So the two of them went for a drive on the rooftop, and when they came back, they happened to run into some teachers performing crosstalk on stage.
The skit itself wasn't particularly funny, but the students in the audience were laughing so hard they couldn't straighten up. The reason was that even the usually sour-faced head teacher had to give in to the skit performance, awkwardly forcing a smile and making actions he would never normally do. The stark contrast had the students in the audience laughing hysterically.
Their turn was the next show after that, so they went backstage to prepare.
Soon after, it was their turn to appear.
The students in Sheng Muxi's class seemed to have planned it all along, gathering together to wait for the moment Sheng Muxi stepped onto the stage. A burst of screams erupted, attracting the attention of everyone around, and even those playing on their phones looked up.
Chai Qianning calmly sat down on the piano bench, casually glanced around, and saw Chai Shuqing among the screaming crowd.
Before singing, Sheng Muxi briefly responded to the students' screams while holding the microphone. Then, she and Chai Qianning exchanged a glance, and accompanied by a piano prelude, Sheng Muxi began to sing the first line.
Although neither of them are professionals in piano or singing, this was, after all, just an entertainment event. As long as they weren't terribly off-key, basically no one would care. Most people were probably just focused on their looks at first glance.
When the song ended, enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience.
The audience seemed to want more.
Chai Shuqing saved the recorded video, and then a boy next to her bumped her arm.
She turned around: "What?"
"Is that your sister playing the piano on stage?"
"Um."
"Biological child?"
Chai Shuqing rolled her eyes at him: "If he's not your biological child, is he an adopted one?"
Another girl leaned over and said, "Oh my god, Shuqing, that's actually your sister! Your family's genes are really strong."
"Your sister looks so gentle, I'm starting to swoon." The girl clutched her chest.
"Pfft." Chai Shuqing was drinking water and almost spat it out: "Gentle? You're overthinking it."
"But why is your sister performing with Teacher Sheng? Are they friends?"
Chai Shuqing rolled her eyes: "Yes, friend."
"As expected, good-looking people are surrounded by good-looking friends. Tonight I not only saw a beautiful teacher, but also a beautiful older sister. It's so satisfying. Hey, could you send me a copy of that video? I want to keep it to reminisce."
.
Students are allowed to bring their phones to the New Year's Eve party, so it's normal for them to take videos of the performances.
Chai Qianning was just accompanying Sheng Muxi to make up the numbers, but Fang Jiaqin was right. She really did "amaze the whole school".
The video of their performance was shared in various class groups, small groups, and private chat groups.
Sheng Muxi was already a popular teacher among students, and Chai Qianning's addition made the performance the most memorable program of the night.
Since everyone had a holiday the day after the party, they discussed it on their phones.
Chai Shuqing sent Chai Qianning a screenshot of their class's private group chat: "Sis, you're amazing! You made headlines on campus with that piano piece you learned so quickly, I have no idea where you got it."
Actually, Chai Qianning's playing wasn't very good; she was aware of her own limitations.
Simply by sitting down at the piano, she becomes a beautiful sight on the stage.
Chai Qianning: [It's like I'm visiting your school for the first time.]
Chai Shuqing: [This is different. This time, the whole school saw it, and even the school forum, which had been dormant for a long time, became active again.]
[Students from other classes were spreading rumors that you were a new student teacher for the second year of high school. A bunch of second-year students were even hoping to see you in the office, but someone from our class stood up to debunk the rumors, and then everyone started yelling. I'll send it to you.]
[Screenshot][Screenshot]
Chai Qianning was playing a game when a bunch of pop-ups appeared at the top of her head, almost making her want to block Chai Shuqing.
After finishing the game for more than ten minutes, Chai Qianning finally checked the messages, replied with a silly emoji of "hands clasped together, radiating golden light", and then casually turned off the screen.
In the study, Sheng Muxi was working on a spreadsheet on the computer. Chai Qianning quietly walked to the door, glanced at it, and was immediately caught by Sheng Muxi.
"If you want to come in, just come in. Why are you standing here sneakily at the door?"
When Chai Qianning went in, even though there were several chairs available, she insisted on squeezing into one with her: "Teacher Sheng, I have to go home for a few days during the New Year's holiday."
"Okay, you can go back now."
"You'll be all alone here then."
“It’s okay, I can go to Teacher Ni’s house. She’s spending the holiday alone there, so I can go and keep her company.”
Chai Qianning nodded and wrapped her arms around her neck: "Okay. I'll miss you."
Are you going back this afternoon?
"Yes, I need to rush back and have dinner with my family."
"Okay, do you want me to help you pack your things?"
“No need.” Chai Qianning pulled her to sit down. “I don’t need to bring anything back. I have everything at home.”
