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The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Ling Yun Performing Arts Company's premiere is scheduled for Friday evening at the Shenzhen Grand Theatre.

Posters were plastered all over the streets a week in advance—"Ling Yun Premiere: A Dialogue Between Modernity and Classicism".

An hour before the show started, a long queue had already formed outside the theater.

Scalpers weaved through the crowd: "Tickets! Anyone want tickets? Front row, extra two hundred!"

Xiao Ran also came; he bought a seat on the side of the second floor, which wasn't very conspicuous.

Holding the fifty-yuan ticket in my hand, I felt a mix of emotions.

He knew that this performance was specially arranged for Han Ling by Suning.

The name of the song and dance troupe, "Lingyun," is clearly taken from the name "Han Ling" by anyone with eyes to see.

Suning handled everything from investment and venue setup to promotion.

The performance started on time.

The curtain rises and the lights come on.

Han Ling, dressed in a white dress, stood in the center of the stage and announced the program.

The spotlight shone on Han Ling, making her seem to glow.

Xiao Ran could hardly recognize Han Ling anymore.

In my memory, Han Ling always wore simple clothes and waited for me to come home, her eyes filled with anticipation and a little bit of resentment.

Now, Han Ling is impeccably made up, stands tall and straight, and speaks with a clear and confident voice: "Welcome everyone to the premiere of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Lingyun Dance Troupe. Tonight, we will present you with a performance that blends modern dance with ethnic elements..."

The applause of the audience was thunderous.

The first program was a new arrangement of "The Song of Rainbow Feathers".

Twelve actresses, dressed in modified Tang Dynasty costumes, moved gracefully with flowing sleeves and light, graceful dance steps.

Although Han Ling was not the lead dancer, she stood in the center of the front row, and every movement was precise and on point, with a smile that was just right.

As Xiao Ran looked at it, he suddenly remembered his university days.

Han Ling is the school beauty and a dance prodigy. She is always the lead dancer in every school anniversary performance.

Back then, Han Ling shone brightly on stage, and the boys in the audience couldn't help but stare.

After he came to Shenzhen, Han Ling never danced again.

He often said that once his career was stable, he would support Han Ling's dancing.

But this "wait" lasted for three years, until Han Ling completely gave up.

The second performance was a modern dance piece titled "Urban Flow".

Han Ling changed into a black bodysuit and moved in perfect harmony with her male partner, their movements powerful and full of tension.

This dance tells the story of young people struggling in Shenzhen, experiencing confusion and struggle, and ultimately emerging from their cocoons like butterflies.

Many audience members were moved to tears.

Shenzhen is a city with countless stories like this.

Xiao Ran was also engrossed in watching.

Suddenly, I realized that I had never really understood what Han Ling wanted.

I thought that giving her a good material life was enough...

Big house, designer clothes, enough money.

But what Han Ling wanted was perhaps never these things.

What Han Ling wants is a stage, applause, to be seen, and to be respected.

And these are things that Xiao Ran cannot give.

Because he himself is still struggling to survive, still working tirelessly day and night, still thinking about how to expand the company and how to prove himself.

Or perhaps Xiao Ran never cared about Han Ling at all, and that he had the kind of person who stopped appreciating what he had once he got it.

But Suning could provide the service and was particularly patient, so Han Ling chose Suning.

It's like the tortoise and the hare race, except the tortoise is the real one. The tortoise thinks it has won, unaware that the real danger is always there, until the hare delivers a fatal blow to the careless tortoise.

During halftime, Xiao Ran went to the restroom.

On my way back, I happened to run into a few audience members talking in the corridor.

"That troupe leader dances really well! I heard he used to be a professional?"

"I don't know, but they have such great presence. Shenzhen-Hong Kong Electronics really has an eye for talent; investing in such a dance troupe is much better than advertising!"

"I heard that this song and dance troupe was specially set up by General Manager Su for Director Han. He really spared no expense."

"Of course! A single performance costs hundreds of thousands; who would be willing to spend that much?"

Xiao Ran walked past quickly with her head down, feeling as if she were being pricked by needles.

The second half was a medley of ethnic dances.

The Tibetan dance, Mongolian dance, and Dai dance were all exquisitely choreographed, and the performers were highly skilled.

