Chapter 21 Confirming Her Feelings: She Must Work Even Harder to Be With Chai Yun…

Although Zhu Qingting maintained a polite smile and chatted happily with Tian Jiayou and Qin Youyou during the afternoon shopping trip, her heart was already in turmoil.

The sudden kiss with Chai Yundu just now shattered the facade of calm she had been trying to maintain for over a month.

When she got home that night, she couldn't sleep.

Lying in bed, tossing and turning, her thoughts drifted uncontrollably back to that dimly lit storage room. The burning sensation on her lips seemed to linger, as did Chai Yundu's deep eyes, his hot breath, the blood on his lips, his forceful yet cherished embrace, and his unyielding thrusts. Every detail played out repeatedly in her mind.

Every time I recall it, my heart races uncontrollably.

Then, she recalled the moments she had spent with Tian Jiayou. He was wonderful, truly wonderful. Gentle and considerate. She always felt relaxed with him, able to chat freely and share her joys and sorrows without any burden.

But... that feeling was just like when I was with Qin Youyou, the comfort and ease of being with friends, the companionship of like-minded people.

The only thing missing was the fluttering feeling of blushing, heart pounding, nervousness, and anxiety that one gets when facing Chai Yundu.

She couldn't even imagine kissing Tian Jiayou; the mere thought made her feel a strange sense of unease.

She finally realized clearly that the comfort she felt in Tian Jiayou's presence wasn't love. It was merely a sense of compatibility that remained within her comfort zone, lacking passion and hormonal stimulation.

As for her feelings for Chai Yundu... that feeling of losing control when they meet, even though she has warned herself a thousand times to stay away, that feeling that makes her heart race and her blood boil, that is true, inescapable love.

Having figured this out, Zhu Qingting felt a sense of relief.

She couldn't choose a seemingly safe but not genuine relationship just because she was afraid of the storms of life. That would be unfair to Tian Jiayou, and it would also be a deception and a waste for her.

The next day, she arranged to meet Tian Jiayou. In a quiet coffee shop, she frankly explained her thoughts to him.

“Senior, I’m sorry. You’re a very good person, and I was very happy and relaxed during the time I spent with you.” She looked into his eyes, her tone sincere and apologetic. “However, I’ve thought about it carefully, and my feelings for you are probably more like the appreciation and comfort of a friend or confidant, but lacking… that feeling of being moved. I don’t want to hold you back, and I don’t want to deceive myself.”

Tian Jiayou listened quietly, a clear look of disappointment flashing across his eyes. He was silent for a moment before speaking with a bitter smile, "Actually... I think I sensed it too. I know the instant stiffness and resistance in your body every time I try to hold your hand or have any closer contact."

He sighed, his tone still gentle, "I thought that as long as I had time, I could take it slow and you would get used to me and come to like me. It seems that's not going to work."

He looked up at her, forcing a relieved smile. "It's okay, Qingting. You can't force feelings. I'm happy to be your friend and create good works with you."

His understanding and tolerance moved Zhu Qingting, but also made her feel guilty.

"Thank you, senior."

With her inner shackles removed, Zhu Qingting felt much lighter. She poured all her energy into the final rehearsals for the upcoming "Lotus Cup" dance competition.

Her collaboration with Tian Jiayou was not affected by this; on the contrary, the clarification of their relationship made communication smoother and more genuine.

Tian Jiayou truly deserves to be called an excellent musician. The music he composed for "Dragonfly on Lotus" perfectly combines the clear and melodious sound of the erhu, the lively sound of the flute, and the ethereal sound of electronic effects, greatly enhancing and elevating the artistic conception of the dance.

On the day of the competition, Zhu Qingting wore a specially made gradient turquoise dance costume, and like a real dragonfly fairy, she danced gracefully to the moving music played by Tian Jiayou.

Her movements were light yet powerful, graceful yet resilient, perfectly capturing the agility of a dragonfly.

Ultimately, their seamless collaboration moved all the judges and audience members. Zhu Qingting, with her piece "Dragonfly on Lotus," unsurprisingly won the gold medal at the "Lotus Cup" National Dance Competition!

Standing on the podium, holding the heavy trophy, and listening to the thunderous applause from below, Zhu Qingting's smile was bright and confident.

She proved her pursuit and ability in art.

Once she realized her feelings for Chai Yundu, she knew that the road ahead would be fraught with difficulties, and she would have to work even harder to be on par with him.

As long as you have no dark past and are good enough, you don't need to fear the digging and cyberbullying from your fans.

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The Spring Festival Gala brought Zhu Qingting a brief period of immense popularity. However, this popularity, like the tide, gradually receded.

In the internet age, fans are highly mobile, and the public's attention is quickly drawn to new hot topics and new faces.

