I have few friends, but many childhood sweethearts.

Chapter 366. It's done.

Xu Qingfan climbed the steps one by one, and the once noisy auditorium instantly quieted down by more than ten decibels, which was the best salute to his handsome appearance today.

Many girls were so surprised they forgot to breathe, their eyes fixed on the slowly moving figure.

It wasn't until Xu Qingfan took the microphone from the teacher and spoke his first words of the night that they realized that looking at handsome guys didn't affect their breathing.

"Hoo-hoo~ Hello?"

A buzzing sound of electricity rang out overhead. Noticing the sudden silence, the students who had been chatting and playing on their phones, just like him, also stopped what they were doing, and the auditorium became completely quiet.

It was as if all the noise tonight was just for this moment: the protagonist of the anime story appeared, and all the audience fell silent.

Under the stage lights, he seemed to be shrouded in a hazy veil, clearly visible yet impossible to form a complete image in one's mind.

Before even stepping onto the stage, Xu Qingfan had already decided on the program he would perform: a song perfectly suited to depict youth and their dazzling sixteen-year-old selves.

He gripped the microphone tightly, calmly watching Lin Wanning waving excitedly below the stage.

"Brother Qingfan, look here! I'm here!"

Despite the strange looks she received from her classmates and teachers, the girl seemed completely oblivious, her shouts continuing unabated, her eyes fixed solely on Xu Qingfan.

"Brother!" Zhang Yiyi shouted after him, raising her megaphone as well.

"I saw it." Xu Qingfan gestured to the two of them, then continued, "Good evening, students and teachers."

The opening remarks were rather unoriginal, and just as some people were thinking this and preparing to continue looking down at their phones, Xu Qingfan uttered his third sentence of the day:

"A melody has been swirling in my mind for many nights, and I think it's especially suitable for us sixteen-year-olds. I'm sharing it with you all."

After he finished speaking, he bowed to the audience at a 45-degree angle, handed the microphone back to the host, and then pointed to the piano and began to talk to him.

Whispers also broke out in the audience, many of whom did not quite understand what Xu Qingfan had just said.

"What do you mean by having a melody constantly swirling in your mind? What is he going to perform?"

"How should I know? I should have known I was the one going up on stage to show off!"

"Damn it, I feel like I can't be the school heartthrob with him around!"

"Can you just die?"

Wang Xuan also didn't understand the meaning of Xu Qingfan's words. She asked Xiao Ruanwen curiously, "Ruanwen, what did Fanfan mean by what he just said?"

She originally wanted to call him Brother Fan directly like they did, but when she met Xiao Ruanwen's gaze, she changed her address for some reason.

"It's nothing, it's just what it sounds like. Fan Ge sometimes writes songs in his spare time, maybe he's had some inspiration again!" Xiao Ruanwen showed her white teeth, looking extremely happy.

[Finally, Kris Wu is writing a new song! I haven't updated my videos in almost half a year!]
"Oh, it's songwriting. Songwriting?" Wang Xuan nodded blankly, then quickly realized what was going on and opened her mouth wide in surprise.

"It's an original work!"

"I wonder if Xu Song is involved."

"Bullshit! How could a high school student compare to Xu Song!"

Clearly, Xiao Ruanwen wasn't the only one knowledgeable about music theory. After being enlightened by enthusiastic members of the public, many people now knew what Xu Qingfan was planning to do.

Xiao Ruanwen narrowed her eyes, ignoring the surrounding chatter.

[Hilarious, they have no idea how awesome Fan Ge is!]
Soon, after tuning the piano, Xu Qingfan sat down on it.

His fingers swept lightly across the black and white piano keys, and the notes he produced seemed to have a magical power, silencing the previously hushed conversation in the auditorium once again.

"I came across a melody in a dream, and I named it Fireworks. I hope you all like it."

2351 2351, ten slender fingers began to wander across the piano keys, the notes danced, and a beautiful melody began to echo in the auditorium.

If it were ten years from now, as soon as the intro starts, 99% of the listeners would shout out the song's name—Uchiage Hanabi!
But in the late summer of 2011, everyone felt refreshed and closed their eyes in unison.

Midsummer, seagulls, azure sea, and the wind is like a girl's dancing long hair.

