Chapter 32 "Doesn't Mingyan look like this photo...?"
Gu Mingyan had a loud voice, and since the beauty room was quiet, Yun Qingqing overheard the entire phone call.
Watching Gu Mingyan forcefully press the hang-up button, Yun Qingqing quietly waited for her to calm down.
Gu Mingyan stared at the black screen for several seconds before slowly turning her head: "Qingqing... This is the first time I've ever hung up on him."
Yun gave a soft, calm "Mmm".
Gu Mingyan said, "He really went too far this time. I did nothing wrong. Right?"
There was a hint of caution in her tone.
After all, Ye Jinyan was someone she had liked for so long. Even though she saw through his favoritism, Gu Mingyan still felt a sense of emptiness in her heart.
“You did nothing wrong,” Yun patted her hand gently. “Our Mingyan comes from a good family, is beautiful, has a good personality, and is sincere to everyone. How could Young Master Ye bear to let you suffer?”
She pouted slightly, seemingly indignant on Gu Mingyan's behalf, "If it were me, I'd be too worried about you to bear seeing you suffer even the slightest bit, let alone side with outsiders to criticize you..."
As she spoke, she observed Gu Mingyan's expression.
Yun Qingqing knew that as an outsider, she shouldn't interfere in her friend's relationship, but she couldn't bear to watch the proud and bright Gu Mingyan become cautious and insecure in Ye Jinyan's eyes, only to end up being used and then ruthlessly abandoned.
Her words successfully fueled Gu Mingyan's dissatisfaction with Ye Jinyan.
She proudly raised her chin and said, "Brother Jin Yan even framed me, saying that I deliberately made an excuse to get rid of Meng Xian in order to steal Director Sun Mo's role from her. What a joke! I never intended to act in Sun Mo's play!"
"Director Sun's film?" Yun asked with a curious look.
“Yeah,” Gu Mingyan pouted, “My acting is so bad, if I really went to act in Sun Mo’s drama, wouldn’t I be criticized to death by netizens? I became a celebrity because I like to stand in front of the camera and be glamorous, and listen to everyone’s praise, not to be criticized.”
She sighed, a rare hint of melancholy on her face: "But... sometimes I think, if only my acting skills were better. Then, after all this framing of me today, I could just go and snatch the role back tomorrow and make them furious!"
Yun Qingqing looked at her unusually somber profile and her mind raced: "Mingyan, you don't necessarily have to be an actress to hear everyone's praise."
Gu Mingyan was taken aback and subconsciously asked, "If you don't become an actress, what else can you do?"
Yun Qingqing's eyes curved into a smile: "My idol."
"Idol?" Gu Mingyan's eyes widened; this option was clearly outside her previous plans.
“Yes,” Yun nodded gently, “Anyway, you’re beautiful and a great dancer, maybe you were born for this.”
During the few days the program gave everyone a break, Yun Qingqing took the time to pass the Education Bureau's equivalent academic ability test.
This means that as long as the recruitment exam goes smoothly in the second half of the year, she will be able to enter Yuncheng University and legitimately study and help in Professor He Tinglan's new project.
Yun Qingqing knew that her steady progress towards her desired academic path was ultimately inseparable from the money Gu Mingyan had given her.
With money in hand, Yun Qingqing was able to completely let go of her worries and bravely pursue the wishes she couldn't fulfill in her previous life.
Her virtuous friend helped her achieve her ambitions, and she wanted to repay him with ten thousand taels of gold.
Gu Mingyan's career in the entertainment industry has been full of ups and downs, and she can only ever get roles in bad dramas or as a villainous supporting character. Yun Qingqing genuinely thinks that perhaps she could try a different path.
"Idol...can I really do it?" Gu Mingyan was clearly tempted, but still lacked confidence. "I'm already over twenty, wouldn't it be too old to debut now?"
"What's wrong with being twenty?" Yun encouraged her gently. "Many talented idols debuted at this age. You have good looks, a great figure, and a foundation in dancing. You've already started at a higher level than many others."
