This humble Taoist priest wants to take the college entrance exam.

Chapter 200 The School Sports Meet Begins

At 7:10 a.m., the sun had just risen.

The green belt next to the playground still had dewdrops from last night, and golden light had already spread throughout the entire campus.

The flagpole in front of the track and field was the first to be illuminated, its silver surface reflecting the dawn light.

The athletes' march rang out from the loudspeakers in each teaching building, and the school suddenly became lively. Students from each class, wearing different colored and styled class uniforms, came downstairs to gather at the track and field.

"Go, go, go!"

"Will the class monitor still be holding the sign this year?"

"Where's the sign!"

"I'm holding it!"

"Should we take the water we bought now?"

"Let's assemble and march in formation first, then come back up to get it later!"

“Go! Go! Go!”

The lively atmosphere was no different from celebrating the Chinese New Year.

Qiu Yufu ran around busily, and just got the badge from the academic affairs office. After the other students played with it, the badge ended up in Chen Shi'an's hands.

Not knowing where Lin Mengqiu had gone, Chen Shi'an took the sign downstairs for her.

The foam board signs are very light and were made to order by the school. The signs for science classes are blue and the signs for humanities classes are red, with the words "[Grade 11 Class 5]" printed on them.

When you get to the track and field, the once uniform blue and white school uniforms have been replaced by all sorts of costumes. If it weren't for the school's rule against wearing outlandish costumes, there would probably be all sorts of cosplay.

Chen Shi'an spotted the group of students from Class 11 at a glance, including Wen Zhixia who was mixed in with them.

The girl took off her school uniform jacket, revealing a bright red hoodie that served as the class uniform. Just as she had said, the group of students in Class 11 standing together looked exactly like a bunch of big red tomatoes.

Wen Zhixia saw him too, and ran over like a little tomato, looking curiously at the sign in his hand:
"Taoist priest! Are you the one holding up the sign for your class?"

"No, the class monitor is holding the sign. She probably went to the restroom, so I'm just holding it for her. Will you be holding the sign for your class later?"

"Yes, I'm quite nervous, there really are reporters here!"

"Where?"

"Those two guys over there on the stage, carrying cameras and microphones, that must be them."

Chen Shi'an looked toward the podium, where several school leaders and education bureau leaders were chatting.

As the principal, Lin Ming was naturally present. It was clear that Uncle Lin had specially tidied himself up today, dressed in a very formal manner.

Then there were photographers shooting footage, and reporters with microphones checking the sound recordings and preparing interview transcripts in their notebooks.

Although television and newspapers have declined somewhat, students are still very curious to see reporters.

Major news agencies have also kept up with the times, releasing news through regular channels and having their own official Douyin accounts, frequently editing videos to post on short video platforms.

As the school sports meet approached, a female reporter with a microphone first went to interview people around the track and field stadium.

After glancing at them, the reporter's eyes lit up, and she walked straight toward Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia, who were holding signs, followed by the cameraman carrying a video camera.

Hello, classmate!

"Hello."

"Are you Chen Shi'an, who's very popular on Douyin? I've seen so many videos of you talking about traditional culture on the street, and you talk about it in a very insightful and excellent way!"

"it's me."

"That's such a coincidence!"

The reporter's eyes lit up. An excellent news interview must have a topic. Chen Shi'an is a Taoist priest, a student at Yunqi No.1 Middle School, an internet celebrity, and handsome. Obviously, no student has more topics and attention than him.

"Chen Shi'an, may I have a moment to interview you?"

"sure."

Chen Shi'an looked at the reporter, who was a head shorter than him, and then glanced at the camera lens behind her. He showed no fear and smiled naturally.

Will I be on TV?

Chen Shi'an's first words made the reporter laugh.

"Yes, yes! We are a local news program from Yunqi TV, and we also have an official account on Douyin. If it's convenient for you, we can link up and create a collaborative video."

"Um, I don't really understand that."

Wen Zhixia was also somewhat surprised. She had just mentioned a reporter, but unexpectedly, a reporter came to interview the Taoist priest.

Facing the camera, the girl was a little nervous. Her big eyes darted around, and the usually talkative girl remained silent, simply standing obediently next to Chen Shi'an, wondering if the camera would capture her in the shot...

"I've seen quite a few fans commenting, saying, 'Chen Shi'an, are you a Taoist priest?'"

"Yes, I had been practicing Taoism on the mountain with my master until this year when I came down to enroll in school."

"I'd like to ask Chen Shi'an how he feels about his current school life?"

"It's great, much more interesting than I imagined. For example, the school sports meet is something I didn't know existed before."

The reporter smiled and asked, "Is the shirt Chen Shi'an is wearing your class's uniform?"

"Yes, it was designed by our class monitor. The students in the class are also very interested in Taoist culture, so the style looks a bit like a Taoist robe."

"Yes, it looks very special! So, Chen Shi'an, what are your goals for this school sports meet?"

"As long as you have fun."

"Okay, and I wish you the best of luck with your results!"

After a brief interview, the reporter went on to conduct random interviews with other students.

After the reporter left, Wen Zhixia, who had been quiet and well-behaved, finally spoke up:
"Taoist priest! You're going to be on TV!"

"Then I'll see if Little Cicada will be on TV too?"

"How would I know? They might cut me off."

