Chapter 23: Yaoxing Academy 23 Part 2

“Come here.”

Five minutes later, a black-haired figure appeared in Senior Year Class 1 classroom.

“What do you think of him?” Xun Ji asked Yan Qian with a grin.

Yan Qian glanced at Lu Zhou’s icy expression, then at Xun Ji’s oblivious smile, and nodded with difficulty.

“Not bad, not bad.”

“As for the last member…” Xun Ji pondered.

“Young Master Xun, what about me?” A timid voice came from behind Lu Zhou. It was Luo Xunan.

“Perfect, team assembled,” Xun Ji nodded in satisfaction.

Yan Qian wanted to say something but held back. The grim reaper emanating cold air was one thing—he was at least the physics champion. But Luo Xunan looked utterly useless.

Still, Young Master Xun had decided, so he couldn’t object. He dutifully began organizing preparations.

“Then let’s make a plan for division of labor and prepare thoroughly…”

“No need for all that trouble,” Xun Ji waved it off grandly. “We’ll wing it on the day.”

He had pulled Lu Zhou in to give him something to do during the school anniversary, preventing him from following the original plot’s path. As for training or winning? No way was he setting himself up for extra hassle.

Yan Qian watched his teammates scatter like birds and beasts, nearly in tears. Could his dream of winning the Star Crown with Young Master Xun really come true?

After several days of torrential rain, the weather finally cleared just before the school anniversary.

On the day of the celebration, Yaoxing Academy was transformed from top to bottom, with flags fluttering everywhere and bustling with excitement.

Music floated through the air as performers in bizarre costumes shuttled about the campus—some were students rehearsing programs, others professional dance troupes hired from outside.

The usually stern teachers shed their teaching duties, donned various mascot costumes, and handed out school anniversary gifts to students in groups.

The most exaggerated, however, was this year’s campus decoration theme.

Yaoxing Academy’s buildings were mostly in European classical style. This year, the school had invested heavily in a classical-tech fusion theme, introducing 3D and holographic projection technology to add festive flair.

It was lively, sure, but somewhat mismatched.

“Am I seeing things? Why is there a giant octopus coiled on top of the teaching building?” Yan Qian stared in shock.

Yu Fangbai snorted coldly. “Tastelessly vulgar.”

Luo Xunan pointed at another teaching building and burst out laughing. “Hahaha, this side looks like a doomsday disaster flick, that one a horror thriller.”

On the opposite building, massive projected portraits—seemingly key figures from the School History Museum—lined the facade. But the uneven surface distorted the faces into something eerie, triggering an uncanny valley effect.

Yu Fangbai frowned deeply. “Abominable taste.”

Xun Ji agreed, because he spotted Xun Qian’s face up there.

“The Bell Tower looks different. Why are there gear-like things on the outer wall?” Yan Qian pointed uncertainly at the school’s tallest point. “And that projection on top—is that a chicken?”

“A peacock?” Luo Xunan squinted hard.

A troupe of dancers passed by, each with ornate, exaggerated wings on their backs, jostling the five apart.

“A phoenix?” Xun Ji craned his neck to look, only to be shoved out by the massive wings.

Before he staggered far, a hand steadied him firmly, then gripped his wrist and pulled him back.

Caught by the momentum, he collided into a chest and instinctively wrapped his arms around it.

“…Be careful,” a familiar voice murmured lowly by his ear.

“Thanks.” Xun Ji straightened up and leaned his face closer with a smile. “Finally willing to talk to me? I thought you wouldn’t acknowledge me anymore.”

“I didn’t!” Lu Zhou jerked his head up, but froze upon meeting Xun Ji’s amber eyes. “…I didn’t mean that.”

Xun Ji didn’t press him and changed the subject. “By the way, how’s Xiao Ting at the Study Tour Base?”

“She’s doing well. The kindergarten teachers send photos every few hours,” Lu Zhou said.

Xun Ji: “Let me see.”

Lu Zhou hesitated, then pulled out his mobile phone to show him. In the photos, Xiao Ting was at a child-designed Study Tour Base in the suburbs, her face beaming with a bright smile.

“Looks great.” Xun Ji’s gaze held a hint of probing. “But I didn’t expect you’d let Xiao Ting spend the night outside.”

The Study Tour Base activity was organized by the kindergarten, lasting two days and one night, with voluntary sign-ups. Xiao Ting hadn’t wanted to go at first, clamoring to visit the school anniversary instead. Lu Zhou had coaxed her for a long time before she agreed.

“…She needs to learn some independence,” Lu Zhou turned his head away, avoiding Xun Ji’s gaze.

Xun Ji sensed Lu Zhou wasn’t telling the full truth, and a faint unease stirred in his heart, though he couldn’t confirm it now.

“Young Master Xun, the Star-Plucking Championship is about to start. Let’s hurry over,” Yan Qian checked his watch and urged.

The Star-Plucking Championship featured seven checkpoints corresponding to literature, history, music, art, chemistry, athletics, and physics. There weren’t usually two science checkpoints in past years, but reportedly, the retiring former Principal had rushed back for the anniversary, and as a physics teacher, he had personally set the final one.

The checkpoints spanned iconic campus landmarks, from the Library stretching to the highest point, the Bell Tower.

Teams had to start at the first checkpoint, tackle them in sequence to collect stars, and the first to summit the Bell Tower and complete the final challenge would claim the Star Crown.

The Library hall buzzed with voices, packed with eager competing teams ready to show their skills. Yaoxing Academy’s Library was extravagantly grand, not only rich in collections but architecturally a masterpiece by a renowned designer.

At the Gothic semi-circular dome, a massive holographic Star Crown now rotated in 3D, with starlight sprinkling down like snow—realistic and fantastical.

“So pretty.” Like many around him, Yan Qian pulled out his mobile phone to selfie with the giant Star Crown. As he snapped away, he shuffled back a step, framing a golden-haired figure behind him in the shot as if by accident.

Click.

The moment he pressed the shutter, a dark blur flashed behind him, completely blocking the golden hair.

Yan Qian lowered his phone speechlessly. “Junior Lu, what was that?”

Lu Zhou didn’t glance sideways. “Sorry, just passing by.”

Yan Qian wanted to protest but noticed a host in a black-and-white bear mascot costume step onto a small round platform directly below the Star Crown. They clanged a copper gong three times.

The students’ attention snapped to the sound, conversations halting as excitement lit their faces.

The Star-Plucking Championship had officially begun.