"No time." Sheng Ning had had enough of the interviews and newspaper articles, pulling Dabao and ready to leave. It just so happened that Dabao was also busy getting back to eat beef jerky and moved even faster than Sheng Ning.
"Wait a minute... just a few minutes, a few minutes..." The male journalist pursued relentlessly, following all the way to the girlsâ dormitory.
"Comrade Sheng Ning, I just want to ask you a few questions."
Harassed beyond endurance, Sheng Ning told Dabao to go in first, then she turned around and said, "Speak! I donât have much time!"
The male journalist looked sincere on the surface, but in his heart, he had already cursed Sheng Ning back and forth. Whatâs she so arrogant about? Does she really think sheâs a star? Humph!
"Hello, Comrade Sheng Ning, regarding your husbandâs affair, what are your thoughts?" he said candidly, leading with a bombshell question.
"What?" Sheng Ningâs eyes widened, "Say that again?"
"I said your husbandâs affair, openly getting together with Bai Oulan from the Qianjin Dance Troupe, as his wifeâwhat do you think? Have you thought about divorce?"
"Are you mad?" Sheng Ning, enraged, grabbed a broom beside the door and started beating the journalist, showing no mercy. "Iâll let you ruin marriages, Iâll let you spout nonsense. Are you really a reporter from the union paper? Or could it be some tabloid rag?"
The journalist was caught off guard by Sheng Ningâs unexpected response, having considered many possibilities but never anticipating sheâd attack him without asking questions.
"Your husband, as a rescue comrade, is criticized for his lifestyle. Am I wrong to ask?" The journalist, seeking to escalate the situation, shouted at the top of his lungs. Just then, members of the Dance Troupe returned from a performance, and as they flooded into the courtyard, they heard his outburst and gathered around.
Hearing the commotion from the room, Dabao rushed out wielding a clothes pole.
"Ningning, Iâm here, move aside!" Lu Dabao packed a real punch, swinging the clothes pole at the journalistâs head, leaving him seeing stars and nearly knocking him out.
"What happened? Whoâs this guy?" Lu Xiaoshuang asked unhappily, "How dare he come to our General Union Dance Troupe and make trouble? Heâs got some nerve!"
"Donât think you can cover this up!" The journalist persisted, "Bai Oulan from the Qianjin Dance Troupe has personally admitted it. The man she had an affair with is Xu Qigang. They are the true love; youâre just superfluous."
Sheng Ning found it amusing but maintained an outraged expression. "Quit your nonsense, daring to slander people like thatâI wonât let you get away with it."
"Is this guy crazy?"
"Exactly! He even dares to slander Living Yama."
"Messing with marriage can get you sentenced."
People from the General Union Dance Troupe were all fired up and joined the fracas, beating the journalist into a panicked retreat.
Once he was gone, Lu Xiaoshuang and others stood around Sheng Ning, looking at her nervously, which somehow made her nervous as well.
"Whatâs wrong?" She touched her face, wondering if there was something dirty on it.
"Sheng Ning, Iâm telling you, donât believe that manâs nonsense. Living Yama is our legend; he couldnât possibly do such a thing."
"Exactly, Bai Tianâe should take a good look at herself in the mirrorâwhat kind of person is she? She canât even compare to one of your fingers."
"Donât fall for it, I guarantee you this is all slander."
Watching everyone anxiously explaining, Sheng Ning couldnât hold back any longer and burst into hysterical laughter. The crowd fell into an eerie silence, staring at her as if she were a freak.