Chapter 144: The Best Memento
“You’ve never taken part in a party before, have you!”
Yu Wanwan sized up Pu Tong, who was still as steady as an old dog, reading and writing, and she was a little puzzled.
Logically speaking, when someone who had never participated in a large-scale event like this takes part for the first time, shouldn’t they be nervous and excited?
Maybe Pu Tong wasn’t very interested in this and wouldn’t get excited, but at the very least, he should be nervous.
“Never participated.”
Pu Tong lied without turning a hair.
Although he used to be a nobody, he had still participated in events like parties before, it was just that nobody paid any attention to him.
Compared with those star-studded parties, what was there to be nervous about at a little school graduation party……
“No worries, just sing like you normally do.” Yu Wanwan smiled. “I think your level is pretty high, so just perform normally.”
Pu Tong gave her a strange look but said nothing.
Underestimating me, huh.
Although he used to be obscure, his fundamentals were still solid, at least one version ahead of these high school students.
It wasn’t bragging; if he really wanted to show off, he could easily handle every single performance at the graduation party by himself……
“Thanks.”
Pu Tong nodded and continued quietly working on his problems. They would be going to the auditorium to rehearse during extracurricular activities, so he had to make the most of his time to study.
Seeing that he seemed uninterested, Yu Wanwan pursed her lips and began thinking about her own plans.
At first, she hadn’t wanted to rely on Pu Tong, because that would make her seem useless, like a parasite who only knew how to depend on others.
There would even definitely be people who thought she was approaching him because Pu Tong was so capable……
Being excellent was certainly part of what attracted people, but she didn’t need to rely on Pu Tong’s excellence to get by, either.
“Sigh!” Yu Wanwan was a little helpless. Having someone too outstanding by your side could occasionally become a source of trouble too.
Because she didn’t want to reject Pu Tong’s rare initiative and kindness toward her, she had accepted the song from him, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t rely on her own abilities.
She had made up her mind: she would sing Pu Tong’s song while accompanying herself on the piano.
She had told Pu Tong back in music class that she was very good at playing the piano, but she had never had a chance to show him. This time, she had to let him see for himself.
When the time came, he would definitely be amazed by this young lady!
“What are you smiling about?” Pu Tong only glanced over and immediately noticed Yu Wanwan’s silly grin. At a glance, he could tell she was imagining some strange things again.
“Nothing!” Yu Wanwan immediately restrained her smile, planning to keep it a surprise.
There was no way he could play the piano too, right……
She had seen Pu Tong’s residential complex too. It was the kind where the apartments were packed closely together, so if he really practiced piano, he would definitely disturb the neighbors. He surely wouldn’t have had a chance to learn.
A day actually wasn’t very long, but perhaps because she was looking forward to it, Yu Wanwan always felt that it took forever for extracurricular activities to arrive.
“By the way, where’s the school auditorium?” The group was getting ready to leave when Yi Zhi Xuenai finally asked the question that struck at the soul. They had only been here for half a semester and had never been there……
Everyone looked at Pu Tong in unison. What could they do? Who told him to be a native here?
“Fine, follow me.” Pu Tong was quite helpless and could only lead them toward the auditorium.
Along the way, they passed through the large crowds of people heading to extracurricular activities. He walked at the very front, making it look just like a big brother leading a group of underlings. These “underlings” were even minor celebrities with considerable fame in the industry, making the sight quite spectacular. Countless people turned their heads along the way.
Perhaps many years later, when people looked at the several superstars who each dominated a corner of the entertainment industry and realized that they had all once been that man’s underlings, they would be able to trace it all back to this day.
Although Pu Tong had never been there either, he ultimately had the memories, and before long he led everyone to the school auditorium.
“Welcome to the auditorium of the world’s highest city, it’s so beautiful, the auditorium……”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Yu Wanwan poked Pu Tong in the back, telling him to pay attention to his image.
Pu Tong only smiled and said nothing.
Seeing that the main doors were open and there were already quite a few people inside, everyone quietly walked in.
Quite a few people participating in the performances had already arrived in the auditorium and were moving equipment around. There was still some time before the official performance, so the equipment was arranged rather casually, which also made rehearsing easier.
When they heard the commotion and turned around, they discovered that it was Pu Tong and his group, and immediately stopped what they were doing, staring blankly at them.
They really had never seen a lineup like this.
“You’re here, huh? Help move some equipment!” The people in charge of rehearsals were several music teachers from the school. They had no intention of giving celebrities any special privileges and treated everyone equally.
The celebrity students were also quite sensible and went over to help one after another.
“Pu Tong!”
Pu Tong had just rolled up his sleeves and was preparing to move something when the female teacher leading the group called out to him.
“What is it, teacher?”
“You really are handsome!” The female teacher looked him up and down, finding him more pleasing to the eye the longer she looked. “And all your songs are great. You’re a real talent!”
