twenty one.
Time never stops for a person's mood, and the day of the second performance arrived as scheduled.
The studio was still bustling with activity and the lights blaring. After elimination and reorganization, the remaining 100 trainees' eyes were filled with a new level of determination and desire. The stage was bigger, and the competition was more brutal.
The "Swordsman" group was scheduled to appear in the middle and back. In the waiting area, the seven people had already changed into their costumes and finished their styling.
This time, their styling is completely different from the dark charm of the "Venom" era. Their clothing is mainly white, light gray and crescent color, made of light materials, with wide sleeves and tassels, and their long hair is tied up with jade crowns or headbands, giving them the chic style of a chivalrous warrior.
Mi Xi's look was particularly striking. Her long, rose-pink hair had been dyed back to an inky black, tied up high, revealing a smooth forehead and perfectly defined features. Her makeup was minimal, emphasizing her naturally affectionate, peach-blossom eyes, but now devoid of all coquettishness, only a clear and resolute expression. Dressed in white, with pale cyan cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs, she wielded a prop sword, her tall and graceful figure like a young knight stepping out of an ink painting, pure and unrestrained.
Wuyou wore a neat high ponytail, a few strands of hair cascading across his forehead. His tearful eyes were slightly elongated by eyeliner, making him look less delicate and more sharp, like a young knight. He wore a silver-gray suit, standing tall and proud, like a proud young man from a martial arts family.
Ruan Xu was dressed up as a clever and cute detective, with sparkling eyes and full of energy.
As for Chu Qingling… He already possessed a cool and aloof demeanor, and in this simple, elegant ancient costume, he exuded that otherworldly swordsman's aura to its fullest. His champagne-blond, wolf-tail hair was carefully tied back, revealing his defined jawline and neck. The teardrop mole beneath his eye was barely visible beneath his light makeup. He stood there quietly, like a meticulously carved jade statue, exuding a detached aloofness that seemed unapproachable, yet perfectly suited to the artistic conception of "Swordsman."
The performances of the previous groups, either explosive or deeply moving, drew continuous screams from the audience. The pressure was invisibly transferred to me.
Ruan Xu nervously took deep breaths, and Wu You subconsciously adjusted her wristband. Chu Qingling lowered his eyes, his emotions unclear. Only Mi Xi remained calm. He patted each team member on the shoulder, his voice low but strangely soothing:
"Remember the sweat we've shed these days, remember the world we want to express. The stage is there, let's conquer it."
His gaze finally fell on Chu Qingling, with silent inquiry and support.
Chu Qingling raised her eyes and met his gaze. There seemed to be a slight softening in her frozen eyes. He nodded gently.
Finally, it was their turn.
"Next, please enjoy—"Swordsmanship"!"
The lights suddenly dimmed and the prelude of music sounded, the distant and ethereal sound of the guqin.
A cool spotlight shone down, illuminating the center of the stage. Mi Xi faced the audience with her back, her sword slung behind her. Even with just a silhouette, her solitary and upright figure instantly drew people into the vast world of Jianghu.
The piano music suddenly changed and became passionate, and the drum beats joined in!
Mi Xi suddenly turned around, unsheathed her sword, her movements smooth and flowing, her clothes fluttering as she swung a beautiful sword flower. Her eyes were as sharp as lightning, and her opera voice was clear and long, instantly catching everyone's ears!
“Ahhh! Mi Xi!!”
The first wave of screams erupted from the audience.
Soon after, Wu You, Ruan Xu, and the rest of the team joined in, their sword dances in unison, each with its own distinct style. Wu You's steps were explosive, like a galloping horse; Ruan Xu's movements were playful and nimble; and Chu Qingling's every movement seemed to blend seamlessly with the music. His arms stretched like flowing clouds, his fingertips trembled as if brimming with inner strength, and his gaze, cold and lonely, perfectly embodied the chivalrous spirit of a warrior who "kills one person every ten steps, leaving no trace in a thousand miles."
Especially his duet sword dance with Mi Xi, one white and one plain, one hot and one cold, swords crossed and eyes collided, as if it was the encounter and confrontation of two peerless swordsmen, with perfect tacit understanding and full of dramatic tension, which pushed the atmosphere to a small climax!
"Holy crap! Mi Xi and Chu Qingling! This teamwork is incredible!"
"Chu Qingling is so ethereal! Her aura is amazing!"
"Wuyo is so handsome! Ruanxu is so cute!"
Throughout the performance, the seven performers worked as one, perfectly embodying the heroic spirit, unrestrained elegance, loneliness, and passion of "Swordsman." Their sword dance was no longer a simple dance, but rather an expression of story and emotion.
When the final ending pose was frozen - seven people stood with swords in hand, their eyes firmly looking into the distance, the music lingering - the entire studio fell into a moment of silence.
Immediately, thunderous applause and screams and cheers that almost blew the roof off broke out!
"Swords march! Swords march! Swords march!"
Success!
The seven people on the stage had their chests heaving violently and sweat dripping down their foreheads, but there was a bright light shining in everyone's eyes. It was the excitement of having their hard work rewarded and the joy of having their stage dreams realized!
Chu Qingling panted slightly, feeling the thunderous cheers from the audience. The warm atmosphere seemed to melt the frozen lake in his heart. He subconsciously glanced at Mi Xi beside him. She was looking back, a faint but genuine smile on her sweaty face, and she nodded gently at him.
