Chapter 191: Hua Qing's Longing and Reflections

Ding Heng carried Bai Ma back to the villa, where Wen Jing and Sister Jiang had already prepared breakfast.

"You're back?"

Wenjing looked up at Ding Heng and smiled, "Go wash your hands, it'll be ready soon."

Baima jumped off Ding Heng's back, went to the dining table first, picked up her cup of hot milk and drank it all in one gulp.

After Ding Heng washed his hands and sat down, Sister Jiang brought over the porridge, praising Wenjing and her virtuousness.

Wenjing blushed slightly, feeling embarrassed by the praise: "Sister Jiang, what are you saying? I'll lend you a hand..."

As everyone ate and chatted, Wenjing suddenly looked up and gazed at Wenshu, who was munching on bread across from her.

"Xiao Shu, have you found a new tutor yet?"

Not yet.

Wen Shu swallowed the bread in her mouth: "I'm currently leaning towards that senior teacher in her fifties. Although her Mandarin isn't great, she's very experienced, and Bai Ma also thinks she's suitable!"

Wenjing asked curiously, "Isn't that Teacher Shen good? Her resume looks pretty impressive."

Wen Shu took another bite of bread and mumbled, "Bai Ma said there are men in the house, and it's not safe for a very pretty woman to come in."

In an instant, the atmosphere at the dining table became subtle.

Wenjing glanced at Ding Heng subconsciously, then quickly looked away.

Baima coughed twice, pretending to focus on the porridge in her bowl.

Sister Jiang was a sensible person; she wisely didn't respond and turned back to the kitchen to continue her work.

Ding Heng didn't mind, picked up the bowl of porridge and took a sip: "A woman in her fifties is good, she's experienced and steady. Just let me know when you've decided."

Wen Shu nodded: "Yes, thank you, brother-in-law."

Bai Ma secretly glanced up and saw that Ding Heng had no intention of settling scores with her, so she secretly breathed a sigh of relief and continued to bury her head in her porridge.

For some reason, she increasingly didn't want any more beautiful women to come into her house...

After breakfast, Ding Heng changed his shoes and picked up his car keys.

"Sister Jiang."

He called out towards the kitchen, "Keep an eye on Baima for my morning etiquette class, and her afternoon driving and swimming lessons. Don't let her slack off."

"Don't worry, Xiao Ding, I'm watching."

Sister Jiang poked her head out from the kitchen, her tone resolute.

Ding Heng and Wen Jing went downstairs, got into the car, and drove out of the villa area.

Changsha in June was unbearably hot.

Wenjing leaned back in her chair, yawning lazily. "Ding Heng, there's less than a month until finals. What are we going to do during summer vacation?"

"What's wrong? You're no longer interested in class?"

"I didn't."

Wenjing retorted softly, "It's better to plan ahead, so we don't end up in a panic..."

Ding Heng reached out and ruffled the girl's hair without saying a word.

He also wasn't really interested in attending class.

With less than a month until summer vacation, his heart had already flown elsewhere.

Counting the time, it had been a month and a half since he had officially seen Hua Qing.

Their communication was reduced to a few brief greetings each day and a weekly "private vlog" delivered on time.

By the end of June or the beginning of July, the Hua Qing selection process will enter its final stage.

Whether or not they can secure the main dancer position, the final month's sprint will be crucial!

For both personal and professional reasons, Ding Heng shouldn't have bothered her...

The car stopped at the roadside, and Wenjing got out and waved goodbye.

Ding Heng didn't rush to class; instead, he took out his phone and opened the Hua Qing chat window.

[Ding Heng]: Senior, are you up yet?

Half a minute later, a video call request popped up.

Ding Heng pressed the answer button.

The screen lit up, and the image shook before stabilizing.

Hua Qing lay on the bed, holding Hei Dou in her arms, her whole body huddled under the covers, only her pale face showing.

Her hair was a little messy, her eyes were half-open, and her lips were bloodless.

He looked sickly and listless, lacking his usual aloof and arrogant aura.

Ding Heng frowned slightly.

"Are you not feeling well, senior? Why didn't you go to training?"

"My relatives have arrived."

Hua Qing's voice was weak and feeble.

Ding Heng did the math—wait a minute, Hua Qing's relatives should have been gone a week ago.

"Are you feeling very uncomfortable?"

"Um……"

Hua Qing responded softly, hugged Hei Dou tightly, and buried her face deep into the pillow.

Black Bean struggled in her arms and let out a dissatisfied "meow," but she ignored it.

I don’t know if it’s because of physical discomfort, but Hua Qing seemed extremely fragile today.

Her usually cool eyes were now moist, as if they might well up with tears at any moment, and even her tone of voice was softer than usual, with a hint of grievance in her voice.

