There were no official classes scheduled for the afternoon, only self-study periods. The teachers parked themselves at the front of the classroom in case anyone wanted to ask questions. Most of the time, only Yi Jing and a couple of other students would take them up on it. The teachers were always as lonely as a cloud.
Jiang Cheng had gone up a few times to ask questions before, too, but not today. Today he was slouched over his desk, memorizing passages. Well, half of his brain was memorizing passages; the other half was lost in a maze of contemplation.
Yi Jing would watch Wang Xu from the audience. On the surface, it seemed like he was giving his all just to show off, but the truth was Wang Xu was performing for her eyes only. It was kind of romantic.
Gu Fei would probably be watching from the audience too. Even if he didn’t participate, he would at least come watch. But Jiang Cheng couldn’t imagine what expression Gu Fei would wear as he watched, or how he might feel sitting in the crowd.
Jiang Cheng had never done something like this before, and he doubted that Gu Fei had experienced anything similar. They would make a memory of it, then. Remember that time when I played the music you wrote? Remember when you were my audience?
“You two will be the third ones up.” Lao-Xu showed Jiang Cheng the program. “All the senior students’ performances are scheduled for the beginning. Don’t be nervous! Give them a good show!”
“Mm.” Jiang Cheng swept his eyes briefly over the program. There was a choral performance and a solo vocalist before them.
The auditorium was already set up an hour before the concert was due to start. Students had started to file in one class at a time. Jiang Cheng sat in his classroom and glanced across the aisle at Wang Xu. The performers didn’t need to enter with the audience. They would stand outside the auditorium door, then go backstage to wait when it was almost their turn.
“Let’s head over once they’re all inside,” Wang Xu said.
Jiang Cheng nodded. “Okay.”
“What do you think of my outfit?” Wang Xu asked, tugging on his printed T-shirt. The silver sheen of the dragon sprawled across its front was so dazzling Jiang Cheng thought he might go blind.
“Good,” he said with another nod. He refused to wear matching clothes with Wang Xu, opting instead for the same thing he normally wore: a white T-shirt and jeans. Wang Xu had nagged him about it at length, though—he thought it wasn’t cool enough.
“Should we put some makeup on?” Wang Xu asked suddenly. “Once the stage lights come on, will they make me look all washed out?”
“Fuck off,” Jiang Cheng told him.
His phone pinged once. He glanced down at the message.
- I’m in the auditorium, when is your act?
- we’re third
Once he’d replied to Gu Fei’s message, Jiang Cheng stood up and hopped lightly on the spot. “Come on, Captain.”
The auditorium was already packed with students as music blared from the speakers. Fourth High had no affinity for academic achievement, but it never lacked when it came to stuff like this. Jiang Cheng even saw someone testing the track lights on stage.
“I’m nervous,” said Wang Xu.
“You won’t be once we get up there.” Jiang Cheng walked to the entrance of the auditorium and peered inside. He didn’t even need a second glance to spot Gu Fei sitting in the third row, in the seat nearest to the door.
When Gu Fei saw him, his mouth curved into a smile.
Jiang Cheng stepped back outside. As soon as he turned around, someone from the school paper got in his face with a camera and snapped a bunch of pictures in a row. The girls waiting to go on stage beside them started to take pictures and videos of him with their phones, too, forcing him to hide behind Wang Xu.
When the first act started, Jiang Cheng and Wang Xu walked into the auditorium together.
“Holy fucking shitballs, there’s so many people!” Wang Xu whispered.
Jiang Cheng shot a quick glance at the audience and saw a dark mass of heads. When he’d found Gu Fei by the door before, he hadn’t noticed there were so many people. Looking at them now, he was finally starting to feel some pressure.
He glanced at Gu Fei again. Gu Fei was aiming his phone in his direction, probably recording a video. Jiang Cheng was a little disappointed at first that the guy didn’t bring his DSLR, but he soon realized it was in the hands of Yi Jing, who was sitting beside him and very diligently taking photos of them.
Jiang Cheng smiled. Gu Fei gave him a thumbs-up.
It was crowded backstage, too. Lao-Xu was there, talking with the teacher in charge of the sound system. Jiang Cheng sensed that Lao-Xu had poured his heart into this event—the banner onstage with the huge words “Fourth High Concert” had been handwritten by Lao-Xu himself, and now he was backstage, dipping his hand into every little thing in his eagerness to help out.
When he saw Lao-Xu, Wang Xu lunged at him like he was a dear family member. “Xu-zong! I’m so nervous.”
“Relax! Don’t be nervous!” Lao-Xu patted him. “I’ve heard you guys rehearse so many times, and there’s not a single fault to be found. It’s perfect. Just play like you normally do!”
Jiang Cheng had been quite calm, but Wang Xu’s constant stressing made him a little nervous too. He instinctively reached into his pocket for a cigarette, but fortunately there was nothing in there.