Chapter 176

A week later, it was August 1st, the Army’s anniversary.

Since the May Day performance by the art troupe was canceled, it couldn’t be canceled this time.

Lu Wenchan and her team received the news about the August 1st performance last month, and she was so excited she couldn’t sleep for days.

When the performance list was announced, her eyes were filled with anticipation.

She had been waiting for this moment for so long.

Many of the performances were repeated programs, and everyone was familiar with them. Practicing for a month in advance was sufficient.

Lu Wenchan was confident she would be on the performance list for August 1st, but even after the last name was called, she didn’t hear her name.

She became anxious and called out, “Report!”

Captain Lin looked at her and asked, “What’s the matter, Lu Wenchan?”

“Captain, didn’t you say we could perform on stage for May Day?”

Captain Lin replied, “But this is not May Day. You should know what this holiday means to our camp. Precisely because there was no performance on May Day, this performance is given extra importance, and your current skills are not up to standard.”

“But Captain, we’ve been practicing for a long time,” Lu Wenchan persisted.

Captain Lin said, “I’ll have the senior members take you to perform on the small stage on August 2nd. Perform well, and there will be plenty of opportunities to get on the big stage in the future.”

The program list was already set, and Lu Wenchan knew it couldn’t be changed. A small stage was still a stage, and she was determined to impress Captain Lin.

On the afternoon of August 1st, Lu Weiguo and his team went to watch the performance, and the entire camp was filled with joy.

Family members could only watch the small stage performance the next day.

The following day, Lu Weiguo accompanied Shi Tingyu to watch the performance.

Shi Tingyu spotted Lu Wenchan in the choir.

She raised her eyebrows in surprise, not expecting Lu Wenchan to actually make it on stage. It seemed she had finally made it.

While Shi Tingyu was thinking this, Lu Wenchan felt frustrated.

The number of people in the choir was larger than usual, probably to give newcomers a chance to perform.

But with a row of fresh, pretty girls standing there, who would notice her?

Her mother had already written, urging her to come back home if she couldn’t find a suitor.

Her age was considered quite old in her village.

Shi Tingyu had seen several performances before, and this choir was nothing special, just average and unremarkable.

After the performance, Shi Tingyu and Lu Weiguo left the auditorium and bumped into Lu Wenchan, who was heading back.

The art troupe members were given a half-day off after their performance.

When Lu Wenchan saw Shi Tingyu, she snorted with her nose in the air.

Shi Tingyu, remembering that Lu Wenchan had helped her before, didn’t take it to heart.

Seeing Shi Tingyu pulling Lu Weiguo away, Lu Wenchan felt ignored.

She grabbed Shi Tingyu’s clothes, “Didn’t you see me standing here?”

“Do you need something?” Shi Tingyu asked.

Lu Wenchan, with a proud and smug expression, said, “You saw it, right? I performed on stage this time. I will only get better from now on.”

Her feelings towards Shi Tingyu were complex and filled with resentment. During her nephew’s full month celebration, she was humiliated, and her promising match fell through—all because of Shi Tingyu.

She didn’t expect her work in the propaganda department to also be criticized by her director because of Shi Tingyu, let alone the struggles she faced in the art troupe.

Shi Tingyu was her nemesis.

Shi Tingyu’s current attitude made Lu Wenchan feel that she was being looked down upon.

So, she was even more determined to prove her worth to Shi Tingyu and show that one day she would be better off.

Seeing Lu Wenchan’s smug face, Shi Tingyu originally wanted to retort but held back due to the previous help she had received from her.

She calmly said, “Hmm, the choir was pretty good.”

Lu Wenchan: …

She felt that Shi Tingyu’s words had a condescending tone.

“What do you mean by that? Do you really understand what you’re talking about?”

Lu Weiguo wanted to say something but was stopped by Shi Tingyu.

“Then just assume I don’t understand. If there’s nothing else, we need to head back.”

Lu Wenchan was furious and said, “What do you mean? Are you looking down on me? What are you so proud of? Do you believe that next time I could force you to go on stage? Then everyone will be watching, and let’s see how smug you are when you can’t perform!”

Shi Tingyu smiled and replied slowly, “I’d love that. I can sing and dance just fine; I just need a stage to showcase it. Thank you for the opportunity.”

Lu Wenchan’s face turned pale, while Lu Weiguo smiled.

“Singing and dancing aren’t just something you can talk about; I don’t believe you can do it!” Lu Wenchan was startled. If it wasn’t for her being in the choir, she would have really made Shi Tingyu perform on stage.

Seeing that Lu Wenchan wouldn’t relent, Shi Tingyu’s tone turned cold. “I don’t care if you believe it or not. Skills are something you possess yourself. Even if I can’t, you can’t force me. Do you believe that I could isolate you in the troupe if you try to make me perform?”

Lu Wenchan looked incredulous.

Shi Tingyu glanced at her and said, “If you make me perform, I’ll ask the troupe leaders in front of everyone why they didn’t inform the military spouses in advance. Are they trying to make us look foolish?”

Lu Wenchan’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected Shi Tingyu to be so ruthless.

Shi Tingyu continued, “I’ll also speak up for the hardworking troupe members who practiced for years to perform on stage. If your actions disrupt the program, reducing their performance time, how do you think they will thank you?”

“However, considering you helped me before, I won’t report your personal vendetta against the military spouses to the leaders.”

Lu Wenchan, who had felt proud of her plan, now realized the many flaws Shi Tingyu pointed out.

If she really went through with it, the consequences could indeed be as Shi Tingyu described.

If she embarrassed the troupe, she wasn’t a key performer, and the captain might dismiss her. Then she’d have no choice but to return to her village and find someone to marry.

At this moment, she found Shi Tingyu truly frightening.

She also recalled the scene in the alley by the supply and marketing cooperative. Shi Tingyu had been ruthless when fighting, not holding back at all.

Her career had just started to improve, and she couldn’t let this woman ruin it.

She now felt an urge to stay far away from Shi Tingyu, sensing she couldn’t win against her.

Shi Tingyu clearly noticed Lu Wenchan’s retreat. She looked at her and said, “I usually don’t have the patience for these matters. This time, I’m letting it go because you helped me before. If it happens again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

With that, she pulled Lu Weiguo and left.

Leaving Lu Wenchan standing there, disoriented in the scorching sun.