Volume 2 Chapter 59
by Need_More_SleepVolume 2 + Chapter 59: The Bonfire Party
After the two returned from the safari park and finished dinner, night had already fallen.
Ding!
At that moment, Ouyang Qianxue pressed the doorbell of Bai Yuxuan’s room.
“What do you want now?” After opening the door, Bai Yuxuan looked at him with clear impatience.
“I’m here to inform you about tonight’s bonfire party.”
At this moment, Ouyang Qianxue was dressed in athletic wear, his long golden hair tied into a single ponytail behind him, giving him the lively, energetic aura of a sporty girl.
“I’m not interested!” Bai Yuxuan replied, moving to close the door.
“Wait!” Qianxue quickly wedged his foot in the doorway.
“This is a school-organized activity. Don’t forget, since you agreed to join the school trip, you have to follow the school’s arrangements!”
And so, after much persuasion, and some forceful pulling, Bai Yuxuan was reluctantly dragged to the bonfire party.
“Qianxue!”
At that moment, Ning Caiwei spotted him from afar and waved enthusiastically. Beside her, Wang Qian stood with a slightly displeased expression, as though the two had just finished arguing.
Since the bonfire party was meant to foster friendship among students, everyone was allowed to participate regardless of academic performance.
“You guys are already here,” Ouyang Qianxue said as he walked quickly over to them.
“You actually came too?” Ning Caiwei shot Bai Yuxuan an annoyed glance.
“If it weren’t required by the school, do you think I’d willingly mingle with trash like you?” Bai Yuxuan said expressionlessly.
“You…!” Ning Caiwei glared furiously at her.
“Alright, alright, we’re here for a field trip, not a war. No need to be so hostile,” Ouyang Qianxue hurriedly stepped between them to mediate.
“Hmph!” Ning Caiwei snorted and shot Bai Yuxuan with another sharp glare.
“According to the teachers’ headcount, all students are present. The bonfire party will now begin!”
A teacher standing beside the central bonfire announced.
“Since it’s a bonfire party, singing and dancing are a must. Is there any student willing to volunteer and start us off?”
“I will!” Ning Caiwei raised her hand.
“I’ll perform ‘Sun and Sunflower’ by Huatuan!”
The surrounding students immediately erupted in cheers.
“She really loves showing off, doesn’t she? Has she forgotten how badly she lost to you last time?” Wang Qian said disdainfully as she stepped beside Qianxue.
“That’s not it,” Qianxue replied with a smile.
“If you look closely, you’ll see her dancing and singing have improved a lot compared to when she competed with me before.”
“The pitch is so accurate!”
“Yeah, it’s almost identical to the original!”
“She’s amazing!”
“As expected of a current idol!”
The students gathered around Ning Caiwei exclaimed excitedly as she performed.
(What do you think, Qianxue? Can you see it?)
As she sang and danced, Ning Caiwei looked toward him.
(Ever since I met you, you’ve become my admiration, my goal, my reason for change, my motivation… and these feelings I have now, have they reached your heart, even just a little, through this performance?)
With those thoughts in mind, Ning Caiwei poured even more effort into her performance, while Ouyang Qianxue watched her with a warm, gratified smile.
“Thank you, everyone!”
After finishing, Ning Caiwei bowed deeply to the crowd, which responded with enthusiastic applause.
“Actually, my performance was just to set the stage. Because at Sakura Academy, there’s someone whose abilities far surpass mine. So next, let’s all call out her name together and invite her to sing for us!”
“She wouldn’t…!” Qianxue had already guessed, though he still clung to a faint hope.
“Please welcome my best friend, Ouyang Qianxue!”
“Ouyang Qianxue! One song!” the surrounding students began chanting.
“I knew it…” Qianxue covered his face.
“Everyone’s calling you, aren’t you going up?” Wang Qian whispered in his ear as she pushed him toward the center.
“Since everyone insists, I’ll humbly perform,” Qianxue said as he took the microphone from Ning Caiwei and quietly informed the accompanist of his chosen song.
“Then let’s begin!”
As he spoke, the intro music started.
“It’s ‘Drunken Concubine’!”
The surrounding students gasped in surprise.
“Since it’s a bonfire party, let’s all sing together. The male parts will be for everyone, and the female parts, Caiwei and I will handle them. How about that?”
“Sounds good!” Everyone responded in unison.
“Since it’s Qianxue’s invitation, of course I won’t refuse,” Ning Caiwei said as she stepped beside him.
And so, everyone began singing together.
Meanwhile, Bai Yuxuan stood far away, leaning against a tree. Reflected in her eyes were the crowd gathered around the fire, and at the center of it all, Ouyang Qianxue.
“When will I ever be like that…”
Unconsciously, Bai Yuxuan reached out a hand toward Qianxue, but after only a brief moment, she lowered it again.
“Hmph… Scenes like this are nothing more than illusions, like those seen by the little match girl. Beautiful, yet forever out of reach.”
With that, she turned and walked back toward the lodging.
At that moment, Ouyang Qianxue glanced toward where Bai Yuxuan had been standing, only to find her gone.
After finishing the first segment of the song…
“Sorry!”
Qianxue suddenly bowed to everyone.
“I’m not feeling well tonight… I think I’ll head back and rest.”
“I see, then go back and take care of yourself,” the supervising teacher said with concern.
“Qianxue, are you alright? Should I walk you back?” Ning Caiwei asked worriedly.
“No need, that would be too much trouble.”
“What do you mean trouble? You’re not feeling well, what if something happens on the way back?”
Ning Caiwei stubbornly blocked his path, refusing to let him leave. Qianxue grew increasingly anxious, he didn’t want anyone to know about his intention to meet Bai Yuxuan.
So he signaled to Wang Qian with his eyes. She immediately understood and stepped closer, whispering.
“What is it?”
“I… I need to use the bathroom, but around here…”
“Got it. Go ahead, I’ll handle things here.”
Wang Qian then leaned in and whispered something into Ning Caiwei’s ear.
“Qianxue’s ‘that time’ has come. It’s not serious, just something embarrassing to say out loud, so let her go.”
“Oh… I see…” Ning Caiwei’s face flushed red, and she quickly stepped aside. “Sorry, Qianxue, go ahead and head back. Remember to drink plenty of hot water!”
“Thanks.”
Qianxue walked off quickly. Once he was out of their sight, he broke into a run.
“Damn it, where did Bai Yuxuan go?”
After returning to the clubhouse and not finding her, he turned back toward the mountain path to search. By now, it was fully dark, and the trail was nearly pitch black, he could only rely on moonlight and his phone’s flashlight to move forward.
“What’s that?”
Suddenly, Qianxue heard the sound of flowing water. Pushing through a patch of forest, he found Bai Yuxuan sitting by a lakeside, hugging her knees.
Moonlight fell gently across her face. Her jet-black hair and pale complexion seemed to dim everything around her, like the world itself had faded into the background.
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