Chapter 48: The Taisan Advanced Culture Festival and a Foreboding List

Monday morning.

Zhong Tian found himself in an exceptionally good mood today.

Not only had he enjoyed a full day of rest at home on Sunday, leaving him feeling remarkably refreshed, but today also marked the beginning of the “Taisan Advanced Culture Festival” at Taisan High School.

The slightly silly-sounding name, “Taisan Advanced Culture Festival,” was merely a playful coinage by the students themselves.

Similar terms included “Taisan Advanced Speakers” and “Taisan Advanced Computers,” as this “Taisan Advanced” prefix was typically appended to things widely criticized, thus imbued with a sarcastic undertone.

Zhong Tian surmised that the Culture Festival had earned this particular moniker likely because last year’s event had been rather lackluster.

The previous year’s festival, lasting only a single day, offered uninspired activities like dumpling making and paper cutting, which genuinely failed to pique the students’ interest.

Zhong Tian, who had an aversion to group activities, simply slipped away to slack off, enjoying an entire day of undisturbed peace, which he found utterly delightful.

Though he remained unaware of the school’s precise plans for this year’s festival, Zhong Tian couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.

Even his bicycle ride felt considerably lighter than usual.

Ten minutes before morning reading, Zhong Tian returned to his classroom.

He deliberately entered through the back door, pausing to playfully stroke the Cat Class Monitor’s head a few times.

The Cat Class Monitor, with a hint of dissatisfaction, extended its four paws to bat at Zhong Tian twice before settling back onto its side, resuming its slumber.

Deciding against disturbing the Cat Class Monitor’s peaceful dreams further, Zhong Tian made his way back to his seat.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning to you too.”

Jiang Nanjin’s voice, too, carried a cheerful lilt.

Zhong Tian had initially intended to turn around and inquire with Jiang Nanjin, the Recreational Activities Committee member, about the “Taisan Advanced Culture Festival,” but upon seeing his deskmate, Wu Rui, return, he decided against it.

“Good morning.”

Zhong Tian acknowledged him with a nod.

Moments later, the morning reading bell chimed, and the homeroom teacher, Wang Changgeng, who bore a striking resemblance to [A certain famous writer, implied to be Lu Xun], entered the classroom amidst the ringing, taking his place at the podium.

As the bell faded, Homeroom Teacher Wang Changgeng cleared his throat. “Students, the typhoon holiday has concluded, and I’m pleased to see everyone back at school on time.”

“I believe many of you are already aware that today marks the first day of Taisan High School’s Culture Festival,” Wang Changgeng announced. “Specifically, today is the preparation day for the Taisan High School Culture Festival.”

“This year’s Culture Festival will span three days. The first day, which is today, extending until noon of the second day, will be designated as preparation time for each of our classes. Following this preparation period, and continuing until the afternoon of the third day, students will have their designated leisure and experience time.

For this year’s festival, each class is required to have its students personally create unique features for their respective classes. Ultimately, the student council will conduct evaluations to select the most distinctive, most profound, and most entertaining classes.”

Wang Changgeng paused, shifting his stance before continuing,

“Furthermore, on the evening of the third day, there will be a cross-dressing singing competition, in which all first and second-year classes are expected to participate.”

‘Hm?’

The phrase “cross-dressing singing competition” immediately captured Zhong Tian’s attention.

“Each class will send two representatives, one male and one female. The male will perform in female attire, and the female in male attire, singing one song on stage.”

As soon as these words were uttered, the classroom erupted in a frenzy.

The preceding announcements had already been quite novel, but this cross-dressing singing competition was truly momentous, completely overturning the students’ perceptions of the school.

Instantly, both boys and girls in the class began scanning their peers, searching for boys suitable for female attire and girls who could pull off male clothing.

‘How did they come up with such an elaborate trick…’

Zhong Tian, also somewhat surprised, couldn’t help but think of himself.

‘If I were to perform on stage, how would that even work? Both male and female attire seem equally plausible for me.’

He mused inwardly.

These activities certainly sounded rather intriguing.

‘But if every class has to organize and execute their own activities, wouldn’t it be incredibly difficult to slack off?’

‘Hiss—’

Zhong Tian’s mood abruptly soured.

‘He would need to devise another method to legitimately slack off!’

“These matters will be entrusted to the Class Monitor, the two Vice Class Monitors, and the Recreational Activities Committee member for handling and arrangement,” Wang Changgeng declared, clasping his hands behind his back. “I also hope that the few of you can coordinate effectively with your classmates to organize this event. Now, the Taisan High School Culture Festival’s preparation phase officially begins!”

“Yay!”

Following a burst of cheers, the two Vice Class Monitors and Jiang Nanjin, the Recreational Activities Committee member, carried the Cat Class Monitor to the podium.

“Ahem, I’ll say a few words on behalf of the Class Monitor,” Jiang Nanjin announced, holding up the Cat Class Monitor. “The two Vice Class Monitors will be responsible for the main content of the Culture Festival, while the Class Monitor and I will handle the cross-dressing gala.”

