Chapter 71: School Anniversary
"Yo, the master's wife is back!"
"The master's wife even brought food!"
Carrying a takeaway box, Jiang Hong walked through the deafening corridor, receiving a rousing welcome and admiration from the dormitory — starting from six o'clock this evening, the school lifted the alcohol ban, removed magic restrictions, canceled the curfew, and set no lights-out time. Each dormitory building was in a frenzy, playing their own music, some playing cards, skateboarding, dancing, casting spells, setting off fireworks, in a complete state of anarchy.
Of course, the school was also filled with thousands of paper cranes released by Xuan Hezhi, to prevent fire hazards and drunken brawls. The corridors glowed with magical light, and the night sky was filled with fireworks, like bands of light, akin to a dream.
"Stop calling me master's wife!" Jiang Hong leapt onto the bed, giving He Jian a beating. Everyone then set out snacks and drinks, and Zhang Xiting cast a spell, filling the dormitory with dancing fireflies.
"What shall we play tonight?" asked Jiang Hong. "Just drinking and chatting?" He wondered what Lu Xiu was doing at the moment. Should he go find him?
"At a time like this," said He Jian, "of course, it's... Mahjong! Loser's daring adventure, we agreed!"
He Jian set up the table with a flourish, scattering mahjong tiles all over it, showing the awareness of someone from Macau. Jiang Hong, being from Chongqing, hadn't played mahjong in a long time. Although not addicted, he was still happy to see the tiles, promptly putting thoughts of Lu Xiu out of his mind.
Zhang Xiting said, "Can't we arrange some other activity?"
"Let's go dancing!" Lian Jiang rushed in with Xiao Pi, exclaiming in shock, "You guys are actually playing mahjong in the dorm... count me in!"
Amidst his busy schedule, Jiang Hong still found time to think of Lu Xiu and sent him a message: "What are you doing?"
Lu Xiu replied, "Grading papers while having a drink with the teachers, listening to their conversations. What about you?"
Almost simultaneously, Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu sent each other photos. Jiang Hong sent a picture of his mahjong table, while Lu Xiu shared a group photo from the teachers' lounge in Area A, featuring Cao Bin, Zhu Jinling, Huo Ran, Ke Da, and Lu Xiu.
Lu Xiu sat on a single sofa like a boss, with a glass of champagne at hand, legs crossed, and a stack of student papers on his knee.
The school was in the midst of a sleepless night of revelry, while the teachers were chatting and snacking in several lounges.
In the dormitory building, everyone was playing mahjong, drinking, chatting, and occasionally heading to the corridor to dance. Around eleven, someone used magic to create a 'water cube' downstairs, and students began to jump into the water from the upper floors.
Jiang Hong had started drinking early and had lost count of how many rounds of mahjong he lost. He vaguely remembered shouting "I am your master's wife!" in the corridor, and He Jian was not much better, running around in his underwear.
Jiang Hong had no memory of the latter part of the night, forgetting when or if he had fallen asleep...
When the sunlight hit his face the next day, Jiang Hong groggily woke up, reached for his phone, but instead felt a body.
Jiang Hong: "?"
There was someone lying next to him? Jiang Hong quickly turned his head and saw Lu Xiu.
"Eh?" Jiang Hong sat up, trying hard to clear his head. The dormitory was tidy, with the summer sun shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Lu Xiu was sitting on the edge of the bed, leaning against the headboard with a tablet on his lap.
The roommates were all gone, and the dappled shadows of trees were cast on the dormitory floor, with the air conditioner spreading cool air.
"Awake?" asked Lu Xiu.
"When did you come here?" Jiang Hong asked. "Where are the others?"
"Around six," Lu Xiu answered. "Your roommates went to the school anniversary stalls. You were the only one still sleeping. Drank a lot last night?"
"Uh..." Jiang Hong wasn't sure how much he had drunk. He scratched himself and suddenly exclaimed.
He was wearing nothing! Jiang Hong curled up under the air conditioning blanket, his face flushed red.
Lu Xiu explained, "Someone in the next dorm spilled wine on you. I came over in the morning and gave you a bath."
"Oh… okay." Jiang Hong quickly dressed, while Lu Xiu, already neatly clothed, got out of bed to put on his shoes, asking, "Shall we go? Let's take a walk outside."
"Sure… okay," Jiang Hong replied, then remembered to ask, "What time is it?"
"Twelve o'clock," Lu Xiu said.
He had slept till noon!
After washing up and changing into clean clothes, Jiang Hong felt relieved that the high-quality alcohol from Jin didn't give him a hangover headache, just hunger.
Before leaving the dorm, Jiang Hong suddenly remembered something. Did Lu Xiu have plans tonight? He rummaged through his wardrobe and tucked a magical item into his bag – the "Invisibility Pot" he had sneaked from the exorcism committee. If it got too crowded and he couldn't find a good spot, he would wear the pot to become invisible and squat beside the stage to watch.
Lu Xiu: "???"
