CHAPTER 585: CHAPTER 352: PERFORMANCE

"Without high heels, tango feels quite lacking. Commandant, do we have any spare shoes?" Before Lin Tuanzhang could reply, Qiao Xiaowan hung her head and continued, "It’s already embarrassing enough that I got into an accident. If the following performances are affected, it will be even more laughable."

"Of course, we have spare shoes. I’ll go get them right away." Lin Tuanzhang waved his hand and headed towards the small tent where the costumes and props were stored.

"I’ll go change my clothes." Qiao Xiaowan let out a breath and picked up her soft-soled dance shoes, glancing at Luo Ye: "You won’t need these, so I’ll wear them."

Su Sha hurriedly stopped her: "Xiaowan, forget it. The injuries on your arms and legs haven’t healed yet, and they’ve swelled up from all that exertion. Take a rest."

While putting on the shoes, Qiao Xiaowan said: "Aunt Sha, once I change into the military uniform, the injuries on my arms and legs will all be covered up. It won’t interfere with hosting duties. I know you’re worried about me losing face, but rest assured, I’m a soldier. How can I be so easily knocked down?

Besides, this was just an accident. I believe that if I go back on stage again, everyone will not mock me but will instead applaud my courage."

After thinking for a moment, Su Sha smiled in approval: "Xiaowan, it seems that you’ve really grown up. Go ahead." She paused and then looked at Luo Ye: "Ye’er, you go too. After you two come back, Bai Yan will change."

"Thank you, Aunt Sha." Qiao Xiaowan looked at Su Sha gratefully, understanding that her intention was to help save face so that she wouldn’t be the only one in military attire, constantly reminding the audience of what had just happened.

Su Sha waved to the two of them: "Go and come back quickly."

"Yes." Luo Ye replied and turned to leave. Qiao Xiaowan quickly caught up with her, taking initiative and entwining her arm: "Luo Ye, thank you for coming on stage to save me earlier."

"It’s what I should do." Luo Ye answered indifferently, withdrawing her arm.

"Do you still hold a bias against me?" Qiao Xiaowan’s hand reached out again: "I know I was wrong, can’t you just let it go, please?"

A flash of disgust swept through Luo Ye’s lowered eyes, and she withdrew her arm again: "You’re mistaken. I have a quirk; I don’t like being held, especially when my arms are bare. Look, it’s making my hairs stand on end."

Qiao Xiaowan glanced and noticed a glint in her eyes: "Not even Brother Xiao Xuan?"

"Him?" A smile played on Luo Ye’s lips, her eyes and brows brimming with amusement: "I’m the one holding onto him."

"That makes sense. With his tall stature holding onto you, it really would be quite comical." Qiao Xiaowan laughed awkwardly, stumbled a bit, and the clothes tied around her waist fell off. She quickly bent down to pick them up and hurried into the small tent after scanning the area.

The trace of a smile quickly vanished from Luo Ye’s lips as she followed into the small tent.

The two of them finished changing almost at the same time and came out. Seeing the style of the clothes on Luo Ye, a flash of jealousy quickly crossed Qiao Xiaowan’s eyes, but then she quickly said, "Whose did you borrow this from? Take it off quickly. You can’t just wear this kind of clothing."

"It’s mine." Luo Ye replied with a sweet smile and turned to leave the tent.

Qiao Xiaowan clenched her fists and stomped her foot, but then relaxed and followed out with a beaming smile.

Before Luo Ye even reached the stage entrance, Su Sha came over anxiously and pulled her to the side: "Ye’er, listen to me, change into normal clothes. Even if Xiao Xuan can cover things up, it’s ultimately not good for you guys."

Luo Ye gave a helpless wry smile: "Auntie, this uniform is mine. It was officially approved and issued to me by the superiors."

"Really?" Su Sha looked at her with skepticism.

"Really." After Luo Ye assured her, she sighed: "Don’t worry, I won’t force him to do something against his principles just for the sake of looking pretty."

"Ye’er, don’t blame me. I’m also worried that you young people lack discretion." Su Sha changed her tone: "This uniform looks really pretty on Ye’er. Of course, it’s mainly because our Ye’er is pretty."

"Thank you for the compliment, Auntie." Luo Ye looked at her sincerely: "I believe that once you get to know me better, you’ll like me. To be true, I’m not very fond of you right now, either. But for Ye Xuan’s sake, we should try to accept each other, okay?"

Su Sha fell silent for a moment, then her eyes filled with a smile: "Ye’er, you’re right. For Xiao Xuan, we should also try to accept each other. Let’s give it a try."

"Okay, let’s work together." Luo Ye warmly took her arm: "Auntie, let’s go."

When Bai Yan came off stage, she happened to see Luo Ye walking arm in arm with Su Sha and couldn’t help but praise: "Luo Ye looks really handsome in that outfit."

"Yeah, your outfit really puts us to shame." Qiao Xiaowan pouted, but then quickly put on a radiant smile and turned to Luo Ye, who had approached: "Sister Bai was just saying how good you look in that uniform."

Bai Yan gave her a surprised glance and then smiled at Luo Ye: "My point is, the clothes are very stylish, but the person wearing them is even prettier."

"Thank you."

"..."

While they were chatting warmly, Lin Tuanzhang came rushing over anxiously.

