She became the center of attention, surrounded by the group members. It was so lively that no one noticed Su Ying, who had been standing silently at the entrance of the practice room for who knows how long. The great dancer was always surrounded by assistants and bodyguards, and no matter when or where, Su Ying's demeanor was always proud.
The assistant was still savoring Zhao Xiyin's performance and asked Su Ying, "Sister Ying, is she the one Teacher Dai has been recommending? She danced really well!"
Su Ying remained expressionless, a single syllable trembling from her nose as she coldly commented, "Childish."
Chapter 30 In the Midst of the Mortal World (4)
In the midst of the bustling world (4)
Whether the word "childish" refers to the dance moves or the original intention of the battle is unknown.
In any case, Su Ying's words were worth a fortune, and her emotions were written all over her face—she didn't like Zhao Xiyin.
What happened this afternoon seemed like just another routine rehearsal, but undercurrents were swirling beneath the surface, and everyone could see it. Former classmates, clinging to some old friendships, but that meant nothing. Now they were all going their separate ways, rivals.
And when it comes to gossip about school beauties like Zhao Xiyin and Lin Lang, it's even more fascinating.
Every day's rehearsal footage had to be shown to Dai Yunxin. Dai Yunxin was extremely busy, holding multiple positions, and she was responsible for more than just the dance direction for this film and television project. She was now considered a benchmark and authority in the industry, balancing business and professionalism almost perfectly.
After watching today's video, Dai Yunxin didn't comment, but the smile on her face said it all. Zhou Qishen, sitting next to her, asked casually, "Teacher Dai seems to be in a good mood?"
Dai Yunxin had invited him to dinner at a friend's Yunnan restaurant, a place known for its light and healthy cuisine, with pleasant, soothing music playing in the background. She handed him a tablet, raising an eyebrow as she gestured, "Take a look too. Xiao Xi was willing to come back to dance before, but she always seemed to lack a certain energy. It's not that she danced badly, but she just wasn't good enough. But today, look at her defiant eyes, her whole body brimming with energy—so cool! That's the kind of student Dai Yunxin should have."
Zhou Qishen read it quietly and attentively.
After watching it, I couldn't bear to look away.
Dai Yun said smugly, "You've never seen a girl like this before, have you?"
Zhou Qishen's expression softened. "Yes, I haven't seen it before."
When he was pursuing her, Zhao Xiyin was a senior in college and hadn't danced for over two years. It was a life Zhou Qishen had never experienced, a treasure trove of scenery he had never witnessed.
“You don’t know her past, so you can’t understand how high my expectations are for her.” Dai Yunxin sighed. “She is a very idealistic child when it comes to dreams. Her innocence and sincerity are rare qualities, but because of this, she becomes even more arrogant when she encounters setbacks. It took Xiao Zhao nearly six years to get over it. Six years, do you know what that means for a dancer? Golden years, so precious, so precious.”
Zhou Qishen narrowed his eyes, showing no sign of sympathy, and said with a smile, "Teacher Dai, you are an artist, and your words are learned. I can understand what you are saying, but I don't have your profound understanding. In my opinion, whether it's six years or sixty years, it's never too late for Xiaoxi to jump if she wants to. If she doesn't want to jump, then so be it. It's not a big deal, don't force her too much."
Dai Yunxin was displeased. "You're a man, how could you understand a woman's mind?"
Zhou Qishen said, "I was her man, so I naturally understand the thoughts of a lover."
Dai Yunxin said unhappily, "You're not allowed to take advantage of Xiao west."
Zhou Qishen lowered his head, his smile suddenly turning bitter.
After dinner, he very gentlemanly asked his driver to take Dai Yunxin home, and then drove his white Land Rover eastward. Zhao Wenchun was genuinely happy to see him come to his house. The old man was sharp-witted and could guess what he was thinking right away. "You're here to see Xiaoxi, right? She'll be back soon. Sit down and wait, I'll cut you some fruit."
