“It’s settled, then.” Throughout this whole last month, the family had gotten used to taking orders from Sheng Ning. Seeing how firm she was in her decision, they didn’t have any other choice but to let her have her way.
The next day, Sheng Third woke up at three in the morning, before the sun had even risen. He walked Sheng Ning to the town for her to catch her ride back, but before she got on the bus, he shoved ten hard-boiled eggs into her bag.
“Daughter, do your best in the song and dance ensemble, and do me proud,” Sheng Third said, full of expectations. His eyes were wet.
Sheng Ning could feel the heat of the eggs through her bag, and the warmth went straight to her heart. She nodded her head firmly. “Don’t worry, Father. I’ll work hard and bring honor to the family.”
“That’s my good girl!”
The bus drove off, and Sheng Third stood by the side of the road and watched her until the bus disappeared in the distance. Even after she was gone, he still didn’t move.
In the office of the General Union Song and Dance Ensemble…
Yang Wenying was conscientiously perusing the recent internal newspaper. All the headlines were about how Xu Qigang and his emergency rescue team had worked together with the International Rescue Committee to rescue members of an expedition, who had all been trapped in a rain forest for half a month.
Yang Wenying’s blood raced as she read on, and when she finished the article, she enthusiastically exclaimed, “Well done!” Her sudden outburst gave Qiu Bai, who had just entered the room, a shock.
“What are you reading?”
“Read it for yourself. Our emergency rescue team saved a group of people yet again.” Yang Wenying pushed the newspaper over to Qiu Bai.
Qiu Bai didn’t even glance at it. Everywhere she went today, that was all everyone talked about. She couldn’t ignore it even if she wanted to. “Hasn’t this been happening a lot ever since Xu Qigang founded the emergency rescue team?” She didn’t look surprised at all.
“Yes, but the difference this time around is that the other party was the International Rescue Committee. They approached Xu Qigang’s team for help first.”
Yang Wenying carefully folded the newspaper and set it aside, intending to bring it home to her father. Unexpectedly, she heard Qiu Bai ask, “When are you going to let Shengning resume training?”
If not for Qiu Bai’s question, Yang Wenying would’ve forgotten about it altogether. “Is she back yet?”
“No.” Qiu Bai shook her head and said with an unfathomable expression on her face, “I get the feeling that she doesn’t seem in much of a hurry to come back.”
“That’s not up to her.” Yang Wenying felt like she had been hung out to dry for long enough. “By tomorrow, she’ll have been gone a month. If she isn’t back by then, give a call to the local person in charge.”
She couldn’t go easy on a girl like that.
“I will!” Qiu Bai agreed. Yang Wenying didn’t mention anything about dismissing Sheng Ning, and Qiu Bai breathed a sigh of relief.
She was present at the the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala performance, and there was definitely something special about Sheng Ning. Her eyes seemed to look right into your soul, and to top it off, she had all the charm of an experienced dancer. However, the more talented a person is, the easier they are to break.
Then again, destruction always pursues the great. She could only hope that the girl wouldn’t disappoint them.
Sheng Ning made it back to the troupe just in time on the last day of her one month suspension. From afar, before reaching the main entrance, she saw Zhang Hongmei wearing a black suit and pacing to and fro.
“Why isn’t Sheng Ning back yet?” she thought to herself. “She’ll be dismissed for real if she doesn’t come back!” Zhang Hongmei was frantic. Lately, rumors had spread among the troupe that Sheng Ning had deliberately caused Qin Cuifen’s embarrassing accident and didn’t have the heart to come back.
Zhang Hongmei turned around just in time to see Sheng Ning holding her bag and greeting the sentry guard.
“Sheng Ning, you’re finally back! Oh my god, you’ll be the death of me.” Zhang Hongmei rushed over impatiently and looked her up and down in amazement. “How did you not get darker from the sun after being home?”
“It’s been that way since I was a child. No matter how long I’m under the sun, I don’t get dark,” Sheng Ning replied casually.
Zhang Hongmei was speechless. She’d been worried for nothing.
Zhang Hongmei was born dark-skinned, and every time she was under the sun, her skin got even darker. Standing next to Sheng Ning, she looked like a century egg beside a white pearl.
Life was so infuriatingly unfair.