Last night, to celebrate New Year's Eve, Chai Qianning and Sheng Muxi went out for a meal and then watched a fireworks show, which meant they didn't get home to sleep until very late. Sheng Muxi has a biological clock; no matter how late she goes to bed the night before, she usually doesn't sleep in too late the next day. Plus, she had been staring at the computer for too long, so her eyelids were a little tired.
Chai Qianning ran her index finger along the corner of the other woman's eye. Seeing that she didn't seem very happy, she assumed it was because of her going home. So Chai Qianning added, "I'll only stay at home for two days. I'll be back soon. We can video chat every night."
"Um."
Seeing that the other person was still not in a high mood, Chai Qianning reached out and pinched her breast: "Are you that reluctant to part with me?"
Sheng Muxi hugged her and kissed her: "I can't bear to part with you."
"It's only been two days, and you're already so clingy." Chai Qianning used her finger to stroke her chin.
Sheng Muxi stared into her eyes: "If I had known, I wouldn't have brought you to the New Year's Eve gala performance."
Chai Qianning exclaimed, "Why? We were cooperating quite well!"
They worked together so well that now students in the class group are openly tagging her, asking who the girl who performed with her at the party that day was, and whether she was her friend, etc.
One teacher even messaged her: "[Teacher Sheng, was the person you were paired with at the party your friend? Is she single? Lao Cheng said he'd like to get to know her.]"
Sheng Muxi replied at the time: "She has a boyfriend."
Sheng Muxi swiped her phone, opened the class group chat, and handed it to Chai Qianning to look at.
Chai Qianning glanced at it briefly, then suddenly chuckled softly, "Teacher Sheng, you're even jealous of your own students?"
——
Before going home, Chai Qianning gave Chai Renbo a heads-up: "I have something big to announce when I get back, so please be prepared."
Chai Renbo: [What could be so important? Did you get a girlfriend? You could bring her back to meet us during this holiday.]
It was so easy to guess that Chai Qianning found it all rather pointless.
She replied: "I'm afraid you won't be able to accept it."
Chai Renbo: [Is he ugly?]
Chai Qianning: [Not ugly.]
Chai Renbo: [Very poor?]
Chai Qianning: [Not poor either.]
Chai Renbo: [Is it because he's very old?]
Chai Qianning: [She's the same age as me.]
Chai Renbo: [Is he sick?]
Chai Qianning: [I'm much more normal than your daughter.]
Chai Renbo: [Then what is there that we can't accept? Bring it back, have a meal with it, and let them meet.]
Chai Qianning: [Aside from the points mentioned above, can you accept the rest?]
Chai Renbo: [You kid, why are you beating around the bush with me?]
Chai Qianning: [You have to promise me first that as long as that person isn't ugly, poor, an old man, or has any physical illness, you have to accept him.]
Chai Renbo: [Okay, as long as you like it.]
Chai Qianning: [You said it, no take-backs allowed. If you do, you're a little dog.]
"Then I'll tell you for sure, she's a girl."
.
This preventative measure was truly thorough. Originally, Chai Qianning intended to wait until she got home to tell him, but she ended up telling Chai Renbo on WeChat.
When I got home, the atmosphere was indeed completely different.
Chai Renbo and He Xiaoying were sitting upright on the sofa, while Chai Shuqing was sitting on the other side of the single sofa. Chai Shuqing usually didn't sit properly, so she was never sitting so upright like this.
Before she had even fully entered the house, Chai Qianning was already having a bad feeling as she stood in the entryway changing her shoes.
Upon hearing the noise, all three of them turned their gazes toward Chai Qianning.
He Xiaoying said emotionlessly, "I'm back."
Chai Shuqing chimed in, "Sister, you're back!" and gave her a few winks.
"No." Chai Qianning said, both amused and exasperated, "I'm not some big leader, why are you all sitting so upright?"
Just then, Grandma came out of the kitchen and placed a plate of fruit on the coffee table: "Come on, girl, come and eat some fruit. What are you standing there for?"
Judging from the scale of the commotion, even her grandmother knew about it.
Chai Qianning sat down next to Chai Shuqing.
Chai Renbo scratched his head, his expression as gentle as ever, but now mixed with some distress.
He's always been rather lenient when it comes to Chai Qianning's criteria for choosing a partner; as long as the other person likes her, that's fine. So when Chai Qianning told him this, he was thinking to himself, "Silly girl, you've met someone you like, what's there to disagree about?"
However, he really didn't expect it to be a girl.
He never even considered the gender aspect.
In the quiet atmosphere, it was Grandma who broke the silence first.
Grandma held Chai Qianning's hand: "Girl, you have a boyfriend, don't you?"
Chai Qianning nodded.