Chapter 194: Chapter 194 The Divine Beast Comes Chapter 194: Chapter 194 The Divine Beast Comes Important figures have their own way of life, and the common folks have theirs.

Zheng Tan found that he, as a cat, much preferred the life in the courtyard—carefree, comfortable, no need to worry about breaking a vase and being on tenterhooks, no need to get involved in those turbulent, significant matters. He could throw tantrums, have fun to his heart’s content, eat and drink as he pleased; indeed, life with the Jiao family was much more natural.

However, Zheng Tan’s good mood soured somewhat after dinner.

“A divine beast?!”

Jiao Ma paused her movement of picking up a green pepper and then turned to ask Little Youzi, “How did you think of having Heitan come over?”

“Yue Lisha said it would attract more attention; she called it…” Little Youzi thought about the word, “umm, she called it a gimmick.”

Jiao Ma: “…” Even little kids understand the concept of gimmicks now!

Little Youzi shoveled food into her mouth; she still had some things to say that wouldn’t be nice for Jiao Ma to hear. As the deputy class leader of the fourth-grade class three and the initiator of this event, Yue Lisha, besides creating a “gimmick,” also said that the June 1st performance was about chasing rewards—she heard that the top three would get a generous reward, and outstanding performers would also receive additional certificates from the school, all of which would be recorded in their files, which would be helpful for applying as an outstanding student or class officer at the end of the term, and later, for applying for class officer positions in middle school.

And the second goal of this performance was to show filial piety to the parents and move them. In this way, it would be easier to ask for pocket money in the future, and maybe they would even be taken to amusement parks and other places during holidays.

“What’s a gimmick?” Jiao Yuan demonstrated his lack of vocabulary in this area.

The three Jiao family members were entangled over this “gimmick,” while Zheng Tan’s mind once again communed with the alpaca.

Damn it, of all roles, why did they want me to play a divine beast?!

For the students of Chuhua University Affiliated Primary School, June 1st meant they got to watch a variety show. Previously, they had just played by themselves within their own classes, which meant the afternoon before the June 1st holiday was spent playing in their own classrooms—singing, displaying talents, and the school would distribute some snacks so the children could enjoy themselves.

Latterly, some parent working in the Department of Education suggested using the auditorium of Chuhua University to hold a variety show—seeing as the auditorium would be empty on June 1st anyway, with no college students around. If it were empty, the resources could be used, and it would also enhance the children’s ability to work together and their sense of aesthetics.

So, that’s how the June 1st festival performance at Chuhua University’s auditorium came about.

When Yue Lisha suggested they put on a performance, her class, the fourth-grade class three, was very supportive because classes with performances could go to the auditorium to watch. Since the auditorium had limited seating and many parents would also attend, not enough seats would be left—classes without performances could just watch in their own rooms. After all, each classroom was equipped with a television, and the school’s broadcasting station would cover the event live.

According to Little Youzi, her class planned to make a big splash this time. Those who were good at crafts were already making some simple props, and those who could play musical instruments started practicing fervently. The story they were going to perform was written by Yue Lisha herself: a tale of a filial son who, for his bedridden, seriously ill mother, went through mountains and waters, overcame various hardships and monsters, and finally obtained a snow lotus from the mountain god’s divine beast on the snowy mountain to cure his mother.

Zheng Tan found the story somewhat familiar as it seemed to be a plot used in many TV dramas, movies, and even an advertisement he had previously appeared in. However, when it came to performances by children, the audience didn’t really come for the plot but to watch their own children perform. The storyline was secondary; it was all about the fun.

By the time they decided to have Zheng Tan play the divine beast, the fourth-grade class three had already rehearsed many times. The props were almost finished, and they had even done a preliminary show. After all, there were too many classes reporting performances, and the auditorium’s showtime was limited—some would need to be cut. There were no rankings in the preliminary show, only a notification of which classes would get to perform at the auditorium in the end.

And as it turned out from that preliminary, there were too many outstanding programs and the competition was fierce, just as Little Youzi had said—they needed something special, and so, Zheng Tan was cast.

Many people at the Affiliated Primary School, especially in Little Youzi’s class, knew that her Black Cat would come to pick her up after school every day and was very obedient. Thus, Yue Lisha set her sights on Zheng Tan.

Little Youzi didn’t really agree to have Zheng Tan join, but after many classmates came over to persuade her and Yue Lisha and Xie Xin had mentioned it to her multiple times, she decided to ask Zheng Tan what he thought; if he was unwilling, she would refuse them the next day.

Although the role of the divine beast didn’t really appeal to Zheng Tan, he didn’t want to make it difficult for Little Youzi. In the class, Yue Lisha and Xie Xin had helped Little Youzi a lot, and this time Zheng Tan decided to help out as a way of saying thanks. Besides, the kid didn’t like to talk much and tended to be distant from others—if things went smoothly this time, it might help Little Youzi get along better in class.

The next day, around ten in the morning, Zheng Tan didn’t go anywhere else for a walk but went directly to the Affiliated Primary School.

Little Youzi and her class had PE for the last period in the morning, and because of the upcoming June 1st performance, Yue Lisha had asked their PE teacher if they could use that time to prepare for the show instead. The PE teacher also knew about the performance and agreed without much thought.

