Xie Yuli wasn’t here to see her?
He was here for Wen Shengyue?
Shen Bingci’s expression darkened slightly.
A heavy feeling instantly settled in her chest.
The news of her engagement to Xie Yuli had not yet been publicly announced due to several pending arrangements.
The official announcement would come later.
As a result, most people still didn’t know that Xie Yuli was her fiancé.
Otherwise, they probably wouldn’t have dared discuss such things in front of her.
But more than anything else—
She simply didn’t want to believe it was true.
Perhaps Xie Yuli had come for charity work.
She had long heard that he donated to charitable organizations every year, visited remote villages, promoted public welfare, and helped disadvantaged groups.
Standing backstage in the darkness, Shen Bingci took her position.
She gazed toward the central seating area.
The lights suddenly exploded into brilliance.
A spotlight landed on her.
Illuminating the trace of loneliness hidden in her eyes.
Yet within a single moment, she adjusted her emotions and immersed herself completely in the ballet.
At that same moment—
She noticed that Xie Yuli was no longer in his seat.
So he really had only come to see Wen Shengyue.
Like a swan gliding across a moonlit lake, she danced gracefully across the stage.
Her slender arms swept through the air.
She turned.
Kicked.
Lifted her chin.
Balanced on one foot.
The notoriously difficult thirty-two fouetté turns that terrified most dancers came effortlessly to her.
Light as a feather.
Dreamlike.
Fragile.
Crystal-clear.
As the grand music swelled, it seemed as though even her fragrance drifted through the theater.
Dancing beneath the lights, she resembled a painting soaked in moonlight.
Weaving a magnificent dreamscape for every audience member.
When the performance ended, thunderous applause erupted.
Flowers and praise surged toward her like ocean waves.
Together with the other dancers, Shen Bingci stepped forward for the curtain call.
Her face remained expressionless.
News of Shen Bingci’s surprise appearance immediately exploded across social media.
At the same time, several sharp-eyed entertainment editors connected her return performance with Xie Yuli’s appearance in the theater.
#XieYuliAttendsWife’sPerformance
The topic instantly shot to the top of the trending charts.
After leaving the stage, Shen Bingci was drenched in sweat.
She drank water.
Yet instead of feeling the usual joy that followed a successful performance, she only felt more suffocated.
More frustrated.
More restless.
Returning to the dressing area midway through, she glanced toward Wen Shengyue’s dressing room.
Xie Yuli was probably there now.
Once the performance ended, Yan Ting approached Xie Yuli.
Throughout the entire show, Xie Yuli hadn’t watched the performance.
He couldn’t focus on work messages in a theater because it was too noisy.
He preferred quiet environments.
Most of the time, he had simply rested with his eyes closed.
“President Xie.”
“The performance is over.”
Xie Yuli responded with a soft “Mm.”
A few moments later, he stood.
“Bring the items.”
“Let’s finish this quickly.”
“Understood, President Xie.”
Yan Ting carried a large bouquet.
Another bodyguard carried a gift box.
Xie Yuli disliked traveling with large entourages.
Or rather—
He disliked going out at all.
Given the choice, he preferred sitting quietly in his own courtyard, basking in sunlight with his eyes closed.
Arriving at Wen Shengyue’s dressing room, he offered a polite smile.
“Miss Wen.”
“Congratulations on a successful performance.”
At a glance from him, Yan Ting stepped forward and presented the flowers and gift.
Still dressed in white, her veil tossed onto the sofa, Wen Shengyue immediately beamed.
“Mr. Xie!”
“I never expected you would actually come.”
“Thank you for your congratulations!”
Xie Yuli’s eyes shifted slightly.
His expression remained cool.
“Your brother asked me personally.”
“Naturally, I came.”
He and Wen Guanfu had been business partners for many years.
The previous day, Wen Guanfu had personally called him.
Begging.
Persuading.
Practically pleading nonstop.
“Brother Xie, you know my sister was missing for over ten years.”
“Our family finally found her.”
“We treasure her more than anything.”
“She just wants to meet you.”
“Her ballet is excellent too.”
“Just treat it like watching a performance and relaxing.”
Wen Shengyue was the long-lost daughter of the Wen family.
She had reportedly been found only a few years earlier.
For reasons unknown, the family had never publicly announced it.
Her brother adored her.
Xie Yuli didn’t particularly care.
But Wen Guanfu had offered numerous valuable concessions just to get him to attend.
Xie Yuli hadn’t accepted any of them.
Coming today was merely a favor to an old business partner.
Holding the bouquet, Wen Shengyue inhaled deeply.
Smiling contentedly, she said:
“Mr. Xie, these flowers smell wonderful.”
“As expected, your taste is extraordinary.”
Xie Yuli’s lips curved faintly.
“You can thank my assistant.”
“He chose them.”
Wen Shengyue’s smile visibly froze.
Yan Ting awkwardly smiled.
“Thank you for the compliment, Miss Wen.”
The truth was simple.
Xie Yuli had told him to choose something ordinary and avoid creating misunderstandings.
So Yan Ting had carefully selected a standard bouquet.
Wen Shengyue eventually laughed and thanked him.
Then she continued chatting with Xie Yuli.
He had little interest in the conversation.
Still, leaving immediately after arriving would have been rude.
So he listened as she discussed various ballet-related topics.
Meanwhile, Yan Ting stepped outside to answer a phone call.
The moment he closed the door and lifted the phone—
He saw Shen Bingci standing beside the neighboring dressing room.
She was still wearing her exquisite white ballet costume.
Her expression looked hurt.
Wronged.
Almost tearful.
Staring directly toward this side.
In that instant—
Yan Ting’s mind exploded.
Oh no.
Oh no no no no no no no no!
This is bad!
Why is Miss Shen here?!
She performed today too?!
When Shen Bingci saw him exiting Wen Shengyue’s room, her expression darkened even further.
Pursing her lips, she seemed to glare at him.
Then she turned and entered her own dressing room.
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
Yan Ting froze.
His brain nearly crashed.
But he quickly recovered.
Hanging up the call immediately, he rushed back inside.
Leaning close to Xie Yuli, he spoke quietly:
“The dressing room next door belongs to Madam.”
“She just went inside.”
“I only learned today that she was performing.”
“The second performance.”
Xie Yuli had only attended the first act.
And even then, he had come reluctantly.
There was no way he would have stayed for the second.
Hearing this, he lifted his sharp gaze.
His expression became noticeably more serious.
A strange feeling stirred inside him.
His temple throbbed.
Turning to Wen Shengyue, he immediately stood.
“My apologies, Miss Wen.”
“I have other matters to attend to.”
“Let’s stop here for today.”
“Goodbye.”
He left quickly.
So quickly that Wen Shengyue barely had time to say anything.
Still, she wanted to see him off.
Perhaps he had urgent work.
Seeing him once was already difficult.
Even watching his back disappear would be enough.
But when she stepped outside—
She watched Xie Yuli turn directly into the neighboring dressing room with his assistant.
Her eyes widened.
She froze in place.
The door opened.
Inside, Shen Bingci sat on the sofa.
She had just wiped her eyes.
As if she had been crying.
Dressed like a noble white swan, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
More dazzling than diamonds.
It was the first time Xie Yuli had ever seen her like this.
“Miss Shen.”
His deep voice sounded unusually gentle.
Hidden beneath it was the faintest trace of uneasiness.
Though he himself hadn’t realized it.
Shen Bingci lifted her crystal-like eyes.
Looked at him.
Pouted.
Her entire face filled with grievance and hurt.