Chapter 37 The Evolution of a Class Flower

Chapter 37 The Evolution of a Class Flower

Ning Song played Nasie, and the first rehearsal did not go smoothly.

He was actually quite relaxed and not nervous at all. He had memorized his lines thoroughly and even had Pu Yu correct his pronunciation.

But acting truly requires talent; to completely embody another person in front of others without seeming stiff is incredibly difficult.

He was more suited for supporting roles, lying on stage playing dead.

However, since he had decided to push forward, he naturally wouldn't be easily defeated by difficulties.

He actively sought advice from Sheng Yan.

Sheng Yan was naturally suited for the stage, with extensive experience, often performing since kindergarten. Acting in a high school drama was a piece of cake for him.

But today, he seemed a bit off.

Ning Song grabbed his arm and asked Chen Mo, "Should I kneel down after being stabbed? Wouldn’t it be better to fall forward so that Brother Yan can catch me?"

He understood the audience's psychology well, knowing what scenes they would enjoy most.

Chen Mo nodded, "Sure, you two can improvise the details. Just end up in Reto’s arms."

Ning Song then said to Sheng Yan, "Let's try it. Catch me, okay?"

With that, he made a move to lunge towards Sheng Yan.

Sheng Yan caught him in his arms, and Ning Song's hair brushed against his chin.

It left him feeling flustered, unsure whether to tighten his grip around Ning Song.

His waist was so slender, slender to the point where...

It felt surprisingly comfortable to hold.

It was very easy to hold.

"Shouldn't you step back?" Ning Song looked up at him.

His made-up face had an odd mix of beauty and strangeness, probably due to unfamiliarity. Ning Song's amber eyes also seemed alien. He took a couple of steps back and then knelt down while holding Ning Song.

Ning Song lay in his arms.

This was the climax and final scene of their play, the death of Nasie. Ning Song lay in his arms, slightly parting his lips as if dying.

When Sheng Yan looked down, he saw Ning Song frowning, showing signs of pain, with a hint of red on his tongue.

Sheng Yan: "..."

Ning Song explained, "I got stabbed, so my expression should be painful."

After saying this, his frown deepened, even with slight panting, his hand trembling as it clutched Sheng Yan's shirt, as if unable to bear the pain yet trying to endure it.

Sheng Yan felt a warmth in his body and said, "...You don't need to be so dramatic; the audience won't see your expressions clearly anyway."

"I'm just trying to help you act," Ning Song said, looking up from his lap. "Won't this make it easier for you to get into character?"

No, it would make it harder for him to stay in character.

Sheng Yan said, "Just pretend to be barely alive."

Ning Song quickly adjusted, feigning near-death.

Following this was a long monologue by Sheng Yan. Unlike TV dramas, stage plays have introspective soliloquies, and the lines were in English. Sheng Yan's English was impeccable, but his performance today wasn't as good as during the previous rehearsal with Fu Huisheng.

Chen Mo reminded him, "For the last two lines, look at Nasie."

Sheng Yan looked down at Ning Song, who was squinting at him.

His acting was quite amateurish.

He laughed out loud.

Ning Song also laughed, sitting up and saying, "See, you laughed when you tried to act with me."

Actually, it's best when people who aren't friends act together. Too familiar faces can easily lead to laughter.

Sheng Yan said, "Don't look at me; when you do, I lose focus."

Ning Song cooperated, saying, "Then I'll close my eyes this time."

He closed his eyes, preventing any soulful connection.

This time, Sheng Yan performed much smoother, delivering long, Shakespearean-style lines. The stage lights shone on them as Li Qingyuan and the other actors approached with a large curtain, surrounding them and draping it over them.

Sheng Yan looked down at Ning Song under the bright lights, feeling a bit dazed.

Chen Mo called out, "OK, cut."

Everyone relaxed, and Ning Song immediately opened his eyes, laughing as he pushed the cloth off his face. "It covered my face, and I secretly pulled it aside, hahaha."

After finishing the entire rehearsal, it was already six-thirty, and everyone was starving, rushing back to the dressing room to change.

Due to frequent rehearsals, they shared one dressing room with other class performances, making it quite lively as everyone changed clothes together. Ning Song removed his hat, shook his hair, and said to Sheng Yan, "Look at my hair; it's soaked."

Not only was his hair wet, but his T-shirt underneath was also drenched, and his neck glistened with sweat. Sheng Yan inexplicably wanted to lean in and smell the scent of jasmine mixed with sweat.

