Chapter 49: The Perils of the Karaoke Festival

Zhong Tian had already lost all desire to participate in the ‘Taisan Advanced Cultural Festival’.

‘Why do I always get roped into everything?’

“Alright, alright, the selected few, follow me out!”

Jiang Nanjin, cradling the feline Class Monitor, waved to several classmates before heading out.

At that moment, Zhong Tian yearned to cover his face with both hands, retreat to a corner, squat, and simply scream.

‘Hadn’t this utterly shattered his plans for slacking off?!’

‘Confound it!’

Though impotently raging within, Zhong Tian managed to exert reluctant control over his expressions and actions, joining the few classmates chosen by their peers as they exited the classroom.

Stepping outside, Zhong Tian instinctively gravitated towards the girls’ group.

“Ahem, everyone,” Jiang Nanjin began, “regarding the ‘Cross-Dressing Karaoke Festival,’ the primary concern is, naturally, the cross-dressing itself. I trust this is something everyone can accept?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t we?” Li Jianren was the first to declare.

“Indeed, I have no issues,” Chen Chenchen followed.

“I’ll withdraw,” announced Wu Chang’an, the most delicate-featured of the three boys, raising his hand. “I’m not entirely comfortable with it.”

“Understood, I respect your decision,” Jiang Nanjin replied, turning her attention to the girls. “And for the ladies?”

“I cannot sing,” Fang Yingxin admitted, “the type who’s utterly tone-deaf.”

Fang Yingxin was a striking girl; her appearance and personality alike made her an ideal candidate. However, this was a cross-dressing karaoke festival, and being tone-deaf would indeed prove problematic…

Jiang Nanjin nodded in understanding, then cast her gaze towards Zhong Tian and Yu Naixi.

Zhong Tian’s mind raced at light speed, frantically searching for a plausible excuse.

‘Yet… it was Jiang Nanjin he was facing!’

‘Any excuse he concocted would surely be exposed in an instant, wouldn’t it?’

Zhong Tian found himself trapped in an immediate predicament.

He glanced at Yu Naixi beside him, harboring a desperate hope that she might volunteer to undertake this task.

Yet, the remarkably beautiful, long-haired girl before him offered no indication.

As if sensing Zhong Tian’s gaze, Yu Naixi’s dark eyes shifted, then settled upon his face.

With a smile, she withdrew her gaze and addressed Jiang Nanjin, “Personally, I believe no one in our class is better suited to participate in the cross-dressing gala than Zhong Tian.”

“I’ll also withdraw.”

Having delivered her words, she bestowed upon Zhong Tian a radiant smile.

Her smile was undeniably beautiful, yet to Zhong Tian, it appeared as the final, chilling expression of an executioner before their condemned.

‘No, no, this won’t do!’

Zhong Tian released his tightly clenched jaw, striving to maintain a gentle tone as he declared, “I, too, must withdraw.”

“That simply won’t do, little… Zhong Tian,” Jiang Nanjin responded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “Unless, of course, you can find a female classmate willing to take your place.”

‘I…’

‘He barely knew anyone in the class; the prospect of approaching strangers one by one seemed an insurmountable challenge!’

‘This, too, was impossible…’

“I, too, am tone-deaf.”

After a considerable pause, Zhong Tian finally offered this rather clumsy excuse.

‘Jiang Nanjin, being aware of his true situation, would surely grasp the unspoken meaning behind his words—provided, of course, that she didn’t suddenly decide to indulge in some mischief…’

“Zhong Tian, are you perhaps unaccustomed to singing before an audience?” Chen Chenchen inquired from nearby.

The young man, Chen Chenchen, regarded him with a faint smile, his demeanor undeniably amiable.

Zhong Tian nodded, tacitly acknowledging the truth of the statement.

‘More accurately, however, he simply detested being scrutinized by a multitude of eyes… especially if it involved singing as well…’

‘He’d rather be struck down by a single blade.’

“Perhaps we could do this: Zhong Tian, you and I could perform on stage together,” Chen Chenchen proposed. “I’m skilled in vocal mimicry; I could effectively lip-sync for you.”

“Oh? Is such a feat truly achievable?” Jiang Nanjin questioned.

“Provided that during the performance, you only face the audience when delivering your own parts, remaining oriented towards the backstage otherwise,” Chen Chenchen expounded articulately. “This would allow me to sing for Zhong Tian using vocal mimicry without detection. The audience would simply perceive our turning away as a deliberate artistic choice for the performance.”

“Hmm… that certainly sounds feasible… Zhong Tian, what are your thoughts?”

‘Absolutely not!’

Zhong Tian yearned to voice his refusal, but confronted by the expectant gazes of Chen Chenchen and Jiang Nanjin, the words caught in his throat.

He ultimately shook his head, a clear gesture of refusal.

“Excellent, then I shall consider that your agreement.”

‘What?’

Zhong Tian’s heart lurched in alarm; in that instant, he even harbored thoughts of cursing. ‘Did you truly fail to notice my refusal?’

“I’m off to submit the roster to the teacher now.”

“Wait, Jiang Nanjin…”

With a surge of resolve, Zhong Tian decided to cast aside his carefully constructed persona and step forward to intercept her.

However, he was halted, a slender arm extending to block his path.

“Zhong Tian, I’d like to discuss something with you…”

Zhong Tian turned, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, to face the girl named Yu Naixi who had intercepted him.

“Would you mind accompanying me?”

She maintained her polite smile, her voice so soft it verged on cloying sweetness.

For reasons unknown, Zhong Tian’s senses instantly sharpened with vigilance.

Nevertheless, he followed Yu Naixi to the side, into the stairwell nestled between Class Three and Class Four.

