Chapter 25
So, in such a bewildering manner, everything was agreed upon.
Until Wang Huijuan took the podium to formally announce it to the class, Qin Zhaoyang hadn't reacted to what Ling Rong had just said.
"You... what did you say?" He stammered, as expected.
Ling Rong still lazily propped up her chin, but she turned her head to look at the person on her left. Her bright black eyes were full of mirth, and her pinkish little tongue was barely visible when she spoke, "I said... you're my prince."
Having already said it once, Ling Rong saw no more taboos when saying it again. Instead, she had the intention of teasing Qin Zhaoyang. As expected, she saw a big spread of red starting to creep onto his face. The handsome boy, blending with this touch of shyness, looked even more pleasing to the eye.
At this moment, a loud knocking sound interrupted their conversation. It was Wang Huijuan hitting the podium hard to quiet the class down.
"Everyone knows that our class is preparing a performance for the school celebration. We've discussed and decided that our entire class will perform the drama 'Cinderella.' Does anyone have any objections?"
As soon as the words came out, it was clear that everyone's interest was lacking.
"Why bother?" someone complained. "Let the talented ones perform, why drag the entire class into this?"
"Yeah, I need to go home and study. I don't have time to rehearse a drama. Rehearsing involves costumes and props, consuming both time and money. Where will we get the money to rent or buy these things?"
Although the mention of needing to study at home may have been an exaggeration, the latter part of the statement did resonate with many. After all, no one had nothing better to do or was foolishly wealthy.
Wang Huijuan wanted to mention the remaining class funds they could utilize. However, after careful calculation, if the whole class needed to rent costumes and props, it would certainly be a significant expense. How could a meager amount of class funds cover these costs?
Liu Xiaoyu, on the sidelines, also felt troubled. Was their carefully constructed fantasy about to be shattered because of money? They hadn't even played their trump card yet!
Just as they were at their wits' end, Ling Rong, who supported this plan, finally spoke up.
"Don't any of you want to perform? But I'm quite interested in it. If we do well, the audience will applaud us, and we can win honor for our class..."
With her wide innocent eyes blinking and her alluring words, Ling Rong was indeed enticing.
"Ling Rong, you... you'll participate too?" As expected, someone fell for her ploy and asked in bewilderment.
In their minds, while Ling Rong had become much more amicable, asking her to be forced into performing a play seemed highly unlikely.
And yet, this beautiful individual, who normally spoke little, was now willing to perform in a drama closely with everyone...
Some hearts started to falter.
"For the sake of the stage effect, the class president asked me to play Cinderella, and I agreed," she dropped another bombshell.
"Holy cow! You... you're going to play Cinderella?!"
The candid comment from one of the male students hit everyone like a ton of bricks.
Even the rest of the girls felt too shy to express that they wanted to play Cinderella considering the role was given to Ling Rong! Moreover, Cinderella would certainly need to wear a dress...
This realization stirred their hearts even more.
Seeing Ling Rong in a dress is something they would never be able to witness, even if they had to get a good beating. And now they had such an excellent opportunity.
"But the question of money..."
"As long as money can solve the problem, it is not a problem," Ling Rong said in a solemn tone. The next second, she slapped Qin Zhaoyang's arm in a bold gesture, raising her voice: "Our young master Qin said that as long as he gets to play the prince, all the expenses for costumes and props will be borne by him. After the performance, you can keep them as souvenirs!"
"Also, if the rehearsal goes late into the afternoon, and you can't go home for lunch, he will cover all the delivery food for the class. How about that?"
Although this wealthy and blustery attitude indeed looked like the demeanor of a nouveau riche, the striking speech won everyone over. A bunch of boys, always eager for a spectacle, cheered uproariously.
"Damn! Money talks! If that's the case, I will definitely agree to perform!"
"Let's do it! Keep your word! Seeing the reward involved, I'd reluctantly let you play the prince's role!"
That's all talk, but everyone knows that if Ling Rong plays Cinderella, the prince's role will undoubtedly fall on Qin Zhaoyang.
The boys have always been open-hearted, and there is basically no romance in class eight. Therefore, at this time, no one will intentionally mention that Qin Zhaoyang is an "illegitimate child".
Suddenly surrounded by a group of onlookers, Qin Zhaoyang didn't react. He instinctively looked towards Ling Rong, his dark eyes filled with confusion as if unsure when he had said anything like that.
In contrast to Ling Rong, he really did look innocent.
Giving him a "just go with it" glance, Ling Rong secretly nudged his arm with hers, urging Qin Zhaoyang to speak.
She did this of course to boost Qin Zhaoyang's popularity. Everyone likes a generous person. Plus, the hand that gives is always superior. With this seed sown, next time if anyone intends to malign him, this group of people might well stand by Qin Zhaoyang's side.
Moreover, Ling Rong didn't intend to have Qin Zhaoyang front the expenses; since she spoke it, she will finance it. Qin Zhaoyang could enjoy the benefits. After all, she didn't lack money. Her tycoon father gave her a hefty monthly allowance of one hundred thousand, even if not spent, it would just sit there.
