Chapter 71: The Art Festival Begins

Twenty minutes passed in the blink of an eye during the brilliant opening remarks.

Su Muxue and Lin Wan walked off the stage side by side. The spotlights followed them until they disappeared behind the curtain. Thunderous applause erupted from the audience, and the art festival officially began.

Backstage staff hurried forward to take the microphones. Then a male and a female emcee walked onto the stage with light steps. The boy was sunny and open, the girl lively and cute. A few opening lines livened up the entire atmosphere.

Su Muxue walked straight up to Luo Xiaoyun. The coldness in her eyes faded, replaced by tenderness.

Luo Xiaoyun quickly stepped forward, her eyes sparkling with admiration. “Muxue, you were amazing! You didn’t look nervous at all, and your hosting was so smooth and elegant!”

Su Muxue reached out a fingertip and gently pinched her cheek. The touch was soft and warm, and the affection in her eyes deepened.

“Silly, I’ve hosted many times. I’m used to it. You’re amazing too, Xiaoyun. You can definitely do it. You’re going to win first place.”

She took Luo Xiaoyun’s hand and turned to Ji Haitang, Shen Jiaojiao, and Lin Wan. “Come on, let’s go to the audience seats and watch the other contestants. It’ll help Xiaoyun relax and get familiar with the atmosphere.”

The others nodded and followed Su Muxue to the performers’ designated seating area.

The performers’ seating was on the side of the stage, with an excellent view. They could clearly see the performances without too many people disturbing them. They found a row of empty seats and sat down.

Luo Xiaoyun subconsciously looked around. Surprise flickered in her eyes. The entire stadium audience was packed, wall-to-wall with people.

A rough estimate put the crowd at four to five thousand. The noise was deafening, lively and bustling. Even the stepped aisles were filled with students and teachers who had come to watch.

Luo Xiaoyun quietly squeezed Su Muxue’s hand. ‘So many people… When I go on stage, I have to perform well and not make mistakes.’ Her fingertips felt slightly cold, and a trace of barely noticeable nervousness crept into her heart.

Su Muxue noticed her discomfort and gently nudged her arm. Her voice was soft. “Xiaoyun, look, the first performance is starting.”

Luo Xiaoyun quickly withdrew her gaze and looked toward the stage.

Two women in light green ancient costumes slowly walked on stage. Their figures were slender, their steps light. The hems of their skirts swayed gently with the breeze, giving off a gentle and elegant aura.

Two staff members carried an antique zither and placed it gently at one side of the stage, then quietly retreated.

One of the women sat down in front of the zither. Her fingertips lightly rested on the strings. She took a deep breath. As the soft prelude began, her fingers slowly plucked the strings.

The clear, melodious sound of the zither flowed out instantly, melodious and melodious, like a clear spring, lingering over the entire stadium.

The other woman stood at the center of the stage and began to dance gracefully to the music. Her water sleeves fluttered, her movements lithe and beautiful.

Every action was light and graceful, perfectly matching the zither’s sound. Her eyes were full of tenderness, like a beauty stepping out of an ancient painting.

The audience immediately quieted down, everyone immersed in the gentle and elegant performance. Some quietly took out their phones to record, while others murmured in admiration.

“That sounds so good! The zither playing is incredible!”

“And that dancing girl is so beautiful, like a fairy descending to earth!”

The piece ended. The zither sound slowly faded, and the dancer’s movements came to a close. They bowed side by side, gentle smiles on their faces.

The audience burst into thunderous applause and cheers. Cries of “Amazing!” and “Encore!” rose one after another.

Luo Xiaoyun couldn’t help clapping along. She turned to Su Muxue, a hint of pressure in her voice. “The first performance is already this high quality… I’m suddenly a bit nervous.”

Su Muxue gently held her hand, her fingertips transmitting warmth. Her voice was tender but firm. “Don’t worry. Everyone has their own style. Their gentleness is good, but your liveliness and cuteness are also great. Believe in yourself. You can do it.”

Ji Haitang chimed in from the side. “Yeah, Luo Xiaoyun, no need to be nervous. Just perform normally. We’ll all be cheering for you down here.”

Shen Jiaojiao nodded vigorously. “That’s right, that’s right. Sister Xiaoyun is the best. I’m sure you’ll be even more wonderful than them!”

Luo Xiaoyun looked at the encouraging faces around her. The nervousness faded a little. She nodded lightly. “Mm, I’ll do my best.”

