Chapter 22: About to Interview—Feeling Nervous?

Bai Qingxia might have panicked a little; her small hands nearly distorted Lu Yuanqiu’s face. Yet she hadn’t realized that the boy’s thoughts were nowhere near the moon. Damn it, even if the moon really did have the goddess living there, he couldn’t care less right now.

Lu Yuanqiu’s body trembled as he scooted backward, as if he were lying on a springy, fragrant sponge—his whole being felt weightless. “Are you feeling better?” she asked.

“I’m so scared…” he replied.

“Still scared?!” Bai Qingxia looked around anxiously, intending to head toward the teaching building to borrow a flashlight. Just as she was about to get up, Lu Yuanqiu suddenly grabbed her arm.

“Bai Qingxia!”

“I’m here!” the girl quickly turned back. Seeing her worried face, Lu Yuanqiu spoke in a grievance, “Are you still mad at me?”

Bai Qingxia shook her head. “No, I’m not mad at you, I… I was only angry for one second.”

“Ah? Is that so?” In Bai Qingxia’s astonished gaze, Lu Yuanqiu absentmindedly picked his nose, then sat up calmly and said, “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Seeing the girl staring dazedly at him without responding, Lu Yuanqiu, as if to prove he was truly all right, grinned and at the same time performed a cheeky Mongolian shoulder shake. “Look, I really am fine—lively as ever.”

Bai Qingxia’s expression returned to its usual coolness; she angrily raised both hands and pushed against his chest. “Hey, you!” Lu Yuanqiu widened his eyes, and before he could fall back, grabbed her arm in a panic.

Bai Qingxia cried out in surprise, pulled forward by the force of the boy’s broad body as he toppled backward. She landed, terrified, on Lu Yuanqiu’s chest, her beautiful eyes stunned as she met his gaze at close range.

In their eyes, each saw the reflection of the other.

At that moment, the lights at all four corners of the field flashed on. Both Lu Yuanqiu and Bai Qingxia turned their heads.

The power was back!

The red rubber track and the green lawn were suddenly illuminated, every detail exposed beneath the harsh lights. Yet what shocked them most was that they weren’t alone on the vast playground.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of boys and girls were frozen where they stood—some holding hands, some walking side by side, some facing each other. But few were in such a “wild” position as Lu Yuanqiu and Bai Qingxia…

Not far away, six stern-looking middle-aged men strode onto the track, switching off their flashlights in unison.

They were the head and deputy heads of the three grades!

The senior-year head, Ge Ritian, shouted loudly, “Stand still! Behave yourselves! Report your name and class one by one!”

Oh hell!

No way anyone would listen to him!

Immediately, chaos erupted among the students; under the glaring lights, everyone scattered in panic.

Lu Yuanqiu quickly wrapped an arm around Bai Qingxia’s slender waist, pushed himself up with the other hand, and gently set her on the ground as if she were a toy. Then, grabbing her arm, he rushed headlong into the fleeing crowd.

If a good student like Bai Qingxia got caught, it would be a real nuisance—the least punishment would be a call to her parents. Even though they were innocent, Lu Yuanqiu knew that if he tried to explain his fear of the dark to Ge Ritian, the old man would just laugh in his face and never believe him.

“Still daring to run? Chase them!” Ge Ritian shrieked, raising his right hand to direct the other five grade heads. He himself hobbled along behind, slow and limping, occasionally pressing a hand to his backside.

“Oh, my hemorrhoids…”

If not for his hemorrhoids, he would have caught at least two couples tonight, he thought bitterly.

Among the fleeing students, Bai Qingxia gasped for breath, her long legs striding wide. Her eyes remained fixed on Lu Yuanqiu’s broad back, her mind unable to shake off the scene from moments ago.

Though it had lasted only a few seconds, her delicate earlobes still burned bright red.

Lu Yuanqiu glanced back just then. Bai Qingxia looked up, meeting his gaze. He flashed her a sunny smile before facing forward and continuing his flight.