But he only smelled an unfamiliar fragrance.

This fragrance seemed to be the same one he had smelled on Pu Yu—a mix of mint and lemon with a hint of perfume, no longer sweet and gentle.

He then remembered that Ning Song had slept at Pu Yu's place yesterday.

"Did you sleep well at Pu Yu's place last night?"

"A million-dollar bed is not just a joke," Ning Song seemed accustomed to joking around with him, "I slept through until morning, and even my dreams were better than usual."

Sheng Yan laughed out loud, reaching out to ruffle his hair. This time, he touched Ning Song's hair, withdrew his hand, took off his performance outfit, and noticed a guy secretly admiring his pectorals. The corner of his mouth drooped again as he grabbed a new T-shirt and put it on.

Ning Song looked at him and said, "Aren't you going to change your clothes when we get back for a shower?"

He noticed Sheng Yan had a peculiar habit: whenever he changed into his performance outfit or into the waiter uniform at Xingyue, he would also take off the T-shirt underneath and replace it with a fresh one.

"I'll change later." Sheng Yan put on his baseball cap, covering his white hair. The dark blue cap made his skin appear even paler.

He looked full of energy and smelled wonderful.

Ning Song changed into his school uniform. Without the elaborate costume, his makeup stood out more against the pure black uniform, making him look even more striking to Sheng Yan than in the costume.

The combination of vibrant and plain was just right. Ning Song's ordinary yet cheerful demeanor transformed him into a small, delicate flower.

Like a jasmine blossom—small, simple, and beautiful.

After changing, Ning Song went to the restroom. When Sheng Yan entered, he saw Ning Song wiping his lips and the corners of his eyes in front of the mirror.

The tissue in his hand turned slightly red as the color faded from his face, revealing a more subdued and ordinary Ning Song once again.

Like Cinderella at midnight, the pumpkin carriage and glass slippers vanished.

He wiped a bit too hard, leaving the edges of his lips slightly red. He smiled up at Sheng Yan in the mirror and said, "Bean sprout is back!"

Sheng Yan snapped back to reality, smiling slightly, and went inside.

He thought the unease he felt on stage was only because Ning Song looked exceptionally beautiful today, and seeing him like this for the first time was a bit disorienting.

But now, after washing off all the makeup and looking even plainer than usual, why did he still find himself entranced?

Ning Song returned to his former self, but the image of him in Sheng Yan's heart remained unchanged.

Exiting the restroom, they passed by Li You's class rehearsal room. Ning Song glanced inside, noticing a few people there, but Li You wasn't among them. He turned around, and Li Qingyuan placed a hand on his shoulder, asking, "What are you looking at?"

"I was checking if Brother You was here."

Li Qingyuan smiled, quickened his pace, and put his arm around Sheng Yan's shoulders. Sheng Yan turned around and, through Li Qingyuan, saw Ning Song muttering, "I'm starving."

That overly plain face looked so lively and bright in his eyes. He found the hungry Ning Song adorable.

They reached the door and realized it was raining outside again.

It wasn't heavy, but the ground was wet, and the fallen flowers hadn't been cleared, giving the world a thin layer of snow-like appearance. The air felt chilly due to this visual illusion. They ran toward the cafeteria in the drizzle. Suddenly, Sheng Yan heard Ning Song talking on the phone. Because they were running, his voice trembled in the mist, "Just got out, which floor are you on?"

Sheng Yan turned around in the light rain, and Ning Song bumped into him, laughing and grabbing his arm to run forward while saying into the phone, "Nothing, I just accidentally bumped into Brother Yan."

Sheng Yan immediately guessed who the other person was.

Sure enough, when they reached the first floor and were waiting in line for food, he saw Pu Yu coming down the stairs from the second floor with a tray.

Ning Song waved at him immediately.

There were about seven or eight people on the staircase, but Pu Yu stood out the most.

Pu Yu had gotten a haircut.

His hair was shorter, styled neatly by a barber, making him look cleaner and more handsome. His height towered above the other boys.

Because of their rehearsal, they ate later than usual, and since Pu Yu didn't have classes in the afternoon, he waited until now to eat, clearly to join Ning Song.

When they returned with their food, Ning Song asked Pu Yu, "Are you not used to eating alone anymore?"

Pu Yu, unusually amiable today, replied softly, "A little."

Ning Song asked him, "Did you get a haircut?"

Pu Yu nodded.

"You look even handsomer now," Ning Song said.