It's clear that Han Ling is truly dedicated to running this song and dance troupe.

The last performance was Han Ling's solo dance, "Nirvana".

She changed into a fiery red dance costume and twirled and leaped on the stage like a burning flame.

At the climax of the music, a difficult backward bend occurs, freezing the viewer in the center of the stage.

Under the spotlight, sweat dripped from Han Ling's forehead, but her smile was radiant.

The entire audience stood up and applauded.

The applause lasted for a full three minutes.

During the curtain call, Han Ling led all the actors on stage to bow.

Her gaze swept across the audience seats and over the second floor. For a fleeting moment, Xiao Ran felt that Han Ling had seen him.

But Han Ling quickly looked away, her smile remaining polite.

After the performance, the audience gradually left the theater.

Xiao Ran sat in his seat, not moving for a long time.

Watching the staff begin tidying up the stage, and seeing Han Ling talking to several actors backstage with a satisfied smile on her face.

Xiao Ran suddenly realized that he hadn't seen that smile in a long time.

Suddenly, an idea popped into Xiao Ran's mind...

It seems like everyone is just a pawn in Suning's game.

Liu Yuan works hard to make money in KTV, his Yu Xue Qing brand fights fiercely in the daily chemical market, and Han Ling's song and dance troupe shines on stage.

Everyone is contributing to Suning's business empire in their own way.

And what about Suning? He sits behind the scenes, controlling everything.

It has the technology, the market, and the women.

Even he himself, Xiao Ran smiled wryly, wasn't he also making money for Suning?

Yu Xueqing has received investment from Suning, and Suning is a shareholder.

Every penny that Yu Xueqing earns comes from Suning.

Ironically, Han Ling not only had to make money for Suning, but also... had to satisfy his other desires and needs.

To entertain people with one's looks.

These four words pierced Xiao Ran's heart like a knife.

But Xiao Ran had to admit that this was the truth.

Han Ling chose this path, choosing to gain stage and fame through this method.

Xiao Ran, on the other hand, didn't even have the right to criticize.

Because he was the one who betrayed Han Ling first; he was the one who brought that thong home, insulting their years of relationship.

Xiao Ran stood up and slowly walked out of the theater.

The night in Shenzhen is ablaze with neon lights.

Cars come and go on the street, and everyone is busy making a living.

Suddenly, I felt like a joke.

They worked themselves to the bone to start a business, thinking they could prove themselves, but in the end they were still working for others.

They thought they had grasped love, but ended up pushing it away with their own hands.

And Suning, the one who seemed to fight for nothing, ended up getting everything.

Technology, market, women, fame.

This is the true protagonist of destiny.

He remained calm and collected, yet controlled the entire situation.

Everyone was willing to work for Suning and felt that they were getting a great deal.

Upon reaching the parking lot, Xiao Ran got into the car but didn't start it immediately.

He took out his phone and found Han Ling's number...

That was her old number; I don't know if she changed it.

My finger hovered over the dial key for a long time, but I didn't press it in the end.

What should I say? Congratulations on your successful performance? Or am I asking how you're doing?

At this point, it's all meaningless.

Han Ling has embarked on another path, a path he could never give her.

But Xiao Ran must continue on his own path...

Do a good job with Yuxueqing to prove that you are not useless and that you can succeed.

Even if this success is insignificant in Suning's eyes.

Xiao Ran started the car and drove into the night.

In the rearview mirror, the lights of the Shenzhen Grand Theatre gradually faded into the distance.

Just like his past with Xiao Ran and Han Ling, it can never be returned to.

Ahead lies a long and lonely road of entrepreneurship.

He knew that Xiao Ran had lost this war.

They lost to Suning, but they also lost to themselves and to the omnipotent capital.

But life goes on. After all, Shenzhen doesn't believe in tears, only in results.

The next step is to produce results and show them to everyone, especially to himself.

……

The celebration banquet after the performance lasted until 10 p.m.

Han Ling had drunk quite a bit of wine, her face flushed, but her eyes shone with an astonishing light—the light of a dream come true.

After seeing off the last group of customers, I took out my phone, hesitated for a few seconds, and then dialed Suning's number.

Su Ning has sacrificed so much for her; it's time for her to pay the price. Pretending to be ignorant is not Han Ling's style.

