Beijing-Hong Kong Rosemary

Chapter 16 Making Money and Dealing with Mr. Qu

The next day, Shen Guining asked He Jie, who said that a friend had come in and sat for a while.

Shen Guining didn't know what to say, but she felt a little uncomfortable. After all, it was a dormitory for two people, how could she bring a man back without saying hello?

He Jie is very easygoing and probably didn't think that much about it.

Take two days off and then return to work.

That day in the backcourt training room, Lou Jingshu quietly asked Shen Guining, "Is He Jie in a relationship?"

"Hmm?" Shen Guining didn't know why she suddenly asked that.

Lou Jingshu lowered her voice and said, "I saw what looked like hickeys on her collarbone. You live with her and didn't even know?"

Shen Guining shook her head. "I don't pay much attention to these things."

However, He Jie does sometimes come home quite late.

Lou Jingshu found it amazing, "How could anyone not love gossip?"

Shen Guining chuckled.

During a casual chat, a colleague passed on a message: "Gui Ning, your number one suitor has come to see you again."

Upon hearing this, Shen Guining showed a helpless expression.

Lou Jingshu looked towards the door. "Here he comes again. Didn't you politely decline him every time?"

"I might have to be direct. I'm going out for a bit." Shen Guining put down her leg on the bar, grabbed a tissue, wiped her sweat, and walked out.

The man stood in the doorway, smiling, and asked her, "Finished dancing practice?"

Shen Guining remained polite, "Not yet, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Do you have time to have dinner together tonight?"

Just as she was about to refuse, another man came over and egged her on: "Beautiful Shen, our Brother Jun is so sincere, why don't you give him a chance?"

"I'm sorry, I already have someone I like, so I can't accept your offer." Shen Guining's rejection this time was more direct and left no room for negotiation. "I have to continue practicing dance. Goodbye."

After the incident, she finally had a brief moment of peace.

The reason it was described as brief was because that young lady came to pick a fight with her again in the afternoon.

"Shen Guining, let's talk." Miss Jin was as arrogant as ever, even raising her chin as she spoke.

The two found a quiet place to talk.

Shen Guining asked, "What do you want to talk to me about?"

Jin Yuhan didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Shen Guining, are you trying to jump to the main role?"

She was annoyed; why did an intern always steal her thunder?

People are saying in private that Shen Guining, a backup dancer, dances better than the lead actress.

"No," Shen Guining denied.

Jin Yuhan glared at her angrily, "You're two-faced. If you want to jump, you just jump. What's there to be ashamed of?"

Shen Guining was speechless. "Miss, I really don't want to jump to the main role right now."

Before finding a powerful backer, she just wanted to keep a low profile and not let the Shen and Zhou families know that she was in Beijing so quickly.

Jin Yuhan didn't believe it and snorted, "Hypocritical!"

"..."

Shen Guining was powerless to defend herself, "Believe it or not, it's up to you."

The conversation broke up unhappily.

After finishing dance rehearsal in the evening, the director came to find her again.

Shen Guining was still wondering why everyone was flocking to her today.

The director said a parent wanted to find a dance teacher for their child and asked if she would be willing to go.

Shen Guining initially wanted to refuse, but changed her mind and agreed when she heard that the tuition fee was one thousand yuan.

Who can have trouble with money?

She now has two goals—to make money and to get involved with Mr. Qu.

That evening, Shen Guining added the parent on WeChat. The parent sent her a message: "[Hello Teacher Shen, I'm Xia Xi's mother. This is our address. You can come directly over this weekend afternoon.]"

Shen Guining replied with "Okay," and checked the location, which showed Tan Li's residence.

If she remembered correctly, Mr. Qu also lived in this neighborhood.

But the neighborhood is so big, and he's so busy, what are the chances of running into him?

Zhu Sixuan also asked her how her pursuit of someone was going.

What progress can there be? We can't add each other on WeChat, we can't meet in person, there's absolutely no progress.
-
On Saturday afternoon, Shen Guining took a taxi to Tan Li's residence.

There's no direct subway line, and transferring is a hassle, so I just took a taxi, which was expensive but convenient.

Outside vehicles are not allowed to enter the community, so Shen Guining can only get out of the car at the gate.

The black and gold gate is grand and luxurious, with an enormous stone tablet standing next to it, inscribed with the four characters "Tanli Mansion" in a vigorous and elegant style, exuding nobility.

Shen Guining explained her purpose to the security guard, showed him her dance troupe's work ID, and passed through smoothly.

It lives up to its reputation as the number one affluent area in Beijing, where every plant and tree is meticulously maintained to create a top-notch ecological environment.

It is said that there are only ten homeowners here, and each villa covers several thousand square meters, with independent gardens, viewing terraces, outdoor swimming pools... these are just the standard features.

It took Shen Guining more than 20 minutes to walk there.

A middle-aged man in a suit was directing a servant to clean the flowerbeds at the entrance.

She stepped forward and greeted them: "Hello, I am Shen Guining, Xia Xi's dance teacher."

Butler Uncle Bai looked her over for a moment, then nodded, "Okay, please come with me."

The villa consists of a main building and an annex, with the dance studio located on the third floor of the annex.

Uncle Bai went upstairs first and knocked on Xia Xi's door. "Miss, your dance teacher is here."

The door was ajar, and a haughty, displeased voice came from inside: "I told you I don't want a teacher!"

Shen Guining suddenly felt a headache coming on; this was still a rebellious teenager.

Sure enough, earning high-paying teaching fees isn't that easy.

Uncle Bai was already used to it and knew her weakness. "Miss, you'd better behave yourself, or the master will be angry."

Xia Xi irritably threw off the covers and sat up. "I know, I know, you just know how to use him to pressure me! I hate you!"

Uncle Bai ignored her complaints and turned to Shen Guining, "Miss Shen, let me take you upstairs to the dance studio to wait."

Shen Guining nodded. "Okay, thank you."

Xia Xi deliberately dawdled, taking half an hour to change her dance outfit.

When she met the tutor, she was a little surprised; she hadn't expected her to be so beautiful and elegant.

Shen Guining showed no signs of impatience, and simply asked, "Can we begin?"

Xia Xi looked away and awkwardly hummed in agreement.

"Do you have any dances you'd like to learn?" Shen Guining took off her thin jacket, revealing a light blue dance dress underneath that perfectly accentuated her figure.

Xia Xi thought for a moment, "The Flower Goddess of Shadow Valley."

"Okay, but this is a bit difficult to learn. Let's do some warm-up exercises and stretch first, otherwise it's easy to get injured."

Shen Guining patiently taught her step by step.

Xia Xi initially learned very perfunctorily, but the teacher kept correcting her movements seriously and responsibly. Especially with such a beautiful face, she couldn't help but be bewitched and began to take it seriously as well.

The two-hour dance class ended.

Shen Guining packed her things and prepared to leave.

Uncle Bai prepared fruit platters and snacks downstairs. "Miss Shen, you've worked hard. Have something to eat and rest. I'll have the driver take you home."

"Okay, thank you." Shen Guining didn't refuse, because it was impossible to get a taxi here.

She sat down on the sofa, took a sip of water, and her gaze inadvertently fell on a photo frame on the cabinet to her right.

The man above looks familiar—Mr. Qu.

(End of this chapter)