"They're here!" Shen Nian'an exclaimed in a low voice.

Lin Wanqiu sat bolt upright, her gaze fixed on the stage entrance. A group of dancers in light green costumes slowly emerged, their dresses embroidered with silver cloud patterns and their skirts cascading like ripples. Shen Nianxi was among them; her costume was even more exquisite, with delicate gold foil embroidered on the skirt, and she wore a silver headdress with pearl tassels swaying gently with her steps.

At this moment, she was completely different from the shy young girl she usually was. Her posture was as upright as a bamboo stalk, her back ramrod straight, her neck long and graceful, and her eyes ethereal and focused, as if she had truly transformed into a flying apsara from the Dunhuang murals. Lin Wanqiu's heart clenched suddenly, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes. She quickly covered her mouth with a handkerchief, afraid that she would make a sound and disturb others.

Shen Tingzhou's breathing quickened as he stared intently at his daughter on stage, his eyes filled with pride and joy. This girl, who had loved dancing since childhood, who had fallen countless times during practice but never cried, had finally stood on the stage of her dreams, shining with her own unique brilliance.

As the music quickened, the pipa's sound grew more stirring. Nianxi and the other dancers formed a neat line, their steps light and their wrists twirling with fluid grace. Her movements were precise and powerful; each spin was as steady as a rock, each leap as light as a swallow. Especially when performing the highly difficult "Reverse Pipa" move, she leaned back, her hands mimicking the posture of playing the pipa backward, her skirt billowing like a blooming lotus, gold foil shimmering as she spun, seemingly illuminating the entire stage.

The theater was completely silent; everyone was captivated by the breathtaking dance. Lin Wanqiu gripped Shen Tingzhou's hand tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white from the effort, her palms sweaty. She could imagine how much effort her daughter had put into this move; she could see the lingering bruises on her knees and feel the unwavering determination in her every exertion.

"That was amazing!" Shen Nian'an couldn't help but exclaim softly, her eyes glued to the screen, afraid of missing a single moment.

Just then, an unexpected incident occurred. After completing a series of spins, Nianxi seemed to trip over her skirt, causing her body to sway slightly. Lin Wanqiu's heart leaped into her throat, her breath caught in her throat, and her palms instantly soaked with sweat. Shen Tingzhou also leaned forward abruptly, his brows furrowed tightly, his eyes filled with worry.

But Nianxi paused for only half a second before quickly adjusting her posture, using the momentum of the swaying motion to complete a graceful backbend, seamlessly transitioning into the next dance step, as if that brief sway was an integral part of the dance. Her gaze remained firm, her face showing no sign of panic, as if the accident had never happened.

Lin Wanqiu let out a long sigh of relief; her back was already soaked with sweat. Looking at her composed daughter on the stage, an indescribable sense of pride welled up inside her—this child had not only inherited her resilience but also her own composure and wisdom.

Shen Tingzhou slowly relaxed his tense body, reached out and gently patted Lin Wanqiu's back, and said in a low voice, "This child has grown up." His tone was tinged with emotion, but even more so with relief.

In the following performance, Nianxi made no further mistakes. She coordinated perfectly with the other dancers, her movements sometimes powerful and vigorous, as bold as the desert winds and sands; at other times gentle and graceful, as tender as the flowing waters of Jiangnan. Her eyes followed the flow of the story, sometimes filled with deep emotion, sometimes with unwavering determination, perfectly capturing the agility of the flying apsaras and the vastness of the Silk Road.

As the last note faded, Nianxi and all the dancers struck their final pose. The spotlight focused on them, and the stage setting, costumes, and dance movements merged into one, like a living Dunhuang mural. The theater was silent for three seconds, then erupted in thunderous applause, cheers, and shouts of approval that echoed for a long time.

"Great! That was a fantastic jump!" Shen Nian'an stood up excitedly and clapped her hands until they were red.

Lin Wanqiu also stood up, tears welling up again, this time tears of joy and pride. She looked at her daughter bowing and taking her final bow on the stage, at the sweat on her forehead and the smile on her face, her heart filled with mixed emotions—that little girl who used to dance in the courtyard under the moonlight, that little girl who cried for her mother to hold her while practicing, has now grown into a dancer who can shine on a national stage.

Shen Tingzhou stood beside his wife and son, clapping enthusiastically, a rare smile appearing on his usually composed face. He looked at his daughter, illuminated by the stage lights, then at his wife, weeping with joy, and his excited son beside him, his heart filled with happiness. This family, from its past hardships to its current harmonious state, had taken every step with difficulty, yet it had been a steady and fulfilling journey.

After three curtain calls, the curtain slowly fell, officially ending the performance. The audience left reluctantly, discussing the wonderful performance, with many mentioning the lively young dancer in the "Reverse Playing the Pipa" dance segment.

"Father, Mother, let's hurry backstage and wait for Nianxi!" Shen Nian'an said impatiently, carrying the food box and heading towards the backstage area.

Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou quickly followed, weaving through the bustling crowd to the backstage entrance. A large group of relatives and friends were already gathered there, waiting for the dancers, along with numerous reporters with cameras and microphones, eager to interview the outstanding performers.

Not long after, Nianxi came out with the other dancers. She had changed out of her performance costume and was wearing a pink down jacket. Her hair was casually tied back, her face still had a blush, and the sweat on her forehead had not yet been wiped away, making her look exceptionally charming and beautiful.

"Nianxi!" Lin Wanqiu spotted her immediately and waved and called out.

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