Chapter 56 The Evolution of a Class Flower

Chapter 56 The Evolution of a Class Flower

Sheng Yan looked at Pu Yu on the stage.

He was truly a paragon of elegance and grace. No one was more suited to give the opening speech, nor could anyone better represent the four male academies.

This man was the epitome of the top-tier all-boys school—his background, appearance, and talents were all first-rate. Even his speech was better written than those of previous speakers. Pu Guanting sat in the audience, his stern face now showing a paternal warmth.

He also had a very healthy and happy family.

Sheng Yan turned to look at Ning Song beside him, noticing that Ning Song's gaze was fixed on Pu Yu, as if he were lost in thought.

Sheng Yan pursed his lips, not wanting Ning Song to be entranced by Pu Yu's charm. He interrupted Ning Song's thoughts, leaning down slightly and saying, "Who is Qin Tong?"

His breath brushed against Ning Song's ear, making Ning Song feel particularly sensitive: "Huh?"

Sheng Yan gestured towards him.

Ning Song looked over and said, "I've never seen him before; I don't know who he is."

Pu Yu finished his speech, and Ning Song joined the applause from the audience, clapping a few times before realizing he was the only one doing so among their group.

Everyone looked at him, and he awkwardly lowered his hands.

Sheng Yan smiled wryly.

The rest of the time flew by, and before they knew it, it was their turn to perform.

The backstage area was spacious. Ning Song held his waist and took deep breaths. He was the type of person who always aimed for perfection, no matter how chaotic his mind was. He cleared everything out and focused solely on the performance. He saw Pu Yu with a small DV camera heading to the audience, and the host was already cueing them. Ning Song noticed Qiao Qiao sitting near the front, waving wildly, which helped him relax. He heard Chen Mo beckoning from the entrance: "Get ready."

Sheng Yan stood at the front, being the first to appear. Li Qingyuan followed behind him.

Their music began, and the king, along with his ministers and guards, entered the stage. Ning Song stepped forward, and Chen Mo came up to adjust his clothing, saying, "You're the best. Just let go and perform. This is just an internal entertainment event for our school, so don't be too nervous."

Ning Song nodded, seeing the spotlight on Sheng Yan. It was like looking at a Renaissance painting.

Sheng Yan was really handsome.

He was truly the king on stage.

He entered with the music, bowing his head and following the others. The stage dimmed slightly, making everyone else hard to see, but a large spotlight shone on Sheng Yan and a smaller one on Ning Song.

He lowered his head, reciting his lines, delivering long monologues in English. Then he lifted the hem of his robe, revealing the short sword strapped to his calf.

Pu Yu held the DV camera, standing at the edge of the darkened audience, watching Ning Song through the lens.

Ning Song wore heavy makeup today, making him look quite different, overly flamboyant. The two lights illuminated both of them, one after the other, reflecting each other. Pu Yu didn't want to see them together in the same frame, so he zoomed in, focusing only on Ning Song.

Every move Ning Song made was captured in his lens.

Someone peeked at his camera and chuckled softly. He turned to see Shen Lingsi.

"Have you made up with Xiao Song?"

Pu Yu remained silent.

Shen Lingsi was used to his cold demeanor and stood next to him, his glasses reflecting the stage lights. Their principal leaned towards Pu Guanting, seemingly introducing someone on stage. Pu Guanting was slightly taken aback, his gaze following Ning Song.

Ning Song carried the short sword behind his back, circling the stage. The climax of the short play began, with Li Qingyuan's character stabbing Ning Song. Ning Song lunged forward, caught by Sheng Yan.

His slender figure, accentuated by the tight costume, made him look delicate and frail. When he fell into Sheng Yan's arms, it was like a leaf falling.

Pu Yu couldn't avoid filming Sheng Yan due to the angle, capturing only his face instead.

Sheng Yan's face was even more handsome than any celebrity. His hand caressed Ning Song's cheek, touching his forehead. Pu Yu felt they were about to kiss, so he turned the camera to the audience, scanning around.

Shen Lingsi suddenly spoke, "Did you know Sheng Yan likes him too?"

Pu Yu's face darkened.

"You do?" Shen Lingsi was somewhat surprised.

He watched Sheng Yan on stage, his perfect British accent making the entire performance seem tailor-made for him. He felt uneasy, whether it was Pu Yu or Sheng Yan.

"Let's see who gets lucky," he said to Pu Yu.

