Chapter 40: Saving the Gentle Senior 16

The Five-School Friendship Dance Competition is coming as scheduled, set to begin Saturday evening.

Besides Didu University's own team, the other four are all first-rate universities on par with Didu University.

The judges for this competition are all renowned masters of the dance world.

Therefore the school attaches great importance to it, selecting students with absolute strength in every specialty of the Dance Department.

Naturally, Shen Qingci is the obvious choice for classical dance.

Backstage.

Shen Qingci had changed into his dance costume, pushed aside the long hair he had prepared earlier; the long robe and water sleeves woven from countless water-cloud silks seemed to drape moonlight over him, his figure tall and slender, his movements like flowing light.

As soon as he stepped out of the changing room, he immediately attracted a flood of gazes.

Ma Bing and Lin Yu, following Jin Chen's request, came backstage to cheer him on.

"Wow wow wow, Senior Shen looks amazing!"

Ma Bing openly showed her astonishment: "Yaoer really is blessed."

"Where's Jin Chen?"

Shen Qingci glanced at them behind him, feeling a bit lost as he asked: "He didn't come?"

Lin Yu smiled: "Yaoer went to prepare something; Senior Shen, just relax and compete."

"Yeah, Senior Shen, Yaoer even told us to come over after lunch, don't be nervous."

Shen Qingci sat down, still having a makeup artist dabbing on his face, and in a spare moment said: "I'm not nervous; he's gone to prepare……that?"

Ma Bing and Lin Yu exchanged smiles: "Of course, Yaoer already got the school's approval to confess in front of the five schools—what face!"

He unconsciously curled the corner of his mouth, his inner anticipation outweighing his competition nerves.

The dance Shen Qingci will perform this time is his own original work, titled Azure Cloud Heaven.

The overall stage makeup and costume are based in blue tones, expressing natural beauty.

A touch of blue at the eye corners echoes the moon-white dance costume's blue, making it breathtaking.

Soon it was his turn to wait in the wings.

"Senior Shen, we and Yaoer are cheering for you down below!" Ma Bing clenched her fist, made a cheering gesture, "Come on!"

Shen Qingci nodded, smiling warmly: "Thank you."

—

Onstage.

The competition is divided by dance type; each college takes the stage in order, and after all performances of a type are done, the ten judges give scores. The special guest judges do not vote, but may select a student to give five private lessons.

When the host introduced the special guest judges' identities, all competing students widened their eyes in surprise, and the audience below erupted in chatter.

"Welcome to the special guest judge of this Five-School Friendship Dance Competition, chief of the British National Song and Dance Troupe and professor at the British Royal Academy, Miliya!"

Jin Chen sat in the audience, having already consulted with the school and, as heir of the Jin clan, took a seat in the front row; seeing his mother's gaze directed at him, he smiled helplessly and clapped.

After Miliya politely greeted everyone, she took her seat on the judges' bench.

The waiting time felt especially long, and classical dance was the last type to compete.

This was actually Jin Chen's deliberate arrangement to avoid the confession interfering with the competition schedule.

Jin Chen had spaced out several times before finally hearing that the classical dance group was about to begin.

According to the order, Shen Qingci would be the final performer.

The first four performances each had their own merits, and the judges' attitudes were all good; seeing Ma Bing and Lin Yu nervously clutching a sweat for Shen Qingci.

"Yaoer, are you nervous? The next one is Senior Shen."

Ma Bing bumped his shoulder.

"Not nervous, I believe in him."

Jin Chen shook his head, took a sip of water, shook off his earlier absent-minded state, and focused intently on the stage.

The host began the announcement.

"Please welcome Didu University's classical dance contestant Shen Qingci, and his work Azure Cloud Heaven."

As he finished, the hall erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

The judges were startled and glanced backward, thinking it must be some star contestant.

Shen Qingci was also startled by the cheers, but quickly adjusted his mindset, walked onto the dimmed stage, and took his opening pose.

The lights gradually brightened; a crisp, lingering xiao sound sounded softly, a water sleeve swept out, Shen Qingci leapt into dance, his dark hair tilted like a waterfall, holding a fan in his hand, sometimes gently unfurling, exuding elegant vigor, as if a dragon painting ink and vermilion.

As the xiao melody rose, the guzheng joined in, and Shen Qingci changed his steps—turning, flicking, jumping, twisting.

The moon-white long robe unfurled like light clouds, graceful as a startled swan.

Jin Chen watched intently, the peach-blossom love in his eyes astonishing; at this moment it seemed as if everyone around him had vanished, leaving only him standing under the moon, watching the spirit dance.

Miliya nodded in appreciation, her beautiful eyes brimming with satisfaction; she knew this young man was the one her son liked, which is why she agreed to attend this competition.

She never imagined her future daughter-in-law would be this good! Absolutely fantastic!

She pulled out a signing plaque, planning to, when her son confesses, sign her future daughter-in-law under her name as an inner-door disciple!

After a long while, the xiao and guzheng sounds gradually faded, Shen Qingci halted his movement, planted his steps.

After a few seconds of silence, the audience below burst into applause and cheers.

Shen Qingci breathed lightly, his eyes bright, a fine sweat beading his forehead; he locked eyes with Jin Chen in the front row, slowly curled his lips, and bowed.

The host then had the other four contestants also come on stage.

"Alright, now please have the judges give their scores."

The ten judges each gave their own scores.

Each judge can award a maximum of ten points; the contestant with the highest total wins.

To everyone's astonishment, Shen Qingci actually scored ninety points, even surprising the host.

"Congratulations, Athlete Shen Qingci, on your overwhelming victory!"

Shen Qingci bowed again, thanking the judges and the audience below.

Finally, the host, smiling, asked the four contestants to step down, leaving only Shen Qingci alone on stage.

The audience below looked over in confusion, wondering if it wasn't over yet.

Shen Qingci thought Jin Chen was about to start the so-called confession ceremony, nervously clenched his fist, but saw no movement from him.

Instead, Miliya rose to her feet.

She slowly walked onto the stage, holding a contract card in her hand, her blue eyes full of smiles.

"Hello, Shen Qingci."

Shen Qingci pursed his lips, overwhelmed with surprise, and an unbelievable thought arose in his mind.

"Hello, Professor Miliya."

Miliya saw his nervousness and smiled, saying, "Don't be nervous, dear; your dance is beautiful. Before I give you the contract card, I have a question I'd like you to answer."

Shen Qingci nodded, "Please go ahead."

"Are you interested in dating my son?"

As soon as Miliya said that, the whole venue erupted in an uproar.

The students from other schools just took it as a spectacle, even thinking it was a great opportunity for a rapid rise.

Meanwhile, the audience from Didu University immediately began to heckle.

"No, Professor Miliya! Senior Shen is already spoken for!"

"Ah ah ah ah no—"

Shen Qingci instinctively turned his head to look at Jin Chen, but saw him still smiling, with no sign of anxiety.

He slightly furrowed his brow, lowered his eyes, and pressed his lips together.