Ning Song, the poorest special admission student at Upper East School!"