“May I ask what this is about?”

“You’re actually not tone-deaf at all,” Yu Naixi began, idly twirling a strand of her lustrous hair, her tone remarkably light. “You simply detest crowded places, don’t you?”

Zhong Tian’s gaze sharpened instantly.

‘How could she possibly know?’

To Zhong Tian’s recollection, he had shared no interactions with her whatsoever over the past year. How, then, could she possess such knowledge?

‘Had she merely guessed?’

“Indeed.”

Even if it was merely a guess, Zhong Tian had no intention of lying to deny it. Given that her knowledge would likely have no significant impact on him, he decided to acknowledge it forthrightly.

“Excellent, that simplifies things considerably,” Yu Naixi remarked, settling onto the steps and raising her gaze to meet Zhong Tian’s. “I possess a method that could spare you from participating in the cross-dressing karaoke festival. Would you care to hear it?”

“…Please elaborate.”

“You’re likely aware that Qin Dong harbors feelings for Chen Chenchen, and that Chen Chenchen, in turn, harbors feelings for you, aren’t you?”

Zhong Tian froze, taken aback by her words.

For he was, indeed, privy to this information.

Having the ability to perceive the innermost thoughts of nearly everyone in the class since the start of the semester, he had long been aware of both Qin Dong’s and Chen Chenchen’s sentiments.

Had Chen Chenchen not encountered Zhong Tian during their first year of high school, the two of them might very well have become a couple…

From the very first glance, Chen Chenchen’s imagination had soared from merely dating Zhong Tian to picturing their shared graves… The sheer intensity of it had rendered Zhong Tian speechless, and the subsequent side effect of a half-day nosebleed only etched the memory deeper into his mind.

This was precisely why he had felt such profound resistance when Chen Chenchen proposed a joint performance on stage earlier…

‘For it was glaringly obvious that he was attempting to court him!’

While this was indeed the truth… how could Yu Naixi possibly know that he was aware of it?

Zhong Tian found himself utterly perplexed.

He could only nod. “Please continue,” he prompted.

“I can approach Qin Dong and arrange for her to directly replace you on stage for the festival,” Yu Naixi explained. “As for the specifics of the negotiation and how to secure Chen Chenchen’s compromise, I will handle everything. Your sole requirement will be to attend the relaxed festival practices.”

“This would also fulfill your desire to slack off, wouldn’t it?”

….

“…What recompense do you seek?”

“Haha, I hadn’t even stated my terms, and you’re already so eager to inquire,” Yu Naixi chuckled, rising to her feet and smoothing her skirt. She then bestowed a playful smile upon Zhong Tian. “Indeed, I find your forthrightness quite appealing.”

Descending the steps, she came to a halt directly before Zhong Tian, her gaze fixed intently on his deep blue eyes.

“Once this matter is settled, I wish for you to become my partner.”

Zhong Tian’s cowlick shot upright, like a startled brush. Unable to maintain his carefully crafted persona, he instinctively recoiled a step, his face instantly etched with profound surprise.

“You…”

He was not only stunned by Yu Naixi’s confession-like declaration but utterly astounded that she had somehow discerned his true gender!

‘How could this be? How was he exposed?’

‘He had certainly had no prior communication with her.’

“What? Are you so surprised that I’m a lesbian?”

Her smile broadened further. “Do you dislike girls?”

Her words gradually calmed Zhong Tian’s uneasy heart.

‘Phew—’

‘So that’s it.’

‘He had jumped to conclusions.’

‘His male identity hadn’t been exposed… Yu Naixi merely perceived him as a lesbian.’

….

‘Such a familiar scene.’

“I apologize… I cannot accept.”

Zhong Tian replied in as serious a tone as possible.

“Oh, I understand,” Yu Naixi chuckled. “The exchange isn’t equitable yet; what I’ve done for you is far from enough to win your favor.”

“It’s not because of that…” Zhong Tian maintained his serious demeanor. “I believe a romantic relationship shouldn’t be so casual, something that can be bartered.”

“Haha, I’m sure that’s not the real reason, is it?”

“Zhong Tian?”

Observing her teasing gaze, Zhong Tian suddenly felt an inexplicable flutter of unease.

“That was just a joke earlier~”

Her statement once again left Zhong Tian stunned.

“I’m not a lesbian; you can rest assured,” she chirped, laughing. “The true recompense is simple: just pretend to be a boy for me to see.”

“…Why do you want me to pretend to be a boy?”

“Hmm… curiosity,” Yu Naixi replied. “Satisfying my curiosity—that’s quite simple, isn’t it?”

Zhong Tian fell silent.

‘Just to satisfy her curiosity?’

This reason felt incredibly fabricated, yet it was impossible to disprove.

However, the notion of ‘impossible to disprove’ did not apply to Zhong Tian, who could read minds.

Zhong Tian met Yu Naixi’s gaze, preparing to activate his mind-reading ability, but in the instant before he could, she abruptly turned away.

“If you don’t answer, I’ll take that as your agreement.”

She said this with her back to Zhong Tian.

Zhong Tian watched Yu Naixi’s retreating figure, still silent.

‘Something is wrong. Yu Naixi is behaving very strangely.’

“Zhong Tian! Come here for a moment!”

Jiang Nanjin’s voice echoed from the classroom doorway.

Though Zhong Tian wished to unravel Yu Naixi’s thoughts, given the current situation, he decided to seek another opportunity…

“Alright, I agree.”

“Excellent, a pleasure working with you~”

After Zhong Tian turned and left, Yu Naixi gently squeezed her throat.

“Is it thirst this time…”

Having said this, she too returned to the classroom.