July 31, 1998, Friday.
At around 8:30 in the morning, Guan Xuchen arrived at the gate of Gao Xinglang's residential quarter and saw that the latter was already waiting there, holding his bicycle. He trotted over and said with an apologetic look, "Sorry, Lang, I overslept..."
"It's all right. I just came out a little while ago. It's still early," Gao Xinglang revealed his white teeth and replied with a smile.
"That's good." Relieved, Guan Xuchen asked curiously, "Lang, didn't you say you were going rollerblading with some classmates after the activity and wouldn't ride your bike?"
"I wanted to go with you, but you said no." Gao Xinglang shrugged and explained, "Besides, the volunteer activity won't end until 11 o'clock at the earliest. Forget it, maybe next time."
Then he pointed to the backseat of the bicycle and said with a smile, "Soupy, hop on!"
"Okay." Carrying his schoolbag, Guan Xuchen sat sideways on the backseat, then stretched out his right hand to wrap around Gao Xinglang's waist.
"Soupy, hold on tight. We're off." As he spoke, Gao Xinglang pedaled the bicycle forward.
About 20 minutes later, the two arrived at the Kindergarten of Yangcheng Children's Welfare Foundation. They saw many of their classmates already gathered in the open area in front of the kindergarten, standing in twos and threes, chatting and laughing.
"Prince Lang, what were you and Soupy doing? Why are you late?" Ao Feifan said with a playful grin.
"Bro Feifan, don't talk nonsense. It's not even 9 o'clock yet. How can we be late?" Gao Xinglang replied in a slightly annoyed tone while parking his bicycle.
Just then, Hong Yilong came over to greet them. He then smiled at Gao Xinglang and said, "Prince Lang, so you're also participating in the volunteer activity. What a coincidence."
"Right, Long." Gao Xinglang started chatting with Hong Yilong, ignoring Ao Feifan completely. Feeling embarrassed, Ao Feifan walked away to chat with others.
Gao Xinglang then said to Hong Yilong, "I heard you and Soupy both signed up, so I joined in too."
As he spoke, he stole a quick glance from the corner of his eye toward the distance. Guan Muxue, Cai Yunfei, and several other girls were standing together, giggling.
Just then, a middle-aged woman wearing a floral dress rode her bicycle up to the kindergarten gate. After parking the bike, she smiled and asked two or three of the students, "Are you from Xiaoda Middle School?"
After receiving an affirmative answer, the woman walked to the gate, unlocked it with a key, let the students in, then closed it behind them.
Stepping onto the podium in the small playground, she clapped a few times and said warmly, "Alright, students from Xiaoda Middle School, please gather here first."
After the students stood in order, the woman enthused, "Welcome all of you to our kindergarten for the youth volunteer activity today. I'm the director here, and my surname is Zhang. First, I'll give a brief introduction to our kindergarten, and then I'll assign your tasks..."
According to Director Zhang's arrangements, the girls were responsible for organizing toys, wiping down tables and chairs, and cleaning the interior, while the boys would be cleaning the doors, windows, exterior walls, and the small playground, as well as moving some things.
"I think you have labor classes or clean assigned areas at school. Today's tasks are similar..." Director Zhang added with a sheepish smile, "Though cleaning the playground might be tougher. We only have two mops here. They are reserved for the girls for indoor cleaning. As for the small playground, after sweeping leaves, you'll need to scrub the ground with brushes."
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