Time passed slowly. Brilliant performances took turns on stage. There was a dynamic street dance, a passionate poetry recitation, and a humorous skit.

Every performance was wonderful. The applause and cheers never ceased, and the atmosphere grew increasingly lively.

Just as Luo Xiaoyun was completely absorbed, the emcee on stage suddenly raised his voice, excitement in his tone. “Next, let’s welcome two special guests. They’ll bring us a familiar song. Please put your hands together for ‘Diga’!”

The moment he spoke, the venue erupted in cheers, especially the boys, who shouted excitedly.

“Diga! It’s Ultraman Tiga!”

“My childhood!”

“…”

As the stirring prelude began, two people in full Ultraman Tiga suits slowly walked on stage. Their figures were tall, their movements clumsy and cute, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

The melody of “Miracle Appears Again” started. The two ‘Digas’ picked up the microphones, their voices full of power.

“Just like sunlight piercing through the night, dawn quietly passes across the horizon, whose figure shuttles through the reincarnation…”

The familiar melody and passionate lyrics instantly evoked everyone’s childhood memories. The audience joined in singing along, voices loud and clear, echoing throughout the stadium.

The two ‘Digas’ sang while making Ultraman’s classic poses, every move adorable.

Some waved glow sticks, others swayed gently to the rhythm. The entire stadium was immersed in a passionate and joyful atmosphere.

The song ended. The two ‘Digas’ bowed side by side, then clumsily walked off stage. The applause and cheers continued unabated, and some shouted reluctantly, “Diga, my light, don’t go!”

Luo Xiaoyun watched the lively scene and couldn’t help laughing. Her nervousness dissipated a bit more.

After a few more acts, the emcee’s voice sounded again, this time softer. “Next, let’s welcome Yu’an, who will sing the song ‘Quietly’. Please applaud!”

Luo Xiaoyun’s eyes lit up, and she immediately sat up straight. It was Zhou Yu’an.

Zhou Yu’an walked slowly onto the stage. He wore a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing a slim wrist.

The collar was slightly open, making his neckline appear long. He had on black casual pants. The whole look was clean and neat, yet carried a hint of restrained handsomeness. The stage lights hit him, outlining his sharply defined profile.

A stir went through the audience.

“That guy is so handsome!”

“Which major is he in? Why haven’t I seen him before?”

“…”

Zhou Yu’an walked to the center of the stage. He picked up the microphone and lowered his head slightly. The accompaniment began, the prelude of “Quietly.” Gentle piano notes flowed slowly.

He raised his head and began to sing.

“What I most want to see is your smile. In my eyes, you are the best. You won’t know about the cheesy tune. I love you quietly…”

His voice was clear and pure, carrying a youthful tenderness, like a breeze brushing past the ear. Every word was pronounced just right. Not deliberately emotional, yet it made people’s hearts flutter.

Luo Xiaoyun was stunned. She knew Zhou Yu’an could sing, but she never expected it to be this good. His voice seemed to have magic, making people unconsciously quiet down, wanting only to hear him continue.

The audience was also captivated by his singing. The originally noisy venue gradually quieted. Especially the girls, who instantly fell for it, screaming softly.

“Wow, that guy is so handsome!”

“His voice is so gentle, I love it!”

“I want his contact info! I want to know his major!”

Some waved glow sticks, their eyes full of infatuation.

When he reached the climax, Zhou Yu’an closed his eyes slightly, and his voice gained more emotion.

“The world suddenly becomes so quiet, only the sound of heartbeat remains. It strengthens my determination to love you. At this moment, you are my only one…”

Zhou Yu’an seemed to feel the enthusiasm from below. His cheeks flushed slightly, but he continued singing earnestly without any panic. The shyness in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by confidence.

The song ended. He bowed slightly, a faint smile on his face, gentle and shy. The audience burst into enthusiastic applause and cheers. The girls’ screams were especially loud, and cries of “Yu’an! Yu’an!” rang out incessantly.

Luo Xiaoyun also clapped vigorously. She turned to Su Muxue and said, “I didn’t expect Zhou Yu’an to be so good. His singing was amazing.”

Su Muxue nodded and smiled. “You can’t judge a book by its cover. Everyone has their own brilliance, just like you.”

Shen Jiaojiao leaned over from the side, her eyes sparkling. “That guy is so handsome. Does he have a girlfriend?”

Ji Haitang pushed her head back. “Just watch the show.”

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Underdog Connection

ChaebolContemporaryObsessiveLove

Read Now →
Not interested