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Faced with everyone’s enthusiastic pleas for her to stay, Su Yi stood on stage, unable to leave or stay.
It had been a long time since she last played the guitar and sang, and she herself felt a bit unfinished.
She cast a pleading look at Commander Zhou Deng.
Commander Zhou Deng was originally standing backstage listening to Su Yi sing. Without realizing it, he walked down to the stage.
When Su Yi’s gaze turned towards him, he nodded at her, indicating that she could continue singing another song.
He hadn’t had enough of it himself! One song was too short!
When Su Yi saw his agreement, she smiled and nodded, revealing a rare dimple.
The group of soldiers who had never seen such a scene before cheered enthusiastically.
“Sing ‘Sweetness!”
One person started, and everyone else rushed to show their approval.
Now Commander Zhou Deng didn’t dare to make a decision, after all, this song style didn’t quite fit the military’s style!
He then cast a pleading look towards Commander Zhou and Political Commissar Wang in the front row.
Zhou Jinchuan silently twisted his fingers below and said in a deep voice, “On such a good day, what song to sing is secondary, everyone’s happiness is the most important.”
Upon hearing this, everyone cheered.
Su Yi plucked the strings once again.
This time, her singing was different from before, suddenly becoming gentle and melodious, as if carrying boundless tenderness, softly singing…
As Zhou Jinchuan listened, his heart first skipped a beat, then it felt as if soft feathers were brushing over his heart.
His deep black eyes darkened, and his hands at his sides kept fidgeting.
Suddenly, he felt some regret, thinking he shouldn’t have let her continue singing.
As the song ended, Su Yi also satisfied her craving and decisively got off the stage.
On the side of the stage, Bai Ruolin, who was waiting to go on, suddenly seemed unable to move as if she were nailed to the spot.
Just now, she had been standing behind, listening to Su Yi play and sing.
Having been in the cultural troupe for several years, she had also received countless applause.
But a crazy scene like today was a first for her.
Su Yi’s confidence on stage and her effortless singing felt like knives stabbing at her heart with each sentence.
Originally, she had deliberately placed herself in front, expecting Su Yi to flee in panic so she could step in and save the situation.
She never expected it to turn out like this.
Bai Ruolin was so frustrated that she felt like she was going to spit blood, her hand holding the violin turning pale from gripping it tightly.
In the end, Commander Zhou Deng came over and asked her, “Why are you still not going on stage? Some people below think it’s over and are starting to leave.”
Hearing this, Bai Ruolin suddenly came to her senses and hurriedly carried her violin onto the stage.
She had once been a pillar of the cultural troupe, and many people would flock to see her perform every time.
So when everyone saw her come on stage, those who were about to leave stayed behind.
But after listening for a while, they felt a certain kind of dullness!
“It’s always the same foreign tunes, all that pulling and tugging, I can’t understand them, it’s so boring!”
“Who says it’s not, compared to her, the girl who played and sang just now was so energetic! Is she new to the cultural troupe?”
“You don’t know her? She’s the girl at the window in our canteen who makes the hot pot rice noodles! But it’s normal that you haven’t seen her, we’re lucky if we see her face once in ten visits.”
Bai Ruolin was already lacking confidence, and hearing everyone whispering below made her even more flustered.
She accidentally played a wrong note.
A sharp, screeching sound echoed through the auditorium.
Faced with everyone’s frowns, Bai Ruolin could no longer hold back, clutching her violin and running off the stage in tears.
Everyone looked at each other in confusion.
Seeing her so flustered, Commander Zhou Deng arranged for the host to take the stage and save the situation, then immediately went backstage.
As soon as he entered, he saw her lying on the table crying, while everyone else surrounded her trying to comfort her.
Commander Zhou Deng was furious, “Do you have the nerve to cry? You interrupted the performance halfway through, is that your professionalism?”
Bai Ruolin, on the verge of tears, argued in her own defense, “It wasn’t that I wanted to come off stage, it’s because those people were too mean! They put me after Su Yi, how could I possibly go on stage after that?”
Commander Zhou Deng sighed helplessly, “Bullying you? Wasn’t it you who requested to be placed after Comrade Su? What are you trying to do now?”
“There are always people better than us, so you won’t go on stage if you encounter someone more talented? What kind of mental fortitude is that?”
Bai Ruolin just kept crying until she heard them announcing the awards.
She suddenly lifted her head, “Commander Zhou Deng, I admit that Comrade Su sings well, but her song choices are not good. We are the army, what is she singing about the navy? And that song she just sang…”
Before Bai Ruolin could finish her sentence, Commander Zhou Deng coldly interrupted her,
“Bai Ruolin, is this your perspective and your mind?”
“You’re not as good as her, so you start to slander her. How can someone like you be promoted?”
Upon hearing the mention of promotion, Bai Ruolin panicked.
She quickly apologized to Commander Zhou Deng, “That’s not what I meant, I just thought…”
“Enough, go back to the backstage and think about it! Everyone else, come with me for the curtain call.”
The performance was over.
In the end, Su Yi won first place with an overwhelming advantage.
She happily hugged her cashmere blanket and was about to go home.
Commander Zhou Deng directly stopped her, “Comrade Su, would you consider joining our cultural troupe?”
Although he had only just met her, Commander Zhou Deng, based on his years of experience, quickly concluded that Su Yi was a promising talent.
Not only was she good at playing and singing, but her appearance was also exceptionally good.
If she could stay, she would definitely have a bright future.
Su Yi came for the cashmere blanket and hadn’t even considered joining the cultural troupe.
Her plan was to wait until everything was completely open and then go out to do business, living a life where she counted money every day.
The cultural troupe might look glamorous now, but it would soon face major changes.
Besides, she didn’t like being around those girls who looked down their noses at everyone.
She’d rather go back to her canteen! At least she was happy there.
Thinking about this, Su Yi didn’t hesitate to refuse.
Commander Zhou Deng was surprised by the rejection and was momentarily stunned.
He held Su Yi’s hand and persuaded her repeatedly, “It’s too late today, take your time to consider it later, no rush.”
Su Yi was indeed anxious to go back, not knowing if the two children were still waiting for her.
She could only offer a few perfunctory words before carrying her cashmere blanket to find someone backstage.
When she arrived downstairs, she realized that everyone had already left.
Only Zhou Jinchuan was sitting in the distance with the two children, waiting for her.
Su Yi quickly walked over and, upon looking down, saw Xiao Wu and Nuannuan both fast asleep.
Upon her arrival, Zhou Jinchuan lifted up Ye Xiaowu and carried Ye Nuannuan in his other arm, saying, “Let’s go back!”
Seeing Ye Xiaowu stir slightly, Su Yi hurriedly took Ye Nuannuan into her arms, “Let me carry one.”
Zhou Jinchuan, seeing the situation, didn’t refuse and casually picked up the cashmere blanket for her.
The two of them walked quietly in the courtyard at night, neither speaking a word.
Both Ye Xiaowu and Ye Nuannuan slept soundly, not waking up even as they were placed in bed.
After seeing them safely to bed, Su Yi prepared to return to the dormitory.
As she reached the door, Zhou Jinchuan caught up, “It’s too late, let me walk you back.”