Pu Yu tightened his grip on the DV camera.

It could only be him.

He couldn't accept any other outcome.

Others might manage without Ning Song, but he couldn't.

He had to win, not lose.

Actually, Ning Song had no more lines after this scene. He just needed to lie there and pretend to be dead. This should have been the most relaxing moment for him, but Sheng Yan held him tightly, touching his forehead. He could feel Sheng Yan's breath, fresh and carrying a faint scent of rose and cedar. With his eyes closed, he didn't look at Sheng Yan, but his body started to heat up.

Finally, the stage dimmed, and the performance ended.

He heard Sheng Yan laugh and say, "It's over, you can open your eyes now."

He opened his eyes and saw Sheng Yan looking down at him with a smile. Still not fully out of character, Sheng Yan's gaze was intense.

He quickly got up and pulled Sheng Yan up. The stage lights brightened, and they bowed together, then turned to exit the stage.

Once backstage, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Someone jumped up excitedly, "Thank God it's over!"

They all laughed, and Chen Mo high-fived each of them. When it was Ning Song's turn, he said with a smile, "You did great."

Ning Song smiled, noticing someone's hand on his shoulder. This was usually an ordinary gesture, but he immediately turned to look, and upon seeing it was Li Qingyuan, he felt inexplicably relieved. Sheng Yan looked at him from behind Li Qingyuan and said, "I've messed up your face."

Not just Ning Song; Sheng Yan himself had fake blood on his forehead. They all walked out of the long corridor and went to the second-floor lounge. Ning Song changed out of his costume into his own clothes and then went to the bathroom to wash his face. While washing, he saw Sheng Yan come in and turn on the faucet next to him. He straightened up and watched as Sheng Yan washed off all the makeup, the fake blood running down the sink. People came and went behind them, and after being so tense, they were now completely relaxed. Ning Song wiped his chin with a cotton pad, noticing Sheng Yan smiling at him in the mirror.

It made Ning Song's heart flutter.

He realized belatedly, thinking, what is this?

One Pu Yu wasn't enough, now there's also Sheng Yan.

How could Sheng Yan like him!

He's poking the hero's nest!

Sheng Yan felt his heart racing. He wanted to hug Ning Song, feeling an intense desire he had never experienced before. But right now, he hesitated, merely drying his hands and asking, "Are you leaving directly or staying for the performance?"

"Staying for the performance," Ning Song replied. "After it ends, I have a dinner organized by our department."

Sheng Yan said, "Not eating with us?"

"Professor Jiang and others will be there too. We agreed on it a few days ago, and Brother Shen insisted I must go."

"Where are you eating?"

Ning Song shook his head. "I don't know."

Sheng Yan immediately went to ask Shen Lingsi.

Shen Lingsi frowned slightly and asked Sheng Yan, "Are you coming?"

As if one clingy Pu Yu wasn't enough, now there's another one?

Sheng Yan said, "We can go to the same place and visit each other later."

Shen Lingsi couldn't refuse him and said, "We're going to Baixiang Men. It needs to be reserved in advance, so there might not be any seats left."

Baixiang Men was on their school's food street, considered the largest and most luxurious restaurant there.

Hearing this, Sheng Yan immediately took out his phone and went outside to make arrangements.

Shen Lingsi feared he might ruin his confession plan and felt annoyed, saying to Ning Song, "It's still early. Why don't you go back to the office first?"

"I'll watch the performance from the audience," he said.

Shen Lingsi said, "It's already full."

"I'll stand in the aisle." Ning Song headed towards the audience area, desperately needing some time alone.

He sneaked in through the entrance and was suddenly grabbed by someone—it was Pu Yu, who pulled him close.

He smelled Pu Yu's familiar scent, feeling as if it drew his soul closer.

For some reason, Ning Song felt a complex emotion, a dampness in his heart like a heavy rain, mixed with tension and a touch of bitterness.

He thought, if Pu Yu knew Sheng Yan liked him, he'd be incredibly jealous.

He also thought that no wonder Pu Yu used to be so jealous of Sheng Yan; perhaps rivals have a natural sense, much sharper than his.

Why was he so oblivious?

How would he ever make friends with guys again?

Aaaaah.

He slightly turned his head and bumped his forehead against Pu Yu's shoulder.

Pu Yu looked at him, puzzled. Ning Song's lips tightened, and his phone vibrated. He checked it and saw a series of messages from Qiao Qiao.

