To Get Married - Chapter 27.1

Chapter 27.1

After a moment of drama, everything returned to normal.

That evening, Zhang Ziyun and Lu Yudong went to fetch hot water together and ran into Ban Xiangming, who was also in line.

Even after school had started for so long, Lu Yudong hadn’t fully recognized all her classmates. This was the first time she seriously looked at the boy in front of her. His hair and nails were neatly trimmed, he wasn’t sweaty or greasy, and although his white, old cloth shoes were yellowed, they were clean.

Excluding the school uniform he couldn’t change, Ban Xiangming looked in every way like a tidy boy, not as sloppy as people in the class said.

The two girls exchanged a glance and, for the first time, greeted the introverted boy next to them.

“Ban Xiangming, do you still need to fetch six bottles of water today?” Zhang Ziyun asked.

“Yes, yes,” Ban Xiangming dared not look up. No girl was willing to talk to him, let alone the bright and dazzling girls in the class.

“And… do you still have to fold their blankets?” Zhang Ziyun asked again.

“Yes,” Ban Xiangming’s voice was very soft. “Classmates, thank you. They didn’t force me to do anything anymore. I do these things voluntarily.”

Zhang Ziyun was momentarily choked and looked at Lu Yudong.

Lu Yudong pondered for a moment and nodded: “That’s good.”

Ban Xiangming lived in that oppressive dorm. If those roommates were determined to bully him, they could easily do so where no one could see. No one could help him permanently.

Now that Gao Yangbo and his group had temporarily backed down, his choice to continue to placate them must have been well thought out.

On the way back to the dorm with the hot water, Lu Yudong tried to take the thermoses from Zhang Ziyun’s hands, but Zhang Ziyun shook her head for the first time.

She said she would carry them herself.

Lu Yudong couldn’t help but smile, asking: “What’s wrong? Do you feel like you were bossing me around?”

Zhang Ziyun said: “I feel bad about it. I haven’t done anything, yet I tire you out every day, and I even caused others to gossip about you.”

Lu Yudong was indifferent: “Let them talk if they want to. I do it willingly. I’m stronger than you, and carrying this isn’t tiring for me.”

Zhang Ziyun smiled: “It’s fine. I want to be stronger too. I can’t always rely on you to open the bottle caps every time I buy a drink, can I?”

“Why not? Aren’t we going to be friends forever? As long as you can’t open it, I’ll keep opening it for you.”

“You’re really not afraid that I’ll be dependent on you, huh?” Zhang Ziyun nudged Lu Yudong with her elbow.

The moon, almost full, quietly shone down on the two smiling girls.

Under the moonlight, besides the laughter, there was their youth.

The night before the holiday, the class held a lively Mid-Autumn Festival party.

After school that afternoon, the class cadres and enthusiastic students, under Zhang Ziyun’s direction, began decorating the classroom.

They blew up balloons, hung streamers, and set up a rental disco ball light and large speakers from outside the school.

Students with good handwriting designed artistic characters on the front and back blackboards. The boys tightly arranged the desks in two circles along the three walls of the classroom (excluding the teacher’s podium), and all the remaining desks were stacked outside the classroom.

After most of the work was done, they all went to the canteen together and happily ate the day’s “leftovers and scraps.”

After dinner, they returned to the classroom, which still had few people, and started distributing peanuts, melon seeds, mooncakes, oranges, and yogurt to every seat.

Everyone had signed up for the party’s programs and had prepared in advance. In the half-hour before the start, Zhang Ziyun was still checking the sound system, the music, and confirming that the accompaniment needed by each performer was ready.

Lu Yudong accompanied her the entire time, occasionally lending a hand. Watching everything prepared, she felt a strong sense of accomplishment.

In the evening, the students took off their school uniforms, dressed beautifully, and sat together in the classroom.

Zhang Ziyun was one of the hosts, and Zhang Hao also signed up to host, specifically to partner with her.

Zhang Hao was also a student who gave the teachers a headache. He wasn’t loud or disruptive, but he also didn’t study hard.

