Chapter 40 Hype Man Shao Xingchi, Senior Year Pep Rally

The kids from the small courtyard on Huajie Street had all grown up together. They’d been through all sorts of things as they grew, and the bond between them ran deep.

Of course, there had been fights, but nothing that couldn’t be patched up. Bickering, chasing each other around, roughhousing—it was all part of growing up. Shao Xingchi swallowed hard.

“Huazi, think about it. There’s nothing that two rounds of barbecue can’t fix.”

Zhou Haikuo chimed in, “Yeah, yeah! Give Wanghe a chance to redeem himself and start fresh!”

Xie Wanghe broke into a cold sweat.

“Come on, the way you guys are talking, it’s like I just got out of jail.”

“Shut up! Can’t you see Huazi’s trying to make up his mind here?”

Strictly speaking, today’s incident had nothing to do with Xie Wanghe. It was all San Liangzi stirring up trouble.

Everyone has a different tolerance threshold!

Xia Fenghua and Bai Zimo believed in confronting problems head-on.

Hold a grudge? Get revenge. No backing down.

Act immediately, no coddling.

Xie Wanghe, Shao Xingchi, and Zhou Haikuo, on the other hand, were all about keeping their heads down in senior year.

Why waste time on idiots?

Dragging yourself down wasn’t worth it!

Huazi hesitated for a moment, then called out to Bai Zimo.

“Zimo, two rounds of barbecue, are you in?”

“Tonight, we’re going fishing… have Xie Wanghe bring it over.”

“What? You want me to deliver it to the canal bank?”

“You got a problem? If you don’t like the canal, go deliver it to Qingshan Mountain!”

“What the hell! You gonna fish up a ghost from Qingshan?”

“How about Yinhe Cemetery then! I’m making you deliver it twice to show sincerity!”

“Damn! Bai Zimo, don’t be such a jerk!”

“Heh, maybe you’ll meet a ghost bride waiting for you!”

Shao Xingchi started singing.

“Bright moon in the sky, ghost wind in the alleyway! A female ghost seeks her groom—who dares love the eerie ghost bride?”

“Hahaha! Here we go! Audience on the left, audience on the right, audience outside the window! Everyone who knows the words, sing along! Ready—”

“Her eyes, her eyes, sparkle like shining stars!”

_____

Everyone burst into laughter and joined in the singing. And just like that, the issue was put to rest. Xie Wanghe rolled his eyes and flipped off Shao Xingchi and Zhou Haikuo.

“Sing about your damn ghost bride again and see what happens!”

“Wanghe, if you’re not into the ghost bride, there’s also Lady Chu!”

“Barbecue by the canal tonight! See if you want Lady Chu instead!”

“Zzzzzzz…”

Suddenly, the loudspeaker blared with a string of ear-piercing static. The shrill noise made everyone wince and instantly quieted them down.

“Hello, hello, hello, all senior year students, please assemble on the athletic field!”

“Repeating, all senior year students, please assemble on the athletic field!”

Senior year.

It’s not just a big deal to teachers and students—Even in society at large, those two words carry weight.

Except at No. 7 High School—full of academic underachievers.

Who had time to feel pressure or urgency? Everyone was incredibly laid-back.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a single student who could even stand at attention.

“Last year, our No. 7 High had ten students make it into college.”

Just listen to that!

What a slap in the face!

Even the principal sounded embarrassed saying it.

“Two of them even got into top-tier universities and changed their lives. Your role models are right in front of you. The path you take is in your own hands, students!”

“Zimo, you bring snacks today?”

“Didn’t you already eat? You’re skin and bones—how do you eat so much?”

“You judging me? I’m still growing, okay?”

Bai Zimo looked her up and down.

“Flat front, flat back—you are still growing! I brought the snacks.”

“You’re asking for a beating!”

“Hey—let go, let go! The principal’s giving a speech, Director Wang’s patrolling, and Old Xu is lying in wait!”

_____

Honestly, anything could happen out on this field. Everyone was used to it by now. Senior year was just a signal. Some students were completely relaxed. After all, their high school days were ending soon. Others gave it everything they had. Because college was just around the corner.

“Why can students at No. 1 High get into Tsinghua, Peking University, 985s, and 211s, but we can’t?”

“We can’t!”

What the hell?

The crowd erupted into laughter.

Everyone turned to find out who the brave soul was who shouted “We can’t.”

“Surely we’re not that lacking in confidence?”

“We are!”

That thunderous voice actually came from the neighboring school. Right next door was Honghuai No. 1 High School!

Totally different from No. 7 in every way. The fact that these two schools were side-by-side was a miracle in itself.

“Some of you love to compare yourselves to the students at No. 7 High.”

“But students, your real competition was never next door.”

“For No. 7 students, getting into college is a miracle.”

No. 7 High: Y’all got no chill, huh?

“But for you here at No. 1 High, not getting into college would be the miracle!”

More laughter from the crowd.

“So students, for this final year of senior high, give it your all. Let’s reunite on campus next year! Do you have confidence?”

“Do you have confidence?”

“Yes!!”

No. 1 High’s response was deafening, shaking the skies.

No. 7 High, of course, refused to be outdone.

Well… the only one refusing was the principal giving the speech.

This is so hard!

I thought I was here to motivate the students, but turns out, I’m motivating myself!