Jiang Hong: "…"
Lu Xiu: "Why are you bringing that?"
"Don't ask," Jiang Hong urged, pushing and nudging, "Let's go!"
Following Lu Xiu downstairs and reaching the main avenue of the school, Jiang Hong couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
"Wow—!"
The school had transformed once again. Above, countless wireless kites fluttered, vibrant and colorful, adorning the azure sky under the brilliant summer sun. Along the main avenue, rows of charity shops and stalls were set up.
According to Tsangqiong University's rules, first-year students couldn't apply for a stall, but starting next year, Jiang Hong and his dorm mates would be eligible.
"Teacher Lu!" a student called out enthusiastically, "Would you like something to eat? We're fundraising for the Monster Elite Association!"
With over a hundred snack stalls, each supporting a different cause, Lu Xiu bought some milk tea from one of the shops, while Jiang Hong curiously inspected each stall, eventually stopping at one for a poverty-relief organization for monsters. They sold Chengdu-style Bobo Chicken, so he and Lu Xiu ordered a portion.
"Next year I can set up a stall too," said Jiang Hong.
"Hmm," Lu Xiu replied nonchalantly, "Who do you want to share a stall with?"
Jiang Hong initially thought of his roommates, but then, seizing the moment, betrayed them playfully, saying, "Of course, with the handsome and suave Teacher Lu! Your stall would be bustling with customers!"
Lu Xiu suggested, "I could sell coffee."
Jiang Hong picked a skewer from the bowl, suddenly hearing a familiar voice nearby.
"How old are you to be drinking already, huh?" Xuan Hezhi was scolding Xiao Pi, saying, "Always hanging out with a bad crowd..."
Jiang Hong stealthily greeted Xiao Pi, who looked like he hadn't slept well and was being lectured.
"...That Lian Jiang, clearly no good... Oh, Teacher Lu, you're here too?"
Xiao Pi protested, "He's really nice."
Xuan Hezhi warned, "Don't let me catch him doing something wrong! Eat up now!"
Jiang Hong thought to himself: Being the Dean of Students, it's terrifying how he mixes personal grudges with official duties. He then noticed their meal: a serving of six skewers of spicy hot pot and two bowls of white rice, no wonder they always complain about lack of nutrition.
Jiang Hong glanced at Lu Xiu, who signaled him not to pay attention to the father and son, but their voices kept drifting over.
Xuan Hezhi said, "Why can't you spend more time with Jiang Hong?"
Xiao Pi replied, "He's got Lu Xiu now! Look, why would I want to be a third wheel…"
Jiang Hong quickly nudged Lu Xiu, hoping he would intervene to avoid a conflict on such a joyous occasion.
Finally having enough, Lu Xiu said, "Director Xuan Hezhi, shall we have lunch together?"
Lu Xiu's words were a clear hint: don't drag us into your quarrel. Hearing this, Xuan Hezhi responded, "Oh! Are you just starting to eat too?"
"How much is left? Let me see... Oh! Quite a lot!" Xuan Hezhi, pulling his son along with their white rice bowls, joined them at their table.
Jiang Hong: "…"
Lu Xiu: "………………"
"...And don't let me catch you being all chummy with that Lian Jiang again. The teachers are all talking about it to me…"
Xiao Pi was visibly distressed, both from his father's antagonism towards Lian Jiang and the embarrassment of being seen by Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu.
Jiang Hong smiled and gestured that it was okay to continue eating. Lu Xiu then smoothly changed the topic, engaging in a rare chat with Xuan Hezhi.
"Teacher Xuan, we’ll be going ahead, take your time," said Lu Xiu, as he paid the bill with tickets.
Jiang Hong suddenly felt guilty, but seeing Lu Xiu, his anticipation overcame his guilt, experiencing both pain and pleasure.
"Want to eat anything else?" asked Lu Xiu.
"This line is so long; the food must be good," Jiang Hong said with raised eyebrows, "Let's try it."
Lu Xiu: "Let me see... there's no special ticket lane for this, strange."
Although the sun was shining brightly today, it wasn't too hot in the Qinling area, with temperatures never exceeding thirty degrees. As the students in line noticed Lu Xiu, they greeted him one after another.
After a while, Lu Xiu casually took Jiang Hong's hand. Jiang Hong's heart was still racing, but he was gradually getting used to Lu Xiu's affectionate gestures. The queue slowly moved forward — Lu Xiu then put his arm around Jiang Hong's shoulder, and by the time they were near the shop, he was holding Jiang Hong close.
"It seems to be sweet egg pancakes," Jiang Hong said, his mouth watering. Noticing Lu Xiu was still looking at him, he gestured for him to turn and look ahead.
"Hmm," Lu Xiu replied.
Then, the line turned a corner, brushing past the sweet egg pancake shop and entering a small purple tent.
Jiang Hong: "???"
Outside the purple tent, there was a bird painted with a brush, and it was pitch black inside.
"A haunted house?" Jiang Hong's hair stood on end in an instant. "It can't be a haunted house, right? But this tent is so small!"
