Because the official performance was the next day, everyone tossed and turned in bed last night, losing count of the number of sheep until they finally fell asleep in the early hours of the morning.
Despite suffering from what they jokingly called "spring outing syndrome" the night before, everyone woke up bright and energized.
By ten in the morning, the large stage in the center of Gualv Square’s fountain was fully set up, with workers neatly arranging chairs beneath it. Looking out, there appeared to be thousands of chairs; if they were all filled, the evening’s performance would surely be spectacular.
Those who were to perform arrived at Gualv Square one after another. Xu Qingfan followed the technicians to adjust the instruments and sound system, and the girls stood in front of the stage, getting a feel for the upcoming evening performance.
Since it was a grand performance, many parents came early, sitting below the stage watching their children busy on stage, occasionally lifting their cameras to capture these lovely moments.
Thousands of flyers were printed in a rush by the parents and some hired temporary workers, distributed at the busiest streets. If not for the band name "After School Tea Time" written on them, which they didn’t recognize, passersby might have thought a superstar was coming to perform in Li City.
"K-On!" the anime’s first season wouldn’t hit the screens until next year, but as readers of the "Manga Time Kirara" serialized manga, they had been fans of K-On for a long time, hence such a confusing band name.
"Is your throat still sore? Let’s rehearse one song and then head inside for some air conditioning, the sun is poisonous," Xu Qingfan, after adjusting the equipment, gave an "ok" sign to the guitar and bass players and approached the five girls.
"Hmm~" Xiao Ruawen moistened her throat and said, "It’s not too hot, and my throat is fine. What are we rehearsing first?"
"Brother Qing Fan, will there really be a full house tonight?" Lin Wanning ran up and grabbed his sleeve to ask.
Xu Qingfan patted the girl’s head and continued, "Definitely, it will surely be full tonight!"
"Let’s start with ’Tenth Grade and Twelve Inches’ as a gift for all the moms." The next second, he returned to his position, picking up his instrument.
"Brother Fan, are you serious?" Xiao Ruawen opened her mouth in surprise and turned back to look at him.
"Is everyone ready? Let’s make a grand escape into the sunlight!" Xu Qingfan didn’t answer, slipping into a rare moment of his adolescence.
The next second, Xu Qingfan started playing the drums, and Xiao Ruawen whispered, "Are we really doing this?" but since she was speaking into the microphone, everyone heard it.
"Hahaha...." Xu Qingfan raised his hand, signaling everyone to start following along with the lyrics.
As the intro to the song played, not only the parents and bystanders who stopped to watch were tapping their feet to the rhythm, but the five girls were, too.
Initially, the girls were extremely awkward, stuttering so badly that one couldn’t make out the lyrics, as singing "Tenth Grade and Twelve Inches" in a public setting is indeed a greatly embarrassing affair.
However, perhaps because there were plenty of people joining the madness, or maybe the applause from the parents below gave the five girls the courage they needed. By the time they got to Monica’s part, they relaxed more and more, their voices growing louder and fuller.
Xu Qingfan and several elementary school friends who had come to help exchanged glances, sharing a tacit smile before joining in with the song the next second.
[Thanks thanks thanks thanks Monica who can replace your status]
[This night~ this night will be explosively warm]
[This night~ this night will be explosively hot!]
After a ten-minute long medley ended, everyone was drenched in sweat, but the sweltering summer had no effect on the enthusiasm they felt at that moment.
Zhang Chunxue came over in the middle of the performance and sat down to watch their rehearsal.
After the song ended, the five mothers came up with twisted bottles of water and tissues to help the five main singers wipe off their sweat.
"Have some water, this rascal really, couldn’t you wait to rehearse when there’s no sun in the evening?" Yao Jinping handed a cold bottle of water to Wu Lingyu, while wiping the sweat off her forehead with a tissue.
"Auntie, I’m not hot," Wu Lingyu said, shaking her head obediently.
The parents of other performing students also brought water and tissues, and as Xu Qingfan looked around, he felt like a clown!
Fortunately, he still had Lin Wanning.
"Brother Qing Fan, you should wipe off some sweat too!" After speaking a few words to her parents, the girl quickly handed him the handkerchief she had just used.
"Yeah, thanks, Wanning." Xu Qingfan ruffled Lin Wanning’s hair, then took the towel and began wiping his neck and forehead.
"Brother Qing Fan, there’s also water!" Lin Wanning looked down at the two bottles in her hands, one unopened, the other she had just drunk one-third of.
After thinking for a moment, the girl decided to hand the partially drunk one to Xu Qingfan: "Brother Qing Fan, I can’t finish it."
"No problem, I’ll take care of it." He unscrewed the cap and started chugging it down, the icy water making him feel refreshed as it splashed on his face.
Lin Wanning stealthily glanced in Xia Xiaoxiao’s direction and noticed she was also looking at her.
She was momentarily stunned, then smiled sweetly at Xia Xiaoxiao, folded the handkerchief neatly and put it back in her pocket before running back to her parents.
Xia Xiaoxiao felt inexplicably uncomfortable, but then thought this was quite a normal thing. She too often handed over unfinished milk tea to Xu Qingfan to finish, including food others didn’t want after taking a bite. What they ate fell to them, and what they didn’t eat went to the dogs.
There was nothing odd about that!