At her worst, she spun the fan for three days straight, spinning it unconsciously every time she got her hands on it.
After watching the dance, Liang Shi found that the fan movements involved were relatively simple.
But dancing with props is completely different from dancing without props. In order not to slow down everyone's progress, she still had to practice her part with a fan.
However, Zhao Xuning didn't have a fan at home, so Liang Shi sent him a message: "[Could you bring a fan back with you?]"
Zhao Xuning: [...Your room has air conditioning; the remote is in the bedside drawer.]
Liang Shi: [No, it's a fan for practicing martial arts.]
Zhao Xuning: [?]
Liang Shi: [Changed character: 舞 (wǔ)]
Zhao Xuning: [?]
When Zhao Xuning returned, he still bought a fan and then stood at the door of the room staring at Liang Shi.
Liang Shi was a little embarrassed by what he saw, and he couldn't continue practicing his dance.
"Go ahead and do your thing, don't worry about me," Liang Shi said.
Zhao Xuning said, "I'll just take a look."
"What's so interesting about it? You can see it on TV later," Liang Shi said.
Zhao Xuning stared at her lower abdomen for a long time before saying in a seemingly calm tone, "You actually have abs."
Liang Shi: "..."
She answered matter-of-factly, "What else?"
Zhao Xuning: "..."
“I do two hundred crunches every day,” Liang Shi said. “Besides, I rely on my looks and figure for a living. If an actor can’t keep up with the physical demands, he will be at a disadvantage when reciting lines.”
Zhao Xuning: "..."
“I understand.” Zhao Xuning sneered: “You drag me out for late-night snacks every day while you secretly do ab crunches.”
Liang Shi: "?"
That sounds so much like—you treacherous and cunning little man!
"No, let me explain," Liang Shi said. "I do eat, but I'm definitely not fat, right? As for doing crunches, that's just my exercise routine, and my abs are something I just casually trained."
Zhao Xuning: "...Okay, I understand."
His face still held that same expression—you make things up, I'll just quietly watch you make things up.
Liang Shi felt he couldn't explain it clearly, but Zhao Xuning didn't intend to watch any longer. She went back to her room, changed into sportswear, and went straight out.
Liang Shi leaned against the door and asked, "Where are you going?"
Zhao Xuning didn't even turn his head: "Gym."
Liang Shi: "..."
Are top students someone who can't afford to lose anywhere?
Liang Shi didn't understand, but he got it.
//
The variety show Liang Shi participated in was called "Happy Return Line". She performed with other girls who came from girl groups and had idol-like faces.
Liang Shih's presence in the story feels somewhat out of place.
However, she managed to close it on her first try, and even the fan spun quite beautifully.
But those who can sign with Huayi are not bad.
During a break, she was sitting there playing with a fan when the dance director saw her and thought one of her movements was particularly beautiful, so he wanted to add it to the dance on the spot.
After that one was changed, the dance director, who had previously reduced the difficulty level because he was worried it was too high, brought it back out.
One of their moves involves tossing a fan high in the air, spinning 360 degrees, then flicking their sleeves and catching the fan with their backhand – a move that perfectly matches a lyric from the song they're performing this time.
This move was originally intended, but because it was too difficult and none of the people present were professional dancers, they had to abandon it.
But this move is particularly outstanding when done well.
Now, the dance director's hope was rekindled after seeing Liang Shi. He explained the key points of the movements to Liang Shi and asked him to demonstrate. Liang Shi dropped the fan on the first try, but on the second try, he was able to spin it beautifully and catch it steadily.
He can be described as exceptionally gifted.
The dance director wanted to adjust the standing positions at the last minute, but Liang Shi, knowing the implications, did not agree.
She whispered to the dance director, "The original focus of this dance was the three of them. This is their stage. It's not good for me to steal the spotlight. Also, if the dance is too beautiful, it will distract everyone from the song and turn the originally beautiful music into background music, which is not good."
Upon hearing this, the dance director had no choice but to give up.
As they were heading home after rehearsals, the group's leader told Liang Shi, "You were great."
