1.1w nutrient solution bonus chapter, individual competition begins (Part 5...)
Chapter 41
As soon as he said that, the surroundings fell silent.
Almost at the same time, everyone turned their attention to this place.
Who is Shen Qiuya?
She was the most talented one in the entire Heilongjiang Province. From the age of sixteen, she was the enigma of all the female comrades in the cultural troupe.
That was an insurmountable snow-capped mountain.
I don't even have the courage to look up at it.
But this same Shen Qiuyue is now saying she wants to consider Meng Yingying as a rival.
What an honor this is!
Everyone instinctively looked at Meng Yingying, hoping to find excitement and joy on her face, but there was none.
Throughout the entire process, Meng Yingying remained indifferent.
She stood there with her almond-shaped eyes wide open, staring at Shen Qiuyue for a long while before finally saying in a low voice, "My opponent is not you."
These words caused an uproar in the room.
"Is she Meng Yingying? What does she mean by this?"
"That's too arrogant."
"Exactly, she doesn't even respect Shen Qiuyue. Who does she think she is?"
"When Shen Qiuya became famous, she was still playing in the mud somewhere."
"If a young, inexperienced woman doesn't consider Shen Qiuyue as an opponent, then who does she consider an opponent?"
Shen Qiuyue heard the whispers around her, which made her feel a little better.
To be honest, she didn't expect Meng Yingying to say such a thing, which made her lose face.
Shen Qiuya remained silent for a while before asking curiously, "Who is your opponent?"
Meng Yingying said, "It must be someone stronger than me."
But so far, she has not met anyone stronger than her.
Shen Qiuyue thought Meng Yingying was bragging. She had originally wanted to talk to Meng Yingying some more, but after hearing her answer, she lost interest and just tugged at the corner of her mouth, "See you at the competition tomorrow."
She will let Meng Yingying know that she is the one who is better than Meng Yingying!
Shen Qiuya's arrival was sudden.
His departure was sudden.
Ye Yingtao and the others rushed over, puffing out their cheeks and glaring, "What are you so smug about?"
"Yingying, you're not worthy of being her opponent. Don't you even know who she is?"
Lin Qiu said quietly, "She is Shen Qiuya."
"The first among the seven cultural troupes in Heilongjiang Province."
"Cherry, tell me honestly, if Shen Qiuyue came up to you and said she considered you a competitor, would you be honored?"
Ye Yingtao immediately fell silent.
She was too embarrassed to admit that she would be so happy that she would scream, especially if Shen Qiuyue shook her hand.
Then she might not even wash her hands anymore.
"Right, right?"
Lin Qiu felt like he had found a kindred spirit. "Me too. If Shen Qiuya came to me and said that she considered me a competitor, I would think that I am very good."
"Because of Shen Qiuyue, I have also been elevated to a higher level."
"But look, Yingying is different."
Lin Qiu shrugged. "Her thoughts are different from all of ours. She doesn't admire or look up to Shen Qiuyue. She's just indifferent to her."
"Cherry, do you know what? When Yingying answered Shen Qiuya, I even had a feeling that Yingying didn't take Shen Qiuya seriously."
From beginning to end, from the start of practice, they mentioned Shen Qiuyue's name countless times.
Meng Yingying was the only one who didn't. She only looked at herself from beginning to end, stayed in the practice room until late at night, and didn't forget to practice even after returning to the dormitory.
Walking, eating, sleeping—her mind was always filled with dance.
Lin Qiu then realized that Meng Yingying had never considered Shen Qiuya as a rival.
Meng Yingying never expected that Lin Qiu could see through her heart. She said frankly, "My opponent has always been myself."
In my past life it was.
This life too.
The reason she can't perform the Red Detachment of Women dance well isn't because she lacks talent, but because she lacks physical endurance and hasn't built a solid foundation.
It doesn't matter.
Morning exercises and jumping exercises were ways Meng Yingying pushed herself to improve her jumping ability.
Her only rival has always been herself.
After listening, Lin Qiu turned to Ye Yingtao and exclaimed, "Yingtao, did you see I guessed right?"
“Yingying was different from all of us from the very beginning.”
No wonder Meng Yingying was able to go from an unknown rural propaganda team to the Harbin 101 Art Troupe.
Even if their performing arts troupe is bad, that's only how it is within the circle of the performing arts troupe.
However, they are very strict when it comes to recruiting from outside.
Meng Yingying fought her way in on her first try and secured her ticket. Moreover, in her very first match, she faced off against the most outstanding talent in their performing arts troupe.
"Cherry, you have to admit that a genius is a genius, and he is different from us ordinary people."
Ye Yingtao naturally knew this. She was somewhat envious, but mostly relieved. "Yingying, do you know? A place like a cultural troupe is perfect for a genius like you."
She is single-mindedly devoted to dancing, possesses exceptional talent, and has a very high potential.
Meng Yingying was so flattered by their praise that she couldn't help but say, "I live in the same dormitory as you, eat the same food, wear the same clothes, and use the same toilet."
"Cherry, do you still think I'm a genius?"
True geniuses are high above, unattainable.
Ye Yingtao was stunned for a moment.
Lin Qiu is the same.
"Yeah, this genius even fought me for the toilet, asked me to get his food, and made me stand in line for him."
"Looking at it this way, Yingying doesn't seem to be any different from us, does she?"
Lin Qiu went to see Ye Yingtao.
Ye Yingtao thought to herself, "Lin Qiu, you fool, you were easily fooled by Meng Yingying with just a few words."
Although they lived under the same roof, Ye Yingtao knew that Meng Yingying's future was destined to be bright.
"Yingying, let's put aside the question of whether you're a genius or not, but without you, I'm sure we wouldn't have tied for first place with Jishi in this team competition."
Lin Qiu nodded seriously, "Indeed."
“I was about to give up at the time, but after I went on stage, I realized that Yingying could have danced like Shen Qiuya. She had the ability and the conditions, but she didn’t. She gave up her original rhythm and brought all of us out.”
Meng Yingying stood in the center of the stage, like a guiding light for the twenty-one of them.
Everyone followed her lead.
Her slowed pace became their lifeline.
This is why their group dance went without any mistakes.
In contrast, Shen Qiuya of the Jishi Cultural Troupe was very good at expressing herself and was keen to show her best side.
She did manage to do it, but it came at the cost of disrupting the rhythm of others.
If it weren't for the appearance of the red ribbon that turned the tide, they might not have even been able to keep first place.
Did you hear that?
Qin Mingxiu didn't go far; she and Shen Qiuyue stood at the entrance of the auditorium, so they heard all of Meng Yingying's analysis.
Shen Qiuyue's face was as pale as paper; so pale that you could even see the capillaries at the corners of her eyes. "Teacher, didn't you tell me to give it my all in this preliminary assessment?"
Qin Mingxiu glanced at her and shook her head. "I want you to give it your all, but Qiuya, you're being held back by the title of genius. You're trying too hard to show off."
"So, when you dance on stage, you give it your all every time. I can't say you're wrong about that, but you've forgotten that you're dancing in a team competition. As the team leader and the backbone of everyone, you can't just think about yourself. You also have to consider whether the people behind you can keep up with your pace."
Before Qin Mingxiu could finish speaking, Shen Qiuyue understood everything. She bit her lip, her face flushed, and said, "So it was because I jumped too fast at the beginning that Qingqing and the others couldn't keep up?"
