Chapter 9, the collaborative stage, features a dance between the two, a fusion of sword shadows and sleeve movements…
After the recording ended, the noise subsided, and the backstage area of the studio gradually quieted down, with only the occasional sound of staff packing up equipment remaining.
Zhu Qingting sat in front of the makeup mirror, carefully removing the hair accessories from her head. The heavy stage makeup had also been removed, revealing her slightly flushed skin underneath.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated beside me, and the screen lit up, showing that cloud-shaped profile picture that I was gradually getting used to.
Chai Yundu: "Do you have any plans afterward? If not, may I invite you to dinner? I have some questions about the upcoming competition that I would like to ask you."
Zhu Qingting looked at the message and fell into thought.
The surprise and doubt that arose in my heart because of his sudden appearance were intertwined.
She hovered her fingertip over the screen for a moment before finally replying with a "OK" followed by a cute smiley face.
The location was still chosen by Chai Yundu; it's a seafood restaurant known for its high quality and privacy, located in an inconspicuous little villa.
The waiter led them to a private room by the window, where a meticulously maintained courtyard stretched out before them, with swaying bamboo shadows and stone lanterns casting a soft glow.
After taking their seats, Chai Yundu ordered a specialty seafood porridge and a seafood mini-cuisine. While waiting for the food, Zhu Qingting finally asked the question that had been swirling in her mind all night.
"Why did you come to participate in this program? There wasn't a word about it online." She looked at him with a questioning look in her eyes.
Chai Yundu calmly poured her lemon water and said, "When we talked about this show last time we had dinner, I thought the fusion of martial arts and dance was very interesting and challenging."
He took a sip of lemonade and continued, "Of course, I also want to give the fans a surprise and let them see something different."
He gently swirled the water in his glass, his tone becoming more serious, "But the most important reason is that you participated."
He looked directly into her eyes, no longer beating around the bush, "This show was originally only broadcast on an online platform, with a relatively fixed audience. If it weren't for the mentors bringing their own fanbase, the attention would actually be limited. I think your dance, your hard work, and your desire to promote art through this platform deserve to be seen by more people."
His words were like a pebble thrown into the lake of Zhu Qingting's heart, creating ripples that spread outwards.
A warm feeling of being understood and cherished slowly enveloped her.
She never expected that Chai Yundu would remember her casually mentioned troubles and wishes, and then quietly provide such tremendous support in this way.
"Thank you, Teacher Chai," she said softly, her voice filled with genuine emotion. "It's really...unexpected, and I'm very grateful."
Chai Yundu smiled slightly, "It was nothing. Besides, I am indeed very interested in cross-disciplinary collaborations." He changed the subject at the right time to avoid putting too much pressure on her, "So, if I encounter any problems with dance in the future, I may really have to ask you for advice often, Teacher Zhu."
"You're welcome anytime." Zhu Qingting smiled, her previous slight restraint vanishing in an instant. "As long as I know it, I'll definitely share it with you without reservation."
Just as Chai Yundu had predicted, the show sparked a massive online discussion after its release, thanks to the highlight of "Chai Yundu's first street dance performance".
Countless netizens who didn't originally pay attention to this variety show were also drawn in.
The bullet comments and comment section were unusually active:
"My God! Chai Yundu is so handsome when he dances!!"
"Ahhh, my husband is killing me! That figure, that aura!"
"Wait! Who is that guest named Zhu Qingting? She dances so well!"
"She has such a great presence!!"
"Absolutely stunning figure! Such beautiful curves, even I, a girl, am envious!"
"When will her dance drama tour Xi'an? I want to buy tickets!"
"Am I the only one who wants to see Chai Yundu and Zhu Qingting dance together? Martial arts + classical dance, just thinking about it is exciting!"
"+1! Did the production team hear that? Arrange it right away!"
"+10086! Seeking a collaboration platform!"
The production team naturally took notice of the overwhelming comments requesting collaboration on stage.
The director and planning team were ecstatic; this was like a golden ticket to internet traffic falling from the sky!
However, along with the excitement, there was also some trepidation.
Chai Yundu is a top influencer, and being able to participate in the third phase is already an unexpected bonus; the price can even be described as a "friendship price."
They were unsure of the big star's temperament and whether he would be willing to cooperate, especially for a solo performance with another unfamiliar female dancer.
With a tentative idea in mind, the director arranged for Follow PD to cautiously bring up the idea during a break between Chai Yundu and Zhu Qingting's separate rehearsals, hoping to add an opening performance by the two of them on the final stage.
To the surprise of the production team, Chai Yundu responded very readily, only asking, "Is everything alright with Professor Zhu?"
After learning that Chai Yundu had agreed, Zhu Qingting naturally nodded in agreement as well, expressing her anticipation for such an artistic collision.
The production team was overjoyed and immediately began preparations for this major event.
