The moment Zhao Lili said that, everyone fell silent.
Who would dare claim they could dance better than her?
That would only invite humiliation.
Seeing that no one objected, Zhao Lili finally led Xu Nianchu away.
Yu Wei was dumbfounded.
Wait…
Sister?
There’s still a living person standing here!
How did you just forget about me?
The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became.
And the fact that Xu Nianchu had actually danced so well only made her even more frustrated.
Nothing had gone right today.
After waiting for quite a while, the two of them finally came back out.
By then, Xu Nianchu already had an official acceptance letter in her hand.
Even now, Zhao Lili still looked reluctant to let her go.
“You can come here anytime. We have a major performance in one month—that’s when you’ll truly get to shine. Just don’t come too late!”
“I will. Thank you for your confidence in me, Director Zhao.”
Holding the appointment letter, Xu Nianchu was overjoyed.
She could finally sell off the factory workshop job she’d inherited.
Picking up her bag, she glanced outside.
“Director, may I use the dressing room to change my clothes?”
It was already eleven o’clock.
The sun was blazing overhead.
She was planning to meet Lu Shijia afterward, so she’d better change into a dress.
She was determined to leave him completely captivated.
“Of course. Go ahead. It’s a communal dressing room anyway.”
Su Ting suddenly popped out from nowhere.
“No! That’s our space. She hasn’t officially joined yet. What if something goes missing?”
Yu Wei was a respected woman.
Xu Nianchu had come here under her recommendation.
Those words were practically a slap in Yu Wei’s face.
She immediately snapped,
“Young lady, what are you saying? Do you even know who she is? She’d steal your things? Look at yourself. Is everything you’re wearing even worth as much as the shoes she’s got on?”
Xu Nianchu looked at Yu Wei in surprise.
If she was going to defend her like this…
…then Xu Nianchu had nothing to worry about.
Feeling her gaze, Yu Wei awkwardly turned her head away.
Su Ting glanced at Xu Nianchu’s shoes.
Her expression shifted between pale and dark.
She recognized those shoes.
She’d seen them at the department store before.
They cost three months of her salary.
She simply couldn’t bear to buy them.
Director Zhao’s expression turned cold.
“Su Ting. Apologize to Comrade Xu Nianchu.”
Su Ting stood rooted to the spot.
She had never suffered such humiliation before.
She’d always been the one others looked up to.
Xu Nianchu glanced at Su Ting’s figure before smiling.
“Oh, I get it now.”
“Comrade Su Ting, you’re afraid I’ll come in and take your position as lead dancer.”
“I’m sorry, but I fully intend to.”
All her friends were watching.
Embarrassed, Su Ting still forced herself to keep up appearances.
“How do you know I’m the lead dancer? And what makes you think you can replace me?”
“Your nervous expression told me.”
“Don’t worry. Your physical foundation isn’t very good.”
“I’ll definitely take your place.”
After saying that, Xu Nianchu looked around.
There were no men nearby.
Only the girls practicing dance.
Underneath her top, she was still wearing the old-fashioned camisole-like undergarment the original owner used.
It wasn’t supportive at all and covered her waist.
Without hesitation, she removed it.
She slipped on her dress.
Then took off the shorts underneath.
The entire sequence flowed naturally and effortlessly.
Everyone around her stared in shock.
Before, they’d only thought she had a large bust.
Now they realized…
…its shape was beautiful too.
After changing, Xu Nianchu stood there in a flowing dress.
Her graceful figure was perfectly outlined.
Her waist was slender.
Every movement she made was breathtaking.
It was simply unfair.
How was anyone else supposed to live?
Su Ting felt even more embarrassed.
Why had she provoked her in the first place?
Yu Wei hadn’t expected Xu Nianchu to do something like that.
Looking at the girl’s figure, her brows furrowed as her heart tightened.
Shijia was still young.
What if he became completely infatuated with that body?