Temple fairs, liquor, dazzling fireworks—half the sky is bright, half is the night sky, and all that remains is the girl's smile as she turns around.

Everyone's feelings are different, but they are all the most beautiful things buried deep in their hearts.

The first half of the song is uneventful, much like most people's youth, without dramatic love or extraordinary experiences.

Every day, I go to class, finish class, and go home. Although it's as bland as a glass of plain water, I still love everything that belongs to me!
Just when everyone thought so, Xu Qingfan's fingers struck the piano keys faster and faster, and the notes became more and more frequent.

Like fireworks rising into the sky, bursting into brilliant bloom at the highest point.

It's as if they're recounting their youth together.

Just like every cicada that buries itself underground for seventeen years, only to break through the soil and sing for two months in the height of summer, and then youth quietly slips away.

Many people opened their eyes again, their blood boiling, and for no apparent reason, they felt an urge to cry.

On the stage, the boy was still playing the piano; in the dim light, only a blurry outline could be seen.

Even though the melody was sometimes choppy, and even though the auditorium's speakers were completely out of tune, this is exactly what youth should be like!
The melody is youthful and the setting is authentic. There's no flashy electronic music, and the stage isn't elaborate, but it feels all the more natural.

As the music ended, thunderous applause and cheers erupted in the auditorium, though it was unclear who started it.

Xu Qingfan flexed his fingers and stood up again, took the microphone from the host, and stood in front of the stage once more.

He shook the microphone in his hand, and the applause and cheers gradually subsided.

Xu Qingfan organized his thoughts and slowly began to speak:
"I am Xu Qingfan from Class 16 of Grade 1. I forgot to introduce myself. Um, the name of the song I just played was Fireworks. I wish all of you students that the next three years will be as brilliant as fireworks. I hope that everyone who listens to this song will be happy forever."

After a brief silence, as Xu Qingfan bowed again at a 90-degree angle, even more enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted from the audience.

"One more song!"

"Play it again!"

"."

Ignoring the cheers from his classmates, Xu Qingfan loosened the top button of his shirt and slowly walked off the stage.

"Brother Qingfan!"

"Brother, brother!"

Lin Wanning waved to Zhang Yiyi from his seat. Although Xia Xiaoxiao didn't say anything, the girl sitting behind them was also watching him.

Xu Qingfan smiled, realizing it wasn't appropriate to walk to the center of the seats and look for the three people in front of so many people.

He took out his phone from his pocket and waved it at them. The three girls, who received the signal, immediately understood and turned on their phones one by one.

This scene was noticed by only a small group of people. The boys envied their class's goddess for being so enthusiastic towards him, while the girls envied Lin Wanning and Zhang Yiyi for actually knowing Xu Qingfan.

"Do you know that boy who just performed on stage in Wan Ning?" a girl immediately asked curiously.

"Mmm!"

Lin Wanning nodded perfunctorily, her eyes fixed on her phone screen, where she left a message in the group chat: 【So handsome! Qingfan-gege looks so handsome tonight!】

Wow, Fan Ge really pulled it off.

[My brother is so handsome! [Images][Images]]

[You have a new song but didn't tell me! Fan Ge, I want a new song!]

[Fan Ge is awesome!]

Thank goodness we didn't let him wear flip-flops tonight; it was embarrassing for us!

The group chat was already in an uproar. The girl who had been brushed off was slightly annoyed, but fortunately Zhang Yiyi stepped in to smooth things over: "We were classmates in elementary and middle school, and we're best friends!" The girl's eyes lit up: "Friends? Can you introduce me to them? Don't misunderstand, I just want to ask you some questions about the piano!"

Zhang Yi smiled and said, "Then I'll ask him for you."

"Thank you, Yi Yi, you're so kind!"

"You're welcome." Zhang Yi smiled broadly, but in his heart he was thinking: I'm not going to introduce my brother to you!
On the other side, Xu Qingfan, who had returned to Class 16, was immediately surrounded by his classmates as if he were a precious giant panda.

When someone is slightly better than you or inferior to you in some aspect, people often feel jealous of some of their valuable qualities.

But when someone is so outstanding in every way that they are impeccable, incredibly handsome, academically excellent, and even a composer, then regardless of gender, no one will feel a trace of jealousy; only admiration and awe will remain.

The classmates who had previously harbored resentment towards Xu Qingfan no longer had any grudges against him at this moment.