At that moment, Chu Qingling suddenly felt that perhaps... some pain could be temporarily soothed by the light of the stage. Perhaps... this temporary "jianghu" was more worth cherishing than he had imagined.
In the second performance, the "Swordsman" group once again proved their strength with their impeccable stage performance and left another classic performance.
————
The excitement of the successful conclusion of the second public performance gradually subsided after returning to the quiet dormitory. Ruan Xu was so tired that she fell asleep as soon as she hit the bed. Wu You was also holding her phone, whispering something to Pei Yu, and soon the sound of even breathing could be heard.
After Mi Xi finished washing up, she saw Chu Qingling still sitting at his desk. The lights were off, and only the scattered light from the window outlined his thin, silent figure. The brief glory on the stage seemed like an illusion. At this moment, he was shrouded in a deeper loneliness.
"Qingling," Mi Xi walked over and said softly, "Are you not resting yet?"
Chu Qingling didn't look back, but just shook his head almost imperceptibly.
Mi Xi sat down on the chair next to him, without urging him, but just quietly accompanying him. After a long while, he heard Chu Qingling's voice, with a hint of fatigue and confusion:
"Mi Xi, tell me...are the relationships between people really that fragile?"
Mi Xi looked at his profile shrouded in shadow and asked softly, "Did you... have a fight with him?"
This "he" is self-evident.
Chu Qingling curled the corners of his lips in self-mockery, a smile that looked somewhat pale and weak in the dim light. He turned his head and looked at Mi Xi, his cold, tearful eyes filled with complex emotions: sadness, confusion, and a subtle hint of vulnerability.
"Mi Xi," he said softly, as if he had made up his mind, "would you like to... listen to the story between him and me?"
Mi Xi met his gaze and nodded, her eyes gentle and focused: "You speak, I listen."
Chu Qingling cast his gaze toward the dark night outside the window, as if lost in distant memories, and his voice became a little vague.
"He and I... have known each other since kindergarten." The corners of his lips unconsciously curved into a very shallow, somewhat helpless arc. "Back then, my mother... well, had a special hobby. She always liked to dress me up in little skirts and make me look like a little girl."
Mi Xi imagined the scene, a sweet and soft little Chu Qingling wearing a skirt, and a smile appeared in her eyes.
"Then what?"
"Then..." Chu Qingling's tone was filled with a hint of gritted teeth, mixed with indescribable nostalgia, "that bastard Xie Sui saw us! He was two years older than me, and back then he was a little bully. Because he was tall, he assumed I was his younger sister, chasing after me and calling me 'sister,' 'sister,' for a long time... Until I started elementary school and learned to resist, I fought with him a lot for this."
Although he said "fight", there was no real disgust in his tone. Instead, there was a unique intimacy between childhood sweethearts.
"When we grew up, he went abroad to study, and I joined LYRA as a trainee. When we met again, he had become the boss of LYRA, whose name was always in his mouth." Chu Qingling's voice deepened. "He treated me...very well, too well. Resources, protection, everything, he gave me the best. There was a lot of gossip in the company, saying that he praised me without any principles..."
He paused, a hint of bitterness in his voice.
"I know he treats me well. He's always been this way since I was little. He takes the blame for me when I get into trouble, and he stands up for me when I'm bullied. But...when Shen Qingrang got into trouble this time, I realized that in his heart, there are things that are more important than 'me'."
He recalled Xie Sui's scarlet eyes filled with fear and hostility in the hospital, and those harsh words.
"He said anything could happen to anyone at LYRA, but not Shen Qingrang. He said I didn't understand anything... He said I was just..." Chu Qingling's voice choked. He took a deep breath and reluctantly continued, "At that moment, I understood. In his balance of power, when LYRA and his own interests were truly threatened, I... could be abandoned. I could be hurt so easily with words."
"What childhood sweethearts, what affection from childhood..." Chu Qingling closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling fragilely, "In the face of reality, it seems that they are all vulnerable."
At this moment, he poured out the grievances, disappointments and confusions that had been suppressed in his heart for a long time to this teammate who he had just met but made him feel inexplicably at ease.
Mi Xi listened quietly, without interrupting or comforting. After Chu Qingling finished speaking and fell silent, he slowly spoke:
"Qingling, human hearts are very complicated. His kindness to you wasn't necessarily fake. But under immense pressure and fear, people often say the most hurtful words and make the most selfish choices. This doesn't necessarily mean you're unimportant to him; it could just be... he was too scared at the time."
His voice was calm and rational, as if he was analyzing something, with a hint of understanding.
"The important thing is that the hurt you feel now is real. You need time to digest it, and you also need to see what he does next." Mi Xi looked at him, "As for whether it is worth forgiving, and when to forgive, the decision is in your hands."
Chu Qingling raised his head and looked at Mi Xi in surprise. He hadn't expected to hear such words. They weren't simple agreement, nor were they empty consolations. Instead, they were...analysis that made him feel understood and respected.
"I..." Chu Qingling opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.
Mi Xi stood up and patted his shoulder gently: "It's late, go to bed first. Some things can't be rushed."
Chu Qingling sat there in a daze, watching Mi Xi's back as she walked towards the bed. The heavy, cold mass in his heart seemed to loosen a little because of this talk and Mi Xi's understanding.
The night is still dark.
But when someone listens, it seems that the road ahead is no longer so dark.
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