Chapter 84: My World is Too Crowded Part 2

Shen Lideng rarely admired a dancer, but when Ming Li was on stage, one’s eyes were naturally drawn to her. Every lift of an arm or extension of a leg was a perfectly timed visual feast.

There was a wall between ballet and Chinese dance, but both were art.

If one had to say, Shen Lideng at least possessed more artistic appreciation than Gu Qingshuang, the medical student in the front row.

Although the lead dancer, Sun Xihan, also danced well, it was obvious that some movements were a struggle for her. It was likely due to an old injury.

Shen Lideng had those kinds of injuries, too.

From the sets to the choreography, it was a nearly perfect performance.

Shen Lideng hadn’t danced in a long time.

She stayed at home and raised a cat. Every day, besides talking to the cat, she would turn on the TV to watch variety shows, often spacing out while watching.

The doctor said she was no longer fit to dance; her body had reached its limit.

Coincidentally, Shen Lideng had also turned down all domestic offers.

She thought that living a life of “waiting to die” wouldn’t be so bad.

But seeing the shining Ming Li on stage and the lead dancer pushing herself to the limit, something in the depths of her heart was awakened.

She still wanted to dance.

She had worn ballet shoes and danced since she was three years old, all the way until she was twenty-five. For twenty-two years, she and the stage had lived for each other.

Now, what else could she do?

The lights dimmed, and thunderous applause erupted. The performance ended, and the dancers lined up to bow in thanks.

In the audience, Shen Lideng also began to applaud.

After the performance, it was the usual time for a celebratory dinner. Ming Li hadn’t expected Luo Chaoxue to still be backstage when it was over.

Luo Chaoxue was writing something on her iPad with a stylus. She didn’t even notice the dancers leaving the stage until Ming Li approached her. “Are you finished?”

The voice was soft, but it still startled Luo Chaoxue. “Fi… finished.”

Sun Xihan was too exhausted and decided not to go to dinner tonight.

As for Ming Li, she had been so busy practicing her dance that a pile of company business had accumulated and needed handling, so she couldn’t go either.

After explaining to the group, she prepared to leave.

She had to part ways with Sun Xihan outside. Seeing that Luo Chaoxue was still following Ming Li, Sun Xihan asked, “Are you two leaving together?”

“Yeah,” Ming Li said. “We live in the same building.”

Sun Xihan: “…What a coincidence.”

As she spoke, she sized up Luo Chaoxue, trying to see if she could find something hidden behind that gentle and calm face.

“What are you doing?” Ming Li nudged her. “You’re being rude.”

Sun Xihan said, “I’ve always been rude.”

Ming Li: “…”

After Sun Xihan left, Luo Chaoxue asked softly if she had driven.

Ming Li nodded. “I did. You?”

“No,” Luo Chaoxue said. “I came during rush hour, so I took the subway.”

Ming Li paused. She had thought Luo Chaoxue was asking so she could offer a ride, not because she needed one.

Of course, it wasn’t an unreasonable request.

Ming Li said, “Then you can ride with me.”

“Is it convenient?” Luo Chaoxue sounded a bit embarrassed. “I can pay you for gas.”

“It’s fine. I just hope that after your work becomes a hit, you can drive some traffic to our Thorn Crown,” Ming Li joked. “Then I won’t have given you this ride for nothing.”

“I’ll do my best.” Luo Chaoxue didn’t dare make any grand promises.

The two walked toward the car side-by-side. As they approached, they saw someone standing there.

Ming Li walked forward and saw Gu Qingshuang. She was standing by Ming Li’s car like a statue.

And Gu Qingshuang’s car was parked right next to it.

Ming Li took a deep breath, preparing to ignore her presence, but Gu Qingshuang blocked the driver’s side door.

“What are you doing?” Ming Li asked.

Gu Qingshuang’s gaze fell on Luo Chaoxue first. She answered with a question of her own: “Are you in a relationship?”

“Does that have anything to do with you?” Ming Li frowned in displeasure.

“…”

Luo Chaoxue tactfully stepped to the side, taking out her phone and pretending to be invisible.

“I’m just asking,” Gu Qingshuang said. “Am I not even allowed to ask?”

Her tone was still cold, but she sounded as if she had been deeply wronged.

Ming Li retorted, “I have never asked about your business, so please don’t ask about mine.”

“You can ask me. I’ve always said you can ask me.”

“But we have never been in a relationship where we could ask such things.”

“Why not? The changes in our emotional states affect the status of our marriage. Why can’t I ask?”

“But our marriage has ended now.”

“…”

Gu Qingshuang fell silent. The debate ended with her lips twitching, unsure of what to say.

Ming Li saw that she was dressed thinly, her cheeks flushed red in the cold underground parking lot. She glanced at Gu Qingshuang’s car and said coldly, “Go home.”

“Go home to what?” Gu Qingshuang asked.

Ming Li said, “Go home.”

Gu Qingshuang bit her lip. “The house is too cold.”

Ming Li paused for a moment. “You can have the housekeeper turn up the heat.”

Gu Qingshuang: “…”

Standing not far away, Luo Chaoxue suddenly let out a stifled laugh that sounded exceptionally clear in the empty parking lot.

Luo Chaoxue looked at them apologetically. “Sorry, I didn’t do it on purpose.”

She didn’t even try to make up an excuse, she was just blushing with embarrassment.

“Miss,” Luo Chaoxue spoke up at the right time. “Miss Ming and I are still in the ‘getting to know each other and haven’t yet become friends’ stage. Have you gotten the answer you wanted?”

Gu Qingshuang looked at her, then back at Ming Li.

Ming Li said in a low voice, “There’s no need to explain anything to her.”

A fire suddenly surged in Gu Qingshuang’s heart. Resentfully, she said, “Why can’t she explain? Is it that hard for me to just get an answer?”