Chapter 4

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Volume 2 + Chapter 4: The Approaching Showdown

“As long as I can defeat you, the members of the School Belle Committee will naturally understand who is more suited to be the school belle.”

Ning Caiwei displayed a look of absolute confidence.

“I see, so you insist on settling this with me. If it were before, I wouldn’t care about the title of school belle. But now, this position holds great meaning for me, so I will give it my all!”

At this moment, Ouyang Qianxue was also extremely resolute.

“That’s more like it—this will be fun. I’ll show you with my strength the difference between a current idol and an ordinary high school student like you!”

“Then bring it on. How do you want to compete?”

“I heard that as the school belle of Sakura Academy, you excel in many areas, especially in talent. So let’s compete in talent. The first round is singing. The second round is dancing. The third round is popularity among the students. The time will be tomorrow after school. How about it?”

“Alright, I accept your challenge. But what about the venue, audience, and judges?”

“I can help you settle all that!” A voice interrupted the two of them.

Bai Yuxuan walked in from outside the classroom.

“The venue will be the school gymnasium. As the student council president, I can help you apply for it. As for the judges, we can ask the relevant club advisors. As for the audience…” Bai Yuxuan glanced at the surrounding students.

“We’ll definitely go! After all, it’s a showdown between the school belle and an idol!”

“Yeah, yeah!” The surrounding students chimed in one after another.

“Anyone who wants to go can go. And help spread the word too. For a showdown like this, the more hype, the better.”

“What are you doing here?” Ouyang Qianxue looked at Bai Yuxuan with clear displeasure.

“Of course, because this is interesting,” Bai Yuxuan said with a mischievous smile.

“But you’re really naive. She asked you to stake your position as school belle, yet you didn’t ask her to wager anything. She’s using her identity as an idol, with experience in the entertainment industry, to take advantage of a student like you with no social experience,” Bai Yuxuan sighed and held her forehead.

“I wasn’t taking advantage of her just because I’m an idol!” Ning Caiwei quickly refuted.

“Then you should bet something too. She’s putting up the title of school belle, and you’re betting nothing? Trying to get something for nothing?”

“Fine. As long as she wins, she can ask me for anything—anything I’m capable of doing.”

“Excellent. Then it’s settled!” Bai Yuxuan said with a smile.

That evening, a post titled “Showdown Between School Belle and Popular Idol” was reposted all over Sakura Academy’s campus forum. The number of views quickly shot up to 999+, making it the most popular thread since Ouyang Qianxue became the school belle. 

Many students left comments under the post.

“Hey, is this for real?”

“Of course. I’m from Class 4. Ouyang Qianxue and Ning Caiwei made the challenge right at our classroom door. Even Bai Yuxuan was there.”

“Do you think this is a love triangle over Bai Yuxuan?” some gossipy students replied.

“Very possible. I mean, Bai Yuxuan is so handsome and talented.”

“Stop speculating. I heard the competition is to decide the school belle.”

“So that’s what it’s about. Who are you betting on for tomorrow’s showdown?”

“Obviously Qianxue-sama. I’ve never seen someone so perfect in both looks and talent in real life.”

“But her opponent is strong too. She is a current popular idol, after all.”

“That’s why this contest is worth watching. I’m skipping club activities tomorrow—gotta watch this!”

“Me too!”

“Same here!” Students continued replying one after another.

——————

Meanwhile, in Ouyang Qianxue’s dorm—

Wang Qian had just finished showering and changed clothes. As soon as she opened the bathroom door, she was startled by the scene before her. Ouyang Qianxue had his head resting on his leg and was tightly hugging his foot with both hands.

“What are you doing?”

“Since tomorrow’s competition involves dancing, I’m doing flexibility exercises in advance. I haven’t practiced in a while.”

“I see. But speaking of which, your flexibility is really impressive. I might not even be as flexible as you. Are you really a boy?”

“Of course I am. I’m a bona fide man.”

“Coming from you, that just doesn’t sound convincing at all.”

“Ugh…”

“Haha, just kidding. Actually, the way you shoulder your whole family’s burden all by yourself is pretty manly. But…”

“But what?”

“People shouldn’t live only for others. Sometimes, they should live for themselves too. I’m going to bed now—don’t stay up practicing too late.” With that, Wang Qian lay down on her bed.

“Live for myself…” Ouyang Qianxue murmured. Come to think of it, he had never really thought about his own future. Once his mother recovered and he finished the mission assigned by Wang Qian’s aunt—what then? He had no idea.

“But for now, the only thing I can be certain of is that I must take responsibility for what I need to do right now!” So Ouyang Qianxue continued stretching his flexibility.

The next day after school, Sakura High witnessed a rare sight, almost no students were heading home or back to their dorms on the main road, and the club classrooms were nearly empty. That was because everyone had packed into Sakura Academy’s gymnasium.

Everyone wanted to see who would come out on top: the school belle or the popular idol.

“Welcome, everyone, to this showdown between the school belle and the idol.” Bai Yuxuan walked to the gymnasium’s podium with a microphone.

“Look! It’s Bai Yuxuan!”

“Bai Yuxuan’s handsomeness never gets old.” His appearance set off screams from the girls in the crowd, while many boys looked on with envy.

“Before the competition begins, let me introduce today’s judges.” All eyes turned to the judges’ table.

These judges were the faculty advisors of the street dance club, the dance club, and the music club. Due to Sakura’s high standards for hiring teachers, most of them had graduated from prestigious art schools, so their judging criteria were strict.

“And today, we have a special guest judge!”

Just as Bai Yuxuan finished speaking, a stylishly dressed woman walked in from the gym’s entrance.

“Hey! That’s…”

“No way! They actually invited her?!” The students stared in shock.

“That’s right—she’s the hottest singer in the music scene right now, Bai Yuting!” As Bai Yuxuan spoke, the students erupted in excitement. Many were fans of hers, and to be able to see their idol up close, they screamed and cheered, instinctively making way for her to the judges’ table.

After Bai Yuting sat down, she gave Bai Yuxuan a gentle smile.

“You really know how to order your big sister around, huh? You know I canceled an exclusive interview just to support you today. You owe me a huge favor now.”

As it turns out, Bai Yuting is Bai Yuxuan’s cousin.

“What?! They’re actually siblings?!” The students were shocked by their conversation.

“No problem. When I rise again in the Bai family, I’ll give you whatever you want.”

[Author’s Note: After all, I promised to update twice today. Thank you for your support during this period.]