Chapter 291: Chapter 113: The ’60s Cultural Troupe Top Star (Finale)

Jie Xiaoqin’s face flushed. "But miss, didn’t someone just book three tables here? Why could they do it and we can’t? We only want one."

The server finally gave her an odd look, sizing her up. "They had a letter of introduction from their work unit. It’s an internal benefit, a privilege reserved for those who’ve made contributions to the organization. What contributions have *you* made?"

Jie Xiaoqin froze. She pressed her lips together tightly, clenching the money and coupons in her hand. After forcing out a "Sorry to have bothered you," she trudged back with heavy steps.

’She’d let Xia Zhaoyun get to her again, completely losing her head. How did she end up saddled with a task like this?’

If she pulled it off, it wasn’t like the girls from Group One would have anything nice to say. But since she failed, she would likely have to bear the brunt of all their resentment—resentment they couldn’t take out on Xia Zhaoyun.

Group One’s performance was scheduled for the second slot in the afternoon, so Jie Xiaoqin had the entire morning free.

Just to vent her own frustration, she was determined to go to the state-run restaurant, wait in line at the perfect time, and order her food.

By the time Jie Xiaoqin returned to her group, her composure had been fully restored.

Each act in the audition had something unique that made it stand out, and the technical difficulty of the dances was quite high.

After watching a few of the other performances, the girls from Group One felt much more confident. They were even a little gleeful. While their group leader was handing over their cassette tape, they sidled up to the girls from Group Three to whisper some discouraging remarks.

"You know, when it comes to this national group dance showcase, aside from the artistic concept and overall effect, the most important thing is still the technical skill."

"The leaders attend countless cultural showcases every year. Their eye for talent is as sharp as any professional instructor’s. Your group’s routine is all flash and no substance. There’s no difficulty to it at all. You could grab a random person off the street, give them a few days, put them in a costume, and they’d be able to perform it just as well..."

"Besides, the political climate is so tense right now, and you actually dare to mess with ’feudal’ themes. Tsk, tsk. I don’t know if I should call you brave or just say you’re looking for trouble because your lives are too peaceful."

The girls from Group Three stared back at them as if they were a bunch of idiots. "Are you nuts? We’re about to go on. If you mess with our performance, can you handle Vice Factory Director Zhao’s wrath?"

The Group One girls glared. "And you think you haven’t affected us?"

The girls from Group Three scoffed. "Heh, our performance is just so stunning that it’s putting pressure on you. Sorry, but there’s nothing we can do about that."

"Or are you just still salty about lunch?"

The Group One girls were left speechless, puffing up their cheeks in anger like bullfrogs.

Thanks to the commotion, the pre-performance jitters of the Group Three girls were magically cured.

’Heh, Group One was just scared that they would deliver an outstanding performance, weren’t they?’

’Well, in that case, they would give it 120 percent just to spite those petty little hens!’

Fueled by a fiery determination to prove they were anything but mediocre, the girls from Group Three truly surpassed themselves. Their absolutely stunning performance brought the audience to their feet in thunderous applause.

After they got off stage, several of the girls collapsed right there on the floor, burying their faces in their hands and sobbing. "We did it..."

Xia Zhaoyun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but she completely understood how they felt.

After all, in her past life, she had witnessed the next few decades of these girls’ lives. Each of them had faced her own share of unfulfilled ambitions, misfortune, helplessness, and compromise.

She remembered a foreign song that had suddenly gone viral on a certain social media app. People said you had to listen to it when you got a divorce: "I come from the heavens, untainted by the mortal world. I am fearless, without a care or a single tie..."

It just went to show the shackles that marriage and reality placed on women.

If they could live as their true selves during their wild, vibrant youth, they could probably live their whole lives without regret.

Xia Zhaoyun smiled and pulled them up one by one, her voice light and brimming with absolute confidence.

"What are you all crying for? This is just the beginning! This was only the first round of auditions. After this, we still have rehearsals."

"The rehearsals are basically another round of cuts. And after the official performance, if you get scouted by other work units, your careers will have only just begun."

"Don’t act like a bunch of country bumpkins. People will laugh at you."

"Remember, you were all trained by me, your teacher, Little Xia. From now on, no matter what you face, there’s just one rule: if it’s good, right, and aims high, then you just put your heads down and get it done!"

"If you don’t even have that much drive and courage, good fortune will never fall into the laps of those who just sit around and wait for it."

The girls all nodded emphatically, took a deep breath, and regained control of themselves.

Judging from the audience’s incredible reaction alone, getting through the first round of auditions was practically in the bag!

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