"yes."
Qin Mingxiu admitted it straightforwardly.
"I don't deny that you danced very well at the beginning. You were simply the most dazzling presence on the stage. But you were too dazzling. You had too much of your own rhythm. You forgot that most of the people behind you were not as good as you. In the team competition, as the team leader, you are supposed to cooperate with them and guide them."
"I'm disappointed. You didn't do it."
"but--"
Qin Mingxiu pointed to Meng Yingying standing in the crowd and said, "She did it."
"Ping Shui said something quite right: Meng Yingying's talent is indeed not low, but she can suppress her talent in the team competition in order to help the whole team achieve a perfect rhythm."
"Qiuya, in this respect, you are not as good as Meng Yingying."
These words were the greatest insult to Shen Qiuyue.
real.
She joined the performing arts troupe at the age of six and was immediately the center of attention. She began performing and competing in official events at the age of fifteen and never lost.
She had never even seen the teacher, and Qin Mingxiu said she was inferior to anyone else.
She has always been the face of the teachers in the public eye, and also their pride.
Shen Qiuyue's face turned pale instantly, and her slender figure almost couldn't stand up, swaying slightly.
Zhang Xiangnan, who was standing next to her, said, "Mingxiu, you're being too harsh on Qiuya."
"Qiuya is talented, but she can't slow down and make herself match those who are less capable than her."
At this point, he glanced at Meng Yingying in front of him, wondering what Ye Yingtao and the others were talking about.
Meng Yingying's face was smiling, like peach blossoms in May, with a gentle spring breeze caressing her face, soft and delicate.
She was truly stunningly beautiful.
A hint of amazement flashed in Zhang Xiangnan's eyes, followed by disdain. "Meng Yingying is different. Her talent is slightly inferior to Qiu Ya's, but naturally she can get along well with the people below and cooperate with them."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qiuyue's expression softened slightly.
She looked at Qin Mingxiu expectantly.
Qin Mingxiu frowned slightly, wanting to scold her, but she was afraid of hurting Shen Qiuyue's confidence by speaking too harshly.
This will cause problems for her in tomorrow's competition.
Qin Mingxiu swallowed the rest of her words, "Remember your teammates in the team competitions in the future, and you can give it your all in tomorrow's individual competition."
Shen Qiuyue nodded gently, "Teacher, I understand."
Their attitude was very good.
This finally convinced Qin Mingxiu to release the person.
"Coach, you and Meng Yingying are definitely different." After Qin Mingxiu left, Li Qingqing spoke up for Shen Qiuyue.
"You have great talent, so your rhythm is naturally different from ours. How could she say that about you?"
Shen Qiuyue was also a little aggrieved, but she didn't show it. She scolded Li Qingqing, "Alright, Qingqing, stop talking."
Li Qingqing pouted, "Qiuya, you're just too nice, so everyone can bully you."
Shen Qiuyue smiled helplessly.
On the other side.
Coach Zhao called the performing arts troupe to share the good news. She first told them about their competition results, and then revealed the real reason for her call.
"Commander Fang, after this incident, our female comrades in the cultural troupe still managed to tie for first place. I have seen their hard work, so I would like to request a special treatment from you."
Commander Fang's office has a telephone. Hearing this, she still had a smile on her face, "The results this time were very good. As long as it's not a matter of principle, I will agree."
This relieved Coach Zhao. "You know how unpredictable the weather is in June and July. I was worried that if we returned to the team today, we might encounter another accident tomorrow morning. So I applied to you for some funding so that the female members of the art troupe could stay at the Third Guesthouse opposite the Harbin Federation of Literary and Art Circles instead of returning to the team tonight."
"That way, they'll have an extra layer of safety when they come to the competition tomorrow morning."
The reason this went wrong this morning is simply because they took advantage of the fact that it's a local performing arts troupe in Harbin and thought it was close by, so they practiced a little longer in the troupe's rehearsal room.
The result was a near-disaster, which led to the team failing to even compete.
Coach Zhao is like someone who's been bitten by a snake once and is now afraid of ropes for ten years.
Normally, Commander Fang would never have agreed.
But at this moment, a remarkable result occurred, and Commander Fang waved his hand, "No problem."
"I'll go to the finance department to apply for funding right away. Please book rooms for them according to the normal business trip standards, and make sure they get a good rest tonight."
Coach Zhao was immediately pleased and hung up the phone.
Turning to the auditorium, they found that almost everyone had left. The members of their performing arts troupe had arrived late and were not familiar with the Harbin Federation of Literary and Art Circles.
So no one left; they stood in twos and threes chatting by the iron chairs at the main entrance of the auditorium.
Look, Coach Zhao is coming over.
It's like a group of chicks suddenly finding their leader.
"Coach, what do we do now?"
It's only a little past four in the afternoon. Let's go back. Everyone else is at the Writers' Association getting familiar with the stage and the rules.
But if they don't go back, they're stuck in this awkward situation; if they stay at the Writers' Association, it seems they have nowhere else to go.
Coach Zhao came over to talk about this matter. She announced to the public, "I just called back to the team and applied to Head of Regiment Fang. We will stay at the Third Guesthouse across the street tonight, and go back after the games are over tomorrow."
Clearly, the heavy rain and landslide in the morning caused them to be late for the competition.
Even though it's all in the past, Coach Zhao and her team still feel uneasy about it.
So much so that they changed their original plans and didn't even go back to their stationed team; instead, they stayed at the guesthouse across the street.
Meng Yingying was alright; she had an easygoing personality.
The other women immediately perked up, "Coach, are we staying at the guesthouse on company pay?"
"yes."
"That's great! The beds and environment at the guesthouse are much better than ours."
"So what about now?"
It's only four o'clock now. They've been busy all morning and haven't even had breakfast. They're under a lot of stress.
Coach Zhao has already made arrangements: "Let's go to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles' canteen for lunch now. I saw that their canteen opens an hour earlier today."
"It will start at five o'clock."
Anyone who has eaten in the cafeteria knows that it's better to go early than late, because if you go late, there might not even be any water left to rinse your pot.
Without Coach Zhao urging him, Lin Qiu immediately said, "Then let's go there now."
"Okay, I'm going to talk to the judges about something. You guys go to the cafeteria by yourselves, is that alright?"
At this point, Coach Zhao, who initially looked down on their various flaws, has now become a devoted mother.
He's clearly very worried.
“We’ll eat,” Lin Qiu couldn’t help but say. “Coach, we may be young, but we’re not stupid.”
Coach Zhao thought to himself, they're not stupid, but he was worried that they might start a fight with the neighboring performing arts troupe at any moment.
"Yingying, keep an eye on them for me and make sure they stay calm and don't cause any trouble."
She realized that among all the people in the performing arts troupe, Meng Yingying was the most composed.
She was clearly the youngest.
"I know."
Meng Yingying nodded obediently, "Coach, I will try my best to keep them from having any conflicts, unless I can't help myself."
"But in this situation, it's time to act."
Meng Yingying is kind-hearted, but that doesn't mean she's a coward who can be bullied at will.
Coach Zhao, "..."
"Fine, you decide for yourself."
Meng Yingying hummed in agreement. As soon as Coach Zhao left, Ye Yingtao couldn't help but say sourly, "Yingying, you've only been in the art troupe for a month, but I feel like the coach treats you like our senior sister. She trusts you even more than we do."
