Gu Fei was still shooting at lunch and sent a message with his schedule. Looking at his plans, it'd be impressive if he finished by dinner.

Jiang Cheng couldn't eat with Gu Fei at noon anyway. Before the bell even finished ringing, Wang Xu had already darted to his side. "Let's go, I sat through the morning just for these couple hours of practice with you this afternoon."  

"Not to see Yi Jing?" Jiang Cheng stacked his books and stood up.

"This is my last chance," Wang Xu looked at him. "A nerd-jock hybrid like you probably can't understand how I feel."

"Let's go," Jiang Cheng said. "Hurry up, I still need to study this afternoon."

"I have to say, Jiang Cheng," Wang Xu followed him out of the classroom, "are you planning to keep sprinting like this until the exams? There's still over half a year left. I'd definitely have collapsed by now if I were you."

"That's why you're not me." Jiang Cheng glanced at him.

There were no issues left with the piece. Wang Xu had applied his full focus and intellect for this chance to show off. He could now coordinate seamlessly with Jiang Cheng, and had even added his own improv, throwing in an interlude alongside the chords Jiang Cheng gave him.

"Don't get nervous tomorrow," Wang Xu said. "You'll mess up if you're nervous. If you can't find a way to jump back in when I play that part tomorrow, I'll give you a signal."

"No need," Jiang Cheng sighed. "I can tell when to come in even without listening."  

"Show-off," Wang Xu scoffed.

"Don't be difficult with me," Jiang Cheng glanced at him. "Just give up."

"Tsk," Wang Xu leaned back, then not knowing what else to say, plucked at the guitar strings and suddenly perked up again. "Oh yeah, let's have Gu Fei bring his nice camera to take some pics tomorrow!"

"Hm?" Jiang Cheng blinked in surprise.  

If Wang Xu hadn't brought it up, he would never have thought of it himself. But... he was participating in something Gu Fei didn't want to, and collaborating with someone else at that. Then having Gu Fei come take pictures?

Although he felt it was because Gu Fei refused to participate in the first place, asking Gu Fei to come photograph still wasn't something he could make himself say.

"The school will have people taking pictures, right?" Jiang Cheng said. "Old Xu is so excited, he'll probably take pics too."

"How could the school's camera compare to his?" Wang Xu said. "He only bought that nice camera to show off. Haven't seen him take any great shots with it either. Such a good chance, why not get some use out of the camera?"

"Let's talk about it later," Jiang Cheng thought for a moment, "For this kind of performance, the dynamic is more interesting than the static. Music and performance come together to convey the feeling. The main opportunity for you is not photos but the live show."

"Oh, is that so?" Wang Xu was a little confused.

"Yi Jing will be sitting right below," Jiang Cheng said. "If you just show her a few photos later, she can see but not hear. Isn't it more important for her to watch you perform live?"

"Ah yes! She'll be sitting right there watching!" Wang Xu slapped his thigh. "Damn! She'll be right there watching!"

"...You didn't think of this before?" Jiang Cheng felt like if he knocked Wang Xu on the head right now he'd hear an echo.

"I knew, but when you put it like that suddenly," Wang Xu rubbed his thighs again, "I'm a little nervous, no, a little excited."

"Practice one more time, I need to go study." Jiang Cheng sighed.

In the afternoon there were no formal classes, just self-study. The teacher sat at the podium waiting for questions, but generally only Yi Jing and one or two others would go up to ask. The teacher was as lonely as snow.

Jiang Cheng had also gone up to ask a few times, but not today. He lay on the desk memorizing.

Half his brain memorized, half wandered aimlessly.

It was quite romantic that Yi Jing would be below watching Wang Xu give his all seemingly to show off but really just so she could see his performance.

Gu Fei would also be sitting below, right? Although not participating, he'd still come to watch.

But Jiang Cheng had no idea what kind of expression or mood Gu Fei would have sitting there.

He had never done something like this.

Gu Fei probably hadn't experienced something like this either.

A memory, that year I played your song, that year you were my audience.

"Your performance is the third one," Old Xu showed Jiang Cheng the program, "The senior class performances are all scheduled first, don't be nervous, do your best later!"

"Mm." Jiang Cheng glanced at the program. The first two were a chorus and solo.

There was still an hour left. The school auditorium had already been set up, and the students had started entering in order by class.

Jiang Cheng sat in the classroom, glanced at Wang Xu sitting opposite him. Those with performances didn't need to enter with the audience, they were all standing outside, going backstage when it was almost time.

"We'll go over after they finish entering?" Wang Xu asked.

"Mm." Jiang Cheng nodded.

"How's my outfit?" Wang Xu pulled at his t-shirt, the silver dragon could blind Jiang Cheng's eyes.

"Mm." Jiang Cheng nodded. He had refused to wear matching outfits with Wang Xu, just wearing his usual clothes, a white t-shirt and jeans. Wang Xu had complained for a long time that he was dressed too unfashionably.

"Should I put on some makeup?" Wang Xu suddenly asked. "Under the stage lights, will I look pale?"

"Get lost." Jiang Cheng answered simply.  

His phone dinged and he glanced down.

- I'm in the auditorium, what number are you?

- Third

After replying to Gu Fei, Jiang Cheng stood up and hopped lightly, "Let's go, Captain."

The auditorium was filled with students, music playing from the speakers. Although their grades weren't good, they were quite capable with these kinds of events. Jiang Cheng even saw someone testing the stage lights.

"I'm nervous." Wang Xu said softly.

