Chapter 176: Bad Intentions
"Li Meng, I'm not blaming you. I just want to spend more time with everyone. The second public performance is about to end..."
Guan He was just about to take the opportunity to ask Ren Limeng if they could continue the three-person team together when Chen Xi interrupted him rudely. She didn't call Ren Limeng in to see Guan He show his affection.
"Yes, we are about to leave Li Meng's hometown. Li Meng, come to think of it, we were at the Meixiang Theater today and suddenly heard about your past. Did everyone misunderstand you?"
Chen Xi blinked with a slight smile on his face, and his tone was no different, but Ren Limeng noticed Li Chuyue's sudden change of expression. Li Chuyue looked at Chen Xi with a pair of big eyes full of unspeakable requests, but Chen Xi did not give Li Chuyue a look, she just stared at Ren Limeng intently.
Han Tai on the other side seemed to remember something, and his expression suddenly became strange. Even Guan He, who had no idea what was going on, could sense the ill intentions implied in Chen Xi's words. He frowned slightly and looked at Chen Xi.
In an instant, the entire training room was silent.
"Um?"
Ren Limeng looked at Chen Xi calmly, as if she didn't notice the obvious mystification in Chen Xi's words. As they looked at each other, the frankness and generosity in her eyes made Chen Xi raise his eyebrows.
She couldn't help but admire Ren Limeng. She was worthy of being a host. She could still smile without changing her expression at this time.
"It's okay, it's just old news. I saw you and Auntie got along so well today, it should be over. Sorry, Li Meng, I'm a bit blunt. It's okay, it's okay."
Chen Xi glanced at the cameras around her, and seemed to suddenly realize that she was still being recorded. She lowered her eyes with some self-blame, and a look of guilt appeared on her face, or perhaps it was - trying to cover up something that made it more obvious.
Ren Limeng could see clearly that what Chen Xi wanted by stopping at the right time was just to achieve this half-concealed effect.
There were only one or two so-called past news about her that were worth being spread by everyone in Meixiang Theater for so many years. When her mother was mentioned, the answer was obvious. Besides, no matter what the past events Chen Xi was referring to, gossip that could be spread privately would definitely not be a good thing.
Once this episode is aired, she will easily be caught up in controversy, as her attitude towards Huangmei Opera has always been too complicated.
What kind of subtle effects will be presented by the unswerving career change back then and the seemingly sudden passion now under the focus and magnification of the camera? Ren Limeng is unwilling to gamble on the conscience of the program crew, nor does she want to trouble anyone afterwards.
"Sister Chen Xi, I don't quite understand what you mean."
"It's nothing, just some small things. I didn't just think of them while chatting... Teacher Li, Teacher Han, we've rested long enough. Let's continue practicing. Xingzhi, can you come watch the performance for us?"
Chen Xi waved her hand and prepared to stand up. She turned her head to look at Shen Xingzhi, whose eyes were sharp. As if she had just noticed the warning hidden in Shen Xingzhi's eyes, she stopped talking and smiled softly.
She didn't say anything else in front of the camera. When she saw Shen Xingzhi's warning, she immediately changed the subject. Even if Shen Xingzhi wanted to stand up for Ren Limeng again, he couldn't suddenly act like a big shot because of some unfounded things.
As for Ren Limeng, there were curious viewers who dug up her past during the broadcast. I believe the program crew will like this kind of recording footage that contains some interesting things to watch.
She wanted to see if Ren Limeng could still maintain her current composure at this time next week.
"Sister Chen Xi, since you are so outspoken, don't speak half your words."
Ren Limeng leaned forward slightly, supporting her hands on her knees. She smiled, raised her chin slightly, and looked at Chen Xi with a gentle yet firm gaze. She looked directly at Chen Xi, her tone neither hurried nor slow, but with some subtle confusion.
Chen Xi was slightly stunned. She didn't expect Ren Limeng to dare to confront her like this. She could see clearly that there was mockery hidden deep in Ren Limeng's eyes, not the fake tenderness in front of the camera.
In the stagnant air, Guan He, who was secretly anxious, wanted to say something, but his eyes suddenly met Shen Xingzhi who was beside Ren Limeng. He could not see through Shen Xingzhi's indifferent eyes at this moment, but he could sense that Shen Xingzhi did not seem to want him to intervene between Ren Limeng and Chen Xi.
Looking at the top-tier captain, Chen Xingzhi, Guan He didn't speak after all. He lowered his eyes with some bitterness.
"Li Meng, are you sure you want me to say it in front of the camera?"
I don't know how long it was before Chen Xi suddenly smiled slightly, and the deliberately emphasized "in front of the camera" carried a hint that everyone present could understand. Even the program crew members outside the camera couldn't help but hold their breath, but Ren Limeng seemed to be unaware of it and nodded slowly.
"Sister Chen Xi, there's nothing unspeakable about me."
She had made some controversial choices in the past, but there was nothing she needed to hide.
When it comes to Huangmei Opera, or anything else, Ren Limeng dares to say that she has no regrets.
Ren Limeng was not afraid of being exposed in front of the camera, nor did she accept Chen Xi's mysterious tricks.
Ren Limeng's frank tone completely angered Chen Xi. Chen Xi couldn't help but glance at Shen Xingzhi who had been silent beside him. Did Ren Limeng think that everything would be fine as long as Shen Xingzhi was there?