Lu Xiu reminded him, "This is a fantasy world. You can't judge the interior space by the size of the object."
Suddenly, heart-wrenching, genuine screams echoed from inside.
"This is too exaggerated!"
"Why didn't they say anything before we entered?!"
"Oh my God!"
Jiang Hong began to panic. As a seasoned exorcist who had even faced major demons, he shouldn't be afraid of ghosts, but who knew what was inside!
Lu Xiu: "Shall we leave then?"
"Let's go inside and see..." Jiang Hong braced himself, having queued for so long.
But upon entering, there was only a table inside, and behind it sat a withered old crone, who eerily said, "Teacher Lu... you've arrived."
Jiang Hong was utterly terrified, clinging to Lu Xiu, wondering what on earth this was all about.
"Teacher Zhu," said Lu Xiu, "so this is your stall. We thought it was for selling egg pancakes."
"Hmm," the old crone replied. "Do you have any questions?"
Jiang Hong: "Oh, is this... is this really a teacher?"
Teacher Zhu revealed a mysterious smile, placed her hands on the table, her long nails resembling bird claws, and slowly gathered the copper coins on the table.
"This is Teacher Zhu's fortune-telling booth," Lu Xiu reassured Jiang Hong, saying, "She'll be teaching you divination next semester. Do you have any questions?"
"We're fundraising for the Panda Protection Foundation…" Teacher Zhu then took out a cardboard sign decorated with pandas, and below it was written "Please care for pandas" in dripping ink that resembled blood-stained, horrifying letters.
Jiang Hong found it even more eerie.
"I'll just ask something random," Jiang Hong said. "What do you want to ask? I don't have any questions." He was simultaneously figuring out how to leave without offending the teacher.
Lu Xiu looked at Jiang Hong, then at Teacher Zhu, remaining silent as if deep in thought.
"I…" Lu Xiu seemed a bit hesitant.
Teacher Zhu smiled and said, "Let's shake the coins. Who will do it, or shall we do it together?"
Lu Xiu began to shake the coins, and Jiang Hong also lent a hand, the six copper coins clattering onto the table.
Teacher Zhu looked at them and hummed in contemplation.
Jiang Hong said, "Ask about our fate together."
Lu Xiu: "Don't ask that."
"You two will…"
Lu Xiu's expression suddenly changed, about to stop her, but Teacher Zhu continued, "…be together, united in adversity, for a very long time... Trust each other, always believe, only then can you overcome numerous hardships and brave the raging storms, entrusting your lives to one another... and eventually see the clouds disperse to reveal... the vast expanse of heavenly light."
"Oh," said Jiang Hong, "Thank you! Thank you, Teacher Zhu! Did you hear that? Did you hear?"
Lu Xiu suddenly became distracted, looking at Teacher Zhu in disbelief. Teacher Zhu then flipped over the cardboard sign, saying, "Thank you for your patronage, that will be 19,800, we only accept WeChat and Alipay…"
Jiang Hong exploded: "19,800 for three sentences! Why don't you just go... Teacher Zhu! That's way too much! Why didn't you say this before we came in?!"
Consequently, Jiang Hong joined the previous students in letting out a heart-wrenching scream.
Teacher Zhu explained, "Pandas, you know, raising pandas is very expensive…"
Jiang Hong: "…………"
"Really?" Lu Xiu suddenly said. "Teacher Zhu, you can't deceive me."
At that moment, Lu Xiu's expression turned strange, making Jiang Hong somewhat worried. What was this expression, or rather, this mood? It was like he was grasping at a lifeline, his eyes twinkling with hope.
"If you trust me," Teacher Zhu said, "then it is true. Face your heart, isn't it?"
Lu Xiu took out his phone and scanned the QR code. Jiang Hong protested, "Can't you give a little discount? 19,800! That's too much!"
"Not too much, not too much," Teacher Zhu said with a smile. "Thank you, Teacher Lu."
In the afternoon sun, Lu Xiu remained distracted, unresponsive to Jiang Hong's pushing and teasing. He seemed somewhat restless.
Eventually, Jiang Hong leapt onto Lu Xiu's back, exclaiming, "Hey! What's with you?"
Lu Xiu turned around, wrapping his arms around Jiang Hong's waist, pulling him down into a thirty-degree tilt. The two of them resembled dancers in a tango, Lu Xiu gazing into his eyes. At that moment, Jiang Hong felt a strong urge — Lu Xiu wanted to kiss him.
"It's nothing." But that was all Lu Xiu said before he let go of Jiang Hong.
"Hey, are you...?" Jiang Hong, playful as ever, started asking non-stop questions, but Lu Xiu didn't respond. Jiang Hong persisted, "Is it or isn't it?"
"Is it or isn't it?" Jiang Hong asked again, but in his heart, he wondered, "Do you like me?"
Lu Xiu: "Is what or isn't what?"
Jiang Hong: "Is it or isn't it? Just tell me."
