Chapter 51: Preparing for the Gala
When the students heard about things they hadn’t experienced themselves, they just smiled and let it go. No one took the previous words to heart, nor did anyone think deeply about why the person would suddenly have the idea of studying properly again.
…
On Wednesday, the school had announced the plans for a New Year’s Gala in December, where each class was expected to prepare a talent show.
At times like this, all the homeroom teachers were troubled. Cao Jun propped himself up on the podium with one hand and casually said, “Does anyone have any talents? Singing or dancing, anything works. You might not care about the conduct grade, but surely you all want the prize money.”
He held up three fingers. “This time, the first-place prize is three hundred yuan. That’s enough for some students to go home, surf the internet, and drink bubble tea after school.”
The whole class burst into laughter. A mischievous boy, with a loud voice, said, “Teacher Cao, let me perform a chest-crushing big stone trick.”
Cao Jun laughed and said, “With your build, you’re more likely to get crushed by the big stone.”
The class roared with laughter again.
Cao Jun asked several times, but no one volunteered. He thought of a compromise. “How about a poetry recital? The class monitor and…”
Suddenly, Jiang Yan raised her hand and interrupted him, “Teacher Cao, Xia Xia can perform classical dance. She won first place in the entire school when she did it in middle school.”
Wen Xia, who had been “betrayed” by her friend, shook her hand, and a black line appeared on her test paper. “…”
She had learned classical dance for five years, initially enrolling in classes with Liu Yan.
But after Liu Yan and her partner divorced, she stopped learning.
All eyes in the class turned to her. Cao Jun quickly made up his mind, “Then it’s decided, Wen Xia.”
“Teacher Cao, I can’t do it alone. How about the class monitor recite a poem?” Wen Xia passed the “responsibility” to the class monitor beside her.
He Sheng: “…”
“The class monitor will assist Wen Xia in organizing people, and I hope everyone will sign up actively,” Cao Jun said. After more than a decade of teaching, he hated poetry recitals the most; his ears had long become calloused from hearing them.
Wen Xia: “…”
After Cao Jun left, Wen Xia stood up from her seat, walked to Jiang Yan’s desk, and said, “Jiang Yan, I’ll str*ngle you!”
Jiang Yan raised both hands in surrender, pleading, “Xia Xia, it’s three hundred yuan! Isn’t bubble tea tempting?”
“Tempting, my foot!” Wen Xia lightly pinched her, then grinned wickedly. “Don’t even think about running away. I’m just two dancers short, so it’s you and An’an.”
“What? Xia Xia, spare me! I’m uncoordinated, let An’an do it. I’ll serve you tea and water,” Jiang Yan said dramatically, looking like she was on the verge of death.
Just then, Liu An’an arrived and heard what she said. She then joined Wen Xia in “b*llying” Jiang Yan.
The three of them were in a playful uproar.
Wen Xia reported Jiang Yan and Liu An’an’s names to He Sheng.
After evening self-study, the three of them went to a relatively quiet spot on the playground. Several other classes were also rehearsing.
Wen Xia looked at the video on her phone and had nearly memorized it. She put the phone in her bag and said, “An’an, Yan Yan, your movements aren’t many, but you’ll need to adjust your positions. Let me demonstrate for you.”
She stood on tiptoe, hands above her head, then lowered her hands and twisted her waist.
Under the dim yellow light, the soft glow fell on her, making her appear as if she were alive.
Jiang Yan nudged Liu An’an’s shoulder and whispered, “Isn’t it beautiful? I was amazed the first time I saw Xia Xia dance.”
Liu An’an nodded in agreement, “It’s beautiful! I didn’t know Xia Xia could dance. She never mentioned it.”
Jiang Yan knew the backstory. When Xia Xia’s parents got divorced, she had cried so much her eyes had swollen shut for a long time.
At that moment, a whistle was heard. “It’s beautiful!!”
