She had wanted to report Shen Zhiqiu for a long time. As long as Shen Zhiqiu left the cultural troupe, she could become the lead dancer herself.
She didn’t consider anyone else a threat, especially that airhead Lu Shuangshuang.
Oh, right, now that Shen Zhiqiu had become the lead dancer, the one who should be most upset was Lu Shuangshuang.
She could go stir up trouble with her, get her and Shen Zhiqiu to fight like dogs fighting over a bone, and she could just sit back and reap the benefits.
Aiyo, wasn’t she just so clever?
Humming a tune, Kang Zhixin arrived at the cultural troupe. She went to find Wu Qingyun first.
Even though she had written the report letter, she still put on a fawning and flattering act in front of Wu Qingyun.
“Troupe Leader, you look absolutely wonderful today. I haven’t seen you for a while, and you’ve become even more beautiful.”
Wu Qingyun was feeling physically unwell. Hearing Kang Zhixin’s words made her expression turn even sourer. However, she didn’t lash out. She lowered her gaze to Kang Zhixin’s foot and asked, “How’s your ankle?”
“Troupe Leader, it’s not fully healed yet, but soon.”
Kang Zhixin stood at attention, trying her best to appear proactive and positive. “Troupe Leader, I can rejoin the team.”
“I can’t participate in training, but I can help with other things, like sorting out the costumes, doing makeup for the other comrades. I could even go to the kitchen squad.”
Kang Zhixin naturally didn’t want to do any of these things, but she knew Wu Qingyun liked to hear this kind of talk, so she specifically said it.
She was waiting for Wu Qingyun to praise her. But who knew, her flattery was completely misplaced; Wu Qingyun actually wasn’t impressed by this kind of thing at all.
What she wanted was someone who truly worked hard and strived to improve, like Ye Zhiqiu. If she liked people who just sucked up, someone from a family background like Kang Zhixin’s wouldn’t have been able to get in at all.
Kang Zhixin just didn’t understand this. She also hadn’t figured out why Wu Qingyun favored Ye Zhiqiu.
She only saw that Ye Zhiqiu had married Yue Mingyuan, but she didn’t see Ye Zhiqiu’s dancing talent or her diligence and hard work.
“Wanting to make proactive progress is a good thing. It just so happens the kitchen squad is short-handed. You can go there.”
Kang Zhixin’s eyes widened. “Troupe Leader, I…”
“What? Not willing to go?”
Wu Qingyun stood up, walked around her desk to stand in front of Kang Zhixin, and looked her straight in the eyes.
Kang Zhixin didn’t dare meet Wu Qingyun’s gaze. She lowered her head, desperately trying to find an excuse. “Troupe Leader, it’s not that I’m unwilling to go, it’s that…”
“It’s what?”
“It’s that I’m afraid I’m too clumsy and will hold everyone up at mealtime.”
“The kitchen squad isn’t just you alone; there are others. Do what you can. If you can’t do anything, then go back home and rest. Currently, no other department is short of people, only the kitchen squad is.”
Kang Zhixin was caught in a dilemma. If she insisted on going home, it would definitely leave a bad impression on Wu Qingyun.
She had reported her, but she wasn’t sure if Wu Qingyun would be affected. What if Wu Qingyun came out of it fine and remained her troupe leader? She definitely couldn’t afford to offend her now.
But making her go to a place like the kitchen squad? She’d rather die.
“Troupe Leader, I’ve been practicing my makeup skills hard at home recently. We have quite a few performances coming up, so I can do makeup for everyone.”
Kang Zhixin glanced up at Wu Qingyun, then quickly lowered her head again.
Wu Qingyun didn’t reply, which made Kang Zhixin’s heart pound nervously.
“You heard Zhiqiu was returning to the team, so you thought you’d come back too, is that it?” Wu Qingyun asked Kang Zhixin directly.
Kang Zhixin feigned ignorance. “Shen Zhiqiu is back already? I thought after having her baby, she’d just stay home and be an officer’s wife and not continue dancing.”
