Chapter 42
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The moment Lin Shanchu appeared, more comments flew across the screen.
[The performance I want to watch is finally here.]
[I’m waiting for Lin Shanchu to make a fool of herself.]
[I think these people are a little too much. What if she came prepared?]
[If I were Lin Shanchu, I’d just stand there just to show everyone how pretty I am without doing anything. At least, I’d be able to regain some dignity by doing that.]
The song, “Resentful Ghost” was played at that moment.
The students’ seating area went deathly silent for a moment.
The instructors also swapped looks with each other.
Only Huo Xunzhou was staring at the stage with an indifferent expression.
Yun Wu and Lin Shanchu looked at each other and stood back to back.
Their dance moves were neat and synchronized as if they were twins.
From the instructors’ seating area, Qin Shuya was pleasantly surprised. She turned to Bai Yu and asked, “What do you think of them?”
“What do you think, Ms. Qin?” Bai Yu asked in reply.
Qin Shuya did not hide her excitement. “This group’s dance was such a pleasant surprise!”
The most exciting segment of “Resentful Ghost” started playing at that moment.
“This world is in shambles and ruins.
The words ‘rest in peace’ are uttered one last time.
The resentful ghost is dressed in white.
She stands among the dilapidated ruins.
She looks at the sunlight pouring through the cracks of the abyss.
She is shackled, but she struggles to get up.
Lin Shanchu knelt on the ground. The camera zoomed in for a close-up.
Dust clouded her previously clear eyes. An expression filled with the struggle that stemmed from her desperate situation contorted her fair face. The pain she suffered from was silent yet great, and it almost crushed her.
The darkness was swallowing her.
Darkness tainted her eyes.
She lay down quietly as if she had stopped struggling.
Suddenly, she leaped up with all her might.
Her long black hair fluttered in the air. Her snow-white dress resembled a blooming flower.
It was a perfect backflip.
She floated freely in the air.
It was like she was starting a new life.
The song ended soon enough.
Yun Wu turned to smile at her as she mouthed, “You’re amazing today!”
Lin Shanchu did pull off the backflip during their practice, but it wasn’t as perfect as the latest backflip.
There were fine beads of sweat on Lin Shanchu’s forehead. Her complexion was pale, but she still tugged at the corner of her lips as a form of response. After three seconds of silence, thunderous applause broke out.
Following that, the instructors clapped from their seats too.
The two of them bowed together.
Yun Wu was very satisfied with the performance this time. She even smiled this time, as opposed to maintaining her usual cool appearance.
The dance instructor, Qin Shuya, picked up the microphone while exclaiming excitedly, “Yun Wu, you’re awesome! You have a strong foundation! How old are you this year?”
“Twenty,” Yun Wu replied.
“You have a bright future ahead of you!” Qin Shuya said with certainty. “I love your dance so much, so I’ll give you an A! You must become an A-ranker!
“And you, Lin Shanchu! You really surprised me too! Your dancing skills are obviously not as good as Yun Wu’s, but not only did you not drag her down, you even cooperated well with her! Especially during the backflip, your expression made your performance even more perfect and charming!”
Qin Shuya pointed behind her while continuing, “I heard the members behind us crying just now! Your performance is really great! It’s definitely the performance that I’m the most satisfied with since the start of the initial stage assessment! You and Yun Wu both deserve an A!”
When Yun Wu heard Lin Shanchu being praised, she looked even happier than when she got praised. She grinned while turning to look at Lin Shanchu, only to notice that there was something wrong with the latter.
Lin Shanchu noticed that Yun Wu had noticed her abnormality, so she reached out and grabbed Yun Wu’s hand, indicating for her to not speak.
Lin Shanchu had just finished dancing in the summer heat, but her hands were as cold as ice.
Yun Wu couldn’t help but shiver upon feeling the coldness.
After going through a week without much trouble, Lin Shanchu’s cancer started acting up again.
It was probably because the frequency of the attacks had increased, but she felt that it was not as unbearable as before.
