Feng Yiping and Wang Changning still paid attention to their table manners in front of the girls, but they were really hungry this noon, and when you eat noodles, it is inevitable to make the sound of 'slurping' as soon as you get up.
Fortunately, Huang Jingping had also grown up in the countryside and didn't really care about these things. However, she herself was very mindful and ate quietly and demurely with her head down.
She was also a little embarrassed to look at the two boys who were eating with gusto, especially Wang Changning. He didn't have the slightest interest in Huang Jingping, unlike Feng Yiping, who was still holding back a little. So, as they ate, he let his true nature show.
His technique for eating crucian carp was excellent. With a 'slurp' in his mouth, a small crucian carp was reduced to a skeleton. Huang Jingping couldn't help but ask, 'How come you're so good at eating fish?'
Wang Changning was a little embarrassed by the question.
After finishing the noodles, Huang Jingping volunteered, "I'll wash the dishes.'
Wang Changning hurriedly said, "No, I'll do it.' and rushed to clean up.
Feng Yiping stopped him with a smile. Wang Changning looked at him in puzzlement, but Feng Yiping didn't explain, just held him back.
You mustn't discourage a girl's enthusiasm for housework!
Later, many lazy wives who don't like doing housework were used to it by their mean husbands.
Huang Jingping had actually just said something that made sense, but she didn't expect Feng Yiping to be so unconventional. However, seeing that the two boys were both smiling at her, she had no choice but to roll up her sleeves and say, 'I'll wash them!'
Feng Yiping added from behind, "Heat the water a little," which made her heart feel a little warmer. Is he afraid that I'll catch a cold?
But then Feng Yiping added, 'That way they'll wash clean and there won't be any fishy smell.'
Her originally cheerful footsteps came to a halt at this remark. 'I must do something to annoy him!' Huang Jingping thought.
However, her plan to slip and fall over a bowl for an excuse didn't work. While she was washing the dishes, Feng Yiping still came in to help, taking the washed dishes from her hand and rinsing them under cold water.
He really didn't mean anything by it, but it was a bit unreasonable to let a girl who was visiting the house for the first time come into contact with cold water in the middle of winter.
Wang Changning watched the two of them in the kitchen, working together so well, in the living room, and sighed with some envy. He got up and went into his room, closing the door gently behind him.
When they came out and saw that Wang Changning had gone back to his room, there was a moment of unnatural silence. Feng Yiping had wanted to take the tape recorder into the living room, but it was so empty and cold, so he decided it would be better to stay in his room. The more serious you act, the more people will think there's something going on. It's better to just be yourself.
'Classmate Huang, tell me, what changed your mind?' Feng Yiping asked her. He was a little disappointed that day because he had failed to persuade her.
Huang Jingping played the song herself. 'It's nothing, I just feel that after this year, I will only be able to spend another New Year's Day at school at most, and next year we will be in the third grade, so we may not have time to do this then. Since there is still a chance now, I might as well go on stage and sing once!'
'Wasn't it my sincerity that moved you?' Feng Yiping asked with a smile.
'What are you thinking? It has nothing to do with you, I just want to sing,' Huang Jingping blushed again.
Huang Jingping sat at the table listening to the song, occasionally humming along, while Feng Yiping leaned back on the bed reading a book. The door was of course open, but the room was still filled with the faint scent that is characteristic of a young girl.
In this kind of environment, Feng Yiping's learning efficiency seems to have increased a lot for no reason. Gao Zhiyi's two books that are usually difficult to read seem to have made some progress today. No wonder they say that a man and a woman work together without getting tired!
Huang Jingping was sitting there listening to the music, but through the window glass in front of her, she could see Feng Yiping glance over here from time to time, and it made her heart feel a little sweet.
In all honesty, that was completely Feng Yiping's habitual action when thinking about something. When he encountered something in the book that he couldn't understand, he would look around with questions. If you look carefully, his eyes are completely unfocused at this time.
As for why he kept looking over there today, it was because there was a window there and, secondly, there was a girl sitting over there. He did it purely unconsciously, or subconsciously.
In a winter like this, sitting around for a long time will make you even colder. After a while, Feng Yiping saw Huang Jingping stamping her feet uncontrollably, so he rummaged through the closet and pulled out a blanket. He patted her on the shoulder from behind and handed it to her, saying, 'It's clean, so you can put it around your legs to keep warm.'
'Mm,' Huang Jingping blushed, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
The time passed like this until the end of the lesson. Huang Jingping turned around and rubbed her hands together, saying, 'I think it's about right, let's try it together!'
The first few times were a complete failure. For some reason, whenever the two of them met eyes, they would start laughing after a while, no matter how hard they tried to sing.
After persevering, they sang together twice. Then Feng Yiping took out a blank tape and recorded them singing a cappella, but neither of them were satisfied with the result.
In the original version of the song, the female voice was actually just so-so. Huang Jingping had a good voice and a good sense of rhythm, but she had always accommodated Feng Yiping's alto voice, and as a result, her singing parts didn't sound good either.
'You don't have to accommodate me, you can sing as high as you like.'
Having learned her lesson, she practiced a few more times and recorded it again. Another problem emerged. It was said to be a chorus, but there was no sense of chorus at all, no echo, no resonance, it was completely like you sing your part and I sing mine.
A deeper problem is that in front of each other, the two of them are a bit reserved and a bit standoffish, so the overall effect sounds dry and unpolished, and the kind of beautiful yearning and prayer in the song is completely inaudible.
It's like someone who hasn't drunk water for many days, reciting the lyrics to 'My Sun' in the same speed and tone as a eulogy, without any passion.
This is a bit of a problem at the moment. To be honest, despite having been classmates for over a year, the two of them have not actually had much contact with each other, due to Feng Yiping's deliberate restraint. Therefore, especially Huang Jingping, some reserve is inevitable.
Don't expect to make a big impression with one bite. Practicing any longer today will not be effective. To adapt the approach of Uncle Zhao in a sketch, at this time, we should try to ease the atmosphere and enhance mutual understanding.
He thought of a few simple jokes and sure enough, he made Huang Jingping laugh uncontrollably. She didn't care about maintaining her lady image, laughing so hard that her body shook, and poking Feng Yiping with her little fists, 'Haha, you're killing me, where did you learn these funny stories?'
As a result, not only did they feel more familiar with each other, but Wang Changning, who was next door, couldn't concentrate on his book when he heard the joyful noise from over here.
At around 3 o'clock, Feng Yiping felt that if he didn't take her back soon, Huang Chengzhong would probably come over, so he reminded him.
Feng Yiping insisted on walking her to the road and watched her go upstairs. Huang Jingping saw Feng Yiping turn around and go home from the boxes on the wall, so she skipped merrily upstairs, humming a song. When she opened the door, she saw Huang Chengzhong sitting there reading the newspaper with a glass of water.
'Dad, you're home, why aren't you playing mahjong?'
'Well,' Huang Chengzhong asked her, "how's the singing practice going?'
'Not very well, I need to practice a few more times.'
'This Feng Yiping, his grades are really quite good?'
'Of course, even Uncle Er said that if things go on like this, he'll definitely get into County No. 1 Middle School, and if nothing goes wrong, he'll have no problem getting into the high school in the city." Huang Jingping said with a hint of pride.
'So, you must study hard,' Huang Chengzhong said with a meaningful smile.
Feng Yiping returned to Room 502. The room still smelled faintly of incense. He looked around the slightly empty room and felt a little lost.
'Creak,' Wang Changning poked his head out of the room. 'What's wrong, are you reluctant?'
Not really, but being with a girl and being with a friend really feel very different.