He Caiting stared intently at Xu Qingfan's figure, and soon a plan to get closer to her idol came to mind.

"Wow~ Brother Fan, you kept this from me for so long, a new song, a new song!" Xiao Ruanwen slapped him as if she were talking to a 'deadbeat', and then eagerly reached out her hands to ask for it.

Wu Lingyu turned around, leaned on the chair, smiled at him, and just stared at him quietly.

Xu Qingfan reached out and pinched Xiaoyu's cheek: "Is this your new friend? Aren't you going to introduce her to me?"

Xie Rui, who also turned around, was slightly taken aback, but then introduced himself generously: "Hello classmate, my name is Xie Rui, and I am Dian Dian's deskmate."

Xu Qingfan chuckled, releasing his grip on Wu Lingyu's hand and asking with a smile, "How come you already have a nickname after only one day of school? Where did 'Dian Dian' come from?"

Wu Lingyu pursed her lips shyly and explained, "The character 'Yu' (玉) can be broken down into 'Wang' (王) and 'Dian Dian' (点点), so it's called 'Dian Dian' (点点)."

"Wow~ Fan Ge's 'Fan' can be broken down into 'spot' and 'point', so can his nickname be 'spot' or 'point'?" Xiao Ruanwen instantly forgot about the new song and joined the conversation. "Hello Xie Rui, my name is Xiao Ruanwen, I'm Xiao Yu, um, I'm Point's best friend!"

Xu Qingfan rolled his eyes speechlessly. What kind of nickname is "Jiji"? Is it even acceptable to use such a thing?

"Hello, Ruan Wen." Xie Rui waved to her familiarly, then noticed the calluses on her hands and asked curiously, "Are you also a sports student?"

Xiao Ruanwen glanced at her palms, smiled and shook her head: "No, these are from practicing martial arts and learning musical instruments when I was a child."

"Ruan Wen, you practice dancing too? Let's join the dance club together when school starts!" Wang Xuan's eyes lit up, finally finding an opportunity to interject.

Even if I can't be Xu Qingfan's girlfriend, becoming good friends with Xiao Ruanwen will give me a way to get closer to him. Who knows what the future holds?
This is what Wang Xuan was thinking.

pity.

"Hahaha, it's not that kind of dance, it's martial arts, hahaha, the kind of martial arts you use to fight!" Xiao Ruanwen laughed so hard she almost fell over, and her hands didn't forget to mimic the starting stance of Wing Chun.

"Huh?" Wang Xuan realized that the smiling girl in front of her seemed to be her natural nemesis, always making her hesitate to speak.

Xu Qingfan covered her mouth and nodded apologetically to Wang Xuan: "Don't mind her, that's just how she is."

"No, it's nothing." Wang Xuan felt as if she had suddenly forgotten how to breathe, and her heart was beating faster involuntarily.

Unfortunately, Xu Qingfan only said this one sentence before turning back to chat with Xiaoyu.

“Xiaoyu isn’t good at saying no. If anyone bullies her in class, remember to secretly come to me and tell on her. I’ll treat you to an iced Coke.” He transformed into a doting father and pleaded with Xie Rui.

"Hey~ I'm telling you, with me around, no one will dare to bully Xiaoyu!" Xie Rui patted her chest and then showed off her biceps.

"Brother Fan!" Wu Lingyu was touched, but also annoyed that Brother Fan looked down on her, and said coquettishly.

She knew that Xu Qingfan had specifically given her instructions because of the elementary school matter. Xiaoyu understood everything, but in her heart, she was only happy.

Xie Rui's height is estimated to be the same as Xia Xiaoxiao's. Due to frequent training, his skin is somewhat similar to that of people from Guangzhou. Fortunately, his facial features are still quite delicate, so he doesn't look wild.

Although compared to Wu Lingyu, it's like the difference between a fairy and a maid, the dark-skinned physical education student is still quite popular among those who like this type.

Perhaps it was because Xie Rui was really too dark-skinned that Xiao Ruanwen and Wu Lingyu had no sense of caution and let the two chat and joke around.

Xu Qingfan naturally didn't like dark-skinned people. He got to know her not only because she was indeed interesting, but also because of Xiaoyu.

Time flew by, and the last four classes soon finished their performances. With Xu Qingfan's outstanding performance as a precedent, no one cared what the subsequent performances were.

