It was a feast for both eyes and ears.
The professional arrangement by Jian Zhongyou and Jiang Yin’s group of teachers.
Zhang Chi’s measured and balanced spear techniques had no flashy moves, and there were no wire stunts.
Only that final, unreplicatable “Return Horse Spear” technique – one had to be present to feel its overwhelming pressure. This was truly the Bai family army’s invincible signature move.
The performance ended, and the curtain fell.
Bai Lian turned to go backstage. The two hosts waiting behind the curtain didn’t come out immediately. They stood by the door curtain, motionless, holding their scripts while staring at her.
The backstage wasn’t very large. Bai Lian casually held the spear in her right hand, radiating an inner strength. She nodded slightly at the two hosts, “Isn’t it your turn now?”
“Ah,” the female host finally snapped out of her daze, adjusting her silver dress. “Yes, yes, it’s our turn.”
She pulled the male host along as they walked through the curtain.
Not many people backstage could see the program through the curtain, but everyone heard the thunderous applause and cheers from outside.
Ye Jingxian, being too worried to stay put, had watched the whole performance through a corner of the curtain.
Her face was flushed with excitement. Now seeing Bai Lian return backstage with the spear in one hand, the impact left her momentarily dazed.
“Senior,” Bai Lian greeted her, placing the spear against the wall before heading to the dressing room to change.
The outfit wasn’t unsuitable for wearing outside, but it was unusually hot in Jiang City for late September.
—
Outside, in the front row, the hosts took the stage.
Dean Huang and the professor beside him finally recovered their senses. Being closer to the stage, no one could better understand the pressure they had felt.
“This spear technique,” Dean Feng, sitting to Jiang Fuli’s right, temporarily forgot about the young master beside him and turned to speak with a familiar Finance College professor, “was even better than that kid Yan Lu’s performance in summer.”
“Yes, and,” the Finance College professor pushed up his glasses, whispering his thoughts, “when she carried the spear on her back, didn’t she look just like our… Senior Sister?”
“Exactly,” Dean Feng immediately nodded, his feelings being perfectly described by the professor. “Who is she?”
This wasn’t just his impression, but everyone present’s first reaction.
Senior Sister was what all Jiang University students called that female disciple of Liang Zewen.
Of course, Liang Zewen had more than just one disciple. His other disciple was Jiang Wendi, who accomplished numerous achievements for Da Yong in the first half of his life, but became paranoid and cruel in his later years, causing great suffering to the people.
His merits and faults couldn’t cancel each other out, but historians still gave him the posthumous title of “Wen” (Cultural).
Because of him, the Bai family left no descendants, with all three heroes dying on the battlefield. Even now, when people mention him, they mostly do so with criticism.
Chen Ye’s military talent wasn’t as great as the Bai family’s, yet he still managed to pacify the realm alongside Emperor Jiang Wu.
If Bai Li and Bai Chongyu had lived, things might have been different. The Da Yong Dynasty is reviewed in videos every year, and each time, Jiang Wendi gets criticized by countless netizens.
That’s why Jiang University has a Senior Sister, but no Senior Brother.
Even General Chen Ye took the lead in not building Jiang Wendi’s bronze statue.
As the two hosts read from their scripts on stage, Dean Huang let out a deep breath. He was stunned by Bai Lian’s performance and thought about describing it to his teacher next time they met.
Truly worthy of being Junior Sister, having such skill.
Thinking this, he turned to look at Jiang Fuli.
The young master remained characteristically silent, sitting in his chair with long fingers resting on the armrest. His profile was like cold jade, his gaze fixed on center stage, though those light eyes were extremely deep and clearly unfocused.
Dean Huang, looking at Jiang Fuli, wanted to say something when he suddenly stood up.
The next performance was by a dance troupe, with only the main stage lights on.
Dean Huang was startled seeing him rise, “You’re leaving?”
“Yes.” Jiang Fuli checked his phone – Bai Lian had messaged saying she wouldn’t come back to watch the show, she was going to work on math problems for the Bo Yuan class.
He had only come to watch Bai Lian’s performance anyway.
Dean Huang nodded, not surprised. Jiang Fuli’s attendance at this evening show had already shocked him enough.
He walked Jiang Fuli to the main entrance.
Actually, Dean Huang wanted to leave too, but it wouldn’t look good to leave right after the opening. He returned to his seat, planning to watch a few more performances before departing.
Jiang Fuli walked outside where many people were still gathered, talking in small groups. Occasionally he heard words like “spear,” “video,” and “Bai Lian.”
He glanced at them coldly before heading to the back path to wait for Bai Lian.
Bai Lian changed clothes and came out with her backpack. Ye Jingxian had been holding her arm, walking her out.
She wanted to chat more with Bai Lian, but upon seeing the unapproachable Jiang Fuli standing opposite them, Ye Jingxian suddenly let go, no longer daring to hold Bai Lian’s arm.
—
In the auditorium, the second performance was a group dance, also very lively.
Modern dance, with loud speakers.
But most audience members were still immersed in the previous spear performance and music. Compared to that ancient style arrangement with drums, flutes, pipa, and guzheng… this modern music seemed too rough and less moving.
Many viewers had lost interest.
Including the people in the second row.