Before he could reply to the first one, the second message came in, buzzing incessantly, making his heart tighten with fear.

"Where are you?"

"You acted so well! Those assassination moves were so cool and handsome!"

"Hurry over here, the person next to me left after watching the school's top idol, I saved your seat."

"I'm in the third row!"

"Look over here, I see you!"

Ning Song looked up and saw Qiao Qiao standing up, beckoning frantically.

Ning Song felt like he had PTSD, looking at Qiao Qiao's blurry face, his heart uneasy until he suddenly remembered Deng Xun, and his anxiety subsided.

He really was paranoid.

Having two handsome guys liking him wasn't enough; what else did he expect? Did he think there would be a third person?

Either he was too oblivious or too sensitive; he was too extreme!

He needed to believe that normal friendships still existed, even in a world surrounded by gay men.

Indeed, he was surrounded by gay men.

Realizing this, he felt his hair stand on end, looking around and seeing only men, teenagers and middle-aged alike, except for the female hostess in a dress.

"Go sit down," Pu Yu said to him.

He crouched and sat down next to Qiao Qiao. As soon as he sat, he saw Sheng Yan enter and stand at the entrance. His white hair stood out even in the dim audience, catching his eye and heart. He then looked at Pu Yu nearby, almost entirely hidden in the darkness, with only a hint of white at his collar.

Putting aside personal preferences, they were all top-tier in their own categories. There was no ranking; it just depended on which type one preferred. Ning Song still found it unbelievable.

This restless feeling only subsided when Li You took the stage. He took out his phone to record a video and saw Li You standing slightly awkwardly in the middle of the last row, reciting with a stiff demeanor, which made him smile.

Such a cute Li You.

By the time all the performances ended, it was almost nine o'clock. The lights in the audience area came on, and everyone started getting up. Pu Yu waited for Ning Song to come over, then suddenly heard their principal call out, "Pu Yu, come here."

Pu Yu turned around and saw Pu Guanting and the principal looking at him, while Shen Lingsi stood beside them, smiling warmly and elegantly.

Pu Yu went over, and Qiao Qiao and Ning Song followed the crowd out. Outside, they saw Sheng Yan leaning against the wall, waving at them.

Amidst the bustling crowd, Ning Song glanced at Sheng Yan's smiling face and walked over with Qiao Qiao. Sheng Yan said, "We're going to Baixiang Men. Shall we go together, Qiao Qiao?"

Qiao Qiao asked, "Is Aning also going to Baixiang Men?"

Ning Song nodded and led Qiao Qiao toward the exit. It was still raining outside, and there was a crowd at the entrance. Ning Song couldn't find his umbrella, possibly because someone had taken it by mistake due to the crowd.

Sheng Yan said, "Let's share mine."

Ning Song glanced at Qiao Qiao and walked over.

They stood under the same umbrella on the empty ground outside the theater, waiting for Qiao Qiao. He asked Sheng Yan, "Where's Brother Yuan?"

"He went to Baixiang Men ahead of us," Sheng Yan replied.

Their shoulders touched, and Sheng Yan felt a bit excited but tried not to show it, becoming more silent than usual. Ning Song's heart raced a little, tinged with a touch of melancholy, as if the rain was falling directly onto his heart. He saw a group of people near the fire escape, some holding umbrellas overhead. Then he saw Pu Guanting and the principal come out, followed by a black Maybach with a white pine needle flag and a black Bentley parked by the roadside.

Soon after, Shen Lingsi and Pu Yu emerged. Shen Lingsi stood by the roadside, smiling warmly as he watched the principal and others get into the cars, while Pu Yu got in as well. The remaining people stood in the rain with their umbrellas, creating a scene that looked like a movie under the streetlights.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and saw a message from Pu Yu: "I'm going to dinner with my dad."

Ning Song replied with an "Okay" and put the phone back in his pocket, feeling as if he was being immersed in the night rain.

Shen Lingsi watched the cars drive away, his smile fading.

Finally, one clingy person is gone.

Although the evening event had ended, he still had some time before he could rest. He instructed others to go ahead and scanned the crowd. There were many people outside the theater, all holding umbrellas, making it chaotic. But Sheng Yan's hair was easy to spot. He saw Ning Song beside him and sighed heavily.

Endless rivals.

He had other things to attend to and couldn't worry about Sheng Yan now. He chatted briefly with the other leaders, who soon left in their cars. By then, Ning Song and the others had already walked far away.