Blushing, Bai Qingxia lowered her head and ran behind him.

At last, they made it safely to the corridor of Senior Class 28.

Lu Yuanqiu had noticed several couples were caught by the teachers, which delighted him—there was something gleeful about surviving disaster while others were not so lucky.

Heh, their parents were definitely getting called in, maybe even publicly reprimanded. Wonderful.

As an underachiever, Lu Yuanqiu relished hearing about other students being criticized.

Just as they were heading toward their classroom, Bai Qingxia suddenly stopped. “Lu Yuanqiu,” she called.

He turned. “What is it?”

Bai Qingxia, looking uneasy, said, “I’ll go in first. You… you wait three minutes before coming in.”

Lu Yuanqiu nodded. “Thoughtful as always. Go ahead.”

Bai Qingxia quickly walked past him with her head down, while Lu Yuanqiu ducked into the restroom before finally returning to class.

Most of the students had come back by now.

The English teacher, Su Miaomiao, stood at the podium with a stormy expression; a faint blush lingered on her delicate face. Rarely angry, she slammed the desk, “What on earth was that?! A blackout and suddenly you all can’t control yourselves?!”

The class fell silent, a sharp contrast to their previous wild antics.

Everyone looked a bit guilty.

The homeroom teacher, Liu Wei, stood at the classroom door, her beastly gaze sweeping the crowd.

Su Miaomiao scanned the class, trying to find the culprit behind the chaos, but every student’s expression seemed unnatural, making it difficult to judge.

Suddenly, she noticed Zhong Jincheng in the corner.

The class monitor sat with a serious air, staring intently at his homework, deep in thought, his face radiating righteousness—so righteous it was almost suspicious.

Su Miaomiao looked away; Zhong Jincheng seemed too upright to be the culprit.

Unable to solve the mystery, she gave up and turned to Liu Wei.

Liu Wei stepped up and slammed the desk hard.

A top student in the front row coughed, spitting out a mouthful of chalk dust.

“So capable, huh?! Gao Qiang, call your parents in tomorrow. I heard you were the loudest, right?” Liu Wei adjusted her thick glasses, her voice low and menacing.

Gao Qiang stood up in utter despair.

Zheng Yifeng, for once, wasn’t napping at his desk; he bit his finger, his handsome face sharp and observant, scanning the five meters around him like Sherlock Holmes.

He’d just beaten Zhong Jincheng for information, but the class monitor stubbornly refused to confess.

Apparently, the culprit who kissed him was someone else.

At that moment, Zheng Yifeng glanced at his desk mate, Chen Fei, and noticed the star-struck girl’s cheeks were as red as a monkey’s behind.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“I have a fever.”

“Drink more hot water.”

“Thanks.”

Their chat finished, Zheng Yifeng resumed his scrutiny of the surroundings.

He suspected Liu Buneng had kissed him.

Liu Wei continued scolding several more students, while Lu Yuanqiu and Bai Qingxia escaped unscathed. Both felt a secret, but distinctly different, sense of relief.

Because of the blackout, evening study ended early that night.

After packing her bag, Bai Qingxia followed Lu Yuanqiu to the bike shed.

Sensing her nervousness, Lu Yuanqiu asked, “Nervous about the interview?”

Bai Qingxia looked at him and nodded immediately.

Lu Yuanqiu chuckled, “What’s there to be nervous about? Later, just imagine my dad’s head is a giant carrot. No matter what he says, just smile and nod along.”

Bai Qingxia lowered her head, the corners of her lips twitching with amusement.

Lu Yuanqiu liked seeing her smile.

She was stunning when she smiled.

Too bad she always wore a cold expression.

Pushing the bike outside, he noticed Bai Qingxia walking silently with her backpack, and asked in surprise, “You’re walking when there’s a bike? Not getting on?”

He patted the back seat of his bicycle.

Seeing the crowded school gate, Bai Qingxia stood motionless, her small hands nervously twisting her uniform trousers.

She stubbornl