"President Su, the performance is over, and it was a great success." Han Ling's voice still carried barely suppressed excitement. "I heard about it." On the other end of the phone, Su Ning's voice was calm. "The audience response was very good, and the media reviews were also positive."

"Thank you for giving me this opportunity," Han Ling said sincerely. "Without you, there would be no performance today."

"It's all thanks to your own hard work." Su Ning paused. "What are your plans for tonight?"

Han Ling's heart skipped a beat. "I don't have any plans... What about you?"

"Come to my place! Xiangmihu No. 1, Building A, top floor. I'll have my driver pick you up."

"it is good."

"Get ready! Tonight is going to be a sleepless night."

"Ah."

After hanging up the phone, Han Ling stood on the steps at the back door of the theater and took a deep breath.

The night breeze carries the unique dampness of Shenzhen.

Of course, I know what will happen tonight...

From the moment she chose to leave Xiao Ran and join Su Ning, she knew it.

But Han Ling has no regrets.

At least for now, standing on the stage where she has just achieved great success, she has no regrets.

Half an hour later, the car stopped at the entrance of Xiangmihu No. 1.

This is one of the earliest top-tier luxury residences in Shenzhen, with security guards stationed at the entrance 24 hours a day.

The driver opened the car door for Han Ling. "Ms. Han, Mr. Su is waiting for you."

The elevator goes directly to the top floor.

When the door opened, Han Ling was stunned by the sight before her...

The entire floor has been opened up, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of Xiangmi Lake. The interior decoration is minimalist yet exudes luxury.

Suning, dressed in pajamas, sat on the sofa with a glass of red wine in his hand.

"You're here." He gestured to the sofa opposite him. "Sit down."

Han Ling sat down carefully and looked around. "President Su, this place is... really big."

“Living alone is a bit empty.” Su Ning put down her wine glass and looked at Han Ling. “You danced very well today. I watched the broadcast on TV.”

"You've seen it?"

"I watched it." Su Ning got up, walked to the bar, poured a glass of wine, and handed it to Han Ling. "Especially the solo dance, it was very moving."

Han Ling took the wine glass, feeling a warm glow in her heart.

Gaining Suning's recognition made her happier than receiving applause from thousands of audience members.

The two drank for a while and chatted about the performance.

The atmosphere gradually relaxed.

Suddenly, Su Ning said, "Oh, right, I prepared some things for you."

He got up and went into the bedroom. A moment later, he took out an exquisite gift box and placed it in front of Han Ling. "Open it and take a look."

Han Ling opened the box and froze.

Inside were not the jewelry she had imagined, but several pieces of clothing, or more precisely, several dance costumes.

But these clothes were completely different from what she usually wore. They were made of very little fabric and had bold and revealing designs, some of them almost transparent.

"This..." Han Ling's face turned red instantly.

“Try it.” Su Ning leaned back on the sofa and looked at Han Ling with interest. “Just wear it for me alone.”

Han Ling's hands trembled slightly; she knew what this meant...

The real "show" at tonight's celebration banquet is just beginning.

Pick up the top one; it's red, like a ball of fire, but it doesn't cover almost anything that should be covered.

"Go change in the bedroom!" Su Ning pointed in that direction.

"No need! I am your woman, so naturally I will hold nothing back."

"It seems you've really figured it out."

"Suning, thank you! You gave me a chance to try and fail."

"..."

Then Han Ling changed her clothes in front of Su Ning, showing herself to Su Ning without reservation for the first time.

Holding a glass of red wine, Su Ning admired Han Ling's youthful and beautiful body, with fair skin and smooth lines.

Then, she looked even more perfect in that red dance costume.

Han Ling's face was already flushed with embarrassment, the fabric feeling cool against her skin.

The parts that should be exposed are exposed, and the parts that should be covered are partially revealed.

Su Ning pointed to the dressing mirror next to her. Han Ling looked at herself in the mirror, feeling both unfamiliar and familiar...

The outfit is unfamiliar, but the dancer who yearns for the stage is familiar.

In the living room, Suning had already dimmed the lights, leaving only a few ambient lights on.

The music started playing; it was the accompaniment to "Nirvana," which she had danced to that evening.

"Begin! Dance for your king."

