Chapter Twelve Graduation Season
Yun Yao didn't hear the commotion about him. He had practiced dancing late today and missed his usual mealtime, which is why he accidentally clashed with other people's mealtimes.
This morning, his professor came to see him alone, brought him several graduation documents, and earnestly advised him to broaden his job options after graduation.
Yes, at twenty years old, Yun Yao was already at the point of graduation.
He won the gold medal in the Junior Classical Dance Competition when he was sixteen years old and was specially recruited into the dance academy by the dean himself. Now, his four-year college life is about to end in this cicada-singing summer.
Yun Yao was very grateful for the teachers' care. He knew very well that because of his father's criminal history, no matter how hard he tried or how excellent he was, he could not enter the official troupe like the principal dancers of previous years of the academy, and he could not even get a high-level offer from an opera and ballet theater when applying for a job after graduation.
Just then, I overheard several male dance students discussing graduation and employment issues on the rest chairs in the dance studio.
"Hey, have you heard? The provincial opera and dance troupe from Shanghai actually came to our college to hold a recruitment fair this year, which never happened in previous years."
"I heard it was an invitation from the college. Things have actually gotten worse this year. I heard from senior students that there were many more song and dance troupes recruiting in previous years, and there are also more fresh graduates this year. I think everyone is going to be very competitive for the job."
"If all else fails, we can just leave these big song and dance troupes and look for jobs in the general public. Some art students have even gone on to do things like live streaming on social media."
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent for a moment. At this time, everyone still in the practice room was hardworking and had achieved some results.
"Give me a break," a male voice said with a hint of disdain. "Our college isn't some second- or third-rate institution; it's a leader in its field. We worked so hard to get in, one in a million, and we've worked so hard to get to where we are now. Who wants to be a clown singing and dancing in front of a camera?"
Another boy chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, those with official positions are way better than these. Let's try our best to get into a state-run dance troupe! If that doesn't work, we should at least try to get into a local troupe."
At this moment, one of the boys who was chatting finally noticed Yun Yao sitting quietly on the other side. He nudged his companion next to him and gestured with his eyes, "Hey, look, it's Yun Yao."
These dance students from the same year, unlike the freshmen, had all experienced the extensive media coverage of Yun Yao's father's case. Their feelings towards this once outstanding campus heartthrob were complex, including sympathy, regret, and even schadenfreude.
"Him? Believe it or not, he's worse than you. What good are all the awards he's won, what good is being the top student at the academy? With a father like that, he can forget about getting into any decent dance troupe."
"Hey, don't be so loud, stop talking, let's go practice dancing."
Several boys pushed and shoved their way away. One of them, who looked delicate and frail, was the last to leave. After his companions were gone, he quickly ran over and whispered apologetically to Yun Yao, "I'm sorry, Yun Yao, don't mind it. You know, Xiao Chen used to have a crush on our school beauty. Later, everyone heard that you and the school beauty dated for a short time and then broke up, and the school beauty even transferred schools. Xiao Chen always thought it was because of you, so..."
“It’s okay,” Yun Yao smiled at the boy. “I understand.”
What else could Yun Yao say? Just like the unbearable days two years ago when his father had his accident, he silently endured everything.
His life felt like a hedgehog, constantly pricking him from somewhere. He even felt he had become numb to the pain.
"Actually, everyone knows that your father's affairs have nothing to do with you. No one can choose their own birth," the boy said, not daring to stare at Yun Yao for too long, after all, her face was too lethal.
Hearing Yun Yao's nonchalant response, he felt a pang of guilt and stammered, "Yun Yao, you...you're a good person. In my heart, you're the most outstanding leader. I believe that even if you don't make it into the group this time, you'll definitely be no worse than anyone else in the future!"
Yun Yao looked at the boy in front of him with some surprise. These occasional acts of kindness were like stars in the night sky, and he cherished them dearly.
He sincerely thanked her, saying, "Thank you. I know I won't give up."
The boy was embarrassed by such a formal thank you, especially since it was from such a handsome guy as Yun Yao.
Although he wasn't one of those infatuated junior school girls, he still couldn't help but blush. He said, "Well... that's good. I'm off now. Good luck," and ran off without looking up.
Yun Yao watched the boy run away, then smiled to herself. His future was uncertain, but she felt a rare sense of relief.
Yes, keep going. One must always have hope. Yun Yao told herself silently.
Although he was mired in the mire, his heart still yearned for the light.
...
Meanwhile, in the core business district of Nanhang City, inside a high-end club with a strict membership system, a group of tall, beautiful waitresses in tailor-made uniforms walk through luxurious corridors.
Their steps were quick and orderly, making no sound as they trod on the club's precious wooden floor, clearly indicating that they had been carefully selected and trained.
