The school beauty is aloof? Whatever, she has a younger sister.

Chapter 188 A Whole Family
On the fourth day after Chu Jie returned home, the school held its New Year's Eve party.

This gala was not only a celebration to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, but also a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of No. 1 Middle School, and it was larger in scale than in previous years.

Because education bureau leaders would be attending the ceremony in person, the school spared no expense in hiring a professional video recording team and makeup artists.

All the participating students were called to the school auditorium for rehearsals on Friday.

Backstage at the auditorium, the logistics department partitioned off four rooms to serve as dressing rooms.

Zhang Muchen thought that since he was a boy, he could skip the makeup process, but he was called to try on clothes as soon as he arrived at the auditorium.

"When the stage lights are on, everyone's face will turn pale, so everyone has to wear makeup."

The makeup artist dismissed him into the dressing room with a single sentence.

"Sis, I don't think I need heavy makeup, right?" Zhang Muchen asked, looking at the makeup artist with short hair.

"Just a light makeup look will do." Makeup artist Zhao Man glanced at it. "Simple highlighting and setting to make it easier to look good on camera under the lights."

"It still has to be the older sister, she's the professional."

Zhao Man smiled and began to put on her makeup seriously.

Meanwhile, a small room next door, originally used for storage, has been temporarily vacated and used as a makeshift dressing room.

The room was small, barely able to fit two chairs and a long table.

The sisters Chu Youting and Chu Jiuli were assigned to this room.

Outside, the sounds of sound system adjustments and the echoes of the host rehearsing his lines came from the stage. But once the door to this small room was closed, it became surprisingly quiet.

Little Yuzu sat in front of the mirror and took off her glasses.

In an instant, that layer of everyday pretense was peeled away, revealing her soft facial features clearly.

After the seal was removed, her eyebrows and eyes bore a six or seven-point resemblance to Chu Jiuli.

Fortunately, the dressing room was small and enclosed, and besides the two sisters, there was only one makeup artist there.

Otherwise, Chu Jiuli would really be worried that her sister would be exposed.

The makeup artist was busy in front of Chu Youting, while Chu Jiuli gently tidied her stray hairs.

"You two actually look quite alike," the makeup artist remarked casually, glancing at them.

Chu Jiuli responded with a faint "Mm".

His voice was neither loud nor cold.

The makeup artist glanced at Chu Jiuli's aloof expression, then looked at Chu Youting, who was keeping her head down and remaining silent.

She silently withdrew her intention to continue chatting.

"Forget it, I'd better not say anything."

The makeup artist silently applied the top.

Campus parking lot.

Xu Qing locked the black BMW, put the keys in her pocket, and tucked her hands into her down jacket.
She looked up at the dimly lit campus path and asked, "Yinglan, do you know the way?"

Mei Yinglan nodded: "I know it. It's right next to the teaching building. I've passed by it a few times before when I went to parent-teacher conferences."

She took a step closer and took Xu Qing's hand, saying, "You're terrible with directions, so keep up, don't get lost."

Xu Qing chuckled softly, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

As Mei Yinglan pulled her along, she muttered under her breath, "Honestly, I really admire you for being such a terrible navigator and yet you can drive yourself."

Xu Qing: "I always use navigation."

Zhang Beifang walked behind the two and interjected with a smile: "I admire you both. One of you is terrible with directions but can still drive, while the other isn't terrible with directions but can't even drive a car."

As soon as he finished speaking, Mei Yinglan turned around and rolled her eyes at him: "You think you're the best!"

Xu Qing smiled gently as she watched the two of them bickering again.

The three of them walked and talked as they went, slowly making their way towards the auditorium.

Five or six minutes later, the three arrived at the entrance of the auditorium, where a student in charge of greeting guests guided them to their seats.

As soon as he sat down, Zhang Beifang looked around and said, "This auditorium is much bigger than I imagined."

Mei Yinglan looked up and pointed to the top of the stage: "Look, there are two more big screens over there."