Lu Xiu: "It is."
The two quieted down. After a moment, Lu Xiu wore a slightly puzzled expression.
Jiang Hong laughed and tried to grab his hand, but Lu Xiu pulled him in closer, holding him as they continued walking.
"It's different from what Shuhu said." In the evening, while playing at the archery stall, Lu Xiu, winning prizes, suddenly turned to Jiang Hong and said.
"Oh?" Jiang Hong didn't understand and asked, "What did Shuhu say?"
"Never mind, it's nothing," Lu Xiu said again, winning a pair of sports wristbands for himself and Jiang Hong.
"Is it or isn't it?" Jiang Hong mumbled to himself.
"Yes, it is." Lu Xiu held Jiang Hong close as they aimlessly wandered, growing more intimate by the moment, oblivious to those around them. Several times Jiang Hong nearly kissed Lu Xiu's face, and Lu Xiu never pushed him away.
"You don't even know what I want to ask," Jiang Hong said.
"That's not important," Lu Xiu's mood seemed to suddenly improve as he said, "Will you sleep over at my place tonight?"
"Sure!" Jiang Hong responded with a smile.
Summer vacation was starting tomorrow, and some students were planning to head home tonight.
Then, in a corner of the campus road, they saw a teacher quartet performing at a street stall - Cao Bin, Xuan Hezhi, Gengentuolu Ke Da, and Fenghuang Sigui, playing music!
Cao Bin was on the violin, Ke Da on the saxophone, Xuan Hezhi played the cello… Xuan Hezhi could actually play the cello! Sigui was playing a pure gold flute, shining brightly under the setting sun.
In front of them was a sign: [Fundraising for Bachelors.]
"Hahaha—"
The surrounding students burst into laughter, but Cao Bin and the others remained calm, continuing their performance, as everyone started scanning QR codes to donate.
At dusk, the golden sun set in the west, and the bright lights of the city came on, creating a different atmosphere from the previous night. The sunset's afterglow turned the sky blue-purple, and a gentle breeze, like a layer of dreamy gauze, covered the valley surrounded by mountains.
The first firework exploded, and all the students simultaneously let out a "Wow—" in amazement.
The stall owners all came out to watch, and everyone began to cheer.
"The fireworks are earlier than last year!" someone commented.
As more fireworks went up, Jiang Hong quickly took out his phone to take pictures. Lu Xiu led him to a spot with a good view, where they stood quietly watching the fireworks.
The fireworks were concentrated on either side of the Central Administration Building, as if they were being launched from the central island. From a higher vantage point, students were leaving their original spots and converging towards the Central Administration Building.
"Is there a performance later?" Jiang Hong asked.
Lu Xiu didn't respond, seemingly lost in thought.
"Stay close to me during the evening event," Lu Xiu instructed, "Don’t stray even a step away."
Jiang Hong: "?"
Sensing something was amiss but not probing further, Jiang Hong obediently agreed, "Okay."
"How long will these fireworks last?" Jiang Hong marveled at the sky ablaze with fireworks, soon even the academic buildings started launching them, the earth illuminated by their glow, a waltz echoing between heaven and earth.
"It will be over soon," Lu Xiu said, "Let’s get going."
As they headed towards the Central Administration Building, the fireworks reached their climax. First, nearly a thousand small golden sparks shot up, followed by hundreds of flashers, culminating in a massive display that covered thousands of square meters, accompanied by countless smaller clusters of sparks.
All the students shouted in joy, the symphony reaching its peak. When the thunderous sound ended, the music abruptly stopped, the world fell silent, and all the lights of Hela School went out, leaving only the light of the cell phone screens in the audience's hands.
But with the gentle prelude of another song, the school lights faintly came back on, followed by the stage rising in the distance.
In front of the Administration Building, the stage truly had to be described as "rising," with someone standing on the fourth-floor balcony of the building, not clearly visible, but evidently casting a spell.
The entire Administration Building began to slowly disassemble, its floors reordering and retreating, while the central island rose gently, surrounded by a waterfall-like flow of water, suspended in mid-air, shimmering with light.
"Wow, oh my—!" Jiang Hong exclaimed in shock, "Can it really do that?"
This year's school anniversary concert started with an English song, performed by a senior on stage, singing and dancing to the lively rhythm. It was Jiang Hong's first time hearing this song, and all the lights in the school flickered and dimmed in sync with the music.
Following that, numerous platforms also rose up in the light, flying towards the Administration Building to serve as spectator stands.
The students were all ecstatic, especially the freshmen who were practically dumbfounded, screaming wildly.
"This is so magical, ahhh!" Jiang Hong didn't know what else to say, it was just too dreamlike!
At that moment, Jiang Hong remembered to look for Lu Xiu and turned back to see him smiling, as if he found Jiang Hong's excited gestures amusing.
"Let's go," Lu Xiu said, leading him from one platform to another amidst a sea of lights, as if they were traversing vast galaxies, flying towards the grand stage at the universe's center.