“But I suppose after having a child, she probably can’t dance anymore, right?”
“Troupe Leader, is she still in charge of organizing the costumes like before? Maybe I could go help her instead.”
Wu Qingyun corrected Kang Zhixin. “Zhiqiu has changed her surname. She now goes by her mother’s surname, Ye. Don’t call her Shen Zhiqiu anymore.”
“Also, she is no longer in charge of costumes. She has been reinstated as the lead dancer.”
Even though Kang Zhixin had already learned this news beforehand, hearing it from Wu Qingyun’s mouth still made her feel indignant. “Troupe Leader, how can Shen… Ye Zhiqiu become the lead dancer? She hasn’t danced for a whole year.”
“Zhiqiu has a solid foundation, and she quickly resumed training after giving birth. It’s only natural for her to continue as the lead dancer.”
“If someone like her can become the lead dancer, then so can I.”
Kang Zhixin declared, “Troupe Leader, I want a fair competition with Ye Zhiqiu.”
Wu Qingyun nodded. “Alright. Our troupe has always been about fair competition. Whoever dances well becomes the sub-lead or the lead.”
“If you are better than Zhiqiu, then you can be the lead dancer.”
“But your foot isn’t healed yet right now. You really should focus on recovering properly.”
“No, Troupe Leader. I want to compete with Ye Zhiqiu today.”
Kang Zhixin didn’t believe what Wu Qingyun said. She was convinced Wu Qingyun was just being biased, which was why she made Ye Zhiqiu the lead.
“Kang Zhixin, don’t push yourself. Your body is the most important thing. If you get injured again, you might never be able to dance at all.”
Wu Qingyun shook her head. “I won’t agree to you competing with Zhiqiu at a time like this.”
“Troupe Leader, my foot is fine. I can dance.”
Kang Zhixin’s thinking was simple: Even if she was injured, she would still be better than Ye Zhiqiu.
Ye Zhiqiu hadn’t danced for a year. How could she possibly be worse than her?
This time, she would seize this opportunity to get the lead dancer position. Although National Day had passed, there would still be several performances coming up.
She heard that for one of them, some combat heroes would be attending, and among them, one person’s status wasn’t inferior to Yue Mingyuan’s.
She was eager to return to the troupe, firstly because she was not convinced about Ye Zhiqiu, and secondly, to seize this opportunity.
Wasn’t her own older sister spotted by her brother-in-law precisely because she was the lead dancer? The same was true for Ye Zhiqiu.
As long as she could become the lead dancer, she could marry a general’s son too.
“Kang Zhixin, that’s an order.” Wu Qingyun pinched the bridge of her nose, finding Kang Zhixin quite a headache.
“Troupe Leader, you promised I could have a fair competition with Ye Zhiqiu. Now you’re making excuses and being evasive. Could it be that you’re trying to protect Ye Zhiqiu?”
Wu Qingyun was so angry she laughed. “Why would I protect Ye Zhiqiu?”
“I don’t know why you protect Ye Zhiqiu, but everyone in the troupe knows you’re biased towards her.”
Wu Qingyun admitted it directly. “Yes, I am biased towards Zhiqiu. She’s such a talented seedling, the pillar of our troupe. Shouldn’t I be biased towards her?”
“In the entire dance team, who among you has stronger skills than hers?”
If it were before, Kang Zhixin wouldn’t have dared to respond. But today, she was full of confidence. “Me!”
“I am better than Ye Zhiqiu.”
Wu Qingyun was left speechless by Kang Zhixin’s confidence.
How to put it, Kang Zhixin’s ability in this area was merely average.
Not to mention Ye Zhiqiu, actually, she couldn’t even compare to Lu Shuangshuang.
If it weren’t for Ye Zhiqiu getting pregnant and Lu Shuangshuang being unable to be propped up on the wall, it really wouldn’t have been Kang Zhixin’s turn in the first place.
“Fine. Since you’re so insistent, I’ll go call the other leaders now to be the judges for you.”
