Quick Transmigration: The Control Group in Sweet Novels

The final performance concluded amidst applause, and the host announced the successful conclusion of the school anniversary performance, after which each class left the stage in an orderly manner.

The auditorium began to stir with people, filled with the sounds of lingering discussions.

Qi Yang got up. Perhaps because she had been sitting for a while, her calves were a little numb. She bent down and rubbed her calves. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chen Zuo also get up, as if he wanted to reach out and help her.

Qi Yang immediately stood up straight and zipped up her school uniform jacket.

"Let's go," she said to Ji Tingyu.

Upon hearing this, Ji Tingyu secretly glanced at Chen Zuo, then looked at her friend with a long face, and wisely kept quiet. She took Qi Yang's arm and followed the flow of people toward the exit.

Seeing her dodging, Chen Zuo felt helpless but also amused. He followed them at a leisurely pace, keeping a distance of two or three people from them.

Lou Yu suddenly appeared out of nowhere, hooked his arm around Chen Zuo's shoulder, and said, "Where the hell did you go just now? I didn't see you come over to cheer me on."

Chen Zuo's expression remained unchanged. "Wasn't I cheering you on from the audience?"

Lou Yu saw Qi Yang ahead, his eyes flickered, and he narrowed them, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Did you go to see Qi Yang again? You're such a womanizer!"

Chen Zuo disgustedly brushed his hand away, "Stop with that lewd smile."

"Without you chasing after girls every day, acting all lewd," Lou Yu commented.

Chen Zuo was disappointed. "I was originally planning to treat you to a celebratory dinner..."

Lou Yu immediately changed the subject, pretending to be a brother.

Even before evening self-study started, more than half of the students had already returned to the classroom. The excitement from the school anniversary celebration had not completely dissipated, and everyone gathered in twos and threes, discussing which program would be the most exciting that night, creating a particularly lively atmosphere.

Qi Yang returned to her seat, pulled out the test paper she needed to do that night from her desk, spread it out, and picked up her pen.

The feeling of their hands clasping still lingered in her palms. The warm pressure seemed branded into her skin, impossible to shake off.

Qi Yang gripped her pen and wrote down the solution steps for the first problem on the draft paper, forcing herself to focus her attention back on the problem.

When Xia Nian returned to the classroom, she was carrying a bag.

She changed back into her school uniform, and the black-rimmed glasses were still perched on her nose. She had returned to being a quiet, unassuming nobody.

But things are different now, and many classmates came up to her and discussed it.

When did you start learning piano?

You played so beautifully tonight.

……

When Xia Nian finally escaped the enthusiasm of her classmates, her cheeks were flushed. She breathed a sigh of relief, still feeling a little uncomfortable in this situation.

She sat down, placed the bag on the table, hesitated for a few seconds, then took out a cup of milk tea and gently placed it on the corner of Chen Zuo's table.

Chen Zuo had just sat down when he saw something suddenly appear on the table. He was slightly taken aback and looked up at her.

Xia Nian's ears turned slightly red, and she said in a low voice, "It's for you."

Chen Zuo did not move.

Xia Nian continued, blushing, "After all, it was your encouragement that gave me the courage to go on stage. Today's performance went very smoothly, and I think... it has a lot to do with you, so I wanted to thank you. Last time I saw you drinking milk tea, I... bought you a cup."

She carefully crafted her words, and by the time she finished speaking, her palms were already sweating nervously.

Even though she had rehearsed these words countless times in her mind, she was still very nervous when she actually said them.

Chen Zuo glanced at the cup of milk tea, the surface of which was still covered with fine water droplets.

He reached out and pushed it back.

"No need," Chen Zuo said casually. "It's your own effort, it has nothing to do with me, but thanks anyway."

Xia Nian's fingers tightened slightly.

She expected him to refuse, but she didn't expect him to refuse so decisively, without leaving any room for politeness.

His attitude was polite yet distant, without making anyone feel awkward.

Xia Nian pursed her lips, and with a surge of courage from who-knows-where, she said, "How about I treat you to a meal as a thank you gift?"

After she finished speaking, she realized what she had just said. The two of them weren't exactly close, and his words of support for her were merely out of basic goodwill. Her insistence on treating him to a meal was far too obvious.

Chen Zuo paused, closed the book he was flipping through, his gaze calm and peaceful, devoid of any other superfluous thoughts.

"It's alright, we're all classmates." There was even a faint smile on his lips. "You're being too polite."

Xia Nian lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting together, belatedly feeling somewhat embarrassed.

A feeling of regret welled up inside me.

He must have seen through it, he must have seen through her feelings that she had been trying to hide, and now they were exposed to him.

"Okay," she said softly, trying to make her voice sound normal. "Then... I won't bother you anymore."

Chen Zuo said "Thanks again" and reopened the book in front of him.

The cup of milk tea, pushed aside, sat forlornly on the corner of the table, water droplets sliding down its surface and leaving a small ring of water stains on the table.

Xia Nian lowered her eyes and pushed the milk tea to the far end of the table, placing it against the wall, as if to hide it away, and at the same time, hide the girl's thoughts.

Evening self-study ends at 9:30. When the bell rings, the quiet instantly turns into noise.

Chen Zuo quickly packed his things, but didn't rush to leave. He rested his chin on his hand, his gaze lazily falling on the back of the person in front of him who was slowly packing.

Lou Yu walked over with her schoolbag on her back and patted him on the shoulder, "Are you coming or not?"

"You go first."

Lou Yu followed his gaze, clicked his tongue knowingly, and left without saying another word.

Qi Yang finally finished packing. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and left the classroom with Ji Tingyu, completely unaware of the stares behind them.

It wasn't until she parted ways with Ji Tingyu at the school gate and turned around that she realized Chen Zuo was already standing in front of the bus stop where she was going home.

The boy's tall figure blended into the night, the streetlights casting long shadows. He had one hand in his pocket and the other gripping the strap of his backpack, which he slung over his shoulder with a relaxed air.

Qi Yang paused in her steps.

She had taken this bus route countless times, but had never encountered him at this stop.

She walked over, not looking at him, and stood on the other side of the bus stop, a little distance away from him. The night breeze made the girl's ponytail sway gently, and she heard footsteps beside her.

Chen Zuo walked over from the other end of the platform and shamelessly moved closer to her, saying, "What a coincidence."

Qi Yang frowned and rolled her eyes. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Chen Zuo raised his eyebrows. "There's no reason why I can't take this bus."

"..." Qi Yang looked at him. There was a height difference between them. She tilted her head back and said fiercely, "This is no fun."