Once in junior high, a teacher called his parents to criticize him for not studying well. His parent loudly said: “So what? Our family has a mountain of gold and silver. My son can do whatever he wants.”

Zhang Hao’s father’s arrogant tone, like that of an nouveau riche, was secretly imitated by some people in the class for a long time.

This time, Zhang Hao covered all the expenses for the Mid-Autumn Festival party, without taking a single cent from the class fund.

Because of this, Zhang Ziyun couldn’t refuse when Zhang Hao wanted to host with her, so she had to indulge him and take time every day to discuss the host’s script with him.

Zhang Hao had no experience at all, so in the end, Zhang Ziyun wrote all the lines herself. Zhang Hao only needed to read the lines smoothly with his not-so-standard Mandarin.

Whenever Lu Yudong sat on the side watching the two practice their lines and heard Zhang Hao loudly stumble over his words, she couldn’t help but feel tired for Zhang Ziyun.

To be honest, instead of listening to Zhang Hao strain his voice practicing, she would rather go back and listen to the little master stutter. At least the little master’s voice was pleasant and had no accent, and wouldn’t be grating on the ears.

Fortunately, the Mid-Autumn Festival party went very smoothly. Many people in the class performed their talents.

There was singing, dancing, crosstalk (a form of comedy), sketch comedy, and instrument performances.

In the middle, there were two rounds of small games like musical chairs and protecting a balloon. It was a lively evening, and when the party ended, the classroom was littered with trash. Only the boarding class cadres stayed behind to clean up.

Lu Yudong accompanied Zhang Ziyun to clean the classroom for a long time. Finally, after getting hot water and returning to the dorm, the lights were already turned off before she even finished washing her feet, so she had to finish washing up in the dark.

Zhang Ziyun had just washed her face and sat back on her bed when she heard Wang Yan say: “Zhang Ziyun, I think Zhang Hao and you were a good pair tonight.”

Zhang Ziyun lay down: “You’re mistaken.”

Wang Yan continued. “I feel like Zhang Hao is interested in you. If I remember correctly, you were classmates in junior high, right? That’s quite a destiny.”

Zhang Ziyun couldn’t help but roll an eye that no one could see: “You’re overthinking it.”

Wang Yan sensed Zhang Ziyun’s impatience and didn’t say anything more.

She glanced at Lu Yudong, who was meditating on her bed, silently muttered “weirdo,” then turned to face the wall and started reading a novel on her phone.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration of family reunion. Although tomorrow was the official Mid-Autumn Festival, Not a Stranger’s celebration was held tonight.

For three years, Not a Stranger held themed events for every major festival, all ideas concocted by Huanxi.

This year’s Mid-Autumn theme was: Full Moon Mid-Autumn, People Reunited Beneath the Moon.

A themed night naturally had to have something different.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festival, a reunion under the moon, simple and warm, meant to be elegant rather than rowdy.

So, a week ago, Not a Stranger put up a sign with an event notice by the door.

On the day of the event, all staff would wear Hanfu (traditional Han Chinese clothing). Mooncakes were free, with any flavor to choose from. Customers who wore Hanfu would receive a 21% discount on all drinks and side dishes, symbolizing long-lasting affection.

In addition, on the day before and the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the bar would feature a “Chang’e Flying to the Moon” themed candlelight dinner, which was particularly, particularly, particularly suitable for couples to take photos and share.

Lu Yudong was picked up by Manzhu immediately after school and took a bath at home.

After the bath, she walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, drying her hair while listening to Manzhu describe tonight’s bar event.

“The ‘Chang’e Flying to the Moon’ is mainly made of what?”

“It’s made of bunnies (tutu).”

Whether it was a misconception or not, Lu Yudong felt that the word “bunnies” coming from Manzhu’s mouth had an indescribable cuteness. The two syllables made her laugh instantly.

However, Lu Yudong dared not laugh too obviously, afraid Manzhu would think she was mocking her. The moment her mouth curved up a little, she quickly suppressed it.

She widened her eyes and asked like a hungry kitten: “Can I order one?”