The music teacher was named Han Nian. She was considered one of the better-looking female teachers at their school, a top student from a music academy, and she was said to also work part-time as a musician.
As if she couldn’t see anyone else, Han Nian immediately began praising Pu Tong to the skies, making even him feel a little embarrassed.
“I heard your grades are pretty good too. Have you considered a music academy? I can help put you in touch?”
“Not for now.” Pu Tong had never considered an arts college at all, but out of politeness, he could only politely decline for the moment.
“I guessed you probably weren’t interested. To be honest, you’d even be qualified to become a teacher at a music academy, hahaha……”
The other students carried the things in their hands, feeling unbearably sour. They didn’t have to work and even got to listen to compliments, how could there be such a good deal?
But considering that this was Pu Tong, they felt it was reasonable.
Fortunately, the teacher didn’t praise him for too long. Pu Tong was able to get away and go move things, blending into the group.
On the first day of rehearsal, the main task was still getting the venue organized. By the time they had finished arranging the equipment, there were only about ten minutes left before school ended.
“We won’t have time to rehearse everything today.” Han Nian sighed, then shifted her gaze back to Pu Tong.
Pu Tong’s scalp went numb under her stare, giving him a bad feeling.
“I looked at the program list. Pu Tong seems to have two original songs!”
As soon as she said this, the celebrity students were still fine, but the other students immediately cried out in surprise. Two original songs, that was simply unimaginable to them.
Pu Tong was truly a god among men!
“Yes……” Pu Tong could only nod through gritted teeth.
“There isn’t much time, so we can only practice one or two programs. How about you, Pu Tong, go first and give us a demonstration?” Han Nian’s smile was very broad.
As a musician, she was simply too curious about what kind of work Pu Tong could come up with.
“Huh?”
Wasn’t rehearsal supposed to be everyone practicing together? How had it turned into his personal showcase?
This music teacher was definitely doing it on purpose.
“Do you all want to hear it?” Han Nian smiled and asked the students for their opinions.
“Yes!”
“Absolutely!”
Wave after wave of enthusiastic support rang out. Pu Tong turned around and glared at Yi Zhi Xuenai.
Damn Japanese girl, you’re the one shouting the loudest……
“Ehehe!” Yi Zhi Xuenai giggled and raised both hands in agreement.
Anyway, it was rehearsal. He would have to sing sooner or later, and it wasn’t like one or two days would make a difference. Pu Tong sighed and accepted the suggestion.
“Teacher, you brought your phone, right? Could you help record it?”
Since he was going to sing anyway, he might as well record it and send it to Yu Wanwan so she could practice. For learning a song, a phone recording would be enough. There was still plenty of time before the performance, so she would definitely be able to learn it.
Han Nian smiled and readily agreed. After Pu Tong went onstage and tuned his guitar, she started recording and placed the phone on the music stand in front of him.
Pu Tong didn’t need sheet music. After all, this song had never been released yet and existed only in his head for the time being.
“This song is called ‘Memories.’”
In the audience, Yu Wanwan blinked and immediately began listening intently
She knew the name of the song Pu Tong had given her. It was precisely this song, “Memories,” which meant that this was the song she would be performing later.
[“Three years passed in the blink of an eye,
Everything blossomed so brightly in my heart,
Now there are only a few days left on the countdown,
The scraps of paper by my feet,
There’s no time to pick them up.”]
The simple lyrics seemed to arrive gently, instantly capturing everyone’s ears.
Just like its title, each line of the song was like telling a story, recounting the trivial moments of school life, recounting the student days worth remembering.
This class was too proud, never speaking up in any class, copying homework with their textbooks pressed down, sneaking a glance during exams, dark circles under their eyes in the morning, little drowsiness during class, casual greetings between classmates……
These lyrics were all little things that happened around every student. They listened quietly, feeling an extraordinary sense of familiarity.
[“I only want to hold back the passing years,
And properly say goodbye,
Carve your smiling faces into my heart,
Watch a shooting star streak across the sky,
Make our wishes,
And let the present become forever.”]
With the final repeated “forever,” the entire song came to an end, yet not a single sound came from the people in the auditorium.
Everyone remained silent until suddenly someone began to cry.
“Sorry, I’m a senior…… Maybe you’ll find this familiar too, but in the classroom we know so well, it won’t be us anymore……”
She was still sobbing, her voice exceptionally clear in the silent auditorium.
They suddenly all felt their noses growing a little sore……
To avoid interfering with the seniors’ college entrance exams, there were very few third-year students among the performers. There were only one male and one female host. Only those who were about to graduate could truly understand the emotion of memories flooding back.
From now on, the ones sitting in the classroom would no longer be them. They could only properly say goodbye, letting their memories spread into reality. Parting, just like meeting, was something that had to happen. This was the best memento they could give each other.
(End of chapter)
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