Meng Yingying was still wearing her competition clothes and makeup. Her eyes were a little blurry. She blinked and asked, "Then I'll give you my position as the senior sister?"
"Cherry, will you come?"
That's the truth. She really didn't want to be the senior sister, but she had no choice.
Ye Yingtao has a short temper and can easily get into a conflict with someone, sometimes even wanting to tear each other apart.
Lin Qiu's personality is too gentle and introverted; he can't win an argument with anyone and ends up just crying.
Meng Yingying had no choice but to mediate, as an honest person.
Sure enough, as soon as she said that, Ye Yingtao shook her head vigorously, "I don't want to be the senior sister."
She wrapped her arm around Meng Yingying's and said affectionately, "Yingying, I'll be your henchman. You point, I'll hit."
She used to be a thoughtful person, but ever since she got together with Meng Yingying, she has become unwilling to use her brain.
Meng Yingying was both amused and exasperated. She patted her hand and said, "Alright, let's go eat."
Lin Qiu also chimed in, "Me too."
Meng Yingying, "..."
I can't bear to hear those four words.
Seeing their harmonious scene, Jia Xiaoli couldn't help but bite her lip, wanting to say something sarcastic, but then she remembered what happened with the tarpaulin that morning, and she didn't want to offend Meng Yingying too much.
So he endured it in the end.
However, after leaving the auditorium, they were just about to head towards the canteen when they saw Qi Donghan standing by the wall. He was wearing a well-fitting military uniform, his shirt sleeves slightly rolled up, revealing his tanned wrists; he was lean and strong.
Because he was leaning against the wall, only his profile could be seen; his features were cold and sharp, exuding a heroic air.
Just standing there was enough to draw the attention of many people.
He was so dazzling that it was hard to ignore him even if you wanted to.
Jia Xiaoli blushed subconsciously. The girls next to her noticed and started nudging and winking at each other. "Jia Xiaoli, did Commander Qi come specifically to see you?"
Jia Xiaoli blushed as red as rouge. The usually sharp-tongued woman now showed a hint of girlish shyness. "Don't talk nonsense."
"They may not be here to see me."
However, judging from their eyes, that wasn't the meaning.
Ye Yingtao, who was standing next to her, burst out laughing.
"why are you laughing?"
Ye Yingtao: "I laugh at those who are stupid without realizing it."
Jia Xiaoli was about to ask instinctively, "What do you mean?"
Unfortunately, before she could even ask, Qi Donghan had already spotted Meng Yingying, who was lagging behind.
He walked towards Meng Yingying almost without hesitation, passing right by Jia Xiaoli.
Qi Donghan didn't even pause in his steps, and he brushed past Jia Xiaoli.
He walked up to Meng Yingying and then stopped.
When Jia Xiaoli saw this, her face turned pale. The sisters who had been teasing Jia Xiaoli and Qi Donghan about their relationship immediately fell silent.
It's as if the memory only comes back at this moment.
So, Qi Donghan was waiting for Meng Yingying.
That seems normal.
After all, Meng Yingying was able to join their performing arts troupe because Qi Donghan personally brought her there and introduced her to Director Fang through connections.
Jia Xiaoli couldn't bear everyone's stares. Their presence reminded her of how presumptuous she had been. Unable to stay there any longer, she ran out crying.
Meng Yingying, who was lagging behind, was completely unaware of this scene. When she saw Qi Donghan walk up to her, she was somewhat surprised, "Commander Qi, you didn't leave?"
That's a rather heartless question.
Qi Donghan stared at her. She stood under the corridor lights, which made her look a little hazy, her cheeks radiant, and her eyes bright. He took a breath and said in a low voice, "I've been out on fieldwork as a judge for the past two days."
At this point, he changed the subject, "Are you free tonight? The state-run restaurant has spicy rabbit meat again today." He paused, then added without further explanation, "They also have spicy rabbit heads."
Meng Yingying swallowed.
She really craves this.
Moreover, the food at the state-run restaurant was obviously better than that at the literary and art federation's canteen.
However, as soon as Meng Yingying accepted the task given to her by Coach Zhao, she could only regretfully refuse, "It's a pity I can't go."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ye Yingtao pushed her hand, "Go, go, I'll keep an eye on the cafeteria for you, and make sure our people don't get taken advantage of."
Meng Yingying remained motionless.
"Ouch."
Ye Yingtao stamped her foot anxiously, "Let's go get some food. We're all adults here, how could we possibly start a fight?"
"Don't worry, we'll go back to the guesthouse after dinner, and we'll make sure we don't cause any trouble."
Seeing that Meng Yingying still didn't speak, Ye Yingtao raised her eyebrows and said, "Meng Yingying, you should know that before you came, we lived a good life together for so many years."
"There's definitely no problem."
It's clear that she's really trying her best to bring Meng Yingying and Qi Donghan together.
Meng Yingying is a very responsible person. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Then I'll go and tell Coach Zhao."
"What are you talking about? Just go."
“I’ll talk to the coach. Besides, the coach knows that the food in the Writers’ Association’s canteen is exceptionally bad, almost like pig slop. It’s better if you eat out.”
She pushed Meng Yingying toward Qi Donghan, who pursed his lips and glanced gratefully at Ye Yingtao.
This startled Ye Yingtao.
This is truly like seeing the King of Hell in person.
Ghost-scared was actually grateful to her.
She's got a death wish.
"Commander Qi, I'm entrusting Yingying to you. If you make her suffer any injustice, I'll be the first to refuse her next time you come looking for her."
Qi Donghan: "No."
This guy is something else; he talks a lot with Meng Yingying, but he's incredibly stingy with words when he talks to others.
Ye Yingtao saw through it, but she pursed her lips and didn't expose her.
After Meng Yingying and Qi Donghan left, she glanced at the people present. It was clear that Ye Yingtao had a high level of prestige when Jia Xiaoli was not around.
"Next time, don't make the wrong choice. Otherwise, you'll end up not only failing to flatter them but also making Jia Xiaoli resent you."
Everyone remained silent. Once offstage, the little bit of unity that had been built up earlier vanished instantly.
Ye Yingtao didn't expect them to listen to her anyway; she had said all she needed to say.
Even after they went to the cafeteria, Lin Qiu still hadn't figured it out. Clutching a lunchbox, she asked Ye Yingtao, "Why do you keep pushing Yingying toward Commander Qi?"
Wouldn't it be better for Yingying to eat with them?
Ye Yingtao gave her a flick on the forehead. "Silly girl, Commander Qi is such a powerful figure, are we not going to try and get close to him, but instead push him away?"
"And," she said bluntly, "don't blame me for being mercenary."
"From my perspective, after selecting so many candidates, Commander Qi is almost a perfect all-rounder; he has no weaknesses. Of course, I don't know anything about his family background, but his abilities and position can overshadow this shortcoming."
"In my opinion, he would be a very good marriage prospect."
“I don’t want Yingying to miss out either.” She squinted her eyes and smiled like a fox. “You little fool, you don’t understand the benefits of one person achieving enlightenment and all their relatives and friends benefiting from it.”
For example, in the morning, they were clearly late but couldn't get in. Coach Zhao was running around trying to get in, but he was constantly being harassed by people.
But after Qi Donghan arrived, he led them inside in just a few words.
Even Chairman Zhang's side is the same.
This is the advantage of having a higher-ranking official who can easily dominate you.