They headed straight for the food street, the colorful umbrellas moving along the campus paths like floating flowers. Sheng Yan remained quiet throughout, making Ning Song almost suspect that he knew something.

Qiao Qiao turned back and asked, "Are you two so tired? Why aren't you talking?"

Ning Song took the opportunity to put his arm around Qiao Qiao's neck and ducked under his umbrella, saying, "I'm exhausted. Come support me a bit."

He was already a bit taller than Qiao Qiao but surprisingly light. Qiao Qiao supported him, tilting the umbrella towards him.

Feeling a cold breeze blow past him, Sheng Yan stuck his hand in his pocket, hiding his disappointment. He felt more eager than ever to be Ning Song's boyfriend.

When they arrived at Baixiang Men, Ning Song first went to their drama troupe for a while, then directly to the student council's private room downstairs. Most of the people there were from the cultural and entertainment department, with whom he had been working closely over the past few days. Soon, Shen Lingsi and Zhou Lü arrived, along with Teacher Jiang from the general office. They had reserved a seat for Shen Lingsi among the teachers, but he switched places and sat next to Ning Song, taking Ning Song's wine glass and saying, "I'll help you with the drinks."

Sheng Yan was in a good mood today and actively organized the gathering. Li Qingyuan, sitting beside him, laughed, "As soon as Ning Song left, you came alive. Before, you were just standing there, grinning stupidly."

Sheng Yan raised an eyebrow, "Was I?"

Perhaps he was. Love had made him increasingly shy around Ning Song.

"You have everything, including genuine feelings. What do you fear? God gave you this face, and you're not using it to charm people. That's such a waste!" Li Qingyuan said.

Sheng Yan thought about it and agreed.

"I feel like he's not interested in looks."

Li Qingyuan scoffed, "In this world, whether male or female, there's no one who isn't interested in looks."

The boys were discussing whether to drink. The legal drinking age in Shangdong Province was sixteen, and many of them now smoked and drank. Since it was a boys-only gathering on a rainy, chilly day, they opened two bottles of white wine to share.

Sheng Yan had only two cups, but his face was already flushed red, even his neck, like a cooked shrimp. Everyone commented on how quickly he showed signs of intoxication. He checked himself in the phone's camera and saw his face was indeed bright red. His first thought was to show Ning Song.

It was a small thing, yet his first instinct was to share it with Ning Song, like a child eager to show off a new toy to someone they liked. He ran to Ning Song's private room and called him out.

Shen Lingsi saw his flushed face and felt this enchanting creature was about to cause trouble.

Ning Song went out and closed the door behind him.

"Look at my face," Sheng Yan smiled.

Baixiang Men was bustling in the evening, with students from their school filling the hall, creating a noisy atmosphere. Sheng Yan's gaze was slightly dazed and direct, looking slow and innocent.

He was incredibly handsome, and seventeen-year-old Sheng Yan was unmatched.

But thinking of Pu Yu, even the most tempting beauty had to be resisted.

What would happen to that young lady?

So miserable and pitiful.

It made it impossible for him to indulge in beauty without guilt.

He wondered what Pu Yu was doing now and if he knew about the situation here.

"How much did you drink?" Ning Song asked.

"Two cups, not much," Sheng Yan said, leaning against the wall and tilting his head to look at him. "I'm not drunk."

He wondered if his charm would work on Ning Song.

He really didn’t know how to seduce someone; it was always others who tried to seduce him.

The more Shen Lingsi thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. He couldn’t tolerate the drunk Sheng Yan being with Ning Song. He sensed Sheng Yan’s restlessness and worried that Sheng Yan might confess before him, ruining his plan for tonight.

He had no better opportunity than tonight, and he had already laid the groundwork for a while.

So he opened the door and went out.

Outside, a fine drizzle was falling. Pu Yu held an umbrella and looked up at the sign of Baixiang Men. Qiao Qiao’s voice came through the phone: “We are in the room farthest to the left on the second floor. Aning is on the first floor.”

Through the damp glass door, Pu Yu saw the blurred figures of Sheng Yan and Ning Song at the entrance of a corridor. Wet raindrops slid down the glass door as he pushed it open and entered.

"Author's Note"

Next chapter, a battlefield of love!

Pu Yu: Bros, who understands? I was only gone for a bit and almost got my house stolen!