"The shoes couldn’t be found?" Su Sha asked with puzzlement seeing her empty-handed.

Lin Tuanzhang frowned, "I clearly remembered we had several spare pairs of shoes, but now we can’t find them. I asked Xiao Zhang, she said nobody has touched them. We’ve turned everything inside out and still didn’t find them. Could I have remembered wrong?" Then, looking at Luo Ye, "Check your shoes again, you’re the only one who needs to wear them again."

"Okay." Luo Ye took her shoes to inspect them carefully before setting them down, "There should be no problem, and besides, there’s the male dance partner, it’s not a big deal."

Qiao Xiaowan nodded repeatedly, "Exactly, Li Yan is experienced, he will protect Luo Ye well. Commander Lin, don’t worry too much."

"Alright, that’s all we can do now." Commander Lin, feeling helpless, shook his head and suddenly slapped his forehead, "Right, with all this chaos, I almost forgot. The front desk brought a note saying that the foreigners were privately murmuring they couldn’t understand the skit and crosstalk.

So, for the skit and crosstalk acts coming up, whoever among you goes on stage, please translate for them so the international friends can understand. If you encounter phrases you can’t translate, look for synonyms as substitutes. I believe our international friends will understand."

Bai Yan looked troubled, "Commander, I... I’m afraid I can’t do that."

"Then..." Commander Lin turned to Luo Ye and Qiao Xiaowan, "For the crosstalk and skit parts, you two will take turns to replace Bai Yan on stage."

"Okay." Both replied in unison.

Su Sha listened intently, then patted Qiao Xiaowan, "Xiao Wan, it’s your turn, come on!"

"Xiao Wan, you can do it, keep it up!" Commander Lin also said.

Luo Ye and Bai Yan also raised their fists in support.

Qiao Xiaowan gave an unnatural smile at them all, took a deep breath, and stepped forward. As she reappeared before the audience, there was a momentary pause before a warm round of applause ensued.

With a smile, Qiao Xiaowan lifted the microphone, "Thank you everyone for your encouragement. It was quite embarrassing just now. After hesitating for quite a while, I decided to continue and complete my task!"

"Wow wow wow..."

"Thank you!" Qiao Xiaowan bowed and lifted the microphone again, "The next performance is a solo dance by a woman called ’The Sun in My Heart’, performed by Liang Xiaoxiao from the General Political Dance Troupe."

As she turned to leave the stage, loud shouts from the foreigners followed, "Miss, you are very brave!" Qiao Xiaowan turned back and bowed again, "Thank you for the praise." She saw the leaders in the front row nodding repeatedly, and almost floated back to the backstage, excitedly jumping, "I did it! I succeeded!"

"Yes, your bravery has won everyone’s respect," Su Sha said with a face full of contentment. Having watched Qiao Xiaowan grow up, she was truly happy at her achievements.

"It’s a blessing in disguise," Commander Lin also looked relieved, checking the program list, "Luo Ye, the next performance is crosstalk, get ready."

Luo Ye nodded and replied, "I understand, I’m looking at their lines."

...

Black combat boots, a red beret, and a cool, handsome uniform that accentuated her figure, along with a charming smile on her delicate face - such was Luo Ye as she took to the stage, immediately drawing everyone’s attention, including the smiles of the elderly home’s audience, let alone everyone else.

"Dear audience, hello everyone. The next act is a crosstalk called ’Good Soldier.’ In order for our friends from abroad to appreciate our soldiers’ spirit, I will be interpreting the dialogue live in English." After announcing once in Chinese and once in English, a middle-aged man with blonde hair and fair skin raised his hand high.

"Do you have a request?" As Luo Ye spoke, she moved a few steps closer, and a microphone was quickly handed to the man by a director below.

"Beautiful miss, I am Jonis, the head of the French academic exchange group. We like all the performances, and your live translation to accommodate us is very touching. On behalf of all the members, I express our heartfelt thanks..." Someone beside him kept nudging him and whispering something, and he suddenly patted his forehead and quickly apologized in English, "Sorry, I forgot, please forgive me."

Luo Ye smiled and said fluently in French, "No problem. To express our gratitude for all of you supporting our country’s science and technology, I will translate this act in French."

Jonis spread his hands wide in astonishment, "Beautiful miss, you have really surprised me. Oh my, you can speak our language, thank you so much!"

"I hope you enjoy your time in China!" Luo Ye bowed, signaling the actors that they could start.

Lin Tuanzhang, who was listening backstage, shook his head in disbelief, "Su Sha, this daughter-in-law of yours is like a treasure that never runs out."

After listening for a while, Su Sha was full of surprise, "I’m wondering when this girl mastered so many languages. Her French might not be as good as her English, but it’s still pretty decent."

"People say that birds of a feather flock together; with you as a mother-in-law knowing six languages, your daughter-in-law has to outshine you somehow, right?" Commander Lin laughed, "I can finally let go of my anxiety. This performance has more merits than faults; we can indeed consider the mission complete."

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I am half an hour late, ah. Tomorrow, let’s strive to make up for today’s loss with an 8,000-word update. The update will be around 6 p.m. for one Chapter.

Special thanks to "ー Love Cat ﹏ " Miao for the generous red envelope, and special thanks to "Tianhai Bing Yue" for the reward. (To be continued... If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast Recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)