Chapter 358 — A Scheme with Ulterior Motives

"Chairman Xu, when you have a task for us subordinates, is that not the most natural thing in the world? How could it be called a bother?" You Zhengmin said with an unobtrusive, modest smile. "Whatever the matter is, please just say it!"

"Good." Only now did Xu Qianxing feel that this You Zhengmin was very much to his taste. He nodded and said, "Actually, the matter is quite simple. In a little while, you and Chen Shutang will perform a poetry recitation with musical accompaniment, all right?"

"Yes. Is something wrong, Chairman Xu?" You Zhengmin had no idea why Xu Qianxing was asking this, and said hurriedly. In a little while he was indeed to perform a number together with Chen Shutang—one of the numbers put on by the Economics and Management Department's student council.

He would recite a poem, and Chen Shutang would accompany him on the piano. It was a very ordinary number. He had no particular talents, but as chairman of the Economics and Management Department's student council, he could not go on stage with nothing at all, so he had cobbled together this recitation with musical accompaniment and called it a number.

Chen Shutang's piano playing was not as good as that of the little piano prince from before, but after all she had begun learning as a child. Though she had not passed the highest professional examinations, she had once passed the national Grade Six piano examination at her best—which counted as playing quite well.

Chen Shutang did not much care what number they performed. She had to go on stage anyway, so she would simply go through the motions. The poem they were to recite was Wang Meng's Long Live Youth, and Chen Shutang would play Secret Garden as the accompaniment.

It was a fairly good number, though for the university students of this era it was rather too orthodox. But Chen Shutang did not want to perform any recitation about love with him, so this Long Live Youth, which had something to do with university students, was the only choice. Still, Long Live Youth was written rather well, and made one feel the vigor and vitality of the young. "In a little while, tell Chen Shutang that you have an upset stomach and cannot perform, and have her find someone to replace you," Xu Qianxing instructed. "Ah?" You Zhengmin was startled, unable to understand why Xu Qianxing would propose such a baffling idea. "What? Is there a problem?" Xu Qianxing frowned. Just now this fellow had sworn his assurances, and now he was going back on his word? Could it be that the boy had taken a fancy to Chen Shutang and wanted to get close to her?

"N-no!" You Zhengmin was startled. He was afraid Xu Qianxing would misunderstand him, and said hurriedly, "Of course there is no problem. It is just that it will be hard to explain to the school. If Chen Shutang cannot find anyone, would that not damage the image of the Economics and Management Department's student council?"