Chapter 171: Hua Qing, who is about to return home

capital.

The rehearsal ended at 11:00 AM.

Qi Yanran stood in front of everyone and clapped her hands gently.

He waited until everyone's attention was focused on him before slowly issuing the announcement.

"We'll have a holiday starting next week on the 8th and continuing on the 12th. Four days off—take a break, relax, and don't push yourself too hard!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several cheers erupted in the dance studio.

Hua Qing stood beside the barre, wiping the thin layer of sweat from her forehead with a towel, silently calculating in her mind.

We'll have a holiday on the 8th, and continue on the 12th.

It lasted a full four days, two days longer than she had expected.

I'm going back to take care of graduation matters and celebrate my birthday while I'm at it...

Ding Heng had said he would give her a big gift, but he kept it a secret and refused to reveal a single word.

Although Hua Qing didn't want to admit it, she had indeed been hoping for it.

"Hanaharu!"

Hua Qing turned her head, and Fan Chenxi had already run up to her.

"Shall we go together?"

"Um."

Hua Qing bent down to pack her things, stuffing her dance costume into her canvas bag and hanging her water bottle on the bag strap buckle.

The two walked out of the dance studio one after the other and headed out along the corridor.

Fan Chenxi muttered to herself, "Teacher Qi really knows how to pick her timing. The holiday starts on the 8th, which avoids the Qingming Festival peak season. My plane ticket back will even be cheaper..."

Stepping out of the building, the sunlight was warm but gentle.

Fan Chenxi walked toward the shared bicycles by the roadside as usual, took out her phone to scan the code.

"Dawn".

Hua Qing called out to her.

Fan Chenxi turned around: "Hmm?"

Don't ride your bike today.

Hua Qing took out her car keys from her bag and pointed to the parking lot: "I'll drive you there."

Fan Chenxi was surprised, then happily replied, "Great! Great!"

She jogged to catch up with Hua Qing, and the two walked into the parking lot side by side.

Hua Qing stopped in front of a white domestically produced new energy vehicle, unlocked the door, and Fan Chenxi walked around the car.

"Wow, is this the one that costs over 500,000?"

"Um."

Hua Qing opened the car door and sat in the driver's seat, while Fan Chenxi followed and sat in the passenger seat, turning her head to look around the interior.

"You bought it?"

Hua Qing started the car: "No, my boyfriend gave it to me to get around. It just arrived yesterday..."

She spoke in a slightly unnatural tone, and her ears turned slightly red.

Wow, your boyfriend is so good to you.

Fan Chenxi sighed with envy.

Hua Qing didn't reply and slowly drove the car out of the parking space.

"You two have always had a good relationship, haven't you?"

"Everything's been fine..."

Hua Qing's voice was not loud.

I don't know whether to answer Fan Chenxi or to convince myself.

As the car turned onto the main road, Fan Chenxi suddenly asked, "By the way, are you going back to Xingcheng during your vacation?"

"Return."

Hua Qing asked in return, "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

Fan Chenxi said regretfully, "I originally wanted to invite you to Shanghai."

There will be opportunities in the future.

"Too."

Fan Chenxi didn't dwell on it and quickly cheered up: "Since you're going back to Xingcheng, I might as well stay and practice more. I'll be alone back home anyway, so I might as well stay in the dance studio and avoid getting last place again."

"If you don't come in last place, then it'll be my turn."

Hua Qing made a self-deprecating remark, but there was no hint of resentment in her words.

During this period, her and Fan Chenxi's scores remained stable between last and second to last, taking turns at the top.

In the past, Hua Qing would never have been able to accept her consistently low ranking.

Perhaps influenced by Fan Chenxi, she now seems much more open-minded.

Some things can't be rushed.

Instead of worrying about rankings every day, focus on doing what needs to be done well, and leave the rest to time.

Fan Chenxi was amused, and after laughing, she looked at Hua Qing seriously.

"Hua Qing, do you think we can become a duo?"

"Let's endure the hardship first, and then see how things go?"

"Too……"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Because we had a car, the return trip was shorter than usual, and we had less time to chat.

Fan Chenxi unbuckled her seatbelt and turned back to wave at Hua Qing.

"Bye-Bye!"

"Bye-Bye……"

Hua Qing watched Fan Chenxi walk into the building entrance, then turned around and went back to her own apartment.

As she pushed open the door and entered the room, Black Bean suddenly appeared from some corner, rubbing against her feet and making a series of soft "meow" sounds.

Hua Qing bent down to scoop the black beans into her arms, changed into slippers, and sank into the sofa.

Black Bean nestled against her chest, making comfortable purring sounds.

Hua Qing subconsciously took out her phone and opened Ding Heng's chat window.

Her thumb hovered above the screen for a long, long time... but finally she put the phone down.

At this time, the man is either in class or having dinner with Wenjing or Zhao Yanxi.

Last time she called rashly, the phone rang with the sounds of playing cards, and Zhao Yanxi crying and begging, "Don't play anymore," which was quite embarrassing.

"Black Bean, should we go back to find Daddy soon?"

Hua Qing gently rubbed Hei Dou's chin with her fingers, seriously discussing something with a cat.

"Meow."

Black Bean rolled over on her chest.

Hua Qing followed with a "meow," then laughed out loud, only to feel a little silly afterward.

After Ding Heng left the capital, Hua Qing found the afternoons the hardest to endure.

