Volume 1: Youth Chapter 1: Graduation Dance

  Night, 11 o'clock, Qingyang High School campus small auditorium.

  Strobe lights, colorful and dazzling; amidst the explosive music, cheers and screams are intertwined. At the edge of the dance floor, stacks of beer towers disappear slowly, transforming into a scorching temperature, swirling in the dance pool.

  In the dance pool, there were young faces that looked a bit childish, full of energetic bodies twisting and turning to the music in an unbridled and unrestrained manner, with an added hint of wildness and abandon under the stimulation of uninhibited laughter and alcohol.

  This is the carnival of Qingyang High School's third year. Today is the day of release, and it is also the last day of high school life for all third-year students. Whether it is bidding farewell to the pressure cooker or welcoming new life, whether it is looking forward to a better future or reluctant to leave behind the pure and unforgettable friendship, whether it is cheering for the bright prospects ahead or mourning the failure of twelve years of hard work, today, carnival.

  Everyone is drunk for various reasons, more or less dizzy. Because they are drunk, they can be more selfless and devoted, because they are drunk, they can do some things that they originally didn't dare to think about.

  At this moment.

  The beautiful girl who held the title of school flower at Qingyang High School for six years was now standing in front of a boy with a red face, her usual cold and proud expression replaced by shyness, and her usual quick wit nowhere to be found.

  There were only two boys at the table, but in this crowded hall of over a hundred people, they seemed even more dazzling than the top lamp in the middle of the dance floor. Many people's eyes would occasionally cast a glance in their direction, and of course, there were many girls among them. However, no one dared to take the initiative to approach them.

  These two never left their seats, although they followed Qingyang's tradition to attend the graduation season dance party, but unlike others, they didn't go crazy, instead, they calmly watched all this, sipping beer by themselves, occasionally exchanging a few words.

  The two people's faces were somewhat similar, but their temperament was completely different. One was as cold as a winter night, with sharp eyebrows and piercing eyes, like the blade of a sword unsheathed on a cold night, sharp and dazzling, making one's heart skip a beat yet unable to look away. The other was warm like a spring morning, with similar eyebrows and eyes, but displaying an absolutely different charm, dark pupils like a clear lake in a quiet pool, soft and gentle ripples spreading out, causing people to be defenseless and fall captive.

  "Hey, Doudou, which one do you think that girl likes, my older brother or my second brother?"

  "Obviously, it's your cold-faced second brother."

  The conversation came from a corner far away from the hustle and bustle, where there was a pile of tables and chairs that had been withdrawn from the central area near the entrance of the auditorium, which had become the best hiding place for two small figures.

  Those were two little girls who were obviously under the age of high school, if the girls in the dance pool were beautiful green apples emitting a tempting fragrance but with a hint of acidity, then these two ghostly girls hiding in the corner were two small peaches, although they had taken on the shape of fruit, but far from being ripe, fluffy and cute, yet not enough to arouse people's desire to eat.

  "No wonder you're not worried at all." Xia Lixia's eyes sparkled with a hint of understanding, and at 15 years old, she had inherited the excellent genes of her two older brothers, although she was still young but already blossoming into a Barbie-like beauty. The gentle elegance between her eyebrows showed off the good upbringing she had received, and even though she had been dragged by her best friend to spy on her own brother doing something so treacherous, she still maintained her good posture, kneeling on one knee at her feet, her pink knee-length princess dress puffed out like a blooming flower, completely covering her lower body without revealing any hint of impropriety.

  In sharp contrast to her was the little girl by her side. If Xia Liqiu was a little angel, then Zhan Yaya could almost be called a little devil. A neat short hair, if it were any shorter, would have been a boy's flat-top haircut, a small and delicate face that couldn't be considered beautiful, but rather clean and transparent, even in the dimly flickering light, her skin tone was still a shade darker than Xia Liqiu's - okay, according to Zhan Yaya's own words, this was a healthy wheat color.

  Her appearance is somewhat inferior to that of Xia Liqiu, but if they stand together, she won't be overlooked either, for she has a pair of overly spirited big eyes, with clear distinction between black and white, shining with vigorous vitality in her nimble glances left and right, revealing cleverness, hiding cunning jests and eccentric spirit.

  She wore a simple white tank top, her slender and tall figure was still a relatively flat plain compared to Xia Lichun's small hill; her straight long legs were wrapped in jeans, not delicate but with a sense of tight power.

  The convenience of her clothing allowed her not to have to maintain a dignified demeanor like Xia Liqiu, crouching with her body half-kneeling on the ground, constantly paying attention to the development of the situation outside.

  "But it seems like that girl is talking to my older brother." Xia Liqiu furrowed her pretty eyebrows, looking at the distance in confusion.

