Gu Heping, realizing what he had just said, exclaimed, "What an extraordinary romantic!"
Zhou Qishen didn't mind, sat down on the sofa, and started rubbing his temples. Gu Heping walked over, "Your head hurts again?"
His fingers moved from his brow to his temples without stopping.
"Take care of your health, and don't rely on sleeping pills all the time. Taking too many of those things can damage your brain." Gu Heping's concern was brief and to the point; a grown man like him wasn't good at nagging.
Finally, almost forgetting, I told him, "I had someone put the things you brought for Xiao Zhao at Teacher Dai's."
——
That night, Zhao Xiyin was thoroughly exhausted by Li Ran's antics, and in a moment of indulgence, she drank quite a bit. She went home and collapsed into bed, only to be woken up by Zhao Wenchun the next morning. "Oh my god, you're still not up!"
After drinking, Zhao Xiyin had no problems; she just wanted to sleep, lying sprawled out on her back, completely still.
"What time is it? Didn't you have an appointment with Teacher Dai?!" Zhao Wenchun's reminder made Zhao Xiyin jump up like a zombie, her hair disheveled and her face full of terror. "Oh no, oh no!"
Dai Yunxin's dance studio is located near the Workers' Stadium. When Zhao Xiyin arrived, Dai Yunxin was giving instructions. When she turned around and saw Zhao Xiyin, her gaze was authoritative without being angry.
Being late, Zhao Xiyin said apologetically, "I played a little late yesterday, teacher, I'll do it next time..."
"Did you drink last night?"
Zhao Xiyin was taken aback, then nodded obediently.
Dai Yunxin immediately launched into a tirade: "You're about to join the crew, and you still can't tell what's important? From now on, strictly control your schedule and diet! You were five minutes late today, so do a hundred leg presses!"
Teacher Dai has always been strict, and she's become even stricter over the years. Zhao Xiyin was still intimidated by her and didn't dare to utter a single word in her defense, obediently following her instructions.
Dai Yunxin had been watching for a long time and realized that the person had a solid foundation and hadn't neglected the basics. Her expression relaxed slightly, and she said critically, "Lose another five pounds."
It had been more than three years since Zhao Xiyin had been on stage. Although her figure hadn't changed, Dai Yunxin felt it wasn't enough. Zhao Xiyin smiled wryly, "Teacher, I was just giving it a try. Director Pang is very strict; I really didn't dare to think about it."
Dai Yunxin scoffed coldly, "Pathetic."
Strangely enough, Dai Yunxin's arrogant and confident attitude had a significant influence on people. Zhao Xiyin initially found it amusing, but upon further reflection, she suddenly understood. After all, it all boils down to these same things. Since the worst-case scenario had been planned for, why be so cautious in the process?
Taking this step, putting knowledge into practice, is more important than anything else.
When Zhao Xiyin smiled, Dai Yunxin knew that her runaway apprentice had returned home.
"Oh, right, there are two things." Dai Yunxin hadn't forgotten the favor she was asked to do. She took out two square gift boxes. "These are for you from Xiao Meng and Xiao Zhou. Open them and take a look."
Zhao Xiyin didn't answer any of them.
Dai Yun thought to herself, "It's all well-intentioned, but don't get hung up on it."
After a moment of silence, Zhao Xiyin opened the package. Both Meng Weixi and Zhou Qishen had given her a pair of dance shoes.
The one Meng Weixi gave was exquisite and gorgeous, with agate and diamonds strung on the silk ribbon, sparkling brilliantly in the light. Zhou Qishen's, on the other hand, was ordinary, a simple design, a single layer of satin, with no other embellishments.
Dai Yunxin immediately understood. Meng Weixi's pair of shoes held deep feelings, but were superficially flashy; they were more than enough to be collected. She said, "Which pair you wear to jump is up to you."
The audition with Director Pang Ce is scheduled for next Friday. Dai Yunxin has a ruthless teaching style; she's really pushing Zhao Xiyin to her limits. When Zhao Xiyin was stretching her legs, Dai Yunxin thought they weren't straight enough, so she pressed down hard on her shoulders. Zhao Xiyin hadn't formally trained for three years, and the pain was so intense that her calves felt like they were about to break. "One day of practice, one day of improvement"—the old saying is true.