"You won't be once you're on stage." Jiang Cheng went to the auditorium entrance and peeked in. He didn't even need a second glance to spot Gu Fei sitting in the third row nearest the door.

Gu Fei also saw him and hooked his lips at them.

Jiang Cheng retreated outside the auditorium and was immediately faced with a barrage of flashes from the school news team.

Then several other girls waiting to go on stage also came up, recording and photographing him nonstop. He had no choice but to move behind Wang Xu.

When the first performance started, Jiang Cheng and Wang Xu entered the auditorium.

"Damn, so many people." Wang Xu muttered.

Jiang Cheng glanced at the audience seats, a huge sea of black. Looking at Gu Fei by the door, he hadn't noticed how many were inside. This glance over made him feel some pressure.

He hurriedly looked back at Gu Fei's spot. Gu Fei was holding up a phone, probably recording video. Jiang Cheng had felt a little disappointed he hadn't brought his DSLR to photograph, but then realized Gu Fei's camera was in Yi Jing's hands beside him.

Yi Jing was very seriously photographing them.

Jiang Cheng smiled.

Gu Fei gave him a thumbs up.

There were quite a few people backstage. Old Xu was also there, talking to the teacher in charge of audio. Jiang Cheng felt Old Xu had also put his all into this. The big characters on stage 'No. 4 Middle School Gala' or something were written by Old Xu, and he was busy with all kinds of things backstage.

"Teacher Xu!" Wang Xu rushed over like he'd seen family as soon as he saw Old Xu. "I'm nervous."

"Don't be nervous, don't be nervous," Old Xu patted him. "I've heard you guys rehearse so many times, no problems at all, absolutely perfect. Just do it like you rehearsed!"

Jiang Cheng hadn't been very nervous originally, but Wang Xu kept emphasizing it over and over, making him a little nervous too. He unconsciously felt his pockets for a cigarette, luckily they were empty.

"How is it?" Old Lu also appeared from who knows where, a staff pass around his neck. "You guys are third right?"

"Yes." Jiang Cheng nodded. For just a school event they even had staff passes? And Old Lu was wearing it so properly... he suddenly wanted to laugh, immediately not nervous anymore.

"Our school has never had a student play piano before," Old Lu said. "Jiang Cheng is the first."

"There's never been guitar either, right?" Wang Xu piped up, a little dissatisfied.

"There has, quite a few," Old Lu said. Then he seemed to think of something and patted Wang Xu's shoulder. "But piano and guitar together, that's a first."

Wang Xu smiled, satisfied.

Jiang Cheng glanced suspiciously at Old Xu, but he had already moved on to chat about other things with that teacher, so Jiang Cheng didn't say anything more.

"Jiang Cheng," the female host standing to the side touching up her makeup called him. Smiling, she said, "I thought you and Gu Fei would perform together this time."

"When does Gu Fei ever participate in stuff like this," Wang Xu cut in. "No one can get him to."

"Ah, I'd really love to hear him sing or something." The host looked very regretful, probably one of Gu Fei's fangirls from another class. Jiang Cheng couldn't recognize her with the heavy makeup anyway.

Without the makeup he probably still wouldn't recognize her. He didn't even know all of his own class yet.

Applause came from below again, Wild Boar's song was over.

"You guys get ready," the host said as she walked toward the stage, lifting her dress. "Do your best, Jiang Cheng!"

"What about me?" Wang Xu asked.

The host didn't have time for him and went straight on stage.

"What the hell?" Wang Xu was a little unhappy.

"Good luck," Jiang Cheng patted Wang Xu's arm and tilted his chin to the side. "Yi Jing is here."

Wang Xu turned and saw Yi Jing coming in from the stage door holding a camera. He immediately hopped excitedly in place. "Jiang Cheng, don't drag me down later!"

"Okay." Jiang Cheng smiled.

On stage, the host said some nonsense before announcing: "Next is a very special performance. Our school has never had this kind of act before. Do you want to hear what piano and guitar sound like together?"

Jiang Cheng sighed. He wanted to tell her piano and guitar were a basic, common combination.

The applause and cheers were clearly more enthusiastic than when Wild Boar had come on stage. This made Jiang Cheng quite comfortable.

"Then let's enjoy together, from Class 8 the performance "Sa Ye", piano and arrangement by Jiang Cheng, guitar by Wang Xu..."

Jiang Cheng closed his eyes to focus himself.

Amidst the continuous applause and whistles, the host added: "Composition, Gu Fei."

The auditorium first quieted, then exploded into wild applause and screams loud enough to blow the roof off.

Jiang Cheng's eyes shot open. After freezing for a second, he grabbed the program sitting on the nearby table.

Piano and arrangement: Jiang Cheng
Guitar: Wang Xu

There was no third line.

"What's going on!" Jiang Cheng turned and glared at Old Xu, keeping his voice low.

"I don't know!" Old Xu was also stunned.

"Jiang Cheng, let's go." Wang Xu pulled him. "It's time."

Jiang Cheng didn't know what he was feeling right now. Brushing past the host, looking at the smile on her face, Jiang Cheng had the urge to hit a girl for the first time.

He didn't know Gu Fei's reasons for not participating in this performance, but Gu Fei shouldn't have any objections to him playing his song. But now suddenly adding 'composition by Gu Fei'...

The uncertainty and unease in his heart made his hands go cold. He didn't know how Gu Fei would react to this.

He was too preoccupied to pay attention to the enthusiastic reaction from below as he followed Wang Xu on stage. He quickly glanced at where Gu Fei was sitting.

Then his whole body sank down.

The seat was empty. Gu Fei had left.