Zhou Qishen smiled but did not answer.
Gu Heping leaned close to Lao Cheng and whispered, "I'm getting old, and I'm starting to feel insecure. I'm afraid my wife will run away again."
Old Cheng squinted and said in a sinister tone, "Are you making veiled accusations against me, mocking me?"
Gu Heping was taken aback, then nodded repeatedly, "You count as one too."
"Get lost."
——
When Zhao Xiyin returned home, Zhao Wenchun was practicing calligraphy. Hearing the noise, he asked without looking up, "You've finally decided to come back?"
Zhao Xiyin leaned against the doorway and stuck out her tongue. "I'm going back to the dance troupe tomorrow. I'll stay with you today."
Zhao Wenchun scoffed, "You're still leaving tonight."
Zhao Xiyin blushed slightly, "I'm not leaving."
Zhao Wenchun clicked his tongue and said, "Then today really feels like New Year's Day."
Teacher Zhao subtly insulted Zhao Xiyin, who then dashed off to the living room.
"What do you want to eat? Dad will make it for you at noon." Teacher Zhao finished writing and came out with a smile.
Before Zhao Xiyin could answer, her phone rang.
It was the dance troupe's teacher who, concisely and clearly, informed all troupe members to return to the group in the afternoon.
Well, one shouldn't speak too definitively. Zhao Xiyin looked at her father with a mixture of helplessness and apology. "Teacher Zhao, I'm sorry."
Despite her reluctance, Zhao Wenchun still smiled and saw her off, saying, "It's alright, work is important, go ahead and get busy."
Zhao Xiyin sent a WeChat message to Zhou Qishen before she left.
Zhou Qishen called, "I'm free this afternoon. I'll come over and keep Dad company. What time are you finishing? Let me know in advance, and I'll come pick you up."
When they arrived at the dance troupe, Su Ying was there too. It turned out that the two lead dancers had just come over for a temporary meeting.
In the conference room, Meng Weixi accompanied Director Pang Ce, arriving a few minutes late, followed by two assistant directors and Dai Yunxin. Dai Yunxin entered with a calm expression and did not greet anyone.
Meng Weixi was speaking quietly with Director Pang, his demeanor composed and his face refined. Only after sitting down did his gaze momentarily fall upon Zhao Xiyin. She was looking down, likely texting on her phone under the table. A dozen seconds later, she sat up straight, her eyes meeting Meng Weixi's.
A brief encounter, then a quiet departure.
This meeting actually focused on reviewing the script, with Director Pang providing personal guidance, especially on Zhao Xiyin's scenes, which received detailed explanations. The process lasted two hours, culminating in a notification that Su Ying and Zhao Xiyin would fly to Qinghai the following day.
The film's plot is set in Northwest China, and most of the filming will be done on location, with a tentative schedule of twelve days. Pang Cegui was busy with personnel matters and left first, with Meng Weixi seeing him off. For a moment, only Su Ying, Zhao Xiyin, and Dai Yunxin remained in the large conference room.
The assistant came in to bring water, thoughtfully offering it to Teacher Dai first. But Dai Yun didn't even glance at him, neither reaching out nor offering a smile, simply saying indifferently, "Thank you, but it's not necessary."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Su Ying remained upright, always with an ethereal expression. Though she smiled, the smile didn't reach her eyes. "If Teacher Dai doesn't want to drink it, then forget it. Take it away."
Dai Yunxin looked at her and said, "I'm the kind of person who never covets what I have."
Su Ying looked back at her and said, "Teacher Dai's noble character is admirable."
"Xiaoying, your art center in Beijing is doing very well. I have high hopes for you and hope you can start a national tour as soon as possible."
“That’s inevitable,” Su Ying said.
In an instant, Dai Yunxin's face turned extremely ugly. She had intended to give a light reminder to Su Ying and her stubborn disciple beside her, implying that she was fully aware of their private interactions and Su Ying's ambitions. Instead of the expected remorse, Su Ying seized the opportunity and gained the upper hand.
Dai Yunxin smiled and said, "We'll wait and see."
Su Ying remained calm and said, "Thank you for your kind words."
A second after Dai Yunxin left, Zhao Xiyin jumped up, knocking the chair aside with a sharp scraping sound. She chased after her in a panic, reaching the elevator, calling out, "Master!"
The word "Master" finally stopped Dai Yunxin in her tracks.
She turned around, took a deep breath, and asked, "You still remember that I'm your master?"
Zhao Xiyin hesitated, "Master, I..."
"Ask yourself honestly, do you really consider me your master?" Dai Yunxin's eyes showed pain. "I have no children, but I have always treated you like my own daughter. I don't ask you to take care of me in my old age, but I never expected that you would betray my good intentions so completely."
His words, spoken with utmost sincerity, struck Zhao Xiyin's weak spot with every single one. People are most easily held back by past ties, and most easily make impulsive decisions due to momentary soft-heartedness.
Zhao Xiyin lowered her head, her eyes red.
Dai Yunxin didn't press her, but honestly said, "Su Ying and I don't get along. She's proud and arrogant, and we have a lot of disagreements in the field of dance. I know she came to see you, but I want to give you a word of advice: a dancer needs to find the path that suits her best. If you just drift along, your golden years will be gone in the blink of an eye, and you'll regret it for the rest of your life. There's no going back."
"Use your brain to think about it. How long have you known her? Do you think she'll genuinely care about you?" Having said that, Dai Yunxin didn't press the matter further and left in the elevator.
Zhao Xiyin stood there stunned for a long time, her heart like a boundless ocean, adrift in a small boat, without any direction. It wasn't until a hand reached out and offered her a face towel that Zhao Xiyin snapped back to reality and looked up.
Meng Weixi whispered, "Wipe it."
Her face was streaked with tears, leaving her with no reason to lie or evade the issue.
Meng Weixi stood with his arms behind his back, not getting too close. Over the years, his work experience had cultivated a more mature and composed demeanor. He comforted him, "Teacher Dai's words were a bit harsh, but they were for your own good."
Zhao Xiyin sobbed softly and nodded.
"You don't need to feel pressured by what she says. Just live according to your own ideas. Be true to yourself. Don't worry too much, otherwise you'll end up pleasing neither side," Meng Weixi said objectively.