Ethan Young just felt that since he already knew it all, repeating the rehearsal over and over was a bit annoying: "Believe it or not."

Mad Dog was uncharacteristically sentimental today, reading the history of No. 2 High School to all the teachers and students over the broadcast, briefly reviewing every step of the past sixty-plus years, and finally saying: "Actually, the most important part of our No. 2 High School's history isn't the glorious achievements or the outstanding faculty, but you—generation after generation of kids who spent three years of high school here at No. 2."

Mad Dog rambled on endlessly over the broadcast, giving Ethan Young a headache, so he casually flipped open the comic book next to him.

This set of comics was brought from home by Wanda, ten volumes in total, all about hot-blooded high school life. They had been circulating wildly in the classroom for a few days, with all the boys taking turns reading them.

The day before yesterday, Logan Wright secretly read it during math class, got it confiscated by Old Warren, and was punished with ten math problems. The group was itching to get it back, planning to sneak into the teachers' office when Old Warren wasn't looking.

"Old Young, are you a man or not," Henry Howard wanted to drag him along, but Ethan Young wasn't very interested, so he tried to provoke him, "Are you scared?"

Ethan Young: "What the hell would I be scared of?"

In the end, they followed Wanda and circled around the office door several times, only to see Old Warren open the comic book. It was obvious he was going to read it for the whole break, giving them no chance at all: ""

Ethan Young hadn't turned more than a couple of pages when he heard Henry Howard raise his voice nearby: "Teacher, you look so dashing and handsome today. You look at least ten years younger, especially cool."

Henry Howard leaned back as he spoke, tilting his chair so it rocked back and forth.

Luke Carter caught on and chimed in: "You're basically the Aaron Kwok of No. 2 High."

All the compliments were taken, so Logan Wright could only say: "In short, just one word—cool!"

The whole class burst out laughing, clapping and echoing.

Old Thompson scratched his head a bit embarrassedly: "What nonsense are you talking about."

After saying that, Old Thompson rested his hand on the edge of the podium and didn't bother with his tie anymore.

Ethan Young stared at Henry Howard, who was rocking in his chair looking all unruly.

Winter was coming, and some students who were afraid of the cold had already put on winter clothes, but this guy was still dressed lightly, looking like a furnace, with his sleeves even rolled up, exposing his wrist.

Earlier, Luke Carter had casually mentioned that if he weren't the class monitor, the most suitable person for the job would be Henry Howard.

He really was quite suitable.

He looked like a rule-breaker, but actually, he just kept a low profile.

The school anniversary gala was scheduled after school, during the usual evening self-study period. The students participating in the rehearsal had to go over at noon. After lunch, Luke Carter bent down and took the performance costumes out from under the desk: "So we get to skip half a day of class, just like that. Feels great."

"Don't get too happy," Emily Shaw and Quinn Shaw each took their costumes, linking arms as they said, "Hurry up and change, then meet at the stairwell when you're done."

It was definitely inconvenient to change in the classroom—shirtless boys would be a bad influence—so they could only go to the bathroom stalls.

There were only six stalls in total. Luke Carter and the others rushed in, each grabbing one, moving so fast it was like missing out on a hot meal if they were a second slower. In the end, only the innermost stall was left.

Logan Wright managed to get the second-to-last one, locking the door as he said, "Sorry, Bro Henry, Yu-ge, you two will have to squeeze in together."

""

Ethan Young stood at the bathroom door with his clothes, really wanting to kick Logan Wright into the toilet.

"Come on," Henry Howard was more than happy, smiling as he hooked Ethan Young's shoulder, "Squeeze in?"

The stall was so small that even standing still, the two of them would bump into each other, let alone while changing clothes.

Henry Howard was quick, taking off his shirt in a couple of moves. Ethan Young had just unzipped his jacket when his elbow accidentally bumped into Henry Howard's waist. It was kind of firm.

The boy's body was lean, his abs not overly defined, with the unique youthfulness of someone eighteen or nineteen.

"Move over," Ethan Young paused, then added, "Get to the side."

Luke Carter and the others were chatting even as they changed, talking about that hot-blooded comic, shouting, "I'm on volume five, who has six?"

"Six doesn't exist anymore."