Lin Shanchu’s lips curved up slightly, her expression now looking normal.
“Thank you, Ms. Qin.”
The comments filled the screen.
[I told my friend that I cried after watching someone dance, but she said I was just exaggerating.]
[I didn’t know Yun Wu is a hidden gem.]
[I got goosebumps because of Lin Shanchu’s gaze just now.]
[She performed a dance of the underworld while wearing the clothes of a fairy.] [I know, right? Her gaze made her look like an actual resentful ghost.] [I’m starting a petition for Lin Shanchu to act the role of a lunatic beauty.]
[The ones who claimed that Lin Shanchu can’t sing and dance, show yourselves!]
Everyone witnessed Yun Wu’s skills.
She deserved the A rank without fail.
However, Lin Shanchu’s rating was controversial.
After discussing among themselves, the instructors decided to give Lin Shanchu an additional test.
Although Huo Xunzhou was not a mentor and did not interfere with the grading, the other mentors still asked for his opinion.
“What do you think, Mr. Huo?”
“The difference in skill between Lin Shanchu and Yun Wu is too great. It’s unfair to Yun Wu if Lin Shanchu gets an A after passing the additional test.”
Surprisingly, Huo Xunzhou didn’t agree with the idea of giving Lin Shanchu an additional test. He even came up with a lengthy reason.
Yun Wu was anxious when she heard this. She picked up the microphone with the intention to defend Lin Shanchu.
However, Lin Shanchu was one step ahead.
“Mr. Huo is right. Yun Wu is very outstanding. She deserves the A. She was the one who choreographed ‘Resentful Ghost’ by herself. I still have a lot to learn and improve on.”
Her voice was very soft, but fortunately, there was a microphone to amplify it, so it could still be heard clearly.
Then, they continued the process.
Huo Xunzhou announced the final rating of the two members.
“Yun Wu, A. Lin Shanchu, B.”
Yun Wu vaguely sensed that Lin Shanchu might not be feeling well.
When the two of them got off the stage together, she was still holding Lin Shanchu’s hand tightly.
As they passed by the instructors’ seats, Bai Yu suddenly picked up the microphone.
“Yun wu.”
The said girl suddenly stopped.
Lin Shanchu turned her head and looked over, her eyes meeting with Huo Xunzhou’s.
Remembering that the show was a live broadcast, Lin Shanchu retracted her gaze in time.
Yun Wu returned to her usual cold and emotionless self.
“What’s the matter, Mr. Bai?”
“Why did you use my song to choreograph the dance?”
“I didn’t know it was your song, to begin with, Mr. Bai. I’ve never choreographed this type of dance before, so I wanted to try it.” Lin Shanchu could detect the hostility underlining the short sentences.
Bai Yu pursed his lips and put down the microphone.
His reaction was a little suspicious.
The atmosphere at the scene was a little tense for no reason.
Yun Wu seemed to not feel it as she was ready to head up the stands while holding Lin Shanchu’s hand.
The pain suddenly attacked Lin Shanchu.
Lin Shanchu’s vision blurred immediately as her knees buckled beneath her weight. She then toppled forward instantly.
A large hand reached out from the side and supported her steadily.
The help came right on time as if that person was ready.
The thin cotton fabric could not block out the warmth coming from the man’s palm.
His warm breath burned her skin, but the pain in her body was strangely reduced.
“Good luck.”
Huo Xunzhou noticed that Lin Shanchu had recovered and let go of her after saying these two words in a low voice.
From an outsider’s point of view, Lin Shanchu had accidentally fallen. Huo Xunzhou merely helped her out of convenience.
Only Lin Shanchu knew how much Huo Xunzhou had actually helped her.
Huo Xunzhou flipped through the members’ documents and continued with the process.
Lin Shanchu slowly walked up the stands.
Neither of them looked at the other.
Yun Wu looked at Huo Xunzhou thoughtfully before turning to Lin Shanchu.
She felt that there was a very compatible atmosphere between the two of them..