Chapter 6: The First Time I Heard Your Voice①

On Monday, Chongde High School held its customary flag-raising ceremony to announce some important matters. On the playground, the students dressed in their blue-and-white uniforms listened attentively to the school leaders speaking from the podium.

A gentle breeze blew by, causing the national flag on the flagpole beside the podium to flutter softly.

“On Friday, there will be a campus singing competition. Everyone is encouraged to sign up! Even seniors in their final year can participate! It’s a good way to relax,” announced the school leader.

As soon as these words were spoken, cheers erupted across the playground.

After the flag-raising ceremony, each class returned to their classrooms, where homeroom teachers began compiling the list of participants for the campus singing competition.

“Mr. Zhou, I want to join!” a voice called out.

“You want to join? You can’t carry a tune to save your life! Are you trying to embarrass our class, Fang Jinyu?” Mr. Zhou replied with a teasing tone.

Mr. Zhou’s full name was Zhou Jianguo, a slightly portly but not bald middle-aged physics teacher who had a good relationship with his students and didn’t mind their playful teasing.

“It’s the participation that counts,” Fang Jinyu scratched his head.

A boy sitting quietly in the corner raised his hand. “Mr. Zhou, I’ll participate.”

Mr. Zhou glanced at the boy. “Sheng Yan? You’re joining too? No wonder you’re called the Hexagonal Warrior.”

Sheng Yan smiled. “Not quite a genius, don’t tease me. Let’s see if any others want to join.”

“Mr. Zhou, I want to join as well!”

“What? You want to join? The physics competition is coming up soon. If you don’t win any prize, you’ll have to clean the toilets for a week,” Mr. Zhou said, tapping the teacher’s desk.

“Why can Sheng Yan participate? He’s entering the physics competition just like me.”

“Alright, Shen Xianxing, you can join, but on two conditions. If you agree, I’ll sign you up,” Mr. Zhou said, already weary from arguing with Shen Xianxing. “First, you must win at least second place in the physics competition. Second, you must place at least third in the campus singing contest. If you can do that, I’ll let you join.”

“Deal, I agree.”

Perhaps it was the rebellious spirit of youth that made Shen Xianxing want to compete with Sheng Yan, or maybe it was the restless energy of adolescence driving him to join the school event without regrets.

“After class, both of you come to the office to fill out the registration forms, then back to self-study,” Mr. Zhou said. Holding his old-fashioned thermos, he returned to the office, leaving the students to study on their own in the classroom.

In Class 1 of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, the students busied themselves with their studies, some preparing for the competition, creating a concentrated academic atmosphere.

In the teachers’ office of Class 1, the teachers chatted over tea.

“Mr. Zhou, do you think Sheng Yan can win first prize in the competition?”

“Sheng Yan is guaranteed a recommendation, but that’s not the path he wants. He wants to pursue arts and sports,” Zhou Jianguo said, surprising everyone in the office. It was unexpected that such a promising student, poised to be a top scorer, would choose the arts and sports route.

“Why? His academics are excellent. Why would he choose arts and sports?”

“Mr. Chen, you don’t understand. Sheng Yan wants to be a dual champion in both academics and arts,” Mr. Zhou laughed.

“No, it’s purely because it’s his passion,” he added.

After class, Sheng Yan and Shen Xianxing filled out their registration forms in the office. Mr. Zhou reminded them, “You need to submit this to Teacher Wu and then get the key to the second-floor music room in the Horticulture Building.”

The boys nodded and went to hand in their forms. After receiving the key, they waited until dusk before heading to the music room to practice singing.

On Monday evening, except for the seniors, Chongde High School did not hold evening self-study sessions, so the boys practiced singing until 7:30 p.m.

The school’s music rooms were individual booths. While Shi Song waited outside Shen Xianxing’s room, she heard beautiful singing accompanied by guitar from the next room.

“How much luck can one have?”

“Life’s a royal flush.”

“I have no trump card without you.”

“If you truly have no place for me in your heart.”

Shi Song did not know that the owner of the adjacent room was the boy who had captured her heart. It was the first time she had heard his singing.

Shen Xianxing emerged from the music room, carrying his bag over one shoulder. “An’an, let’s go home.”