The male Vice Class Monitor, Chen Chenchen, then added, “Vice Class Monitor Qin Dong and I have already discussed several proposals in advance, and we now intend to project them for everyone to deliberate upon.”

‘They certainly seem well-prepared.’

Zhong Tian watched the PowerPoint presentation on the screen with keen interest.

First, came Proposal One and Proposal Two:

The “traditional” activities of paper cutting and dumpling making.

The presentation was halted halfway through by the entire class, and the proposals were promptly dismissed due to overwhelming demand.

Next was Proposal Three:

A Maid/Butler Café.

The very name of this proposal clearly indicated its primary appeal.

To put it plainly, it was a strategy designed to win purely on aesthetics.

Yet, it was undeniable that high school students were particularly susceptible to this kind of appeal.

Simple coffee and snacks, paired with a total of six beautiful maids and handsome butlers—the recipe for success had been found.

Though the Culture Festival activities weren’t meant to be profitable.

There were only these three proposals.

‘This is practically an open secret.’

‘It was evident they had only prepared for, and only intended to implement, the Maid/Butler Café!’

Thus, after receiving the unanimous consent of the entire class, the female Vice Class Monitor, Qin Dong, picked up a pre-prepared sheet of paper.

“Next, I will announce the list of maids and butlers.”

Zhong Tian was suddenly overcome by a bad premonition.

“The three butlers responsible for the first day’s afternoon and evening are: Wu Rui, Li Jianren, and Wu Chang’an. The three butlers for the second day’s morning and afternoon are: Long Tao, Wu Luoyi, and Chen Chenchen.”

The list of butlers was hardly surprising.

These individuals were, for the most part, the best-looking and most well-built boys in the class, each possessing a distinct type of handsomeness.

There were humorously charming and sunny boys like Li Jianren and Chen Chenchen, scholarly “jade-faced” types like the brothers Wu Chang’an and Wu Luoyi, and robust, well-built boys like Wu Rui and Long Tao.

Both boys and girls in the class began to playfully tease these chosen students.

“So? How are you feeling right now?”

“I’ve always been indifferent!” Li Jianren declared with a righteous expression.

“With great power comes great responsibility, doesn’t it?”

Chen Chenchen, on stage, exchanged words with him across the room, smiling.

“All I can say is, if not me, then who?!”

Their back-and-forth banter instantly enlivened the entire classroom.

However, Zhong Tian remained gripped by a sense of unease.

Qin Dong cleared her throat, raising her voice slightly. “Next is the list of maids. The three maids for the first day’s afternoon and evening are: Lin Han, Zhong Tian, and Jiang Nanjin. The three maids for the second day’s morning and afternoon are: Chen Yining, Yu Naixi, and myself, Qin Dong.”

As soon as the list was revealed, the class—especially the boys—seemed incredibly excited.

There was the energetic, bespectacled Jiang Nanjin; the diligent and responsible Class Monitor Qin Dong; the somewhat naive girl Lin Han; the cool, literary girls Zhong Tian and Chen Yining; and the genius girl Yu Naixi.

The “gold standard” of these individuals in maid outfits was, naturally, beyond question.

Soon, discussions arose regarding who would possess the highest “gold content.”

Some argued for Zhong Tian, while others championed Yu Naixi.

As two of the most renowned beauties in the entire class, even the entire grade, they were naturally pitted against each other in a fierce, impromptu debate.

Meanwhile, Zhong Tian…

‘Of course I’m on the list!’

Zhong Tian’s first instinct was to find an excuse to refuse, but before he could even formulate one, a girl raised her hand and spoke, “Um, I’m not really keen on participating… Is it possible to swap places with someone?”

“If you can find someone else willing to fill the vacant spot, then yes,” Qin Dong replied.

“…”

The girl named Lin Han sighed, lowering her hand.

Zhong Tian, too, felt his hopes deflate.

‘There’s no escaping this, is there…’

Vice Class Monitor Chen Chenchen frowned, casting a glance at Qin Dong.

“When did you change the list? Why didn’t you inform me beforehand?”

“…”

Qin Dong did not respond to Chen Chenchen’s question, merely tidying away the list in silence.

“Now then, regarding the cross-dressing singing competition,” Qin Dong stated, turning to Jiang Nanjin and ceding the floor to her.

“Alright, I’ve decided we’ll use a democratic voting system!” Jiang Nanjin announced, still holding the disheartened Cat Class Monitor, who clearly wished to escape. “Let everyone decide! Boys and girls will each select three representatives, and then I will choose the most suitable combinations!”

As she spoke, she opened a simple voting program downloaded from the internet, which displayed the names of every student in the class.

“Come on, one person, one vote. Step up to the podium one by one.”

The moment he saw the voting process, Zhong Tian was once again struck by a terrible premonition.

Soon, the results were in.

The three girls chosen were: Zhong Tian, Yu Naixi, and Fang Yingxin.

The three boys chosen were: Wu Chang’an, Li Jianren, and Chen Chenchen.

…

Zhong Tian no longer wished to participate in this “Taisan Advanced Culture Festival.”