——
Just as Dai Yunxin parked her car in the garage, she received a call from Meng Weixi.
Meng Weixi was sincere, and her first words were an apology: "Teacher Dai, I was not nice today. It was my fault and I made you feel wronged. It was too late and I was afraid of disturbing your rest. I will definitely come to apologize in person tomorrow."
Dai Yunxin smiled and thought to herself, "Concern can cloud judgment, but she's a smart person after all."
"There's no need for a formal visit. I understand your intentions, and you naturally understand mine as well. It's not easy for Xiao Zhao to want to dance again. There are no shortcuts; only through diligent study and practice can one succeed. Letting her stay pure is the real way to help her."
Meng Weixi readily agreed, and after a few casual words, he asked in a relaxed tone, "Teacher Dai, you and Xiao west haven't been in contact for the past two years?"
"No, that kid is wild. He went traveling and hasn't been back to Beijing for over a year."
"She's all alone? Doesn't her family care?"
Dai Yunxin immediately sensed the probing meaning in Meng Weixi's words. After a pause, Dai Yunxin went straight to the point: "Xiao Meng, I know what you want to ask."
Meng Weixi felt a sharp pain in her heart. She suppressed her emotions and said, word by word, "I just want to know what that guy surnamed Zhou did to her."
Dai Yunxin: "Let's not even talk about whether I know the reason or not. Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. Xiao Meng, that's how relationships are. Right and wrong are matters between the people involved. To give an inappropriate analogy, you and Xiao Zhao were so close back then, and I really thought you would end up together. But what happened? It's the same principle. Life's encounters are preordained, and you can't force them. Xiao Zhao doesn't want to talk about it, and Zhou Qishen doesn't want to talk about it; that's their business. You're so persistent, but what good will knowing the reason do? Besides reopening the girl's wounds, what other purpose does it serve?"
Dai Yunxin hung up the phone.
Meng Weixi still had his phone to his ear when he turned around and saw Yan Pinlan standing by the door. Yan Pinlan's eyes flickered, then she smiled and said, "Have a glass of milk before you rest."
Meng Weixi lay down on the bed and covered her eyes with her hand.
Yan Pinlan put down the milk and said to him, "Son, if you really, really can't let go, Mom will go find her and put in a good word for you..."
Meng Weixi turned her head sharply, her eyes as thin as blades, "If you dare to go to her, I'll go back to America immediately."
After that night, Zhao Xiyin was temporarily reassigned to another group, and the order of several team members was also rearranged, with the explanation that the team would be adjusted as training progressed. This explanation seemed reasonable and natural, and the rumors that had surfaced quickly subsided.
After several days of training, they were able to get a general idea of each other's condition.
During the break, Cen Yue couldn't keep her mouth shut and whispered to Zhao Xiyin, "Everyone danced so well! The first one in group one, the one with single eyelids in group three, and you, I think you were the best."
Zhao Xiyin tilted her head towards her, "With so many rounds of selection, only the very best can make it. Don't go around saying this, it'll offend people, understand?"
Cen Yue chuckled, "There are people who get in through connections. I got in through connections."
Zhao Xiyin choked, then chuckled, "Don't be naughty."
Cen Yue pouted, her heart pure, "Really, I didn't want to come at all."
Zhao Xiyin had never asked her before, but now she was curious, "Where are you from?"
"Shanxi".
Zhao Xiyin joked, "Does your family own a mine?"
Cen Yue nodded solemnly, "Yes."
Zhao west asked, "So what kind of dance do you study?"
"Pole dancing, I absolutely love it."
Taking it as a joke, Zhao Xiyin smiled slightly and didn't bring it up again. Cen Yue tugged at her arm, her eyes drifting to the left, "That girl."
Zhao Xiyin looked in that direction and saw Ni Rui.
"She loves talking about people behind their backs. She's close to those girls and has said countless bad things about them. Actually, they're all very shrewd, but she doesn't realize it."
Cen Yue may seem naive and innocent, but she's actually quite shrewd.
Zhao Xiyin turned her eyes away indifferently and did not respond.
During the short lunch break, Zhao Xiyin waited for a while in the corridor. Ni Rui came out of the dressing room with her bag, acting as if she hadn't seen her at all, without even saying hello.
As they passed each other, Zhao Xiyin turned her head and said, "This place is different from other places. It's always better to keep your mouth shut, otherwise you'll suffer losses later without even knowing why."
Ni Rui scoffed dismissively, "What are you being so sarcastic about? If you're envious of my popularity, just say so."
Zhao Xiyin thought to herself, "He's hopeless."
Ni Rui's brain is full of rubber bands, unable to distinguish between good and bad, and she acts entirely on impulse. She suddenly turned around and stared at her fiercely: "My mom was just saying that, she didn't really ask you to manage me. There are hundreds of people here who are backup dancers, and no one is better than anyone else. Don't always be so high and mighty. Compared to her, you are not as good as me - at least I have never messed up a performance."
As she left, Ni Rui deliberately bumped into Zhao Xiyin, her back view quite smug.
The impact really hurt. Zhao Xiyin rubbed the sore spot, and it was truly an eye-opening experience.
When Zhao Xiyin got home that evening, Zhao Wenchun served her a fragrant twice-cooked pork dish and a bowl of hot chicken soup. Upon seeing the soup, Zhao Xiyin couldn't help but chuckle to herself, "I need some chicken soup for the soul."
As Zhao Wenchun set out the chopsticks and spoons, he immediately sensed something was off: "Is Little Zhao in a bad mood?"
Zhao Xiyin sat down in the chair, propped her elbows on the table, cupped her face in her palms, and looked as wilted as a frostbitten eggplant. "Kindness is wasted."
She explained the whole story, and Zhao Wenchun understood without offering any opinion. Zhao Xiyin looked at her father, "Comrade Zhao?"
Zhao Wenchun smiled and said, "You did the right thing. It's your sister who was immature. You are sensible, so don't hold it against her. You are mature, so teach your sister more. We share the same fate, and we share the same fate."
Zhao Xiyin was a little jealous, so she made an exaggerated face, but she didn't really take it to heart. She just couldn't understand how the differences between people could be so vast. Zhao Wenchun, on the other hand, was quiet and looked preoccupied.
Zhao Xiyin's eyes darted around, and she asked mischievously, "Dad, after all these years, haven't you ever thought about finding me a stepmother?"
Zhao Wenchun was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant and blushed. "Don't say things you shouldn't say. I've wasted my time learning from you."
Zhao Xiyin shook her head, "A pure-hearted old man."