Chapter 3: Chapter 003: Unappreciative
"Oh my god! Sheng Ning, what are you doing here?" A round-faced girl ran over in a panic. When she saw the packed auditorium, she became so shy she couldn't lift her head.
Sheng Ning regained her composure and uncertainly said, "Hong Mei?"
"The performance is about to start, and the captain couldn't find you backstage and was about to explode." Zhang Hongmei grabbed her hand, ready to drag her away.
Zhang Hongmei had done a lot of manual labor since she was young, and she was very strong, making Sheng Ning's hand hurt from her grip. It was only now that she felt the reality of her rebirth.
"What are you doing at the front? The General Union doesn't allow people to come to the front, especially when you might bump into someone important and get into trouble."
Sheng Ning remembered why she had come to the front; she wanted to find Xu Qigang to make her stance clear that she would never marry him. Her father from her hometown had written, saying he wanted to marry her off to a friend's son, which had left her in a panic.
Back then, she was young and arrogant, relying on her beauty and dreaming of becoming a phoenix. Under the instigation of Qin Cuifen, she shamelessly ran to the front during the gala to find Xu Qigang and make him give up.
In her past life, this caused quite a scene since many leaders were present. Xu Qigang was a hero, just returned from a rescue mission in the Southern Border. He was infamous as the Living Yama, and the girls in the General Union Dance Troupe were terrified of him, not daring to lift their heads when they saw him. In her past life, just hearing Xu Qigang's name made Sheng Ning tremble all over; she never considered the marriage seriously, as it was her father who had humbled himself to ask for it.
Sheng Ning felt a painful ache in her heart, an overwhelming guilt that almost drowned her. She remembered that in her past life, it was her step-sister who had married the village chief's foolish son, giving Sheng Ning the chance to join the General Union Dance Troupe. But she had ended up in a miserable situation because of her own actions.
Having waited a long time in the backstage without any trouble, Qin Cuifen couldn't sit still anymore and secretly ran to the front. As soon as she arrived, she saw Sheng Ning, who was the center of attention, and her heart burned with resentment.
Hmph! No matter how beautiful you are, Shen Jianguo's infatuation with you, she would make sure to ruin your reputation, turning you into a street rat.
Qin Cuifen hid the cunning in her eyes, straightened her neatly braided pigtails, and walked up with a concerned expression.
"Ningning, how did it go? Did you say it?" Qin Cuifen asked anxiously.
Sheng Ning's spirit was reignited, and her previously bewildered eyes began to shine brightly. By this time, they had already reached the hall's exit, but many workers were still secretly glancing at her.
Seeing her bright eyes, even Xu Qigang, who had a strong will, couldn't help but take another look.
"Say what?" Sheng Ning stared at Qin Cuifen without blinking.
"Of course, that you will absolutely not marry Xu Qigang!" Qin Cuifen said as if it was a matter of course, a slight disdain and hidden anticipation at the corner of her mouth.
Sheng Ning, this fool, did not know what was good for her. She had found out a long time ago that he was the top rescue expert in the country, the captain of the War Wolf Rescue Team, who had saved countless people from the brink of death. If Xu Qigang hadn't been born in a rural area, even she would have wanted to marry him. Sheng Ning had always overshadowed her, so even if she couldn't get him, she would never stand by and watch Sheng Ning marry such a good man.
Sheng Ning tilted her head, studying Qin Cuifen. "My father only sent a letter asking for my opinion. I don't even know who Xu Qigang is."
Qin Cuifen excitedly said, "I know!"
"Cuifen knows?"
Qin Cuifen cursed inwardly; she had been too careless and did not expect Sheng Ning, with her pig-headedness, would start to think things over. But it was fine. Even if she didn't fall for it now, when the performance began, she had even more tricks up her sleeve.
Returning to the backstage from the front, Sheng Ning was indeed harshly scolded. She had just joined the General Union Dance Troupe this year and was not good at getting along with others, so no one defended her when she was scolded.