Pu Yu smiled slightly.

Pu Yu still spoke very little. While the group chatted during the meal, Pu Yu rarely joined in.

Sheng Yan occasionally glanced at Pu Yu, recalling the video from yesterday. Back then, Pu Yu's hair was a bit longer, and his eyes were hidden behind his hair, looking somewhat gloomy in the night.

After finishing their meal, the rain outside had intensified.

Most of them hadn't brought umbrellas and planned to wait in the cafeteria until the rain subsided.

However, Pu Yu had brought an umbrella and asked Ning Song, "Going back to the classroom?"

Ning Song nodded and stood up.

He was busy, and Pu Yu said he would help him with English: "I need to go now, sorry guys."

Pu Yu and Ning Song left the cafeteria together, opening the umbrella at the entrance.

Sheng Yan sat on the chair, watching their backs, removed his hat, ran a hand through his hair, and put the hat back on.

Zhou Yi from their class asked a student from Class Three, "Is Pu Daxi really close to Ning Song?"

"Are Ning Song and Pu Yu dating?"

"Huh? I don't think so, right?"

"It's not like that. They just have a good relationship."

"Their relationship is indeed very close; they're always together in our class. Even Jin Yang, the handsome guy in our class, hasn't smiled for a week."

"Hahaha, Jin Yang still has such a crush on Pu Yu? He's really persistent."

Amidst the gossip of the boys, Sheng Yan suddenly realized that Pu Yu might have feelings for Ning Song.

His unusual behavior last night and over the past few days seemed to have an explanation now.

Along the way, Ning Song kept telling Pu Yu about the funny things that happened during their rehearsal. They were both used to this mode of interaction—Ning Song liked to talk, and Pu Yu listened. Pu Yu never found Ning Song annoying, and Ning Song never thought Pu Yu was boring.

"By the way, I put on makeup today. Do you want to see it?"

Pu Yu hummed in acknowledgment, and Ning Song took out his phone to show him a selfie.

Pu Yu took the phone and glanced at it, his heart pounding.

Because it was truly beautiful.

Back in the classroom, Pu Yu said to Ning Song, "Sit here."

Ning Song: "Huh?"

"Sit over here," Pu Yu said.

Pu Yu sat alone, with no one at the desk next to him.

A privilege of being the main character.

"Bring a test paper over."

Ning Song went to get his English materials and saw Qiao Qiao video chatting with Deng Xun.

Qiao Qiao looked up at him with a pained expression.

From the look in his eyes, it was clear that Deng Xun was checking on his homework again. Deng Xun assigned daily study tasks to Qiao Qiao, which weren't too much, but Qiao Qiao disliked studying and often couldn't finish them.

Ning Song loved watching this bickering couple and held back a laugh as he grabbed his English test paper, catching a glimpse of Deng Xun dressed in formal attire, seemingly working, with a Bluetooth earphone, focused on accompanying Qiao Qiao in his studies.

It was actually quite sweet; even as an outsider, Ning Song could feel the affection. As an older partner, Deng Xun took his responsibilities seriously, not just indulging in romance.

Ning Song sat down next to Pu Yu, who pushed a piece of paper toward him.

Ning Song was stunned—it was a plan, filled with detailed instructions, from how many words he should learn each day to what standards he needed to meet each week.

Pu Yu had spent his afternoon creating this challenging plan!

Are you trying to be another Deng Xun?

Do all men love giving orders?

But he gritted his teeth and agreed.

If he wanted to work hard and improve, he knew it wouldn't come without effort.

He started working on the task Pu Yu had assigned him—a reading comprehension exercise. He needed to learn all the words in the article and memorize the entire text.

First, he looked up the unfamiliar words on his phone, marked them, and copied them into his notebook. When he felt tired, he glanced over to see what Pu Yu was doing and noticed Pu Yu reading an English magazine.

The magazine was familiar; he had flipped through it in the library before but couldn't understand much and put it aside.

He saw Pu Yu taking notes while reading, translating it!

He asked, "Are you translating... for me to see?"

Pu Yu hummed in acknowledgment: "You can't understand it, right?"

Ning Song looked at Pu Yu.

Pu Yu touched his face: "Have you finished copying the unknown words?"

Ning Song hugged Pu Yu's arm: "Yu-ge!"

Pu Yu didn't pull away or say anything, his lips tightly pressed together.

In the classroom, Ning Song didn't dare to be too bold, but he was deeply moved.