Han Ling walked to the center of the living room, where there was plenty of space.

Get into position and start dancing to the music.

There was no audience, no applause, only a man sitting on the sofa, watching her quietly like a king.

But Han Ling danced with great passion; this was her stage, even if there was only one audience member.

She spun, jumped, and bent over, performing each movement to its fullest potential.

The red dance costumes fluttered under the lights, like real flames.

Su Ning looked at him with a deep gaze.

What I admired was not only Han Ling's dance moves, but also her completely immersed state of mind...

This woman, once she decides to do something, will go all out.

Whether it's dancing, or... pleasing yourself.

As the song ended, Han Ling froze in the last pose, her chest heaving, sweat trickling down her neck.

Suning clapped, and the applause echoed in the empty living room.

"She danced even better than she did on stage."

Han Ling straightened up, somewhat shyly tugging at the overly revealing hem of her dress. "Thank you."

"Come here." Su Ning beckoned.

Han Ling walked over and stopped beside the sofa.

Su Ning took her hand and gently pulled her, causing Han Ling to fall onto his lap.

They were so close that Han Ling could smell Su Ning's scent...

A subtle blend of tobacco and fine perfume.

"Are you happy today?" Su Ning asked, her hand naturally wrapping around Han Ling's waist.

"I'm happy," Han Ling answered honestly. "I've never been so happy before. I've finally found the person I'm meant to be."

"That's good." Su Ning's hand slid down Han Ling's waist. "Remember, I can give you a stage, and I can take it away. Understand?"

Han Ling stiffened for a moment, then relaxed. "I understand."

"Good to know." Su Ning released her and stood up. "Go take a shower! There's a bathroom in the bedroom."

Han Ling obediently went.

The bathroom is large and has a jacuzzi.

I soaked in hot water and my body slowly relaxed.

After taking a shower, I found that Su Ning had already changed into her pajamas and was lying in bed waiting for me.

Seeing her come out, Su Ning patted the spot next to her.

Han Ling climbed into bed and crawled under the covers.

The bed was large and soft, but Han Ling's body was somewhat stiff.

Suning turned off the lights, leaving only a bedside lamp on.

In the dim light, looking at Han Ling, "Nervous?"

"A little..."

"Relax." Su Ning's hand stroked Han Ling's face. "I said I wouldn't treat you unfairly. You gave me what I wanted, and I will give you what you want in return. This is my promise to you."

Han Ling closed her eyes, letting Su Ning's fingers trace her cheeks, neck, and collarbone.

“The performance was a great success,” Su Ning’s voice rang in my ears, “but this is just the beginning. Next, the dance troupe will go on a national tour, go to Hong Kong, and even go abroad. How far you can go depends on your own efforts.”

"I will try my best," Han Ling said earnestly, opening her eyes.

"That's good." Su Ning bent down.

What followed was perfectly logical...

During the process, many thoughts flashed through Han Ling's mind...

The image flashed past Xiao Ran, past the stage lights, past the thunderous applause of the audience, and finally settled on Su Ning's face.

The man who gave her the stage still possesses everything about her, not only her body but also her soul.

After everything was over, Han Ling was so exhausted that she almost collapsed, and she lay contentedly in Su Ning's arms.

At this moment, Han Ling finally asked the question that held the deepest regret in her heart: "Su Ning, if I had chosen you back in the agricultural university, would you have married me?"

"No! For me, marriage needs a little passion." However, Su Ning's answer was very realistic.

"But I still regret it. I shouldn't have wasted these years of my youth." Han Ling still harbors resentment over her wrong choice back then.

She even complained that Suning wasn't more domineering, otherwise she might not have taken these detours.

"It's not too late now! But you can never leave again."

"My king, Han Ling will always be your woman."

"Little vixen..." Su Ning pulled Han Ling into his arms again.

Another hour or two passed before Han Ling finally fell into a deep sleep, exhausted.

Su Ning looked at the woman sleeping soundly in his arms, her face expressionless, and realized that this was the first time she had slept so peacefully.

He opened up a whole new world for Han Ling, and Han Ling seemed to really like and be obsessed with this world.

I know what Han Ling wants—a stage, spotlight, and to be seen.

He gave, and Han Ling gave in return.

A very fair adult transaction.

...(End of this chapter)