Apocalypse Forecast

After returning home, Huai Shi and Raven crouched in the basement discussing their plan until midnight, then the next day, they started to act separately.

It turned out that committing crimes was a technical job, especially when you were being treated as a key surveillance target by the authorities.

The duo ultimately decided to divide the work: Raven was to prepare the tools for the crime, while Huai Shi was tasked with joining the school anniversary celebrations in a way that was smooth yet inconspicuous. It would be best to be somewhat conspicuous, the kind with hundreds of alibis.

In this day and age, even crime syndicates faced the risk of accidents, so having several backup plans was always safer. My first time planning a double-cross... How do I act like I've done this a million times? Online, urgently seeking advice!

As Huai Shi contemplated each step of the plan, he casually pushed open the door to the General Affairs office and put on his most fawning smile with practiced ease. "Teacher Gao, about this school anniversary..."

An awkward silence filled the room.

Huai Shi stood frozen at the door.

In the dim office, where the curtains were drawn, the panting man at the desk looked up in shock at the boy who had entered without even knocking.

The woman lying on the table immediately covered her face.

In the silence, nobody spoke.

Huai Shi took a step back, closed the door, and blankly watched the sunlight in the corridor, scratching his head.

Why did things suddenly get so thrilling?

He realized his criminal plan might be doomed...

After taking a deep breath, he tried to calm himself, guessing that the two inside were about done dressing. He pushed the door open again, pretending like nothing had happened, with a fawning smile.

"Teacher Gao, about this school celebration..."

The office was still silent.

Teacher Gao was still sprawled on the desk, frozen in the position he'd been in, just in time to hear the woman on the desk ask, "Did he leave?"

...Damn it, how are you two still in the mood for this! Even after being caught, not bothering to put on clothes!

"Uh, please continue... Just call me when you're done."

Huai Shi swallowed, retreated awkwardly, and considerately closed the door for them. Then he stood under the afternoon sun, sweating and fretting over how to handle the situation.

Ever since he refused to tutor his nephew in violin last time, Director Gao from the Academic Affairs office had been giving him the evil eye. Now, with old and new grudges coming to a head, he feared he might be facing expulsion.

Or maybe I should go for broke? Be ruthless, burst in with my phone, snap dozens of photos, then force him to give me the green light and blackmail him for a few hundred thousand...

As the wicked thought came to mind, Huai Shi gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and was about to charge in with his phone ready for a photo spree when he heard a startled voice behind him.

"Huai Shi?"

Holding a stack of documents, Fu Yi asked curiously, "What are you doing here?"

"...Walking! I'm just taking a walk!"

Huai Shi's expression twitched. He quickly put away his phone, turned around, and forced a smile at her. "What a coincidence, are you taking a walk too?"

"I'm here to submit some materials and reports for tomorrow's school anniversary, as well as the list of alumni who've been invited." Fu Yi glanced at him suspiciously. "You don't look so good. Did you stay up late last night?"

"Right, didn't sleep well," Huai Shi laughed awkwardly.

Not only had I slept poorly, but I'd also stayed up until four planning a criminal operation!

"Then wait for me a moment. When I'm done with the report, I'll treat you to a Red Bull."

As Fu Yi attempted to walk past Huai Shi to enter the room, Huai Shi panicked and quickly blocked her way. "You can't go in! You can't go in!"

"Hmm?" Fu Yi tilted her head. "What's wrong?"

There's a demon battle happening behind the door, do you believe it?

Of course, Huai Shi couldn't really say that, nor did he want to drag her into this mess. Not sure what to say, he hemmed and hawed for a while and then blurted out awkwardly, "...I... just stand with me for a while, will you?"

"Hmm?"

Fu Yi became more puzzled but soon raised her eyebrows and gave a light smile. "Sure."

She took a step back, leaned against the wall next to Huai Shi, and stood still.

"Is this alright?" she asked, as if she were really accompanying Huai Shi in standing punishment.

A quiet breeze began to blow.

Huai Shi was momentarily stunned as he turned to look at her.

The afternoon sun shone through the windows into the corridor, lighting up the dancing dust motes and her pupils, which glimmered like amber.

Her long black hair cascaded over her white school uniform, each strand sparkling faintly in the sunlight.

In the moment of Huai Shi's astonishment, she suddenly shoved the stack of documents into his arms and then laughed triumphantly, like a prankster who had succeeded.

Huai Shi looked down at the documents in his hands, shook his head, and for some reason, also started to laugh.

Suddenly, it seemed like nothing else mattered.

Everything else was cast aside.

He leaned against the wall, watching the plane trees sway in the breeze outside the window. Fragmented sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling on the shoulders of people passing by.

It was as tranquil as a fleeting bubble.

He let out a long breath. The restlessness that had been haunting his heart and lungs these past few days seemingly dissipated with it, and he returned to a state of tranquility and peace, as if awakening from a long dream.

Soon, he heard footsteps from behind the door.

A woman emerged, pushing open the door. She saw the two people outside and smiled awkwardly. Director Gao, following behind, saw her out and handed her an insulated food container.

"I'll go home for lunch in the future. It's not good for the students to see you delivering it all the time."

After exchanging a few words, he sent her off. Director Gao turned his head and glanced at the two people at the door, particularly at the awkward-looking Huai Shi. As if offering an explanation, he said, "My wife."

