Rebirth from the Ashes

Chapter 40: Dance Competition

Kun Lun carried a long coat in his arms and placed it around the man’s shoulders. “Boss, why don’t you get some sleep?”

Li Yuan spoke in a husky voice, “Tell Xuan Yuan to follow her.”

Kun Lun pushed the wheelchair. “Ok.”

Li Yuan added, “Be discreet, make sure she doesn’t find out.”

The young girl was intelligent and precocious. She had already figured out who was behind the investment of the TV show.

Shen Xi had learned to dance since she was a child and had won numerous awards from competitions in the district level, provincial level, national level and even ones that took place throughout Asia.

Two years ago, she received the most valuable award in her lifetime, the Gold Medal for the Youth Category of the Asian Dance Competition.

The Gold Medal allowed her to be selected as one of the provincial-level dancers and a national-level reserve actress.

However, after she returned to the Su family, she was always careful with what she did, in case she annoyed her family members. Thus, she dared not make any requests.

Throughout the year, she had never participated in a single, regular competition. Su Yi and Li Jingran forbade her from doing so on the grounds that her results were poor and that she should focus on her studies.

As a professional-level dancer, she made it through the preliminary round of the dance competition this time and entered the finals.

The “National Dance Competition” was broadcasted on Chinese TV stations. To save time, there was only one category, which was the Professional Category. Only professional dancers were eligible to take part in it.

The agenda of the competition was simple and it consisted of the preliminary round, the final round and the award ceremony.

“Xixi, this, you forgot about this, you’re so forgetful.” Yun Jinping chased after Shen Xi and stuffed a heating pad into her schoolbag. She reminded her, “Paste it on your stomach after you’ve changed into your dancewear. Remember to remove it before you go on stage.”

Shen Xi had long suffered from a cold uterus[1]. If she caught a cold, she would end up with painful menstruation.

“I know, Mom, I’m not a child.” Shen Xi smiled as she held her mother’s arm. “You and Old Shen shall stay at home and wait for my good news!”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come along?” Yun Jinping sounded a bit dejected.

Back then, her daughter would want her mother to accompany her and to take care of her food, accommodation and transport. As such, Yun Jinping could not bear to let her go alone.

“Yes, it’s fine. I’m not going out of town, anyway. In fact, I’ll be nervous if you come along.”

“Didn’t you say last time that you’ll be nervous if your mom didn’t accompany you?”

“All of my classmates will be there to cheer for me. If you and Old Shen come along, they will only make fun of me for being a mama’s girl.”

“So what? Aren’t you my girl?”

“Old Shen, it’s a cold day today. Get your wife into the car!”

Shen Xi called out to Shen Zhangqing.

“Dear, let’s go.” Shen Zhangqing placed an arm around Yun Jinping and addressed Shen Xi, “Don’t…”

“Don’t be nervous, and friendship comes before the competition. I’ve heard this a thousand times,” Shen Xi interrupted him and waved a hand dismissively. “Old Shen, you’re so long-winded. Get in the car, I’m heading inside now.”

Shen Zhangqing and Yun Jinping did not enter the car. They only did so after their daughter had entered the TV station’s building.

“Where do we go now?” Shen Zhangqing asked his wife.

“The competition ends before noon. Instead of traveling up and down, why don’t we wait for Xixi in the car?” Yun Jinping looked out of the window anxiously.

“I thought so too.” Shen Zhangqing finished speaking and consoled her with a grin, “It’s a good thing that Xixi didn’t let you accompany her. Every time she has a competition to attend, you’re more nervous than her.”

[1] A condition rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. Women who suffer from this condition will have lower back pain, painful menstruation and cold limbs.