  "Autumn, so many boys are chasing you, how come your EQ hasn't increased?" Zhan Er'er turned back, her relaxed expression showing her control over the situation.

  Marrying Xia Zhi's older brother was a grand goal she had set for herself since childhood. The grown-ups all kindly thought this was just her little girl fantasy - Humph, as the cold-faced Xia Fei would say, it was like a toad wanting to eat swan meat! But couldn't he think that with similar outer appearances, why wouldn't she like his "swan" either? Inner qualities are important, okay?!

  "Xia Zhige's temper is so good, gentle and reasonable to everyone, with a noble demeanor. Even if someone confesses to him, he will thank them and politely decline, without making things awkward for the other person. So usually those girls are quite bold, even writing love letters to Xia Zhige like they're writing to a kitten or puppy. It's not common for someone to choose such an important moment to do so."

  Zhan Zhan couldn't help but roll her eyes, Xia Zhige's personality was likable, but it also increased her workload, having to smuggle love letters and carefully review each one for potential threats.

  "Your cold-faced brother is different, his face is as if someone owes him money, with a knife in his eyes and fire in his heart. When he looks at you, it's as if you'll lose a piece of skin. If you want to confess to him, you'd better carefully consider the timing and circumstances."

  It's a pity that Xia Feicheng has such a star-studded face and an athlete-like physique, but he can't appreciate it. Zhan Er'er couldn't help but sigh, what a waste of heaven's gift! How could God give someone as annoying as him a appearance as good as Xia Zhige?

  "Huh? What's the big deal?" Xia Liqiu still didn't understand.

  She let out a deep sigh, her sorrowful eyes gazing at the beautiful face of her deceased friend, and couldn't help but pinch the chubby cheeks, eating tofu in vain. No choice, who made her unable to resist all good things - except that cold wooden head.

  "That girl is so well-off, just look at that arrogant gaze, she's obviously a spoiled brat, and usually, boys fawn all over her, there are plenty of people around her who try to curry favor. So girls like this usually have a quirky personality, don't follow the usual path, and like those weird and unusual types, taking on high difficulty challenges to prove they're different from others. So, she must be into you, cold-faced brother."

  "How did Second Brother become such a weird person?" Xia Lixiu was speechless, really couldn't understand how two people with a three-year age difference could be so incompatible, and when they fought, it was like two little roosters: "You're just guessing, right?"

  "Is that evidence?" Warmed up with a sly smile: "Ordinary people confessing to Xia Zhi Gege would feel sacred and happy, even if rejected they'd be starry-eyed, seeing the male god up close and hearing him say two sentences is happiness too; only those who seem to want to recruit cold-blooded people would have that 'I'll die for this' feeling. Look, that girl was pretending to be natural but her whole body was tense, look at that, even her calf was trembling. Talking with Xia Zhi Gege in a gentle spring breeze-like manner didn't alleviate her symptoms one bit, so the pressure on her came from the person beside her. Why did she feel pressured? Because she cared! Why did she care? Because she liked him!"

  Is this analysis okay? Xia Liqiu had always been unable to understand the structure of this dead party's brain, sometimes it was clever beyond words, and sometimes it felt like a single-minded fool. With some skepticism, he continued to watch, only to see the girl make a swift escape as if she had received a great amnesty, while Xia Zhi's next pink love letter had already been handed over to Xia Feihan with a smile.

  "Wow, you're really something." Xia Liqiu couldn't help but admire her at this time. Although Jiang Daran often hung out with the boys like a silly kid, this girl's thoughts were incredibly clear. "Can we go home now? Big brother didn't drink much, so that kind of thing where you lose control after drinking shouldn't happen, right? Plus, there's also Second Brother keeping watch."

  Good heavens, if Second Brother finds out that I have such evil thoughts in my mind now, he will definitely scold me severely. Hmm, then Big Brother will appear as a peacemaker, and I'll have another reason to adore him.

  "Wait a bit longer." Zhan Erduo gazed at his dream girl with patience, as long as she was there, how could he let other girls have a chance?

  She just hopes that Xia Zhige, who can't hold his liquor, will get drunk, and then she, the young lady knight, can escort him home, and maybe, like in that TV drama episode her aunt loves to watch, she'll have a chance to take advantage of the situation...

  Wait, wait, wait, those on TV are all adults. Speaking of which, shouldn't she go and supplement some physiological hygiene knowledge? Otherwise, if there's a chance, wouldn't it be a missed opportunity to practice?

  Zhan Zhan secretly made up her mind, and thought to herself that she would go find Xiao Pang and the others tomorrow to borrow one of those teachers they admired so much.

  "Hurry up! My brother and them are leaving!"