Seeing that Lin Qiu was still confused, Ye Yingtao raised her hand and poked her head, "It's okay if you can't figure it out. In the future, when you choose a partner, just follow the standards of Commander Qi. If you're really unsure, just remember to bring the person here and I'll help you take a look."
Lin Qiu tilted her head, "But, Commander Qi is tall and strong, what if he bullies Yingying?"
"I feel that given Yingying's physique, she wouldn't even be able to withstand a single punch from Commander Qi."
Ye Yingtao, "..."
It's hopeless!
*
Meng Yingying, whom Lin Qiu was worried about, went to the dressing room to change her clothes before leaving the Writers' Association with Qi Donghan.
The state-run restaurant wasn't far from the Federation of Literary and Art Circles; it was only a ten-minute walk. The two of them didn't bother looking for a car and just strolled over to the state-run restaurant.
It had just rained, so they could only wade through puddles to get out. Meng Yingying was wearing dance shoes, and she walked on tiptoe, afraid of getting her shoes dirty.
As Qi Dong watched her bouncing around, his cold and stern expression softened instantly.
He immediately reached out and grabbed her arm, saying, "Be careful not to twist your ankle."
The palms were so hot that they could burn you even through the thin sleeves of your shirt.
Meng Yingying's heart skipped a beat. Her thoughts raced, and she looked up at him with her clear eyes. "I can walk by myself."
"Mmm." Qi Donghan liked her straightforwardness. He responded verbally, but didn't let go of her hand, leading her all the way to the other side of the road.
They jumped over one small puddle after another.
After walking for a few more minutes, we finally arrived at the state-run restaurant.
The facade of the Harbin State-run Restaurant is somewhat old. A small blackboard hangs outside the window glass, with the words "Today's Servings: Spicy Rabbit Meat, Steamed Buns, Flower Rolls, and Plain Noodles" written in white chalk.
Meng Yingying glanced at it and immediately thought of the time she ate spicy rabbit meat with him last time; it smelled absolutely delicious.
Strangely enough, after she transmigrated, she was even more craving food than in her previous life.
Seeing her like this, Qi Donghan knew she wanted to eat that spicy flavor. Thinking of this, his cold and stern face softened. "It's only a little past four o'clock. We're early, so we should be able to buy two servings."
If he's lucky, he might get in through his uncle's connections and perhaps even get an extra share.
Meng Yingying rubbed her hands together, feeling somewhat expectant.
Being young, they couldn't hide their feelings; their longing and desire to eat were clearly visible on their faces.
Qi Donghan thought she was so cute.
My heart softened completely along with it.
He walked ahead, deliberately slowing his pace so that Meng Yingying could catch up, before pushing open the door and going inside.
It was a little past four in the afternoon, not yet lunchtime, so the state-run restaurant was somewhat empty.
A middle-aged, overweight man in a white apron stood at the kitchen door, holding a large, greasy iron ladle. As soon as they entered, his eyes fell on Meng Yingying.
Then, when his nephew and the other person were walking side by side, they were only two or three centimeters apart when they were touching. His eyebrows suddenly shot up.
He rushed out of the kitchen door, his chubby face clearly showing he was trying to gather information.
"Dong Han, what's this?"
He was in a hurry, and his voice was urgent. When he came out, he even brought his greasy iron ladle with him.
Qi Donghan's eyes twitched, and he pushed the large iron ladle that Chef Liu was pointing in Meng Yingying's direction to the side before saying, "Uncle, she is Meng Yingying."
Instead of hiding it, he openly introduced himself, "Yes, I am the leader of the first place team in today's cultural troupe competition."
Fearing his uncle might misunderstand, he made up an excuse: "I brought her here to celebrate."
Meng Yingying was embarrassed by his praise, her cheeks flushed, and she said modestly, "I'm nowhere near as amazing as Commander Qi said."
Yes, yes, yes.
Chef Liu immediately said, "I know my Donghan's personality; he's never one to boast."
Is that so?
Qi Donghan hummed in agreement.
Chef Liu wished he could hit him twice with a stick. This brat, when it comes to the crucial moment, his mouth is as shut as a saw. How is he going to win over a wife like this?
He could only try his best to speak well of his nephew.
"My niece... no, little girl, you're amazing! Come on in, come on in, your uncle will save the biggest rabbit head for you!"
Chef Liu almost blurted out "niece," but quickly corrected himself, glancing at Qi Donghan and seeing that Qi Donghan didn't object.
He sighed inwardly.
Perhaps that one word, "niece," touched the very heart of her son.
Watched by his uncle, Qi Donghan coughed lightly, his ears turning slightly red.
Meng Yingying felt a little embarrassed by the two of them.
It was only then that he realized that it seemed a bit ambiguous for him and Qi Donghan to be eating at a state-run restaurant.
She paused for a moment, then greeted him politely, "Hello, Master Liu, sorry to bother you."
The word "Master Liu" sent a chill down Chef Liu's spine.
However, he wasn't annoyed and said with a smile, "No, no, I won't bother you!"
He turned and went into the kitchen, lifted the bamboo curtain, then turned back and winked at his nephew, "Wait, your uncle will show you what he can do!"
After Chef Liu left, only the two of them remained in the lobby. The waiter recognized Qi Donghan as an acquaintance.
He then ran to the kitchen and served them a pot of hot tea.
Of course, this hot tea is usually a privilege reserved for family members.
Hot tea is served.
Qi Donghan pushed the teacup in front of her, his voice low and deep, "Warm yourself up first, you got caught in the rain today."
"I'm not that delicate."
Meng Yingying held the cup, her fingertips glistening with water.
She looked up at the other person, her eyes piercing through the mist, "Thank you for today. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't even have been able to get in the door."
"What are you thanking me for?" Qi Donghan held the teacup with his long, slender fingers, his knuckles distinct, and his voice was deep. "I didn't dance for you."
He looked at her. Under the light, Meng Yingying's wisps of hair were still damp, clinging to her skin, making her face appear small and fair, and her eyes bright and clear.
Qi Donghan's heart softened, and he restrained himself from looking away.
But his hands were more honest than his mind; he had already gotten up and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with his fingertips.
As her fingertips brushed against her earlobe, Meng Yingying jerked reflexively, nearly dropping her teacup.
Qi Donghan reacted quickly, pressing down on the cup along with his hand, thus preventing an accident.
"Be careful, it's hot." He said in a restrained voice.
Meng Yingying bit her lip, her gaze fixed on Qi Donghan's hand that was pressing down on her, and asked softly, "Can you let go now?"
Qi Donghan paused, then quickly withdrew his hands as if he had touched a hot coal.
Then, those ears also started to turn bright red.
Qi Donghan's ears were exceptionally well-formed; the area above his earlobes was so red that they appeared somewhat translucent when illuminated by light.
Meng Yingying was initially a little shy, but upon looking at his ears, she shifted her gaze and observed them closely. Qi Donghan's ears were somewhat reddish, like rabbit ears.
Even though Qi Donghan was a cold and domineering man, he couldn't stand being stared at so intently by the person he liked.
He pretended to be calm and took a sip of tea from his teacup.
A little hot.
He forced himself to swallow it.
Meng Yingying asked curiously, "Isn't it hot?"
Qi Donghan paused for a moment, but to save face, he changed his words to, "It's not hot."
Meng Yingying glanced at his lips, then a hint of amusement flickered in her eyes. "Fool."
My lips were so hot they turned white.