This weekend, they were going to GDC for an event, and he needed to read more about the latest gaming news, especially about the designers he would meet.

Friends to this extent, what else could he say!

Pu Yu read very quickly, not analyzing every word but picking out useful parts to translate.

Games were one of the reasons they were closer than others, a secret known only to them, binding them tightly together.

Pu Yu intended to use this secret to bind them even tighter, leaving no room for anyone else.

It seemed that spending the night with Ning Song had recharged him. Today, even looking at Sheng Yan seemed more pleasant. He didn't go to watch Ning Song and Sheng Yan rehearse because he believed it was better to focus on what he could do himself.

Even if not for himself, at least for Ning Song.

He realized for the first time that when you like someone, you want to give them everything good, hoping they'll be well. If there's a return, it's great; if not, you still feel motivated to do it.

After evening self-study, Ning Song treated Pu Yu and Qiao Qiao to some late-night snacks. After eating, to be safe, he followed Pu Yu back to Dormitory Building No. 1.

The second night, they were even more at ease than the previous day, and they played some games on a giant screen for a while.

Both of them were gaming experts, capable of handling any type of game. Playing against each other was exhilarating, but playing together was even better.

They played until past one in the morning, and Pu Yu felt that the joy of their souls resonating was greater than the pleasure of self-indulgence. Gaming truly served as a bridge for their souls to communicate, without the need for real-life interaction, yet it brought them closer.

After finishing the game, he let Ning Song go shower first and said, "Put your dirty clothes in the washing machine and dry them directly. Don't wash them yourself."

Ning Song didn’t hesitate this time and threw his clothes into the washing machine right after his shower.

When Pu Yu came out of the shower, Ning Song was already lying in the bedroom. He went to the balcony and saw the clothes spinning in the drum. At that moment, he had a rather amusing yet secret thought: the fact that Ning Song's clothes had been washed in this drum made it feel different, as if any molecules left behind were a form of intimate contact.

Wasn’t this a kind of progress?

Ning Song was now using the same washing machine to wash his underwear.

He was getting closer to him.

Just as he was thinking this, the washing machine beeped. He said to Ning Song, "I’ll get them for you; don’t bother getting up."

But Ning Song still came out of the bedroom, saw him standing on the balcony with the dirty clothes, and quickly retrieved his own clothes from the washing machine. The combined washer-dryer was convenient, unlike the one at his place which required separate steps. He stood up with his warm clothes and closed the window tightly, asking, "Aren’t you cold like that?"

Right after a shower, he couldn’t feel the cold. But when Ning Song asked, Pu Yu realized he was only wearing boxer briefs, with a noticeable bulge. He usually paid attention to this aspect, finding it inappropriate to wear such attire in front of others. Today, he hadn’t expected Ning Song to come out of the bedroom. But now that he was aware, his feelings were quite subtle.

He put his clothes in the machine expressionlessly and said, "It’s fine."

Ning Song was wearing loose and cute pajamas. Perhaps because they had played games so enthusiastically today, his mouth wasn’t idle either: "Yu Ge, I have a question for you."

Pu Yu turned to look at him, pressing buttons with one hand. Due to his posture, he slightly bent over, stretching his shoulder and back muscles, making them appear thin yet broad, emphasizing his narrow waist.

Ning Song smiled but didn’t ask, instead carrying his clothes back into the bedroom.

Pu Yu actually had a premonition about what Ning Song might ask, though he wasn’t certain. He stood on the balcony for a while, then returned to the bathroom, wrapped himself in a bathrobe, and entered the bedroom, asking, "What did you want to ask?"

Ning Song, lying on the bed, said, "I was just going to tease you, forget it. I didn’t want to embarrass you."

Pu Yu said, "Ask."

Ning Song laughed, "Okay, I will."

Pu Yu nodded. Having just finished his shower, his hair was a bit messy, making him look particularly obedient.

Ning Song then said, "Why did you put on the bathrobe? Feeling shy?"

His smile carried a hint of mischief: "I just wanted to ask you, coming out of the shower without proper clothes, is that for showing off?"

Pu Yu’s ears almost instantly turned red. Ning Song burst out laughing, and Pu Yu, trying to save face, pretended to be calm, saying, "No."

"Do you know what I mean?" Ning Song persisted, undeterred.

"I do."

For reasons unknown, perhaps to tease back or for some other subtle emotion, he countered, "Is it bad?"

"..."

Ning Song didn’t expect this response and didn’t know how to answer. But at this point, he could only continue the joke, saying, "It’s great, I’m so jealous. It’s just that Sister-in-Law will have a hard time!"

