The selection for new art soldiers began at 8:30 AM.
For once, there was no morning drill. After breakfast in the mess hall, everyone eagerly rushed to the performance pavilion.
This pavilion was originally a theater built before the founding of the nation, later modified by the art troupe.
A long corridor connected the barracks to the pavilion, its roof of blue-gray tiles supported by four dark green pillars. Beneath the roof stood ten rows of long, worn-out wooden benches, forming the art troupe’s stage for nightly performances and the military region’s favorite form of entertainment.
However, unlike formal performances for visiting troops or special galas, these were more for practice and getting used to performing. The stage itself was different.
But for the new art soldiers, this was their first stage—a moment of immense significance.
Most newcomers would perform here for at least a year or two, gaining experience before participating in formal productions.
For the selection, everyone dressed up in their new performance uniforms—a wool-synthetic blend. The fabric was crisp, the cut impeccable, and wearing it made them feel radiant and full of energy.
Members of the selection committee had already taken their seats on the row of long benches beneath the performance pavilion. Two deputy commanders were present, along with instructors from the dance, choir, orchestra, folk arts, stagecraft, and creative teams.
They all sat in the front row, their military caps aligned neatly across their heads, exuding an air of solemn authority and unwavering discipline.
Shi Man sat in the back row, watching the art soldiers take turns performing solos on stage while mentally counting the beats and rehearsing her own dance routine.
The selection committee officers were tasked with evaluating and identifying the diverse talents and varying aptitudes of the candidates, ensuring that each individual’s abilities were fully utilized.
The initial performances featured instrumentalists, followed by solo singers, folk artists, and opera singers. Dancers would take the stage last.
Few newcomers played instruments well. After all, it was rare to find someone who had practiced music at home and still wanted to join the art troupe as a female soldier.
Soon it was Liu Tao’s turn. As she stood up, she gave Shi Man a puzzled glance. She had been wondering all morning why Shi Man always looked so exceptionally tall and graceful in the same military uniform, possessing an inexplicable beauty.
Yao Wenjing caught Liu Tao’s glance and turned away disdainfully.
So what if she’s pretty? If she can’t dance well, it’s all for nothing.
Having known Shi Man for a while, Yao Wenjing was well aware of her aversion to hardship and laziness. She was convinced Shi Man wasn’t cut out for rigorous dance training. Moreover, Shi Man had stubbornly refused to ask Ling Zhen for help.
Let’s see what she manages to get into on her own,Yao Wenjing thought.
As Shi Man stepped onto the performance pavilion, the Selection Committee members, their eyes dulled by aesthetic fatigue, suddenly brightened.
The vibrant green military uniform seemed to inject a refreshing coolness into the sweltering summer day.
Shi Man’s porcelain-pale skin seemed to glow almost ethereally under the slanted sunlight. Her delicate features, framed by long, curling lashes, made her an absolute vision on stage.
The dance member selection process prioritized basic technique before requiring a short dance performance.
Shi Man began with a split, her insteps perfectly straight, toes nearly touching the ground.
Next, she executed a high kick, her leg shooting upward with the speed of the wind, soaring past 180 degrees to touch the back of her ear.
Finally, she performed a backbend, arching backward until her hands grasped her ankles, her body forming a graceful bridge.
By now, most of the new art soldiers had already left, leaving only those waiting for their auditions or sticking around to watch the show.
A collective gasp of amazement rose from the crowd, followed by enthusiastic applause, all in awe of Shi Man’s remarkable flexibility.
The dance members, knowing firsthand how challenging such feats were, felt an even greater admiration.
The two dance team instructors exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming with uncontainable excitement.
This is a once-in-a-century talent! they thought. Such supple ligaments, such a lithe waist, and such beauty—she was practically born to dance!
In this era, few children had the opportunity to train in dance and stretch their ligaments from a young age. As a result, most incoming dance soldiers had stiff joints. No matter how hard they stretched and practiced, they could never match natural flexibility, much to the instructors’ dismay.
Moreover, the neighboring choir and folk arts teams always managed to recruit talented singers and performers, while the orchestra only needed diligent practice to produce harmonious music. This consistently left the dance team at the bottom of the performance rankings.
The two instructors sat up straight, eager to see Shi Man’s next performance, pinning their hopes on this potential star to revitalize the dance team’s future.
***
Below, Yao Wenjing listened to the gasps of admiration from the other girls and watched the instructors’ eyes light up as if they’d struck gold. She couldn’t help but clench her jaw and look away.