They said it wasn't hot.
That smile dispelled the awkwardness between them, instead adding a touch of ambiguity.
Until, with a whoosh, the bamboo curtain of the kitchen door was lifted open.
Chef Liu brought in a white enamel plate with red rims. The bright red chilies were piled up like a small mountain, and the green scallions and red chilies complemented each other perfectly. As soon as the enamel plate was placed on the table, steam rushed up and the spicy aroma filled the air.
Meng Yingying's mouth watered just from the smell.
"Here we go—to celebrate the hero who came in first place!"
This made Meng Yingying feel a little embarrassed.
After setting down the large plate, Chef Liu didn't rush to leave. He pulled up a long bench and sat down next to her, smiling as he looked Meng Yingying up and down. "How old are you, little girl?"
It looked like a household registration investigation.
As soon as he opened his mouth, Qi Donghan frowned and interrupted him, "Uncle, Yingying is just here for dinner."
"We're not here to investigate household registrations."
Chef Liu wasn't angry when he was told off. He said, "Okay, okay, I won't ask about your age."
He changed the subject, "I heard from Dong Han that you do that dance—the grassland female militia? With a gun? Wow, that's so cool!"
Chef Liu slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "I love straightforward girls!"
Meng Yingying pursed her lips and smiled sweetly.
Anyway, she just kept smiling and didn't answer anything, no matter what Chef Liu said.
It has a sense of using minimal force to achieve maximum effect.
Chef Liu asked for a long time but couldn't get any information out of him, which was quite pitiful.
With Qi Donghan constantly giving him meaningful glances, Chef Liu finally said, "Alright, alright, I won't disturb your meal any longer. I'll go make you some plain noodles, I guarantee you'll eat and drink your fill."
"Of course, I'm making it clear first, you can't treat me to this Donghan meal, let me, the uncle, do it."
This time, Qi Donghan didn't refuse.
After Chef Liu left, Meng Yingying suddenly felt a sense of quiet in front of her.
People say that one woman is equal to five hundred ducks, but in Meng Yingying's opinion, one Chef Liu is worth almost a thousand ducks.
"Feel sorry."
Qi Donghan said, "My uncle is a talkative person."
Meng Yingying shook her head, her fair face full of longing for the food. "It's okay, it's okay. He's very good. He made this dish very well."
She paused, then added, "It's even better than the food we ate at the team's canteen last time."
Qi Donghan handed over a pair of chopsticks and nodded. "My uncle's ancestors were imperial chefs. My maternal grandfather was even captured by Puyi of the Qing Dynasty and helped him cook for a period of time."
Is this a secret that can be told?
Meng Yingying's eyes widened immediately, like copper bells. "Stop, stop, I don't want to hear it anymore."
As she listened further, she suspected she was about to be arrested herself.
All she cares about is food.
Seeing her like this, Qi Donghan finally shut up.
Sitting across from her, Meng Yingying leaned close to the enamel plate, took a deep sniff, and gave a thumbs up. "This spicy rabbit meat is really good!"
Qi Donghan picked out the only rabbit head from a plate of rabbit meat and said in a calm and unhurried voice, "My uncle used to study Sichuan cuisine."
As he answered, he casually broke the rabbit head in half, the tender meat separating from the bone, and red chili oil dripping down between his fingers.
After tearing it open, he handed her the thicker side, saying, "Try this piece; the cheeks are the most tender."
Meng Yingying swallowed hard, and without hesitation, she took a bite.
The spicy flavor instantly swept over my tongue, followed by the fresh aroma of rabbit meat, so tender it was like tofu, falling off the bone with the slightest touch.
She smacked her lips and fanned herself with her hand, "So spicy! So fragrant!"
Fine beads of sweat instantly appeared on her forehead, and her face turned as red as if she had applied rouge.
Seeing her gasping for breath from the spiciness, Qi Donghan pushed a bottle of Arctic Ocean soda, which he had gotten from the waiter, toward her, saying, "Have some to calm down."
Meng Yingying's nose was sweating from the spiciness, but she couldn't stop. She kept inhaling and gulping down her Arctic Ocean soda. The spicy rabbit head and the sweet, bubbly Arctic Ocean soda exploded on her tongue.
Extremely crisp and efficient.
But halfway through her meal, she suddenly touched the flesh on her stomach and noticed a small yurt-like mound. She immediately froze and stopped eating, saying, "I can't eat anymore."
Qi Donghan looked up at her.
Meng Yingying didn't even dare to drink Arctic Ocean soda anymore. She ordered a glass of plain water and sipped it slowly. "I'm satisfied as long as I'm satisfied. I have a solo dance competition tomorrow morning. If I eat any more, my belly will fall off when I'm dancing on stage."
That would be incredibly embarrassing.
Qi Donghan pushed the plate forward, "Really not going to eat?"
"I'm not eating anymore."
Meng Yingying forced herself to look away, "One spicy rabbit head is enough."
No matter how much Qi Donghan tempted her, she refused to eat, showing how ruthless she was to herself.
Even when the plain noodles arrived, she only ate half, ordering more soup and less noodles, and gave the rest to Qi Donghan.
When she came out of the state-run restaurant, she touched her lower abdomen.
"Are you full?"
Meng Yingying thought for a moment, "Six or seven tenths full is enough."
"I have a match tomorrow morning, so I can't eat too much tonight."
Strictly speaking, she shouldn't even have eaten spicy rabbit heads, but that's not because she couldn't control herself.
Qi Donghan couldn't help but say, "Working in the cultural troupe is too hard."
I don't even dare to eat big bites.
Meng Yingying smiled. In the night, her eyes curved, her pupils were dark, clear and bright. She said softly, "Commander Qi, there is no such thing as hard work in this world."
"Being able to dance again is already very satisfying for me."
Upon hearing this, Qi Donghan turned his head and stared straight at her, his eyes not innocent.
Her lowered eyes concealed a myriad of emotions, which turned into restraint when she opened them again. "Well, I wish you the best of luck in your solo dance competition tomorrow, and hope you win first place."
Meng Yingying lowered her eyes, not daring to meet her gaze, and said softly, "Thank you for your kind words."
*
The next morning at five o'clock, Meng Yingying got up from the guesthouse. She and Ye Yingtao shared a room.
When she got up, she startled Ye Yingtao, who was still a little groggy. "Yingying, why are you up so early?"
"I'm going to the lobby of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles to practice my solo dance one more time. You can take a nap."
Today's competitions are all individual events, so Ye Yingtao and the others don't need to get up this early.
"I'll stay with you."
Ye Yingtao struggled to get up, but Meng Yingying pressed her down, saying, "Go to sleep. It's just practice. I've done it a thousand times already."
Only then did Ye Yingtao stop moving. She was indeed sleepy, and since there were no shouts in the guesthouse, she could sleep for an extra hour, which was a rare treat.
After washing up, Meng Yingying left the room alone.
However, when she went downstairs, she happened to run into Shen Qiuyue, who was also up early and making preparations.
Their eyes met.
Shen Qiuyue smiled wryly, and Meng Yingying nodded.
Just as the two were about to leave.
Shen Qiuyue suddenly asked, "I heard you went on a date with Commander Qi last night?"
Meng Yingying paused, turning back to her unadorned face with a hint of surprise. "Who told you that?"
Shen Qiuya did not answer.