Madam Song had been talking to Bai Shaoqi, telling her to stay steady and perform well later, hoping the Finance College professors and dean would remember her. Connections and social circles would naturally come to her then – a tall tree attracts noble birds.
But when the music started, she unconsciously looked toward center stage.
If it weren’t for that familiar face, Madam Song would have doubted this was the same Bai Lian she knew before.
She was truly radiant.
“Is this really Bai Lian?” Madam Song leaned back in her chair.
Beside her, Song Min and Bai Shaoqi remained silent.
Song Min had been looking at his phone. During summer vacation, he and a group had been making investments. Even while watching the show, he was discussing these matters, but now his eyes were wandering.
“Shaoqi,” Madam Song understood Bai Shaoqi’s mindset well, “your guzheng playing is also excellent. Don’t feel pressured.”
As Madam Song spoke, Song Min gradually came back to his senses.
Some people in the first row had already left.
Beyond the first row, scattered audience members were also leaving.
—
In the last row.
The boy in front of Tang Ming was excited like he’d been injected with chicken blood, “Yes, it’s Bai Lian. My livestream has no replay… there’s already HD recording online? Hey, don’t leave everyone, there’s still the finale performance…”
The evening show wasn’t over, but this opening segment was already being shared online.
Kong Wei and Yu Simin also snapped out of their daze. Both were Yan Lu’s fans. “Her performance was even better than Sister Lu’s. Is Bai Lian actually from a traditional martial arts family?”
Yu Simin opened Weibo and videos, unable to help saying, “Sure enough, netizens have sharp eyes. It’s already trending online.”
Short videos have enormous power. “Jiang University” and “Bai Xianjun” already carried traffic.
“Jiang University Evening Show Opening Performance” shot into the top five trending topics.
Tang Ming heard Yu Simin and Kong Wei talking and clicked on the trending topic. Opening it revealed videos of Bai Lian from various angles, with the most popular being shot by two reporters in the first row.
The complete version was 4 minutes 28 seconds, already with 1 million likes and 120,000 comments.
[Look at her final smile – this isn’t a little sister, this is my husband!]
[Please, let this sister act in a drama, I’ll definitely watch!]
[…Wake up! She’s this year’s top student in Jiang University’s Tongfeng class! If you let her enter entertainment, won’t the university dean and professors cry?!]
[As expected, I knew all the beautiful ones go to serve the country!]
[Who is this young lady? So powerful, feels like seeing my moonlight love from a thousand years ago return]
[Who understands, after watching Da Yong, Bai Li died in snow, brother died on battlefield, princess sent far away in marriage… Today seeing her appear, when lights shone on her, feels like Sister Lu was completely outshone]
[In prime of youth, spirited and graceful, white clothes and cold spear]
[My Senior Sister finally has a face now!]
Yan Lu’s demeanor, acting, and spear skills had won unanimous approval from netizens. Countless fans would think of Yan Lu first when mentioning the historical figure Bai Xianjun. As long as Yan Lu didn’t have any scandals, this role would keep her thriving in entertainment.
However today, the professors and students at Jiang University felt like they’d seen the statue in People’s Square come to life.
No need for exquisite acting skills like Yan Lu to convince everyone.
She just needed to stand there holding the cold spear, appear before everyone, and she’d already won completely.
Tang Ming put away his phone, sighing that it was a bit like watching Lu Xiaohan’s first viral video.
He put away his phone and turned to ask Ning Xiao and Yang Lin, “Are you leaving? Today’s homework from teacher is difficult, and Brother Jiang is here.”
Ning Xiao was always cool and detached. He nodded, “Let’s go.”
Yang Lin naturally needed no convincing – she had part-time work tonight and only came to cheer for Bai Lian.
These students from Xiangcheng were scattered yet united.
Kong Wei and Ding Wenyang watched Tang Ming and others preparing to leave early and said, “You’re all leaving? Bai Shaoqi’s finale is coming up, her guzheng is very good. She has over ten million fans, many people are waiting for her performance, you’re not staying to listen?”
After watching the opening performance, even the best dances and songs afterward seemed somewhat tasteless.
Some people in the back rows had left, but others stayed with excitement – since the opening was so amazing, surely the finale wouldn’t be weak!
The Finance College had been promoting heavily this year, and with such a powerful opening performance, many viewers were really looking forward to the finale!
Hearing Kong Wei’s words, Tang Ming scratched his head, “Nothing special to hear, right? She’s not as good as Sister Lian.”
Tang Ming had been involved in that incident with Dean Jian in Xiangcheng, and had specifically gone to hear Bai Shaoqi play “Betting on Wine.” Honestly, even he could feel the gap.
It wasn’t about technique, but emotion.
“Huh?” Bai Lian had never brought a guzheng to the dorm, and this was Kong Wei’s first time hearing Tang Ming mention this. “Bai Lian can play guzheng too? She’s good?”
“Of course,” Ning Xiao and Yang Lin had already left, and Tang Ming shouldered his bag, smiling at Kong Wei, “Sister Lian became famous at our school because of guzheng.”
Lu Xiaohan got famous from that video, and Dean Jian traveled thousands of miles to Xiangcheng.
Did Bai Lian’s guzheng level even need explaining?
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