Qin Zhaoyang, who was naturally intelligent, understood the reason behind Ling Rong's actions quickly. Touched by this, he cooperatively replied, "Whatever I have promised everyone, I will naturally fulfill. I just hope that everyone can unite and work hard for this, show their best side while also earning honour for our class. We must let the key classes know that we in class eight will not be worse than them!"
Watching Qin Zhaoyang speak as if he was a general inspiring his soldiers. Ling Rong smacked her lips, feeling it was indeed befitting of a male lead. As long as he was not suppressed by Chen Yanyan's reincarnation aura, the classic male lead's brilliance would gradually shine through.
The students in class eight, being a regular class, often suffered condescension from the top students in the key classes, as well as inevitable comparisons from teachers. Teenagers at this age naturally have a strong sense of self-esteem. Having been frequently belittled, heaps of them would naturally bear grudges against these so-called top students. Hence, Qin Zhaoyang's speech struck a chord, and it sparked a strong competitive spirit in them.
"Good! We all agree to act, we must win over that bunch of scoundrels from class six!"
Unexpectedly, things progressed smoothly. Both Wang Huijuan and Liu Xiaoyu began to look at Qin Zhaoyang with newfound appreciation.
"Are you really willing to cover all the expenses?" Wang Huijuan couldn't help but re-confirm, worried if Qin Zhaoyang was merely trying to put on a brave face.
Just as Ling Rong was about to directly take out her card to show her, Qin Zhaoyang interrupted her. Calmly, he said, "You have a phone, right? Add everything you need to the cart, and when it's time, simply clear it with my account."
The drama needed a large number of costumes and props. Naturally, buying them online would be convenient and fast.
After speaking, as if remembering something, Qin Zhaoyang added, "Choose everything with the best quality, and in particular, Ling Rong's costumes, don't worry about the price."
He didn't want Ling Rong to be on stage wearing shoddy clothes for such a long time.
"Oh... alright." Wang Huijuan didn't expect him to say this, and was momentarily stunned.
Scripts and props still need preparation time, so there's no need for rehearsal today.
________________________
After school, Qin Zhaoyang left the classroom with Ling Rong.
"I'm not going with you today. You and Uncle Wang go ahead." When they arrived at the school gate, unlike previous days, Ling Rong didn’t get into the car from the Huo family. She said a sentence to Qin Zhaoyang and prepared to leave by herself.
This was also because of an old habit. Because Ling Rong often went out to play and would come back home at unpredictable times in the past, her parents didn't arrange for a driver to pick her up to and from school, thus Ling Rong didn't develop this habit later on either.
On the contrary, after last time, Qin Zhaoyang had Ling Rong take his car home every day. Even though the Huo family's old house was in completely the opposite direction from the Ling family, Qin Zhaoyang would have Uncle Wang send Ling Rong home first, and only then would they start driving back.
Not only after school, but even in the morning and afternoon when she went to school, once Ling Rong went out of her house, she would always see a black Porsche parked not far away, waiting for her.
"Is there anything going on?" Qin Zhaoyang asked in a quiet voice, even a trace of hurt could be heard if one listened carefully.
Was there something so important that Ling Rong had to do it alone, avoiding him? Did he not earn her trust yet?
"It's just a small matter, not worth the precious time of Young Master Qin. Go back quickly, or Grandpa Huo will worry about you." Ling Rong had already won the favor of Old Master Huo, and she called him affectionately without any hesitation.
"Alright, I'll pick you up for school in the afternoon." Thinking of his grandfather, Qin Zhaoyang couldn't bear to make the old man worry anymore.
This time, Ling Rong no longer declined. She watched Qin Zhaoyang get in the car and leave, and then she asked in her heart:【Is Liu Chengyi being beaten now? Give me his location!】
【Confirmed, the place where they are fighting is not far from here. Just follow the red dot on the map.】
Following the direction indicated on the map, Ling Rong quickly found a group of young delinquents fighting in a secluded alley. The situation was unfavorable for Liu Chengyi, as he was outnumbered.
Feeling another punch to his face, Liu Chengyi spat out bloody saliva while fiercely staring at the person in front of him, "Zhang Jiacheng, you are shameless. Not only did you do a sneak attack, but now you're ganging up on me. This is no code of honor!"
Just like Zhou Qiyuan, Zhang Jiacheng, who had been at odds with Liu Chengyi for many years, looked scornfully at the person who was struggling to get up and sneered, "You, Liu Chengyi, talking about honor? That’s a laugh. Today, when I catch you, I will make you hand over this territory in person."
In the past, the three of them were evenly matched, and none could take advantage of the others, so grabbing the territory became a difficult task. Now, with this rare opportunity, Zhang Jiacheng wanted to seize it.
Unlike the relationship between Zhou Qiyuan and Liu Chengyi, who had known each other since their wild childhood days, Zhang Jiacheng showed no mercy when dealing with his opponents. Taking advantage of his current upper hand, he swung another punch towards Liu Chengyi's eye. Suddenly, a force stopped him in his tracks.
Not feeling the expected pain, Liu Chengyi abruptly looked up and was shocked to see a face so familiar that it couldn't be more recognizable.
"Ling Rong?!"
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Thank you for the translation!
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