Chapter 71: School Anniversary
"Yo, the master's wife is back!"
"The master's wife even brought food!"
Carrying a takeaway box, Jiang Hong walked through the deafening corridor, receiving a rousing welcome and admiration from the dormitory — starting from six o'clock this evening, the school lifted the alcohol ban, removed magic restrictions, canceled the curfew, and set no lights-out time. Each dormitory building was in a frenzy, playing their own music, some playing cards, skateboarding, dancing, casting spells, setting off fireworks, in a complete state of anarchy.
Of course, the school was also filled with thousands of paper cranes released by Xuan Hezhi, to prevent fire hazards and drunken brawls. The corridors glowed with magical light, and the night sky was filled with fireworks, like bands of light, akin to a dream.
"Stop calling me master's wife!" Jiang Hong leapt onto the bed, giving He Jian a beating. Everyone then set out snacks and drinks, and Zhang Xiting cast a spell, filling the dormitory with dancing fireflies.
"What shall we play tonight?" asked Jiang Hong. "Just drinking and chatting?" He wondered what Lu Xiu was doing at the moment. Should he go find him?
"At a time like this," said He Jian, "of course, it's... Mahjong! Loser's daring adventure, we agreed!"
He Jian set up the table with a flourish, scattering mahjong tiles all over it, showing the awareness of someone from Macau. Jiang Hong, being from Chongqing, hadn't played mahjong in a long time. Although not addicted, he was still happy to see the tiles, promptly putting thoughts of Lu Xiu out of his mind.
Zhang Xiting said, "Can't we arrange some other activity?"
"Let's go dancing!" Lian Jiang rushed in with Xiao Pi, exclaiming in shock, "You guys are actually playing mahjong in the dorm... count me in!"
Amidst his busy schedule, Jiang Hong still found time to think of Lu Xiu and sent him a message: "What are you doing?"
Lu Xiu replied, "Grading papers while having a drink with the teachers, listening to their conversations. What about you?"
Almost simultaneously, Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu sent each other photos. Jiang Hong sent a picture of his mahjong table, while Lu Xiu shared a group photo from the teachers' lounge in Area A, featuring Cao Bin, Zhu Jinling, Huo Ran, Ke Da, and Lu Xiu.
Lu Xiu sat on a single sofa like a boss, with a glass of champagne at hand, legs crossed, and a stack of student papers on his knee.
The school was in the midst of a sleepless night of revelry, while the teachers were chatting and snacking in several lounges.
In the dormitory building, everyone was playing mahjong, drinking, chatting, and occasionally heading to the corridor to dance. Around eleven, someone used magic to create a 'water cube' downstairs, and students began to jump into the water from the upper floors.
Jiang Hong had started drinking early and had lost count of how many rounds of mahjong he lost. He vaguely remembered shouting "I am your master's wife!" in the corridor, and He Jian was not much better, running around in his underwear.
Jiang Hong had no memory of the latter part of the night, forgetting when or if he had fallen asleep...
When the sunlight hit his face the next day, Jiang Hong groggily woke up, reached for his phone, but instead felt a body.
Jiang Hong: "?"
There was someone lying next to him? Jiang Hong quickly turned his head and saw Lu Xiu.
"Eh?" Jiang Hong sat up, trying hard to clear his head. The dormitory was tidy, with the summer sun shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Lu Xiu was sitting on the edge of the bed, leaning against the headboard with a tablet on his lap.
The roommates were all gone, and the dappled shadows of trees were cast on the dormitory floor, with the air conditioner spreading cool air.
"Awake?" asked Lu Xiu.
"When did you come here?" Jiang Hong asked. "Where are the others?"
"Around six," Lu Xiu answered. "Your roommates went to the school anniversary stalls. You were the only one still sleeping. Drank a lot last night?"
"Uh..." Jiang Hong wasn't sure how much he had drunk. He scratched himself and suddenly exclaimed.
He was wearing nothing! Jiang Hong curled up under the air conditioning blanket, his face flushed red.
Lu Xiu explained, "Someone in the next dorm spilled wine on you. I came over in the morning and gave you a bath."
"Oh… okay." Jiang Hong quickly dressed, while Lu Xiu, already neatly clothed, got out of bed to put on his shoes, asking, "Shall we go? Let's take a walk outside."
"Sure… okay," Jiang Hong replied, then remembered to ask, "What time is it?"
"Twelve o'clock," Lu Xiu said.
He had slept till noon!
After washing up and changing into clean clothes, Jiang Hong felt relieved that the high-quality alcohol from Jin didn't give him a hangover headache, just hunger.
Before leaving the dorm, Jiang Hong suddenly remembered something. Did Lu Xiu have plans tonight? He rummaged through his wardrobe and tucked a magical item into his bag – the "Invisibility Pot" he had sneaked from the exorcism committee. If it got too crowded and he couldn't find a good spot, he would wear the pot to become invisible and squat beside the stage to watch.
Lu Xiu: "???"
