Shen Tingzhou put down the report in his hand, a pleased smile on his face: "Not bad, you have your own hobbies and interests and you can stick to them, that's commendable. In the future, be careful during rehearsals, don't overwork yourself, and don't neglect your studies."

Shen Nian'an came out of the room, pushed up his glasses, and smiled gently. "Congratulations, little sister. You really didn't disappoint us. If you need my help to reserve a rehearsal space or take you to rehearsals, just let me know."

The support from her family warmed Shen Nianxi's heart. She nodded vigorously, "I know! I will definitely balance my studies and rehearsals and won't let you down!"

After joining the art troupe, Shen Nianxi seemed to have found her own world. Every day after school, she would go to the auditorium to rehearse. Teacher Li Mei valued her highly, not only patiently guiding her basic skills, but also discovering her strengths in rhythm and physical expression, and often letting her take the lead in group rehearsals.

However, the rehearsal process was not without its challenges. The art troupe was about to participate in the city's middle school arts festival, and the selected dance, "Harvest Ballad," required ten girls to perform together. Shen Nianxi was chosen as the core lead dancer. This dance was quite difficult, requiring not only synchronized movements but also a lead dancer with a strong ability to inspire and motivate the entire team.

Initially, some students in the team were resentful. Zhang Lili, a second-year junior high student and a long-time member of the art troupe with solid dance skills, originally thought that the lead dancer position was a sure thing for her, but she didn't expect that it would be taken by Chen Nianxi, who had just joined. She was filled with jealousy. During rehearsals, she deliberately slowed down her movements or secretly pushed Chen Nianxi, causing several rehearsals to end in failure.

"Chen Nianxi, do you even know how to dance? How are we supposed to participate in the performance if the lead dancer is like this?" Zhang Lili said in an unfriendly tone in front of everyone after a rehearsal.

The other students also started discussing it, some agreeing with Zhang Lili, while others looked troubled. Shen Nianxi stood there, her cheeks flushed red, feeling both wronged and angry. She knew Zhang Lili was deliberately targeting her, but she didn't want her personal conflict to affect the team's progress.

“Lily, the rehearsal just now failed. It wasn’t just the lead dancer’s problem; our entire team’s coordination needs improvement.” Shen Nianxi took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. “If you think there’s anything I didn’t do well, or if you have better suggestions, we can discuss it privately, or ask Teacher Li for guidance. We’re all aiming for good results in the performance; there’s no need to blame each other.”

Her tone was calm yet firm, neither backing down nor confronting, which quieted the surrounding classmates. Zhang Lili hadn't expected Shen Nianxi to be so composed, and was momentarily speechless, only able to turn her head away dejectedly.

This experience made Shen Nianxi realize that to become a true core member, one needs not only exceptional skills but also the ability to unite teammates and resolve conflicts. In the days that followed, she rehearsed even more diligently, arriving at the auditorium half an hour early each day to practice the basics until she had mastered the dance moves. When other classmates encountered difficulties, she proactively offered guidance and patiently explained the key points of the movements.

One time, during rehearsals that went on late into the night, Chen Xue broke down in tears because she couldn't remember the complicated formations. Shen Nianxi stayed behind and practiced with her again and again, drawing the formations on the ground with a twig and patiently explaining each turning point and the connection between movements. Only when Chen Xue had completely mastered it did she ride her bicycle home, by which time it was completely dark.

Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou were worried when their daughter came home so late. After learning what had happened, Lin Wanqiu said with heartache, "Silly child, there's no need to make yourself suffer like this. If they really don't cooperate, we can just not be the lead dancer."

Shen Nianxi shook her head, her eyes flashing with stubbornness: "Mother, I'm not trying to wrong myself. I want to dance this dance well, not only for myself, but also for the whole team and for the honor of the school. Moreover, I believe that as long as I treat everyone sincerely, they will definitely feel it."

Looking at his daughter's resolute face, Shen Tingzhou felt a surge of pride. He patted her shoulder and said, "Nianxi is right. When you want to accomplish something, you're bound to encounter all sorts of difficulties and misunderstandings. Sticking to your original aspirations and using your strength and sincerity to move others is more effective than arguing or backing down. If you're late for rehearsals in the future, just call home and I'll come pick you up."

Thanks to Shen Nianxi's efforts, the team atmosphere gradually became more harmonious. The students all felt her sincerity and hard work, and more and more people were willing to cooperate with her rehearsals. Zhang Lili also gradually let go of her reservations and began to seriously cooperate with Shen Nianxi. Teacher Li Mei noticed this and her appreciation for Shen Nianxi grew even more, praising not only her dance talent but also her team spirit and leadership skills.

With the arts festival drawing ever closer, rehearsals have entered a fever pitch. Shen Nianxi is under increasing pressure, needing to ensure the quality of her dance rehearsals while also keeping up with her academic studies. Sometimes, she secretly dozes off in class, and she often stays up late doing her homework.

Lin Wanqiu saw this and felt deeply for her daughter. She specially prepared calming lotus seed soup for her, so that Nianxi could have a warm bowl of soup every night when she returned from rehearsal. She and Shen Tingzhou also helped Nianxi develop a reasonable schedule to ensure that she could get enough sleep while efficiently completing her studies and rehearsals.

“Nianxi, studying and hobbies are equally important. You can’t neglect one for the other.” Lin Wanqiu sat next to her daughter, helping her adjust her dance costume, and said gently, “If you feel too much pressure, relax a little. Your mother and father will always be your strongest support. No matter whether you win a prize or not, in our hearts, you will always be the best.”

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