School Flower and School Tyrant - Chapter 10

Since Ouyang Qianxue was chosen as the new school beauty, the doors of Class 1-6 had turned into a bustling hotspot. Boys from other classes would gather just to catch a glimpse of the rumored beauty with both brains and charm. Every recess, they would flock to her classroom. 

Even during P.E. class, this commotion didn’t subside. 

Sakura Academy’s sports field was spacious, often hosting multiple classes at once. Ouyang Qianxue’s class was no exception. 

“Eyes front!” the P.E. teacher ordered while organizing the lineup. Yet, he noticed that all the boys were looking to the right, toward Ouyang Qianxue’s class. 

“Look! Isn’t that the school beauty?” 

“Oh my god, even in sportswear, she’s stunning! That golden ponytail adds such a lively vibe!” 

“You idiots!” the P.E. teacher shouted angrily. 

“All you do is stare at the girls! I tell you to face forward, and nothing happens. But when it’s to the right, you’re all in perfect alignment! Fine, run five laps around the field to clear your heads!” 

Even this punishment didn’t solve the issue. 

“Hey, look! Ouyang Qianxue is stretching!” one boy exclaimed, leading the others to glance in her way. 

Ouyang was performing a vertical split. Clad in sportswear, a jacket, shorts, and black leggings, her long, slender legs and graceful ankles looked exceptionally alluring in the sleek fabric. 

“Check out those legs!” 

“I could admire them for ten years!” 

Once again, the boys’ attention was entirely fixated on Ouyang. 

But then— 

“Ah!” 

The group of boys collectively crashed into the field’s railing, toppling like dominos. Their focus on Ouyang meant no one had noticed the fence ahead. 

“What’s wrong with these kids?” the P.E. teacher muttered, covering his face. 

This frenzy extended into the classrooms as well. Since the sports field was visible from the windows of the academic building, boys seated near the windows would inevitably glance outside during Ouyang’s P.E. lessons. Despite multiple warnings from their teachers, they couldn’t resist sneaking peeks. 

Eventually, teachers developed a strategy: whenever Ouyang had P.E., they would instruct the class to draw the curtains and turn on the lights, ensuring no distractions. 

During lunch break, Ouyang escaped to the rooftop, seeking solace from the overwhelming attention. 

“Quite the celebrity now, aren’t you, Miss School Beauty? I heard that even the middle schoolers are lining up for your autograph,” a playful voice called from behind her. 

“Stop teasing me, Wang Qian. I never imagined pretending to be a girl would be this exhausting.” 

“That’s where you’re wrong, it’s only exhausting because you’re pretending to be a popular girl. By the way, I heard you agreed to represent the music club in the city’s piano competition?” 

“Yes, the music club’s advisor personally asked me to participate.” 

“Balancing schoolwork, competitions, and all the challenges that come with being the school beauty, isn’t this too much?” Wang Qian asked, her usual playful demeanor giving way to genuine concern. 

“Not at all. I’m actually passionate about the piano. Besides, just knowing that pretending to be a girl helps cover my mom’s medical bills and my sister’s tuition fills me with endless strength,” Ouyang replied, her gaze steady and resolute as she looked into the distance. 

Upon hearing Ouyang Qianxue’s words, Wang Qian froze for a moment. She hadn’t expected the usually soft-spoken Ouyang to possess such a resilient side. Looking at his slender figure from behind, she suddenly thought there was something undeniably cool about this boy, whose face was indistinguishable from a girl’s. 

(So, he’s carrying burdens and responsibilities far beyond what someone his age should endure? It’s hard to imagine that such a fragile frame could bear such weight.) Thinking this, Wang Qian’s gaze toward Ouyang shifted to include a tinge of sympathy and heartache. 

Time flew by, and the much-anticipated day of the city piano competition arrived. Inside the West River City Sports Center, the atmosphere was electric. Local leaders and renowned figures in the music world gathered to deliver speeches, adding to the grandeur of the event. 

“Wow, I’ve never seen anything this big before,” Ouyang muttered nervously in the preparation area, his eyes wide at the bustling scene outside. 

“It’s okay, Ouyang,” the music club advisor reassured him with a pat on the shoulder. 

“I believe in your talent. I guarantee your performance will blow those judges away.” 

“But…” 

“No buts! Don’t tell me you’re doubting your teacher’s judgment?” 

“N-No!” Ouyang stammered, his face flushing as he hurriedly denied it. 

“I just don’t understand why performing in a piano competition means I have to wear this dress!” After holding it in for so long, he finally blurted it out, his cheeks turning crimson. 

Ouyang was wearing an off-shoulder white lace gown, its delicate design highlighting his pale, flawless skin. 

“Formal attire is part of piano competition tradition,” the teacher replied with a playful smile. “Besides, with such fair skin, it’d be a waste not to wear that dress.” 

Meanwhile, at the judges’ table, two panelists were exchanging complaints. 

“Parents these days only care about their kids’ grades, completely neglecting their artistic development.” 

“Exactly. Just look at these performances, poor technique, loose rhythm, and no emotional expression whatsoever. Not a single one is impressive,” one judge grumbled, clearly bored after listening to a series of uninspiring performances. 

“Ah, but the next performer is from Sakura International School,” a female judge interjected. “That school is known for nurturing well-rounded students. I promise you won’t be disappointed.” 

“We’ll see about that,” the other judges replied skeptically. 

“Now, let us welcome contestant No. 35, Ouyang Qianxue from Sakura International School!” the host announced. 

Ouyang stepped onto the stage gracefully. 

“Well, the girl looks quite charming,” one judge remarked. “But let’s see if her skills can match her appearance.” 

Ouyang took a seat at the piano and began her performance. She had chosen one of Debussy’s Études, a challenging piece even among professional musicians. 

“Bold choice,” a judge whispered. “Even Debussy himself described these études as works that hover at the peak of technical difficulty.” 

As Ouyang played the opening notes, the judges immediately perked up. 

“Hmm! Her rhythm is spot on,” one noted with interest. 

As the performance progressed, the judges sat up straighter, their initial disinterest replaced with rapt attention. 

“Hey, this level of skill…” 

“Yeah, even professional students at music academies might struggle to match this!” 

By the time Ouyang finished, the judges were left in stunned silence, completely floored by his virtuosity. For a moment, they forgot they were supposed to score the performance.