◎Versailles. Xia Xi◎
Xia Xi's series of moves completely caught everyone off guard, the entire sequence was executed with extreme smoothness.
Rui Ziyue's face flushed pale then red, she just wanted to shout out, "Do you think this is a circus?!"
Provocation, this must be a provocation, right?
Look! She's even smiling, that damn victor's smile!
Rui Ziyue stared at Xia Xi, sensing ill intentions from this newcomer. Her personality was indeed a perfect match for that glamorous, scheming face.
This made Rui Ziyue hesitate too, unsure whether to continue confronting her or to step back and plan more carefully.
Because she felt she could still somewhat manage this new identity, and thinking the young girl before her was discussing skills, Xia Xi gave Rui Ziyue a friendly smile: XD.
Although she hadn't even entered the program yet, she was already feeling the martial arts (?) atmosphere.
This also excited Xia Xi: she could keep flipping!
She just didn't know what else the other person could do. This was probably just an appetizer; she wanted to see some real skill.
So, Xia Xi, holding her fists with the mindset of a friendly spar, continued towards Rui Ziyue with her kind smile, "Anything else?"
Full of enthusiasm.
Rui Ziyue lifted her face, involuntarily taking two steps back, "..."
The other trainees: instantly imagined Xia Xi's subtext, is that all you've got? Is that it?
She's a tough one, terrifyingly so. Even the fierce sister Rui Ziyue has lost two rounds in a row. Counterattacking is one thing, but she's playing the aggressor now!
If some had initially harbored thoughts of bullying the newcomer, planning to teach Xia Xi a good lesson during the upcoming company training, after this incident they immediately became docile, putting away all their petty schemes.
Better not provoke her.
What broke this strange atmosphere was a round of applause.
"This must be Xia Xi, right?"
Xia Xi looked towards the source of the voice. It was Brother Chao, who had left and returned, bringing the company's department manager.
The manager was a woman, dressed very professionally. It was unclear when the two had appeared or how long they had been there. Now, the manager was looking at Xia Xi with clear appreciation.
Brother Chao nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes, this is Xia Xi."
Brother Chao was also full of admiration. He gave Xia Xi a thumbs up, lowering his voice, "How come you have this skill too? You didn't even tell me."
Xia Xi thought about it, "You didn't ask."
Brother Chao, "..." True, he hadn't asked. After all, you generally don't ask an artiste if they can do somersaults.
But that wasn't the point. The manager seemed to have discovered a treasure, constantly sizing up Xia Xi, as if she had thought of something.
"The debut stage performance has a somersault part, right? I think we can let Xia Xi do it."
Xia Xi: ???
She was wondering what the debut stage performance was.
Rui Ziyue: ???
Wasn't that somersault part hers?! So not only did she fail to put someone in their place, but she also got shown up and ended up handing her part over on a silver platter?
...
The manager directly called over the dance teacher. They still needed to observe Xia Xi's dance skills. Xia Xi had already explained somewhat apologetically that she wasn't very good at dancing. However, after the earlier combination flips like a windmill, the others automatically classified her statement as modesty.
The manager's main concern was whether Xia Xi could keep up with the pace, as these trainees had already been learning for a while.
The company was quite invested in the trainees about to appear on "Pick 101," evident in hiring professional teachers from dance academies.
The dance teacher looked at this pretty new face, her voice gentle, "Don't be nervous, relax a bit. Let's do some warm-ups first, then check your body flexibility."
The dance teacher had a natural fondness for good-looking and earnest kids.
Xia Xi obediently nodded, "Okay."
The dance teacher did a side split, gesturing for Xia Xi to follow along, "Can you do this?"
Rui Ziyue stood not far away, grinding her teeth. A trainee friendly with her comforted her, "Didn't you hear her say she's not very good at dancing? Don't worry, she can't steal your spot. She probably just knows how to flip a couple of times." Although flipping a couple of times was already impressive.
As soon as the words were spoken, they heard Xia Xi ask, "Teacher, is this right?"
Xia Xi, who claimed she couldn't dance, thump—executed a crisp, clean, perfectly straight side split you could measure with a ruler.
"..."
The trainee coughed lightly twice, "It's okay, the key is still the final product. Our dance has intricate and difficult moves. It took you three whole days to learn it."
Rui Ziyue: Yes, it took her a full three days.
The usually strict dance teacher said with surprise in her tone, "Not bad, you learn really fast."
The supposedly non-dancing Xia Xi was mimicking the moves quite well. The key was she remembered the movements extremely quickly. At this rate, she could probably learn the entire dance in less than a day.
With a bit more practice, she'd be completely stage-ready soon.
In the dance teacher's view, Xia Xi's movements were just a bit too stiff and forceful, but that could be corrected.
Xia Xi focused all her energy on the dance teacher. She was initially feeling somewhat awkward and restrained facing an unfamiliar field, but later discovered it seemed somewhat connected to martial arts training, so she gradually adapted.
The dance teacher called for Xia Xi to take a break. Facing a student who was not only earnest and pretty but also talented, the dance teacher's fondness skyrocketed, "Where did you learn to dance before?" already convinced that Xia Xi had studied for quite some time.
Xia Xi shook her head, "I never learned dancing." She had only learned that martial art.
"..."