She didn't beat around the bush and told Ding Heng directly, "Last month, I deliberately took medication to stop my period for training. I wanted to take it again this month... and then I felt really uncomfortable. I went to see a doctor, and the doctor told me to stop taking the medication. Yesterday, my period started again, and I felt extremely uncomfortable, several times worse than usual."

Ding Heng sighed.

The woman in front of me has endured all kinds of hardship and exhaustion in order to dance.

Last year, when he was injured, he endured it without uttering a sound and never showed any weakness in front of others.

For her to say "I feel extremely uncomfortable," you can imagine how serious the condition must be.

Will it affect training?

"For a short period of one or two days... it should be fine."

Hua Qing's voice was weak, clearly indicating that she herself wasn't very confident.

Ding Heng then asked, "How are your training results lately?"

Mentioning this, Hua Qing finally perked up a little.

She peeked out from under the covers, pulled Black Bean up a little, and rested her chin on the cat's head.

"I've already secured a top-two finish, and..."

Hua Qing's tone was filled with undisguised pride: "We've maintained first place for a week straight."

Hua Qing's tone was filled with undisguised pride: "We've maintained first place for a week straight."

In an instant, Ding Heng could clearly feel Hua Qing's vitality returning.

A light shone in his clear, cold eyes, and his voice was stronger than before, as if the pain in his body no longer mattered.

"Then I congratulate you in advance, senior."

Just as Ding Heng had predicted.

Hua Qing's talent is absolutely top-notch. In the past, she was just confined to the small place of the Dance Department of Hubei Normal University, where resources were limited, vision was limited, and opponents were limited.

Now that she's in the capital, surrounded by the nation's top dancers, the competitive pressure and atmosphere force her to give it her all.

Given enough space and guidance, her progress is beyond imagination.

"Not necessarily."

Hua Qing said modestly, "The second place is Shen Tingwan. She has done a national tour, so she's really not much worse than me."

Shen Tingwan.

Ding Heng silently recited the name in his mind.

"Third is Chenxi, she's also making rapid progress."

Hua Qing continued, "Teacher Qi said that Chenxi's comprehension is the strongest she has ever seen, and she has the best understanding of the character. The only problem is that her basic skills are a bit lacking. If only she had met a good teacher earlier..."

She began to recount her training experiences, from her teammates to Qi Yanran's choreography, and then to the troupe's progress...

Time passed second by second.

Ding Heng leaned back in his chair and listened quietly.

It's rare for Hua Qing to say so much.

She's usually too cold and silent, keeping everything bottled up inside, but today her physical vulnerability made her talkative.

"Oh, and that one too..."

Hua Qing stopped abruptly halfway through her speech.

She glanced at the time on her phone screen, her voice tinged with annoyance: "Haven't you already started class?"

"fine."

Ding Heng smiled indulgently at the camera: "I'd be happy to listen to my senior nag all day long."

Hua Qing paused for a second, then quickly picked up Hei Dou and hid her face behind the cat's head.

Black Bean cried out as she squeezed it, struggling to jump down, but she held it down again.

Only half of Hua Qing's face and the tips of her reddened ears could be seen on the screen.

That delicate and shy demeanor is rarely seen in normal times.

"Go to class."

Hua Qing said listlessly, "I'll lie down for a while longer."

"Okay! Senior, get some rest. Also..."

Ding Heng deliberately dragged out his words.

Hua Qing put down the black beans, a hint of anticipation on her face.

"What else?"

"Drink more hot water."

"Oh……"

Hua Qing's expectation vanished instantly, and she hung up the phone in a disappointed tone.

The screen went dark.

Hua Qing tossed her phone aside and lay back down in bed.

My lower abdomen still hurts intermittently, like something is twisting inside.

She loosened her grip on the black bean and turned to face the window.

The curtains weren't fully drawn, and sunlight streamed in through the gaps, falling on the pillow.

She stared blankly for a long time.

Can't sleep.

The pain is so bad I can't sleep at all.

She simply got up, walked barefoot to the living room, rummaged through the medicine box for painkillers, poured out two pills, put them in her mouth, and swallowed them with a bottle of mineral water.

Then go to the kitchen to boil an egg, heat up a cup of milk, and bring it back to the coffee table.

Black Bean followed her out at some point, jumped onto the sofa, and curled up in a ball next to her legs.

Hua Qing ate eggs while petting the cat, her movements mechanical, showing little appetite.

After finishing her meal, she nestled into the sofa and picked up Black Bean again.

The room was quiet, and sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting large patches of light on the floor.

I didn't go to training today, and that familiar feeling of loneliness washed over me again.

During her month and a half in the capital, she met quite a few people, but only a handful were truly tangible.

Fan Chenxi is one of them.

