Chapter 3 The Third Day of Starting a Business

Xia Xi’s actions completely caught everyone off guard, the entire sequence executed with seamless fluidity.  

Rui Ziyue’s face flushed red and white in turns. She wanted to scream, “Do you think this is a circus?!”  

Provocation—this had to be provocation, right?  

Look! She even smiled—that damn victor’s grin!  

Rui Ziyue stared at Xia Xi, sensing hostility. The other girl’s personality matched her alluring vixen face perfectly.  

This made Rui Ziyue hesitate—should she keep clashing with her or strategize for the long term?  

Meanwhile, Xia Xi, who had just realized she could somewhat handle this new identity and mistakenly thought the young girl before her was discussing skills, flashed Rui Ziyue a friendly smile: xd.  

Even though she hadn’t entered the program yet, she could already feel the martial arts (?) atmosphere.  

This excited Xia Xi—she could keep tumbling!  

She just didn’t know what else the other girl had up her sleeve. This was probably just an appetizer—she wanted to see some real skills.  

So, with a sparring mindset, Xia Xi retracted her fists and continued toward Rui Ziyue, still wearing that friendly smile. “Anything else?”  

Full of enthusiasm.  

Rui Ziyue lifted her chin but involuntarily took two steps back. “…”  

The other trainees instantly filled in Xia Xi’s unspoken words—*That’s it? Just this?*  

A ruthless character—terrifying! Even the usually unshakable Rui Ziyue had lost twice. Not only did she counter, but she also went on the offensive!  

If some had initially planned to bully the newcomer and teach Xia Xi a lesson during company training, after this, they immediately reeled in all their schemes.  

*Not someone to mess with.*  

The awkward tension was broken by a round of applause.  

“So this is Xia Xi?”  

Xia Xi turned toward the voice—it was Chao Ge, who had returned with the company’s department manager.  

The manager, a polished and professional-looking woman, had appeared at some point, and it was unclear how long they’d been watching. Now, she gazed at Xia Xi with clear admiration.  

Chao Ge nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, this is Xia Xi.”  

He, too, was impressed, giving Xia Xi a thumbs-up and whispering, “How come you never mentioned you had this skill?”  

Xia Xi thought for a moment. “You never asked.”  

Chao Ge, “…” True, he hadn’t. After all, it wasn’t standard to ask an artist if they could do a tumbling act.  

But that wasn’t the point. The manager seemed to have discovered a treasure, scrutinizing Xia Xi up and down as if struck by inspiration.  

“The debut stage performance has a tumbling act, right? I think we should let Xia Xi handle it.”  

Xia Xi: ???  

She was confused—what debut stage performance?  

Rui Ziyue: ???  

*Wasn’t that tumbling act supposed to be mine?!* Not only had she failed to put Xia Xi in her place, but she’d also ended up handing her an opportunity on a silver platter?  

……  

The manager immediately called for the dance instructor. They still needed to assess Xia Xi’s dance skills—though Xia Xi had already sheepishly admitted she wasn’t much of a dancer. But after witnessing her windmill-like flips, the others automatically labeled her as humble.  

The manager’s main concern was whether Xia Xi could keep up with the rhythm—the other trainees had been training for a while.  

The company took its *Pick 101* contestants seriously, evident in hiring professional instructors from dance academies.  

The dance teacher looked at the beautiful new face and spoke gently, “Don’t be nervous, relax. Warm up first, then we’ll check your flexibility.”

Dance teachers naturally have a soft spot for good-looking and diligent students.

Xia Xi nodded obediently, “Okay.”

The dance teacher demonstrated a side split and gestured for Xia Xi to follow along, “Can you do this?”

Rui Ziyue stood grinding her teeth not far away, while a fellow trainee who was close to her comforted her, “Didn’t you hear her say she’s not good at dancing? Don’t worry, she can’t steal your spot. She probably just knows a couple of flips.” Though even those couple of flips were already impressive.

No sooner had the words left her mouth than they heard Xia Xi ask, “Teacher, is this correct?”

The supposedly dance-inept Xia Xi smoothly executed a textbook-perfect side split that could’ve been measured with a ruler.

“…”

The trainee coughed lightly, “It’s fine, what really matters is the final performance. Our routine has so many intricate and difficult moves—it took you three whole days to learn them.”

Rui Ziyue: Yes, three entire days.

The usually strict dance teacher sounded surprised, “Not bad at all, you’re picking this up quickly.”

The girl who claimed she couldn’t dance was now moving with remarkable precision, memorizing the choreography at an astonishing rate. At this pace, she could probably learn the entire routine in less than a day.

With a bit more practice, she’d be stage-ready in no time.

To the dance teacher, Xia Xi’s movements were just slightly too rigid, but that could be corrected.

Xia Xi focused entirely on the dance teacher. Initially tentative in this unfamiliar territory, she gradually relaxed upon realizing some similarities with martial arts training.

Calling for a break, the dance teacher’s fondness for this talented, beautiful, and hardworking student soared. “Where did you study dance before?” she asked, convinced Xia Xi had trained for years.

