Chapter 115: One Sword Pierces the Heart, Half a Year of Vain Practice

As dusk fell, neon lights already sparkled in the cold wind, adding a touch of dreamy illusion to the city.

Tonight Lin Dongfan is treating everyone.

More than ten people came to the banquet, most of them women.

These people, like Chu Lingxi, are graduates of the dance academy at the Media University; now they have all become drifters in Beijing, longing to become famous overnight.

"Brother Fan, you're being too generous—just saying you'll treat us and you do, treating Lingxi like a little fairy." The speaker was Ai Meijia, her silky eyes full of envy.

Ai Meijia is not only beautiful, but her dance foundation is also top-notch.

After years as a drifter in Beijing, she had ended up as a useless salted fish with no sense of accomplishment, daily running errands on film sets and occasionally serving as a human punching bag.

Chu Lingxi chuckled encouragingly: "Meijia, you just have bad luck, but I believe you will definitely succeed—keep going."

These words were originally warm, but it depends on the occasion in which they are said.

Saying this in front of so many classmates reveals a foolishness that spans five thousand years; the naive sweet type simply doesn't know they're touching a sore spot.

As expected, Ai Meijia gave an embarrassed laugh, acquiescing to a life of "no success".

But...

No one at the table would pay attention to Ai Meijia's reaction.

"Lingxi, out of the thirty-plus people in our class, you have the highest achievement. After the Spring Festival Gala, if you become a big hit, don't forget to bring us along."

"Speaking plainly, I've dreamed of appearing on the Spring Festival Gala; now all I have is envy."

"What the hell are you jealous about? Lingxi's skill versus yours? Whether it's dance level or husband-picking level, Lingxi completely outclasses you."

"Get lost, you calf—I'm just jealous."

"Come on, come on, I'll borrow flowers to offer Buddha and raise a cup—thanks, Brother Fan, for your generous treat, and I also wish our Lingxi a successful performance and instant fame."

……

At the banquet, everyone laughed and joked, most of them unrestrained.

Chu Lingxi, sitting beside Lin Dongfan, was undoubtedly the brightest star of the night, surrounded by envy and jealousy.

Chu Lingxi smiled as she accepted everyone's congratulations, feeling very reassured.

She didn't care how much false affection existed in the world; with her husband sitting beside her offering support, she had no fear.

After three rounds of drinks, everyone's faces were slightly flushed.

Suddenly the phone ring broke the lively atmosphere in the private room; Chu Lingxi glanced at the screen and saw it was a call from Ying Jie, the head of the cultural troupe.

She couldn't be bothered to put down her chopsticks, and directly activated the speakerphone.

Everyone present also tacitly kept silent.

"Hey, Ying Jie, what's up?" Chu Lingxi asked.

A heavy voice came from the phone: "Lingxi, your dance number has been…… they said, due to program length issues, they cut your act."

"What?!"

Chu Lingxi's voice instantly rose several notches; she could hardly believe her own ears.

The classmates at the table heard this shocking news, each one's face slightly changing as they felt the food and drink lost their flavor, eating or not making no difference.

Some felt sorry for Chu Lingxi, while others secretly smirked.

From the phone came Ying Jie's sigh: "I just went to see the gala's chief director, Yu An; he holds great power and has a big temper, and basically won't listen to me."

"Ying Jie, is my act really canceled?"

Chu Lingxi, wronged, had tears welling up, her voice also growing much weaker.

From a heaven where all stars surround the moon to a dim, dark hell.

It takes only a second!

This heart-wrenching sense of disparity nearly drove Chu Lingxi's emotions to the brink of collapse.

For this stage performance, she had rehearsed over a hundred times back and forth, even straining her ligaments; now her left knee is still wrapped in a protective band, and after all that hard work, they just say it's canceled?

Chu Lingxi, tears in her eyes, timidly asked: "With so many programs, why single out mine for cancellation?"

"Lingxi, I know this hits you hard, but I can't help it—the decision is in their hands. Don't be too upset; in my heart you'll always be the best. Rest well; tomorrow we return to Nanzhou. Just treat this as a little outing—being able to go home and enjoy a New Year's Eve dinner with family is also a kind of happiness."

Ying Jie offered a few words of comfort, then hung up.

The atmosphere in the private room instantly froze.

Ai Meijia stood up and handed Chu Lingxi a tissue, softly consoling: "Lingxi, don't be sad—it's just a Spring Festival Gala stage; what's the big deal? If you don't go, you don't go…"

"Wuuu~~~"

Chu Lingxi cried like a child, head bowed, tears falling, and she didn't even take the tissue.

Lin Dongfan took the tissue and gently wiped Chu Lingxi's tears: "Silly girl, you still have me; if we can't make the Spring Festival Gala stage, we can try another stage…"

"Today during rehearsal, many people on site said my performance was perfect—what right do they have? On what grounds do they cancel my act?"

Chu Lingxi, eyes brimming with tears, lamented her grievance.

Lin Dongfan saw it in his eyes and felt it in his heart.

He pulled out two more sheets of tissue to wipe her tears: "Believe me, we lack no strength; before long I can get you to dance at the Bird's Nest, or perform at the Vienna Golden Hall…"

"I'll go find him!"

Chu Lingxi, immersed in her grievance, obviously couldn't hear Lin Dongfan's words.

He didn't realize that Lin Dongfan, for her sake, was currently working hard to strike gold, planning to leverage Ye Jiaying's influence to build a strong media company, wholeheartedly promoting her to become the most ball most eye-catching star.

She didn't eat her meal, turned and left, intending to find the chief director to reason with him.

Lin Dongfan helplessly rose to bid farewell to everyone present: "Sorry, everyone, I'll go ahead first…" He picked up the coat draped over the chair and hurriedly chased after her.

Once the two left, the people in the seats became unscrupulous.

A woman gloated: "Look at how smug she was before—who would have thought life is so fickle? Either it's 'big intestine wrapping small intestine,' or her eyes are brimming with tears."

"Xu Yaqiu, how dare you speak like that?!" Ai Meijia angrily retorted: "Lingxi is better than you; you just can't stand it, right? You're being all yin-yang and weird."

「She's better than me? Which of your eyes saw her being better than me? 」 Xu Yaqiu chuckled lightly: 「Outstanding to the point of being kicked off the Spring Festival Gala program team? 」

「You're so outstanding, don't come over, someone's husband is hosting guests, what are you coming here to join the fun for? 」 Ai Meijia retorted increasingly heatedly: 「Shameless mistress! 」

「Who are you calling a mistress? I'll tear your mouth! 」

Xu Yaqiu slapped the table with a palm, like a frenzied fighting chicken, she charged at Ai Meijia.

Speak of tearing, then tear.

Those present saw the two fighting, rushed forward to break it up.

Someone bellowed with domineering flair: 「Everyone are Beijing drifters who haven't had enough to eat, nobody's easy, his grandma's stuffed full, right? All of you, stop it, old lady! 」

To break up a fight, you gotta curse the grandma to be effective.

Ai Meijia warned everyone present: 「Lingxi is different from you all, she has no ulterior motives! Today she's already suffered enough; if any of you stab her in the back, don't blame me for turning against you! 」

「Tch, what's your face worth? Really damn shameless. 」

Xu Qiuya snorted disdainfully, chuckling lightly; she certainly never imagined that everything she's doing now will sooner or later reach the ears of the wife-protecting maniac Lin Dongfan.