Gu Mingyan was a little confused by what she said.
She loved dancing since she was a child, but after entering the entertainment industry, she focused on acting and had long since abandoned this skill.
If I could really stand on the stage again and win applause with my own performance, it would be much more enjoyable than being on set, having to watch the director's face and being criticized by netizens for my acting skills.
Gu Mingyan bit her lower lip and nodded nervously, "Okay, I'll give it a try."
Having formed a preliminary idea, Yun Qingqing began helping to find a suitable teacher the very next day.
The system couldn't help but remind her: "Host, you have no connections or resources right now. Where are you going to find a reliable teacher?"
"Who says I have no connections?" Yun Qingqing retorted. "Have you forgotten the top agent Meng Xian got involved with later on?"
The system paused for a moment: [You mean Nan Xu?]
“Yes, there’s no harm in using existing connections.” Yun gently opened WeChat, found Nan Xu’s profile picture in her contacts, and sent him a message:
Good afternoon, Professor Nan.
Less than a minute after the message was sent, the other party replied: "I've only had brief dealings with Director Sun Mo, and we're not very familiar with each other, so I can't really talk to him."
Yun looked at the message and couldn't help but smile.
No wonder she's a top agent; her eye for talent is truly sharp.
If Gu Mingyan wants to continue her acting career, the second female lead role in Sun Mo's drama is indeed the most suitable resource for a popular young actress like her, as it can both improve her reputation and solidify her popularity.
But this time, he guessed wrong.
Yun Qingqing: [Teacher Nan, you've misunderstood. I didn't want you to help me connect with Director Sun; I just wanted to ask you to recommend a suitable choreographer and vocal coach.]
Nan Xu seemed slightly surprised: [You want to debut?]
"It wasn't me." Yun Qingqing didn't intend to hide it and explained directly, "It was Mingyan."
Nan Xu remained silent for a full two minutes before sending a message: 【???】
The next day, Yun Qingqing accompanied Gu Mingyan to a quiet studio in a bustling area, following the address sent by Nan Xu.
Nan Xu had already arrived and was standing at the door waiting for them.
He wore a casual shirt today, looking less polished and more sharp than he usually is in front of the camera.
"Teacher Nan, thank you for your trouble." Yun greeted him politely.
Nan Xu nodded and stepped aside to lead them inside: "Let's go inside and talk. The teacher is already waiting inside."
The studio is spacious and bright, with a full-wall mirror, smooth wooden floors, and professional barres and sound equipment.
The air was filled with a faint, turpentine-like yet distinct scent.
"The teacher we're going to meet later is surnamed Cheng, Cheng Fang."
As Nan Xu walked, he introduced, "Cheng Fang worked as a trainee mentor at one of the three major entertainment companies in South Korea in his early years. Later, he returned to China to start his own business and mentored two top boy groups. He also choreographed half of the breakout performances for the girl group talent show that went viral last year. He is best at tapping into the stage presence of artists and knows how to amplify their personal strengths."
Yun Qingqing's eyes lit up slightly: "Such an impressive resume?"
Nan Xu glanced at them and kindly reminded them, "Cheng Fang is talented, but his personality is not exactly gentle. He has extremely high standards for the stage and speaks very bluntly, which can sometimes be hurtful. You should be prepared for that."
Upon hearing this, Gu Mingyan subconsciously tightened her grip on Yun Qingqing's hand.
Yun gently felt the coolness of her fingertips, slowly squeezed back, and comforted her softly, "It's normal for someone with real skills to have a temper. A strict teacher produces outstanding students."
Gu Mingyan nodded, as if to encourage herself, and muttered softly, "Yeah, just like Professor He Tinglan, she's very strict in her academic requirements, but the students she teaches are all exceptionally talented."
The three of them entered the practice room.
When they pushed the door open, a tall, slender figure was turning his back to them and adjusting the sound system.
Hearing the noise, the person turned around.
