When I Woke Up, I Had Three Romantic Partners - Chapter 60

The short dance finished, and everyone present fell silent. They glanced at each other, whispering amongst themselves. Chi Jinqing felt a little awkward, unsure of what to do.

Zhuge Wei looked at the others and lightly cleared her throat: “Ahem, if anyone has any questions, just say them. We’re all familiar with each other, so don’t hold back.”

The person who had started the heckling at the beginning pouted and said, “We can’t coordinate with her dance. This kind… is a bit strange.”

His expression was complicated, as if he genuinely looked down on Chi Jinqing. Chi Jinqing’s face paled, but she didn’t speak.

Standing in the crowd, she felt like a commodity awaiting appraisal, embarrassed and humiliated.

Zhuge Wei disagreed: “I think her dance is quite good. It’s different from what we’ve done before. Compared to our previous choreography, I prefer her current dance.”

“So, I’ve decided to change it. You all will follow her from now on. Make sure you understand it completely and don’t improvise privately.”

She was serious about singing and wouldn’t let her personal relationship with Chi Jinqing affect the music.

Even if the others were unhappy, they couldn’t do anything but shrug in resignation.

Chi Jinqing lowered her eyes, silent. Zhuge Wei walked over, patted her shoulder, and softly comforted her: “They are all very good people; they just have strong convictions about dance and music. Don’t worry about it.”

Chi Jinqing nodded: “Okay.”

Zhuge Wei: “I’m glad you understand.”

“The rest is up to you. Dance well; I have high hopes for you.”

Chi Jinqing forced a smile: “Mm.”

During the following week of adjustment, although the others were following Chi Jinqing’s steps, they constantly seemed to isolate her. Despite dancing the exact same moves, Chi Jinqing just couldn’t blend in.

Chi Jinqing noticed this too. She knew she was being targeted. These people weren’t just struggling with a different style; they were deliberately isolating her.

The leader was a girl with short blue hair named Hou Jiao. She seemed very familiar with Zhuge Wei, and everyone else followed her lead in ostracizing Chi Jinqing.

Chi Jinqing had never experienced this before, but she’d seen it on TV. She merely smiled faintly at their childish behavior. If the situation escalated, she had ways to deal with them.

When it was time for the final assessment, Zhuge Wei frowned deeply, looking at the team members who were completely failing to integrate with Chi Jinqing. “Didn’t I tell you to follow Chi Jinqing’s lead? What are you doing?”

“The reason I chose you is that we’ve worked together before, and I thought you were suitable. But now, it seems you might not be as good as I imagined.”

Her tone was harsh, startling the others.

Hou Jiao stepped forward, trying to mediate: “Actually, it’s not entirely our fault. Our dancing is fine, but Jinqing is an actress and doesn’t have fundamental training, so even though we do the same moves, the feeling is just different. This is something we also…”

She shrugged, shifting all the blame onto Chi Jinqing, looking helpless: “A lot of the time, she can’t keep up with the beat, and she doesn’t talk to us, so we can’t communicate.”

Slurring Chi Jinqing in front of her to make her lose face was a step Hou Jiao had planned. She didn’t believe Zhuge Wei would truly abandon a highly compatible dance team for the sake of Chi Jinqing alone.

Zhuge Wei frowned, just as Hou Jiao had expected. The next moment, she said, “In that case, let’s find another team.”

The faint, smug smile on Hou Jiao’s face twisted. “Huh??”

“Wh-What?”

She thought she must have misheard. Shouldn’t Zhuge Wei abandon Chi Jinqing and let her lead the dance instead?

She was extremely familiar with the dance Zhuge Wei wanted and they had great coordination. Would Zhuge Wei really ruin her own album for the sake of one Chi Jinqing?

“She’s just an actress. She doesn’t understand your principles or the dance. She can’t even discuss the song’s beat and rhythm normally with you. Only I can match you.”

She desperately tried to fight for her position: “Only I am the most suitable for you, Zhuge Wei. Can you please be clear-headed?”

Zhuge Wei’s face was cold: “I am very clear-headed. I know what I’m doing. Please leave.”

Chi Jinqing held her back and shook her head: “She suits you better than I do, and you work well together. Don’t create conflict because of me.”

Hou Jiao scoffed dismissively: “I don’t need you to speak for me. Don’t pretend to be such a good person. You’re nothing special.”

Chi Jinqing: “…”

This kind of person was truly annoying.

If it weren’t for wanting to break free from Zhuge Wei, she wouldn’t have said anything.

The team members were also stunned. They couldn’t believe they were about to be replaced by Zhuge Wei just for targeting one person. And it wasn’t their fault!

Although, they admittedly didn’t listen and didn’t follow Chi Jinqing’s choreography as Zhuge Wei had instructed.

Zhuge Wei was firm: “I want a team that listens, not a self-important one.”

“If you can’t even manage that, then I can’t work with you.”

