Chapter 119: We All Grew Up Eating Cuteness! (In Honor of the Supreme Alliance Leader!)

Behind the curtain, watching Jin Wenqi pour her heart into her performance on stage, Li Shixin and An Xiaoxiao were both completely bewildered.

"Teacher Li, you’re done for."

An Xiaoxiao’s thoughts raced for a moment before she suddenly blurted out, "The real deal has tracked you down! Quick, I’ll hold them off in the front—you run out the back door!"

Pushing away An Xiaoxiao’s head, which kept trying to peek through the curtain, Li Shixin sighed. "Xiaoxiao."

"Yeah?"

"Do you know how to make someone look exceptionally smart?"

"!! (○･｀Д´･) Can you actually make yourself look smart?"

"You can."

"ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ) Teacher, teacher, quick, teach me!"

Seeing the thirst for knowledge on An Xiaoxiao’s face, Li Shixin smiled slightly. "Keep your mouth shut, and wear a faint smile."

"(⺣◡⺣)♡ Like this?"

"The key is the first part."

"Oh!"

(○･｀༝´･○)

Watching An Xiaoxiao, who had suddenly become much "smarter" by simply not speaking, Li Shixin observed the audience’s reaction for a moment before gently pulling the curtain shut.

Unable to figure out why Jin Wenqi had suddenly appeared, he simply decided to take An Xiaoxiao and retreat to the backstage area.

The play "Only You" was performed at the Cultural Plaza. Although it was Zhang Yaozhong who had lobbied for it, the decision ultimately came from the Culture Bureau. According to standard stage procedure, there would be speeches by bureau leaders after the performance regarding the strengthening of spiritual civilization.

Jin Wenqi’s unexpected arrival had disrupted the original curtain call.

However, since they were in Rongdian, where celebrities were not exactly a rare species, the host—though excited—did not lose sight of the main event. After Jin Wenqi finished her song, the host invited her on stage for a group photo with the leaders.

Once finished, Jin Wenqi asked for Li Shixin’s location and headed straight for the backstage area with a few people from Huaqi Company.

In the audience.

Despite the famous singer’s performance, the crowd remained immersed in the emotions stirred by the play.

In the first row, the leaders of the Culture Bureau had already surrounded Zhang Yaozhong.

"Old Zhang! Thank you for all your running around these past few days to get this play on this stage. For our Cultural Plaza theater, this is a very meaningful attempt. Uncovering excellent grassroots theatrical works and fostering their growth doesn't just fulfill the potential of these artists and teams; it also raises the standard of our Cultural Plaza's content! This is truly significant!"

Director Song was already weeping uncontrollably, shaking Zhang Yaozhong’s hand vigorously.

The other leaders and retired officials naturally joined in, showering Zhang Yaozhong with sincere, heartfelt praise.

Watching his former subordinates and the new leadership surround him, Zhang Yaozhong couldn't help but straighten his back. He leaned back slightly with a tactical air, his pride nearly overflowing, yet his words remained humble.

"Not at all, not at all. If we’re talking about fostering these excellent works and teams, it’s all thanks to the open-mindedness of our current cultural system and the great work done since Director Zhao took office. As for me, I’m just using my remaining energy in my twilight years. The responsibility of reinforcing the front line of spiritual civilization in Rong City rests on your shoulders now!"

"And if you want to thank someone, you should thank the creator and performer of this play, Teacher Li! Today’s performance was truly... even more surprising than the premiere! I’ll tell you more about the details later!"

With these politically correct remarks, he didn't take a shred of credit for himself, distancing himself from the event as if he had done nothing at all, yet his speech was so masterful that no one could ignore his stature. It once again taught the surrounding youngsters what true caliber looked like.

Even the new top leader, Zhao Fanshan, couldn't help but step forward and tightly grip Zhang Yaozhong’s hand. "You’re too modest, Old Leader. Just based on your perspective alone, I have a lot to learn!"

...

In the second row, Li Shixin’s group of elderly fans were weeping until their eyes were swollen red like peaches.

