June 15th, The Teacher Appreciation Banquet -
"Come, everyone, let's eat first," the class monitor called out to everyone at the front.
While it was said to be a meal, everyone finished remarkably quickly. After all, this was no simple occasion of just eating.
The next moment, people at the tables began toasting the teachers one after another.
While the scene appeared very formal, it was undeniably filled with genuine emotion!
Halfway through the meal, the cake everyone had ordered arrived.
This cake was unlike those bought from ordinary cake shops. When ordering, they had requested that everyone's name tags be written on the cake.
Therefore, what they were eating wasn't just cake, but sentiment.
Moved by the occasion, the people present began to sing.
With microphones in hand, they sang their hearts out.
Suddenly, the entire banquet hall erupted in excitement and reached a crescendo.
...
"You few, in the future..."
Several teachers, being sentimental souls, couldn't help but impart some words to the students amidst the lively atmosphere.
...
"Let's go, the next stop is KTV, anyone want to come?"
After finishing the meal in the banquet hall and seeing the teachers off, everyone was already planning their next move for the evening.
"Sister Xi, let's go."
Qiu Xi and a few others walked behind, feeling a bit tired.
Socializing was truly exhausting...
"We're not planning to go to the next venue."
"Oh no, Sister Xi, if you don't come, this party won't feel right."
"Exactly, Sister Xi sings so beautifully, it would be a shame if you didn't come."
Qiu Xi gave an awkward smile, "Next time, next time, definitely next time~"
"Alright then, that's fine."
"In that case, we won't say any more. Let's hang out together another day."
"Okay."
"Then, Sister Xi, you all be careful on your way back. We'll head off first."
"Okay, go ahead."
With that agreement, everyone set off on their separate ways.
...
Two days after the Teacher Appreciation Banquet, the graduation ceremony finally arrived as scheduled.
Early in the morning, outside the school gate -
"Master, Mom, Dad, over here~"
After waiting at the entrance for a while, Qiu Xi finally spotted the three of them.
A couple of days prior, Qiu Xi had informed her family about the possibility of them attending her graduation ceremony. After discussion, the family decided that her parents and her master, Du Bin, would all come to watch her graduation.
"Xiao Xi~"
"You look so beautiful dressed like this!"
Seeing her daughter in her academic gown, Qiu Xi's mother couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
"Mom, let's go. I'll take you inside first, I need to gather with everyone shortly~"
Time was tight, and Qiu Xi didn't dare to delay, lest she miss the schedule.
"Yes, yes, yes, we'll do as you say. Let's go inside."
"Okay."
"Master, Teacher Ding said he'd take you over to his side when you arrived. Why don't you go over first?"
After settling her parents in, Qiu Xi turned to her master.
Du Bin gently shook his head, "No rush. I'll wait here until your ceremony is over before going to find him. I don't want to miss it."
This might be the only undergraduate graduation ceremony of a junior he would ever witness in his lifetime.
And it was his only beloved disciple. He'd rather stay and watch it together.
Qiu Xi smiled softly, "Alright. Then you all stay here. I'll come find you after I'm done. Don't wander off~"
"Got it, you go ahead and get busy," Qiu Xi's mother waved enthusiastically from the side.
"Okay, I'm heading off now~"
Saying this, Qiu Xi headed towards the entrance to find Song Daiyao and the others.
...
The ceremony hadn't officially begun yet, so everyone was gathered backstage.
Song Daiyao and the others were clearly waiting for Qiu Xi.
"Xiao Xi, have your aunt and uncle been arranged?"
Qiu Xi nodded, "Yes."
"You guys should go and take your seats first. Remember to save a spot for me, and I'll come find you after I'm done here."
As an outstanding graduate, Qiu Xi was to enter with the teachers. Therefore, after everyone else was seated, she would be escorted in by a teacher.
"Okay, we'll head over first. Remember to come over after you enter."
"Mhm, okay."
With that, Song Daiyao and the other two followed their classmates into the venue.
Qiu Xi glanced back, then went backstage as per the instructions.
"Teacher Yan, Teacher Yang... Good morning."
After looking around for a moment, Qiu Xi spotted several teachers.
"Qiu Xi, you're here~"
"I'll escort you in later," Yang Yue said with a touch of joy as she looked at Qiu Xi.
Initially, Teacher Yan was supposed to escort her, but after much deliberation, the two of them switched roles.
"Alright, thank you, Teacher Yang."
"Hahahahahaha~"
"We are indeed fortunate to have such excellent students like you..."
"It's not that the teachers are excellent, it's that we students can become so outstanding through your guidance."
Flattery might play a part, but Qiu Xi's words weren't entirely untrue and were spoken sincerely.
"Alright, you two, stop flattering each other. One might think you two are at a business networking event," Yan Baitao said with a chuckle, watching the two of them laughing and conversing.
Having known each other for so long, such words were simply spoken out of genuine happiness.
"Ahem~"
"Indeed. It's about to start over there, so we should probably head in too."
"Mhm." Qiu Xi looked towards the front from her current position and nodded.
"Xiao Xi, once we're inside, you'll be with us in the front row. After you finish your speech and the award ceremony, you can then go down to sit with your classmates."
The class still needed to be accounted for, as the tassel turning ceremony was still to come, and this had to be done class by class, profession by profession.
Qiu Xi nodded, "Yes, Teacher, I understand."
"Okay, let's get organized, we're about to enter."
"Alright."
The moment they finished speaking, the staff members began to approach.
As the music started playing, everyone slowly began to move forward.
"Oh my!"
"It's Xiao Xi!"
Qiu Xi's father, seeing his daughter appear, became a little excited.
If his wife and her master weren't beside him, he might have lost all composure by now.
"Alright! Focus on taking photos properly!" Qiu Xi said with a smile, her happiness evident on her face.
Qiu Xi's father nodded vigorously, "Right, right, right! Keep taking pictures of my daughter!"
This was what the elders had instructed him to do before they left, and this was not something to be taken lightly!
Moreover, this was a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for his daughter, and it had to be documented properly.
Thus, the next moment, Qiu Xi's father nimbly adjusted the position of the pre-set camera and began recording, while simultaneously holding another device to take photos.
"Wife, can you help me check and pan that camera to follow the view?"
"Got it, you just focus on your photos!"
"Got it~"
And so, the couple began their filming as if no one else were around.
Other parents nearby, seeing this, also began to pick up their phones.
The parents present had all been arranged by the school, and their children were all walking at the front, more or less.
...