Chapter 76 Qi Donghan's meeting was her greatest protection...
Chapter 76
The office fell silent instantly upon hearing this. Director He thought he had misheard. "What did you say?"
She asked the female comrade who brought the news.
The other person's face turned pale with fright. "Shen Qiuyue hanged herself in the dormitory." Her voice trembled. "We all saw it. Her tongue was sticking out."
It takes courage just to recall that scene.
Director He didn't even listen to the second half of the story before rushing out of his office and running as fast as he could towards the Changchun Film Studio dormitory.
Only Meng Yingying and the other two were left standing there for a long time, unable to come to their senses.
What do we do?
Shen Meilan had never encountered anything like this before, and she was somewhat flustered and bewildered.
Meng Yingying quickly made a decision, "Let's go take a look too." She looked down and saw that Tong Jialan was dozing off because of the fever, "Let's help her back to the dormitory to rest."
Unfortunately, Tong Jialan's condition has left her with quite a few aftereffects, and she also needs to rest.
However, as soon as she came down, she saw Qi Donghan waiting for her at the door. He was wearing a white shirt, tall and handsome, with a cold and aloof demeanor.
However, only when he turned around and saw Meng Yingying did his gaze soften.
He glanced at Tong Jialan, whom Meng Yingying was supporting, and asked, "Going back to the dormitory?"
Clearly, he had also heard the report from the other person.
Meng Yingying nodded.
"I'll take you there."
As soon as she finished speaking, Coach Zhou arrived and, together with her students, took Tong Jialan away.
"You go back first."
Meng Yingying understood Coach Zhou's meaning, so she didn't stand on ceremony and quickly followed Qi Donghan back to the dormitory.
When they arrived.
The entrance to Shen Qiuyue's dormitory was already packed with people, three layers deep.
Even Qin Mingxiu, whom we hadn't seen in a long time, was there. She was squatting on the ground, holding Shen Qiuyue, whose fate was unknown, and crying.
"Qiuya, what are you doing? You didn't win the championship, you didn't win the championship, you didn't make it into the top three, you didn't make it into the top three, why are you doing this to yourself? Why are you risking your life like this?"
It turned out that after being dismissed from her post, Qin Mingxiu was really worried about the Jishi Cultural Troupe and Shen Qiuyue, so she secretly followed them over.
However, she arrived a little too late. By the time she got there, the individual competition had already ended. She learned that Shen Qiuya had deserted the stage and given up after only dancing half of her routine.
To be honest, Qin Mingxiu was not without disappointment, but after hearing that Meng Yingying had won the championship, Shen Qiuyue went back to the dormitory alone first.
Qin Mingxiu sensed something was wrong and rushed back to her dormitory immediately, but it was too late.
When she arrived, Chen Xiaoxiao screamed at the door, "Ahhhhh!"
Hearing the panicked screams, Qin Mingxiu ran over, but it was too late. She saw Shen Qiuyue hanging from the dormitory beam.
At that moment, Qin Mingxiu felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She wanted her student, Shen Qiuyue, to go further and climb higher.
But that doesn't mean she's willing to watch Shen Qiuyue die.
Qin Mingxiu asked Chen Xiaoxiao for help to lower Shen Qiuyue down from the rope, but Chen Xiaoxiao was too scared. So Qin Mingxiu, all by herself, stumbled and struggled to lower Shen Qiuyue down.
It was the first time she had ever learned that when a person is about to die, their body becomes stiff and cannot soften at all.
Qin Mingxiu was genuinely panicked at that moment.
Therefore, even the crying became genuine.
"Qiuya, wake up! Wake up!"
Unfortunately, no one answered her. Shen Qiuyue must have been suffocating for a long time; the purple marks on her neck looked rather shocking.
Even if Master He were to pinch the philtrum, it wouldn't work.
No response.
Seeing this, Meng Yingying couldn't help but speak up, "Send them to the hospital, right now!"
"We can't delay any longer."