Sweat dripped down Zhao Xiyin's forehead. Dai Yunxin still harbored resentment and regret, saying, "Now you know the pain? I advised you not to give up back then. Weren't you quite tough?"
Zhao Xiyin cried out, "Master, please have mercy!"
As soon as she uttered the word "Master," the grip on her shoulder noticeably loosened, then gradually weakened until it was completely gone. Zhao Xiyin turned around and saw that Dai Yunxin had already turned her back, her hand pressed against her eyes, indicating that her eyes were red.
After a week, Zhao Xiyin gradually adapted to the intensity, and her skills and stamina improved. Dai Yunxin, who was one in a hundred, was still not satisfied and warned her: "Eat less carbohydrates, you must lose another five pounds."
Zhao Xiyin was like an old, dilapidated ship, swaying and being launched into the ocean. Before the wind and waves even rose, she was pulled by the bright light, and, in a daze, stumbled and fell as she set sail into the depths of the ocean.
On Wednesday, Dai Yunxin made a last-minute trip to South Korea to attend an art exchange event, finally giving Zhao Xiyin some time to rest. She received a phone call as soon as she left the practice room and reached the subway entrance in the afternoon.
It was Gu Heping. He was a joking man, and his Mandarin had a Beijing accent. "Luckily, thankfully, Xiao west, I was really afraid you would block me."
Zhao Xiyin quickly denied it, but she was still uneasy. "Brother Heping, is there something you need?"
"No one visits a temple without a reason," Gu Heping said without beating around the bush, "Xiao west, Brother Zhou is sick."
She was sick and hospitalized, and Gu Heping wanted her to help him out.
Zhou Qishen gets a physical exam every six months, and the reports and documents are kept in a file folder. These are sensitive and private matters, kept in a safe at home. This "home" is a bit awkward; it's their marital home.
"Brother Zhou doesn't have an access card, Xiao west, could you please get it for me?"
Without a second thought, Zhao Xiyin asked, "He's in the hospital. Is it the same old problem?"
Gu Heping said, "Yes. When is a convenient time for you? Or I can come to your house to pick you up and then take you back later."
Zhao Xiyin hesitated for a moment, then turned and exited the subway station. "I'm nearby. I'll take it and give it to you. Which hospital?"
The sun shone brightly in the sweltering heat, lingering in the evening, unwilling to relinquish its light. Zhao Xiyin hadn't been to this house for over two years. The security guard at the gate had changed; seeing her unfamiliar face, he hesitated for a moment. Zhao Xiyin scanned her face, her information was saved, and the gate opened automatically.
When Zhou Qishen bought this house, he chose the penthouse unit, a priceless gem. The elevator led directly to the entrance. Zhao Xiyin took a deep breath, still feeling uneasy. As soon as the door opened, a cool breeze rushed out, the sensor-activated central control system automatically turned on, and all the lights came on.
Zhao Xiyin was momentarily stunned, her feet hovering in mid-air, her blood rushing straight to her heart, causing her pain all over.
The house was spotless, indicating regular cleaning. Zhao Xiyin's personal belongings were all in dust bags in the wardrobe. Zhou Qishen had a lot of things, so this safe was custom-made, taking up an entire shelf of the wardrobe. It contained watches, jewelry, foreign currency in US dollars, and all sorts of other things. In the top compartment was a wedding ring box. Zhao Xiyin gently opened it; only one ring remained—the men's ring was gone.
She covered it up forcefully, her fingers trembling slightly, and when she looked up again, her eyes were very sore.
Without lingering, Zhao Xiyin found the file bag and hurriedly left, as if there were a raging beast in the room that wanted to devour her alive.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Zhao Xiyin called Gu Heping, but the line was constantly busy. She later asked a nurse, who said she was in the intensive care unit. Gu Heping called back, and upon hearing she was in the hospital, he quickly said, "Xiao west, don't go, I'm coming to pick you up."