Jiang Hong: "…"
Lu Xiu: "Why are you bringing that?"
"Don't ask," Jiang Hong urged, pushing and nudging, "Let's go!"
Following Lu Xiu downstairs and reaching the main avenue of the school, Jiang Hong couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
"Wow—!"
The school had transformed once again. Above, countless wireless kites fluttered, vibrant and colorful, adorning the azure sky under the brilliant summer sun. Along the main avenue, rows of charity shops and stalls were set up.
According to Tsangqiong University's rules, first-year students couldn't apply for a stall, but starting next year, Jiang Hong and his dorm mates would be eligible.
"Teacher Lu!" a student called out enthusiastically, "Would you like something to eat? We're fundraising for the Monster Elite Association!"
With over a hundred snack stalls, each supporting a different cause, Lu Xiu bought some milk tea from one of the shops, while Jiang Hong curiously inspected each stall, eventually stopping at one for a poverty-relief organization for monsters. They sold Chengdu-style Bobo Chicken, so he and Lu Xiu ordered a portion.
"Next year I can set up a stall too," said Jiang Hong.
"Hmm," Lu Xiu replied nonchalantly, "Who do you want to share a stall with?"
Jiang Hong initially thought of his roommates, but then, seizing the moment, betrayed them playfully, saying, "Of course, with the handsome and suave Teacher Lu! Your stall would be bustling with customers!"
Lu Xiu suggested, "I could sell coffee."
Jiang Hong picked a skewer from the bowl, suddenly hearing a familiar voice nearby.
"How old are you to be drinking already, huh?" Xuan Hezhi was scolding Xiao Pi, saying, "Always hanging out with a bad crowd..."
Jiang Hong stealthily greeted Xiao Pi, who looked like he hadn't slept well and was being lectured.
"...That Lian Jiang, clearly no good... Oh, Teacher Lu, you're here too?"
Xiao Pi protested, "He's really nice."
Xuan Hezhi warned, "Don't let me catch him doing something wrong! Eat up now!"
Jiang Hong thought to himself: Being the Dean of Students, it's terrifying how he mixes personal grudges with official duties. He then noticed their meal: a serving of six skewers of spicy hot pot and two bowls of white rice, no wonder they always complain about lack of nutrition.
Jiang Hong glanced at Lu Xiu, who signaled him not to pay attention to the father and son, but their voices kept drifting over.
Xuan Hezhi said, "Why can't you spend more time with Jiang Hong?"
Xiao Pi replied, "He's got Lu Xiu now! Look, why would I want to be a third wheel…"
Jiang Hong quickly nudged Lu Xiu, hoping he would intervene to avoid a conflict on such a joyous occasion.
Finally having enough, Lu Xiu said, "Director Xuan Hezhi, shall we have lunch together?"
Lu Xiu's words were a clear hint: don't drag us into your quarrel. Hearing this, Xuan Hezhi responded, "Oh! Are you just starting to eat too?"
"How much is left? Let me see... Oh! Quite a lot!" Xuan Hezhi, pulling his son along with their white rice bowls, joined them at their table.
Jiang Hong: "…"
Lu Xiu: "………………"
"...And don't let me catch you being all chummy with that Lian Jiang again. The teachers are all talking about it to me…"
Xiao Pi was visibly distressed, both from his father's antagonism towards Lian Jiang and the embarrassment of being seen by Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu.
Jiang Hong smiled and gestured that it was okay to continue eating. Lu Xiu then smoothly changed the topic, engaging in a rare chat with Xuan Hezhi.
"Teacher Xuan, we’ll be going ahead, take your time," said Lu Xiu, as he paid the bill with tickets.
Jiang Hong suddenly felt guilty, but seeing Lu Xiu, his anticipation overcame his guilt, experiencing both pain and pleasure.
"Want to eat anything else?" asked Lu Xiu.
"This line is so long; the food must be good," Jiang Hong said with raised eyebrows, "Let's try it."
Lu Xiu: "Let me see... there's no special ticket lane for this, strange."
Although the sun was shining brightly today, it wasn't too hot in the Qinling area, with temperatures never exceeding thirty degrees. As the students in line noticed Lu Xiu, they greeted him one after another.
After a while, Lu Xiu casually took Jiang Hong's hand. Jiang Hong's heart was still racing, but he was gradually getting used to Lu Xiu's affectionate gestures. The queue slowly moved forward — Lu Xiu then put his arm around Jiang Hong's shoulder, and by the time they were near the shop, he was holding Jiang Hong close.
"It seems to be sweet egg pancakes," Jiang Hong said, his mouth watering. Noticing Lu Xiu was still looking at him, he gestured for him to turn and look ahead.
"Hmm," Lu Xiu replied.
Then, the line turned a corner, brushing past the sweet egg pancake shop and entering a small purple tent.
Jiang Hong: "???"
Outside the purple tent, there was a bird painted with a brush, and it was pitch black inside.
"A haunted house?" Jiang Hong's hair stood on end in an instant. "It can't be a haunted house, right? But this tent is so small!"