As soon as he said this, Director He suddenly realized what was happening, called over the security personnel, and arranged for them to carry Shen Qiuyue to the hospital.
As soon as they left, the dormitory fell silent.
Shen Meilan's face turned pale as she looked at the clump of hemp rope lying on the ground, and then recalled the purple marks on Shen Qiuya's neck earlier.
"It's obvious she really wants to die."
How could anyone bear to hang such a thick rope around their neck?
How could I possibly accept the suffocating pain and discomfort at the moment I kicked the stool away?
Meng Yingying didn't speak. She pursed her lips, stood there, and her hands and feet were ice cold.
This was the closest she had come to death since her father's death.
Qi Donghan noticed that she was not in a good mood, so he came over, gently took her hand, and noticed that she was trembling.
"Yingying?"
The voice carried a hint of reassurance.
Meng Yingying opened her mouth, her lips dry and her voice hoarse, "Qi Donghan, do you think she can survive?"
She couldn't understand how life could be so fragile, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Qi Donghan held her hand tightly and nodded, "Okay."
Even if it's not possible, at this moment, she has to say yes.
Unexpectedly, Qi Donghan was right. At 3 p.m., news came from the hospital that Shen Qiuyue had been rescued.
The first thing she said when she woke up was, "I want to quit the performing arts troupe."
She never wants to dance again in her life.
Although Qin Mingxiu was disappointed, she had no choice but to agree, because Shen Qiuyue's life was obviously more important than her future.
Even the dissatisfaction from Commander Cao was taken care of by Qin Mingxiu.
When Meng Yingying received the message again, Shen Qiuyue had already packed her things and left Changshi. She would not be returning to the Jishi Cultural Troupe.
She remained in a daze for a long time.
"Yingying?"
Qi Donghan and Coach Zhao were both a little worried.
Meng Yingying snapped out of her daze and said softly, "I'm fine."
"Didn't we agree that we would go to Teacher Yang's place to become his apprentices tomorrow morning, and then we would go back to Harbin?"
Coach Zhao took the lead, "Shall we have Commander Qi take you?"
“I need to stay here and keep an eye on things,” she hesitated for a moment. “The team competition isn’t completely over yet.”
Meng Yingying nodded, "I can go by myself."
Moreover, when she sought another teacher, she didn't want Coach Zhao to come along.
Coach Zhao nodded, watching Meng Yingying's departing figure. She murmured, "Yingying, your teacher is not unhappy at all that you have found another teacher."
"On the contrary, I'm glad that you finally don't have to struggle alone anymore."
Coach Zhao's current skill level is clearly no longer sufficient to teach Meng Yingying. In fact, for most of the match, Meng Yingying was in control of the overall situation on her own.
She was leading Coach Zhao forward.
Back when they were in the performing arts troupe, Coach Zhao had already realized that she was no longer of any help to Meng Yingying.
Now that she sees her receiving guidance from a good teacher, she is even happier than Meng Yingying.
Meng Yingying and Qi Donghan hadn't gone far, so they could hear Coach Zhao's whispered words.
We walked about another hundred meters.
Qi Donghan said in a low voice, "Yingying, your coach is very good."
Coaches who are wholeheartedly concerned about their students' future are truly rare.
But Coach Zhao is one of them.
Meng Yingying pursed her lips. She glanced back and saw that Coach Zhao's figure was almost gone. She whispered, "She's always been very good."
Meeting Coach Zhao is a blessing for her.
Qi Donghan understood what she meant, and he offered a subtle suggestion: "Don't feel pressured. The higher you go, the better Coach Zhao's future will be."
Producing a student capable of challenging the Capital Song and Dance Troupe will be a topic of conversation for Coach Zhao for the rest of his life.
And her qualifications will be elevated because of Meng Yingying, her only student.
This is a good thing for the stationed team.
Meng Yingying nodded, "Let's go buy some gifts first."
It's not good to show up empty-handed.
Qi Donghan: "I'm ready."