"Oh, oh," Huai Shi nodded hastily.

"The report and list for the school anniversary celebration? Just give them to me." He took the stack of documents directly from Huai Shi's hands and looked towards Fu Yi. "Remember to send an electronic version to Principal Zhao's email later. For the seventieth-anniversary celebration, it's only right that he approves a bit more budget."

Fu Yi nodded with a smile.

"Also, the idea for the micro-movie is good, but the celebration night's program..." Director Gao calmly lowered his head and flipped through the list Fu Yi had handed over, then raised his head to ask, "Isn't it a bit thin?"

Fu Yi seemed to have anticipated this. "Because most of the third-year seniors are preparing for their college entrance exams. The first-years have a lot of acts, but the quality isn't very high."

"Hmm, I'll help you think about it then." Director Gao turned back to Huai Shi. "Don't you play the cello quite well? I heard you've won quite a few awards. You should also present a performance. Let everyone see the artistic talent of our school."

"Uhh..." Fu Yi was taken aback and instinctively spoke up, "Teacher Gao, Huai Shi is currently preparing for his professional level exams... and the rehearsals are over..."

"No problem. I see him running around every day, rather idly too. Didn't he just take a long leave a while ago? Wouldn't it be good to contribute to the school with that energy? Right?"

He gave Huai Shi a meaningful glance. "You're in your third year of senior high now, about to graduate. Whether you're entering society or university, you have to learn to be more prudent. Be cautious in your words and deeds, and don't rush around recklessly."

Speaking thus, he said to Fu Yi, "I'll leave this matter to you to handle. Isn't the person who was supposed to do the stand-up comedy hospitalized? This will fill that spot nicely."

Huai Shi was startled, his feelings suddenly complicated.

On one hand, it seemed that the purpose of his visit was unexpectedly resolved without him even needing to speak up. Moreover, Director Gao didn't seem to intend to silence him or threaten him in any way; he just gave a light tap. It could be said to be quite a relaxed and pleasant outcome.

On the other hand, there was Fu Yi.

The reason he had sought out Director Gao instead of going directly to Fu Yi, who was in charge of this matter in the student council, was because he didn't want to involve her.

Even if she wouldn't know she was helping him create a false alibi, why drag her into it?

The feeling of using a friend made him uncomfortable.

In the end, he could only nod helplessly.

"Alright, since you put it that way, I'll do a solo."

He had originally intended to just blend into the school choir for a position as an accompanist, but it seemed now that taking a little risk was inevitable.

After they handed over the materials, the way Fu Yi looked at him turned rather strange. "A solo? Are you going to ditch me and go solo?"

"Just a solo," Huai Shi nodded, as if he didn't understand her meaning. "After all, if we were to do another opera, there wouldn't be enough time for rehearsals, right?"

"Tsk, I always feel like you're up to some mischief."

Fu Yi took out two cans of Red Bull from the vending machine and, without probing further, tossed one to him. "Just don't stand me up at the rehearsal tonight."

"Definitely."

Huai Shi pulled open the tab and downed the can in one go.

The first step of the criminal plan, settled... probably.

The so-called school celebration was just that, a routine. The leaders would give speeches, then successful alumni would come up to speak. A student representative would then follow a script, leading to the much-anticipated donation segment. Finally, a gala would be held to show the leaders and successful individuals from all walks of life that their money had been well spent.

And while the school leaders were leading everyone on a tour of the campus, the auditorium backstage was also bustling. The school celebration performance was about to start, a hive of activity.

Dozens of students were running about busily, preparing props and doing final rehearsals, while TV station cameramen adjusted lights and camera positions.

Everyone seemed to have something to do.

Thus, the group huddled in a corner became conspicuously out of place.

"Huai Shi, Huai Shi, your skin has improved so much!"

"Really? I recommend you try Mint's latest Night Cream; it works wonders. Look at your skin. Don't you just slap something on after washing your face? You can't do that; it's damaging, you know."

"Eh? Really? I hadn't noticed."

"Huai Shi, Huai Shi, are you performing this time too?"

"Yeah, a solo. You have to cheer and applaud for me, senior sister! Oh, by the way, did you change your bracelet? This Malachite has a really nice quality to it. If you pair it with an Agate here, it would be perfect. Malachite and Agate both aid sleep. See, the skin under your ear is a bit oily; that's probably from lack of sleep."

"Is it? Is it? Ah, I've been staying up late preparing for the math and science competition."

"I recommend you try this brand's steam eye mask; it's great for reducing dark circles. Just use it for five minutes before bed, paired with the serum I just recommended. You'll wake up without a single pimple the next day."

"Eh? Really?"

"Your phone's been ringing nonstop, Huai Shi."

"'It's nothing, probably just someone looking for me.' In the group of girls, Huai Shi glanced down at his phone and flashed a roguish smile at his newfound 'sisters.' 'I'm going to the piano room to get something. We can chat later.'"

"'Sure, sure.'"

Amidst the girls' reluctant gazes, the young man, who had seemingly become their heartthrob, turned and walked toward the piano room, swaggering and whistling along the way, then opened the door to the piano room.

He saw a face devoid of expression.

"Having fun?" the real Huai Shi asked.