Lu Xiu reminded him, "This is a fantasy world. You can't judge the interior space by the size of the object."
Suddenly, heart-wrenching, genuine screams echoed from inside.
"This is too exaggerated!"
"Why didn't they say anything before we entered?!"
"Oh my God!"
Jiang Hong began to panic. As a seasoned exorcist who had even faced major demons, he shouldn't be afraid of ghosts, but who knew what was inside!
Lu Xiu: "Shall we leave then?"
"Let's go inside and see..." Jiang Hong braced himself, having queued for so long.
But upon entering, there was only a table inside, and behind it sat a withered old crone, who eerily said, "Teacher Lu... you've arrived."
Jiang Hong was utterly terrified, clinging to Lu Xiu, wondering what on earth this was all about.
"Teacher Zhu," said Lu Xiu, "so this is your stall. We thought it was for selling egg pancakes."
"Hmm," the old crone replied. "Do you have any questions?"
Jiang Hong: "Oh, is this... is this really a teacher?"
Teacher Zhu revealed a mysterious smile, placed her hands on the table, her long nails resembling bird claws, and slowly gathered the copper coins on the table.
"This is Teacher Zhu's fortune-telling booth," Lu Xiu reassured Jiang Hong, saying, "She'll be teaching you divination next semester. Do you have any questions?"
"We're fundraising for the Panda Protection Foundation…" Teacher Zhu then took out a cardboard sign decorated with pandas, and below it was written "Please care for pandas" in dripping ink that resembled blood-stained, horrifying letters.
Jiang Hong found it even more eerie.
"I'll just ask something random," Jiang Hong said. "What do you want to ask? I don't have any questions." He was simultaneously figuring out how to leave without offending the teacher.
Lu Xiu looked at Jiang Hong, then at Teacher Zhu, remaining silent as if deep in thought.
"I…" Lu Xiu seemed a bit hesitant.
Teacher Zhu smiled and said, "Let's shake the coins. Who will do it, or shall we do it together?"
Lu Xiu began to shake the coins, and Jiang Hong also lent a hand, the six copper coins clattering onto the table.
Teacher Zhu looked at them and hummed in contemplation.
Jiang Hong said, "Ask about our fate together."
Lu Xiu: "Don't ask that."
"You two will…"
Lu Xiu's expression suddenly changed, about to stop her, but Teacher Zhu continued, "…be together, united in adversity, for a very long time... Trust each other, always believe, only then can you overcome numerous hardships and brave the raging storms, entrusting your lives to one another... and eventually see the clouds disperse to reveal... the vast expanse of heavenly light."
"Oh," said Jiang Hong, "Thank you! Thank you, Teacher Zhu! Did you hear that? Did you hear?"
Lu Xiu suddenly became distracted, looking at Teacher Zhu in disbelief. Teacher Zhu then flipped over the cardboard sign, saying, "Thank you for your patronage, that will be 19,800, we only accept WeChat and Alipay…"
Jiang Hong exploded: "19,800 for three sentences! Why don't you just go... Teacher Zhu! That's way too much! Why didn't you say this before we came in?!"
Consequently, Jiang Hong joined the previous students in letting out a heart-wrenching scream.
Teacher Zhu explained, "Pandas, you know, raising pandas is very expensive…"
Jiang Hong: "…………"
"Really?" Lu Xiu suddenly said. "Teacher Zhu, you can't deceive me."
At that moment, Lu Xiu's expression turned strange, making Jiang Hong somewhat worried. What was this expression, or rather, this mood? It was like he was grasping at a lifeline, his eyes twinkling with hope.
"If you trust me," Teacher Zhu said, "then it is true. Face your heart, isn't it?"
Lu Xiu took out his phone and scanned the QR code. Jiang Hong protested, "Can't you give a little discount? 19,800! That's too much!"
"Not too much, not too much," Teacher Zhu said with a smile. "Thank you, Teacher Lu."
In the afternoon sun, Lu Xiu remained distracted, unresponsive to Jiang Hong's pushing and teasing. He seemed somewhat restless.
Eventually, Jiang Hong leapt onto Lu Xiu's back, exclaiming, "Hey! What's with you?"
Lu Xiu turned around, wrapping his arms around Jiang Hong's waist, pulling him down into a thirty-degree tilt. The two of them resembled dancers in a tango, Lu Xiu gazing into his eyes. At that moment, Jiang Hong felt a strong urge — Lu Xiu wanted to kiss him.
"It's nothing." But that was all Lu Xiu said before he let go of Jiang Hong.
"Hey, are you...?" Jiang Hong, playful as ever, started asking non-stop questions, but Lu Xiu didn't respond. Jiang Hong persisted, "Is it or isn't it?"
"Is it or isn't it?" Jiang Hong asked again, but in his heart, he wondered, "Do you like me?"
Lu Xiu: "Is what or isn't what?"
Jiang Hong: "Is it or isn't it? Just tell me."
