Chapter 164: Loss of Composure

"Could it be Battalion Commander Chen's younger sister or something?"

The female soldier who had been rebuked was unconvinced, but seeing Zhang Qingqing's somewhat pale face, she dared not say anything more.

"Qingqing, don't overthink it. We know what Battalion Commander Chen is like; Ding must have seen it wrong," the female soldier comforted her.

Zhang Qingqing nodded, finished her makeup, and carefully smoothed her hair.

"It's fine, it might be a relative of Battalion Commander Chen visiting; I won't mind."

"You all shouldn't say anything either. Battalion Commander Chen isn't one to explain himself, and it would be bad if a misunderstanding arose."

The art troupe soldiers giggled, completely failing to notice the strange expression on the face of the soldier named Ding.

At the front, An Yinan poured a cup of the milk tea she had made for Zhang Qian. The aroma was so rich and mellow that it wafted throughout the entire venue, making Mo Kun and the Secretary, who were sitting in front, unable to resist.

The two of them walked over carrying their tea mugs, said nothing, and stared straight at An Yinan.

An Yinan understood immediately and hurriedly poured two mugs for them.

The two left satisfied, and then Yun Mo and Yun Shu arrived. After she poured a mug for each of them, the aroma became even more overpowering.

All the young soldiers couldn't help but glance over, but because of that fierce god Chen Xun, they didn't dare to speak.

An Yinan sensed the awkwardness in the surroundings and hurriedly nudged Chen Xun with her arm, "Go and share some with everyone."

Chen Xun was initially reluctant, but since his wife had spoken, he picked up a thermos and poured a little less than half a mug for everyone's tea mug.

If he poured too much, there wouldn't be enough to go around.

After making the rounds, everyone stood up one after another and said, "Thank you, Sister-in-law."

An Yinan smiled and waved her hand.

These youngsters were around twenty at the oldest, and only fifteen or sixteen at the youngest.

As for the veterans, they weren't as polite as the new recruits; they had long since come up to call her "Sister-in-law" repeatedly, and even Chen Xun's icy expression didn't make the veterans retreat.

Until the art performance began, Zhang Qingqing walked onto the stage and saw Chen Xun sitting in the crowd at a glance.

She had set her sights on this man for three years, but no matter how she appeared around him, he seemed to treat her as if she didn't exist.

And her pride and self-esteem did not allow her to take the initiative to pursue him.

She was waiting, waiting for Chen Xun to pursue her.

Originally, she had also thought Ding was mistaken, but at this moment, Chen Xun's gaze was not on the stage at all, but focused and earnest as he looked at the person beside him.

She gripped her hands tightly, her fingernails piercing her palms, yet she felt no pain.

"Respected Leaders, dear soldiers, welcome to today's art performance." Zhang Qingqing's voice was very crisp. Perhaps due to years of dancing, her figure was beautiful, carrying both the fragility of a woman and the hardness of a soldier, perfectly blending the two forms together.

"The first program, the chorus 'Defend the Huanghe', please welcome them." After announcing the program, Zhang Qingqing looked at An Yinan beside Chen Xun.

An Yinan, who had been in a state of appreciation, immediately felt Zhang Qingqing's hostility.

She didn't seem to have provoked this person, did she?

Hadn't even met her, in fact?

Where did the hostility come from?

"But, children of the Chinese nation!

Who is willing to be slaughtered like pigs and sheep?

We must hold fast to the determination to win,

Defend the Huanghe,

Defend Huabei,

Defend all of Quanzhongguo!"

Before An Yinan could think carefully, the recitation part of 'Defend the Huanghe' had already begun.

Then came the collective chorus.

"The wind is roaring, the horses are neighing,

The Huanghe is roaring, the Huanghe is roaring."

"Defend our homeland,

Defend the Huanghe, defend Huabei, defend all of Quanzhongguo!"

That sonorous and powerful rhythm, that inspiring Diqi Yuezhang.

Every syllable, every beat, every character, struck the hearts of the soldiers.

Everyone clapped together, everyone sang together.

An Yinan was drawn into it; who that announcer was, where the hostility lay—she no longer cared at all.

Until the song ended, everyone was still left wanting more, and the hall remained filled with a long-lasting, restless energy.

"The second program, poetry recitation, performer Zhang Qingqing."

This time the announcer had changed, and the girl named Zhang Qingqing had changed into a red dress, standing in the dead-silent hall.

In the incandescent light, amidst the sea of green, a single red plum blossom bloomed.

"The poem I am reciting for everyone today is 'Commemorating the Victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan'."

Then, in Zhang Qingqing's crisp tone and fluent rhythm, the poetry recitation began.

An Yinan saw Zhang Qingqing's gaze; she suddenly looked at the person beside her.

And Chen Xun's attention had been on the person beside him the whole time.

"What's wrong?" As soon as An Yinan looked at him, he asked.

An Yinan looked at him, then smiled and shook her head.

Her outstanding man would naturally be coveted by many people.

But his heart was set on her, so why should she bring trouble upon herself?

"It's nothing." The young girl's lips curled, and her small, oval face wore a brilliant smile; although the area below the hall was somewhat dim, that smile was exceptionally dazzling.

At least Zhang Qingqing found it dazzling; the lines she had originally memorized were somewhat forgotten, the sentences she recited were stumbling and awkward, and the emotion in the poem was lacking so much that it failed to resonate with anyone.

She was anxious, yet she could not control her anger.

An Yinan had just eaten some fried dough twists, and a few crumbs had fallen onto the corner of her mouth; seeing this, Chen Xun reached out and naturally brushed the crumbs away from the corner of her mouth for her.

An Yinan returned the smile.

Meanwhile, Zhang Qingqing on the stage saw everything, and after the long poetry recitation, she fled to the backstage as if escaping.

She left behind a hall full of questions.

Zhang Qingqing was the star performer among the art troupe soldiers and the dream goddess of these raw recruits.

They had basically never seen Zhang Qingqing lose her composure like this.

"Zhang Qingqing, what is wrong with you? Haven't you been memorizing this poem for a long time? How could the performance turn out like this?" the Captain said.

Zhang Qingqing waved her hand, "I know, stop talking."

The Captain was somewhat angry, "What kind of attitude is that? Why was the Northeast Camp's art troupe established? It is because the soldiers train hard and have no time for entertainment; our art performances are their relaxation time every week."

"Stop talking, I already said I know," Zhang Qingqing roared.

The Captain looked at Zhang Qingqing, then said to the person beside him, "Change the finale program; her state is not fit for the stage."

Upon hearing that her program was to be changed, Zhang Qingqing clenched her hands tightly together, "By what right are you changing my program? Do you know how long I practiced for this program?"

The Captain looked at her with cold eyes, "Your state is not suitable for the stage, and I am the Captain of the art troupe; I must be responsible for all the soldiers watching."

Zhang Qingqing swept everything in front of her from left to right onto the floor; with a "clatter," the items scattered everywhere, and everyone in the dressing room was stunned.

Only Zhang Qingqing slumped over the dressing table and began to sob.