The instructor also feared that Lu Dabao might come down with an illness from the cold, and just as she felt perplexed, Hai Lan immediately found a way to give her an out, which made her very satisfied as she smiled at Hai Lan, and praised loudly, "Hai Lan is so generous, all of you should learn from her, do you hear?"
"Yes, Instructor."
"Alright then! Hai Lan, go call Lu Dabao in."
"Okay, Instructor."
Hai Lan, putting on her shoes with elegant movements, approached Lu Dabao. Seeing her eyelashes frosted white from the cold, Hai Lan couldnât help feeling extremely pleased.
"How does it feel? Uncomfortable, isnât it?"
Hearing that, Lu Dabao lifted her head, rolled her eyes at Hai Lan, and, with a stroke of inspiration, asked something she normally wouldnât have thought of. "You donât know yet, do you?"
"Know what?" Hai Lan immediately looked at her, alert.
"Sheng Ning, itâs not appendicitis."
"Hahaha... I knew for sure she must have been misbehaving. Maybe she went to the hospital for an abortion."
"Itâs not that!" Dabao shook her head seriously, "She was kidnapped by Meng Ping. Meng Ping has gone crazy, if he couldnât have her, he was resolved to kidnap her. During her struggle to resist, thatâs when Sheng Ning accidentally got hurt."
Hai Lanâs smile suddenly froze, "What did you say? Repeat that!"
"Repeat what?" Dabao scratched her head.
"What did you say Meng Ping did?"
"I said Meng Ping has gone too far, to even think of laying his hands on Sheng Ning."
"Impossible, absolutely impossible," Hai Lanâs eyes glinted viciously. "How could Meng Ping do such a thing for a cheap woman like Sheng Ning? He likes me."
"Oh!"
"What are you âoh-ingâ about?"
"Whatever you say is true, I guess!"
"Lu Dabao, make yourself clear." Hai Lan grabbed Lu Dabao, her face lacking its previous triumph and arrogance, "Iâve been Meng Pingâs childhood sweetheart, his fiancĂ©e."
"Not yet, right? Youâre only Su Yun Auntieâs approved fiancĂ©e, but no formal engagement has occurred." Lu Dabao corrected seriously, "So youâre not yet Meng Pingâs fiancĂ©e, although I really wish you could marry him. Really! But it seems he has never liked you since you were young."
"Youâre talking nonsense, just spouting nonsense," Hai Lan roared with a fierce tone, inner frustration boiling, "He will like me. Iâve liked him for so many years; he canât like anyone but me."
"Then you better keep a close eye on him, lest he runs loose and starts abducting people at random."
"Lu Dabao, Iâve not finished with you!"
"Me neither! Hai Lan, Iâm nearly frozen to death. Iâm not talking to you anymore!" With that, Lu Dabao waved at her and decisively turned around to leave, not entering the training room but instead heading directly back to the dormitory.
Everyone who had been attentively observing the situation outside was shocked and speechless.
The instructorâs face turned white with anger. This Lu Dabao really was lawless, daring not to come in and admit her wrongs.
"Everyone listen well, Lu Dabao is a perfect example of what not to do, donât follow in her footsteps." She rambled on for half an hour before finally stopping.
*******
Qiu Baiâs office was decorated with a lot of charm, quite distinctive from the usual office. A small floral tablecloth, shelves filled with English originals of classic works, the desk adorned with toys brought back from America, and a bouquet of lifelike roses.
Compared to Yang Wenyingâs office, it was an entirely different style.
"What do you mean by this?" Yang Wenying came in, slapping the desk with a palm, startling Qiu Bai buried in her script.
"Whatâs wrong? Why such a temper?"
"I saw the performance list for the General Inspectorate, and Hope Field isnât on it."
"Oh!" Qiu Bai nodded nonchalantly and then glued her eyes back to the script.
"Explain to me why Hope Field isnât on the list. Youâre passing up on the best opportunity, how much longer do you want to wait?"
"Without the dancer I want, Iâd rather postpone the show."
"Youâre willing to stop the entire musical for one person. Are you crazy? If you miss the best time now, you may not get another chance." Yang Wenying had been counting on making a big splash with Hope Field during the Spring Festival!