"It's with Old Warren."

"You guys haven't stolen it back yet?"

"How! Tell me how! Old Warren reads it every break, and he still hasn't finished!"

Besides those changing in the stalls, there were plenty of people coming and going outside.

Ethan Young finished changing, quickly pulled on his pants, and when he looked up, Henry Howard was leaning against the door, staring at him: "What?"

Henry Howard was already done changing, the white shirt on him giving off a bit of a roguish vibe, with the top three buttons undone, hanging open carelessly.

"Just looking at you," Henry Howard said, "How is my little one so good-looking?"

Ethan Young slowly zipped up his pants, took two steps forward, and reached up to button Henry Howard's shirt for him. His fingers circled the buttons, feeling the warmth of his body through the fabric, and reminded him: "You, someone with a boyfriend, don't be too flirty."

Henry Howard didn't move, letting Ethan Young button up two buttons, then couldn't help but lower his head and lean closer.

"Bro Henry, are you guys done yet?"

Logan Wright was strong, and his knocking sounded like pounding, making the stall door shake with a few bangs.

Henry Howard: ""

After Logan Wright finished knocking, it took a few seconds before the door opened. He was about to spin around and show off his new look, maybe ask if he looked cool, when he saw Henry Howard didn't look too happy.

They had agreed to hurry and meet at the stairwell after changing. The girls, Quinn Shaw and the others, took a bit longer to change.

By the time they finished and came out, the boys had already been waiting at the hallway entrance for five or six minutes.

Logan Wright, Wanda, and a few others deliberately stood near the corridor, lined up in a row, striking serious poses. Logan Wright had one hand in his pocket, Luke Carter crossed his arms, looking cold and mysterious.

Emily Shaw glanced at them, ignored the group of weirdos, and went to find the two faces of Class Three.

The two class heartthrobs were low-key, sitting side by side on the stairs.

Ethan Young had his legs bent, wearing low-rise ripped jeans that showed off his long, straight legs, with a large patch of skin at the knee exposed, so pale it was dazzling.

Emily Shaw stared for a few seconds.

Henry Howard was holding up his phone, his other hand around Ethan Young's neck. It looked like he wanted to take a photo with him, but Ethan Young clearly wasn't into it, showing no expression for the camera.

His photography skills weren't great, and his angles were weird. If it weren't for their good looks, the photo would have been a disaster.

But Henry Howard was especially confident: "How about my composition?"

"What composition," Ethan Young stood up and said, "Wake up, be realistic."

The school auditorium wasn't used much, except for events like the anniversary performance or grade meetings.

The stage was covered with wooden flooring, with dark red curtains on both sides.

Looking down from the stage, there were rows and rows of endless seats.

When they arrived, Luke Carter and the others were still talking tough, saying they'd crush the other classes, but as soon as they got on stage, their legs went weak.

Logan Wright: "How come I never noticed our school auditorium was this big?"

Luke Carter: "Are there really that many people sitting down there?"

Wanda: "Does anyone need to pee?"

"Are you guys scared or not," Henry Howard stood in the center, jokingly kicking Logan Wright as he spoke, "What did you say on the way here?"

"Universe's most cowardly boy band" representative Logan Wright: "We're scared."

Even though Ethan Young didn't participate much in rehearsals, he never made a mistake during the whole run-through. When the boys danced on stage, even if their moves weren't perfect, without any lighting effects, he still shone on his own.

Unlike Henry Howard's flamboyant, showy style, Ethan Young didn't really want to stand out, but he couldn't help attracting attention.

Once you looked, you couldn't look away.

Emily Shaw finished dancing, and as the last note fell, the weight in her heart lifted. She thought to herself, this time it's definitely in the bag.

At six in the evening, the audience started to file in, and the once-empty auditorium became lively.

The first row was filled with school leaders, with nameplates and titles on the tables.

After the two hosts finished a long opening speech, they started announcing the acts: "Next, let's welcome the students from Class 1, Grade 10, to present a poetry recitation, 'My School.' Please give them a warm round of applause."

The performers were all seated in the front row for easy access to the stage.

The poetry recitation wasn't very interesting. Ethan Young turned and asked, "What number is our class?"