“Of course. I have an employee discount. Might as well use it,” Manzhu said. She stood up and walked to the wardrobe next to the bed. With her back to Lu Yudong, she continued: “Tonight, it can be a discount on top of a discount. I made a new outfit for you.”

“Me?” Lu Yudong tilted her head, her eyes full of surprise.

Manzhu smiled, took out a neatly folded Hanfu from the wardrobe, turned, and walked back to Lu Yudong, placing it gently on her lap.

Lu Yudong was surprised and delighted: “This is for me?”

“See if it fits,” Manzhu said, gathering spiritual energy in her palm and lightly stroking Lu Yudong’s damp long hair. In an instant, the moisture was gone.

Lu Yudong excitedly stood up, and with Manzhu’s help, she wore the Hanfu she had always wanted to try for the first time.

It was an A-line-style Qixiong Ruqun (a type of Hanfu), with a white top and a light blue skirt. The skirt waistband was embroidered with an unknown floral pattern, and the sleeves and hem also had delicate white embroidery.

After changing into the new clothes, Lu Yudong was led by Manzhu to the full-length mirror. Looking at herself in the mirror, she couldn’t help but feel a little shy.

“Does it look strange?” Lu Yudong looked up at Manzhu.

“No, it’s very beautiful,” Manzhu said. She then brought Lu Yudong to sit by the bed and conjured a wooden comb.

Manzhu gently combed Lu Yudong’s hair while saying softly: “A girl changes a lot as she grows up. Our little Yudong is growing more and more beautiful. You look good in anything.” Her voice was gentle, just like the hands that combed her hair.

Lu Yudong sat still obediently, her eyes lowered, her face slightly red.

Manzhu styled Lu Yudong’s hair into two simple buns, adorned them with two small pink flowers, and slightly touched up her eyebrows, highlighting her youthful charm.

Lu Yudong looked at the mirror and quietly asked: “Does it really look good?”

Manzhu nodded, hooked her finger, and lightly tapped Lu Yudong’s nose, smiling: “Only one thing is wrong.”

“What’s wrong?” Lu Yudong asked timidly.

“The little coal ball hasn’t completely faded yet,” Manzhu teased.

Lu Yudong couldn’t help but laugh out loud and immediately threw herself into Manzhu’s arms, whining playfully: “I don’t care! You were the one who took me there! If I look embarrassing, it’s your embarrassment!”

Manzhu chuckled, shaking her head: “You little rascal…”

That afternoon, when Manzhu brought Lu Yudong to Not a Stranger, more than a dozen little spirits in the shop immediately surrounded her.

“Where did this little beauty come from?”

“Yudong looks so beautiful all dressed up!”

“You’ve grown into a young lady, little sister Yudong.”

Lu Yudong was surrounded by everyone, who were also dressed in beautiful clothes. Her face flushed red, and she held her phone tightly, unable to answer for a long time.

Manzhu reached out, pulled her back to her side, and gently dismissed the spirits who weren’t very familiar with Lu Yudong, leaving only Huanxi and Xiaozhi.

Those two girls also had beautiful makeup on, simple and pretty updos, and wore long dresses that they usually didn’t have a chance to wear. Before Manzhu and Lu Yudong arrived, they had been huddled together admiring themselves.

Huanxi said: “I ordered this dress a long time ago, but I was always too embarrassed to wear it out.”

Xiaozhi nodded repeatedly: “I bought several sets too, but with Sister Manzhu around, the contrast is too great!”

“That’s why I planned this event! If everyone wears them, we don’t have to be compared to Sister Manzhu!” Huanxi said, giving herself a thumbs-up.

It turned out that Huanxi’s initial intention for planning this Mid-Autumn event was simply to find a legitimate reason to wear the dress she had bought a long time ago but was always too embarrassed to wear.

If the men in the shop, who were forced to wear tops and bottoms and a wig, and were so embarrassed they absolutely didn’t want to show their faces, heard this, they would probably all vomit three liters of blood.

Thinking of this, Lu Yudong looked around but didn’t see Mu Chensan or Yan Zhaomu. Curious, she stood up, ran to the staircase, and looked up, shouting:

“Little Master! Uncle Mu! Are you still upstairs?”