Meng Yingying, “?”
She looked over with some confusion. Qi Donghan coughed lightly and explained naturally, "In the afternoon, weren't you worried about Shen Qiuyue? I went out to buy you some food and stopped by the department store in Changshi on the way."
"However, the conditions here are not as good as those in the 600 Building in Harbin, so I can only make do with what I have."
As if by magic, he pulled a green nylon net bag out of the car.
"Two jars of canned yellow peaches, two bags of white sugar, a can of malted milk powder, and a bottle—" he said somewhat embarrassedly, "a bottle of face cream."
These are all practical gifts, not hard currency like cigarettes and alcohol.
Meng Yingying asked curiously, "Why did you think of buying face cream?"
Although Ms. Yang Jie does seem to be a person who loves beauty.
Qi Donghan awkwardly touched his nose. "I asked Director He before I bought them, and these gifts were suggested by Director He."
This was after consulting an expert.
That's why these gifts were given; otherwise, according to Qi Donghan's usual gift-giving standards, he might have directly given cigarettes and alcohol, which are considered hard currency.
However, as a lesbian, and a lesbian living alone, Yang Jie did not need gifts like cigarettes and alcohol that seemed high-end but were actually impractical.
After hearing this, Meng Yingying felt a mix of emotions. She simply looked up at Qi Donghan's excessively cold and stern face.
She couldn't understand how a man who seemed so careless could be so meticulous at times.
"What's wrong?"
Qi Donghan's expression shifted, and he asked with concern.
Meng Yingying said softly, "How can you think so much and do so much?"
Before she even thought of it, he had already arranged everything.
Qi Donghan reached out and rubbed her head, his voice filled with guilt, "Yingying, when you were dancing, I wanted to help you but couldn't."
"I can only think about other aspects more."
That way, he won't be abandoned by Yingying.
What he called meticulous attention to detail was simply a deep affection and concern. Because he cared so much, he was able to notice Meng Yingying's every need.
Only then can everything be taken into account.
Meng Yingying pursed her lips, unable to utter a word.
She just thought that Qi Donghan was so great.
He's so kind.
Meng Yingying held Qi Donghan's hand tightly, and Qi Donghan was very happy that Meng Yingying was so close to him.
Once outside the Changchun Film Studio, Qi Donghan turned his head, his handsome face carrying a hint of amusement, and asked, "Are you sure you still want to hold my hand?"
Meng Yingying didn't understand yet. When she turned around, she saw He Chang standing at the door, looking at their clasped hands with a gossipy expression.
Meng Yingying's face instantly burned, and she withdrew her hand as well.
To be honest, it's a bit like being caught in a relationship by your teacher at home.
Fear and nervousness.
She subconsciously turned to look at Qi Donghan, her eyes filled with resentment. This guy, he knew perfectly well that He Chuzhang was by the door, why didn't he remind her?
Qi Donghan was delighted; even her anger was tinged with a charming and lively quality.
Qi Donghan's eyes sparkled with amusement as he reassured him, "Don't be afraid, we're not at the base or at school right now."
Then he changed the subject, looked up at Director He, and said, "Besides, we were far away, so Director He didn't see anything, did he?"
It gives the impression that they are trying to cover something up.
But Director He still had to give Qi Donghan face, because he held a higher position.
"Yes." Commander He smiled knowingly. "Commander Qi knows that my eyesight is failing and I can't see clearly."
Meng Yingying, "..."
If it weren't for the amusing expressions on their faces, she almost would have believed it.
She forced back the heat from her face and changed the subject, "Director He, what are you doing here?"
And what a coincidence, they just happened to be caught in the act.
He Chang smiled and said, "You'll have to ask your Commander Qi about that."
"It was Commander Qi who invited me here."
Meng Yingying was a little confused, so Qi Donghan slowly explained, "You need a middleman to become an apprentice."
"And Director He is the middleman in this matter."