The girl responded softly, and together they left. The campus streetlights stretched their shadows long on the ground. Suddenly, the girl playfully stepped on the boy’s shadow, flashing a sweet smile. “I’ve trapped you—you can’t leave now.”

The boy smiled quietly, saying nothing.

Finding no reaction, the girl walked ahead, but after some distance, noticing the boy hadn’t followed, she turned. “Why aren’t you coming?”

“You stepped on me, so I can’t move.”

Looking down, she saw her other foot was still on his shadow. She lifted it, and he quickly caught up.

“You’re so childish.”

“Not as childish as you—what’s wrong with having fun with you?”

“Oh.”

“Are you mad, An’an?”

“No, don’t call me that.”

“I’m childish, I’m the most childish.”

“Hmph, good to know.”

After Shi Song and Shen Xianxing parted ways, the boy with the guitar next to Shen Xianxing’s room headed home under the moonlight.

“Shi Song, third period on Wednesday, there’s a club meeting.”

“Okay.”

Shi Song had joined the Photography Club last semester and had even won some awards in school competitions. She had been interested in this since childhood. When she was one year old, the items she chose at the “grab the future” ceremony were all camera-related, perhaps fate.

Wednesday afternoons’ third period was reserved for club activities, designed to enrich students’ lives and add enjoyment.

The Photography Club met in the third classroom on the first floor of the Horticulture Building. When Shi Song arrived, some members were already there. Once everyone arrived, the club president began the meeting.

“There’s an event on Friday, and we’re responsible for taking photos and videos.”

“Senior Liu, we only have twelve members. How do we divide into groups for shooting?”

“Groups of four. Each group covers one grade. You can form your own teams.”

Once the groups were formed, President Liu assigned each group their respective grade.

“Shi Song, your group is responsible for freshmen. Wei Zixuan’s group will cover sophomores. Song Yuying’s group will cover seniors.”

The three nodded and said, “Okay.”

“All right, meeting adjourned! Don’t forget to submit your photography assignments, everyone.”

After the short meeting, members left to work on their assignments.

The spring breeze was gentle, rustling the new leaves across campus. On the playground, students engaged in outdoor club activities.

“An’an, where are you going?”

The voice reached Shi Song’s ears. Turning, she saw Ji Can.

“Taking photos for my assignment.”

“Oh, I’ll come with you.”

Shi Song looked puzzled. “Aren’t you in the Literature Club? Why are you outside?”

“Getting some fresh air, looking for inspiration.”

“Well, keep enjoying your fresh air. I have to finish my assignment.”

Shi Song walked ahead with her camera, Ji Can trailing behind, occasionally teasing her. Shi Song finished her photography assignment while Ji Can kept talking about his manuscript being published.

“Ji Can, can you be quiet? I need to go back and submit my work. You should head back too.”

“Okay.”

After parting, Shi Song returned to the club room to upload photos and send them to the president. Once everything was done, she returned to the classroom to pack her bag and wait for Shen Xianxing to finish class so they could have dinner together.

At 5:10 p.m., as the sun began to set, Shen Xianxing and his group finished class.

The physics competition training was held in the tiered classroom usually used for student council meetings. When the bell rang, Shen Xianxing and Sheng Yan, seated near the middle rows, walked out with the crowd. Shi Song waited just outside the classroom, avoiding blocking the exit.

When Shen Xianxing and Sheng Yan appeared, Shi Song immediately noticed them. The boys were tall and strikingly handsome, no wonder they caught everyone’s attention.

Seeing Sheng Yan beside Shen Xianxing made her heart race wildly—as if a hundred flowers met the spring breeze, as if the world was a bow, but he was a dazzling flash of light. That rare encounter felt like approaching an unreachable radiance.

After a brief exchange, they started walking toward Shi Song.

“Your photography club finishes so early?” Shen Xianxing pulled an orange-flavored vitamin stick from his pocket and handed it to Shi Song.

She accepted it. “We had a short meeting to arrange for Friday’s event. Let’s go eat.”

“Mm,” Shen Xianxing replied, then asked Sheng Yan, who was busy messaging, “Sheng Yan, want to eat with us?”

Sheng Yan looked up. “No thanks, you guys go ahead.”

His clear voice sounded especially pleasant to the girl’s ears.

“Okay, we’ll go first. See you tonight.”

“Mm.”