She looks so ignorant and fearless, could it be that she has really forgotten what she did before?
He destroyed his costume and was afraid to go on stage before an important competition. Such a coward who disrespects the stage can suddenly become a host. It was clearly him who voluntarily gave up Huangmei Opera to switch careers. How can Ren Limeng have the nerve to act like she loves singing opera these days? It's ridiculous.
Chen Xi didn't believe that Ren Limeng could still laugh like she did now after her past was exposed.
"Why don't we practice the play first? We're leaving Mei City tonight, and the practice time is really tight."
Li Chuyue's sudden interruption made everyone look at her sideways. Her smile was a little forced, but she still tried to express her meaning.
"Teacher Li, you don't have to cover up for Li Meng. Li Meng, although we are teammates, some of the things you did were too unkind. I can't turn a blind eye to it."
Chen Xi smiled with emotion, her eyes wandering between Li Chuyue and Ren Limeng. Suddenly, she said, "Stop pretending in front of the camera. After so many years, you two are no longer good friends, right?"
"Teacher Chen Xi!"
Li Chuyue's face turned pale, and the smile on her lips slowly turned bitter. She wanted to stop Chen Xi from speaking, but her voice seemed to make Chen Xi even more excited. Especially at this moment, Chen Xi happened to look at Ren Limeng's calm eyes. She wanted to tear off the mask on Ren Limeng's face.
"Li Meng, do you still remember the qualifying match after the challenge tournament? It was such a big deal back then, and even today we heard someone from Meixiang casually mention it. Your loss back then... seemed strange. Do you... regret your impulsiveness now?"
Chen Xi continued to speak evasively, as if she was being tactful out of consideration for the relationship with her teammates, or as if she simply wanted to arouse everyone's curiosity. As she described it in a few words, everyone unconsciously looked at Ren Limeng, whose back was straight.
"Chu Yue, did you tell Sister Chen Xi?"
Ren Limeng did not turn her head, she still looked at Chen Xi steadily, but the soft words she suddenly spoke made everyone stunned. Everyone could hear the complexity of Ren Limeng's tone, which implied too many unspoken words.
Why didn't Ren Limeng answer Chen Xi's question, but suddenly asked about Li Chuyue?
Everyone was still thinking, and their subconscious focus on Li Chuyue had already made her feel uneasy and her whole body stiff.
She felt as if she had returned to many years ago, when she had somehow destroyed Ren Limeng's costume.
The darkest moment she thought had long passed was repeated with Ren Limeng's faint voice. This time, she was faced with a completely cold camera with no blind spots, as well as the predictable broadcast discussion.
She couldn't let her past impulse ruin her current career.
After all, they had been together since childhood, and Li Chuyue almost immediately heard the hints beyond Ren Limeng's question, but she could not confess her past problems in front of everyone as Ren Limeng wished. That was a past that she did not want to recall even in her dreams at midnight.
She is different from Ren Limeng, she still makes a living by performing Huangmei Opera.
She has already sincerely apologized to Ren Limeng. There is no evidence for what happened back then, so there is no need for her to admit it. It is obvious that Chen Xi wants to make things difficult for Ren Limeng, so why does Ren Limeng have to involve her!
Li Chuyue remembered the afternoon at Meixiang Theater.
Li Chuyue and Chen Xi went to the bathroom and returned to the training room. When they passed by the dressing room at the corner, they accidentally heard the actors in the theater talking about the gossip about Ren Limeng's career change. Chen Xi immediately stopped and signaled Li Chuyue to be quiet with his eyes.
Li Chuyue listened in a cold sweat as the actors in the dressing room exaggerated the story of the past. After leaving the corner, Chen Xi suddenly asked Li Chuyue, who was the subject of the first half of the gossip, with a half-smile, "Teacher Li, is what they said true?"
"Teacher Chen Xi, it's all in the past..."
Li Chuyue spoke hesitantly, her mind was blank, and she subconsciously wanted to blur the matter out, just like she had done so many times over the years.
Chen Xi sensed the strangeness in Li Chuyue's expression, a deep glint flashing in his eyes as he sarcastically said, "I thought Ren Limeng loved Huangmei Opera so much that she performed so well in front of the camera, but it turns out it was all a hypocritical show! No wonder Meixiang and the production team kept trying to arrange a meeting between Ren Limeng and her mother. They really are trying to stir up trouble!"
"Teacher Chen Xi...you...let's go back quickly!"
Li Chuyue tried to persuade him hesitantly, the curve of her stiff mouth no longer existed. She just secretly hoped that Chen Xi would not take advantage of the situation.
But Chen Xi did not let this matter go after all. She was so ecstatic that she could hardly suppress it. After being depressed for a week, she finally found a good opportunity to vent her anger on Ren Limeng.
Even Shen Xingzhi couldn't defend Ren Limeng without reason, not to mention that Shen Xingzhi seemed to just want to stand by and watch in silence at this moment.
Chen Xi suppressed the corners of her mouth that couldn't help but rise, making her face show more confusion and sadness in front of the camera. When talking to Ren Limeng, Chen Xi's peripheral vision was still observing Shen Xingzhi. Before Shen Xingzhi could speak, she suddenly heard Ren Limeng's puzzled voice asking Li Chuyue.
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