Meng Yingying smiled, her words carrying a double meaning, "I thought the legendary Comrade Shen was devoted to dancing, but I didn't expect him to be so gossipy."
Shen Qiuyue's face flushed instantly, and she wanted to explain.
But Meng Yingying didn't give her a chance. She picked up her wooden rifle, turned around, and left the guesthouse.
Shen Qiuyue stood there, watching her back for a long time, and murmured, "Meng Yingying."
—I am the genius.
She remembered what her teacher had told her after she returned to the guesthouse last night.
"Qiuya, you can't be careless about tomorrow's solo dance."
“Don’t underestimate Meng Yingying. I investigated her background. She spent three years in the Xiangshi Propaganda Team, and then suddenly had a breakthrough and joined the Harbin 101 Art Troupe. I calculated that she has only been dancing for a little over three years.”
"Qiuya, do you know what this means?"
Shen Qiuyue knew this, which is why she worked even harder.
However, she didn't expect that Meng Yingying was there even earlier than her.
The person her teacher called talented was even more hardworking than her, and that was the scariest thing.
Meng Yingying, who had already left, had no idea that she had brought such great pressure and influence to Shen Qiuyue.
She arrived at the literary association's practice room a little after five o'clock.
The old man on duty at the back gate of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles had just finished his shift and was wearing an indigo blue short jacket.
He was rinsing his mouth with a teacup when he saw Meng Yingying arrive so early. He muttered, "Young comrade, take care of your health. Don't be a hero. No one will care if you get sick."
However, despite saying that, they still opened the iron gate for her.
Meng Yingying thanked the other person. She was unfamiliar with the area, so she asked for directions and followed the other person's instructions to walk towards the practice room.
Apart from the veterans who had just changed shifts, this place was almost empty.
Meng Yingying had long been accustomed to this environment; the path of dancing was inherently solitary.
She placed the radio she was carrying on the table, plugged it in, and began adjusting the buttons.
Since Coach Zhao wasn't there to practice with her, Meng Yingying had to adjust the music herself while getting into the zone.
After the music was set, she ran to the center of the stage and slowly moved her body and stretched her muscles to the rhythm of the music.
Once everything was ready, she placed the wooden rifle and the red silk in their proper places.
As she became familiar with the music and its rhythm, she grew accustomed to the beat, and the song ended.
She also finished.
She was very familiar with this dance performed by the grassland militia women, so she danced it very smoothly.
Then came the main event—the Red Detachment of Women.
She failed the first time due to exhaustion. On her second attempt, she noticed someone crouching outside, moving stealthily. Meng Yingying slowly stopped and looked at the time.
The hands of my watch turned to six; it was just past six o'clock, and the sky was already bright.
Who else would be here so early besides her?
"who?"
Meng Yingying's voice was clear and melodious, like a nightingale's, just like her—pure to the extreme.
"It's me."
Seeing that she had been discovered, Jia Xiaoli had no choice but to come in. In an attempt to appear rushed because she had gotten up early, she hadn't even combed her braid properly, and a strand of it had fallen out, making her look quite flustered.
In her hands, however, was a steaming enamel mug containing soy milk with added sugar—a high-end item these days.
Seeing Meng Yingying looking over, Jia Xiaoli handed her the enamel mug and apologized, "I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. I've been targeting you, but you led us to the championship."
“I thought about it all night and felt it wouldn’t be right not to apologize, so I got up early this morning and went to the state-run restaurant to make you soy milk, and even added sugar.”
She added this sentence specifically, and then looked at Meng Yingying expectantly, "Meng Yingying, can you accept my apology?"
Meng Yingying did not take the enamel mug that was handed to her.
Jia Xiaoli was getting tired of carrying the food. "Are you not accepting it?"
Meng Yingying glanced down at the mud spots on the outside of her shirt and understood. "No need to apologize, you didn't offend me."
"As for the rainproof cloth yesterday, you almost gave up in the end. You have already accepted the punishment, so there is no need to come to me to apologize."
This is a refusal.
Jia Xiaoli was a little anxious, "Yingying."
Are you looking down on me?
She handed the soy milk in the enamel mug forward a third of the way.
Meng Yingying still didn't answer, and the smile on her face slowly disappeared. "Jia Xiaoli, do I really have to spell it out for you?"
“I’ve seen this all before in the propaganda team. If you’re going to use these dirty tricks on me, believe me, even if you have an aunt who’s a leader, you can’t protect yourself.”
Meng Yingying was all too aware of her position in the propaganda team.
Upon hearing this, Jia Xiaoli's face flashed with panic. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"coach."
Meng Yingying suddenly shouted behind her, and Jia Xiaoli subconsciously turned around to look. Meng Yingying snatched the enamel mug and fed it to her.
The next moment.
While gagging, Jia Xiaoli cursed loudly, "Meng Yingying, you don't appreciate my kindness! I kindly apologized to you, but you forced soy milk into my mouth."
Meng Yingying ignored her. "Coach."
Jia Xiaoli thought she was just bluffing again. "Are you trying to intimidate me with your coach title again?"
"I'll tell you once, that's enough."
Coach Zhao's voice rang out from behind Jia Xiaoli, "What's going on?"
Jia Xiaoli froze instantly.
The next second, Meng Yingying told the truth, "I was training here when Jia Xiaoli suddenly brought me soy milk, saying it was to apologize. I didn't drink it and lied to her that you were here, so I took the opportunity to feed it to her, and she started to gag her throat."
They were all from a performing arts troupe, and they were all in the dance field, frequently participating in competitions.
Meng Yingying had seen too many of these tactics in her past life. Not eating or drinking before the competition and not knowing what people were handing her was the unspoken rule in their industry.
really.
As soon as Meng Yingying finished speaking, Coach Zhao looked at Jia Xiaoli with a questioning expression, while Jia Xiaoli was still gagging.
It has a bit of a "protesting too much" feel to it.
Even a fool could see that something was wrong with this scene.
Coach Zhao looked down at the spilled soy milk on the ground. There was still half a cup in the enamel mug. She picked it up and smelled it.
His movements looked very practiced and familiar.
Jia Xiaoli was made nervous by her action and hurriedly explained, "Coach, I added sugar to it."
Coach Zhao didn't say whether he believed it or not.
She called out to the outside, "Comrade Gao."
As soon as he finished speaking, the sentry who had met Meng Yingying once before came in. He was in charge of the front gate, while the old man who had opened the gate for Meng Yingying that morning was in charge of the back gate.
After Comrade Gao came in.
Coach Zhao then ordered him, "Take her away."
"Also, take this remaining half-enamel mug of soy milk down and check it out."
Comrade Gao grunted in agreement, then grabbed Jia Xiaoli by the shoulder and pulled her outside, showing absolutely no sign of tenderness or pity.
That's because Comrade Gao wasn't originally a member of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles; he was a member of the troupe stationed there. When the troupe held a cultural performance competition, he was seconded to the Federation of Literary and Art Circles to maintain order.
Jia Xiaoli was taken away just like that.
"You didn't drink, did you?"
This was the first thing Coach Zhao asked Meng Yingying after she left.
Clearly, this wasn't the first time she'd encountered such dirty tactics.
Meng Yingying nodded, "I didn't drink it."
"That's fine then."
Coach Zhao stood guard at the door. She checked the time and said, "It's 6:15. From now until you go on stage to perform, everything you pass through can only go through me."
She wouldn't trust anyone else.