Zhang Beifang nodded: "This is very convenient; it allows us to see our son's face clearly."

"Do you have a program schedule for the North?" Xu Qing asked.

"Yes." Zhang Beifang took out an A4 sheet of paper from his pocket. "I just asked for one at the door."

Xu Qing took the program list and glanced at it carefully, while Mei Yinglan also came over to take a look.

"Mu Chen is third, eighth, and ninth." "That's amazing, one person singing three songs."

After hearing this, Zhang Beifang straightened his back and said, "My son takes after me!"

Xu Qing smiled and said, "But don't you sing off-key?"

"..."

Mei Yinglan glanced at him and said, "I remember our son sings in the same key as you, but he's completely off-key. How come he's suddenly on stage?"

"Maybe it's puberty."

"."

Mei Yinglan rolled her eyes at him.

You can let your son be as unruly as he wants.

The three chatted and laughed, and more and more people poured into the auditorium, gradually making the venue lively.

At this moment, a student guide came over and politely pointed to the empty seat next to Zhang Beifang: "Uncle, please sit here."

Zhang Beifang subconsciously looked up and met the parent's gaze.

The middle-aged man opposite Zhang Beifang also made eye contact with him for a second.

"Brother, is that you?" Zhang Beifang exclaimed in surprise.

Chu Jie paused slightly, then nodded gently: "Yes, I've come to watch the show."

He sat down next to Zhang Beifang.

Zhang Beifang glanced at him with interest and said with a smile, "I didn't expect your daughter to be studying at No. 1 Middle School. What a coincidence."

Chu Jie didn't respond this time, his gaze fixed on the stage.

Seeing that he was quiet, Zhang Beifang stopped talking to him.

At this moment, Mei Yinglan, who was sitting on the other side, suddenly nudged him gently with her elbow and whispered, "Beifang, look over there..."

Following Mei Yinglan's gaze, Zhang Beifang saw a familiar, pretty figure clattering up the steps in high heels.

"Hey? Isn't that Teacher Liu?"

Mei Yinglan nodded: "Yes, it's Teacher Liu. Mu Chen has received a lot of help from her at school, you should say hello to her."

Zhang Beifang responded and was about to get up and wave when Xu Qing, who was sitting on the outside, waved first and said with a smile, "Xiao Liu, you're here too."

Liu Wuyang paused, not expecting Xu Qing to be there as well.

At this moment, the student guide who had led the way turned around with a smile and said, "Please sit there."

Liu Wuyang glanced in the direction the guide pointed and saw that Xu Qing was right next to her.

"Okay, thank you." Liu Wuyang smiled slightly, then came to Xu Qing's side. "Sister Xu, you're here too."

Xu Qing nodded, smiling gently: "Come and see Mu Chen's performance."

Upon hearing this, Liu Wuyang pursed her lips.

I also came to see Zhang Muchen's performance.

That brat insisted on coming himself.

Liu Wuyang remained calm and simply smiled.

However, just as she was about to sit down, the middle-aged woman sitting next to Xu Qing suddenly smiled and said, "Teacher Liu, I am Zhang Muchen's mother. Do you remember me?"

In an instant, Liu Wuyang's expression froze.

Zhang Muchen's mother...?
She subconsciously turned her head to look at the smiling woman, and then followed her gaze to the familiar middle-aged man next to her.

If I remember correctly, that was Zhang Muchen's father.

Oh no, I went to see a show and now I'm meeting my parents?
Liu Wuyang gave a bitter smile to herself.

“I remember you, I saw you at the parent-teacher conference.” She forced a smile.

Mei Yinglan was about to exchange a few more pleasantries when the host's loud voice suddenly came from the stage, interrupting her.

"The party is about to begin. Please put your phones on silent mode."

As soon as he finished speaking, the lights in the venue dimmed.

Everyone quieted down, sat down, and turned their gazes toward the stage.

The New Year's Eve party is about to begin.

(End of this chapter)