Chapter 46: I’ll Save Her First Part 2

Ming Li slightly tilted her head and saw Gu Qingshuang holding up a glass of wine.

Gu Qingshuang, who rarely drank, downed the entire glass in one go, as if she were being provocative toward the person over there.

A moment later, Shen Lideng offered a smile that was kind and sweet.

Gu Qingshuang turned her head and asked Ming Li, “When do we leave?”

“Up to you.” Ming Li had finished all the necessary socializing, but Shen Chu and the other bride hadn’t even appeared yet. Regardless, they had to stay through the vows and wait for Shen Chu to bring the bride over for a toast before they could leave.

Gu Qingshuang glanced at the stage, then caught Shen Lideng sitting poised nearby.

Shen Lideng smiled at her again. Gu Qingshuang pretended not to see it and lowered her voice to Ming Li. “Want to go for a walk outside?”

Ming Li checked the time. There was still a while before Shen Chu and her bride were due to come out, so she nodded. “Sure.”

The two walked toward the exit side-by-side. But just as they reached the doors, they heard the host say, “To celebrate her elder sister’s marriage, our second Miss Shen has specially prepared a performance titled The Joined Phoenixes. As everyone knows, Miss Shen Lideng is the principal dancer of the Paris Opera House and a pride of the Chinese people on the world stage. Next, please enjoy…”

The host’s voice was high and passionate, stirring the atmosphere of the room.

The center stage was made of glass for aesthetic reasons, which wasn’t suitable for dancing—especially not for ballet. Even the most skilled dancer could slip and fall.

Ming Li frowned and looked over. Shen Lideng’s slightly curled hair was let down. She pulled off the gray blanket that had been covering her legs and walked onto the stage with calm composure.

The lights in the banquet hall suddenly dimmed. In the darkness, Ming Li gripped Gu Qingshuang’s hand, only to find that her palm was damp with sweat.

“Are we still going out?” Ming Li asked in a low voice.

A spotlight snapped onto the stage, illuminating Shen Lideng’s slender figure in a shimmering glow. The power exploding from her thin frame was not to be underestimated; every movement was executed to perfection, synchronized with the rhythmic beats of the music.

She was a natural on the stage.

Ming Li found herself unconsciously drawn in, and Gu Qingshuang didn’t answer her question.

It seemed they weren’t leaving yet.

Just as Ming Li accepted this fact, Gu Qingshuang tugged at her hand and turned around. “Let’s go.”

Ming Li looked up at her, trying to figure out what she was thinking. But those eyes were as dark as a deep pool—bottomless and unreadable.

Naturally, there was no way to probe her thoughts.

But since Gu Qingshuang said it was time to leave, Ming Li had no reason to stay. In most cases, Ming Li would follow Gu Qingshuang’s lead. It had become a habit.

To make the performance on stage look better, there were no lights on in the audience. However, as Ming Li pulled Gu Qingshuang along the corridor, she could see the faint glow from outside and the moonlight reflecting through the glass ceiling.

It wasn’t exactly dark. In fact, it gave Ming Li the feeling that they were walking toward the light.

Behind them were Gu Qingshuang’s past memories, while she was leading Gu Qingshuang forward. As long as they moved far enough ahead, the people behind them would grow smaller and lose their influence.

The drumbeats inside the hall grew faster. Ming Li could even hear people commenting, “So beautiful!”

The next second, a sharp cry rang out, followed by a chorus of gasps from the audience. The music came to a dead stop.

The dance had reached its climax, only to stop at its most brilliant moment.

Ming Li and Gu Qingshuang instinctively turned back.

There on the stage, Shen Lideng had fallen miserably. Yet she had already adjusted her expression, offering a brilliant smile as she picked up the host’s microphone. “My dance isn’t over. Music.”

The host wanted to help her up, but because she had collapsed directly onto the floor, there was no easy way to assist her.

Shen Lideng also refused the help.

Seated closest to the stage, the Shen couple both scowled. Mrs. Shen said coldly, “I think she’s doing it on purpose. She wants to ruin Chu’chu’s wedding!”

Mr. Shen said nothing, but his expression was grim, and his gaze toward Shen Lideng was cold.

It was Zhongli Shu’s mother, seated nearby, who said softly, “No dancer wants to fall on stage. Especially not a dancer of her caliber.”

Zhongli Shi leaned toward her mother’s ear and whispered, “Maybe we should have her come down. If she keeps dancing, she might never be able to dance again.”

Her mother shook her head. “Let’s see how the Shen family handles it first.”

Mrs. Shen shot a look at Mr. Shen. “Tell her to get her ass down here! She’s embarrassing us!”

Mr. Shen looked on coldly without responding.

On stage, Shen Lideng was struggling to stand up, her gaze fixed on someone in the corridor.

To be precise, her gaze was on the person standing in that corridor. Their eyes met as if engaged in a silent gamble, and finally, she stood up with a smile.

She bowed to the audience first. As she bent over, large beads of sweat rolled down her forehead.

Even though she was used to pain, the agony radiating from her injured waist and legs was enough to make her break out in a sweat.

But when she looked up again, she was smiling.

The music started once more, and the audience lights went out. She was still the dazzling Shen Lideng on that stage.

But every single movement was a struggle.

Ming Li could tell she was injured. She also saw how Gu Qingshuang stood frozen, staring intently at the stage.

Gu Qingshuang didn’t even notice when Ming Li tugged at her hand.

Standing beside her, Ming Li let out a soft sigh.