The next morning, at the counselor's command, Qin Yongping and his classmates gathered in the school square. Led by the assistant head counselor, the students—like nestling birds waiting to be fed—embarked on a tour of Guanghai School to get a preliminary feel for the campus. Where did the medical school's academic building stand like a majestic palace of knowledge? Where were the laboratories hidden like mysterious treasure chests? And the three cafeterias—like three brilliant pearls, in which corners of the campus were they embedded? The library stood quietly in its own corner like a treasury of wisdom, and so on. The afternoon, of course, was free time! And in the evening, there would be a class meeting, where a fierce election for class officers was about to unfold!
During the afternoon's free time, Qin Yongping's roommates were playing games again, but he decided to explore the long-desired campus by himself. Like a light-footed bird, he came to a quiet grove. It was so serene it felt like a utopia, and so picturesque it seemed like an earthly paradise, so he found a spot to sit and rest. To his surprise, he spotted Fourth Brother's adored senior student, You Wenxin. Looking like a blooming flower, she was sitting alone in the shade not far away, reading intently without noticing his presence. Unwilling to go over and disturb her, Qin Yongping lay quietly on the lawn like a lonely warrior, feeling as if he were cut off from the surrounding world, and gradually drifted off to sleep.
That evening, the class meeting for electing officers took place. Qin Yongping hurried to the classroom and found his roommates to sit with them. The students took turns giving impassioned speeches on stage. When his turn came, he walked up with complete confidence and said, "Let me introduce myself. I am Qin Yongping from Guang Province. Very nice to meet you all. I don't plan to run for anything." With that, he walked back to his seat. The students below were momentarily stunned, followed by a round of applause. When the final results were announced, the seat of class monitor was firmly secured by Luo Mingcheng, the title of vice monitor went to Li Jiali, and the honor of arts commissioner was won by Zhao Lihua...
As the class meeting drew to a close, the assistant head counselor said, "Starting tomorrow, the horn for military training will sound, kicking off a fifteen-day period of rigorous tempering. Right on its heels will be the grand feast of the welcome gala. Every class must submit a performance, and all the organizational work will be entirely the responsibility of our arts commissioner. We sincerely invite all of you to enthusiastically sign up and participate. Later, please leave your contact information so the monitor can set up a chat group for better communication."
The next morning, sunlight spilled across the playground as military training officially began. The instructor stood before the formation with a stern face and shouted, "Get into proper position, all of you!" Qin Yongping and the others quickly straightened their ranks.
The training intensity far exceeded expectations. Standing at attention under the blazing sun, sweat soaked their uniforms. Qin Yongping clenched his teeth and persisted, occasionally glancing at the other platoons, where everyone wore the same stubborn expression.
During a break, Fourth Brother sidled up to Qin Yongping and muttered, "Look how exhausted I am, it's brutal." Qin Yongping just smiled without saying anything. At that moment, the instructor suddenly called out Qin Yongping's name to demonstrate the standard posture. Qin Yongping took a deep breath and executed the series of movements to perfection, drawing gasps of admiration from those around him.
As the days of military training passed, the students gradually grew accustomed to this tense yet fulfilling rhythm of life. Every morning, when the first ray of sunlight hit the campus playground, the students were already neatly lined up, ready to begin another day of training. Even though sweat drenched their clothes, everyone's eyes glowed with determination and persistence.
On just such an ordinary evening, moonlight washed like water over the open space beneath the dormitory building. Zhao Lihua, the arts commissioner, gently clapped her hands to gather the students who were chatting and joking around. She smiled at everyone and said, "Dear classmates, we are about to welcome the school's annual welcome gala! This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our class's style and spirit. Tonight, I'd like everyone to brainstorm together and discuss what kind of wonderful performance our class should prepare."
As soon as her voice trailed off, a wave of discussion instantly rippled through the crowd. Some students excitedly raised their hands and shouted, "I think we could do a big chorus! Singing together has so much presence and momentum!" This proposal won a response from quite a few people, who nodded in agreement.
However, other students had different ideas. A female student stood up and said with full confidence, "A chorus is nice, but I think a dance performance is more eye-catching! If we can choreograph a unique dance, it will definitely make people's eyes light up!" As she spoke, she gestured with her movements, as if she could already see the breathtaking scene on stage.
For a while, everyone expressed their own opinions, and the atmosphere grew extremely lively. Some advocated for a skit, bringing laughter through a humorous story; others suggested a poetry recitation, conveying emotions with a deep, affectionate voice... Various creative ideas emerged endlessly, leaving Zhao Lihua momentarily struggling to choose. But seeing the students participate in the discussion with such enthusiasm and passion, her heart was filled with warmth and emotion.
Finally, the time for the ultimate decision arrived. Following a heated and intense vote by the whole class, a dynamic and passionate dance stood out. With a smile, the arts commissioner stood at the podium and said in a crisp, pleasant voice, "Congratulations to the chosen dance! Next, the students participating in the performance need to put in their best effort! Starting today, for several consecutive evenings, everyone will need to gather for rehearsals in the school's dance studio. I know this period will be very hard, but I believe that through our joint efforts, we will surely present a breathtaking dance feast! Let me thank everyone in advance for your hard work and cooperation!" Her gaze swept over every face about to plunge into rehearsals, her eyes filled with anticipation and encouragement.