Chapter 88 Listen to me first!

"Teacher Qi, this isn't my problem now, is it? I don't care. Yueyue and I either perform together or neither of us. Since the submission is under the name of our challenge, neither of us will perform Peach Blossom Fan. I want to see how it's submitted!"

Ren Limeng's lips curled up into a sarcastic smile, which was a bit playful. She suppressed the anger in her heart and looked at Qi Yunxi with gritted teeth.

"Li Meng! You... Chu Yue, what do you think?"

Qi Yunxi felt like she'd spoiled Ren Limeng too much! But Ren Limeng had always been gifted with talent, whether in her posture, singing voice, or stage presence since she was little. Her performances were always precise and full of emotion. She was diligent and dedicated in all aspects of singing, reciting, acting, and fighting. Even at such a young age, she could play both male and female roles with flair. How could she not love such a talented girl...or even favor her?

Moreover, Ren Limeng is the only daughter of her former mentor Wu Murong. It can be said that the entire Huangmei Opera community in Mei City is looking forward to her growing up and believes in her unlimited potential.

Qi Yunxi looked at Ren Limeng who looked clueless, and finally just shook her head slightly and sighed, but did not scold Ren Limeng loudly. She turned to look at the silent Li Chuyue, trying to find another breakthrough point.

Li Chuyue subconsciously glanced at Ren Limeng who was half a step ahead of her, "Teacher Qi... I'll listen to Mengmeng."

"Chu Yue, how come you are the same as Li Meng!"

Qi Yunxi finally couldn't help but slammed the table, glared at Ren Limeng and Li Chuyue, and tried to persuade them earnestly.

"What good would it do if you insisted on not acting and ruined this? It wouldn't have any impact on the higher-ups, but what about you two? You could have gotten a free admission to a major drama school. It was right within your grasp, so why wouldn't you want to take it? What's there to be so stubborn about? Even if you two don't care about yourselves, you should at least think about the school! A national honor would go on the honor wall, and it would bring honor to the school if others knew about it!"

"Then give it to Yueyue, I don't need it!"

The office was silent for a long time. Qi Yunxi's stern gaze was always on Ren Limeng and the other person. Ren Limeng pouted angrily and was silent for a moment. Finally, she said something in a heavy voice and prepared to leave.

She understood what the school and Teacher Qi meant, but she was still very angry!

"Ren Limeng! Stop right there!"

Ren Limeng's nonchalant attitude finally irritated Qi Yunxi completely. She stood up and sternly called out to Ren Limeng, who was about to turn around and leave. Her face was full of sternness and helplessness. "Forget it, the school wants to hold an audition for you two next Friday for the performance of Peach Blossom Fan. Teachers from the three major troupes of Meixiang Theater, Qianfang, Yunsheng, and Chuanhua, will be invited to be the judges. You should prepare well!"

After saying that, she grabbed Ren Limeng tightly, turned to Li Chuyue and said, "Chuyue, go back to the classroom first. Limeng and I have something to discuss."

"Okay, Teacher Qi, Mengmeng is just a little outspoken..."

"Chu Yue, I know what's going on. You go back first."

Looking at Qi Yunxi with a furious face, Li Chuyue hesitantly looked at Ren Limeng with an expressionless face. Ren Limeng waved her hand, indicating that Li Chuyue should go out first, and everyone should take responsibility for their own actions. Her action immediately caused Qi Yunxi to glare at her again.

Li Chuyue walked out of the office still a little worried about Ren Limeng. Ren Limeng has always had some potential to be a "troublemaker" in the drama school. Her naughty and lively nature has made many teachers angry, but she is very well-behaved and hardworking during training, and has frequently won various awards and top three places in competitions, making the teachers love and hate her.

Teacher Qi should have just said a few words to Mengmeng, right?

Li Chuyue originally wanted to wait for Ren Limeng at the stairs as she did in the past, but she was still a little worried that the excited Ren Limeng would continue to talk back to the teacher. She couldn't help but think about what Teacher Qi had just said in her mind. Feeling uneasy, she slowly closed the door and stopped.

"...Li Meng, Teacher Wu came to see me this morning. You're almost 18 and an adult now. You can't be so nonchalant about many things! Stop throwing a tantrum and stand up straight!"

Teacher Wu should be referring to Ren Limeng's mother Wu Murong. Li Chuyue paused with her right hand on the door handle. She bit her lip and hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not leave.

Everyone knows that Ren Limeng is the daughter of Wu Murong, the master of Huangmei Opera in Mei City. She has been attending performances at the Meixiang Theater, which is the dream of everyone in the drama school. Qi Yunxi and many teachers will subconsciously take care of Ren Limeng. These are things they can never compare to, or even unimaginable.

Although Li Chuyue and Ren Limeng have been learning opera together since childhood, Li Chuyue is different from Ren Limeng, who came from an opera family and grew up under the adoration of many stars.

Li Chuyue's home is in a poor mountain village in the county town below Meishi. She is the second daughter in the family, with an older sister, two younger sisters and a younger brother. Her parents sent her to the city to study opera when she was very young. In addition to the fact that the opera school provided food and accommodation, cheap tuition and subsidies, her parents' most common nagging and reminder since she was a child was that they were doing this for her own good and that opera would help her make a living in the future.

