"The mind and intention are in harmony, the intention and the breath are in harmony, the breath and the strength are in harmony, and the strength and the form are in harmony."
Dai Yunxin put down the ruler and said coldly, "Joining the team isn't about showing off your moves. Put away all those fancy moves. If you can't do it well the first time, do it a hundred times, a thousand times. Don't think you're something special. Once you leave this training room, you're nothing."
For a long time after they left, the practice room was extremely oppressive.
This show of force was incredibly effective, instantly calming down those smug, self-important young people.
Afterwards, Meng Weixi was furious. He only refrained from openly losing his temper because Dai Yunxin was an elder. He ignored Dai Yunxin when she spoke to him, which was quite awkward. Zhang Yijie smiled and tried to smooth things over, changing the subject to ease the tension.
Dai Yunxin explained, "I'm both suppressing these kids' complacency and helping Xiao west."
Meng Weixi asked in a flat tone, "What did you do to help her? Did you make her a target, embarrass her, let her be criticized, or use her as a tool to establish your authority?"
Dai Yunxin was also displeased, "I did this simply to ensure the team presented its best side. I am the dance director, and this is my responsibility."
Meng Weixi's face remained grim.
Dai Yunxin naturally didn't bother arguing with him, and coldly retorted, "But what about you? Have you thought about her at all?"
He left after saying those words, still sighing in his heart. Meng Weixi was worried and confused, but he shouldn't have acted so recklessly.
Dai Yunxin had a dinner appointment at a hotel on the second floor near Jingguang Bridge. She was truly exasperated; upon entering the private room, she couldn't help but criticize, "You were just discharged from the hospital, why are you eating hot pot? Who decided this?"
Zhou Qishen glanced at the culprit, and Gu Heping quickly stood up, "Health-preserving hot pot, it's good for your health."
Dai Yunxin pulled out a chair and sat down. "True health preservation means eating three meals a day at home."
Gu Heping didn't care. "I can go home. My family will treat me to good food and drink. But some people have limited means. They're all alone in Beijing. If they go back, they'll be left with nothing but cold food and cold dishes. I'm afraid it will break their hearts."
Zhou Qishen threw a chopstick at him, "Will you die if you don't talk?"
Gu Heping flicked his finger and said with a worried expression, "Well, he's gotten angry out of embarrassment."
Dai Yunxin was used to the banter between the two of them, so she didn't get involved and got down to business. She looked at Zhou Qishen and said, "I got Xiaoxi out of that predicament. She was a bit fierce, but the method worked. Don't worry."
Zhou Qishen stood up, walked around and personally poured tea for Dai Yunxin, saying, "Thank you for your trouble."
Dai Yunxin sighed softly, "Even if you hadn't said anything, I would have done it anyway. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down, and I would have protected her in the end."
Meng Weixi was confused. "What's going on?"
Dai Yunxin said leisurely, "She trained with the group. Xiao Meng was just trying to help her and gave her special treatment. She was separated into a separate group and the person in charge was asked to take care of her. Nobody is stupid. It's only been two days and people are already talking about it. Meng Weixi is caught up in it without realizing it. In fact, this is actually harming people."
Gu Heping understood and said helplessly, "This kid is also a hopeless romantic; he hasn't let go yet."
Despite his sigh of admiration, it still stung Zhou Qishen. Zhou Qishen was extremely displeased and coldly said, "Do you want to give him a 'seat award'?"
Gu Heping laughed, "Then you'll be the first one awarded."
Dai Yunxin declined to comment on the complicated love triangle. She wasn't acting on Zhou Qishen's orders; it was simply that Meng Weixi hadn't handled the situation well enough. In that short time, Gu Heping realized what was going on and became suspicious: "Brother Zhou, how did you know about the troupe's operations?"
Zhou Qishen's voice was indifferent, "You think I invested those two hundred million in vain?"
"Unbelievable!" Gu Heping said with a smile, "You're so devoted, don't you really plan to let Xiaoxi know how you feel?"
Zhou Qishen didn't think much of it and ignored it. By the time he noticed, it was too late.
"You old man surnamed Gu!"
Gu Heping had already taken out his phone and dialed a number, after two or three long beeps. Zhou Qishen strode over and snatched the phone from him with lightning speed, his agility no less impressive than back in the army.
Gu Heping wasn't bad either; he dodged the call, and the call went through just in time.
"Brother Heping, is there something you need now?"
A soft, low voice came through the phone, and Zhou Qishen felt as if he had been electrocuted, and dared not move.
Gu Heping cried out, "Xiao west, Xiao Xi, I'm so sorry to have come to you! But there's nothing I can do, someone's been killed, someone's been killed, my God!"
Zhao Xiyin gasped, "Huh?"
"It's Zhou Ge, he's so willful. He was just discharged from the hospital this afternoon, and he insists on having hot pot tonight. Do you think he can even eat it? I've never seen such a demanding man!"
Zhou Qishen's face was blackened by the smoke, and Gu Heping almost burst out laughing.
Stay calm, stay calm.
He cleared his throat, his brow furrowed, and his tone as if he had suffered a great injustice, "I took a picture and sent it to you on WeChat. You can check it later and see if I'm lying. I tried to persuade him, but he wouldn't listen and started yelling at me. Not only yelling, but he also fucking hit me."
After saying that, Gu Heping pinched his forearm hard. "Ouch, he hit me again. Xiao Xi, please do something about him. He also said that if you don't come, he won't return the thermos bottle that Teacher Zhao used to win the calligraphy award to you."
After hanging up the phone, Gu Heping quickly opened his camera, took a picture of his hand that had just been twisted until it was red, and sent it to Zhao Xiyin along with the address. His acting was so smooth and natural that Zhou Qishen was driven mad.
"Gu Heping, are you... are you sick in the head?"
Gu Heping, just for fun, said, "Let's make a bet, guess if my little sister Zhao will come?"
Zhou Qishen: "Your little Zhao sister? -- I'll slap you, you believe it or not!"
Gu Heping leisurely sipped his tea. "Go ahead and smoke. I'll just send another photo to Xiaoxi."
Zhou Qishen immediately fell silent, suppressing his anger and not daring to vent it.
Dai Yunxin's head was throbbing from their nagging. She always took care of her appearance and didn't really want to eat hot pot, so she simply left, saying, "You two can argue yourselves."
Gu Heping politely greeted, "Teacher Dai, you can choose the place next time."
After the person left, Zhou Qishen's face was grim. "Make a call, immediately. Don't let them make a wasted trip."