Li Yang refused Jiang Xue’s kindness. They had only met that day, and she wasn’t used to troubling others.
Seeing her refusal, Jiang Xue had no choice but to drop it.
After saying goodbye, Li Yang took a bus back to the small residential courtyard near Newspaper Street.
Chen Lili had already told her that after the last half-day of work that afternoon, they would be off for the weekend. She could move into the dormitory on Monday.
Although the cultural troupe’s management system wasn’t as strict as the actual military, it was still quite regulated. Everyone had to stay in the dorms on working days and could only go home on weekends.
So after returning home, Li Yang simply freshened up before heading back to the troupe for the afternoon session.
That afternoon, more than fifty girls were arranged for a choir rehearsal.
After changing into her uniform and stepping onto the stage, Li Yang found that everyone was packed tightly in formation.
Even getting to the last row would require others to make space for her.
She wasn’t short, and since this was just rehearsal, standing at the back wouldn’t affect her much.
“Excuse me, could you make some space? I’ll stand at the back, thank you.”
…
But after asking several girls, they either pretended not to hear her or lowered their heads, ignoring her.
Li Yang: …She almost laughed in anger. Was this workplace bullying on her first day?
Before she could respond, Jiang Xue stepped down from the second row and shot the others a fierce glare.
“Leave some room for others—you’ll meet again in the future. You haven’t even been selected yet, and you’re already bullying people? Impressive.”
Seeing Jiang Xue step in, no one dared to say anything.
She pulled Li Yang along, forcing her way through the crowd until they reached the last row.
Since Jiang Xue had helped, Li Yang let it go—for now. Otherwise, she would’ve shown these petty girls just how formidable she could be.
Jiang Xue was happily chatting, enthusiastically recommending her favorite singer, when a woman wearing black-rimmed glasses arrived with Chen Lili.
After greeting each other, Chen Lili sat down in the audience with her evaluation sheet.
The middle-aged woman, Zhang Xiaoping, adjusted her glasses and spoke sternly:
“Girls, today is our first rehearsal for the choir piece ‘Ode to Red Adornment.’ Stay focused. You were already asked to practice this song beforehand—today we evaluate your results.”
“Cheng Miaoxin!”
“Here!”
“Come to the front and act as conductor.”
“Yes!”
A girl stepped out from the center of the first row—it was the same one who had secretly instructed Li Mei to cause trouble for Li Yang that morning, though Li Yang didn’t know it yet.
Jiang Xue muttered in annoyance and nudged Li Yang.
Li Yang turned to her.
“Li Yang, listen. Isn’t Zhang Xiaoping shameless? Just because she’s the head of the singing department, she constantly goes against my aunt. I’ve also heard she often arranges spotlight opportunities for her daughter during public events. It’s completely unfair to everyone else. A lot of people can’t stand them.”
“Now it’s obvious. Without saying anything, she just lets Cheng Miaoxin be the conductor…”
Clearly, Jiang Xue really disliked Cheng Miaoxin.
But unexpectedly, before Li Yang could enjoy the gossip any longer, the situation turned toward her.
Zhang Xiaoping, as a teacher, seemed surprisingly impatient.
“The new recruit, Li Yang—is she here? Come to the front.”
With her stern expression, everyone instinctively assumed the newcomer must have done something wrong.
This time, everyone quickly made way, exposing Li Yang at the back.
Seeing the stunning girl standing with Jiang Nianxin, Zhang Xiaoping felt even more displeased. Anyone close to Jiang Nianxin irritated her.
Li Yang wasn’t intimidated. Since the teacher had called her, she walked forward confidently and stood before everyone.
“Teacher, did you call me for something?”
Zhang Xiaoping immediately spoke in a way that lost goodwill.
“So you’re the one—quite the charming face. I’ve heard you’ve become quite famous in just two days at our Nancheng Cultural Troupe.”
Li Yang frowned slightly. The resentment in her tone was obvious.
Zhang Xiaoping continued, “Are all of you blind? She’s someone who bullies her colleagues.”
Li Yang let out a light laugh.
“No wonder you’re looking at me like I’ve wronged you deeply. So you’re trying to help your daughter eliminate competition?”
“Li Mei splashed hot soup on my back in the cafeteria this morning, and within two hours, it reached your ears…”
“So the one who instructed Li Mei—it was you.”
Her tone shifted as she fixed her gaze on Cheng Miaoxin.
“Cheng Miaoxin, right? You were in the cafeteria this morning too.”
“I’ve only been here two days. I couldn’t have any grudge with Li Mei. And someone like her—timid and insecure—even if she had ulterior motives, she wouldn’t dare act openly.”
“Besides, news from the cafeteria couldn’t spread that fast.”
“The only one who could react so quickly and bring in your dear mother… is you.”
“I know talented people like me are easily envied by mediocrities—but someone as foolish as you and your mother? That’s a first.”
Cheng Miaoxin clenched her fists tightly, barely suppressing the hatred in her eyes.
Zhang Xiaoping hadn’t expected this newcomer to be so bold as to openly challenge them.
“How presumptuous—sharp-tongued!”
“Do you even know how to sing ‘Ode to Red Adornment’? If not, get off the stage. We don’t keep useless people here.”
Li Yang didn’t waste words.
She opened her mouth and began to sing.
By the end of the song, everyone was completely mesmerized.
Before they could recover, Li Yang spoke again:
“Your turn.”
????
Zhang Xiaoping looked stunned, pointing at herself.
“You want me to sing?”
“What? You can’t? Don’t forget—we don’t keep idle people here. If you can’t, pack up and leave.”
Li Yang had no intention of tolerating these people. She wasn’t here to suffer. The cultural troupe was just a stepping stone for her. Besides, as long as Jiang Nianxin hadn’t spoken, no one could drive her away.
Zhang Xiaoping turned to look at Chen Lili in the audience—but Chen Lili showed no intention of intervening.
Zhang Xiaoping cursed inwardly.
Now that things had come this far, she couldn’t refuse.
She tightened her abdomen, steadied her breath—
and sang loudly.
As everyone listened, something felt off.
It turned out that for a passionate, fast-paced song, louder didn’t necessarily mean better.