Chapter 35: Dance Competition

Not only did his gaze land on Si Rong, but in fact, many gazes on the competition floor were fixed on Si Rong.

Everyone loves to look at a beautiful woman who is easy on the eyes.

It is just that when looking, one inevitably sighs that the Goddess Nuwa was indeed biased when molding humans.

Those who did not know Si Rong would inquire about the name of such a classical beauty.

"Teacher Li, is that dance teacher the daughter of the Si Family?"

Someone asked Li Xuan.

Li Xuan lowered her brows and eyes, masking the jealousy in her gaze, "Yes."

She wore a pure white gauze dance dress today, hoping to outshine everyone.

But she did not expect that she would still be overshadowed by Si Rong.

However, she cheered herself on in her heart; fortunately, a dance competition is not a beauty pageant, so what is the use of dressing up beautifully?

As long as the championship is still hers, then all the applause and gazes belong to her.

By then, Si Rong will only be able to stand under the stage and applaud for her, doing what a defeated opponent should do.

Moreover, this is the first time the competition is being held in the form of a television broadcast, and the reach cannot be underestimated.

Everyone at this moment also noticed the presence of the cameramen, who were facing the stage.

The competition officially began.

As always, it started with speeches from the various leaders who arrived today.

The Principal first grandly introduced all the leaders present today.

Shen Lan went over the speech he was about to give in his mind.

He estimated that it would be his turn once the Principal finished speaking.

After all, it had been like this in previous years.

Ma County Magistrate has always disliked giving speeches.

But no, the Principal mysteriously announced there was one more heavyweight guest.

Shen Lan never expected it to be Jiang Cheng.

Why is it him?

Is the military that idle?

Coming to watch a dance competition—don't tell me he is harboring some unspeakable intentions.

Truly, enemies often cross paths.

Jiang Cheng coming here was also a temporary assignment by his military superiors; this year's competition is the first to be televised in Huaiyang, and all walks of life attach great importance to it and must learn from it.

He gave his speech with ease while wearing a crisp green military uniform, and the female teachers under the stage watched without blinking.

"No one told me the soldier uncle was this handsome!"

"After seeing him, I want to trade in the beer belly I have at home."

"I heard this Division Commander is divorced; if you all really like him, just get divorced and go chase after him!"

"Forget it, for an old handsome guy of this level, even if I were a maiden, he might not even look at me!"

Li Xuan listened to these discussions and looked at that tall figure on the stage.

Yes! A man like this has never lacked women who like him.

Yet, back then, he had specifically liked Si Rong.

Thinking of it now, she even felt a bit smug in her heart, smug that she had ruined Si Rong's romantic prospects!

Even now, Jiang Cheng's pursuit can still serve as a topic of conversation regarding Si Rong.

Li Xuan couldn't help but think, if the woman Jiang Cheng liked was her, would these women also envy and be jealous of her?

Actually, it is not certain that Jiang Cheng didn't like her.

Otherwise, among so many female classmates in class back then, why did he insist on entrusting her to deliver a love letter to Si Rong?

Soon, Jiang Cheng finished his speech, and his seat was arranged next to the Principal.

Shen Lan then suddenly discovered that more chairs had been added to the venue; the seat he sat in was no longer in the center, and the one sitting in the center position was instead this Jiang Cheng.

He told himself to endure a little longer; as long as it is a few more days, once he sits in Ma County Magistrate's position, even Jiang Cheng will have to greet him first when they meet.

Amidst Shen Lan's chaotic thoughts, the competition began.

And during the long preparation time before this, Si Rong had no intention of taking the initiative to talk to him at all.

Shen Lan gripped the voting card in his hand, his eyes gradually becoming gloomy.

The competition order is determined by drawing lots.

Theoretically speaking, positions near the middle are better.

Because starting too early makes one prone to nervousness, and it is easier to be forgotten by the time scoring happens later.

It looks fair to draw lots in public, but only insiders know the tricks involved.

Li Xuan had long known that she would be the sixth to perform.

There are ten participating teams in total.

Originally, she wanted to have Director Huang arrange for Rongzi Dance Studio to be in the first opening position, but Director Huang said it wouldn't work.

Their school was still enjoying the teaching building donated by the Si Family; how could they openly go against the Si Family?

The way she looked at Li Xuan made Li Xuan feel uncomfortable for quite a while.

It was as if she were mocking her for being someone who doesn't know how to be grateful.

In the end, the number Si Rong drew after going on stage was three.

Li Xuan felt a sense of relief in her heart; fortunately, third place is not considered a good position either.

It cannot compare to her number six.

Not only was the performance order good, but the underlying meaning was also auspicious.

Everything was soon in place; the host took the stage to open the event and then took the opportunity to reveal the prize for today's Dance Competition.

It was a pot of clivia.

Its price had been hyped up quite high previously, and she liked it very much; she was determined to win the clivia in this competition!

Although she had been able to win a prize in every previous competition, the significance of this one was even greater.

Being able to win over Si Rong would prove that all her hard work and persistence over these years had been meaningful.

The competition began.

The first team to take the stage might have been too nervous, so their performance was mediocre.

Soon, it was the turn of the Rongzi Dance Studio.

After a lapse of twenty years, this was Si Rong stepping onto the stage once again, serving as the lead dancer.

Sitting in the first row, the parents and older brothers and sisters-in-law of the Si Family could not help but feel happy for her.

Si Rong was dressed in a sky-blue dance costume with water sleeves, her figure slender, covering her face with a round fan in the center of the stage.

Just this one opening won cheers from the entire audience.

The cameras on both sides of the stage were aimed at her, filming while simultaneously broadcasting live on the Huaiyang County Satellite TV.

Sometimes, it only takes a few movements to see whether a dancer has talent.

Every one of Si Rong's movements was unhurried and steady, hitting the beat perfectly.

It was leisurely and beautiful.

Shen Lan watched her without blinking; such dance movements slowly overlapped with those from the dance studio back then.

It was precisely because he had caught a glimpse of the person inside through the crystal curtain back then that he agreed immediately when Li Xuan proposed that agreement later on.

In fact, he had not agreed immediately, but had pretended to consider it for a long time in front of Li Xuan, finally feigning that he was agreeing with great reluctance.

Yet in his heart, he had agreed instantly.

The young Shen Lan could deceive others, but he could not deceive himself.

At that time, recalling the exquisitely slender and graceful figure of Si Rong in his mind, he thought that acting opposite such a woman should not be boring.

Now, it was already the eighteenth year of his acting career, and he had not yet grown tired of it.

The figure on the stage was still spinning tirelessly, and Jiang Cheng's gaze was as serious as could be, as if he were watching an ordinary variety performance.

But only he knew that this figure had appeared in his dreams countless times.

Appearing in that thick fog, leaving him searching everywhere but unable to find her.

As the curtain fell, Jiang Cheng slowly lowered his gaze, not daring to look at that person again.