After their brief chat, the three parted ways—one back to class, the other two to eat off campus.

After dinner, Shi Song and Shen Xianxing returned to their classroom. Shi Song took out a pale purple notebook with a magnetic clasp and wrote:

April 6, 20xx, Clear

Today I ran into him. He’s joining the physics competition—no wonder they call him a genius. How did I never realize he’s so close to Shen Xianxing?

Wish you success in the competition.

Friday arrived, a bright and clear day. Chongde High School’s annual campus singing competition finally began. The host on the podium announced the venues for each grade.

“Freshmen compete in the auditorium, sophomores in the music hall, seniors in the large lecture hall. All staff and participants, please proceed promptly to your competition sites.”

“Shi Song, let’s go!”

“Coming!”

Shi Song took her camera and walked toward Xu Zihan. Two girls took a shortcut through the grove to the auditorium. When they arrived, the contestants had just gathered and were preparing to draw lots for their numbers.

After receiving their numbers, contestants settled backstage.

Shi Song’s group had two members setting up equipment upfront, while the other two went backstage to shoot.

In a corner, a boy with a guitar rested against the wall with his eyes closed.

He seemed to shut out everything around him. Shi Song noticed the number pinned to his shirt’s right hem—number 25, the final performer.

“Shi Song, the host is on stage. Let’s go up front.”

“Okay.”

“Dear teachers and fellow students, hello... Now, please welcome contestant number one with the song ‘Special Person.’”

Number one was a girl with a ponytail and round glasses.

“We are each other’s most special person.”

“Hard to part.”

“My performance is over, thank you all.”

...

“Next, contestant number 24 will perform an original song, ‘Aim for the Moon.’”

Shi Song saw Shen Xianxing take the stage. She paused for a moment, thinking the song was different from the one she heard before. When did he change the song?

Shen Xianxing wore no school uniform, just a white hoodie and a baseball jacket, exuding youthful energy. Coupled with his handsome face, the audience erupted into screams.

He gently tapped the microphone. “This song is dedicated to a special person!”

“Waiting for nightfall,”

“The journey to the moon begins,”

“Transforming into a Roc to fly,”

“Soaring thousands of miles,”

“Beyond the lonely forest,”

“Picking white calamus by the stream.”

From the crowd came a shout in admiration: “Brother Xing, awesome!”

Shen Xianxing smiled and continued singing, eliciting more screams from the girls.

When he finished, a few boys started teasing him.

“Brother Xing is amazing. A freshman with original songs already!”

“Brother Xing rocks! Competing in physics and writing original songs.”

He chuckled. “Enough.”

Shen Xianxing stepped offstage. The host took the microphone.

“Thanks to contestant number 24 for that song. The competition is nearing its end. Now, please welcome our final performer!”

The boy wearing the school uniform, guitar slung over one shoulder, walked onstage. Sitting on a high stool, he adjusted the microphone stand’s height. Once ready, he positioned his guitar, pressed down the strings with his left hand, tuned a few notes, and began to perform.

The backstage lighting dimmed, focusing a single white spotlight from above on the boy.

He played guitar and sang:

“How much fortune can one have?”

“Life’s royal flush.”

“No trump card without you.”

“If you truly have no place for me.”

Shi Song recognized the familiar song and realized that the boy she heard singing next to Shen Xianxing’s practice room that Monday night—the boy who made her heart flutter—was Sheng Yan.

She stared at Sheng Yan onstage, somewhat entranced. If not for a reminder from someone beside her, she might have forgotten to press the record button.

To Shi Song, whether seeing all things or only Sheng Yan, he was always that dazzling flash of light, never a mere illusion. Even now, watching him shine on stage, he was her wonder.

When Sheng Yan finished, applause thundered through the auditorium, nearly lifting the ceiling.

“Wow, Sheng Yan truly deserves the title Hexagonal Warrior!”

“Aww, I’m smitten. How can someone be so handsome, sing so well, and be a top scholar?”

“Who can possibly win over such a ‘jade-like face’?”

Hearing the voices behind her, Shi Song felt a pang of bittersweetness but knew she had no right to complain—they were strangers to the prodigy.

“Shi Song, let’s go. This afternoon, we have to shoot at the main auditorium. Let’s pick photos in the clubroom first.”

“Okay.”