She didn't even trust the other students in her performing arts troupe.
If someone like Jia Xiaoli from a performing arts troupe could do such a thing, then as for others, you can't judge a book by its cover.
Meng Yingying, a newcomer, has already shown her talent and is bound to block other people's way.
Coach Zhao just didn't expect the other party to act so quickly, especially since it was one of their own people from the performing arts troupe.
Throughout the entire process, Coach Zhao was on guard against the people from the Jishi Cultural Troupe.
In response to Coach Zhao's instructions, Meng Yingying nodded and said, "I understand."
"Luckily you were quick-witted and didn't drink what she offered, otherwise—"
Today's individual competitions are probably all going to go wrong.
Meng Yingying paused for a moment, then pursed her lips and said, "I've seen this kind of scene in the propaganda team."
Even when she's serious, her face is truly captivating.
Coach Zhao was momentarily dazed. "Don't worry, I will definitely give you an explanation."
"Focus on your performance today."
Meng Yingying nodded, "Could you play the music for me? I'll practice 'The Red Detachment of Women' one more time."
Coach Zhao naturally agreed.
Here, all was calm and peaceful. Outside, Jia Xiaoli was being taken away, shouting all the way, "Let me go! Let me go! Do you even know who my aunt is?!"
"If you dare arrest me, I'll have my aunt fire you!"
Comrade Gao remained expressionless.
Some busybodies came to inquire about the situation, but Comrade Gao had no comment. However, he couldn't resist Jia Xiaoli's big mouth.
People can piece together a rough conclusion from her few words.
He was arrested for framing a colleague.
In summary, it can be summed up in just one sentence.
Seeing Jia Xiaoli's disheveled state as she was dragged away, Li Qingqing's face darkened, and she clutched the fine needle in her hand, hiding it behind her back.
"Qingqing, what about us?"
Li Qingqing shook her head. "Don't move anymore, it's too much of a stir."
She turned her head and threw the thin needle under the big tree next to her, kicked it a couple of times, and covered it with soil.
It was as if this scene had never happened.
Meng Yingying never expected that by capturing Jia Xiaoli, she would secretly make an example of her.
This also saved her from a hidden attack.
Nine o'clock.
All the members of the performing arts troupe who signed up for solo dances went to the auditorium to draw lots.
Meng Yingying was no exception.
When she arrived, the solo dancers from the other six teams had all come over, and they were all accompanied by their coaches.
Meng Yingying wasn't familiar with anyone else; the only person she had ever greeted was Shen Qiuyue.
But to be honest, her relationship with Shen Qiuyue wasn't good. Mainly because she couldn't figure out Shen Qiuyue's character.
So everyone was just nodding acquaintances.
After the slips were all prepared, Meng Yingying and the others each took one from the box.
After Meng Yingying drew her number, she opened it and saw that it was number five.
It's two days earlier than before.
Coach Zhao peeked over, and Meng Yingying generously handed her the lottery results. When she saw that it was number five...
Coach Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, "Perfect timing, not too early, not too late."
Meng Yingying nodded, "Too early won't work, and too late won't work either."
"Let's go, go change into your dance costumes, we'll just sit in the lobby and wait."
However, they had only taken two steps when Qin Mingxiu came over and nodded to Meng Yingying first.
Then he turned to Coach Zhao and said, "I heard that something like what happened back then has happened again on your end?"
What happened back then?
Meng Yingying immediately perked up her ears.
Unfortunately, Coach Zhao had no intention of continuing. "Senior sister, this is a matter for our Harbin 101 Labor Corps. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with you."
Qin Mingxiu paused, taken aback by the retort. "Are you still holding a grudge about what happened back then?"
Coach Zhao ignored her and pulled Meng Yingying away.
Qin Mingxiu suddenly shouted, "Our Qiuya is number four, and she's ahead of Meng Yingying."
This is silent pressure.
Coach Zhao paused, but without turning around, he led Meng Yingying to the locker room.
Meng Yingying was very curious along the way. She wanted to ask several times, but she didn't because of Coach Zhao.
After arriving at the locker room.
After Coach Zhao finished changing her clothes and was fixing her hair, he suddenly said, "Are you very curious about what Judge Qin mentioned?"
Meng Yingying nodded hesitantly.
"When I competed back then, I encountered the same problem as you. However, I wasn't as quick-witted as you and fell for it right away."
Meng Yingying asked instinctively, "And then what happened?"
Coach Zhao said calmly, "Later I got second place, and Qin Mingxiu got first place."
"I've been stuck in second place ever since that incident, because I injured my ligaments."
Meng Yingying's eyes widened suddenly. "Is it her?"
Before she could ask, Coach Zhao covered her mouth and said, "It's all in the past."
"We investigated back then, and it wasn't her."
Meng Yingying really wanted to say that this wasn't about looking at the investigation results, but about looking at who benefited from them.
But if she can understand it, how could Coach Zhao not understand it?
"Don't worry, I won't let what happened back then happen again."
Coach Zhao said calmly, "I will protect you."
It's also about protecting the version of yourself that you failed to protect back then.
Meng Yingying was speechless, feeling depressed. Coach Zhao looked down at her and said, "Although I shouldn't impose my own ideas on you, I still hope that you can defeat Shen Qiuyue."
I'll also try to break her inner demons.
Meng Yingying nodded; this was her promise to Coach Zhao.
9:30.
Everyone gathered in the auditorium hall. The No. 1 Art Troupe took the stage, and Meng Yingying watched from below the stage.
Until the 3rd.
They're all pretty standard, nothing particularly outstanding, but they won't make any mistakes either.
Until the announcements began on stage.
"Please welcome contestant number four, Shen Qiuyue, to the stage. Her performance will be 'The White-Haired Girl'."
As soon as the piece ended, the audience erupted in a commotion.
"What? Shen Qiuyue actually danced the White-Haired Girl dance?"
"How is that possible? She's still a student in the performing arts troupe. How could she dare to challenge the White-Haired Girl?"
A layman nearby, unaware of the situation, asked out of curiosity, "What's wrong with the 'White-Haired Girl' dance?"
"You're an outsider, you don't know, the status of the White-Haired Girl in our line of work is simply incredible."
“She won’t understand if you say this to her, but if you say that the White-Haired Girl is a dance that combines ballet, folk dance, and opera movements, then you’ll know how difficult it is.”
"That little girl on stage is truly remarkable."
beside.
When Coach Zhao heard that Shen Qiuyue was dancing to "The White-Haired Girl," she subconsciously looked at Qin Mingxiu.
Qin Mingxiu nodded at her; the two weren't far apart. One was on the judges' panel, and the other was at a table in the back, separated by only one row.
She smiled, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, "Qiuya is just young and impetuous. I told her to hold her back a bit and let her jump in three years, but she disagreed and insisted on jumping earlier."
"Well, I couldn't stop it either."
The tone was very superior.
Coach Zhao said coldly, "This is a last-minute change to the dance category."
The category reported by the other party was not this one.
Qin Mingxiu smiled wryly, "As you know, you brought Meng Yingying with you, which put pressure on Qiu Ya, so she had to take a risky move."
“Ping Shui, you once took care of Qiu Ya and know her personality. Once she makes a decision, there is no turning back.”
At this point, her gaze fell on Meng Yingying, "If your prized student is going to dance as a female militia member from the grasslands again, then I can only say that she has no chance of winning."
At this moment, Qin Mingxiu revealed his true colors.
