Chapter 464 - 216: Shen Yuan’s Status in the Family
Chapter 464: Chapter 216: Shen Yuan’s Status in the Family
In the blink of an eye, the neat formations that had marched in dissolved completely within the gymnasium’s vast seating area. They reformed into a few shapeless, huddled little groups, all completely immersed in the joyful atmosphere of the impending show.
Of course, the other classes weren’t in much better shape.
Looking down from the stage, it was as if a neat chessboard had been overturned, scattering the pieces into several piles.
It was chaotic, yet brimming with a palpable energy and intimacy.
The air was already thick with the mingled smell of snacks, milk tea, and the crowd itself.
Amidst this buzz of anticipation, the overhead lights in the gymnasium dimmed one by one.
The clamor subsided as countless eyes turned toward the massive stage.
The heavy curtain became the sole focus, hanging silently in the dim light as if gathering its strength.
Suddenly, a soft white spotlight landed on the center of the curtain. It was followed by a small row of dim blue spotlights lighting up along the top.
There was no music. In the silence, only the sound of several thousand people breathing in the gymnasium grew increasingly distinct.
A silent tension, the feeling of anticipation reaching its zenith, spread through the air.
As the line of lights swept across, dynamic images of light and shadow began to flow silently across the once-blank curtain.
Scene after scene from campus life began to appear on the curtain before everyone’s eyes.
Basketball games, morning exercises, group drills, the cafeteria, the school covered in snow, the academic building...
Accompanied by a warm and gentle piano melody, scenes documenting snippets of the Jiyang students’ lives flowed across the curtain in a mottled dance of light and shadow.
There was no narration, only the changing scenes and the flow of the background music.
The clamor from the audience had long since subsided, replaced by occasional soft gasps or sentimental whispers.
In these scenes, the students saw others, and they also saw themselves.
Shen Yuan felt a weight on his shoulder and saw that Li Zhi had rested her head there.
Her gaze followed the play of light and shadow on the curtain, her expression soft and peaceful.
He Zhiyu excitedly gripped Zhuo Peipei’s hand, whispering as she pointed out acquaintances in one of the clips.
Ah Jie stopped his horseplay with Yang Ze and stared intently, a faint, nostalgic smile touching his lips.
As the image froze on a sweeping bird’s-eye view of the campus bathed in morning light, the background music drew to a close.
Abruptly, all the lights went out. The image vanished, and the curtain was once again plunged into profound darkness.
The gymnasium was silent for a second.
Then, a thrilling, surging drumbeat erupted like a clarion call at dawn, and a powerful electric guitar riff tore through the silence!
Dazzling laser beams spun and strafed the center of the audience, instantly setting the entire gymnasium ablaze with energy!
With the deafening music and light show, the students’ long-pent-up cheers erupted like a volcano, instantly pushing the gymnasium’s atmosphere to a fever pitch!
The spotlights snapped to the center of the stage!
A male and female student host, dressed in formal attire, strode out side-by-side from backstage, their faces beaming with youthful, confident smiles.
The young man was tall and radiant; the young woman, poised and lovely.
"Distinguished leaders, esteemed teachers! Dear fellow students! Good—evening, everyone!!"
As their voices rang out, the entire gymnasium erupted in cheers.
The Jiyang Middle School New Year’s Gala had officially begun.
The roar of the crowd was still echoing through the gymnasium as the stage lights dimmed once more with the hosts’ exit. Only a few spotlights remained, sweeping rapidly over the audience and leaving shimmering trails of light.
In the brief darkness, the anticipation in the air was stretched to its breaking point.
Abruptly, a spotlight snapped on, hitting the center of the stage and revealing the silhouette of a figure holding a guitar.
A student, one of the winners of the Top Ten Singers competition from the previous semester, stood on the stage. Their clear voice flowed from the microphone, instantly drawing a roar of cheers from the entire audience.
The song, filled with the thrill of youth and the shimmer of dreams, steadily elevated the gala’s atmosphere.
Before the fervent applause for the song could subside, the stage lights had already transformed.
The sounds of an orchestra rose from the stage, playing a soothing yet grand piece that briefly tempered the previous excitement.
As the melodious music faded away, the stage was suddenly bathed in a tranquil, hazy glow.
Several figures dressed in exquisite Hanfu stood silently amidst the play of light.
As the clear, high notes of a guzheng being plucked rang out, long water sleeves unfurled and skirt hems began to dance.
The traditional Chinese dancers moved with a classical grace, some soft and flowing, others sharp and heroic.
Many in the audience were captivated, and even the sound of cracking melon seeds died down considerably.
The campus life-themed comedy sketch that followed delivered a barrage of rapid-fire jokes.
The exaggerated acting and relatable school-themed inside jokes had the entire audience roaring with laughter.
Sitting in the back, Ah Jie and Yang Ze were doubled over, slapping their thighs as they howled with laughter.
Even Li Zhi, who was usually so straight-faced, couldn’t stop the corners of her lips from turning up at a particularly clever joke.
The girl draped her arm over Shen Yuan’s shoulders and leaned against him lightly. Her cool strands of hair brushed against the nape of his neck, sending a small flutter through him.
Just as the gales of laughter from the sketch subsided into lingering, appreciative chatter, the stage lights abruptly went dark, plunging everything into silence.
Only a few thin, narrow spotlights darted through the darkness, creating a tense, foreboding atmosphere, like the calm before a storm.
The entire gymnasium fell quiet, as if held in the grip of an invisible force.
"Here they come! Here they come!" Ah Jie suddenly grabbed Yang Ze’s arm, his voice cracking with excitement. "It’s them! This is gonna be absolutely explosive!"