Chapter 41: Chapter 40: “Give It to Me, I’m Going to Get Water Too

Xu Su was the math representative for Teacher Wu’s class, while Xi Zirong was the monitor of the “rocket class.” Both could be considered Teacher Wu’s star students.

During evening self-study, Teacher Wu handed a hundred yuan directly to his math representative, Xu Su. He smiled and said, “Girls are more meticulous. I’m putting Xu Su in charge of the event funds this time. Prepare some food and drinks. As for what to buy and how to prepare, the class monitor will organize it. Make sure to ask for the opinions of your classmates.”

Teacher Wu had chipped in a hundred yuan from his own pocket for the New Year’s Day party funds. The rest of the expenses would be split by the students.

The students all responded enthusiastically. Even those with the tightest budgets were incredibly excited for what might be the only New Year’s Day party of their three years in high school.

The moment Teacher Wu left, the classroom instantly erupted with noise.

One of the more energetic boys let out a whoop. “A class party! Is anyone in our class going to do a talent show or something? Sing a song, do a dance to liven things up!”

“Chen Hao, you should do something! Didn’t you do a hundred push-ups straight during military training? Do it again!”

Chen Hao, having been called out, waved his hands dismissively. “No, no. This is a class party, not a sports meet. Why would I do push-ups? Let’s just sing. My family has a microphone. I’ll bring some CDs, and we can sing in the classroom. Tell me what songs you want to sing, and I’ll find the CDs for you.”

Chen Hao’s family owned a video rental store.

Fu Zichen hesitated. “The teachers’ office is right next door. Won’t we be too loud if we sing?”

Someone replied, “What’s the big deal? Old Wu already agreed to let us have a party. It’s not like we’re loud every day. This might be the only time in three years.”

The class discussion grew extremely heated. Xi Zirong stood up and said, “Quiet down, it’s still study hall. Everyone, write your suggestions on a piece of paper and hand them all to me. It can be what you want to eat or what games you want to play. Majority rules, and we’ll decide by vote.”

“Also, Teacher Wu sponsored us with one hundred yuan to buy things. In case that’s not enough, everyone needs to give ten yuan to Xu Su before the weekend. All purchases will be recorded, and after New Year’s Day, we’ll settle the difference.”

Xi Zirong held considerable prestige in the class. After he laid down the law, no one discussed the matter loudly anymore. There was only quiet chatter between desk mates, and some students did indeed write down their suggestions and hand them to him.

Chen Huiyu also leaned over and whispered, “Susu, do you have any ideas for this New Year’s party?”

Xu Su shook her head. She didn’t really have any ideas. ’These kinds of class parties are always the same—buy some sunflower seeds, candy, and whatnot, then watch a few classmates put on a ’talent show’.’

By the break after the first evening self-study session, Xi Zirong had already collected over a dozen little notes from the more active students in the class.

Xu Su was the ’treasurer’ personally chosen by Teacher Wu, so no one had any objections to her managing the money. During the break, she also collected event fees from some students who were able to produce the ten yuan on the spot.

She used a separate notebook to record the names of the students who had paid, then folded the bills one by one, bundled them with a rubber band, and put them in her pocket.

’If it were up to me, I wouldn’t want to be the ’treasurer’ at all,’ Xu Su thought. ’There are fifty-eight students in the class, so at ten yuan each, that’s five hundred and eighty. Add Teacher Wu’s one hundred, and I’m in charge of a full six hundred and eighty yuan. I’m honestly afraid something might go wrong.’

Given her current financial situation, losing several hundred yuan would be a real problem. But since the task had been assigned to her, she had no choice but to do it.

She had originally planned to use the break to go to the restroom, but she was blocked by students coming to pay their fees. The bell for the second evening self-study session rang and the classroom grew quiet, but Xu Su still hadn’t managed to go.

’Run out to the restroom with so many classmates watching?’

After a moment of hesitation, Xu Su decided to hold it for another class period.

The weather had been dry lately, and she loved to drink water. After a whole class period of squirming in her seat and holding it in with a full bladder, Xu Su shot up and walked out of the classroom the moment she heard the dismissal bell.

When she returned from the restroom and was about to sit down, Xi Zirong called out to her.

“We’re going to buy everything for the party this Sunday. Are you free?”

New Year’s Day was the following Wednesday. According to their class schedule, the only time they had to go shopping was on the weekend.

Xu Su was already prepared for this. She nodded and said, “Remember to arrange for a few boys to help carry things. Write down everything we need to buy on paper, make a shopping list. That way we can just buy what’s on it and avoid wandering around aimlessly.”

As she spoke, she picked up the empty cup on her desk, ready to go get some hot water. After using the restroom, she was thirsty again.

She had just picked up the cup when someone took it from her hand.

“Let me. I’m going to get water too.” After speaking, Xi Zirong very naturally took both cups and went out.

Xu Su stood frozen in place, awkward. It took her a long moment to sit back down, comforting herself by thinking of it as just friendly cooperation between classmates.

’Worst case, I’ll just get water for him next time,’ she thought.

The other students in the class were already used to this sort of thing. The rumor that the class monitor was pursuing Xu Su had been circulating for a month or so, and though the person in question had countless opportunities to explain it away, he never once did.

Previously, when people liked to mention Xi Zirong and Fu Zichen’s names together and comment on how well-matched they were, he had been known to sternly draw a clear line.

Now, it was just a matter of getting some water. The students were accustomed to it. Besides, didn’t they see that even Old Wu wasn’t intervening?

* * *

The next day during lunch break, Xu Su returned to the classroom. Xi Zirong handed her another piece of paper filled with a list of supplies to buy. “You’re more detail-oriented,” he said. “Take a look. Is there anything else we need to add?”

This was indeed the task Teacher Wu had assigned to the two of them—one to manage the money, the other to organize the whole thing. Xu Su didn’t refuse; she took the list and looked it over.

Inexpensive and long-lasting snacks like peanuts, sunflower seeds, oranges, and candy were essential. Then, there was one bottle of Jianlibao for each person.

As for entertainment equipment, they would save money wherever possible. Since Chen Hao was providing the microphone and CDs, and the party was during evening self-study as Teacher Wu had said, some lively karaoke would be enough.

The rest was classroom decorations: streamers, balloons, some sparkly floral lanterns, and so on. Xi Zirong had actually written it all out in great detail. Xu Su couldn’t think of anything to add at the moment; she wasn’t very good at decorating classrooms anyway.

The class had an arts representative named Rao Lu. She was usually the one who created the weekly blackboard newspaper at the back of the classroom. She had beautiful handwriting, and word was that she had also been the arts representative in middle school and had studied dance and piano.

Rao Lu lived right in Chang City and was also a day student, so she arrived at the classroom right after lunch.

Seeing Rao Lu come in, Xu Su took the list Xi Zirong had made and went over to her. “For the New Year’s party decorations, do you have any suggestions on what we should buy? If there’s anything you need, just say the word. We’re going shopping this weekend.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep