Chapter 30 Mulan Joins the Army: Let's see if my men's attire can... surpass...
The shift in online sentiment was also fueled by Chai Yundu's team hiring marketing accounts to stir up trouble and create momentum.
An entertainment marketing account published an in-depth analysis post, praising Zhu Qingting's dance achievements and character from a professional perspective, and summarizing the "coincidental" interactions between the two on the show, guiding the public to view this relationship rationally.
Chai Yundu's goal was clear: he wanted to slowly boil the frog in water, gradually making his fans accept and get used to his special treatment of this girl.
If possible, he hopes to choose the most formal occasion after the show ends and make a public announcement to her in a straightforward manner.
Now that their relationship has become clear, his behavior on the show has become increasingly undisguised.
For example, when they were traveling to the airport in the program crew's car, he squeezed out of the queue and sat next to Zhu Qingting without any hesitation, as if it were a matter of course.
Standing there, Shan Zhiyi stared wide-eyed at Chen Yifei, who had already taken a seat in the back row. Chen Yifei gave her a knowing look. Suppressing a laugh, she patted the empty seat next to her and mouthed, "Sit here, you third wheel."
Upon arriving in Munich, Germany, the team had lunch at a distinctive German restaurant. Chai Yundu sat down next to Zhu Qingting with remarkable ease, subtly pushing the plate of roasted pork knuckle that Zhu Qingting had glanced at closer, and offering her an open bottle of mineral water when her hands were greasy.
These actions carried an almost blatant thoughtfulness, as if silently declaring to the camera and to everyone: I am different from everyone else when it comes to her.
Director Yao, watching the intimacy between the two, grinned from ear to ear. The online buzz was fantastic; the celebrities themselves weren't even pretending anymore!
He could hardly imagine the frenzy that would erupt among the "Du Qing Si" CP fans after these clips aired. This further solidified his resolve to manipulate the situation behind the scenes and ensure that the two would be paired up in the final performance.
The netizens' frenzy is the guarantee of high viewership ratings; it's his celebration!
Germany is known for its rigor, and the Confucius Institute in Heidelberg is a brand-new, modern building with glass curtain walls that reflect sunlight, a stark contrast to the historically rich institutes in the previous three countries.
Here, they experienced intangible cultural heritage—string puppetry. Professional teachers prepared two programs for them, one of the Four Great Classical Novels, "Journey to the West" and the other "Dream of the Red Chamber."
Based on the characteristics of the seven guests, they were simply divided into two groups. Chai Yundu, Zhu Qingting, and Ding Yi performed "Journey to the West," while Chen Yifei and three other female guests performed "Dream of the Red Chamber."
Based on the suitability of the roles, Chai Yundu should be able to play Sun Wukong, Teacher Ding Yi is naturally the best choice for Tang Sanzang, and Zhu Qingting is the alluring White Bone Demon.
However, Chai Yundu seriously raised an objection, "Teacher, this puppet show relies on the fine manipulation of the hands. My hands, which are trained in martial arts, may not be very dexterous. I think Tang Sanzang's movements are the simplest and most steady, which is more suitable for me."
His expression was serious, as if he were genuinely analyzing the difficulty of the role.
His intentions were almost obvious to everyone present. He simply didn't want to play a role that was the enemy of the White Bone Demon, but rather a role that the White Bone Demon desired.
Director Yao looked at Chai Yundu's righteous and stern demeanor and a shrewd smile appeared on his lips.
Very good, the heat is almost right. Now, all we need to do is add the most crucial piece of firewood to bring the water to a complete boil.
After the puppet show training ended, Director Yao whispered a few instructions to the staff member in charge of the lottery.
Everyone was filled with anticipation when the sealed box containing the group assignment slips was brought out. This was the final stage, and everyone hoped to find the perfect partner to create the most perfect ending.
Following the instructions of the production team, Chai Yundu stepped forward first, calmly pulled out a slip of paper, and unfolded it.
His gaze lingered on the note for a second, then a distinct smile spread from his eyes to his lips. He didn't even announce it immediately, but instead turned his gaze to Zhu Qingting.
Zhu Qingting's heart started racing for no apparent reason.
Chai Yundu randomly showed the text on the note to the camera.
"Wow~" A good-natured cheer erupted from the crowd. Shan Zhiyi and Chen Yifei cheered the loudest, and even Teacher Ding Yi smiled knowingly.
Director Yao nodded in satisfaction backstage. Everything was under control. There was actually only one piece of paper in the sealed box.
With the groups determined, the performance tasks were also announced: to perform an outdoor stage play in the courtyard of Heidelberg's nearly 700-year-old castle, with the theme reflecting a certain resonance between Chinese and German cultures.
“Let’s perform ‘Mulan Joins the Army’,” Zhu Qingting suggested almost without hesitation. She looked at Chai Yundu, her eyes burning with creative passion. “Mulan disguises herself as a man to join the army in place of her father. It embodies both patriotism and the struggles of gender transformation, creating immense dramatic tension. Moreover,”
She expressed her small ambition with a hint of shyness, "Don't your fans love your male-male CP with Teacher Xu Yi the most? This time I'll dress up as a man and see if my male attire can... surpass Teacher Xu's?"
This suggestion immediately struck a chord with Chai Yundu. "Great! Let's do 'Mulan'!" he declared decisively, his eyes practically overflowing with anticipation.
