Part 3
As soon as Bian Rui finished speaking, Cui Yeyi interrupted, “If it’s not accurate, why bother guessing? We might as well talk about where we’re going for summer vacation!”
Bai Sinian glared at Cui Yeyi. “Let him finish.”
Shen Bei looked confused. “Why isn’t it accurate? And why do we still have to estimate then?”
Unfazed by the interruption, Bian Rui continued, “For example, the essay scores for Chinese and English can’t be estimated precisely. And even if you estimate the score, you don’t know your ranking in the whole province. For instance, last year, a score of 400 in the Physics track equaled a ranking of 210,000, but the year before that, the same ranking required only 272 points.”
“Filling out applications is a battle of rankings. However, the purpose of us estimating scores is to see if we can all study in Zhoucheng.”
Cui Yeyi, who had been looking slouchy and indifferent, suddenly focused his gaze. He looked at Bian Rui. “What do you mean? You want us to be together… to continue the band?”
This guy had always been pessimistic about the band, so his surprised reaction was normal.
Bai Sinian let out a silly laugh. “Yes!”
“Bian Rui has already turned against his family and run away from home just to stay with everyone!” Bai Sinian deliberately exaggerated.
Cui Yeyi and Fan Hongyi didn’t fall for it. They glanced at Bian Rui with almost zero expression, then turned their attention back to Bai Sinian to see what he would say next.
Unexpectedly, Shen Bei believed it completely, looking shocked. “Ah, Bian Rui, did you really fall out with your family for us?”
Bian Rui: …
Well, close enough! Just let him spin the story!
Bian Rui gave a muffled “Mhm.”
Bai Sinian continued, “Bian Rui wants to further his studies in music and wants to continue expanding ‘Dazzling Star’. After all, this is the foundation a man built at seventeen. Could you guys bear to destroy the most beautiful memories of your youth?”
Bian Rui raised an eyebrow. He didn’t expect Bai Sinian to be such a smooth talker.
Shen Bei was moved to tears. “Even if I don’t get into university, I won’t go abroad to study! I’ll stay in Zhoucheng even if I have to work part-time!”
Bai Sinian almost burst out laughing. Holding back his breath, he patted Shen Bei on the shoulder. “It won’t come to that. Your brother wouldn’t let you work manual labor.”
“So, you want to stay in ‘Dazzling Star’ too?” Bai Sinian looked seriously into Shen Bei’s eyes.
“Yes!”
Shen Bei nodded firmly!
“Good!” Bai Sinian shifted his gaze to the other two. “What about you guys?”
Cui Yeyi downed his Jasmine White Coffee in one gulp, slammed the cup onto the ceramic coaster with a clang, and stated resolutely, “Staying in Zhoucheng is easy! The key is, what major do I study?”
Fan Hongyi said weakly, “My goal is Zhoucheng University’s Language and Literature major, but I don’t know if I can get in.”
Bian Rui turned his laptop around to face Cui Yeyi and the others. “Look at the map of Zhoucheng. This area is University City. Zhoucheng Music Academy is here. Zhoucheng University is a five-minute drive away, and five minutes south of that is the Normal College.”
After speaking, he glanced at Shen Bei, remembering that Shen Bei had mentioned planning to study teaching.
Cui Yeyi’s eyes lit up. “Great, that’s really close!”
“Sinian, what about you?” Shen Bei asked.
Right then and there, Bai Sinian made a major life decision. “I plan to study Directing at Zhoucheng Music Academy!”
A flash of surprise crossed Bian Rui’s eyes. This way, they could continue to be classmates!
Cui Yeyi: “I’ll study at Zhoucheng Music Academy too.”
“Estimate scores first.”
And so, Bian Rui led everyone through calculating their scores question by question. Bai Sinian acted like a little assistant; after calculating his own, he helped check the other three.
The sunlight outside the window gradually became glaring. Before they knew it, it was noon. It took them nearly two hours to roughly calculate their total scores.
But they couldn’t fully trust these scores; it was normal for there to be some fluctuation.
Bian Rui and Bai Sinian’s scores were very high. Even if they dropped by 30 points, getting into Zhoucheng Music Academy would be more than easy.
Fan Hongyi remained basically stable. Cui Yeyi’s score was enough for Zhoucheng Music Academy, but he might get adjusted to a different major. He didn’t care, though; after all, he was just going to end up in his dad’s company eventually.
Only Shen Bei really couldn’t guarantee if he could get into a suitable major.
“It’s okay. As long as we’re in Zhoucheng, anything is possible,” Bai Sinian comforted him.
“Alright, then it’s a pact! See you in Zhoucheng!” Cui Yeyi stood up and extended the back of his hand.
Bai Sinian immediately understood. He slapped his palm onto the back of Cui Yeyi’s hand.
Then, Bian Rui, Fan Hongyi, and Shen Bei layered their hands on top.
“Dazzling Star, see you in Zhoucheng!”
The vow in this moment made waves surge in the hearts of the five youths. Bai Sinian was so moved his eyes welled up with tears.
Just as everyone was about to pull their hands back and sit down…
Bai Sinian: “Wait, wait!”
He quickly opened his phone camera, snap snap snap, and then said, “Do… do it again! I’ll record a video!”
The corner of Bian Rui’s mouth hooked up slightly. “Do it again.”
So, everyone reenacted the scene, and Bai Sinian, grinning with his teeth showing, recorded the whole thing.
With this agreement, Bai Sinian felt like he could see infinite hope and possibilities for the future.
Super excited for college!
In the days waiting for the scores to come out, Bai Sinian organized everyone to return to the practice room and started rehearsals.
Not only that, but Bai Sinian also found a great place to show off their skills.
At the hot spring area in the City Center Plaza, there were always people busking at night. Bai Sinian wanted to find a time for Dazzling Star to perform there too.
While “Dazzling Star” practiced singing and drumming in the studio—sometimes arguing loudly enough to bring the roof down—Bai Sinian had already contacted the person in charge of the Center Plaza and booked a spot for a weekend evening.
When he shared this good news with them, Shen Bei was the first to want to back out.
“Are there a lot of people? Are the people there nice? Will they boo us?”
Cui Yeyi, however, was starry-eyed. “Boo us? Is there a microphone? I can hold the stage and roast them to death!”
Bian Rui: …
Bian Rui put down his microphone. “Sure. We’ve even performed on the school’s big stage. What’s there to be afraid of?”
Bai Sinian: “Exactly! Shen Bei, you can wear a hat and a mask, then you won’t have social anxiety!”
“I’ll wear one too,” Fan Hongyi said.
Cui Yeyi: “Makes it easier for you to act cool?”
Fan Hongyi: “You caught me.”
Shen Bei said timidly, “So wearing a hat and mask is for acting…”
“No!” Bai Sinian denied it immediately, terrified that Shen Bei would refuse to wear the hat and mask and refuse to perform.
“You two! Go move the equipment downstairs! We need to prepare in advance!” Bai Sinian glared at the two culprits scaring the kid.
Cui Yeyi and Fan Hongyi moved away from him, whispering, “Do you feel like he’s becoming more and more like our mom?”
“Exactly. Too accurate. He manages everything.”
Bai Sinian grit his back teeth. “I heard that…”
Cui Yeyi and Fan Hongyi took off running, getting far away from Bai Sinian.
Shen Bei burst out laughing. “I… I think so too.”
Bai Sinian: “?”
“Shen Bei, you!”
Bian Rui started laughing along with them. “Male mom.”
From then on, this term was deeply etched into Shen Bei’s mind.
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