The Sickly Villain Only Wants to Survive

54

The school's choral competition was still being meticulously prepared. During the afternoon study period, no matter where you went in the school building, you could hear coordinated singing, though the quality was up for debate.

"...Class 2 is singing Pearl of the Orient? With their fiery homeroom teacher? How did they end up picking such a gentle song? Our teacher is so mild-mannered, yet he's got us singing Tunnel Warfare. Did they swap souls?"

"You don't get it. It's a competition. Every class wants to perform something powerful to win. Class 2 is probably trying to stand out by doing the opposite."

"I heard Class 2 is even buying new uniforms for the competition. How come our class hasn't done anything yet?"

"Class president? Are we getting new uniforms?"

Tang Nuan, suddenly brought into the conversation, said offhandedly, "We don't need uniforms. Just having our two 'poster boys' on stage will get us three extra points for impression alone."

"..."

With that, everyone in the room turned to look at the two "poster boys" behind her—one studying diligently and the other absorbed in his phone.

After an incident involving a viral video of a fight outside a milk tea shop, and Shao Ming being late to morning class, the room had already buzzed with gossip. But seeing Shao Ming's calm demeanor after returning to class, no one could reconcile him with the aggressive "madman" from the video.

The room fell awkwardly silent for a moment.

Zhu Tong suddenly looked up and scanned the room.

Someone quickly snapped back to reality. "Right! We've got star power in our class!"

The academic star and the young master were reciting the lines for the opening poem, with Lu Zheyu conducting the music. All three were standing front and center, looking sharp.

Although Lu Zheyu's back would be to the audience.

"But are we really not getting new uniforms? I found this student skirt online—it's so cute."

"Art committee, maybe you could ask the homeroom teacher?"

The room became lively again.

Zhu Tong, his mind buzzing with Tunnel Warfare all day, finally settled down to do some homework. But then, he couldn't focus.

He moved closer to Shao Ming, lowering his voice. "After we recite our lines, do we get to just stand there for the rest of the song?"

"Hmm?" Shao Ming looked up from his phone. "What else do you want to do?"

"..."

Zhu Tong didn't want to do anything. He wanted to leave.

"Can we exit after we finish reciting?"

"No way." Tang Nuan, overhearing, immediately turned around. "The choral competition is a class event. You only have a few lines to recite; we're already letting you off easy by not making you sing. You have to stay on stage until the end!"

She then looked at Shao Ming. "It's all your fault. You have no class spirit. Now you've corrupted Zhu Tong."

Zhu Tong: "..."

Honestly, Zhu Tong didn't blame Shao Ming for not wanting to stand there—it was just awkward to remain still.

Not to mention, they'd have to keep smiling at the audience, right?

That would be incredibly uncomfortable.

Shao Ming quickly admitted fault. "Yes, it's my fault."

Zhu Tong found Shao Ming's calmness a bit odd.