During breakfast in the villa's living room that morning, the ten members of Class D sat together, eating and discussing the finer details of song interpretation.
With Shen Kai's help yesterday, they had discussed and practiced, and the entire stage performance had taken shape, with everyone in agreement.
So today, in addition to practicing, they focused on perfecting the details.
In a performance, achieving perfection relies on attention to detail.
Everyone expressed their opinions, but they were not stubborn. After repeated discussions, they reached a consensus, mostly through persuasion and occasionally a few arguments, but all related to the matter at hand.
In short, they reached a pleasant agreement during this period.
They went to the practice room in the morning to rehearse the songs, and before they knew it, it was time for lunch.
12 o'clock.
At that moment, the other members of Class D suddenly fell silent and simultaneously looked at Qin Wei.
Qin Wei clenched her fists, precisely on time, rushed out of the practice room and arrived at the dining hall.
She had originally wanted to have xiaohun dun (small wontons) for dinner last night but missed the opportunity.
In her dreams, last night, the wontons were dancing hand in hand.
"Fresh meat xiaohun dun, wait for me. Today, I will savor your freshness and tenderness!"
...
Looking through the glass, the dining hall appeared empty, but as soon as she entered, Qiao Sixiao crossed paths with Qin Wei.
"Good afternoon, Xiaoqiao."
Qin Wei walked briskly and warmly greeted Qiao Sixiao.
"Xiao... Qiao..."
Qiao Sixiao frowned, her eyebrows furrowing.
"What did you call me?"
"Xiaoqiao, my dear Xiaoqiao."
As she spoke, Qin Wei couldn't hide her delight.
Leaning on the counter, she said to the staff, "Give me a serving of beloved fresh meat wontons. I want a large portion, no chili, no cilantro, but lots of wontons."
"Prepare the same lunch for her as mine."
Qin Wei's delight was interrupted by Qiao Sixiao's cold voice.
Qiao Sixiao glared at her and said, "I don't eat grass, Qiao Sixiao. I'm an adult, and I can decide what I want to eat!"
Qiao Sixiao approached, pinched Qin Wei's face with her fingers, and whispered in her ear, "Don't you think you've gained weight?"
...
Looking at the plate of bland food, Qin Wei rolled her eyes in despair.
Half a boiled corn, two peeled boiled shrimps, five almonds, eight blueberries, and...
"Despair."
Qin Wei pointed at the scattered blueberries in her plate.
"Qiao Sixiao, do you see what's in my bowl? It's despair."
In the end, her resistance was futile. The staff feared Qiao Sixiao more than they feared Qin Wei, so naturally, Qiao Sixiao had the final say.
Qiao Sixiao pushed a half glass of freshly squeezed orange juice towards her, a small concession.
"Your face has gotten rounder."
Qin Wei gritted her teeth.
"That's just water retention. I had croissants, milk, and noodles last night. I ate too much salty food, and it caused water retention."
Qiao Sixiao listened and was dumbfounded.
"Last night? How do you have the audacity to eat so much and confess it?"
Qin Wei laughed in exasperation. Ha, hahaha, she truly lived up to being her relative, speaking so bluntly.
"I won't argue with you. I'll reunite with the fresh meat wontons for dinner."
"Mmm, you just keep eating until the camera can't fit your face anymore. When you're on stage, everyone will stop watching the performance and instead focus on your face. I've already come up with the perfect hot search for you, Qin Wei, the Sweet Dumpling of the Mortal Realm."
"Damn..."
Qin Wei could already imagine the scene in her mind.
Qiao Sixiao grinned triumphantly.
Qin Wei popped a blueberry into her mouth and stared at Qiao Sixiao while chewing, saying:
"You're just body-conscious, Qiao Sixiao. Nowadays, girls hate that. After the show airs, you'll be heavily criticized."
"Most people don't need to worry about their body image. Being healthy is what matters. But we're in this industry, and we want the freedom to eat. However, unless the audience allows it, an actress who neglects self-management can't play a fairy, a courtesan, or a career woman."
Qiao Sixiao's words made sense, and Qin Wei agreed, but she couldn't swallow her pride. The two of them began to argue back and forth.
After the show aired, many fans commented:
"Are they already so natural together? Even when they argue, they have great chemistry."
"Qiao Qiao always thinks about Wei Wei in everything."
"So sweet, I'm pinching my acupoint, I'm going to faint."
"Just the daily life of a couple."
"As long as they continue like this, my membership is totally worth it."
...
As they argued, Qiao Sixiao suddenly fell silent, completely changing her arrogant demeanor and quietly focused on eating.
Silent as a lamb.
Qin Wei instinctively turned her head and was surprised to find Shen Kai standing behind her.
It seemed like he came over intentionally to find her.
"Um...
Are you discussing the dance? Come and sit here. I'm almost finished eating; I'll leave first..."
Qiao Sixiao hastily tidied up and left without saying anything else.
Shen Kai said "thank you" and sat down across from Qin Wei.
Qin Wei looked at Shen Kai and then glanced at the departing Qiao Sixiao, asking:
"Is she afraid of you?"
Shen Kai shook his head and replied:
"I know her, but we've never worked together. She's probably afraid that sitting together would be awkward with nothing to talk about."
Qin Wei also felt awkward. Strictly speaking, the person in front of her was the former boyfriend of the original owner. In such a relationship, they should have avoided meeting each other, but he kept showing up.
"Qin Wei."
Shen Kai suddenly spoke, interrupting her train of thought and startling her.
"What's wrong?"
Shen Kai seemed thoughtful and then said:
"I've been thinking about your performance last night. I feel like it lacked depth. Your dancing was on point; I won't nitpick that.
But your eyes, your every move, lacked conviction."
They were discussing the performance.
"Conviction..."
Qin Wei repeated the word, emphasizing each syllable.
Shen Kai nodded:
"It means you didn't put your heart into it. You were just going through the motions. During your performance, you didn't feel like you were her, the female soldier fighting bravely in the borderlands.
In simple terms, your performance didn't touch others. If you don't believe in what you're doing, you don't have the right to make others believe."
Qin Wei vaguely understood:
"Please continue."
...
After the show aired, some fans started to worry:
"Qiao Sixiao, you understand all this. Why don't you tell Qin Jie? If you keep this up, their old love might be rekindled, and your wife will run away!"
"Little Qiao is running pretty fast."
"Little Qiao is very cautious."
[Dear readers, please do not take this fictional romance too seriously! Please do not take it too seriously!]
...
Shen Kai glanced at her, sensing her genuine interest, and continued:
"Putting aside the emotions expressed by the other four characters, I believe your portrayal lacks the appropriate emotional depth...
Qin Wei, have you ever heard of a line from a poem? 'Sacrificing oneself for the country's crisis, regarding death as returning home.'
I want to see the transition of emotions in your eyes; I want to see you as that girl who dutifully guards the frontier."
...
Shen Kai didn't say any unnecessary words, perhaps because they were recording a show, and apart from necessary exchanges, he hardly looked at Qin Wei.
It was as if their conversation in the meeting room that day never existed.
Shen Kai had a busy schedule, and after a brief guidance, he left. Only after he was gone did Qin Wei feel relieved. For some reason, as long as he was around, there was a constant tension in her mind.
She always felt that being in close contact with him would lead to something unfortunate happening.
