As the festive music played, the male and female hosts, dressed in black suits and floor-length gowns, gracefully walked onto the stage.
“Respected leaders, honored guests, welcome to the Jiangcheng City Government Mid-Autumn and National Day Gala…”
Warm applause erupted from the audience.
The first performance was a grand chorus—“Today Is Your Birthday”, presented by the Party Secretary’s Office. Powerful and majestic, the harmonious voices filled the auditorium.
The second performance was a group dance—“Moon Gazing”, by the Municipal Office. It was a qipao-themed show, cleverly combining a qipao fashion display with dance movements, highly creative.
As performers in vintage blue qipaos holding white round fans gracefully stepped onto the stage, applause and cheers echoed continuously.
For group performances like this, Shi Anlan felt indifferent. He preferred solo acts—solo singing, solo instrumental, or solo dance—those truly showcased the performer’s skill.
Of course, what he anticipated most was Zhou Nuan’s solo dance.
Yet this performance still caught his eye.
After all, who doesn’t love something beautiful?
(The show’s planners: Single Shi Secretary, we just want you to see—so many young women right here around you.)
Next came a female solo—“May We Live Long”. Her melodious voice and fresh singing style earned widespread praise.
Time passed quickly—two and a half hours into the gala. Secretary Zhou left after the fifth performance. Everyone assumed Shi Anlan would also leave, as usual, leaving just the secretaries to manage the event.
To everyone’s surprise, Shi Anlan stayed until the end.
Who would have thought he was so interested in the gala!
By now, fatigue settled in. The audience wasn’t as quiet as before; many began whispering to each other.
Suddenly, the stage lights went out, plunging the room into darkness.
This sudden change immediately drew everyone’s attention.
A few seconds later, a white circular spotlight illuminated the stage. At its center stood a woman in a white gown.
She knelt quietly on the floor, like the purest spirit descended from nature itself.
As the ethereal melody of “All Things Alive” slowly played, she began to dance. The stage lights shifted, soft beams radiating from all directions, enveloping her in a warm, mysterious glow.
Her figure appeared extraordinarily lively under the lights, like a fairy stepping out from a painting, exuding an otherworldly aura.
She lightly tapped her toes to the rhythm and began to spin. The white skirt blossomed like petals in motion, its hem fluttering like snowflakes in the air.
Her movements alternated between swan-like grace and butterfly-like agility, each pose brimming with poetry and elegance. The stage lights continually changed, sometimes soft, sometimes intense, perfectly complementing her dance.
When the lights brightened, she looked like a flower basking in sunlight, vibrant and full of life; when the lights softened, she resembled a spirit dancing under moonlight, serene and mysterious.
Through her movements, she told a story of life and nature, each motion filled with emotion and power. As the music reached its climax, her gestures became more intense.
Arms raised high above her head, the skirt swirling like a whirlwind, white light sparkling across the stage. The lights flared in tandem with her movements, as if the entire stage were ignited by her dance.
A nearly divine glow radiated from her face—a love for life, reverence for nature, and admiration for all living things.
Finally, the music faded, and the woman gradually stopped dancing. The lights softened. She bowed slightly, hands gently clasped at her chest, as if giving thanks for nature’s gifts.
After a brief pause, the audience erupted into thunderous applause that seemed endless.
Shi Anlan didn’t fully understand dance, but the impact Zhou Nuan left on him was indescribable.
She danced brilliantly… and she was stunning!
A single phrase came to mind: Graceful as a Startled Swan. If he had to choose one phrase to describe Zhou Nuan’s performance, this would be it.
He couldn’t help but applaud.
At that moment, he even felt an impulse to hold such a woman in his arms.
He paid no attention to the subsequent performances; his eyes and heart were entirely captured by Zhou Nuan’s elegant, light, and mesmerizing movements.
It wasn’t until the host announced the end of all performances and the start of the voting segment that he returned to reality.
“Ladies and gentlemen, now begins our voting. Each of you may select three performances you think were the best and enter their corresponding numbers into the voting device. The highest votes will be first place, second highest second place, and so on.”
Using the voting devices in the municipal auditorium made the process simple.
Shi Anlan didn’t hesitate—he pressed number 29, and only 29.
Of course, the vote was anonymous.
The results came quickly. Zhou Nuan won almost unanimously, earning a well-deserved first place. The Municipal Office’s group dance “Moon Gazing”, praised for creativity and stage effect, took second. Third place went to a skit.
Zhou Nuan became famous overnight!
Many single men in the audience immediately inquired about her, some eager to confess their feelings.
When Zhou Nuan went on stage to receive her award, countless eyes were fixed on her.
Coincidentally, it was Shi Anlan who presented the award.
Originally, Shi Anlan wasn’t scheduled to award prizes, and organizers assumed he would leave early. Seeing him still seated, they hurriedly adjusted the list, assigning him to present the first-place award.
The sudden change caused quite a flurry among the organizers.
Zhou Nuan was surprised upon seeing Shi Anlan.
She hadn’t expected such a high-ranking official to present her, a small elementary school teacher, with an award.
Today, Shi Anlan appeared different—more composed, more imposing, carrying the natural authority of someone in power.
For a moment, Zhou Nuan was stunned.
The man who sent her messages at night asking about her student’s performance and wishing her goodnight seemed entirely different from the commanding leader before her now.
In truth, this was Shi Anlan’s usual demeanor.
“Congratulations, Teacher Zhou.” Shi Anlan received the trophy and certificate from the host and handed them to Zhou Nuan, his voice gentle.
“Thank you… Secretary Shi,” Zhou Nuan almost blurted out “Xu Zhi’s Dad” but stopped just in time.
Seeing the young girl’s embarrassment, Shi Anlan smiled softly. “No need to be nervous.”
That smile made Zhou Nuan glance at him once more.
She realized the man was smiling warmly at her, and she quickly lowered her head, flustered.