Part 2
Cui Yeyi’s drum kit was the hardest to move. The two of them went over to help. Cui Yeyi wiped the sweat from his forehead, put his hands on his hips, and asked Bai Sinian, “We can’t just sign blank paper for them every time, can we?”
Fan Hongyi chimed in, “It’s not like we perform every time.”
Bai Sinian chuckled. “True. Don’t worry, you guys just focus on improving your skills. I’ll take care of these things myself.”
Shen Bei said faintly, “Sinian-ge, I heard a girl say I was ugly…”
“Pfft…” Everyone burst into laughter.
Bai Sinian patted his shoulder. “Next time, you can pretend to drink water and casually pull down your mask to let your supreme beauty blind her eyes.”
“No, no, no,” Cui Yeyi came over and hooked his arm around Shen Bei’s neck. “Paint your face black. If she says you’re ugly, just be ugly for her!”
“Are we trying to make ‘Dazzling Star’ famous or not?!”
“Stop messing around, hurry up and move this!”
Bantering like this, the group finished moving all the equipment.
By the time everything was returned to the music classroom, it was nearly ten o’clock.
Bian Rui returned to his own home. Although he had been sleeping at home these past few days, he rarely spoke to his mother. Mother and son were still in a cold war.
Bai Sinian was exhausted. He went home and collapsed.
During this period, he really had worked himself to the bone.
No one knew how much energy he had expended to find this venue.
From searching online at the start to locating the mall’s property manager after deciding on the spot, squatting there for several days, and shamelessly begging for the person in charge’s phone number. Then came booking the time slot, renting the costumes, and renting the van.
He had fully experienced the humility of a corporate slave working in sales, but he hadn’t told anyone about these hardships.
Recalling “Dazzling Star” standing in front of so many people tonight and their wonderful performance, he felt everything was worth it!
At two in the morning, Bai Sinian received a WeChat message from Bian Rui on his phone.
[Thanks.]
[My mom agreed to let me study vocals.]
Unfortunately, Bai Sinian was sleeping like a log and didn’t see the message.
Bai Sinian was simply too tired. He slept until eleven o’clock the next day. Glaring sunlight shone through the gaps in the curtains. Bai Sinian kicked his legs, stretched, and finally woke up.
The first thing he did was fish his phone out from under the pillow.
Squinting his eyes as he gradually adjusted to the light, he suddenly let out a scream. “Ah!”
What does “My mom agreed” mean?!
“Bian Rui!! Really?! I… uh, come out for lunch!”
A voice message, raspy but shouting at the top of his lungs, was sent over.
Bian Rui smiled faintly and replied with a “Okay.”
It turned out that last night, Zhou Yingzi had personally seen Bian Rui’s live performance and was deeply touched. Also, seeing the moment Bai Sinian rushed down to protect them gave Zhou Yingzi confidence.
Bai Sinian was just an eighteen-year-old kid, yet he had a strong sensitivity to fan movements and protected the group immediately.
This was extremely rare.
Many artists’ careers could be summed up as “made by the manager, destroyed by the manager.” Bai Sinian’s role was very, very important.
She agreed to let Bian Rui study vocals, but she also made Bian Rui promise her one thing: he must keep Bai Sinian by his side.
Hearing this condition, Bai Sinian, who was eating noodles with Bian Rui in a noodle shop, almost choked to death.
“What?! Auntie wants me to stay by your side?!” Bai Sinian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Bian Rui found it funny too. “Yeah. My mom trusts you more than she trusts me.”
Bai Sinian drank a mouthful of water. “Auntie is dead set on making me a manager. I get it.”
Bian Rui: “Don’t you want to?”
Bai Sinian: “I do. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have wanted to apply to the same school as you!”
Bian Rui’s eyes darkened slightly. After a long while, he asked, “Is it only to be a manager?”
Bai Sinian was confused. Otherwise what? Rather than just being a manager, it was more about wanting to stay close to “Dazzling Star” forever. Seeing Bai Sinian’s questioning expression, Bian Rui coughed lightly. “Nothing. Eat up.”
After finishing their noodles, the two walked out of the restaurant. The windows of the shops lining the afternoon city streets were bright and clean. Sunlight spilled diagonally onto the street, making the buildings sparkle and the glass curtain walls reflect dazzling light.
Time flew by in the blink of an eye, and the window for filling out college applications opened.
The group agreed to fill out their applications based on their previously estimated scores.
After the applications were submitted, the College Entrance Exam scores were soon released across various regions, and admissions work proceeded in full swing.
Bai Sinian and Bian Rui were successfully admitted to Zhoucheng Music Academy in the first batch.
Cui Yeyi and Fan Hongyi also got into their ideal schools and majors. In the end, only Shen Bei remained without news for a long time.
Bai Sinian and the others couldn’t reach Shen Bei and were worried, so they agreed to go to his house together to find him.
Every time they went to Shen Bei’s house, they had to get out of the taxi and walk from the main gate of the villa district. In this summer heat, by the time the four of them reached Shen Bei’s door, their backs were drenched in sweat.
“Shen Bei!”
“Shen Bei!”
A minute later, the housekeeper ran over to open the door. “You must be Shen Bei’s classmates? He’s sad at home right now. Come in, quickly. Mr. Lu wanted to ask for your help too!”
“That’s great!” Cui Yeyi replied casually.
“Great?” The housekeeper was puzzled.
Bai Sinian hurriedly explained for him. “He means, it’s great that we can help.”
“Right, right, that’s what I meant!”
The housekeeper laughed and led them to the villa’s main hall. After they changed their shoes, she took them to Lu Ming’s study on the second floor.
Lu Ming was working in his study. He wore a white shirt and black suit pants, along with rimless gold-rimmed glasses, looking refined and gentlemanly.
“Have a seat.”
Bai Sinian and the others sat obediently on the sofa chairs opposite the desk. The four big boys radiated a sunny energy.
“Auntie Chen, go prepare some tea.”
“Yes, sir.”
After Auntie Chen left and closed the door, Bai Sinian felt the atmosphere was a bit tense, giving him a sense of déjà vu like being scolded by the dean for doing something wrong.
“Here’s the situation. I don’t know what you said to Xiao Bei, but he insists on going to Zhoucheng.” Lu Ming took off his glasses, stood up, and walked in front of them.
Cui Yeyi leaned back against the sofa. “What else could we say? We made a pact to form a band together in college!”
Lu Ming frowned slightly. “He should go to France to study abroad.”
Bai Sinian’s heart skipped a beat. Lu Ming continued, “His scores aren’t good enough for a top university in China. I’ve already secured a spot for him at a school in France. He can reunite with our parents and live with them.”
Bian Rui understood his meaning quickly and asked, “So, you want us to persuade him to go to France?”
“You’re very smart,” Lu Ming commented.
Fan Hongyi said weakly, “We probably can’t persuade him either… He hasn’t spoken to us for days.”
“Because he’s hurting!” Bai Sinian roared in a low voice.
Lu Ming raised an eyebrow and looked at Bai Sinian. This classmate seemed to understand Shen Bei very well.
He gazed at Bai Sinian, signaling him with his eyes to continue.
Bai Sinian fell silent for a moment, then frowned. “He has a shy and introverted personality and isn’t good with words. Aside from us, he rarely communicates with others. If you send someone with that personality to France, a place where he knows no one and nothing, are you trying to make him depressed?”
The light in Lu Ming’s eyes dimmed. He actually hadn’t thought of that.
Bai Sinian: “Besides, he doesn’t want to go himself. Why force him?”
“What can he do in Zhoucheng? Fool around with you guys every day?”
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