Xia Xi shook her head, “I’ve never learned dance.” Only martial arts.

“…”

Rui Ziyue pointed angrily at Xia Xi, spat out “Humblebrag,” then covered her face and fled the classroom.

Xia Xi: ???

……

“Did you hear? Rui Ziyue’s part might go to Xia Xi now.”

“Serves her right. Always showing off—finally someone can put her in her place. Though I don’t know Xia Xi well, she seems better than Rui Ziyue.”

The company cafeteria was packed during lunch hour, with groups coming and going, none noticing that one of the subjects of their conversation—Xia Xi—was sitting with her back to them.

Xia Xi’s delicate brows furrowed at hearing her and Rui Ziyue’s names in such context.

Having practiced in the same studio these past days, Xia Xi had come to recognize Rui Ziyue—the trainee who opened with a front flip.

Lately, Rui Ziyue had been watching her with dark expressions.

“What does it mean that Rui Ziyue’s part is going to me?” Unwilling to remain in the dark, Xia Xi directly asked her manager across the table.

Chao Ge, who was more well-informed thanks to his close relationship with the director, smiled between bites. “Right, the director confirmed it.”

“There’s this standout solo section in the debut stage performance—the one with the front flip. Originally Rui Ziyue’s part, but the director thinks you’re better suited. They’ll announce the change this afternoon.”

“That’s the most explosive act of the show. The producers would never cut it—no need to worry about screen time now.”

Though Chao Ge suspected Xia Xi never worried about that to begin with.

“Xia Xi, I really think you’re going to make it big. When you do, don’t forget about me—keep me as your manager…” Midway through his ingratiation, Chao Ge looked up to find Xia Xi already standing.

“Where are you going?”

The young girl was tall and slender, with a straight back and excellent posture, resembling a green bamboo. She told Chao Ge, “Looking for the manager.”

Chao Ge’s eyelids twitched violently.

…

Xia Xi circled around the company but couldn’t find the manager for the moment. Deciding not to waste time, she thought she might as well use this gap to practice in the training room for a while.

This body’s endurance and stamina were far inferior to her previous one.

At this hour, the training room should theoretically be empty. However, as Xia Xi approached, she heard muffled sobs. Through the window, she could see Rui Ziyue sitting alone on the floor, curled up in a ball, her body trembling slightly.

There was no trace of her usual arrogance.

She was crying.

Xia Xi hesitated whether to enter or leave quietly—some people might not want to be seen in such a state. But then the other girl lifted her face, and Xia Xi was met with tear-streaked, smudged makeup.

Their eyes locked.

“…”

Xia Xi pressed her lips together: now she had no choice.

She walked in, set down her backpack, and said gently to Rui Ziyue, who was staring at her, “Don’t cry.”

Rui Ziyue was crying as if the sky had fallen, her eyes red and swollen. Probably because she had been seen by the last person she wanted to encounter, she gave up all pretense. After Xia Xi spoke, she snapped back in a tearful, aggressive tone.

“I’ll cry if I want to!”

“None of your business.”

“I’m not bothering anyone by crying here!”

Hypocrite, acting all high and mighty to comfort her.

Faced with Rui Ziyue’s defensive, bristling demeanor, Xia Xi remained unfazed, her voice still gentle.

Her tone was actually quite pleasant, clear and melodious—perfect for a late-night emotional radio host. When softened, it carried a soothing power.

If only she hadn’t said—

“Your crying is giving me a headache.”

Rui Ziyue, who had expected Xia Xi to comfort her, froze on the floor, utterly dumbfounded. She was so shocked she even forgot to cry for a moment.

She stared at Xia Xi in disbelief. How could anyone be this shameless? How utterly ruthless!

Xia Xi had already begun stretching with practiced ease. Just as Rui Ziyue thought their conversation was over, Xia Xi added, “Don’t worry, I won’t take your spot.”

Both of them knew exactly why Rui Ziyue was hiding and crying at noon.

“I don’t believe you. You think I’d fall for that?” Rui Ziyue wiped her tears. “Who would turn down such a golden opportunity?”

No one would.

Xia Xi had already bent fully forward, her long leg tracing a graceful arc against the bar. She turned her head slightly to look at Rui Ziyue still sitting on the floor.

“Not taking handouts?”

“If someone else has practiced it, I won’t.”

“I want to solo.”

…

Xia Xi’s solo declaration was purely offhand. That afternoon, Rui Ziyue was as jumpy as a startled bird, convinced Xia Xi was just bluffing.

Yet the notice replacing her part with Xia Xi never came. Finally, Rui Ziyue couldn’t take it anymore and went to ask the manager.

The manager said, “No changes.”

“Oh, right—Xia Xi won’t be performing the initial stage with you all. She’s doing a solo.”

Rui Ziyue turned to Xia Xi, baffled.

Xia Xi was equally confused. She had only mentioned not wanting to take Rui Ziyue’s part to the manager.

Suddenly enlightened, Xia Xi clasped her hands together. “Devotee Xia Xi vows to eat vegetarian for life in exchange for a sudden windfall of ten billion. Thanks.”