Hou Jiao’s face was pale. Eventually, she chose to back down: “Give us a little more time. We can do it. We will fully follow Chi Jinqing’s steps.”

“Please give us one more chance.”

Zhuge Wei: “This is the last time. I don’t want a second.”

Hou Jiao: “Understood.”

Zhuge Wei wasn’t standing up for Chi Jinqing; she was standing up for herself.

Chi Jinqing knew she was just being used as a pretext, but she thought it was fine; it made her subsequent work easier.

As expected of a team praised by Zhuge Wei, their dancing skills were undeniable. In just three days, they could fully keep up with Chi Jinqing. This was their true ability; their previous lack of integration was indeed deliberate targeting.

Chi Jinqing watched and made a mental note of it.

By the time of the official filming, Chi Jinqing’s singing and dancing were well-rehearsed.

The filming process went smoothly and took very little time. The post-production sound editing would be handled by professionals.

“Thank you for your hard work,” Zhuge Wei said to the departing Chi Jinqing, wearing exaggerated, heavy makeup. “Jinqing, if… I mean if I needed you to travel abroad with me…”

“I want to invite you to be a special guest at my concert. Would you be willing?”

Chi Jinqing paused, then turned back and smiled: “I think I’ll pass. I don’t really like those kinds of events. It would be better for you to invite another singer than me.”

“Besides, I’m not very famous, my popularity isn’t high, and I’m not great at singing or dancing. I wouldn’t bring a good effect to your concert.”

Her refusal didn’t discourage Zhuge Wei’s persistence. Zhuge Wei continued, “But I don’t have feelings for anyone else. I only want to invite you as a special guest.”

If Chi Jinqing couldn’t agree, her subsequent plans would be very difficult.

Chi Jinqing still shook her head: “Seriously, no. I’ll be busy filming soon and won’t have the time.”

“You should find someone else.”

With that, she left. After Chi Jinqing departed, Zhuge Wei’s face quickly darkened.

“Chi Jinqing.”

Zhuge Wei said word by word, “You’re forcing my hand.”

Su Yunhui sat in the cafe; her gaze fixed on Duan Xu across the table. For a moment, she felt a sense of disorientation. After so many years, the other person was quite different from the image she had in her mind, especially the change in her demeanor; it was completely different.

She pursed her lips and stiffly said, “Long time no see. How have you been?”

Duan Xu took a sip of her coffee and smiled: “I’ve been well.”

She then glanced at Su Yunhui and teased, “It’s you who hasn’t changed after all these years; work is still your top priority.”

Su Yunhui shook her head: “No, I’ve changed.”

“Now I feel that compared to family, no amount of money earned from work seems as important.”

Duan Xu chuckled: “That’s because you’ve already made a lot of money, enough for you to spend freely, so you’re starting to miss the benefits of family.”

“For people without money, work is still more important.”

“Say whatever you like.”

Su Yunhui stirred her coffee and looked down: “Why did you invite me for coffee this time after coming back? What does it mean?”

“I remember things ended badly between us back then, and our relationship was very tense. I thought you would never come back or talk to me again.”

Duan Xu’s expression was calm: “It wasn’t that dramatic.”

“Of course, I was indeed too immature back then, which is why things ended the way they did. I’ve grown up now and realize that besides feelings, money is also a crucial part of a relationship.”

Su Yunhui suppressed the excitement in her heart and said expressionlessly, “So?”

Duan Xu put down her coffee and said seriously, “I know you still like me, and I’ve always missed you. So, let’s get back together, Su Yunhui.”

Su Yunhui was silent for a moment, her hand gripping the spoon slightly tightening. This was what she had always wanted, and now that it was actually happening, she felt a little overwhelmed.

A long silence fell between the two, so long that Duan Xu thought Su Yunhui might refuse. Then, Su Yunhui spoke.

“Alright.”

Her eyes held seriousness and affection: “Alright, let’s be together again.”

Duan Xu’s face lit up with a smile: “Mm, girlfriend.”

“Mm.”

After finishing their coffee, Su Yunhui walked Duan Xu home. Downstairs, Duan Xu looked at Su Yunhui, who was standing still, and chuckled, “I live alone now. My parents aren’t here. You don’t have to be as reserved as you were before. Do you want to come upstairs for a drink?”

Su Yunhui was a little stunned too. Yes, they were twenty-eight, not eighteen. Duan Xu wouldn’t be living with her parents anymore.

They could start over without having to hide from their parents.

“Then… let’s have a drink.”

The two went upstairs. In the elevator, Su Yunhui tilted her head to look at Duan Xu, who had grown taller, her large, wavy hair framing a mature, feminine beauty. Her heart was beating a little faster.

No matter how much time had passed, her heart still fluttered for this person, and only for this person.

Duan Xu knew Su Yunhui was looking at her, but she didn’t turn her head, keeping her eyes fixed on the ascending numbers of the elevator. Her heart was perfectly calm.