Fortunately, his class was Class 16. If Xu Qingfan had been the first to perform, the theme of tonight wouldn't have been called the Freshman Evening Party; it would have been better to just rename it "Xu Qingfan's Evening Party."

But in any case, he stole the show tonight.

In a few days, once the short videos he filmed begin to circulate in a small circle and are even uploaded to the Internet, Xu Qingfan will probably become popular again.

Just like how Milk Tea Sister was voted the most beautiful school flower in Qingmu by netizens, Xu Qingfan wondered if he would also be voted the most handsome high school student in the country by discerning netizens.

"Let's go, let's go to the cafeteria for a late-night snack. It's on me tonight. If you don't max out your meal card, you're disrespecting me!" After the host announced that it was their class's turn to leave, Xu Qingfan patted Xie Rui on the shoulder with a grin.

"Damn it, who do you think you are? You believe I'll just buy six chicken legs and treat my roommates to them!"

Xie Rui stood up casually, and Xu Qingfan glanced at him casually, noticing that the glue on his shoes was coming off.

Considering that she was still wearing her junior high school uniform tonight, he could roughly guess that her family wasn't well-off.

However, not being too familiar with her, Xu Qingfan thought to himself, "I'll wait for another opportunity to ask Xiaoyu for help."
As they left, girls kept glancing at Xu Qingfan, probably wanting to ask for his QQ number. However, at this age, the shy high school girls would blush even when talking to the boys they had crushes, so they obviously didn't have the courage to approach him.

"Brother Qingfan, we're here! We're here!"

After leaving the auditorium, Lin Wanning, Zhang Yiyi, and Xia Xiaoxiao, who were waiting at the door, immediately waved to them.

Just as Xu Qingfan was about to step forward, a voice called out to him from behind.

"Xu Qingfan, may I add you on QQ?"

The sound was like bait being thrown into a dense fishpond, causing the girls, who were already itching to move, to stop in their tracks and turn to look at Xu Qingfan in unison.

Soon, the girl who had just spoken came running up to him, wearing denim shorts, fishnet stockings, and the most popular side-swept bangs of the time.

[What do you mean by "non-mainstream"!]
Xu Qingfan was instantly indifferent; a perfectly good six-point beauty had been made to look like a negative one by himself.

"Well, I also play musical instruments. Can I add you on QQ? I'd like the sheet music for the song you just sang." As if afraid Xu Qingfan would misunderstand, she waved her hands repeatedly, "Don't worry, don't worry, I won't take it for free. I'll treat you to dinner, or even milk tea!"

Many girls who were initially hesitant suddenly had a bright idea: That's right, I don't want to add my crush on QQ, I just want the sheet music!

"Xu Qingfan, can I add you on QQ? I'm Liang Ziqi from Class 8!"

"Qingfan, I'd like to form a band. I wonder if you'd be interested?"

"Brother Fan, Brother Fan, I'm also in the junior high school section, can I add you on QQ?"

Many self-satisfied girls crowded forward, each winking at Xu Qingfan.

Just as they were about to take their chances with Xu Qingfan, five girls appeared in front of him without his noticing, like transformed Sailor Moon, protecting him behind them.

"What are you all doing blocking the entrance? Go home right after school, don't block the entrance!"

A teacher noticed the situation and used a loudspeaker to drive the girls away. The girls, who were already feeling ashamed, seemed to grasp at the sound as if it were a lifeline and scattered in all directions.

Seeing the five radiant girls, Wang Xuan instantly lost the courage to follow them. Without saying goodbye, she quietly left on her own.

The five people exchanged glances, and each read the same meaning from the other's eyes.

[They think they can steal our Fan Ge away?!]
Hehe~ Time to go get some late-night snacks!

"The piano music is beautiful; I want to listen to it again when I get back!"

Lin Wanning and Zhang Yiyi each took one of Xu Qingfan's arms, while Xiao Ruanwen pushed him from behind, and Xia Xiaoxiao and Wu Lingyu stood on either side of him.

Amidst the astonished and curious gazes of everyone present, the six of them left as if no one else was there.

"Damn it, so what if you're handsome!"

Only after Xu Qingfan had walked far away did the boy let out a long, indignant sigh.

(End of this chapter)