Gentle, fair, and just—this is merely her outward appearance. She is a woman who stands at the top of the performing arts troupe and has also nurtured a genius praised by everyone.
She can't possibly be as simple as she seems.
Meng Yingying, who had always acted as a well-behaved student, suddenly smiled sweetly at Qin Mingxiu and said, "Coach Qin."
"What a coincidence, I'm not dancing as a female militia member of the grasslands either."
Qin Mingxiu asked instinctively, "Then what were you dancing?"
Meng Yingying pursed her lips and smiled innocently, "Guess!"
Even the tone of his voice was infuriating.
Coach Zhao, standing nearby, lightly patted Meng Yingying's shoulder. "This child has really been spoiled by me. Senior sister, you're not angry about what she said, are you?"
Qin Mingxiu gritted her teeth, but smiled and said, "No."
"However, we need to inform the judges about the last-minute change to the dance category."
Meng Yingying nodded seriously, "Yes, they've notified us."
Who is it?
"Commander Qi."
The air fell silent for a moment. Meng Yingying could sense that Qin Mingxiu wanted to hit her, but felt more helpless than anything else.
Before Qin Mingxiu could speak, Meng Yingying pointed to the stage and said, "It's about to begin."
She emphasized, "Coach Qin, your star pupil is about to start dancing."
Qin Mingxiu swallowed back what she was about to say. To be honest, she hadn't felt this frustrated in many years since she reached her position.
Seeing Qin Mingxiu's gaze shift, Meng Yingying suddenly leaned close to Coach Zhao's ear and whispered something.
Coach Zhao quickly left his seat and went backstage.
on stage.
Shen Qiuyue was wearing a plain white short jacket, with the cuffs of her trousers tightly wrapped with indigo strips of cloth. Her hair was held up in a black net and tied into a bun, with only a short red ribbon hanging out.
This is Xi'er in the cave in the movie "The White-Haired Girl," looking so miserable.
The stage lights suddenly shone on Shen Qiuyue, and the bright white light made her glow.
The room fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes were fixed intently on the scene.
As the music from the loudspeaker began, Shen Qiuyue lightly touched her toes to the ground, and stood up, her heels completely off the ground, in the elegant posture of a ballet dancer.
But the next second, her knees bent, and her body suddenly lowered. Her slender right hand fell and drew a half circle along the stage floor, just like the leaping step in traditional Chinese opera. Yet, she also incorporated the straight lines of ballet, perfectly blending them together in a clean and stunning way.
"good!"
Someone below, I don't know who it was, led the shout of "Bravo!" and then a burst of applause as dense as raindrops.
Meng Yingying pursed her lips and watched quietly.
Coach Zhao was somewhat worried.
Lin Qiu, standing next to her, stared intently at the stage, exclaiming in astonishment, "She combined ballet and opera, and every single one of her movements was perfectly executed."
She can't do it.
Even Ye Yingtao couldn't do it.
Of all the students in the entire performing arts troupe, apart from Meng Yingying, no one could do that.
Shen Qiuyue is a genius.
Before Meng Yingying arrived, no one had ever questioned her; she was like a high mountain that no one had ever thought of climbing.
Meng Yingying remained calm. She patted Lin Qiu's hand and said, "Let's keep reading."
She remained calm, which eased Lin Qiu's pressure somewhat; she stared at the stage without blinking.
On stage.
The cheers from the crowd made Shen Qiuyue's lips curl slightly. The next second, a slow drumbeat came from the loudspeaker.
With a mournful sigh, Shen Qiuyue lunged forward, her shoulders trembling like a leaf, the shock of Xi'er upon hearing that her father had been beaten to death.
The scene was completely silent.
Shen Qiuyue's performance in this scene was superb. Her stage presence, her demeanor, and her movements were all executed flawlessly.
She is better suited for individual competitions than team competitions.
This was Meng Yingying's first reaction. Instead of being afraid or nervous, she felt a slight tremor run through her body.
Meng Yingying hadn't encountered such a talented opponent in a very long time.
She stared at Shen Qiuyue's every move on the stage. At the very end, the most amazing thing was yet to come: Shen Qiuyue took small, quick steps.
With swift, light steps, barely perceptible, the person floated from the left side of the stage to the right.
During the drift.
Her shoulders were slightly hunched, her neck stretched out, and she looked around warily. She looked exactly like Xi'er, who had fled into the mountains and was now being blown about by the fierce north wind.
They were so pitiful, and so heartbreaking.
Someone in the audience below started to tear up, and they all began to sob.
As the music on stage came to an end, Shen Qiuyue stood up and bowed, her forehead covered in a fine layer of sweat, her eyes shining brightly.
After bowing, she stood up and walked towards the side of the stage, her footsteps so light they were almost silent, yet everyone's eyes were still etched with the image of that snow-white figure from before.
So it turns out—she was the White-Haired Girl.
The real White-Haired Girl.
There was a two-second pause in the seats below the auditorium before a burst of applause erupted, with some people clapping until their hands were red.
The young man in the back row simply stood up and shouted, "Good!!"
The judges on the panel nodded repeatedly, their pens hovering over the score sheets for a long time, because they were so shaken that they forgot to write.
The applause lasted for quite a while.
Everyone applauded Shen Qiuyue's performance, except for Qi Donghan on the judges' panel, who looked at Meng Yingying with concern.
Meng Yingying seemed not to see it; she lowered her eyes, and no one knew what she was thinking.
Following the discussion by the judges.
As Shen Qiuyue's teacher, Qin Mingxiu refrained from going on stage to announce the scores in order to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
She wanted to win over Qi Donghan, so she took the initiative and suggested, "Why don't we have Commander Qi go on stage to announce it?"
Qi Donghan refused without hesitation, saying, "I'll only be a judge, not a scorer."
Qin Mingxiu felt a little regretful, but she couldn't force Qi Donghan, who was of a higher rank than her, to do something he didn't want to do.
She then said, "Then, old commander, you go up."
The old commander grunted and took the megaphone to the stage. "Next, we will announce Comrade Shen Qiuyue's score. We will remove the highest score of 10 points and the lowest score of 9.7 points, so the final score is 9.8 points."
As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted in the auditorium.
All the cheers were for Shen Qiuya.
Li Qingqing took the lead in shouting, "Shen Qiuyue, Shen Qiuyue."
"Shen Qiuyue, you are the best!"
Next door, Meng Yingying and her group were quiet. Shen Qiuyue, as number four, scored 9.8 points.
This is something that is almost impossible to surpass.
This cast a shadow over everyone in the Harbin 101 Art Troupe.
Surrounded by admirers, Shen Qiuyue turned and glanced at Meng Yingying.
Across the air.
Meng Yingying smiled slightly at her and said silently, "I accept your challenge."
The words were spoken.
An announcement came over the loudspeaker.
—Please welcome contestant number five, Meng Yingying, to the stage. Her performance will be "The Red Detachment of Women."
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Author's Note: Yingying: I'll beat you to a pulp!
I'm adding an extra chapter this weekend. This chapter is really long, 17,000 words. I wrote until 3 a.m. last night and continued writing as soon as I opened my eyes this morning. I wanted to finish this plot, but I don't have time. I'll stop here for now and write the rest later.
I'm screaming myself hoarse, begging for nutrient solution and comments! I'm really working myself to the bone! I've been writing all the time except for eating and sleeping!
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