Even though she just won the highly prestigious "Lotus Cup" National Dance Competition gold medal with her performance of "Dragonfly on Lotus," this honor, which is highly recognized in the professional field, has not made much of a splash in the broader public sphere.

The headlines of major entertainment sections are still dominated by celebrity scandals, new drama release dates, and variety show announcements.

However, a pearl will eventually be recognized.

CCTV is currently preparing a cultural exchange travel variety show called "Passing on the Arts Across the Land"!

This is a reality show with a unique positioning and lofty ideals. It plans to invite seven guests to take a 28-day in-depth European tour.

Unlike typical travel programs, this journey focuses on cultural exchange and dissemination. The guests will visit Confucius Institutes in four European countries, interact with overseas students, showcase the spirit of contemporary Chinese people, and promote excellent Chinese culture.

The production team has put a lot of effort into the initial planning and has basically finalized the selection of six guests, a lineup that is both luxurious and highly representative:

Among the three male guests, there is Ding Yi, a famous CCTV host who can control the pace of variety shows very well; Chen Yifei, a member of a boy band who returned to China from South Korea, who has excellent singing and dancing skills; and Chai Yundu, a top star who recently caused a stir with his video of challenging a martial arts school in Milan's Chinatown, whose Chinese kung fu skills are obvious to all.

The three female guests also come from various fields: Liu Xin, a powerful actress who has won several prestigious Best Actress awards; Shan Zhiyi, an actress who started her career in Kunqu Opera; and Zhao Lin, a well-known guzheng (Chinese zither) performing artist.

This lineup almost encompasses several of the industry's most popular fields. However, the selection of the seventh and final female guest proved to be a challenge for the production team.

This guest shouldn't be too high-profile, lest they overshadow the previous guests and cause unnecessary disputes; but they also can't be a complete novice. They need to possess certain professional skills or personal charm, be able to play a role in cultural dissemination, and create interesting chemistry with the other guests.

The casting process reached a stalemate, with the director rejecting the candidates submitted by the assistant directors as "not quite right" or "almost there."

Just when they were at their wits' end, a young assistant director in charge of collecting materials accidentally clicked on a compilation of winning entries from the "Lotus Cup" dance competition while browsing professional arts information.

When the scene of Zhu Qingting performing "Dragonfly on Lotus" appeared, he was instantly attracted by the graceful figure on the screen.

The woman in the video has a beautiful and refined appearance, a gentle yet resilient temperament, and her dance moves are fluid and graceful, full of ultimate artistic beauty.

He immediately searched for Zhu Qingting's information: principal dancer of Haicheng Song and Dance Troupe, lead dancer of the Spring Festival Gala's "Zhuque Breaks at Dawn," winner of the Lotus Cup Gold Award... This series of dazzling professional achievements fully demonstrates her strength.

More importantly, she has a good public image, but she is not a pure entertainment industry person. She has a kind of calmness and purity unique to artists and will not cause controversy over her status.

"Director, look at her!" The assistant director excitedly presented the information and video to the chief director. "She has a great image, excellent temperament, and top-notch professional skills, representing the high level of traditional Chinese dance! Moreover, her popularity is just right, attracting attention without overshadowing the other guests. She is simply the perfect choice to fit our program's cultural output positioning!"

The chief director carefully watched Zhu Qingting's dance videos and related materials, and his eyes shone with admiration.

Indeed, such an outstanding young dancer not only showcases the charm of classical Chinese dance, but her calm and resilient personality also seems well-suited for the long-term filming of travel reality shows.

Therefore, the production team acted quickly and contacted the Haicheng Song and Dance Troupe through official channels.

The troupe leader personally spoke with Zhu Qingting, explaining in detail the nature of the "Passing on the Arts Across the Land" program and the hope that she would showcase Chinese dance culture.

"Qingting, this is a fantastic opportunity," the troupe leader said earnestly. "It's not just about increasing your personal exposure; more importantly, it's about showcasing the charm of Chinese dance to the world. This has a far greater impact than performing a hundred shows in the theater. The troupe supports your participation."

As Zhu Qingting listened to the group leader's introduction and looked at the preliminary plan sent by the program team, she was also somewhat moved.

A 28-day European trip included visits to Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany, where participants performed Chinese dances at Confucius Institutes in foreign lands.

What a challenging yet incredibly romantic journey this is!

Moreover, after experiencing the ambiguous relationship with Chai Yundu that ended without a trace, being frank about her feelings with Tian Jiayou, and clarifying her feelings for Chai Yundu, she really wanted to get away from her familiar environment, clear her mind, and explore a wider world.

After a moment's thought, she nodded, her eyes resolute. "Director, I'm willing to participate. I will work hard to live up to the troupe's expectations and showcase the charm of Chinese dancers."

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Author's Note: Aaaaaaah [laughing and crying while covering face] I revised the last chapter several times but couldn't unlock it. I didn't write anything below the neck! [cracked face]