Suddenly, she noticed the room had grown much quieter. Everyone’s eyes were drifting in the same direction. Curious, Yao Wenjing turned to see what had caught their attention.
Her eyes widened in shock—
Ling Zhen had arrived!
Ling Zhen was a legend. He’d risen to deputy regiment commander at a young age and was rumored to have been raised by wolves. But it was also his looks that had everyone talking.
He was undeniably handsome, but unlike the pretty young men in the art troupe, his looks carried an aggressive edge.
It was mostly his eyes—deep, unfathomable, and piercing—that gave him this intensity. Perhaps it was the result of his unique life experiences: having seen blood, having killed enemies, all his features seemed to radiate an indomitable sharpness.
As Shi Man had put it after their blind date: “He looks so fierce.”
Yet to Yao Wenjing, this “fierceness” only made her adore him more. She longed to be held tightly in his steel-like arms, to press close against his chest like leaning against a mountain, to wrap her arms around his narrow waist and broad shoulders…
As Yao Wenjing thought about him, her cheeks flushed crimson.
She wasn’t the only one blushing; many female soldiers stole glances at Ling Zhen, their cheeks burning as they quickly averted their gazes.
Commander Ling was just so incredibly manly. They couldn’t help but steal a few extra looks.
Even being on the receiving end of his fierce glare would have been worth it.
Ling Zhen wore his military uniform impeccably, every button’s insignia aligned perfectly. Not a single strand of his stiff, bristly hair escaped from beneath his cap—his military bearing was flawless.
Sharp and resolute, he strode forward like a drawn sword, its cold edge glinting.
As Ling Zhen approached, he seemed to carry the presence of an entire army with him. His boots struck the ground with a faint tremor that seemed to resonate in Yao Wenjing’s chest.
Several female soldiers whispered nervously, their voices trembling:
“Why is Commander Ling here?”
“Duh! To watch Shi Man’s audition.” Someone jerked their chin toward the stage, where Shi Man had just finished her basic skills demonstration and was now striking her opening pose, ready to dance.
“Commander Ling is really head over heels for Shi Man. Looks like they’ll be official soon.”
“Yeah, I heard Commander Ling is super busy. Their regiment commander is retiring soon, so all the big and small matters fall on his shoulders now. For him to squeeze in time to watch Shi Man’s audition—he must really like her!”
One of the female soldiers stared dreamily. “I’m so jealous Shi Man gets to marry Commander Ling and be treated so well. When will my turn for such good fortune come?”
Another soldier ruthlessly shattered her fantasy. “You’d need Shi Man’s face first. In our art troupe, if Shi Man is second prettiest, who dares claim first place?”
“I don’t believe Commander Ling is that shallow,” a soldier retorted. “He can’t just be attracted to Shi Man’s looks, right?”
“…What else does Shi Man have to offer?” Yao Wenjing muttered under her breath, the words barely audible, more like a self-reassuring whisper to suppress the burning jealousy in her heart.
Yao Wenjing couldn’t see anything special about Shi Man beyond her looks.
Meanwhile, Yao Wenjing herself was virtuous, capable, hardworking, patient, and ruthless when necessary. She was neither spoiled nor prone to tantrums, making her the ideal marriage prospect.
Yet Sister Mei consistently refused to introduce her to any of the eligible young men she knew… The more Yao Wenjing thought about it, the more unfair it seemed.
After a moment’s thought, Yao Wenjing realized she’d have to create her own opportunities.
She gripped the Hero Fountain Pen in her pocket, her most prized possession. Holding the pen’s smooth barrel gave her immense courage.
Ling Zhen sat on the long bench diagonally in front of Yao Wenjing, his back ramrod straight like a towering white pine. Even seated, he towered over everyone around him.
Yao Wenjing leaned forward and shuffled closer, twisting around to offer her pen. “Comrade, my pen suddenly stopped writing. Could you take a look at it?”
Despite her efforts to remain discreet, dozens of eyes were fixed on Ling Zhen, clearly observing the scene.
Some looked down on her, some smirked, some were just curious, and most waited to see Ling Zhen’s reaction. If it went well, they’d try striking up a conversation too.
But Ling Zhen was a man of few words. With unimportant people, he refused to waste even a single syllable.
He merely glanced at Yao Wenjing.
His eyes were cold and indifferent, showing no emotion, yet Yao Wenjing felt like a razor-sharp blade had been drawn across her vision. That single look was so fierce it silenced her completely, leaving her unable to utter another word.
