Chapter 50: Chapter 050: 10,000-Word Reflection
Fortunately, Zhang Hongmei was naturally simple and had a good attitude, otherwise, who knows how jealous she might have been!
âHow come you didnât tell us before you left? Everyone was looking for you; Qin Cuifen came to their dorm to look for you several times.â
Sheng Ning left so suddenly that she didnât say goodbye to anyone. She initially wanted to find Xu Qigang, but he wouldnât even see her.
Thinking about being ignored by Xu Qigang, Sheng Ningâs good mood instantly vanished, and her heart ached deeply.
âI have been suspended from all performances, and I can only go back to my hometown for training.â Sheng Ning said awkwardly.
âThatâs true; itâs all Qin Cuifenâs fault. She kept telling us you werenât going back to your hometown. She said you⊠she said youâŠâ Zhang Hongmei hesitated several times, unable to continue.
âWhat did she say? That I ran away with a man?â Sheng Ning knew Qin Cuifen wouldnât say anything good about her, and during her absence, she must have spread rumors about her.
âHow did you know?â Zhang Hongmei was wide-eyed in surprise, looking a bit dumbfounded.
âHeheheâŠâ Sheng Ning laughed coldly; of course, she knew.
She used to be naive, not understanding why all the rumors since childhood seemed to cling to her, impossible to shake off. If she didnât know who was responsible for all this in her new life, she might as well die.
âSheng Ning, donât be angry. You arenât thinking about confronting her, are you?â
âIâm not angry, Hong Mei. Tell me exactly what she said about me.â To prove she wasnât angry, Sheng Ning forced a smile, but it looked rather frightening.
âItâs just that Qin Cuifen said you kept chasing after Mr. Shen shamelessly.â
âJust as I thought!â Being slandered in this way was so predictable it felt almost uninspired.
Sheng Ning handed her bag to Zhang Hongmei and asked her to take it back to the dorm while she went straight to find Yang Wenying.
A month had passed; she had to meet Yang Wenying to get approval to return to the troupe.
âReport!â
âCome in!â
Sheng Ning walked in with her head held high and saluted, âSheng Ning from the General Union Dance Troupe reporting.â
Yang Wenying stood up to greet her, âAt ease!â
âThank you, Comrade Yang.â
âComrade Sheng Ning, do you realize your mistake?â Yang Wenying leaned back in her chair, her thin lips tightly pressed together.
âYes, Comrade Yang, I realize my mistake.â Sheng Ningâs attitude in admitting her fault was cooperative and proactive. In the Song and Dance Troupe, merit was essential. She had been foolish before, thinking her good looks could get her everything she wanted.
From now on, she wouldnât repeat those mistakes. Whether she wanted respect or applause, she would earn them through her efforts.
Yang Wenyingâs sharp eyes scanned her face, and only after confirming that she meant what she said did she nod in satisfaction. âAlright! Relax. Go back and write a ten-thousand-word self-critique and post it on the bulletin board.â
Sheng Ning felt as though she had been struck by lightning. Ten thousand words werenât frightening; what was frightening was posting it on the bulletin board. In the General Union Dance Troupe, there were many departments, and people were constantly moving in and out. Posting it there would be utterly humiliating.
Yang Wenying watched her face turn pale and then flush, secretly delighted but showing no emotion on her face. âWhat? You donât want to follow orders?â
Following orders was their duty, and she wouldnât dare dissent even if given courage. âNo, I guarantee to complete the task.â
âReturn to the team officially tomorrow.â
âYes, thank you, Comrade Yang!â The tension Sheng Ning felt since entering the room finally eased.
Yang Wenying watched her leave and murmured to herself, âHow did she change so much in just a month?â