174: Seamless

As time passed, the noise from the stadium could be heard backstage, indicating that the teachers and students of Ancheng No. 7 Middle School had begun entering the venue.

The air conditioning was on in the backstage lounge, and after a while, feeling warm, Lin You and Du Zhaoyu took off their outermost down jackets.

Under Du Zhaoyu's down jacket, she wore a Ming-style white stand-collar jacket over a dark blue Ming-style horse-face skirt. Her hair was half-up, half-down. Dressed in the same ancient style as Lin You, she looked like a pampered young lady from the Ming Dynasty.

"I'm wearing Tang-style traditional clothing, and you're wearing Ming-style traditional clothing. Don't we look mismatched?"

"It's not like we're acting in a costume drama; it's just for the school gala performance. I chose what I thought looked good."

"Since you're beautiful, everything you do is right."

Du Zhaoyu was very pleased, tilting her head and shaking it from side to side. Those nearby who were paying attention to the two ancient-style youths were instantly hit by a double dose of beauty and cuteness.

Are these grade 12 old fogeys really working this hard?

Shouldn't you be studying hard and preparing for the College Entrance Examination? Why are you doing guzheng and sword dancing, and even paying out of pocket for two sets of obviously expensive traditional clothing?

Seriously? What are you aiming for?

The gala programs aren't even judged for awards!

...In the backstage lounge, another area was also attracting most people's attention. It was the girls from the grade 11 liberal arts class who were preparing to perform a hot dance. They had all changed into black stockings and short skirts, their youthful and vibrant bodies being extremely eye-catching.

"If you want to look, then just look. Peeking makes you seem pretentious." During the waiting period, Du Zhaoyu held it in for a bit, but finally couldn't help but call Lin You out.

"Pretentious?" Lin You shook his head. "I wasn't staring, only because their legs are far inferior to yours, Xiao Yu'er."

Lin You was not flattering her. Du Zhaoyu was 1.7 meters tall with excellent proportions, having shapely thighs and long, slender calves. The group of girls from the liberal arts class opposite were only noteworthy because there were so many of them... After all, it's not every day you see a group of high school girls in black stockings and short skirts with beautiful legs standing together.

After waiting a little longer, seven o'clock in the evening finally arrived.

The hosts of the gala were students from grade 11. grade 10 students had just entered school, grade 12 students were busy with academics, so grade 11 was the main force for these kinds of campus activities.

As the opening remarks concluded and the host announced the next act, the girls from the grade 11 liberal arts class began walking out of the backstage area together for their dazzling entrance. Almost immediately, Lin You heard deafening, mountain-shaking cheers erupt from the stadium.

Lin You held back for a long time, and finally, Du Zhaoyu, suppressing a laugh, suggested, "How about we go to the edge of the backstage area and take a look?"

Lin You verbally declined, saying, "Ah, they're just average, probably nothing much to see, but if you want to look, Xiao Yu'er, I'll reluctantly accompany you."

Yet, his steps were brisk and powerful, and in just a few strides, he rushed to the edge of the backstage curtain, staring intently at the beautiful girls on stage while waving to Du Zhaoyu.

How surprisingly conscientious of him.

The girls from the liberal arts class on stage were dancing to the song "Calorie."

After completing their opening poses, as the music prelude began, the girls started moving in sequence, and the enthusiastic atmosphere of the entire venue never ceased.

Until the song ended, Lin You swallowed, looked at Du Zhaoyu, who had been staring at him the whole time, and said calmly, "Average. They probably haven't practiced long enough. The climax of the dance wasn't synchronized enough, and it's obvious a few girls lack stage experience, are a bit nervous, and have issues with their positioning and movement."

Du Zhaoyu had a look of teasing amusement. "Oh, you actually watched the dance?"

Lin You looked completely puzzled. "What else?"

The second performance was a skit by the grade 10 students. Lin You immediately felt bored and returned backstage with Du Zhaoyu to check the long sword and the guzheng, then check each other's attire.