Rui Ziyue pointed indignantly at Xia Xi, threw down a sentence, "Versailles," then covered her face and ran out of the classroom.
Xia Xi: ???
...
"I heard Rui Ziyue's part is going to be given to Xia Xi."
"Serves her right. She's been showing off all day. Finally, someone can put her in her place. Even though I'm not familiar with Xia Xi, I think she's better than Rui Ziyue."
The company cafeteria was crowded during mealtime. People passed by in twos and threes, not noticing that one of the parties involved, Xia Xi, was eating with her back to them.
Xia Xi caught her own and Rui Ziyue's names. Because of the content of the conversation, her delicate eyebrows furrowed.
Having practiced in the same dance studio these past two days, Xia Xi had also remembered Rui Ziyue, the trainee who started with a front flip.
Lately, Rui Ziyue had been staring at her with a gloomy expression.
"What does it mean that Rui Ziyue's part is being given to me?" Xia Xi didn't want to be kept in the dark and directly asked her agent across the table.
Brother Chao obviously knew more than Xia Xi. He was familiar with the manager. While eating, he smiled at Xia Xi, "Yes, the manager told me, it's confirmed."
"There's a very exciting solo part in the debut stage performance, with the front flip section. Initially, it was assigned to Rui Ziyue. The manager thinks you're more suitable than Rui Ziyue, so she plans to replace her. It'll be announced this afternoon."
"That's the most explosive part. The show crew definitely won't cut it. Now you don't have to worry about screen time."
Although Brother Chao felt Xia Xi probably didn't need to worry about that anyway.
Xia Xi, bro really thinks you can make it big. When you're famous, don't forget about me, you still have to let me be your agent... Brother Chao was trying to get closer to Xia Xi when he saw her stand up.
"Where are you going?"
The young woman was tall and slender, her back ramrod straight with excellent posture, like a green bamboo stalk. She told Brother Chao, "To see the manager."
Brother Chao's eyelid twitched violently.
...
Xia Xi walked around the company but couldn't find the manager for the moment, so she decided not to waste time. She would take advantage of this gap to go practice in the training room for a while.
This body's endurance and stamina were far inferior to her previous one.
Normally, the training room should be empty at this hour. However, as Xia Xi approached the room, she heard the sound of suppressed sobs. Through the window, she could see Rui Ziyue sitting alone on the floor, curled up into a ball, her body trembling slightly.
There was none of her usual arrogance and domineering attitude.
She was crying.
Xia Xi was hesitating whether to go in or quietly leave, as some people might not want to be discovered in such a state. But then the other girl lifted her face, and a tear-streaked, makeup-smeared face crashed into Xia Xi's view.
Their eyes met.
"..."
Xia Xi pursed her lips: the choice was no longer hers to make.
Xia Xi walked in, put down her backpack, and said gently to Rui Ziyue, who had been staring at her, "Stop crying."
Rui Ziyue was crying as if the sky had fallen, her eyes red and swollen. Probably because she was seen by the last person she wanted to see, she had given up all pretenses. After Xia Xi spoke, she retorted with a tearful, hostile voice.
"I will cry!"
"None of your business."
"I'm crying here, I'm not bothering anyone!"
Hypocrite, acting all high and mighty to comfort her here.
Facing Rui Ziyue's look of resistance, like a bristling cat, Xia Xi's expression remained unchanged, her voice still gentle.
Her voice was actually quite pleasant, clear and melodious, good enough to be a late-night emotional radio host. When lowered, it had a healing, comforting power.
If only what she said wasn't—
"Your crying is giving me a headache."
Rui Ziyue, who had thought Xia Xi was going to comfort her, was stunned on the floor, utterly floored by Xia Xi's words, even forgetting to cry for a moment.
She looked at Xia Xi with shock. How could there be such a shameless person in the world? How utterly ruthless!
Xia Xi had already started stretching her legs with practiced ease. Just as Rui Ziyue thought their conversation was over, Xia Xi told her, "Don't worry, I won't take your place."
Both of them knew perfectly well why Rui Ziyue was hiding and crying at noon.
"I don't believe you. Do you think I'd believe what you say?" Rui Ziyue wiped the tear stains from her face. "Such a good opportunity, who would refuse it?"
How could anyone refuse?
Xia Xi had already bent her body completely down, her long leg drawing a beautiful arc on the bar. She turned her face to look at Rui Ziyue sitting on the floor.
"Not eating food handed out in contempt?"
"I don't practice what others have already practiced."
"I want to do a solo."
...
Xia Xi's solo declaration was purely bravado. That afternoon, Rui Ziyue was like a startled bird, thinking Xia Xi was all talk.
However, the notification about replacing her part with Xia Xi never came. Finally, Rui Ziyue couldn't hold back anymore and went to ask the manager.
The manager said, "We're not changing it."
"Oh, right, Xia Xi won't be performing with you all for the initial stage this time. She's doing a solo."
Rui Ziyue looked at Xia Xi, full of question marks.
Xia Xi herself was also full of question marks. She had only told the manager she wouldn't take over the part, not anything about a solo.
A sudden inspiration struck. Xia Xi clasped her hands together, "I, your faithful devotee Xia Xi, vow to be a lifelong vegetarian, praying for a heaven-sent hundred billion. Thank you."