Except for winter and summer vacations, Li Chuyue often stayed at her aunt's house in the city during every vacation, but she knew early on that it was not her home.

She had to get into a drama university to have a future and to shoulder the burden of the family. After years of studying drama, she could only sing. If she did not have a drama university degree as a stepping stone to open the door to the city's theater, Li Chuyue could not imagine her future.

The moment Qi Yunxi mentioned the recommendation, Li Chuyue couldn't deny her feelings. Just like Teacher Qi said, there was only one chance for the art exam. She was terrified. What if she wasn't in good shape and failed the test?

Li Chuyue couldn't imagine such a desperate and terrible situation.

Inside the door, Qi Yunxi was looking at Ren Limeng earnestly, "The challenge competition is your team. It was you who first proposed the play 'Peach Blossom Fan', and Teacher Wu was the main person who adapted it. The school originally wanted to give this spot directly to you..."

After rounds of selection at the district, city, and provincial levels, only Ren Limeng's team from Mei City stood out. The drama school then adjusted its strategy and assigned Li Chuyue and two other senior students to Ren Limeng's team to compete and perform with her.

"Teacher Qi, Yueyue and I performed Peach Blossom Fan together. My mom just watched it for us..."

"Listen to me first!"

Ren Limeng frowned and "clarified" something anxiously. Qi Yunxi, who was interrupted, sighed and raised her hand to stop Ren Limeng from continuing to explain.

"I know you invited Chu Yue to compete with you in the challenge, but this play was indeed choreographed by Teacher Wu, and your training was also adjusted by Teacher Wu with great effort. Moreover, Teacher Wu is the pillar of Meixiang Theater and a specially appointed teacher of our school. The school has always been grateful for Teacher Wu's efforts over the years. After comprehensive consideration, the school has its own preferences. But considering the issue of fairness and justice, we set up the selection competition. You are aware of this."

"You have an idea? What do you mean? Teacher Qi, have you chosen me?"

Ren Limeng's voice was a little sharp, piercing the silence of the office. Her sarcastic questioning was accompanied by a sneer and the spirit unique to young girls. Her clear eyes were full of disapproval and misunderstanding, as if if Qi Yunxi nodded in the next second, she would absolutely "overturn the table and leave" without any scruples.

"Fair and just! No insider decisions! And there won't be any shady dealings like you imagined! Li Meng! Opera is more than just music. I've seen so many times, can you please grow up a little! Stop being so jumpy all the time!"

Qi Yunxi took a deep breath and finally couldn't help but yell. She understood Ren Limeng's mood at the moment, but for her own good, she had to continue. Besides, Ren Limeng's subtext was too obvious. She didn't trust her mother or the school at all! They were teaching and educating people openly, how could they be such scoundrels?

Ren Limeng is now in a state of panic because of the "Peach Blossom Fan" incident, and no one seems to be a good person.

Qi Yunxi understood Ren Limeng, but all she could do was sigh. She looked straight at Ren Limeng with a sharp look on her face, who had a stubborn face.

"Don't worry, the school and Teacher Wu aren't the type to play dirty. There's no need to question it; the auditions are absolutely fair! But your level and Chu Yue's... after so many years and so many competitions, everyone knows it. Teacher Wu came this morning just to tell me that she and Teacher Ren are going to perform in the countryside this week. As usual, you should go to the theater or Fang Shu's house for dinner this weekend, and don't go home alone at night. She has absolute confidence in you in the auditions, and if you dare let her off, she won't let you off easily!"

"Teacher Qi, could you please stop panting when you speak? I've been telling you, this school is absolutely open and fair! I... was judging others by my own standards, I'm sorry! My mom is the same way, all she does is give orders, and it's not practical at all! Teacher Qi, you're my dear teacher, why do you always side with her? Yueyue and I are equally skilled and work well together, so stop picking fights every day! I can't win even if you flatter me!"

After Qi Yunxi finished speaking, Ren Limeng, who knew that her words and actions had been a bit extreme, finally showed a flattering smile on her face. She took two steps closer, her eyes moist as she smiled foolishly like a little dog, and gently shook Qi Yunxi's right arm.

In addition to the simple teacher-student relationship, Ren Limeng grew up under Qi Yunxi's care. When Qi Yunxi was studying, she often went to Ren Limeng's house to find Wu Murong, who is now just a 28-year-old young class teacher. Many times, Ren Limeng and Qi Yunxi get along more like friends, and Qi Yunxi also sincerely treats Ren Limeng as her own sister.

"Teacher Wu is also my teacher! Okay, stop being a spoiled brat and practice hard! I'll keep a close eye on you these next two weeks. If you dare slack off, I'll report you to Teacher Wu immediately! You must keep this in mind! This opportunity is rare! Go back, you'll only make me angry every day!"

Ren Limeng and Qi Yunxi finally smiled as they spoke, and the atmosphere in the office immediately relaxed. Neither of them noticed the stiff figure outside the door...