Next, Chai Yundu was responsible for designing the "battlefield" combat sequences that were both powerful and visually appealing. He personally taught Zhu Qingting how to wield the spear, how to step with a steady and powerful stance, and how to portray Mulan's initial awkwardness upon entering the army and her gradually honed perseverance in blocking and attacking.
Zhu Qingting, on the other hand, was completely immersed in playing the role of a man. She put on a soldier's armor and tied her long hair tightly inside a hair ornament. She imitated Chai Yundu's walking posture, deliberately lowered her voice when she spoke, and even tried to imitate the soldier's determination in her eyes.
During breaks, Chai Yundu would often chuckle as he watched her maintain her feigned serious demeanor, earning him a glare from her that was utterly intimidating but only made more vivid.
The most crucial and stunning part of the entire performance was undoubtedly the moment when the identity was revealed.
Zhu Qingting suggested that in the climax where Mulan's identity is revealed, she should not simply take off her armor, but rather undergo a transformation that is more aesthetically pleasing and dramatically impactful.
“You must knock off my crown in the midst of the melee,” she gestured, “and my long hair will instantly fall down. Then, I must quickly remove the heavy soldier’s armor and clothing on the outside, revealing the red dancing dress that I have already put on underneath, symbolizing my womanhood.”
She continued, her eyes sparkling, "Next, I will use the red paint that stained my fingertips with blood from the previous battle to quickly draw a unique floral pattern on my forehead that belongs to a woman and bears the marks of war!"
"Finally, the music changed from thunderous war drums to a magnificent symphony of triumphant return. I transformed from a soldier into a woman, offering a war dance to celebrate victory and commemorate the fallen heroes."
On the day of the performance, the sky cooperated, and the brilliant sunset bathed every brick and stone of Heidelberg Castle in warm colors. The ancient courtyard was packed with eagerly awaiting Chinese and German audience members.
As dusk fell, the previous five performances were spectacular, culminating in the grand finale, "Mulan Joins the Army."
"I am willing to serve as your steed and rider, and from now on, fight in your father's place—"
A firm yet deliberately low female voice rang out, and a spotlight shone on the center of the stage. A soldier clad in heavy armor, her back to the audience, suddenly turned around. The light illuminated Zhu Qingting's resolute eyes and upright figure—truly a sight to behold, a woman who was just as capable as any man!
The drums of war thundered, and the plot unfolded layer by layer. Chai Yundu, playing the general, fought side-by-side with soldier Zhu Qingting on the "battlefield," their movements powerful and their coordination impeccable. He reached out and firmly supported her waist, helping her complete a difficult aerial spin. The camera captured the undisguised admiration and tenderness in his eyes. The lights shone on the two, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
As the plot reached its climax, after an exceptionally fierce "melee," Chai Yundu's spear, at a clever angle, inadvertently knocked off Zhu Qingting's hair ornament.
In an instant, Zhu Qingting's long hair was freed from its restraints and cascaded down like a waterfall. With a few staggering spins, strands of hair flew about, highlighting her breathtakingly beautiful femininity.
The audience couldn't help but let out a low gasp.
As Zhu Qingting spun around, her hands kept moving. She quickly tore open the belt around her waist and the heavy soldier's uniform on the outside, and with a flick of her arms, she threw the uniform, which symbolized restraint, into the air!
The blood-red dance dress that was already dressed inside contrasted sharply with the black clothes that were thrown out, creating a striking visual image against the desolate backdrop of the ancient castle.
But that wasn't all! In the silence where all the audience had forgotten to even breathe, she raised her right hand, her fingertips now stained with crimson paint.
She stood in the center of the stage, under the gaze of the entire audience, with an almost sacred sense of ritual, and covered her smooth forehead with her red-stained fingertips, quickly and precisely outlining a simple yet indomitable red flower, like a blazing flame or a winter plum blossom!
At this moment, she was no longer the Mulan who concealed her gender; she was a woman reborn from the ashes, blossoming on the battlefield! She was the perfect combination of heroism and gentleness!
As the music changed, Zhu Qingting began to dance, her red skirt billowing and her long hair flowing. Her dance had completely shed its previous imitation of masculine strength, incorporating instead a great deal of the grace and resilience of classical dance. Yet, every pose, every glance, carried the weight of experience gained from countless battles.
She is not just dancing; she is telling a magnificent story about loyalty, courage, sacrifice, and ultimately finding one's true self.
According to the script, Chai Yundu should have shown immense shock at this moment. But now, standing to the side of the stage, watching the red figure dancing gracefully under the lights, all the acting in his eyes had vanished, leaving only complete and undisguised shock and... fascination.
The camera zooms in, and the close-up shot clearly captures his slightly dilated pupils, and the uncontrollable, almost obsessive, tenderness and pride that flows between his tightly pursed lips.
He seemed to have forgotten that this was a performance, forgotten the audience around him, and only saw the stunningly beautiful girl in the ancient castle, with the sky and earth as her backdrop.
This moment of heart-stirring emotion transcends the plot; it comes from the heart, from the deepest part of the soul, and is destined to become eternal.
The dance came to an abrupt end with the last note, and Zhu Qingting concluded her performance with a frozen pose full of oriental charm.
The silence lasted for a full seven or eight seconds, then thunderous applause and cheers swept through the entire castle courtyard like a tsunami! Many German audience members stood up excitedly. They may not have fully understood the details of the story, but the ultimate beauty, the intense emotions, and the cross-cultural artistic appeal were enough to captivate them.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com