The person's status cannot be too low, otherwise it would be inconsistent with Yang Jie's status; nor can it be too low, otherwise it would not be worthy of Yang Jie's level.
After much deliberation, Qi Donghan decided to target Director He.
At that moment, Meng Yingying's eyes lit up as she looked at Qi Donghan.
It really is glowing.
He Changxin said, "Young people are so great. They even look at people with shining eyes and admiration."
Unlike the vicious woman she is now, who, seeing a man treat her well, tries to analyze what his motives are.
"Don't you think Commander Qi is a pretty good guy?"
Where can one find time to joke?
Meng Yingying only dared to put on a brave face in front of Qi Donghan, but she felt a little embarrassed in front of her elders. She nodded and said, "Yes."
"He's so thoughtful; these are things I hadn't considered."
She thought becoming an apprentice was just a simple matter of becoming an apprentice, but she never expected there to be so many twists and turns involved.
Director He glanced at Qi Donghan and said, "I never expected a man could do this much."
He was a man in a high position of power, yet he managed to do this.
All I can say is that love is truly a wondrous thing.
Qi Donghan knew what she meant next, and with just a glance, Director He immediately changed the subject, "Let's go, I've arranged to meet Comrade Yang for you at nine o'clock this morning, or we'll be late."
Of course, this wasn't her idea to make the appointment; it was Qi Donghan who instructed her to do so.
There's a complicated story here.
Meng Yingying nodded. Qi Donghan somehow managed to get a jeep that was only available to the garrison.
With Meng Yingying and Yang Jie in tow, they sped off to Yang Jie's place.
Yang Jie lives in the compound of the Federation of Literary and Art Circles. The house is quite old, and her parents are also veterans of the Federation.
After she took care of her parents until their passing, she lived alone in this old house.
The house wasn't big, but it was spotless; even the tablecloth on the table was perfectly smooth without a single wrinkle.
"Comrade Yang."
Upon entering, Director He immediately displayed his shrewd and cunning nature, saying, "I've brought your little apprentice with me."
Meng Yingying, carrying the gift, casually placed it on the table as well, saying, "Teacher Yang."
He immediately started shouting.
Yang Jie looked at the gift, her brows furrowing slightly. Director He knew what she meant. "Oh, I know you're not an ordinary person and don't care about gifts."
"But we all deserve gifts, otherwise we'd be taking advantage of you, our master, for free."
Director He is a straightforward person, and his words are often unpleasant.
Yang Jie disagreed, saying, "I don't care about these formalities."
If she cared, she wouldn't have left the National Ballet of China at the height of her career and returned to a small place like Changchun.
"You may not care, but Yingying cannot live without you."
Director He helped Meng Yingying by putting all her things on the table, saying, "Otherwise, people will gossip about Meng Yingying when she goes out."
"Yang Jie, it's better to be a little more worldly in life."
Everything would go much more smoothly this way, instead of being stuck at a loss like it is now.
Yang Jie then stopped talking about gifts. She looked at Meng Yingying with a soft gaze, "Have you thought it through?"
Meng Yingying nodded, "I've thought it through."
"I would like to become your disciple."
Upon hearing this, Yang Jie was secretly delighted, but on the surface she remained calm and composed.
"Then I'll have to drink your apprenticeship tea."
Director He immediately got up to help pour tea, giving one cup to Meng Yingying and placing the other on the table.
Meng Yingying took the tea with both hands and handed it to Yang Jie, saying, "Master, please have some tea."
Yang Jie nodded, then accepted the tea with a slightly reserved air. She took a sip and said, "Good tea."
Director He, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but expose her, "What good tea? It's all just rotten tea stalks. You think it's good tea?"
"I think it was offered by Meng Yingying, which is why you said it was good tea, right?"
Yang Jie glared at her, "I think you've grown poisonous thorns instead of a mouth."
So annoying.
It kept stabbing people.
Director He made a zipper-like motion, signaling himself to shut up.