Yao Wenjing swallowed all the carefully prepared words that had been on the tip of her tongue and turned away dejectedly.
The other female soldiers froze, utterly bewildered. One moment, Yao Wenjing had been strutting like a peacock in full display; the next, she had withered into a silent, scorched tree stump—a sapling struck by lightning.
It was clear: Commander Ling was not a man to be approached lightly.
Suddenly, the women envied Shi Man even more.
Just then, a burst of applause erupted from the stage.
Most of the female soldiers had been distracted by Ling Zhen and hadn’t paid attention to the performance. Only a handful of those in the front row, who had been watching the selections, joined in the enthusiastic applause.
“What happened?” they hurried over to ask.
“Shi Man just performed an incredible dance, and it seems she choreographed it herself!”
“Shi Man can choreograph dances too?”
The shock wasn’t limited to the soldiers; the Selection Committee was equally stunned.
Naturally flexible soldiers were rare enough, but those with the talent to create and choreograph were even rarer!
Without exchanging a word, the two Instructors from the art troupe’s creative team declared in unison, “Shi Man, we want her on our team!”
“Absolutely not!” Teacher Wu, the dance instructor, protested immediately. “Shi Man was recruited as a Dance Soldier.”
The selection committee erupted into a lively debate, and even the female soldiers began whispering among themselves. They had never witnessed such a dignified panel arguing over a candidate like this.
Standing calmly on the stage, Shi Man watched the Selection Committee’s voices grow louder as they argued over her fate.
One might even say she had a knack for “stirring up trouble.” From childhood onward, she had always been the center of attention—a role she was thoroughly accustomed to.
She had choreographed this dance just yesterday, adding only a few movements and transitions she’d glimpsed in a dream from over a decade in the future.
The subtle additions were enough to captivate the present-day audience without being too radical. Small sparks of brilliance were all she needed.
Shi Man adjusted her braided pigtail draped over her shoulder, the silk flower brushing against her delicate neck. The contrast accentuated her clear, bright eyes, which held a hint of nonchalant charm. Her beauty and personality possessed a unique vitality that was all her own.
Ling Zhen sat ramrod straight, his gaze fixed on the stage.
His eyes seemed as sharp as a blade, though their precise focus remained elusive.
Sister Mei came to see what all the fuss was about and immediately spotted Ling Zhen’s ramrod-straight back. Grinning, she exclaimed, “Commander Ling, are you here specially to see Xiao Man’s selection?”
The results were still pending on stage. Ling Zhen rose deliberately and denied it: “No.”
Sister Mei’s smile faltered for a moment. She awkwardly tried to smooth things over, “Then… what brings you here?”
“Waiting for a reply,” Ling Zhen answered tersely. Sister Mei immediately understood.
She waved her hand dismissively, letting out a dramatic, “Aiyo! No wonder everyone calls you Commander Ling ‘swift and decisive’! I only vaguely said I’d give you an answer today. Xiao Man’s been busy with the selection process these past two days; she hasn’t had a moment to spare.”
Ling Zhen remained expressionless, his dark eyes lowering slightly.
Sister Mei chuckled again. “But there’s no need to rush. With Sister Mei on the case, you can rest assured. Go take care of your business; I’ll get back to you within the next two days, I promise.”
“Mm. Thank you,” Ling Zhen replied tersely but politely.
With that, he brushed past Sister Mei, his shoulders squared as he strode away.
He didn’t glance back at Shi Man once, not even when the Deputy Regiment Commander stepped onto the stage with a microphone to announce Shi Man’s selection status and assignment. Ling Zhen’s pace didn’t falter, as if he couldn’t care less.
Sister Mei watched his retreating figure closely, her brow furrowing. As an experienced matchmaker, alarm bells were already ringing in her mind about the future of these two.
What’s going on? she thought. Shi Man has suddenly turned cold since yesterday, and now Commander Ling doesn’t seem to care either.
She’d assumed he was here specifically to watch Shi Man’s audition, but it turned out he was only after a reply.
When he learned she hadn’t given him an answer yet, he left without even waiting for the audition results.
Sister Mei recalled when she’d approached Ling Zhen earlier to ask what kind of woman he liked. Usually so cold and taciturn, he’d instantly blurted out, “The most beautiful.” It was as if he’d been waiting for her to ask.
She shook her head. It seemed he didn’t truly care for Shi Man after all.
Men are all the same, she thought. They just want a woman to settle down with. Anyone will do, as long as she’s pretty.