Lu Xiu: "It is."
The two quieted down. After a moment, Lu Xiu wore a slightly puzzled expression.
Jiang Hong laughed and tried to grab his hand, but Lu Xiu pulled him in closer, holding him as they continued walking.
"It's different from what Shuhu said." In the evening, while playing at the archery stall, Lu Xiu, winning prizes, suddenly turned to Jiang Hong and said.
"Oh?" Jiang Hong didn't understand and asked, "What did Shuhu say?"
"Never mind, it's nothing," Lu Xiu said again, winning a pair of sports wristbands for himself and Jiang Hong.
"Is it or isn't it?" Jiang Hong mumbled to himself.
"Yes, it is." Lu Xiu held Jiang Hong close as they aimlessly wandered, growing more intimate by the moment, oblivious to those around them. Several times Jiang Hong nearly kissed Lu Xiu's face, and Lu Xiu never pushed him away.
"You don't even know what I want to ask," Jiang Hong said.
"That's not important," Lu Xiu's mood seemed to suddenly improve as he said, "Will you sleep over at my place tonight?"
"Sure!" Jiang Hong responded with a smile.
Summer vacation was starting tomorrow, and some students were planning to head home tonight.
Then, in a corner of the campus road, they saw a teacher quartet performing at a street stall - Cao Bin, Xuan Hezhi, Gengentuolu Ke Da, and Fenghuang Sigui, playing music!
Cao Bin was on the violin, Ke Da on the saxophone, Xuan Hezhi played the cello… Xuan Hezhi could actually play the cello! Sigui was playing a pure gold flute, shining brightly under the setting sun.
In front of them was a sign: [Fundraising for Bachelors.]
"Hahaha—"
The surrounding students burst into laughter, but Cao Bin and the others remained calm, continuing their performance, as everyone started scanning QR codes to donate.
At dusk, the golden sun set in the west, and the bright lights of the city came on, creating a different atmosphere from the previous night. The sunset's afterglow turned the sky blue-purple, and a gentle breeze, like a layer of dreamy gauze, covered the valley surrounded by mountains.
The first firework exploded, and all the students simultaneously let out a "Wow—" in amazement.
The stall owners all came out to watch, and everyone began to cheer.
"The fireworks are earlier than last year!" someone commented.
As more fireworks went up, Jiang Hong quickly took out his phone to take pictures. Lu Xiu led him to a spot with a good view, where they stood quietly watching the fireworks.
The fireworks were concentrated on either side of the Central Administration Building, as if they were being launched from the central island. From a higher vantage point, students were leaving their original spots and converging towards the Central Administration Building.
"Is there a performance later?" Jiang Hong asked.
Lu Xiu didn't respond, seemingly lost in thought.
"Stay close to me during the evening event," Lu Xiu instructed, "Don’t stray even a step away."
Jiang Hong: "?"
Sensing something was amiss but not probing further, Jiang Hong obediently agreed, "Okay."
"How long will these fireworks last?" Jiang Hong marveled at the sky ablaze with fireworks, soon even the academic buildings started launching them, the earth illuminated by their glow, a waltz echoing between heaven and earth.
"It will be over soon," Lu Xiu said, "Let’s get going."
As they headed towards the Central Administration Building, the fireworks reached their climax. First, nearly a thousand small golden sparks shot up, followed by hundreds of flashers, culminating in a massive display that covered thousands of square meters, accompanied by countless smaller clusters of sparks.
All the students shouted in joy, the symphony reaching its peak. When the thunderous sound ended, the music abruptly stopped, the world fell silent, and all the lights of Hela School went out, leaving only the light of the cell phone screens in the audience's hands.
But with the gentle prelude of another song, the school lights faintly came back on, followed by the stage rising in the distance.
In front of the Administration Building, the stage truly had to be described as "rising," with someone standing on the fourth-floor balcony of the building, not clearly visible, but evidently casting a spell.
The entire Administration Building began to slowly disassemble, its floors reordering and retreating, while the central island rose gently, surrounded by a waterfall-like flow of water, suspended in mid-air, shimmering with light.
"Wow, oh my—!" Jiang Hong exclaimed in shock, "Can it really do that?"
This year's school anniversary concert started with an English song, performed by a senior on stage, singing and dancing to the lively rhythm. It was Jiang Hong's first time hearing this song, and all the lights in the school flickered and dimmed in sync with the music.
Following that, numerous platforms also rose up in the light, flying towards the Administration Building to serve as spectator stands.
The students were all ecstatic, especially the freshmen who were practically dumbfounded, screaming wildly.
"This is so magical, ahhh!" Jiang Hong didn't know what else to say, it was just too dreamlike!
At that moment, Jiang Hong remembered to look for Lu Xiu and turned back to see him smiling, as if he found Jiang Hong's excited gestures amusing.
"Let's go," Lu Xiu said, leading him from one platform to another amidst a sea of lights, as if they were traversing vast galaxies, flying towards the grand stage at the universe's center.
