Chapter 93: Kiss

“There’s also prize money involved. The first place gets 100 yuan, the second place gets 80 yuan, and the third place gets 60 yuan. There are a few spots for the Outstanding Prize, but the prize money is only 10 yuan. I hope to get 100 yuan!”

A hundred yuan was considered very respectable in that day and age.

“The second and third place are also good.” Though Mu Jingzhe believed in Shao Xi, when she heard that elementary school, middle school, and high school students weren’t separated into different categories, she was afraid that they wouldn’t give the first place to an elementary school student. That was why she said that it would be good to get second or third place too.

“Yes, it’s not bad, but first place is even better.” Shao Xi still aimed for first place. “Are we going to the award ceremony then, Mommy?”

“Of course.”

When Ji Buwang heard that they were going, he said that he was going too and that he could use this chance to go home.

The last time Mu Jingzhe had taken Little Bei to shoot an advertisement, Ji Buwang had also said that he wanted to go. However, he hadn’t managed to do so later on. This time, it was true.

He said that he wanted to go home, but when they arrived in the city, he didn’t go home at all. Instead, he followed Mu Jingzhe and Shao Xi around and lived with them in the guesthouse.

The award ceremony was being held at the city cultural center. The students who had been invited to the ceremony were those who had performed very well. Of course, other participants were also welcome to participate.

The participants and their parents sat separately. According to the organizer, this was meant to increase their children’s independence.

Based on the seating arrangement, there were exactly ten people sitting in the first row, including those who would receive the Outstanding Prize.

Even an Outstanding Prize was only given to those in the city who performed well. Everyone was quite happy, except for Shao Xi, who didn’t fit in.

This was because he was the youngest.

Everyone looked at him suspiciously. However, because they had never seen him before, no one spoke to him, unlike the others, who mostly knew each other.

Because they were outstanding in this circle in the city at their age, many of them were groomed by their families.

There was a bespectacled girl and a chubby boy who were the focus of everyone’s attention.

This was because the two of them had both published their work in a magazine and newspaper. They were also popular candidates for the first prize. Compared to them, Shao Xi didn’t stand out in that group.

In the past, Shao Xi would probably have felt inferior and thought that it would be impossible for him to win.

However, after being showered with Mu Jingzhe’s constant praise and receiving royalties previously, he had gained a bit of confidence. He quietly listened to them and obtained more information.

Shao Xi didn’t say anything, but because he had an outstanding appearance and looked like a little prince, the girls were attracted to him.

The bespectacled girl also glanced at Shao Xi a few more times and asked him for his name curiously.

“My name is Shao Xi.”

Shao Xi got acquainted with the little girl, but when he turned around, he saw the chubby boy, who was also a popular contender for the first prize, glaring at him.

“Why would you bother befriending a country bumpkin?” Chubby Boy’s face was filled with disdain, and he spoke very unkindly.

Shao Xi frowned. “Who are you calling a country bumpkin?”

“You, of course. Who else here is one besides you? You’re wearing smelly sandals, and they’re even green. Ugh… You must be broadening your horizons by coming from the countryside to the city, huh? But this isn’t something a country bumpkin like you can participate in. The judging panel must have given you an Outstanding Prize only because they took pity on you. If it were me, I’d be too embarrassed to come!”

The only person who had caught arrogant Chubby Boy’s eyes was the bespectacled girl. Therefore, he had been annoyed to see her talking to Shao Xi.

Back in the county, those children had been despised because they didn’t have plastic sandals. Now, in the city, Shao Xi was despised because of his plastic sandals. This was because many children in the city were proud of wearing leather sandals. Plastic sandals were considered cheap goods by them.

Ever since Shao Xi had gotten his sandals, he’d liked wearing them and had treasured them very much. He hadn’t expected to be despised for it.

Shao Xi scoffed. “I like to compete using my true abilities. The winner and loser will be revealed soon. If you want to bark, you can wait and see.”

“You’re the one barking. You’re the dog.” Chubby Boy snorted in disdain. “Those who don’t know any better might think you’ll win, but you are overestimating yourself. Don’t cry when you lose!”

“Counterattack. You don’t cry if you lose!”

Shao Xi could easily anger someone to death with his words. Chubby Boy’s agitated reaction attracted the attention of the parents behind him.

Mu Jingzhe was sitting in the back. She had noticed that there were parents around with cameras and whole families that had come together. She was the only one without a camera.

She thought for a moment and asked the old man beside her if he could also help her take a photo of her child. She wanted to develop the photo and keep it.

The old man understood Mu Jingzhe’s feelings and agreed readily. “Sure, leave me your address. I’ll send it to you after I develop it.”

“Thank you, thank you so much. How much is the photograph? I’ll pay you in advance.”

“No need. It doesn’t cost much. You don’t have to pay me.”

Mu Jingzhe had just finished writing down her name and address when she heard some noise ahead. Worried, she went forward to take a look. Shao Xi looked at her and smiled, saying that he was fine.

Since the award ceremony had officially started, Mu Jingzhe didn’t ask any more questions.

Although it wasn’t a big affair, the award ceremony was organized quite well. There was even a performance at the start.

Soon, it was time for the official award ceremony. First was the Outstanding Prize, but Shao Xi wasn’t among those who received it.

Chubby Boy’s expression was a little sulky. He thought that Shao Xi had won the third prize, so he whispered to him, “Even if you get third place, you’ll still be someone I defeated.”

In the end, when the third place was called out, it turned out to be the bespectacled little girl. The remaining two candidates were Chubby Boy and Shao Xi.

Chubby Boy’s countenance was awful. “I didn’t expect you to get second place, but you’ll never be as good as me…”

Before he could finish, his name was heard. He’d gotten second place and Second Prize.

Shao Xi had won first place and First Prize.

On the stage, Chubby Boy’s expression was so ugly that it didn’t look like he was going up to receive an award. Instead, he looked like he was attending a funeral, and there was even a hint of panic on his face.

Holding the trophy, Shao Xi didn’t pay attention to Chubby Boy. He didn’t want to pay attention to him, nor did he want to add insult to injury. He only looked at Mu Jingzhe, who stood up and clapped excitedly, and waved his hand.

Mu Jingzhe was ecstatic. She had thought that he wouldn’t get first place. Indeed, a bigshot was a bigshot.

After the old man took a photo, Mu Jingzhe ran over excitedly and hugged Shao Xi. “Little Xi, you’re awesome! You’re amazing! How can you be so amazing?”

When he saw how worked up Mu Jingzhe was, Shao Xi’s ears turned red. He coughed and handed the trophy to her. “Since you’re so happy and you like it so much, I’ll give it to you.”

“That’s great!” Mu Jingzhe looked at Shao Xi. Without even thinking it through, when she saw his handsome, cool, and tender appearance, she couldn’t help but kiss his forehead.

Shao Xi was stunned.

He had seen Mu Jingzhe kiss Little Bei and Xiao Wu’s foreheads, but he had never thought that he would be kissed too. His face instantly turned red.

Mu Jingzhe felt a little embarrassed when she realized what she had done. However, she quickly became thick-skinned. “I’m your mother, so don’t be stingy. Let me give you a kiss. You’re all grown up now. I won’t have a chance in the future.”

When a child of the opposite sex grew up, a parent ought to keep a certain distance from them, for the child’s good. Right now, she was grasping at her last opportunities to do so before it was too late.

Next year, at the latest, she wouldn’t have this chance. Upon thinking about it, she felt quite regretful. “When I go back and see your older brother, I’m going to kiss him too. Otherwise, I won’t have a chance in this lifetime.”