Chapter 152: Chapter 142: Participating in the Competition

Not long after the semester began, Xiao Man was approached by the student council’s arts committee representative. He asked her to join the school’s newly formed choir, explaining that they were preparing for an inter-school singing competition. The winners would go on to compete at the regional level, and placing there would bring great honor to their school.

Xiao Man tried to decline, citing her demanding study schedule, but the persistent arts director went straight to Mr. Cheng.

Mr. Cheng explained that with National Day approaching, the higher-ups had organized this special event to both liven up the holiday atmosphere and show their support for campus arts and sports. Upperclassmen were generally too busy studying to participate, so they were recruiting freshmen. Moreover, the training and rehearsals wouldn’t take up much class time since they were held during the morning or evening reading periods. It wouldn’t be a major disruption, so she might as well participate.

Mr. Cheng had spoken, and so, Xiao Man joined the school choir.

Guan Ailan and Mo Linghui expressed only mild surprise at Xiao Man joining the choir. They crowded around her, asked a few questions, and then went back to their own business. The other students in the class were equally uninterested. ’Perhaps this is what sets the honors class apart. They only care about grades. As for grabbing the spotlight... whoever wants it can have it. We couldn’t care less.’

Xiao Man had been wondering why the arts director singled her out. She didn’t find out the reason until the dress rehearsal: it was because they’d seen she owned a white blouse and a black skirt. That was the required outfit for the performance, and anyone who didn’t have one had to scramble to borrow it!

For the county-wide middle school singing competition, few of the rural schools were able to put together a choir. In total, only six schools competed, including the three from the county seat itself. As expected, Xiao Man’s school, Ping County First Middle School, won and qualified for the regional competition.

’I’m going to Wancheng again,’ Xiao Man thought. ’With supervising teachers and student leaders around, I won’t go see Zheng Shaolian. I won’t even tell him I’m there. It’ll just save him from showing up and causing trouble.’

The competition was held at the regional theater, located next to the main government compound. One of the designated places for meals and lodging was a guesthouse, where the students and teachers from Ping County First Middle School and several other counties were staying.

Just as Mr. Cheng had said, the higher-ups were taking this competition very seriously. The proof? As the students and teachers were in the middle of their first meal at the guesthouse restaurant in Wancheng, a group of regional leaders arrived to make an appearance. Everyone quickly put down their bowls and chopsticks to applaud enthusiastically as the officials gave speeches one after another. Afterwards, the leaders even walked among the tables, patting one student here and ruffling the hair of another there, offering warm greetings with broad smiles. "Take your time, everyone. Is the food to your liking? Don’t hesitate to share any feedback!"

Xiao Man sat at a table near the back, her head bowed. She looked as if she couldn’t bear to part with the piece of braised pork in her bowl, but in reality, she had just spotted Xiao Feng and heard Tang Qingyun giving a speech.

The next day, the Ping County First Middle School choir drew the sixth performance slot. They sang "Let Us Row Our Oars" and "Campus Morning," with Xiao Man and two other students—one boy and one girl—as the lead singers. When the final results were announced, they had miraculously taken first place again!

Xiao Man was as overjoyed as her classmates. ’This must be a testament to our real skill, right?’ she thought. Over a dozen middle schools from the entire region had competed, not just two or three rivals from their own county.

When it was time to go on stage to accept the award, however, Xiao Man’s joy evaporated. Tang Qingyun was ubiquitous; he was presenting the awards as well. Their teacher had asked the lead singers to go up and represent the team, but Xiao Man made an excuse and slipped away.

She didn’t want to face Tang Qingyun, didn’t want him to discover so easily that she was from Ping County, not Fengling County.

’If he cared even a little for his own flesh and blood, Tang Qingyun would have figured out who Mo Xiaoman really was long ago. But he didn’t. He’d had several chances and let them all slip by. Especially that time at the hospital when I hit Tang Yaxuan. Zheng Shaolian had gone right to his door, raising hell, yet Tang Qingyun never even asked him who he was fighting for!’