The upcoming competition schedule is packed with activity. Zhu Qingting will continue to assist Ali and Sun Ao in preparing for the quarterfinals, while also rehearsing a collaborative stage performance with Chai Yundu.
In the quarterfinals, the three of them performed a dance drama inspired by "Farewell My Concubine," focusing on the emotional entanglements between men and women.
The dance was full of emotional outburst, and all three performers gave commendable performances.
However, the 8-to-4 format focuses on individual performance in this round, rather than the overall team performance.
Ultimately, Sun Ao, with superior overall strength and performance on the spot, successfully advanced to the national top four.
Although Ahri was disappointed to have stopped, there was not much disappointment in his eyes, but rather a lot of gratitude.
He held Zhu Qingting's hand tightly and said gratefully, "Sister Qingting, thank you! I never thought I could make it into the top 8 and get sixth place. You showed me more possibilities in dance."
After sending Ahri away, Zhu Qingting devoted more of her energy to assisting Sun Ao in preparing for the finals and rehearsing with Chai Yundu.
The dance with Chai Yundu was arranged in consultation with the program's choreographer because neither of them knew street dance.
The music they chose for their collaboration was a grand and majestic instrumental piece that combined classical charm with modern rhythms, and the choreography theme was "Sword and Heart".
The rehearsal process was far more...wonderful than Zhu Qingting had imagined.
In previous collaborations with other contestants, neither of them needed to perform many street dance moves; they only needed to showcase their strengths in dance and martial arts, adding a few street dance elements. However, for this dance, street dance needs to be the primary focus, with their own strengths playing a secondary role.
Zhu Qingting's overall demeanor prevented her from naturally shrugging her shoulders and bending her back, or letting herself become lazy. Her choreographer taught her house dance, a type of street dance.
Chai Yundu was the same; his martial arts training from a young age made him unable to stand freely, even when relaxed. But fortunately, he was strong, and his teacher taught him breaking, which allowed him to use his powerful arms to support himself in many floor moves.
Of course, there must be some movements in dance that require close coordination.
Whenever Chai Yundu put his arm around her waist and lifted her up, a subtle ambiguity would always fill the air.
His palms were warm, the warmth seeping through her thin training clothes onto her skin; his breath would sometimes gently brush against her ear or the side of her neck; their eyes inevitably met and intertwined in their close interaction…
Once, when practicing a finishing move that required her to jump up and be caught and held in his arms, Zhu Qingting's jump was slightly weak.
Chai Yundu reacted quickly, pulling her closer to his chest to maintain his balance.
In that instant, their bodies pressed tightly together, his chin brushing against her forehead, both able to feel the other's suddenly quickened heartbeat and warm body temperature.
Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds. Only the echoing music and somewhat disordered breathing remained in the rehearsal room.
"I'm sorry..." Zhu Qingting was the first to come to her senses, her cheeks flushed, and she wanted to pull away from his embrace.
Chai Yundu's arm tightened slightly before slowly releasing, his voice a few decreased and hoarseer than usual, "It's alright. Are you... alright?"
"N-nothing." Zhu Qingting lowered her head, not daring to look into his eyes again, feeling the heat on her face linger for a long time.
Such moments, occurring frequently during intensive rehearsals, act as silent catalysts, allowing a certain feeling to quietly grow between the two.
Finally, the grand finale of "Street Dance of China" is here!
The opening performance was the highly anticipated collaboration between Chai Yundu and Zhu Qingting, titled "Sword and Heart".
The lights suddenly came on, and the music started.
Chai Yundu, dressed in a black outfit, still held an antique-style longsword. His posture was as upright as a pine tree, and his movements were fierce and sharp. Every chop, thrust, flick, and swipe was accompanied by the force of breaking the wind, showcasing the power and beauty of street dance combined with martial arts to the extreme.
Zhu Qingting wore a moon-white long dress with flowing sleeves. Her dance was graceful and elegant, with the flowing sleeves fluttering, combining the beauty of street dance with the grace of classical dance.
The dance between the two was a blend of swordplay and sleeve movements, a collision of strength and flexibility, as if it truly depicted an ancient legend about chivalry and tenderness, resilience and protection.
Their collaboration was seamless; when their eyes met, emotions flowed naturally, transforming the entire stage into a fantastical space full of stories.
The moment the performance ended, the entire audience erupted in applause and cheers!
The live stream chat went completely wild:
Holy crap! That's invincible!
"A visual feast! Absolutely amazing!"
"These two are working so well together! Their eyes are practically glued to each other!"
"It doesn't feel like dancing, it feels like watching a martial arts blockbuster!"
"I've already started imagining a period drama, and I'll cast these two as the male and female leads!"
"Today's champion performance is booked in advance!"
The opening act was a bombshell, immediately pushing the atmosphere both in person and online to a climax.
As a result, the individual final performances of the four contestants that followed, while also brilliant, seemed unable to surpass the shocking impact of the opening performance.
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