Dating sim loading: My girlfriend is a cunning young lady
Chapter 228 - 129. Cultural Festival (2)

Chapter 228: 129. Cultural Festival (2)

The activity application form for the Human Observation Department was written by Dubian Che, and he clearly remembered writing "Ticket: 200 yen" in the ’Specific Activities’ column.

"We should be able to make a killing," he looked at the director with such an expression.

Because the film was affirmed by everyone, the faint smile that had been on Kiyono Lin’s face stiffened slowly under that kind of gaze.

She glared daggers at Dubian Che, as if to say "There’s a limit to being shallow," before turning her head away and continuing to satisfyingly watch the audience’s eager expressions.

Dubian Che withdrew his gaze and turned back to the screen.

The closing credits featured a gentle and delicate oboe solo, clear and translucent, the sound seemed to stretch into infinity like a sigh from God.

The staff’s names scrolled upwards, with the background being the female protagonist gazing out over Tokyo Bay at night.

"..."

"Sponsor: ASJ Photography Equipment Shop"

"Location support: Tokyo, Tokyo Station, Goda High School, Meiji Shrine Outer Garden"

"Director: Kiyono Lin"

"Special Disclaimer: This story is purely fictitious and has no connection with any real individuals, groups, or any other proper nouns or phenomena. Any similarities are purely coincidental."

The thirty-minute film ended there and the lights in the audio-visual classroom came back on. It wasn’t as dramatic as in a movie theater, but everyone felt a faint sense of unreality.

Then came the intense discussions.

The sun, which heralded the nearing end of summer, shone through the silver tree leaves of the Meiji Shrine Outer Garden.

In the afternoon before the last round of fireworks began, Dubian Che lay on his back on a quiet forest path, basking in the scattered sunlight. His lightly fluttering hair was undoubtedly enough to capture any girl’s heart.

"It was quite a success," said Jiutiao’s mother, smiling as she looked at the chattering audience.

"Meiji’s acting was amazing!" applauded Dubian Che. "It was Oscar-worthy."

Jiutiao Meijie nodded in satisfaction: "You weren’t bad yourself."

"No, no, no, I’m just a pretty face. I’m not even worthy to carry your shoes when it comes to acting."

"Well, if you really want to carry my shoes sometime, you’re welcome to do it anytime," Jiutiao Meijie said with a light swing of her long legs, her black knee-high socks barely clinging to her toes.

Seeing Dubian Che’s dumbfounded expression, Kiyono Lin couldn’t help but let out a light "pfft" of laughter.

Dubian Che quickly changed the subject: "Director Kiyono was also very impressive, with both the script and the camera work being highly professional."

Kiyono Lin composed herself, tossing her hair slickly and putting on an authoritative director’s air: "Thank you, but no amount of flattery will get you near my shoes."

"Oh? Mr. Dubian, do you have such a fetish?" asked Jiutiao’s mother in mock confusion.

"..."

Dubian Che pursed his lips inward and looked up at the ceiling of the audio-visual classroom, unable to say a word.

The four of them got up to leave, as they had sneaked in and used the ’staff passage,’ there was no worry of being mobbed by fans.

Exiting the audio-visual room, they entered a brightly decorated corridor.

"Just in time, the Wind Instrument Club’s performance is about to start," Dubian Che checked the shiny black face of his wristwatch, "Shall we go together?"

"I’ve heard from Meiji that you’re exceptional at the oboe, I want to listen closely," said Jiutiao’s mother with a smile.

Dubian Che glanced at Jiutiao Meijie, who was folding her arms, and said with a laugh, "I was thinking of being modest in front of my elders, but since Meiji said so, I have to be exceptional."

Jiutiao’s mother chuckled joyously, gracefully covering her mouth with her hand.

"Smooth talker," Jiutiao Meijie rolled her eyes at Dubian Che, "If you let my mother down later, you’ll have a rough night."

"...Kiyono, you have to back me up here!"

Kiyono nodded: "Although Mr. Dubian is pretty terrible at being a person, to the point of no remedy, I must admit he is extraordinarily outstanding when it comes to orchestral music."

"How am I terrible?"

Kiyono Lin gave the indignant Dubian Che a look.

’Do you really want me to spell it out?’

’No need, thank you,’ Dubian Che surrendered with the speed of a glance.

"It’s about time," Jiutiao’s mother said with a smile tinged with mockery, looking at her own daughter.

Jiutiao Meijie’s mouth curled into a cruel arc as she replied in kind, "Yes, let’s go."

Dubian Che had a foreboding feeling but now was not the time for such thoughts.

He led the way, with the group heading to Class 4 of the first year—where he had left his oboe in the classroom.

"Mr. Dubian, what’s your class’s activity?" asked Jiutiao’s mother.

"A performance of an original play."

"You’re surely playing the male leading role, aren’t you?"

"My classmates recommended me for the male lead, but I refused. I just want to be Meiji’s sole leading man," Dubian Che loyally declared, disregarding any earlier forebodings.

Jiutiao’s mother looked at her daughter.

Jiutiao Meijie was noncommittal and instead asked, "Original? What’s the play like?"

"Not very good."

"Why?" prompted Kiyono Lin.

"I’ve seen the script, and the first line is: ’Spring has come, the snow is melting, the sunshine seems warmer somehow, and on the way home I saw the cherry blossoms at Heimu River ready to bloom,’" explained Dubian Che.

"Is there a problem with that?" asked Jiutiao’s mother, perplexed.

"It’s all about spring and cherry blossoms, too cliché. If it was between a boy and a girl, she’d probably sense the boy’s intentions right off the bat."

"In our time, that’s how everyone started expressing their feelings," laughed Jiutiao’s mother.