284: Chapter 284: I’ll Remember You Even If I Turn to Ashes 284: Chapter 284: I’ll Remember You Even If I Turn to Ashes Zheng Wenxiu now valued Ning Fan not only for his dance skills but also for the fact that Ning Fan came from the same school as Teacher Huo.
Teacher Huo was a legend in the contemporary dance world—everyone who met the old man was respectful, but now Teacher Huo was showing such respect to Ning Fan, addressing him as “senior brother” at every turn.
Frankly, it made others listening feel a bit goosebumpy.
It was clear now who was superior, both in terms of skill and status.
Ning Fan had left Shen Xuedong far behind, left on the road ten streets away.
If Ning Fan could become Bai Yunxi’s dance partner, their chances of winning tonight’s competition would be much higher.
But at this moment, Bai Yunxi threw a diva fit and didn’t want to partner with Ning Fan.
Setting aside whether this would annoy Ning Fan and Teacher Huo, Zheng Wenxiu immediately scolded her, “Yunxi, tonight’s performance is very important.
Don’t you realize that by now?”
Tonight’s performance was the finale of a talent show organized by a television station, and Bai Yunxi had to stand out.
Otherwise, she would be facing the risk of being shelved.
Now, with the best dance partner in front of her, someone who could help her win, Bai Yunxi refused him, causing Zheng Wenxiu to lose her temper and shout, “Bai Yunxi, oh Bai Yunxi, if you really think you can win with any Tom, Dick, or Harry as your partner, then do as you wish.
From now on, I won’t care about your fate!”
“Who are you calling Tom, Dick, or Harry!”
Unintentionally, Zheng Wenxiu’s words stabbed Shen Xuedong, who was on the sidelines.
Feeling unexpectedly like he had been struck by a bullet, he immediately jumped out, pointing at Zheng Wenxiu and roaring.
“You scoundrel, when is it your turn to speak?
Get to the back!”
Teacher Huo shouted angrily and kicked Shen Xuedong to the rear.
Zheng Wenxiu glanced awkwardly at Shen Xuedong; it wasn’t her intention to aim at him—her words were just a figure of speech, and she did not expect them to hit Shen Xuedong while he was down.
She had laid it out clearly; the importance of tonight’s finale could not be overstated.
She had explained it to Bai Yunxi not once, not a hundred times, but certainly more than fifty.
If Bai Yunxi still could not grasp the gravity of the situation, Zheng Wenxiu could only let her sink or swim on her own.
Seeing Zheng Wenxiu’s determined face, Bai Yunxi had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Finally, Bai Yunxi agreed, and Zheng Wenxiu quickly turned to Ning Fan, saying, “Master Ning, my apologies for the scene, please don’t take it the wrong way with Yunxi.
She just has that kind of temper!”
“It’s okay, having the honor to dance with such a beautiful girl is my privilege,” Ning Fan answered nonchalantly, shifting his gaze to Bai Yunxi.
He extended his hand like a gentleman, formally inviting Bai Yunxi to dance.
“They need peace and quiet to rehearse,” Teacher Huo said to the school officials on the side.
With just a simple phrase, they immediately understood what Teacher Huo meant.
The head of the Academic Affairs Office then stood up and shouted at the dance students, “Everyone, disperse.
Those who need to practice go back to practice.
Don’t disturb them!”
As the head of the Academic Affairs Office commanded respect among the students, they reluctantly left the venue.
With the hall’s doors closed, only Ning Fan and his group remained.
Xu Xiaoqing and the others stood below watching Ning Fan and Bai Yunxi rehearse while Teacher Huo continued to scold Shen Xuedong.
“Seems like you still remember me,” Ning Fan said softly in Bai Yunxi’s ear as he took her hand, leading her in graceful dance on the stage.
“Even if I turned to ash, I would remember you!”
Bai Yunxi glared at Ning Fan hatefully.
The person responsible for her unrest was now in front of her eyes.
How could Bai Yunxi, who had been brooding over that night’s events, ever forget Ning Fan?
Remembering the events of that evening, Bai Yunxi’s face turned red at this moment, not knowing whether it was out of anger or shyness.
Ning Fan smiled, didn’t speak further, but wrapped his arms around Bai Yunxi’s waist and looked earnestly into her eyes.
The two rehearsed once again, their coordination even more seamless than during their first dance together, it was truly flawless.
Watching their coordination, agent Zheng Wenxiu appeared confident of victory, excitement written all over her eyes at this moment.
“Damn lovebirds!” Shen Xuedong, with his head buried, accepted the scoldings of Master Huo, but inside he was cursing Ning Fan and Bai Yunxi.
Master Huo’s brows were furrowed in constant displeasure as he looked at his incompetent disciple, ultimately shaking his head in disappointment and sighing heavily in his heart.
Afterwards, Master Huo watched Ning Fan and Bai Yunxi’s rehearsal, amazed that Ning Fan’s dance skills were still as perfect as before.
…
In the evening, all the TV station staff arrived at the school, the stage was set up, and the judges and guests had taken their seats.
The audience was enormous, and the noise was deafening.
Tonight’s competition would be broadcast live on television and streamed online simultaneously.
This was a program organized by the TV station called “Dance Qiankun,” a very popular show.
After a nationwide talent search and regional battles, a selection process followed, resulting in the top ten contestants performing here tonight.
Tonight is the finale, and it’s Bai Yunxi’s last chance.
Whether she will be shelved by the company or become a sensation depends on whether she can prevail this evening!
There are a total of ten contestants, each one allowed to have a dance partner or perform solo.
Once all performances are over, the judges will provide their comments, and finally, the audience will vote via mobile phone.
“Yunxi, have you heard from Master Ning?”
Backstage, agent Zheng Wenxiu, sweating profusely, had run around without finding Ning Fan’s whereabouts.
The competition had begun, and Ning Fan had yet to show up, making Zheng Wenxiu extremely worried that something unexpected might have happened.
Bai Yunxi shook her head worriedly; she hadn’t heard from Ning Fan either.
The competition had started, and some contestants had already finished their performances.
Ning Fan was nowhere to be seen, causing both Bai Yunxi and Zheng Wenxiu to panic somewhat; tonight’s performance was too important to them.
They didn’t necessarily have to win the championship, but they had to at least secure a place in the top three for Bai Yunxi to have a chance.
In the backstage resting room of Bai Yunxi and her team, there were not only agents but also Master Huo, Shen Xuedong, and other dance instructors.
Master Huo was there because Ning Fan was scheduled to perform, and as his disciple, Shen Xuedong naturally followed, whereas the other instructors with Shen Xuedong were his friends from the dance academy, all of whom had considerable fame within the academy.
“I bet this guy got stage fright, chickened out, huh!”
Shen Xuedong sneered, interpreting Ning Fan’s absence as fear.