Old Man Liu Feng was in tears, his voice trembling as his grandson supported him. "Shixin is too much. If he keeps doing this—making us shed tears by the bucketful—my cataracts are going to make me go blind, aren't they?"

Hearing this, Wu Ming rolled his eyes. "Then you shouldn't come tomorrow."

The old man, hearing this, angrily waved his fan-edition commemorative cane. "How can I not come! If I rely on Shixin, I might go blind but still make it to eighty-five. If I don't have Shixin to look forward to, I’m afraid I won't even make it past eighty-four! You weigh the pros and cons, understand? If I can't watch Shixin act, I... Grandson, what was the tune of that song you sang?"

"Which one?"

"The one that goes all twisty, the 'ong-ong' one!"

"Oh, 'I want~ this iron rod to be of what use, ong...'"

"Right! If I can't see Shixin, 'I want~ these old eyes to be of what use, ong...'"

Beside him, Qiao Hong clutched an apple in her hand, wiped her nose with her sleeve, and said with red-rimmed eyes, "Even though this is my first time watching it, I feel like I've seen this play before."

Next to her, Old Lady Zhang Mingrong curled her lip. "Sister Qiao Hong, we just watched it together a few days ago. How did you forget already?"

Qiao Hong: "Are you... do we know each other?"

Wu Ming: "Hey! Sister Qiao Hong, didn't we just greet each other before the show started, and you said you wouldn't forget tonight? Your memory is even worse than Old Sister Zhang’s!"

Zhang Mingrong: "I’m in the early-to-mid stages of dementia; she’s in the mid-to-late. I’m definitely better than her! Isn't that obvious? By the way, who... are you?"

Wu Ming: ".......Let's just talk about Shixin."

Qiao Hong, Zhang Mingrong: "Shixin acted so well today!"

(✪ω✪), (✪ω✪)

Watching the two old ladies whose expressions were gradually synchronizing, Wu Ming clicked his tongue.

Fine, as long as they have that consensus, it’s enough.

Behind the group of elderly fans, the rowdy kids dragged there by Chen Boshi’s underhanded tactics were sobbing until they were gasping for air.

Su Sansan was clutching her father’s neck tightly, wailing, "Dad! Dad! I don't want to get married anymore; I want to stay by your side forever!"

Su’s father was breathing heavily, his face already covered in tear tracks. He had originally had a drinking party to attend tonight, but he couldn't resist his daughter’s dozens of persistent phone calls, so he had driven back from Tiancheng just to accompany her to the play.

Before the show started, Su’s father had still been full of resentment—that drinking party tonight concerned a project worth hundreds of thousands for his company.

Now, having finished the entire play, he simply turned off his phone.

He had decided: even if the company went under tonight, he was not picking up any calls!

He hugged Su Sansan tightly. "Daughter, I’m sorry. Just a moment ago, your old man was complaining that you were being willful and unreasonable. I didn't realize you were so thoughtful, using this way to express your love for Dad. Sansan, from now on, Dad will come home every night to be with you and your mom!"

Beside them, Chen Boshi wiped the tears from her face and glanced at President Su.

(﹁“﹁))))

Thoughtful, my foot.

Sure enough, over-interpreting things is a hereditary disease.

On the other side, Chen Yiyi was also sobbing like a twisted noodle, slumped on her father’s shoulder. "Dad! I, Chen Yiyi, swear to heaven, if you get dementia, I will definitely not hit you, not scold you, and not give you a cold shoulder! Sob... Dad! I promise to take care of you in your twilight years so you’re happy, and when you go, you’ll go with a smile!"

Chen’s father’s fleshy face twitched. It took him a long time to put away the pliers he had already reached into his daughter’s lap to scare her with. Instead, he hugged his daughter tightly and said with a sobbing voice, "There are too many people here; I’ll deal with you when we get home."

Chen’s mother, watching her daughter cling to her husband like a little cotton-padded jacket, couldn't help but feel jealous. She said sourly, "Old Chen, why don't we... while we’re still young enough, have a few more? Didn't you always want a son?"

Hearing Chen Yiyi’s mother twist the knife and imagining Chen Yiyi’s situation when she got home, Chen Boshi shook her head and sighed.

