Chapter 160: A Tapestry of Blossoms ④
When Nie Qiu returned home, she told Nie Aifang during dinner that she would be home late after school because of rehearsals, and she had to say this to avoid Nie Aifang worrying.
Regarding the money for the handover clothes and the performance costumes, Nie Qiu felt she could afford them, so there was no need to tell Nie Aifang. However, Nie Aifang asked about it.
“There is money to be paid,” Nie Qiu replied when Nie Aifang asked. “But, Mom, you don’t need to give me any. Didn’t my uncle give me some money before? I have enough.”
“That’s good,” Nie Aifang said with a smile. “If you don’t have enough, just ask, and I’ll get it for you.”
“Okay!” Nie Qiu smiled and nodded, put a chopstickful of food on Nie Aifang’s plate, and then started eating herself.
Before going to sleep that night, Nie Qiu entered her space. Now she could control where she went. Thinking of the place where she buried the money, Nie Qiu naturally stood there after entering the space.
She closed her eyes under his expectant gaze. When she opened her eyes again, the pencil case stained with mud appeared before Nie Qiu. She squatted down, took out three hundred yuan from it, and after thinking for a moment, took out another two hundred yuan.
The next afternoon was time for dance practice. Seven boys and seven girls gathered in a clearing in the school’s back garden. Because of the presence of the plump Zhao Bao Cui, they couldn’t wear the same clothes to dance as in the MV. When Nie Qiu saw Zhao Bao Cui yesterday, she had already decided that the seven of them would wear costumes from different eras to dance, while Zhao Bao Cui would wear Tang Dynasty music and dance attire that celebrated plumpness. Although they would all perform the same moves, their formations and performance styles would differ when they took their positions.
The boys were also dressed in clothing corresponding to the girls’ respective dynasties. They coordinated with the girls during position changes, performing one-on-one dance exchanges.
Nie Qiu was not a professional, so while the design was innovative, the rehearsals were very strenuous for everyone. Without guidance, they could only follow the formations on Peng Yu Yang’s mobile phone. However, with the addition of the boys, the formations became quite chaotic. Although the boys sometimes joked around, they were very serious at this moment. But not knowing how to change positions or formations, the first day of rehearsal was only for practicing basic movements.
Bai Ya stood behind a ginkgo tree not far away, frowned disdainfully, slung her schoolbag over her shoulder, and turned to leave.
As it was nearing seven o’clock, everyone was exhausted. Finally, Nie Qiu told Huang Yan to end the practice, and they all left, supporting their arms and twisting their waists.
Since evening self-study session was about to start, everyone was going to the small store to buy snacks. Only Nie Qiu said goodbye to them and headed home.
Zhang Haiyang, Luo Xu, and Li Kai were walking together. Seeing Huang Yan, who was walking behind them, holding Peng Yu Yang’s arm and talking, they slowed down.
“Nie Qiu doesn’t have to set up her stall at night anymore! Why isn’t she attending evening self-study?” Huang Yan asked, somewhat confused.
“I don’t know either,” Peng Yu Yang said, handing his mobile phone to Huang Yan. “You go to the small store first, I need to go back to the classroom.”
“Oh.” Huang Yan took Peng Yu Yang’s mobile phone and watched him walk away.
As soon as Peng Yu Yang left, Zhang Haiyang leaned closer to Huang Yan and said with a lewd grin, “Hey, Huang Yan, do you like Peng Yu Yang?”
Huang Yan was startled and looked at Zhang Haiyang, who had suddenly appeared beside her. “What nonsense are you talking about? Be careful, or I’ll rip your mouth open!” After saying that, Huang Yan snorted and turned to leave.
“Hey, hey, hey! I was just joking, why are you angry?” Zhang Haiyang reached out, about to chase after her.
Unexpectedly, Huang Yan, who had just turned around, turned back. Zhang Haiyang froze, looked down at his hand, and felt softness under his palm.
Huang Yan was also stunned. Her head mechanically followed Zhang Haiyang’s gaze to her chest.
Zhang Haiyang was also dumbfounded. A boy in adolescence naturally yearns for girls! When he felt the softness under his hand, he instinctively cupped his hand. In Huang Yan’s perception, it was as if Zhang Haiyang had deliberately grabbed her!
With a ‘slap!’, Zhang Haiyang was slapped by Huang Yan. The force wasn’t very strong, but the sound was enough to make the classmates walking ahead stop and look at them.
“Pervert!” Huang Yan said, angrily turned and ran, clutching her upper body, passing the classmates ahead, and quickly disappeared from everyone’s sight. She even bumped into Luo Xu, who had just turned around.
Everyone was a bit stunned. What they saw was Zhang Haiyang looking silly, and Huang Yan slapping Zhang Haiyang. They didn’t see Zhang Haiyang accidentally touching Huang Yan.
Ma Xin walked forward with some concern, waved his hand in front of Zhang Haiyang, who was covering his face with a lost expression, “Haiyang, what’s wrong? What happened?”
Zhang Haiyang glanced at Ma Xin, his expression extremely strange, which momentarily stunned Ma Xin. He came to his senses and nudged Zhang Haiyang’s shoulder. “Hey, I say, kid, you’re not possessed, are you? What happened just now? Why did Huang Yan hit you?”
“No, no, she was just finding her feeling,” Zhang Haiyang said with a smile, looking at Ma Xin and chuckling.
“Finding her feeling?” Everyone exchanged glances. Huang Yan and Zhang Haiyang were indeed wearing Hanfu at the same time for the dance, but… it shouldn’t be to find the feeling of dancing. Then… what was it for?
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing. You all go to the small store to eat! I’ll go find Huang Yan. If I don’t eat later, I’ll be hungry during evening self-study,” Zhang Haiyang said with a smile, waved his hand, and headed in the direction Huang Yan had run off.
Luo Xu frowned and said to Ma Xin, “A Xin, you follow him and see. I’m afraid something might happen… We’ll buy food for you guys.”
Ma Xin nodded and chased after Zhang Haiyang’s retreating figure.
Wang Chao Lei clutched his stomach. “Hurry up! Hurry up! I’m starving.” After speaking, he headed towards the small store first. Although others were curious, they had eaten lunch and some snacks in the afternoon. After practicing after school for so long without eating, the most important thing now was to fill their stomachs. As for other things, they would deal with them later!
Ma Xin caught up with Zhang Haiyang and grabbed him. “Hey, I say, did you provoke Huang Yan? Why did she slap you?”
Zhang Haiyang was still somewhat dazed. Huang Yan’s hands were small, and her strength wasn’t great. Zhang Haiyang didn’t actually feel any pain. In fact, after being slapped by Huang Yan, his heart suddenly stirred with a sweet and sour feeling.