’Since that’s how it is, fine. I’ll deal with it when I’m in a better mood.’

But as the saying goes, man proposes, Heaven disposes. Some encounters are simply inevitable.

As Xiao Man walked out of the theater, she ran right into Xiao Feng.

"Hey? You’re Mo Dan Ni, aren’t you?"

It was too late to get away. Xiao Feng blocked her path, looking her up and down. "It really is you! Whoa, with that outfit and makeup... you sure don’t look like you’re here selling grapes."

The people nearby all turned to look. Xiao Man shot him a glare. "You’re the one who sells grapes!"

Xiao Feng roared with laughter. "So the little missy is in middle school now, huh? Not bad, not bad. Here for the competition? Your Fengling Middle School didn’t win an award? No wonder you look so down!"

Xiao Man had no desire to waste her breath on him and turned to leave, but Xiao Feng grabbed her by the arm. "Where are you going? Stay put for a second."

"What do you want?"

"Every time Secretary Tang goes to Fengling County, he brings you up. He’s mentioned you several times, worried that you wouldn’t be able to attend school. He’s coming out right now, go say hello!"

Xiao Man was speechless. ’He has time to worry about some other family’s kid, but he can’t spare a thought for the child he abandoned?’

"Let go! I have to go to the bathroom!"

Xiao Feng was left speechless.

’This kid seems sharp,’ he thought, ’but is she actually a bit dense?’

A voice called out from behind a door draped with a magenta velvet curtain, "Everyone, gather up! Where’s Mo Xiaoman? Has Xiao Man come back yet?"

Xiao Man wrenched her hand free from Xiao Feng’s and dashed back toward the entrance. Just then, someone parted the curtain to step out, and Xiao Man collided right with him. She looked up, gave the man a two-handed shove that sent him staggering, and then darted inside.

Tang Qingyun was stunned.

’Are all young women this strong nowadays?’ he wondered. If Secretary Huang hadn’t been right behind to steady him, he might have stumbled and made a spectacle of himself.

Still... even with the makeup, that girl looked familiar somehow.

Xiao Feng came over with a laugh and helped steady him. "Are you all right, Secretary Tang? That reckless girl was Mo Dan Ni! Mo Dan Ni is in school, and she was even here today for the competition. See? You can stop worrying now!"

Tang Qingyun froze. "The girl who just ran inside? That was Mo Dan Ni from Fengling County? No wonder she looked familiar. That child is still a bit lacking in manners!"

"Ah, that’s just how most kids from the countryside are. A bit rough around the edges, but honest and simple. Not a malicious bone in their bodies."

Tang Qingyun nodded, though he seemed preoccupied. He walked to the car in silence. Secretary Huang opened the door for him, but he didn’t get in immediately. Instead, he asked, "Just as we were leaving, did you hear someone shout ’Mo Xiaoman’? Or was it just me?"

Secretary Huang adjusted his glasses and shook his head. "After that girl ran into you, I was just focused on making sure you were steady. I didn’t hear a thing."

A slight frown creased Tang Qingyun’s handsome brow, his expression growing somber. He got into the car and gave a slight lift of his hand. Secretary Huang shut the door, and the car pulled away from the theater.

From the front seat, Xiao Feng asked, "Cigarette, Secretary Tang?"

Tang Qingyun shook his head, his gaze fixed on the people coming and going outside the window. Many were middle school students, likely here for the singing competition. They all looked to be about twelve or thirteen, new to middle school, gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing, so lively and happy...

’And that Mo Dan Ni... she looks so much like a member of the Tang family. It’s impossible that my own flesh and blood would bear absolutely no resemblance to me. And those photos I have... not a single one is a clear, head-on shot!’

The fingers resting on his knee tapped restlessly before clenching into a fist. Tang Qingyun made a decision. ’I won’t tell Xiao Wen about this first. Every time we discuss it, something goes wrong. I’ll find the time to go see for myself!’

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