Yang Jie then stopped. After drinking the tea offered by Meng Yingying as her apprentice, she said, "Now that you have become my apprentice, I will be more demanding of you in the future."
"If you can't do it, tell me as soon as possible."
Yang Jie only accepts students who are highly talented and hardworking.
Meng Yingying nodded, "Master, don't worry, I will definitely not let you down."
Yang Jie smiled, her expression kind, but when her gaze fell on Qi Donghan standing beside Meng Yingying, her brows furrowed slightly.
Meng Yingying understood what she meant, and immediately pulled Qi Donghan's arm and introduced him, "Master, this is my boyfriend, Qi Donghan."
Qi Donghan liked Meng Yingying very much, and he introduced himself to the elders.
This gave him the feeling that he now had a legitimate status!
He called out to Yang Jie, "Teacher Yang."
Yang Jie frowned. "Is he your boyfriend? Not married yet?"
Meng Yingying nodded, "Yes."
She was a little nervous, but still added, "We're dating right now, but we'll definitely get married in the future."
The more she saw Qi Donghan getting better and better, the more reluctant she became to leave.
Yang Jie wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Director He, who said forcefully, "Yingying, take Commander Qi out for a walk."
"The residential compound around the Federation of Literary and Art Circles is quite nice. Why don't you two go out on a date?"
This was to get Meng Yingying and Qi Donghan away, so they wouldn't hear the rest of the conversation.
Meng Yingying nodded and then led Qi Donghan out.
As soon as they left, Director He's words became unpleasant: "Yang Jie, I know what you mean. You just think that Meng Yingying is still young and has a long future in the dance industry."
"If she gets married and has children, it will inevitably affect her career and her future in dance, right?"
It can only be said that Director He was the one who truly understood Yang Jie, or perhaps the two knew each other from the beginning but had lost contact for too long.
If it weren't for the fact that the competition was short of a judge, giving Director He the opportunity to visit Yang Jie, she and Yang Jie might not have reconciled so quickly.
Yang Jie nodded, "Yes."
"She's only twenty-one, or twenty-two by the traditional Chinese age reckoning. This is the best time of her life to dance. If she uses it to get married and have children, it would be a waste of her talent."
Director He knew she would say that, and she sneered, "And then what? Sacrificing your marriage and your children for the sake of career development over the past two years?"
"Yang Jie, you sacrificed your marriage and your child. You have nothing left and no one to protect you. You were forced to leave the Central Ballet in a fit of pique."
Now that you've also lost your parents, how do you feel about your life?
Yang Jie's face turned pale instantly.
She didn't speak.
That's the best answer.
She didn't know how her life was going; she was just living alone.
Director He also realized that his words were a bit too sharp, and that he had deliberately picked out the most difficult points for Yang Jie.
She took a deep breath, pinched the bridge of her nose, and forced herself to calm down before saying calmly, "I'm sorry, I was too harsh with my words earlier."
"But I don't want you to deny the relationship between Yang Jie, Meng Yingying, and Commander Qi."
"Meng Yingying is only twenty-one years old this year. Her future is not just about dance, and she can't rely on dance to live her whole life. She won't stay young forever; she will grow old, and her parents will pass away. She needs someone to accompany her in the future."
"And I think it would be good if this person were Commander Qi."
"Commander Qi is twenty-four years old this year and has already reached the position of commander. His future is very promising. You should know what I mean by this."
“Meng Yingying charged forward, and the higher she climbed, the deeper the vortex became. She was born in the countryside and had no background, which was her biggest weakness.”
"But if she marries Qi Donghan, then her husband will become her best support."
"The higher Qi Donghan climbs, the better she will be protected. Only in this way can she focus wholeheartedly on pursuing her beloved dance."
At this point, she glanced at Yang Jie and said, "Don't think I'm materialistic. To go far in this industry, talent, family background, and connections are all indispensable."
"Yang Jie, Meng Yingying needs a protective umbrella."
"And Commander Qi will be her best protector."
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