Chapter 57: New Year’s Day Performance (Part 1)
It was another ordinary Friday. After the third class in the afternoon ended, there was only the final homeroom period left.
During the break, most of the students were chatting with their friends about what they planned to do or where they wanted to go during the holiday tomorrow.
“So, any plans for this weekend, Xiao Nuo?” Zhou Qikuan rolled up a textbook into a tube and pretended it was a telescope while looking at Li Nuo through it.
“Nope. Staying home and watching anime sounds good enough for me.” Li Nuo turned around in his seat and used a finger to block the front of Zhou Qikuan’s “telescope.”
“Tsk, you're way too lazy. It's a rare weekend. Can't you do something more interesting?”
“Like what?”
“Well... uh... I don't know.”
“Exactly. Staying at home is better. It also saves money.”
“You really are something...”
Their conversation continued until the break quickly came to an end.
Since the last period was homeroom, it was taught by their class teacher, Xu Yuyi. She walked into the classroom and knocked on the door with the back of her hand. The noisy classroom immediately became quiet.
After confirming everyone had settled down, she walked to the podium, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote few large words on the blackboard.
New Year's Day Performance
Then she said,
“Next Wednesday, the school will hold a performance event. Every class in the first and second year must participate. The event will be held in the school gymnasium.”
“The performance can be singing, dancing, a stage play, magic, comedy acts, and so on... Does anyone want to sign up?”
As soon as she finished speaking, the entire classroom fell silent. Nobody wanted to be the first person to volunteer.
The moment Li Nuo heard the words "performance event," he felt completely unmotivated. He lowered his head and pretended to read a book, hoping nobody would notice him.
Seeing that her students all looked lifeless, Xu Yuyi became annoyed.
She coughed lightly and said,
“If nobody wants to volunteer, then I'll decide the performance myself.”
Still, nobody said a word.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, she continued,
“In that case, Class 3 of Year 1 will perform a stage play. The participants will be chosen by drawing lots. As for the play... hmm... let's do Snow White.”
The whole classroom instantly erupted in discussion.
Several boys sitting in the back protested,
“Teacher, we're already high school students. Isn't performing Snow White a little childish?”
“Yeah, that's something elementary school students do!”
“Pfft, Teacher, that's way too childish. How did you even think of that?”
Although Xu Yuyi was annoyed inside, she kept smiling and replied,
“Since you all seem to have better ideas, would you like to go on stage and perform instead?”
The boys who had been laughing immediately fell silent.
“Well... actually, Snow White sounds pretty good.”
“Yeah, yeah, I agree.”
“I've always liked fairy tales since I was little...”
After the performance was decided, it was time to draw lots and determine everyone's role.
Besides the Evil Queen, Snow White, Prince Charming, and the Seven Dwarfs, the remaining roles were just background characters like trees and grass.
In total, only around ten people were needed.
Since Class 3 had forty students, those who didn't draw a role would help make props for the performance.
After writing each role on slips of paper, the drawing officially began.
If the slip was blank, there was no need to perform.
If there were words written on it, then the student had to play that role.
Li Nuo only hoped he wouldn't draw a role. He had absolutely no interest in performing in a play.
In fact, he was quite confident.
Ever since childhood, he had never been lucky in any kind of lottery or drawing. Surely this time would be the same.
He reached into the box, grabbed a random rolled-up slip, and pulled it out.
The moment he unfolded it, he froze.
Written on it were four words:
Snow White
After handing the slip to the teacher standing beside the box, Li Nuo returned to his seat with his head hanging low.
When Xu Yuyi saw the role he had drawn, she was also stunned for a moment. Then she wrote Li Nuo's name under the Snow White role on the blackboard.
Everyone sighed in relief after seeing that the role of Snow White had finally been assigned.
But when they realized the person playing Snow White was a boy, their expressions immediately became strange.
Snow White... doesn't that mean I'll have to wear women's clothes again?
Just thinking about it gave Li Nuo a headache.
Seeing his depressed expression, Zhou Qikuan patted him on the shoulder and laughed.
“It's just Snow White. No big deal, right? Hahaha.”
“Yeah... sure.” Li Nuo forced a fake smile.
“Relax. The role of Prince Charming hasn't been drawn yet. Maybe a girl will draw it later. Then you'll be the lucky one.”
Li Nuo rolled his eyes and didn't want to continue the conversation.
At that moment, it was Zhou Qikuan's turn to draw.
After opening his slip, he stared at it in shock. Looking at the two words written on it, he shouted,
“Oh, come on!”
To his complete disbelief, he had drawn the role of the Evil Queen.
He found it extremely difficult to accept.
On the other hand, Li Nuo suddenly felt much better. Now someone else would have to wear women's clothes too.
Smiling, he repeated Zhou Qikuan's earlier words back at him.
“It's just the Evil Queen. No big deal, right? Hahaha.”
However, before he could enjoy himself for long, something even more shocking happened.
The role of Prince Charming was drawn shortly afterward.
And the person who drew it was An Ran'er.
Although An Ran'er was surprised at first, she quickly calmed down and returned to her seat to continue reading her book.
Li Nuo, however, was anything but calm.
If An Ran'er was playing Prince Charming, then according to the story...
Wouldn't that mean he would have to kiss her at the end?
The thought instantly made his face turn bright red.
At that moment, Zhou Qikuan leaned forward and whispered from behind.
“See? What did I tell you? Your deskmate ended up as Prince Charming. You must be overjoyed now.”
“D-Don't talk nonsense! I-I'm not happy at all!” Li Nuo said with a red face.
After speaking, he secretly glanced at An Ran'er beside him.
She was still calmly focused on reading her book.
Soon, the drawing ended.
Besides Li Nuo, An Ran'er, and Zhou Qikuan, several boys sitting in the back had also drawn roles, all of them becoming the Seven Dwarfs.
Since the performance would be held next Wednesday, they scheduled the stage play rehearsal for Sunday afternoon of that week in the school gymnasium.