The spot where Little Youzi and her classmates were rehearsing was in a corner of the playground. The Affiliated Primary School wasn’t big, and Zheng Tan knew this place well. He didn’t go through the main entrance but approached the playground from the outside and then climbed over the wall to see them.

The rehearsal was about to start, and Zheng Tan saw them forming lines, with Yue Lisha commanding.

About a dozen children held a piece of paper in front of them with the names of the roles they were portraying, and Little Youzi was among them. Zheng Tan glanced over, and the paper in Little Youzi’s hands read, “Bauhinia.”

The other children standing there held papers in their hands with plant names written on them. These children belonged to the background roles that didn’t require any lines once they went on stage.

It made sense when you think about it. Little Youzi always seemed so serious and cold, not much of a talker. If she were to perform, these kinds of roles would suit her better. Zheng Tan wondered how she would look with the props on. When the time came, they would have to wear the props for the performance. For now, the rehearsals only used paper substitutes to avoid damaging the real props, which were saved for the big day in the auditorium.

A student saw Zheng Tan standing on the wall and pointed at him, saying to Little Youzi, “Gu Youzi, your Divine Beast has come!”

“Oh? The Divine Beast is here? And right on time too!” chimed in the others.

Zheng Tan: “…” You’re the Divine Beasts, your whole family are Divine Beasts!

Annoyed, Zheng Tan tugged on his ear but didn’t jump off the wall, just stood there watching the little brats rehearse their play.

Each act had about twenty minutes of performance time, so if there was too much content, they would have to compress some of it.

The main role was played by the class’s sports committee member. The kid didn’t have the most outstanding appearance in the class and his acting was just mediocre, but he had the advantage of being able to do somersaults. As Zheng Tan watched their performance, the boy would do a somersault before every “move”, which Zheng Tan suspected might also be one of the “gimmicks” Yue Lisha had mentioned to grab attention.

The “villainous” monsters were played by several students, and they were incredibly invested in their roles, exuding even more energy than the protagonist. Zheng Tan had initially thought these children might be averse to playing the “villains”, but it seemed they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

As the rehearsal was coming to an end, it was time for Zheng Tan’s “Divine Beast” to make an appearance. Yue Lisha produced a piece of wild grass from somewhere and handed it to Zheng Tan. Little Youzi had gone over what he needed to do with Zheng Tan the previous night, so he knew what was expected for his performance.

So, he jumped off the wall and held the poor wild grass between his claws, waiting for the protagonist to come and take it.

The final scene involved the protagonist giving the “Spiritual Medicine” to his bedridden mother. Zheng Tan had been curious about who would play the “mother”—whether a teacher might make a cameo. However, now he just watched the child holding the “Spiritual Medicine” approach Yue Lisha, feigning excitement, “Your illness can be cured now!”

Zheng Tan: “…”

At the end of class, Yue Lisha and Xie Xin, along with Little Youzi, slowly walked towards the school gate, discussing what else needed to be prepared and planning to “work overtime” together if they had time that evening. Zheng Tan ran ahead to the wall at the school gate to squat and wait; he didn’t want to squeeze in among the students.

Just as he was thinking of how slow Yue Lisha walked, as sluggishly as a turtle, Zheng Tan suddenly caught sight of a person not far away. His first impression was that this person was up to no good, definitely not someone with honorable intentions.

A thief?

No, not a thief. Zheng Tan noted that the man’s gaze was primarily resting on the children. The way he looked at them was different from others. Maybe the kids didn’t feel it, and the parents hadn’t noticed him yet; they couldn’t tell, but Zheng Tan instinctively knew the man had bad intentions.

When the man inadvertently caught sight of Zheng Tan crouched on the wall, Zheng Tan showed his sharp teeth to him.

By the time Little Youzi came out, Zheng Tan looked back and saw the man was no longer there, probably having left already.

In the afternoon, as usual, Zheng Tan escorted Little Youzi to the Affiliated Primary School. As they were nearing the school, Zheng Tan saw the same guy standing at the intersection, the one he had seen after school in the morning.

Sensing Zheng Tan’s unease, Little Youzi followed his gaze and saw the man looking over at that exact moment. The man smiled when he noticed Little Youzi watching him.

Little Youzi frowned; although she wasn’t great at reading people, she didn’t get a good feeling from him. She quickened her pace toward the Affiliated Primary School.

Zheng Tan followed behind Little Youzi, glancing sideways at the man at the corner. His eyes narrowed; if that guy dared to come up to Little Youzi with a “little girl, uncle will take you to see the goldfish” line, Zheng Tan would immediately beat him to the point that not even his mother would recognize him, then find an opportunity to dump him in the lake to feed the fish!

While Zheng Tan was debating whether to kick the guy with his left leg or right leg, aiming for his face or the groin, the man shifted his gaze elsewhere.

The man didn’t keep staring at Little Youzi; instead, he turned to look at other children heading to school, especially those without adults accompanying them. Though Zheng Tan didn’t perceive much lewdness in that gaze, it still made him extremely uncomfortable.

Zheng Tan wouldn’t let his guard down just because the man was not focusing on Little Youzi. Jiao Ma had told him not to cause trouble, and currently, Zheng Tan was still under Jiao Ma’s observation. Perhaps another incident would lead to continued grounding, but Zheng Tan thought it best to be prepared. For now, with Little Youzi nearby, he couldn’t make a move. But once he found the opportunity, he would definitely deal with the guy first! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com), and your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep