Chapter 33: An Unexpected Turn! Jing Tian: A Bold Idea Emerges

The memories of day after day, year after year of dance practice resurfaced, becoming vivid and etched into her mind.

A familiar yet strange warmth emerged once again from her dantian, flowing through her entire body in an instant before vanishing. Jing Tian, who had felt slightly fatigued after finishing her dance, now felt rejuvenated, her body light and refreshed.

"The supernatural phenomenon has appeared again."
"And it stunned... Zhang Li."

A brilliant light flickered in Jing Tian’s beautiful, large eyes, shining intensely in the night. Over the past ten days, she had helped others, been kind to her classmates, assisted teachers, and spent money on charity, yet she had never heard that voice again. This had made her suspicious, wondering if she had been hallucinating or if the strange sensation was merely a delusion.

But now, the enhancement phenomenon had reappeared, simply because her dance in front of the crowd had stunned Zhang Li. Surely, she hadn’t only stunned Zhang Li with her dancing? Zhang Li had grown up alongside Liu Yifei and had undoubtedly seen the latter dance many times; his standards were certainly not low. Combining these two factors, Jing Tian became absolutely certain that the "cheat" she had acquired was tied to Zhang Li. To gain improvements in her abilities and talents, she needed to "grind for experience" and earn favor with him.

"Junior, this senior has officially taken notice of you!"

With a sudden realization, Jing Tian looked toward a spot in the front of the audience, locking eyes with Zhang Li from afar. She beamed, a smile that set many hearts racing.

However, at that moment, Zhang Li pulled out his phone.

"Hello, Dou Xiao."
"What did you say?"

Zhang Li’s expression shifted, and he stood up immediately.

"There's... blood, I think I ate something bad. It’s acute gastroenteritis or something..." Dou Xiao’s weak voice came through.

"Which restroom are you in? I’m coming to find you right now," Zhang Li said, his tone steady and instinctively reassuring.

"No, no need." Dou Xiao took a deep breath. "I’ve already called Wang Zirui. He’ll take me to the hospital. I called you for something else."

Zhang Li stopped in his tracks, his thick eyebrows raised slightly. "About your performance?"

"Yes, could you please go tell them? I’m not feeling well and I hope to cancel it," Dou Xiao said, his voice laced with regret. He had really wanted to perform while the students, school leadership, and many famous alumni were present. Fortunately, the Beijing Film Academy’s welcome party had its own unique style; the freshman performance segment was open-participation, with no rehearsals required, so it could be canceled simply by informing the organizers in advance. Until 10:00 PM, people could even add performances on a whim, or finish early if no one was left to perform.

"Alright, I'll go tell them for you," Zhang Li agreed readily, changing his direction.

After hanging up, he strode quickly across the playground, reaching the side of the rostrum. He skirted around the makeup area, heading toward the announcement team.

Jing Tian, having just stepped off stage, saw Zhang Li. Her eyes lit up, and she wanted to greet him, but seeing his serious expression, she held back. "Did something happen?" the thought crossed her mind.

"Tian, what's wrong?" a fellow dance club member tugged at Jing Tian’s arm.

"Nothing, let’s go to the dressing room," Jing Tian said with a smile. "The freshman performance segment is starting soon; maybe there will be some impressive juniors."

"I didn't expect you to be interested in this, Tian," someone teased. "I wonder if the new school heartthrob will perform."

"Speaking of the heartthrob, you were in charge of welcoming the freshmen that day, Tian. How does he look in person compared to the photos?"

"I saw someone post photos on the school forum. It’s something else seeing the school beauty and the school heartthrob standing together."

"This year's heartthrob really is the heartthrob of the whole school."

The group whispered and occasionally teased Jing Tian. She had heard these comments until she was sick of them, but today, things felt different. She urged everyone to hurry, and after changing into a long dress, she walked out of the room first and headed to the announcement team.

She saw Zhang Li talking to Yuan Shanshan, a senior in her fourth year, and the atmosphere was tense.

"Biyun, what’s going on?" Jing Tian asked, approaching Chai Biyun. As a second-year student, Chai Biyun was volunteering today.

"Tian," Chai Biyun said, her brow relaxing as she replied in a low voice. "Zhang Li came to find the teacher in charge of the gala to cancel Dou Xiao’s performance. Apparently, Dou Xiao has acute gastroenteritis and went to the hospital."

"The teacher in charge isn't here, and the person in charge right now is Yuan Shanshan. She said she couldn't make the call after hearing Zhang Li."

"Zhang Li suggested that the announcement team skip Dou Xiao’s act and change the order until the teacher arrives."

"Senior Yuan said that wouldn't be good and would affect the other students' performances."

"Zhang Li asked for the teacher’s phone number, but he couldn't get through."

Hearing this, Jing Tian’s elegant, spirited eyebrows knitted together. She had heard rumors about Yuan Shanshan. People always said she was good at "playing the game" and was particularly nice to handsome men. Why was she making things difficult for Zhang Li today?

"What a disaster for no reason." Zhang Li had his own suspicions and cursed under his breath. On the first night of school, Yang Mi had sent him Yuan Shanshan’s contact info, telling him to add her and chat symbolically but to avoid getting too close. Later, he had used the excuse of being busy and tired from military training to give her messages the cold shoulder. Now that he had "fallen into her hands," she was getting back at him. The embarrassing part wasn't for him, but for Dou Xiao.

"So, you want me to beg you, huh?"

Sensing Yuan Shanshan’s true intentions, Zhang Li chuckled to himself.

"Fine!" A smile appeared on Zhang Li’s face. "Senior, you're sticking to the rules and considering the other students—that's as it should be."

"Then I’ll solve this in my own way."

With that, Zhang Li turned to a girl with a cool look. "Hey, could I borrow your guitar?"

"Sure." The girl generously took off the guitar and handed it to him.

After a quick tune-up, Zhang Li walked toward the backstage area. Cai Wenjing had just finished announcing the act, and Dou Xiao was next.

"Hey, junior." Yuan Shanshan reached out and grabbed Zhang Li’s wrist.

In the next instant, Zhang Li felt time freeze for a fleeting moment.

[2009: After graduation, signed with independent agent Luo X-chun, running around looking for roles, auditioning for 30 crews in half a month.]
[2010: Filmed the Chongqing local drama "Wushan Dream," playing... Ji Anran.]
[September 5, 2010: The period drama "Maid Under the Big House," starring Zhao Wenxuan, Tong Yaya, and Hai L, premiered.]

A flood of information appeared, causing Zhang Li to frown slightly. But looking at her 2009 and 2010 performances, Yuan Shanshan was just a nobody. However, the fact that he could foresee her future meant that Yuan Shanshan would at least reach a certain level of fame for a period. In reality, such people could indeed do very well, much like the "Huayi Seven Princesses."

"Since you’ll eventually become famous for some project, I guess I won't be able to get your help by then."

With a flash of thought, Zhang Li pulled his arm away, turned, and squinted. "Senior, I’m going on stage to save the act for my classmate. Do you still have an objection?"

"Are you insisting on a performance accident just to make my classmate look bad?"
"You don't have a grudge against him, do you?"

Yuan Shanshan’s smile stiffened. "I didn't mean that."

Zhang Li couldn't be bothered with her; he turned and walked onto the stage.

Yuan Shanshan: "..."
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

Jing Tian watched this scene, her eyes suddenly brightening.

"If I stand up for Zhang Li, could I gain some kind of ability enhancement?"