Chapter 23 – Introducing a Blind Date

“Yuyu, why did you take so long to come back?”

Ning Songyun and Zhao Yu were sharing a room at the guesthouse.

By the time Zhao Yu returned, Ning Songyun had already made both their beds.

“The military district is a little far from here.” Zhao Yu set down the snacks she had brought back. “Want some popcorn? I loved this when I was little.”

“Of course!” Ning Songyun grabbed a couple kernels and popped them into her mouth. “Oh right, I heard from the others that our first performance is at the Harbin Military District. I wonder if—”

“You’re wondering if we’ll run into Comrade Ye?” Zhao Yu slowly finished for her.

“What are you talking about!” Ning Songyun tossed a kernel of popcorn at Zhao Yu. “I was going to say I wonder if we’ll run into Aunt Jiang.”

“Aunt Jiang?”

“Yes!”

Ning Songyun scooped up another handful of popcorn, eating one piece at a time.

“Aunt Jiang used to be in the same troupe as my mom. Because her husband’s in the Harbin Military District, she transferred over here. Her Dai dances are amazing, I was always so envious.”

“She can still dance Dai now?”

Zhao Yu had also learned Dai dance before, though later she wasn’t allowed to continue.

“Not officially, no.” Ning Songyun looked regretful. “But she can still teach us in private, or maybe perform a little just for us.”

With Ning Songyun’s nonstop praise, Zhao Yu grew just as curious about this “Aunt Jiang,” and could hardly wait for performance day to arrive.

Luckily, she didn’t have to wait long.

On the day of the performance, Zhao Yu and the others arrived early at the troupe’s auditorium. Backstage was a frenzy of makeup and costume changes, everyone so busy their feet could barely keep up with their heads.

Zhao Yu sneaked a peek from behind the curtain.

Although the hall didn’t have the plush sofas of later decades, nor was the stage particularly grand, every seat was filled.

Her gaze swept the audience and finally stopped at the man sitting in the center of the front row.

He leaned back with perfect posture, his uniform immaculate, the black belt accentuating his narrow waist.

Even from several meters away, Zhao Yu could feel the force of his presence. His expression was cold, tinged with impatience and irritation.

“Yuyu, what are you staring at?”

Ning Songyun, having changed into costume, followed Zhao Yu’s gaze and immediately noticed the figure who stood out too much from the crowd.

Her face turned a little troubled. “Yuyu… do you like that type?”

“What are you saying?” Zhao Yu hadn’t expected her to think in that direction.

“I just think he looks odd. He’s clearly so impatient, yet sitting there in that kind of uniform… doesn’t look like an ordinary soldier. Who could make him sit there and endure it, even when he’s so annoyed?”

“Oh, who cares why he’s here.”

Since Zhao Yu clearly wasn’t interested in that man, Ning Songyun lost interest too. She went back to sit in front of the mirror, calling to the comrade doing her makeup: “Sister, can you check my eyeliner? I can never get it right.”

Zhao Yu, however, continued to sneak glances through the curtain.

What she had said earlier was just an excuse.

“What’s he doing here?”

She recalled how, in her past life, in the sixth year of her marriage, Lu Jing had been promoted after rescuing this man’s kidnapped three-year-old daughter. From then on, his career skyrocketed.

But in this life, the traffickers operating in the area had already been caught. That path for Lu Jing should be blocked now.

The thought that Lu Jing had lost yet another chance at wealth and power made Zhao Yu quietly delighted.

Only when Ning Songyun called her over after finishing her makeup did Zhao Yu finally put away her smile and return backstage.

Meanwhile, sitting in the audience, Lu Chen had already noticed Zhao Yu’s gaze.

At first, he hadn’t paid it much mind. But after realizing that the stare lingered too long, he lifted his head to look—only to catch a glimpse of Zhao Yu turning away.

“Commander Lu, what are you looking at?”

“Nothing.” Lu Chen withdrew his gaze, his dark eyes shadowed with unreadable thoughts.

The performance began about half an hour later.

The opening act was the classic play The Red Detachment of Women. Zhao Yu’s program came afterward.

As lead dancer, Zhao Yu started with a short solo.

When the music began, she counted the rhythm in her head, standing with one leg lightly raised, arms unfolding gracefully.

Each spin and leap landed perfectly on beat. Each movement flowed wide and free, combining strength and softness.

Her steps, together with her radiant smile, made her the instant center of the stage.

At the end of the song, she curved her lips into a smile that reached her eyes, her face flushed from exertion like morning glow.

Lu Chen was caught off guard, then turned his head slightly away, uncomfortable.

His comrade on the left thought he had bumped into him and quickly scooted right.

Lu Chen frowned. Not wanting his comrade to misunderstand, he turned his head back again.

Though the performance had already ended, Zhao Yu’s dazzling smile kept flashing in his mind.

He remembered vividly those fox-like eyes of hers, the way they arched when she smiled—hard to forget once seen.

As for the rest of the program, he barely recalled any of it. If his mother hadn’t threatened him to stay until the end, he would’ve already left.

After the show, the performers weren’t allowed to leave on their own. Zhao Yu and the others stayed until all programs were over before dispersing.

Zhao Yu wanted to return to the guesthouse, but Ning Songyun dragged her along to meet Aunt Jiang.

“Songyun, you’re here!” Jiang Huanyan had been waiting for them. Seeing Ning Songyun, she hurried over. “And this must be your good friend.”

“Aunt Jiang, this is Zhao Yu.”

“Hello, girls.” Jiang Huanyan took one by the hand, then the other, seating them at the dining table. “Sit down! Your Uncle Lu and Lu Chen will be back any minute.”

As soon as she spoke, Lu Chen and a stern-looking middle-aged man opened the door and walked in.

The very person Zhao Yu had just been thinking about suddenly appeared before her. Even the usually composed Lu Chen looked momentarily stunned.

“Old Lu, Achen, you’re back!” Jiang Huanyan beckoned them over. “We’ve been waiting. Come eat.”

During dinner, Jiang Huanyan kept trying to create conversation between Ning Songyun and Lu Chen.

But one was taciturn, rarely saying a word. The other responded politely but clearly felt uncomfortable.

“Looks like this is a matchmaking dinner for you,” Zhao Yu whispered in Ning Songyun’s ear.