Cheng Fang looked younger than his actual age, with his long black hair tied loosely in a low ponytail at the back of his head. He did indeed appear to be a stern and unsmiling person, with a serious expression on his cold face.
Gu Mingyan felt intimidated just by looking at him.
Why is she wearing the same poker face as Gu Xubai again? Gu Mingyan felt that she and poker faces were naturally incompatible.
"Cheng Fang, the person has been brought." Nan Xu said.
Cheng Fang nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Gu Mingyan.
"Gu Mingyan?"
"Yes, hello Teacher Cheng," Gu Mingyan replied quickly, trying her best to stand up straight.
"Hmm." Cheng Fang responded indifferently, showing no interest in small talk, and walked directly to the speaker. "Time is limited, let's get started. I'll play a basic warm-up routine first, and you can follow along. I'll check your physical condition, sense of rhythm, and coordination."
The music started; it was a fast-paced pop dance track with clear drumbeats.
Gu Mingyan took off her coat and her body instinctively moved to the beat.
She has been practicing ballet since she was a child, and later took private lessons in jazz for a few years. Her basic skills are very solid, and her physical coordination is far beyond that of ordinary people.
She followed the warm-up routine, which wasn't exactly simple, and her movements were fairly accurate.
In any case, from Yun Qingqing's layman's perspective, Gu Mingyan had already danced quite well.
However, before the music stopped, Cheng Fang pressed the pause button.
He crossed his arms and looked at Gu Mingyan, who was slightly out of breath: "I can see that you have a good foundation, solid basic skills, and a good sense of rhythm."
Gu Mingyan had just breathed a sigh of relief when he suddenly changed the subject: "But why are you always so reserved? Every movement you make seems so stiff and restrained. What are you afraid of?"
Gu Mingyan's shoulders slumped, and an undisguised sense of frustration flashed in her eyes.
"sorry……"
Yun Qingqing immediately stepped forward, put her arm around her shoulder, and turned to Cheng Fang, saying, "Teacher Cheng, she hasn't had systematic dance practice in a long time, so she might not be in the right state yet. Shall we try again?"
Cheng Fang didn't object, but simply said, "Jump it again. This time, relax and don't overthink it."
The music started again, and Gu Mingyan tried her best to do as Cheng Fang said, but the more she tried to relax, the stiffer her movements became, and she lost her skill in several movements that she could have done better.
"Stop." Cheng Fang pressed pause again. "This time it's even worse than before. Take a ten-minute break and adjust your state."
After saying that, he turned around and walked to the balcony with Nan Xu, seemingly wanting to leave space for Gu Mingyan and Yun Qingqing.
Only the two of them remained in the dance studio. Gu Mingyan could no longer hold back, her shoulders slumped in frustration: "Am I particularly useless? I can't even do such a simple follow-along..."
Yun gently comforted her, "Don't think like that, you've already danced very well. It's just that Teacher Cheng has seen many top dancers, so naturally his standards are higher."
Gu Mingyan raised her wet eyes and asked, "Really? Doesn't my dancing look like a duck flapping its wings?"
"Of course not!" Yun Qingqing glanced at her insecure expression and noticed something was off. "Has anyone ever said that your dancing looks like a duck flapping its wings?"
Gu Mingyan remained silent for a long time, so long that Yun Qingqing thought she wouldn't answer.
Then she finally raised her head, secretly glanced at the balcony, and made sure that Cheng Fang and Nan Xu wouldn't come in for the time being, before saying in a very soft voice, "...I used to really enjoy dancing in front of Brother Jin Yan. Whenever I learned a new song, I always wanted to be the first to dance it for him."
Yun Qingqing's heart sank; she had a bad feeling.
"But one time, I was very excited when I finished dancing a new dance I had just learned. He interrupted me and said that I didn't dance well, that I looked like a clumsy duck, and that I shouldn't dance in public anymore."
Yun Qingqing felt a surge of anger rush to the top of her head!
Ye Jinyan, that bastard!
Does he know that he followed
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