(ー△ー；)

Confirmed: low emotional intelligence is also a hereditary disease.

Nearby, a man in his forties holding his glasses looked at the sobbing children around him with a gratified expression.

Seeing that Chen Boshi was all alone among the kids accompanied by parents, he couldn't help but approach. "Child, did you come by yourself?"

Exchanging a look, she realized he was a stranger. Chen Boshi pursed her lips. "No. I’m here with my grandma."

"And where is your grandma?"

"Over there, playing with her old friends. She doesn't have time for me."

"Oh... good child. Child, are you all classmates?"

"Yes."

"Which school?"

Faced with this question, Chen Boshi frowned and didn't answer, instead sizing up the middle-aged man again. She pointed toward the southeast corner of the theater.

＼(；￢_￢) "Uncle, before you continue inquiring about my personal information, I want to remind you of something. If you’re a human trafficker, the nearest police station is only three minutes away. If you have bad intentions because you think I’m cute, you know that three years is the minimum sentence, right?"

What kind of child is this!?

Such strong safety awareness!

(.;ﾟ:益:ﾟ;.)

Seeing Chen Boshi’s vigilant little eyes, the middle-aged man quickly waved his hands to explain. "Don't misunderstand, child. I’m the vice-principal of the Third Middle School, Lu Jianming. Here, this is my business card."

After taking the card and reading it carefully, Chen Boshi breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and bowed. "Hello, Principal Lu! We are from Class 3, Grade 2 of the First Middle School. I’m the class monitor, Chen Boshi."

"Chen Boshi?"

Thinking about the name for a long time, Lu Jianming suddenly clicked!

"Oh! You’re that student who took first place in both the citywide math olympiad and the Chinese essay competition last year, right? I’ve heard of you! Nice to meet you, child! Did you all come to see the play spontaneously?"

"I wouldn't say spontaneous. Our First Middle School has always attached great importance to the cultivation of students' spiritual civilization. We have always been doing this kind of extracurricular humanistic cultural absorption under the guidance of the school. Why? Don't you do this at the Third Middle School?"

"Uh..."

Faced with Chen Boshi’s soul-searching question, Principal Lu’s old face turned red.

Tragic! How tragic!

Look at the children from other schools!

Not only are their academic results heaven-defying, but they are also so excellent in these peripheral areas!

And look at the children in his own school...

Sigh, better not talk about it!

He was furious at their lack of ambition!

With his murderous intent locked in, Principal Lu twisted his face into a dry laugh. "Well, this... actually, we at the Third Middle School are doing it too. But after seeing this play today and witnessing the bond built between your class and their parents through this bridge, I feel that our school needs to step up our efforts in filial piety and moral education!"

Secretly gritting his molars, Principal Lu was already thinking about his grand plan for fifty book reports next semester.

And washing feet for mom, scrubbing backs for dad, scratching itches for grandma, clipping toenails for grandpa...

＼＼(`д´)و//／／

Whatever he could think of, he was going to make them do it all!

"Oh." Chen Boshi nodded and raised an eyebrow. "Then you can learn a thing or two from our principal."

"Certainly, certainly, if there’s a chance."

Seeing Principal Lu’s embarrassment, Chen Boshi chuckled, her twin tails swaying gently.

(•̀ω•́)✧

"Today is a great chance! I’ll call our principal right now and have him come over. It’s my treat; let’s grab some bubble tea in a bit."

Watching Chen Boshi take out her phone and dial, Principal Lu’s resolve was already crumbling—why don't I have students like this!

"Ha, haha. How could I let a child pay? I’ll treat, I’ll treat."

Nearby.

A young man with thick glasses placed his last tissue on his nose.

*Pfft!*

As two streams of mucus came out, he sobbed violently again. Too busy to wipe the mess on his hand, he pulled out a notebook and unscrewed his fountain pen.

The most tissue-wasting play in the last three years—Review of "Only You Are My Unforgettable Attachment."

*Scratch, scratch, scratch.* Two lines of vigorous semi-cursive script on the notebook formed a massive title!