The three of them turned to look, and it was several boys from their class, Qi Yu among them.
Wen Xia: “…”
She withdrew her hand, stood up straight, and continued teaching after the boys had left.
…
During the two days at school, Wen Xia barely managed to teach Liu An’an and Jiang Yan the basic movements. When school ended, she patted both of them on the shoulders and said, “Practice well when you go home.”
Afterward, she left the school gates to find Wen De’s car. When she got in, she noticed a cup of milk tea on the seat, still warm.
She smiled at Wen De, “Thanks, Dad.”
When the car started, Wen Xia wore a mysterious expression and said, “Dad, guess how many points I got this time?”
Wen De had already called Cao Jun to ask, but he still played along, “How many?”
“643 points, Dad, 643!” Wen Xia said, a little smug.
Wen De nodded, “Keep up the good work. Want to have hotpot?”
“Yes!” Wen Xia grinned.
There was a brief silence in the car, then Wen De suddenly said, “Let him come too.”
Wen Xia was texting Qin Mo when she heard this and didn’t immediately react. “Dad, who…”
By then, she realized he was talking about Qin Mo and quickly added a compliment, “Dad, you’re the best.”
Wen De had started accepting Qin Mo.
She sent a message to Qin Mo, and he replied quickly.
Wen De specifically went to pick up Qin Mo at the entrance to De’an. Qin Mo wore a military green coat, the collar slightly raised, black pants, and white sneakers.
His hair was a few inches shorter than it had been the previous week, and his features looked much sharper.
Wen Xia rolled down the window and waved at him, “Qin Mo, over here.”
Qin Mo looked up, then got into the back seat. Wen Xia glanced at him and teased, “You just got a haircut, huh?”
Qin Mo raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.
With his father-in-law present, he behaved more formally.
As for his wife’s words… he’d handle those later.
The group went to the same hotpot restaurant as last time. Wen De wasn’t talkative, so the meal was very quiet.
…
After dinner, it was already past four. After Wen De dropped Wen Xia off at home, he went to the factory for work.
Wen Xia sat at home doing her homework. This week was mostly about reviewing test papers, and there wasn’t much homework. She finished in just over an hour.
She glanced at her watch—it was just past six, still early—so she pulled out her old dance clothes to practice.
Fortunately, they still fit, or she would have had to buy a new set.
When Qin Mo arrived, she was still practicing. He looked her up and down several times. The dance outfit was tight, and it accentuated her curves.
He raised an eyebrow, “What’s this? Trying to seduce me?”
Wen Xia: “…”
“Husband, could you have some self-respect?” she replied.
She explained, “It’s for the school’s New Year’s Gala. Our class has to prepare a performance, and Teacher Cao asked me to do it.”
She noticed his gaze lingered on her chest, and she shot him a glare, then covered herself, “What are you looking at!”
Qin Mo chuckled softly, “My wife knows it but she still asks.”
Wen Xia: “…”
She had underestimated just how shameless Qin Mo could be.
“It’s so late, what are you here for?”
“Mom’s on a business trip and asked me to bring something for you,” he said, raising the item in his hand. “Don’t you want me to come inside? It’s cold out here.”
Wen Xia opened the door to let him in. The music was still playing in the living room.
Qin Mo set down the item, then looked at her and said, “Wife, how about you dance for me? We’ve been married for years, and I still didn’t know you could dance.”
Wen Xia: “…”
If his gaze wasn’t so intense, she might have been more willing to dance.
“I’m not dancing. I have homework to finish,” she said firmly.
Qin Mo raised an eyebrow, pulled her into his arms, and teasingly said, “If my wife won’t dance, then I’ll have to take matters into my own hands.” He gave her waist a light pinch.
Wen Xia: “…”
She gave in and obediently started dancing.
Her dancing was different from her usual self. Her eyes sparkled with life, exuding a unique charm, and the long ribbons she used seemed like claws, capturing attention.