Five minutes later, the host's voice came from the front. The teacher in charge backstage immediately looked at Lin You and Du Zhaoyu. "Third performance, 'Po Zhen Yue' Guzheng and Sword Dance, prepare to take the stage."

Lin You smiled slightly, holding the sword in his right hand and lifting the guzheng with his left hand alone, showing off even before going on stage.

Du Zhaoyu quickly prepared to help. "The guzheng is heavy, nearly thirty jin. Carrying it like that will strain your hand."

The Students' Union Classmate holding the guzheng stand and stool nearby looked speechless. It was their job to help the performers move their equipment, but since Lin You was showing off, they were happy to slack off a bit.

"When I do things, you can rest assured."

Lin You smiled at Du Zhaoyu. Although a thirty-jin guzheng was not light to lift with one hand, given his current physique, it was no problem at all.

As the host finished the announcement, Lin You and Du Zhaoyu stepped onto the stage together.

Because there was no curtain blocking them, as soon as Lin You and Du Zhaoyu stepped onto the stage, the areas where grade 12 class 7 and grade 12 class 1 were sitting immediately became restless.

Envy was real, and jealousy was not false, but support would also be given.

The members of grade 12 class 7 applauded loudly, and cheers and whistles were incessant.

The feelings of the grade 12 class 1 students were much more complicated. After many exams, most students in grade 12 class 1 had seen Lin You in Exam Room One and knew that the relationship between Lin You and Du Zhaoyu was extraordinary, but... this performance was submitted under the name of grade 12 class 1!

Most of the boys in grade 12 class 1 were cheering and applauding for their class treasure, Du Zhaoyu, while also having to endure Lin You showing off in front of all the teachers and students... On stage, Lin You stood while Du Zhaoyu sat. One lightly stroked the guzheng with both hands, the other lightly held the long sword with one hand.

The next moment, as the accompaniment began, only a few seconds passed before Du Zhaoyu's fingers fluttered, the guzheng strings vibrated, and clear, resonant sounds flowed out. On the other side, Lin You thrust his long sword straight out, and his whole body began to dance like a swimming dragon.

"Po Zhen Yue" is a piece created by Master Guan Dazhou for the National Treasure program. The original work includes numerous instruments, and the special version Du Zhaoyu played on the guzheng lasted 3 minutes and 19 seconds.

Both of them had experienced multiple scenarios facing the entire school's teachers and students, so after only a brief moment of nervousness at the start, they fully immersed themselves in their performance.

Lin You's sword completely mirrored the rhythm and emotion of the guzheng. When the zither sounds were rapid like raindrops, his sword transformed into a flash of silver light, pointing, stabbing, lifting, and sweeping, the movements so fast that the blade was almost invisible. When the zither sounds transitioned to a deep, suppressed passage, his movements also became solemn, the sword momentum slowed, but the sense of power remained undiminished.

The coordination between the two was as if their minds were connected, seamless perfection.

Below the stage, the initial enthusiastic atmosphere was replaced by breathless concentration.

Teachers and students no longer whispered; their gazes were firmly locked on the stage. The clear resonance of the guzheng and the fierce sharpness of the sword dance simultaneously mobilized everyone's sight and hearing, making them feel the palpable tension—

In less than four minutes, the performance came to an abrupt halt. Du Zhaoyu looked up, her fingers gently stroking the zither strings, a joyous smile on her face, her gaze fixed on Lin You nearby, as if the whole world contained only him.

Lin You sheathed his sword, forming a sword-finger gesture with his left hand in front of him, and holding the sword behind his back with his right hand.

They come like thunder gathering its wrath, and cease like rivers and seas solidifying into clear light!

"Lin You, I want to have your baby!" came the high-pitched shout from the area of grade 12 class 7, courtesy of Li Qingbo.

It seemed like a competition.

"Du Zhaoyu! Will you be my wife!" Su Wenwen shouted her powerful support in a deep voice from the area of grade 12 class 1.