"Huh?" Liang Shi asked in surprise, "I just did what I was supposed to do."
"But it's already quite remarkable," the team leader said. "It's admirable that they were willing to compromise for their work on a big stage."
Liang Shi chuckled upon hearing this: "Is this a common problem among actors?"
The recording went very smoothly.
Although Liang Shi was a marginal figure, his movements were very fluid, and his voice was pleasant to hear. In particular, his red outfit was exceptionally stunning.
She has a lot of drive.
Everyone else was singing, but she was acting along with the lyrics.
Every glance was perfectly timed.
After their performance, the host said that she had a "red dress killer" effect, and wondered if she could make any clothes look red.
Liang Shi then smiled and said, "We'll see."
When she finally changed back into casual clothes, she seemed like a completely different person.
Overall, the first recording of a variety show went fairly smoothly.
This episode will air next Friday night, and it's a satellite TV variety show.
It will then be broadcast simultaneously on four major online platforms.
After recording the variety show, Liang Shi went back to the company with the girl group. On the way, he overheard them talking about the turmoil at the top.
One of the girls said, "It has nothing to do with me, since I can't see the boss anyway."
Another person said, "I heard that the new president is an exceptionally beautiful woman. Some employees have seen her come to the company and they feel that she could be taken out as an artist and it wouldn't look out of place."
"So beautiful?"
"yes."
"When will she come again? I'll pretend to bump into her."
"It's faster to dream about it. I heard the contract has already been signed, and her assistant came several times afterward."
"What a pity, I was still dreaming of being a CEO's wife."
"..."
After chatting for a while, they shifted the topic to the recently released TV series.
Liang Shi sat in the back row, unable to get a word in edgewise, and had no interest in doing so, so he looked down at his phone playing a game.
//
The day after Liang Shi finished recording the program, he received a call from Gu Xingyue. She said she wanted to meet Feng Xian, but told Liang Shi not to tell Feng Xian yet.
After obtaining Zhao Xuning's consent, Liang Shi arranged a meeting and invited Feng Xian out under the pretext of asking her for advice on the script.
The meeting place was a teahouse, and Zhao Xuning, who was not on duty, also came.
Feng Xian was slender and had an elegant air about her. She wasn't wearing glasses, and she nodded slightly when she saw Liang Shi, saying, "Hello."
Liang Shi greeted him, "Hello, teacher."
Gu Xingyue arrived late, and by the time she arrived, everyone had already been sitting there chatting for a while. When Liang Shi talked with Feng Xian, he felt that she was a person with great literary attainments.
Moreover, he was not condescending. He did not look down on her, a graduate of a third-rate university, just because he was a literature professor. Instead, he spoke about those things in a very calm manner, even breaking them down and explaining them to her in detail.
Liang Shi listened attentively and found it very pleasant.
When Gu Xingyue came in, she first exchanged a glance with Feng Xian. Then they both paused, looked at each other for a long time, and then smiled at each other, saying in unison, "It's you."
They had met before at the hospital, but only exchanged one sentence.
We had met once before.
Gu Xingyue sat opposite her, quiet and obedient, listening silently without saying a word.
After Feng Xian finished speaking, Gu Xingyue silently poured her another cup of tea.
After having some snacks, everyone went to a restaurant for a meal.
Zhao Xuning followed behind Feng Xian the whole way, being very considerate.
During the meal, Gu Xingyue suddenly asked, "I heard you lost a daughter?"
Feng Xian picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks, but her hand trembled and the food fell onto the table.
Feng Xian's lips trembled, and it was clear that she found it difficult to accept this matter, but she still said, "Yes."
Her voice choked up just from mentioning it.
Gu Xingyue placed a piece of food in her bowl with her chopsticks, saying, "Please don't get agitated."
“No.” Feng Xian chuckled. “It’s been a long time since anyone brought up this topic with me.”
That's why I was so excited when I first heard it.
But after the excitement came a huge sense of loss.
After so many years of searching, she has given up.
Only a tiny glimmer of hope remained in my heart to sustain me.
Gu Xingyue asked, "Then how did your daughter get lost?"