Chapter 27: On the Importance of the Opening

"I didn't expect that after half a year, Rongrong and Qin Jian would give us another surprise."

Ning Fengzhi looked at the expressions of the people around him and knew that the entrance of Qin Jian and the others was an immense success, and that it had overshadowed everyone who came before.

Even if their subsequent performance wasn't as good, the first impression had already set a foundation for them.

"Qin Jian, no wonder you suggested walking some red carpet; so it was to seize this first impression..."

Xue Qinghe stood to the front-side of Qin Jian and the others, eyes fixed straight ahead, only their lips moving slightly: "Your ideas really are unconventional."

"Hmph! Despicable!"

Xue Ke's words were not so pleasant.

After all, it was a time of youthful impulsiveness; Xue Qinghe could remain indifferent, but Xue Ke could not. She was eyeing Ning Rongrong with hostility, wanting to win!

"Xiao Ke, pull back your expression, keep a smile on your face, don't break character..."

Xue Qinghe hurriedly reminded: "If you break character now, then our first impression won't just fail to beat Qin Jian and the others, it will be completely hopeless."

Upon hearing this, Xue Ke hurriedly withdrew her expression, but still couldn't help but let her lips twitch: "Hmph, you'll be stunned when it's time for the performance, don't think you'll beat us!"

Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong kept their eyes fixed straight ahead, not even acknowledging them.

Because they had agreed beforehand not to break character at this time, and furthermore, they were currently the winners, so why bother haggling with the losers...

"Ding-dong..."

Just at this moment, as all the performing students had already stood in place, elegant light music suddenly began to play slowly.

And accompanied by this music, pairs of students on the stage began to dance a brand-new Court Social Dance.

The never-before-seen dance made everyone's eyes light up.

Although Xue Qinghe and Xue Ke were the team leaders, due to the stunning nature of Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong's entrance, almost the majority of people still focused their gazes on the two of them.

Then they slowly discovered that although the dance of Xue Qinghe and Xue Ke looked harmonious at first glance, after looking closely, one would find that Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong were more fluid and more graceful.

"It's been half a year, I can barely recognize this girl Rongrong anymore..."

Ning Fengzhi looked at his precious daughter dancing like an elf on the stage, his gaze somewhat dazed.

"Indeed, who could have imagined that the two of them could learn court dance so well..."

Jian Douluo was also full of emotion, but felt some regret: "If this were the graduation Assessment, they would definitely have won. It's a pity that they have to perform individually later; without the royal family backing them, they are definitely at a disadvantage."

Ning Fengzhi nodded and waved his hand: "Forget it, forget it. This kind of performance is the royal family's strong suit; it doesn't matter if they lose. I imagine they won't insist on holding a child's bet against them."

Jian Douluo also nodded.

At this moment, the court dance on the stage had gradually come to an end, the students exited in pairs, and Tang Yuehua walked up at this time.

"This is a brand-new court dance, mainly modified with reference to the social dance brought by the student Qin Jian. I would like to express my gratitude to him here."

Her elegant and noble words, however, caused a flurry of whispers among the nobles.

"Who is Qin Jian?"

"I heard he's a student? Just don't know whose family he belongs to..."

"..."

Ning Fengzhi and Jian Douluo also looked at each other in dismay.

"This little fellow Qin Jian even knows court dance?" Ning Fengzhi said.

Jian Douluo said uncertainly: "It's possible he learned a little..."

Could it be that his Ten Thousand Year life was too dull, so he even researched court dance?

Jian Douluo thought chaotically...

"Next will be the graduation performances of each group of students. Although I am the one ranking them, if the elders of the students have any objections at the end, they may raise them, and I will handle them at my discretion."

Facing a group of royal nobles, Tang Yuehua could no longer feel any nervousness; the noble temperament inherent in her easily became the focus.

And as she walked off the stage, many gazes fell upon her as well...

Following that was the performance of the first group of students; they were singing a song in chorus.

Although it didn't look very difficult, the various singing techniques displayed during the process were enough for the audience, even if they didn't understand, to perceive their extraordinary level of accomplishment.

Added to their overall demeanor and temperament, it was a world of difference from half a year ago.

And as the performances of each group continued, everyone slowly became immersed.

Whether it was musical instrument performances, duet dances, or singing, it all left people intoxicated, and they couldn't help but marvel at Tang Yuehua's excellent teaching skills.

Group after group passed, and fewer and fewer remained, until only two groups were left.

At this moment, the lights suddenly dimmed completely.

"Hum!"

Only in the center of the stage did a white light shine down from above.

But there was no figure, until a girl's voice, sounding both ghostly and resentful, suddenly rang out.

"Actually, how would you know... my wish over these thousands of years was merely to be such a fool for once, and then have another fool treat me well..."

Then, a faint, ethereal sigh from a young man rang out.

"Who is willing to live a life of bitterness, who is willing to spend their days in solitude? If not for feelings running so deep that one cannot restrain oneself, how could one be so torn... Leng Rushuang..."

The voices gradually faded, yet they easily drew everyone into that lingering, poignant emotion.

At this moment, a huge, snow-white cradle descended from the sky. The young man and the young girl sat back-to-back, dressed in ancient costumes, as elegant as immortals.

One held a zither, the other held an ancient xun.

"It's Jian'er and Rongrong!" Jian Douluo's eyes lit up.

But Ning Fengzhi only said in a low voice: "Their opening is quite interesting, let's watch carefully."

Not only them, but almost everyone in the entire venue quieted down.

Because the opening of Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong had captured everyone's attention.

Tang Yuehua quietly walked to the vicinity of the stage; she had never seen the complete version presented either, so she was very curious about what kind of performance Qin Jian had designed.

"Woo..."

First, the ancient xun began to sound, drawing the entire audience into an ancient mood.

"Ding ding dong..."

Then, the calm and melodious accompaniment of the guzheng rang out, playing a lingering and poignant prelude...

At this moment, everyone held their breath.

An opening never seen before, instruments never seen before, a melody never heard before...

They were filled with immense anticipation.

The snow-white cradle rotated slowly, leaving only Ning Rongrong in everyone's line of sight.

The sound of the guzheng continued, but the ancient xun gradually stopped, and the youth's singing voice slowly rose.

"The moon is bright and flowers fill the branches, someone is stirred by longing..."

"Speaking again of past events, the youth's ambition reaches the clouds..."

"Meeting on Xiaozhu Peak, parting beneath Huqi Mountain..."

"Regrets in the human world are hard to end, the moon in the sky is often waning..."

The youth's singing voice gradually faded, but then he began a sorrowful and painful narration: "If you want me to die, one word is enough!"

"If I become a human, can I be with you? I beg you, let me be a human! ——"

Those sounds were like knives, yet they struck at everyone's heart.

The snow-white cradle rotated slowly, turning the youth to face everyone, and he began to play the ancient xun.

The maiden's singing voice rang out...

(End of this chapter)