Zhou Qishen didn't stand on ceremony and let him do as he pleased. After so many years of being father-in-law and son-in-law, he had long regarded Zhao Wenchun as family.
Less than ten minutes later, Zhao Xiyin returned. She wasn't too surprised to see Zhou Qishen. In the six months since she returned to Beijing, he had been haunting her, treating this place like his own home.
Zhou Qishen asked, "Are you busy?"
Zhao Xiyin was confused. "Huh?"
"Teacher Zhao has left something at the college. I'll take you there to pick it up."
Zhao Wenchun came out of the kitchen and continued the conversation, "Oh, right, a few lesson plans. Xiao west, could you bring them back for Dad? I'll trouble Qi Shen to be the driver."
Zhao Xiyin didn't think much of it, changed one shoe and put it back on, "Okay, let's go."
Li Ran kept sending her WeChat messages, complaining about the bizarre customers she'd encountered recently. Zhao Xiyin sat in her car, constantly checking the messages, a smile never fading from her lips. She was so focused that by the time she realized she was on the wrong road, it was too late.
Zhou Qishen reversed the car into the parking space and stopped in front of the hospital outpatient department, saying, "Get out of the car."
Zhao Xiyin was puzzled. "What?"
Zhou Qishen went around to the passenger side, opened the door for her, then knocked on the door sill and said quite seriously, "Eat people."
Zhao Xiyin was speechless, then kicked him, saying, "You're crazy."
Zhou Qishen didn't even try to dodge, leaving a gray footprint on his white pants. He was quite pleased, pointing and saying, "You wash the pants."
Zhao Xiyin glared at him angrily, but after a while, they both laughed.
Zhou Qishen stopped hiding it and said, "I was asked to do this. Your dad told me that you've been training intensely lately, and he's worried about your injured leg, so he brought you here to get it checked out."
Zhao Xiyin frowned. "I'm fine."
"Whether something happens or not, it's just for peace of mind."
The doctor was a friend whom Zhou Qishen had arranged to see beforehand. After examining Zhao Xiyin and taking an X-ray, the doctor reassured Zhou Qishen that her bones were healing well and there were no lasting problems. Zhao Xiyin turned her head and said, "My dad tends to overthink things. Don't exaggerate things with him in the future. I'm not a child anymore; I can take care of myself."
Zhou Qishen said calmly, "In Teacher Zhao's eyes, no matter how old you are, you are still his child."
After dropping the person off, Zhao Wenchun made an excuse to ask Zhou Qishen to wait for him a while. He parked the car outside the residential area, and the two of them walked slowly along the garden path. Zhao Wenchun sighed, "You care so much about Xiaoxi, I, as her father, feel guilty."
The two walked along in the moonlight. The autumn night was pleasant and refreshing. Occasionally, a breeze would rise, carrying the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms from who-knows-where. Zhou Qishen smiled and said, "It's nothing. I had dinner with Teacher Dai today, and she mentioned how hard they've been working lately. I was worried about her foot injury, so being cautious is perfectly reasonable."
Zhao Wenchun nodded. "Xiao west's legs haven't had any problems in the past few years. A couple of years ago, she traveled all over the country, riding horses, surfing, and cycling. She was so energetic that she could fly."
Zhou Qishen smiled and casually asked, "Did Xiaoxi go back to America to see her aunt?"
“I go every year, usually before the Spring Festival. I stay for a week and then go back to Beijing for the New Year.” Zhao Wenchun told him without any suspicion, “Her aunt has spoiled her since she was a child. She doesn’t have any other children to keep her company, so she treats Xiao west like her own daughter.”
"I've already experienced that," Zhou Qishen asked, "Is Auntie still alone?"
"I guess so, ah, not really. Anyway, none of her boyfriends lasted long, she kept changing them." Zhao Wenchun, with his traditional mindset, sighed and shook his head, there was nothing he could do about his younger sister.