Chapter 13: Distancing Oneself

Su Jinhe and Xiao Wenguang hit it off immediately. As they talked, they discovered they had once served in the same army unit, though in different companies and at different times—one had joined earlier, the other later.

The two men instantly embraced their bond as comrades-in-arms and asked the waiter for a bottle of Erguotou to drink.

Weian was unaware of this connection between them, but it did not interfere with her plans; in fact, it helped her with what she intended to do next, so she was naturally pleased.

As for Xiao Qianqian, Weian already owed her a life debt, and now, with their fathers’ shared history, the two girls grew noticeably closer.

When Qu Xiurong learned that Xiao Qianqian’s mother had died young and recalled what Weian and Du Haibo had told them the previous night, she couldn’t help but feel pity and gently stroked Xiao Qianqian’s head.

Xiao Qianqian nestled closely beside Qu Xiurong and whispered amusing stories from the Art Troupe to both Qu Xiurong and Weian.

Weian recalled some scenes from the original story, including the ones Xiao Qianqian was now describing—about the special recruitment of a dancer at the troupe late last year, who was also the original novel’s female lead, and the events that unfolded between her and Xiao Qianqian.

“Auntie, you don’t know, she always liked to show off in front of the troupe leader and the others. She would purposely practice dancing alone in the rehearsal room until midnight. The troupe leader even told us to learn from her,” Xiao Qianqian said.

Weian watched her pout with a coquettish expression and said, “Everyone knows she’s just a diligent learner—‘a slow bird that flies early.’ Our foundations are deeper, our talent greater, and our abilities superior. Why would we need to train until midnight like her?”

Weian nodded in agreement.

Xiao Qianqian’s sweet voice was naturally gifted; she had been learning to sing since she could speak. Singing, unlike dancing, didn’t require grueling late-night practice like the female lead’s.

Seeing Weian agree with her, Xiao Qianqian was delighted.

“She also liked to compete with me. Whenever I had the chance to perform solo on stage, she would always say things like everyone should have equal opportunities. Wasn’t she trying to say that she also wanted to perform a solo dance?”

As she spoke, her expression bore both admiration and a trace of disappointment.

“But she didn’t consider that she had only been with the troupe a few days.”

Weian understood what Xiao Qianqian admired and what she felt lost about.

The female lead was indeed talented in dance and worked exceptionally hard. She hadn’t had the chance before, but now that she did, she naturally tried her best to showcase herself.

That was what Xiao Qianqian admired.

Her disappointment stemmed from the fact that solo performances at the troupe were very limited.

To perform solo, one had to consider the dancer’s ability, the program’s needs, and the duration of each performance.

Adding one more solo performer meant one more competitor.

Before the female lead joined the troupe, there were no solo dances—indeed, Xiao Qianqian was the only one who had the opportunity to perform solo.

Weian looked into Xiao Qianqian’s eyes and saw only pure disappointment, without a trace of jealousy.

Heh.

But who asked her to be the number one female supporting character?

...

“This time I’m home visiting and can stay for ten days. Weian, when you’re free, you must come find me to hang out, okay?”

At parting, Xiao Qianqian kept glancing back every few steps.

After Weian agreed, she went to take Qu Xiurong’s arm.

“Auntie, I’ll come visit again in a few days.”

Qu Xiurong naturally could not refuse and even smiled, inviting Xiao Qianqian and her father to visit their home, which made Xiao Qianqian even happier.

It wasn’t until Xiao Wenguang reminded her that Weian and the others would be late for work that she reluctantly said goodbye to Weian and Qu Xiurong.

“This girl has a good nature; Weian, you should get along well with her.”

After seeing off the Xiao family, Qu Xiurong said this.

Weian nodded.

“I will.”

She was determined to get along well with Xiao Qianqian.

But there was no rush.

“Mom, let my second sister stay at home for now.”

She was trying her best to alter the storyline, but who knew whether the author of the plot would intervene and twist it back?

After Su Yuping married Du Haibo, they lived in a house allocated by Du Haibo’s workplace. They visited the Du family once a week, and the elderly couple would occasionally come to see them.

But they didn’t live together permanently.

Du Haibo often went on trips lasting half a month, and Su Yuping was now over seven months pregnant — any slight neglect could cause premature labor.

Wasn’t it in the story that a crisis at the Du household nearly caused a premature birth?

Hence, Weian’s wish for her second sister to move in temporarily.

“That’s fine then. You talk to your second sister.”

Qu Xiurong was naturally worried about her heavily pregnant daughter but was not very hopeful that she would agree to move back in.

Weian watched as Qu Xiurong and Su Jinhe hurried back to the workplace, and while heading to the factory, she pondered whether to go with Su Yuping to the Du household this weekend.

“The factory office highly appreciates your act of bravery and has decided to commend you in a company-wide meeting.”

Li Kunshan tapped his pen on the desk and looked at Weian with kind and encouraging eyes.

“Go home and write a speech. You’ll need to speak at the commendation ceremony.”

Weian felt overwhelmingly embarrassed.

She blushed deeply for the first time in a long while.

“No, Section Chief, there’s no need for commendation.”

A meeting with a speech! She had never experienced anything like this in her life. Just thinking about it made her cringe so badly she wished she could vanish.

“Uncle, please, I beg you to help me plead with the factory office. I really don’t need the commendation ceremony. I only did something trivial, and besides, it wasn’t me who saved the person!”

She tried hard to distance herself from the matter, even altering the details from last night.

“Really, it was my brother-in-law who heard the noise and risked his life to save the person. I was only there as a witness.”

“Are you sure? Do you understand what this will mean for you?”

Li Kunshan frowned slightly, puzzled by Weian’s reluctance.

Weian blinked.

She hadn’t been very clear before.

But with Li Kunshan’s reminder, she realized the benefits the commendation would bring.

First, a raise was guaranteed.

Second, she might even have a chance for promotion.

She welcomed a raise.

But promotion wasn’t important to her yet; after all, she had worked less than two months—promotion was unlikely for now.

So, the commendation ceremony was mostly symbolic. She guessed the factory office wanted to set her up as a role model and encourage others to follow her example.

“Uncle, I’m sure. Please find a way to help me decline.”

After a moment’s thought, Weian made her decision.

Whether the commendation ceremony happened or not, the record of her bravery would remain in her file. Since that was the case, why should she choose to be made a spectacle of?