Chapter 120: The Old Dog Doesn't Want a Blue Lotus

Tomorrow night is New Year's Eve; today will be the final dress rehearsal, recording for broadcast.

In this star-studded artistic feast.

Although dance programs are not the main attraction drawing everyone's attention, they can also stun the whole audience, for example, two years ago's 'Flying Heaven' and five years ago's 'Thousand-Armed Guanyin'.

The members of the Jianglan Cultural Troupe have always used 'Dream Returning to a Thousand Years' as a benchmark, along with the two programs above.

To perfect this dance, the entire troupe poured immense effort into it. Especially the lead dancer, Chu Lingxi, who continued practicing even while pregnant.

It can be said that she performed it with her life.

Last night, the director team suddenly called to announce that 'Dream Returning to a Thousand Years' had been axed; at that moment, the troupe's leader, Ying Jie, wore a look of grief as if she had been stabbed hard.

Originally they planned to pack up their luggage and return to Jianglan.

Unexpectedly, around eleven o'clock at night, they suddenly received another call from the director team, saying that 'Dream Returning to a Thousand Years' had regained its performance eligibility.

This roller coaster of excitement was almost too much for their little hearts to bear.

They couldn't understand how it could be revived from the dead.

Early this morning, Ying Jie led the troupe's sisters to wait for Chu Lingxi at the CCTV West Gate.

Seeing Lin Dongfan accompany Chu Lingxi, Ying Jie felt a twinge of sentiment: thoughtful husbands like that belong to other people's families, enviable but unattainable.

Ying Jie composed herself and stepped forward to ask: 'Lingxi, didn't you have a falling out with Director Yu yesterday? I heard from Tang Jing that you came to blows in the revolving restaurant—how did our program come back to life?'

"I'm also confused; let my spokesperson answer."

Chu Lingxi laughed and hooked her arm around Lin Dongfan's, as if she wanted to announce to the whole world that she had a perfectly powerful husband.

However, in the eyes of the opposite sisters, this was just a serving of dog food.

Ying Jie asked Lin Dongfan: 'Dongfan, what exactly happened?'

"Well... nothing," Lin Dongfan replied cautiously, fearing everyone would think his aunt, Auntie Xie Yinxin, was using her influence to pressure them: "I went to see the Broadcasting Administration leadership and had them watch your program. The leadership said your program is perfect, not inferior to two years ago's 'Flying Heaven' in any way, and it can definitely air."

Hearing this, the faces of the sisters present all lit up with proud smiles.

But Tang Jing still felt uneasy: 'Brother Fan, could the leadership be just stringing us along? If after we go in later the director team kicks us out again, that would be embarrassing.'

Not only was Tang Jing worried about this, but Ying Jie shared the same concern.

They had already been hurt once yesterday.

Today is the broadcast rehearsal; the scene is even livelier than yesterday, with all kinds of big-name stars coming. If the director team were to publicly drive them out, they would lose face.

Ying Jie followed up, asking: 'Dongfan, are you sure there's really no problem this time?'

"Don't worry, no one dares to make things difficult for you now." Saying this, Lin Dongfan entered together with Chu Lingxi: "I'll bring you in; just follow."

Seeing Lin Dongfan so confident, Ying Jie didn't think further, leading the troupe's sisters to follow closely behind.

The group had just arrived at the entrance of Studio No. 1.

Chief Director Yu An then came forward with a beaming smile: 'Oh dear, you ladies have finally arrived; I've been waiting here for you for over half an hour.'

This warm reception left Tang Jing, Ying Jie, and the others quite astonished.

Especially Tang Jing, who had previously experienced Director Yu's shameless face at the revolving restaurant the night before; seeing him now, she seemed like a different person, and the ladies exclaimed outright, simply refusing to show any face.

Tang Jing asked in surprise: 'Director Yu, are you sure the people you're waiting for are us?'

"What you say is true; of course I'm waiting for you." Yu An then shifted his gaze to Lin Dongfan and extended his hand: "Mr. Lin, there was a slight misunderstanding last night; don't take it to heart."

This guy has probably forgotten already:

Last night, when Lin Dongfan shook hands with him, he not only ignored Lin Dongfan's outstretched hand but also held a dog in his arms, teasing its paws, subtly mocking Lin Dongfan as being even worse than a dog.

You want to shake hands today?

Too late!

Lin Dongfan laughed and asked: 'Who are you? Do we know each other?'

"We met last night; you forgot?" Yu An embarrassedly pulled his hand back, but his mind worked quickly, and he hurriedly accompanied a smile with guidance: "Forget it, just forget it, please come inside..."

Lin Dongfan stood still, not moving, and Ying Jie and the others behind him also remained motionless.

Yu An immediately became a bit anxious and repeated the invitation: "Mr. Lin, please go inside."

"My wife is pregnant; the doctor said she must not be stimulated, or it could affect the fetus." Lin Dongfan said calmly: "But last night, someone made my wife cry."

"Slap!"

Before Lin Dongfan could finish, Yu An slapped himself in the face.

He then apologized repeatedly: "Mr. Lin, last night I was immature; I punish myself with a slap, hoping you and the Young Lady can forgive me and not hold it against me."

That crisp, loud slap sound.

That tense, repentant tone.

This shocked Ying Jie, Tang Jing, and the others into speechless awe—what a tough person! Slapping himself with such vigor, just how much stimulation did he receive?

The crowd looked puzzled at Lin Dongfan, for a moment unable to see what cards he held.

Lin Dongfan continued to stare coolly at Yu An: 'Between me and your dog, which is more noble?'

"Of course you are." Yu An lowered his head, trembling.

Lin Dongfan's voice tinged with anger: 'You mean I'm only fit to be compared to a dog?!'

"No, I didn't mean that," Yu An sobbed, unable to hold back tears, raising his hand to slap himself again: "Sorry, I answered wrong; a dog isn't worthy to be matched against you."

"Last night I seemed to hear someone tell a dog: 'If you want to eat caviar, you have to learn to lick.'"

"Is that true? You misheard."

"I didn't mishear."

"Then I need to really understand this; please guide me—is that how you lick?"

After saying that, Yu An dropped to the ground, sticking out his tongue like a dog to lick Lin Dong's shoe. This scene left the onlookers stunned—people, truly the basest are invincible?

Lin Dongfan hastily pulled back his foot: "What are you doing? Don't dirty my shoe."

Having said that, he led Chu Lingxi and the others toward the studio backstage, while Yu An lay prone on the ground like a dog, motionless, until Lin Dongfan and company had walked away.

A staff member came over to help Yu An up: "Director Yu, they've left, get up quickly......"

"Get lost!"

Yu An angrily flicked his hand, shouting at the staff member until they were silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to approach again.

No one knows how many people were around watching this scene; this was undoubtedly the most collapsed, most furious moment of Yu An's life.

He rose to his feet and glared angrily all around.

He roared at the surrounding staff: "Back then, Han Xin also endured the humiliation of crawling between someone's legs! Is it so shameful for me to lie down and lick someone's shoes? What's there to look at? All of you, get lost for me!"

No one around dared to contradict him to his face.

But many people secretly laughed in their hearts: "Old Dog Yu, you finally have your day coming? Serves you right! What qualifications do you have to be mentioned in the same breath as the God of War Han Xin? Damn, you really lack shame."