Pu Yu knew he was large, and he was well aware of it. Guys take their size as seriously as their height. But hearing someone he liked say he was big was a feeling hard to describe.

Ning Song was too skinny and looked weak. He felt a bit protective towards him.

Being together was enough, even without doing anything else.

When he returned from the living room, Ning Song was still laughing.

The more familiar Ning Song became, the less serious he acted.

He loved how Ning Song teased him, but he didn’t dare show it too much, fearing Ning Song would push further.

He turned off the light and said, "Sleep."

He didn’t know this was his last good night.

If he had known, he might have stayed awake longer.

The next morning, Ning Song was woken by his phone vibrating.

The curtains were drawn, leaving the bedroom dark. He reached for his phone and saw it was Sheng Yan calling.

He sat up, still sleepy, and answered the call, "Hello."

"Come downstairs now," Sheng Yan panted.

"Huh?"

"I’m waiting for you downstairs. Hurry up, don’t dawdle," Sheng Yan said.

Ning Song looked at the phone after hanging up; it was 6:26 AM.

He glanced around and realized Pu Yu had already gotten up.

He got out of bed and changed into his clothes.

Since he hadn’t washed up yet, he put on a hoodie, wore knee-length pajama pants, and slipped on slippers before leaving the bedroom. He saw Pu Yu brushing his teeth in the bathroom.

"There’s no class for the first period today," Pu Yu said after rinsing his mouth. "You can sleep a little longer."

"Yan Ge called me down,"

Pu Yu was taken aback as he watched Ning Song walk towards the door, his voice fading away, "I'll be back in a bit."

The door clicked shut, and Pu Yu straightened up, wondering what Sheng Yan could want with Ning Song so early in the morning.

Today, he actually felt better, finding Sheng Yan's behavior somewhat acceptable.

He couldn't be jealous every time he saw Ning Song being close to someone; Ning Song was just making normal friends.

Now, he just needed to keep an eye on Qin Yi and Shen Lingsi.

Ning Song went downstairs and saw Sheng Yan in his workout clothes, sweaty and looking at him. Seeing him, Sheng Yan immediately waved, "Hurry up."

Ning Song shuffled in his slippers, "You'd better have a good reason."

Sheng Yan found him slow and pulled him along, eventually breaking into a run. Ning Song didn't ask where they were going because he already felt it.

The white frangipani flowers at the intersection were bathed in a strange light, as if they had changed color overnight, turning pink.

Sheng Yan's white hair swayed as he ran, gradually filling with pink hues. He turned to look at Ning Song, smiling brightly, eager to share this grand joy with him.

Every morning, Sheng Yan and the others did their morning exercises, running ten laps around the track, starting when the sky was just beginning to lighten, watching the dawn rise.

At first, it was just a small patch, then a large one, and the boys on the track were dazzled by the post-rain sunrise, taking photos and video calling their girlfriends.

And yet, his first thought was of Ning Song.

They rounded the faculty dorms in front of Dormitory One, and the sea appeared before them.

The pink dawn spread across the sea, and Ning Song understood what it meant for water and sky to blend into one.

"Wow!" Ning Song's eyes widened, and he stepped back in excitement, "Wow, wow!"

Sheng Yan burst out laughing, seeing the reaction he had anticipated, his joy overflowing, "Beautiful, right?"

"F***, f***, f***." Ning Song quickly pulled out his phone, "Wow, it's so beautiful."

The pink dawn cast the white-haired boy in the most beautiful light of youth. As he took pictures of the dawn, the camera naturally captured the handsome boy. Sheng Yan smiled smugly and proudly, making even the pink dawn seem like a mere backdrop.

After finishing his morning routine, Pu Yu waited in the dorm for Ning Song to return.

After more than ten minutes with no sign of Ning Song, he received a message from him instead.

He opened it to find a video.

The pink dawn in the video was breathtaking, but all Pu Yu noticed was Sheng Yan in the frame.

Ning Song, stunned by the beauty, kept exclaiming "F***," while Sheng Yan smiled at the camera, "Was it worth getting up for?"

"Thank you, grateful... the sun is rising." With these words, the video ended abruptly.

Leaving Pu Yu frozen in place.

This damn dawn was truly beautiful, and Ning Song would surely never forget it.

Calling someone specifically to watch the dawn—were they really just ordinary friends?

All the heat built up over the past few days dissipated.