"You even cut off such cute little tomatoes?" "You're the little tomato! I'm off, going home, bye-bye—"

After saying that, Little Tomato ran back to her class and chattered to Xiaoyan and the others about the Taoist priest being interviewed.

Lin Mengqiu, who had gone to the restroom, arrived late. She looked like she had washed her face; her pretty face was fresh and radiant.

As a sign-holding contestant in her class, Lin Mengqiu, unlike many other girls who would secretly put on light makeup to present their best image, didn't need to. She only needed to stand there to become the center of attention.

"Why did the squad leader take so long in the restroom?"

"...My hair feels a bit loose."

After her hair was tied up, the girl walked very carefully, as if afraid that the bamboo hairpin would not hold her hair securely and it would all fall down.

"Let me see."

"..."

Lin Mengqiu turned around and faced away from him. Chen Shi'an reached out and gently touched her hair.

"It's okay, it won't fall off unless you pull the bamboo hairpin out. The squad leader is just scaring himself."

"Isn't it loose? I feel like my scalp isn't tight anymore."

"It's not loose. Your scalp is gradually getting used to it. If you still feel it's tight, then it's too tight."

"Oh."

Hearing Chen Shi'an say this, Lin Mengqiu finally felt relieved.

She didn't want her beautifully styled hair to fall out while she was walking in formation holding a sign.

I feel like I've been having a lot of bad luck lately, and I keep setting goals for myself.

"Uncle Lin looks very smart today."

"..."

Seeing that Chen Shi'an kept looking towards the podium, Lin Mengqiu then remembered to look at her elderly father in that direction.

Hey, she even styled her hair in a side slicked-back style...

……

According to the schedule of the school sports meet, the opening ceremony will be held from 7:30 to 8:00.

At this moment, all the teachers and students of the school had gathered at the track and field. Each class stood in neat rows on the track and field according to their usual positions for doing exercises.

Lin Mengqiu also took the class sign from Chen Shi'an and, like Wen Zhixia, stood straight at the front of Class 5, holding the sign.

The first thing is to raise the national flag and play the national anthem.

As the national anthem played, the flag slowly rose, and all the teachers and students, including the leaders on the podium, raised their hands in salute and sang along to the national anthem.

After the flag-raising ceremony, Principal Lin picked up the microphone and gave a brief speech, welcoming people from all walks of life.

Next, the class formations entered the stadium.

Starting with Class 1 of Grade 11, they walked from the track and field to the running track, lined up in formation, and then Class 2, Class 3... each class followed. When they reached the podium, each class shouted a slogan.

It wasn't his turn yet, and Chen Shi'an stood in line watching with great interest.

Soon, it was Class 5 of Grade 11's turn.

Lin Mengqiu, as the sign bearer, walked at the very front of Class 5's formation.

The moon-white cross-collar collar accentuated the girl's long neck. She stood upright with her arms outstretched, holding up the class sign, gazing straight ahead with a cool expression.

Although she is a modern young woman, this outfit adds a touch of elegant antiquity, reminiscent of a lady holding a scroll in an ancient painting.

When Lin Ming saw his daughter holding a sign and walking towards the stage, his eyes lit up.

This was the first time he had seen his daughter dressed like this. She looked beautiful!
A familiar education bureau leader standing nearby chuckled and said, "Old Lin, isn't that your daughter?"

"haha, yes."

"Wow, it's been years since I last saw you, and you've grown into such a beautiful young woman! And Class 5's class uniform is quite unique too!"

"Shi'an is also in this class, probably influenced by traditional culture."

"Excellent, excellent! You've struck gold! I've watched Master Chen's lectures a lot. Such insights at such a young age are truly remarkable. Old Lin, Yunqi No. 1 Middle School really has a good education!"

"Haha, Director Chen is joking."

Apart from Lin Mengqiu holding up the sign, the other students didn't walk as seriously as the class monitor. They looked like a group of young Taoist priests descending the mountain in the morning light, each striking a pose, displaying their youthful individuality.

Chen Shi'an was quite honest. He walked slowly with the formation and when he looked up and saw the leaders on the platform looking at him, he smiled and waved to them.

For a moment, even the leaders didn't know who the real leaders were...

When she reached the front of the podium, Lin Mengqiu stopped and held the class sign even higher.

The formation behind them also changed its formation, forming a number like the character "五" (five).

Qiu Yufu, who was mixed in with the group, took the lead in shouting slogans—

"Class 5, Grade 11, unstoppable! Chasing the light on the field, bravely creating brilliance!"

As the slogans were shouted in unison, Principal Lin smiled and led the applause.

Reporters standing by the school road also pointed their cameras at them.

Lin Mengqiu continued walking forward holding the sign, and the class's formation followed, circling half of the playground before returning to the lawn from the back.

Not long after, the formation of Class 11 also came over.

Chen Shi'an watched with a smile as Wen Zhixia, the little tomato leader, held up the class sign, followed by a bunch of tomatoes, looking just like a vegetable basket full of tomatoes.

Fortunately, there were plenty of young and pretty cicadas holding up signs to support them, so Class 11's formation was always worth watching.

After all the class formations had entered, Principal Lin stood up, smiled, and patted the microphone:
"I hereby declare the Yunqi No.1 High School 2023 Autumn Sports Meet officially open!"

(End of this chapter)