81: As long as it doesn't involve giving a speech, sword swallowing is fine.

The rain was still falling.

Pitter-pattering against the window lattice.

Although Shen Qingqiu had quelled the commotion during morning reading with an iron fist,

the atmosphere in the classroom remained somewhat restless.

That suppressed excitement was like a spark hidden beneath ashes, ready to reignite at any moment.

Shen Qingqiu lectured a few lines from “Preface to the Biographies of the Actors in the Five Dynasties History”,

and seeing the clearly distracted faces below, she sighed inwardly.

These kids, their souls had been captivated by those two books.

“Alright, let's pause here.”

Shen Qingqiu put down the chalk and clapped the dust off her hands.

The students below instantly perked up, thinking the teacher was about to get angry or give a surprise dictation.

“There’s something I need to announce.”

Shen Qingqiu leaned her hands on the podium, her gaze sweeping across the class.

“New Year’s Day is coming soon.

This year, the school’s New Year’s Day Gala is much grander than before, and each class is required to put on a high-quality performance.”

“Ah…”

A chorus of groans rose from below.

For most students, the New Year’s Day Gala was an awkward affair.

They wanted to watch the fun, but didn't want to perform themselves.

After all, no one wanted to suffer social death in front of the entire faculty and student body,

especially when it also meant sacrificing precious study (phone-playing) time.

“Stop complaining.”

Shen Qingqiu glared at them.

“This is a task.

Hu Cheng, Liu Hui, Zhang Ya,

as class cadres, you should take the lead in brainstorming ideas.

Singing, dancing, skits, crosstalk, anything is fine as long as it’s not against the rules.”

Class monitor Hu Cheng pushed up his glasses, his brows furrowed,

his fingers unconsciously tapping on his textbook,

looking as if he was calculating how to complete the task with the least amount of effort.

Liu Hui, the arts committee member, her eyes lit up as if she had thought of something,

but after glancing at the slouching classmates around her, she deflated and pouted.

As for Zhang Ya, she couldn't even be bothered to lift her head.

No one responded.

The classroom fell into an eerie silence.

Everyone tried their best to minimize their presence, afraid of meeting the teacher's gaze.

Shen Qingqiu’s gaze swept around the classroom.

Zhang Ya?

No, this child is too serious; she'd probably do a poetry recitation, which would be too dry.

Wu Di?

Forget it, besides performing eating two steamed buns at once, he has no other talents.

Finally, Shen Qingqiu’s gaze cut through the layers of obstruction and accurately locked onto the corner of the last row.

Lin Que was lying on his desk,

having built a fortress with a stack of books, completely hiding himself.

With the unique ostrich-like confidence of a student,

if I can't see the teacher, the teacher can't see me.

“Lin Que.”

Shen Qingqiu's voice was penetrating.

No movement from behind the stack of books.

“Stop pretending to sleep.”

Shen Qingqiu raised her voice.

“I know you’re awake.”

Wu Di, next to him, unloyally poked Lin Que in the side and gave him a wink.

The entire class’s gaze collectively gathered in that corner.

Lin Que reluctantly poked half his head out from behind the books, looking bewildered:

“Teacher, I was just reciting that line, ‘Although it is said to be fate, is it not human effort?’ Were you looking for me?”

“Don’t try to change the subject.”

Shen Qingqiu looked at him with a half-smile.

“For the New Year’s Day Gala, you’ll perform a program.”

“Me?”

Lin Que pointed at his nose, his eyes wide.

“Teacher, please spare me.

I’m tone-deaf, my limbs are stiff, and I can’t do anything but eat and sleep.

What do you want me to perform? A live sleeping performance?”

“Stop being a smart aleck.”

Shen Qingqiu wasn't falling for his tricks.

“You’re our class’s first prize winner, and a prominent figure in the whole school. If you don’t lead, who will?”

“Teacher, but… the first prize was for an essay, that’s not a talent.”

Lin Que tried to reason.

“So… how about I write an essay on the spot?

Or recite a 'Heaven’s Letter' or something? That would be very educational.”

“No.”

Shen Qingqiu flatly refused.

“The principal said you are the signboard of our No. 1 Middle School.

Leaders from the city will also be attending this gala, and they specifically want to see what other surprises the student who said ‘Everything has cracks’ has in store.”

Lin Que’s mouth twitched.

This damned reputation.

He should have just honestly read Director Fei’s speech on stage that day.

“Teacher, I really can’t.”

Lin Que said with a bitter face, his voice carrying a hint of pleading.

“I have stage fright; my legs trembled for two days after the last speech.”

“Is that so?”

Shen Qingqiu raised an eyebrow.

“I saw your legs were quite nimble when you confronted Teacher Liu that day.”

The whole class burst into laughter.

Lin Que: “…”

“Alright, it’s settled then!”

Shen Qingqiu made the final decision, not giving Lin Que another chance to speak.

“Anything but a speech, the theme is not limited.

Singing, dancing, musical instrument, talk show, you pick one.

Submit the program list to me before this Friday.”

“Teacher…”

“If you refuse again, your Chinese homework for this semester will be doubled.”

Lin Que instantly shut up.

Double homework? Is that something a human would do?

His current homework was all done by Wu Di; if it doubled, Wu Di would probably revolt first.

“Fine.”

Lin Que slumped in his chair, looking utterly resigned to his fate.

“But I have one condition.”

“Speak.”

“Anything is fine, as long as I don’t have to wear those silly-looking formal clothes.”

“Deal.”

Shen Qingqiu agreed very readily, a triumphant smile flashing in her eyes.

“I believe in your talent, Student Lin.”

Lin Que rolled his eyes.

Talent?

He had no talent whatsoever.

In his previous life, to complete scripts urgently demanded by clients, he was truly a homebody to the extreme.

Singing? Clapping level at KTV.

Dancing? Can't even do broadcast gymnastics properly.

Does he really have to go up and perform sword swallowing?

The class bell rang at the opportune moment, saving Lin Que’s life.

As soon as Shen Qingqiu walked out of the classroom, Lin Que was surrounded.

“Brother Que! What are you going to perform?”

Wu Di looked excited.

“How about we do a skit? I’ll play Old Man Xu, and you play Yang Jian?”

“Get lost.”

Lin Que kicked him grumpily.

“I’ll play your grandpa.”

“Don’t be like that!”

Wu Di rubbed his backside.

“Then how about ‘the ferryman’? You play Tristan, and let Zhang Ya play Dylan?

Wow, if we perform that, it would definitely bring down the house!”

Zhang Ya, hearing this, her cheeks inexplicably flushed,

she turned and glared at Wu Di, scolding him in a low voice:

“Wu Di, what nonsense are you spouting! If you keep talking rubbish, I’ll tear your mouth off!”

Lin Que couldn't be bothered with these troublemakers.

Just then, a scream came from somewhere in the front row.

“Holy cow—!!!”

A sharp sound cut through the noise of the break.

“What’s wrong?”

“Why are you yelling, you scared me!”

Meeting the puzzled gazes of the crowd, the boy tremblingly aimed his phone screen around.

His voice was trembling:

“The… the human world is like a prison, it’s updated!”

Everyone let out a slight breath.

“I thought something serious happened, but you have to admit, Dream Weaver has been updating quite frequently this time!”

“So it’s updated, what’s the big fuss about!”

The whole class was just about to sit down.

The boy’s voice trembled even more, almost a roar:

“No… this update is…”

“The grand finale!”

...