The lead waiter carefully knocked on a door, and after making introductions, led the rest of the people in, carrying cups and plates, one after another.
Inside the club room, the dazzling light from the crystal chandelier shattered into starlight on the rim of the whiskey glass.
Qin Rao flicked the ash from the lady's cigar into the gilded ashtray, and the leather sofa made a low creaking sound.
"I heard that Dongsheng snatched Mr. Wang's orders this quarter?" She turned her emerald ring, the firelight swirling on the surface.
The man's bone china coffee cup clinked against the gilded tray, splashing a few brown ripples. "President Qin is well-informed; the business world is like a battlefield. Lately, everyone's been having a tough time."
He glanced at the bodyguard in a black suit outside the floor-to-ceiling window, then changed the subject, "I heard that President Qin recently acquired land in the west of the city?"
The pianist suddenly switched to Chopin's Nocturne, and Qin Rao chuckled softly as ice cubes clinked against the glass: "President Wang cares more about my family's affairs than his own company's."
The crimson velvet curtains were lifted by the evening breeze, and the neon lights of the distant CBD flickered in her pupils. "But some cakes are not for everyone to share."
The man's Adam's apple bobbed, and he was about to speak when a waiter carrying a silver tray bowed and entered: "Distinguished guests, your drinks are ready."
At this moment, Zhao Shi, who was sitting on the other side, quickly chimed in, "Oh dear, we've been so busy talking that we've been talking for so long. Come on, let's have a couple of drinks to relax."
With Zhao Shi's smooth banter, the tense atmosphere eased.
After the man referred to as President Wang had to leave early due to an urgent phone call, Zhao Shi also dismissed the pianist and waiter from the room.
Once everyone was out of sight, he turned to Qin Rao and said with a smile, "Sister, look at this President Wang. He still wants to rely on his connections in Nanhang to get a share of the pie from us. He doesn't even know the current situation. He doesn't even know how to beg for food properly."
Qin Rao smiled slightly, her red lips curving into a mocking smile, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
“But speaking of which, sister, business is really tough these days…” Zhao Shi hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, “According to the information we’ve received, things are going to be tightened up. Sister, I think we should prepare for the worst.”
“You don’t need to remind me. I’ve already thought of a better way to make money.” Qin Rao took a sip of wine. She looked at Zhao Shi, her eyes shining like a predator hunting in the night. “Zhao Shi, what do you think about me starting an entertainment and film company, doing film and television production and artist management… Your Zhao family can also invest, which would be a good opportunity to use your expertise.”
Zhao Shi looked at Qin Rao in surprise, then thought for a moment, "Right, is there any place that's both more lucrative and legal than the entertainment industry?"
He smiled and said, "Sister, you have a great idea! This is definitely something we can do, but we don't have any experience in this area. Let me first find out the details and see how it goes."
"What's the big deal about not having experience? As long as we have capital," Qin Rao said with a faint smile. "We'll hire a few professional managers and we'll be the shareholders and chairmen behind the scenes."
She thought for a moment, then said ambitiously, "Small-scale operations are meaningless and won't make you much money. If we're going to do it, we should do it big. We really need you, Lao Zhao, to explore the ways and see how to handle things. After all, doing business is about seizing resources, and this is no exception. The bigger our pie, the more profit we can take."
The two discussed the topic for a while, and Zhao Shi couldn't help but sigh, "Hey, before, we only knew some celebrities who wanted to climb the social ladder, but I never thought that this time we would be the ones in charge."
He chuckled and looked at Qin Rao: "Sister, I think we've had enough wine. I'll ask the manager to arrange for a few beautiful and talented women. Don't let the glitz and glamour of this place fool you; there's a certain elegance to it... Sister, would you like to meet them?"
Qin Rao paused in her swirling of the wine glass, as if remembering something, and suddenly picked up her phone.
Not seeing the message she wanted, she chuckled in exasperation, thinking to herself, "I've really spoiled her..."
She glanced at Zhao Shi, who was still waiting to the side, and scoffed, "No need, I'm leaving now. I have to go catch someone."
Zhao Shi was surprised, but after a moment's thought, he understood who Qin Rao was referring to. After all, he had been in Nanhang for two years and knew quite a bit about the people around Qin Rao.
Zhao Shi was secretly alarmed; Qin Rao was truly different this time.
"Sis, aren't you tired of this yet?" he teased with a smile.
Although he said that, Zhao Shi thought of the beauty named Yun Yao and understood her somewhat. Anyone would have felt the same way, after all, she was that kind of person.
Qin Rao didn't answer. She stood up, the Patek Philippe watch peeking out from her sleeve gleaming coldly in the shadows. "Let's talk about starting a company another day, after all..."
She glanced meaningfully at her wrist. "Time waits for no one."
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