If disaster was unavoidable…
…there was no escaping it.
She quickly led Xu Nianchu outside.
Looking at the medicine pouch in her hands, she asked,
“Is that for Father?”
“Yes.”
“You can just give it to me. Go home.”
“No need. I’ll go back with you.”
Yu Wei’s voice immediately rose.
Of course.
Exactly what she feared was happening.
“Why?”
Xu Nianchu smiled.
“I passed the audition today. It’s only proper that I pay a visit.”
“Besides, there’s a particular technique to preparing this medicine.”
Yu Wei’s face stiffened.
It seemed she had no choice but to let her visit the old master.
The worst part…
Her son was home today.
What was she supposed to do?
But what disappointed her most was that, just as they reached the military residential compound, they ran into Lu Beichen’s jeep.
Both her younger brother-in-law and her son climbed out.
Shijia greeted them cheerfully.
“Mom. Comrade Xu. Everything finished?”
Yu Wei subtly stepped half a pace forward, trying to block Xu Nianchu from view.
Unexpectedly, Xu Nianchu matched her movement…
…and ended up standing even closer to her son.
Xu Nianchu answered softly,
“Yes. From now on, I’m officially a proud member of the performance troupe.”
“Oh, and I heard your base is the same one we’ll be assigned to.”
Lu Shijia hadn’t expected her to actually succeed.
It surprised him.
But…
She seemed even prettier today.
Standing there, she completely overshadowed his mother.
Under the brilliant summer sun, dressed in a light goose-yellow dress…
…she looked bright, refreshing, and radiant.
Her waist was impossibly slim.
Seeing her felt like drinking a glass of ice water in the middle of summer.
Without realizing it, even his usual carefree smile softened.
“The South City base?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, here.”
“I noticed you really liked those apples yesterday, so I brought you some more.”
Watching from the side, Yu Wei clenched her teeth.
She’d known Xu Nianchu hadn’t come with innocent intentions.
Sure enough…
The fox had finally shown its tail.
Lu Shijia, however, was pleasantly surprised.
He hadn’t expected her to notice something as small as that.
Yesterday, after he’d eaten one apple, Grandpa had refused to let him take any more.
And today…
She’d brought him another batch.
“Thank you.”
“I really like them.”
“You’re welcome.”
“It’s just… I’m a little nervous about going to South City.”
“Nervous about what?”
Lu Beichen gripped the enamel mug in his hand so tightly his knuckles nearly turned white.
For some reason…
He felt irritated.
Just two days ago she’d been acting spoiled around him.
Now she was smiling and chatting happily with another man.
He had been the one who saved her.
All he’d gotten was a simple “thank you.”
Meanwhile…
This other man hadn’t saved her at all.
Yet she’d brought him apples.
And he could only stand here…
…watching everything unfold with cold eyes.
At last, he couldn’t take it anymore.
His gaze fell on the apples in Lu Shijia’s hands.
Without another word, he strode toward the compound.
“I’ll head in first.”
Lu Shijia noticed that his uncle seemed upset.
He lowered his voice and said to Xu Nianchu,
“My uncle’s just like that. Don’t mind him.”
Xu Nianchu smiled.
“It’s alright.”
“Let’s go in too.”
She was in an excellent mood.
Today she’d successfully caught Lu Shijia’s attention.
She couldn’t help wondering…
What new surprise would appear in her space this time?
As they walked, however…
Lu Shijia suddenly noticed that his uncle had slowed his pace.
Meanwhile, back at the Lu family residence…
Early that morning, around eight or nine o’clock, the gate guard came to report that members of the Xu family had come to pay a visit.
Old Master Lu was getting on in years and needed less sleep.
His joints usually ached badly at night, so he always woke up early.
But somehow…
Last night, he’d slept soundly straight through until dawn.
He felt refreshed all morning.
Even his coughing had disappeared.
Meng Qi’an smiled.
“Could it be because of that pear soup?”