After rehearsals ended, I returned home, alone with my cat.

Four walls.

With no friends and no entertainment, there are only two things to pass the time.

You either have to go to the dance studio for extra practice, or wait for Ding Heng to call you on video at any time.

It's okay when I do extra practice; my body is moving, so my mind doesn't wander.

But once she stops, that empty feeling comes from all directions and overwhelms her.

My phone suddenly rang.

Hua Qing picked it up almost reflexively, but when she saw the three words "Fan Chenxi" on the screen, she slowed down.

She took a deep breath and pressed the answer button.

"Feed?"

"Hua Qing! I'm so sorry, so sorry!"

Fan Chenxi's voice boomed from the receiver: "I left my bag in your car! I only remembered when I got home!"

Hua Qing said politely, "It's alright, I'll bring it to you."

Fan Chenxi readily agreed, "Sure! I was just about to go to the mall to buy some things, do you want to come along?"

"Wait for me a moment, I'm going to take a shower."

"Okay! No rush, take your time!"

The phone hangs up.

Hua Qing put down her phone, gently lifted Hei Dou off her lap, and got up to walk towards the bathroom.

The warm water washed away the fatigue in my body and mind, as well as the boredom brought on by loneliness.

After taking a shower, Hua Qing changed into a clean hoodie and casual pants, and let her hair dry until it was half dry, then casually draped it over her shoulders.

Twenty minutes later, Hua Qing's car was parked downstairs at Fan Chenxi's house again.

Fan Chenxi was already waiting by the roadside, wearing a light blue thin jacket and her hair tied in a high ponytail. She looked much more energetic than usual.

She opened the car door, sat in the passenger seat, took the canvas bag from Hua Qing, and thanked her repeatedly.

"Thanks, thanks! I'm so forgetful."

"fine."

Hua Qing started the car and drove towards the shopping mall.

In April, the shopping malls in the capital city have already donned their spring attire.

The two walked side by side on the polished marble floor, and once Fan Chenxi started talking, she couldn't stop.

Hua Qing usually listens quietly, occasionally responding with a few words, without finding it annoying.

When she got to the women's clothing section, Fan Chenxi picked up a dress with a price tag, looked at it, and then quietly put it back.

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

She shook her head, her tone exaggerated: "The prices in the capital are really scary. One dress costs as much as half a month's living expenses for me."

Hua Qing glanced at the price tag but didn't say anything.

Fan Chenxi continued, "Shanghai is pretty much the same. I spent two years doing my master's degree in Shanghai, and I still haven't dared to enjoy a proper stroll in the city center even once. What are we going to do if we live in these two cities for the rest of our lives?"

Hua Qing said earnestly, "Don't worry, you'll definitely succeed!"

Fan Chenxi was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Hua Qing, why do you talk like my mother?"

"Is there...?"

Hua Qing gave an awkward laugh.

Fan Chenxi took her arm and softened her tone.

"To be honest, I no longer aspire to become a star. Having a stable job and being able to dance the dances I love is enough for me."

Then she started thinking seriously again, and suddenly laughed: "If God could also bestow upon me a handsome, rich, caring, and devoted boyfriend, that would be perfect!"

Hua Qing paused slightly: "You really think so?"

"Just kidding. What, you won't even let me daydream?"

Fan Chenxi had no materialistic thoughts; it was simply a girl's most basic and naive fantasy.

Hua Qing didn't reply.

Handsome, rich, and caring.

Ding Heng seems to meet every requirement, except for the last one: monogamy.

Is monogamy a must for a man?

Hua Qing in the past would definitely have thought it was necessary!

A man may be poor, but he must be loyal to her.

But now she faces a rent of 30,000, pocket money of 60,000, a car worth more than 500,000, and her future dance career.

But it doesn't seem that necessary...

Hua Qing sighed softly to herself, temporarily putting aside her thoughts.

The two strolled around for a while longer before sitting down in the rest area of ​​the mall's atrium.

Fan Chenxi held the milk tea she had just bought and took a big, satisfying sip, completely forgetting about weight management.

"Hua Qing, when are you returning to Xingcheng?"

"My boyfriend and I made plans for the 9th."

"Number Nine?"

Fan Chenxi blinked: "So you're free on the 8th?"

"Yes……"

"Then why didn't you go back on the 8th?"

Fan Chenxi put down her milk tea and urged, "Why don't you surprise your boyfriend?"

Hua Qing was moved by Fan Chenxi's suggestion, but hesitated to speak.

"I'm a little scared."

"What are you afraid of?"

"It's hard to explain to you."

Hua Qing sighed and smiled helplessly.

If I suddenly go back and find Ding Heng with another woman, how will I handle the situation?

Fan Chenxi continued to persuade, "Young people, why worry so much when you're dating? Can't you just speak your mind?"

"Shall we speak frankly?"

Hua Qing suddenly remembered that Ding Heng had asked her how long she planned to wait to confess. Now that she thought about it, it was about time.

If you're sincere, it's not impossible to coexist with Zhao Yanxi and Wen Jing...

As for Hua Yue, it shouldn't be difficult to persuade her to help keep it a secret from her family for the time being.

After careful consideration, Hua Qing took out her phone from her pocket and opened the ticketing app.

Swipe your finger across the screen, select your flight, and confirm payment.

Hua Qing put away her phone, imagining herself suddenly appearing in front of Ding Heng...

The corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.