The others... are either competitors or acquaintances.

Fan Chenxi always said that she was too cold, making people afraid to get close to her.

But she didn't do it on purpose.

She just doesn't know how to be friendly with people.

The doorbell rang suddenly.

If she didn't order takeout, who could it be?

Hua Qing was stunned for a moment, then became extremely vigilant, got up and walked to the door, peeking out through the peephole.

Fan Chenxi stood outside the door, carrying a bag in her hand, and waved to Hua Qing with a smile.

Hua Qing opened the door: "Chenxi? What brings you here?"

"Morning training is over."

Fan Chenxi walked into the room and handed over the bag: "Teacher Qi gave us two days off, saying we should take some time to reflect. The formal rehearsal stage will begin next week, and we'll see the overall effect then."

Hua Qing took the bag and glanced down. Inside was a thermos containing brown sugar ginger tea and a few washed red dates.

She didn't reply, but she knew in her heart that Teacher Qi was probably taking care of her.

Rehearsals will begin next week. Time is tight and the task is heavy, so let everyone rest for two days so that she doesn't fall behind.

Fan Chenxi entered the room, slumped onto the sofa, and reached out to rub the black beans.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, I just took the medicine, and I feel a little better."

"That's good."

Fan Chenxi picked up Black Bean and placed it on her lap, scratching its chin: "How about I take you for a walk this afternoon? Or do you want to stay home and rest?"

Hua Qing thought for a moment: "Didn't you say you wanted to eat at that local Shanghai cuisine restaurant last time? Shall I go with you?"

"OK!"

Fan Chenxi's eyes lit up, and she took out her phone and started swiping the screen.

"How about this, I'll invite Feng Leyi along, and we'll split the bill. I feel bad that you're always treating."

Hua Qing nodded, did not refuse, and turned to change her clothes.

The two went downstairs and drove to the restaurant that Fan Chenxi had booked.

It's a local Shanghainese restaurant located in a hutong (traditional alleyway). The storefront is small, and the decor is in the style of old Shanghai.

Pushing open the door, I saw that a girl named Feng Leyi was already seated.

She has short hair, a hearty laugh, and is a graduate student in the ballet department of the Central Academy of Drama.

"Chenxi, Huaqing, it's been a long time."

There was another girl next to Feng Leyi, named Su Zhiyi.

They were all dance students and new friends that Fan Chenxi had made.

Compared to Hua Qing, Fan Chenxi is a social butterfly. In just a month and a half, she has already made many friends in the capital.

The four people sat down, and the waiter handed them the menu.

Fan Chenxi took it and flipped through a couple of pages: "Hua Qing, you said you wanted to eat braised pork and bamboo shoots last time? How about one of these?"

"Um."

"Feng Leyi, what about you? Eight-treasure duck?"

"Can."

"Zhiyi, what about you?"

"I'm fine with anything, I'm not picky."

Fan Chenxi ordered several dishes, handed the menu back to the waiter, and stretched out a big yawn: "Finally, I can rest for two days. This past month and a half has exhausted me."

Su Zhiyi chimed in, "You're tired? You still have the energy to go shopping after training every day. You seem to be in great spirits."

Fan Chenxi declared shamelessly, "Shopping is shopping, and training is training. This is called a balance between work and rest!"

The girls chatted about their training, and Hua Qing mostly just listened, only responding occasionally when asked.

As the dishes were served one after another, the conversation gradually shifted from training to life.

Su Zhiyi picked up a piece of braised pork: "By the way, Chenxi, is that guy pursuing you lately?"

Fan Chenxi paused, her chopsticks still on her hands. "Who said that?"

"Does anyone need to say it? Everyone can see what he's thinking."

Su Zhiyi said confidently, "Even high school students don't pretend to bump into you after training every day."

Fan Chenxi gave an awkward laugh and then turned her attention to Feng Leyi: "What about you? Anything's been going on lately?"

Feng Leyi replied calmly, "No."

"You think you can get away with having no suitors?"

"Yes, but I'm not interested."

……

Several girls started talking about the boys.

Dancers with such outstanding physical attributes are never short of suitors.

Fan Chenxi is especially outgoing and cheerful. She has only been in the capital for a month and a half, but there are already quite a few boys who are interested in her, including some who are very eligible.

"Hua Qing, what about you? I heard from Chen Xi that you have a boyfriend?"

Suddenly, Su Zhiyi changed the subject to Hua Qing.

Hua Qing was drinking her soup with her head down when she answered subconsciously.

"Yes...that's right!"

"What kind?"

"My boyfriend?"

Hua Qing put down her spoon and said dismissively, "Just... an ordinary person."

"Ordinary people?"

Su Zhiyi clearly didn't believe it: "Could someone who could win you over be an ordinary person?"

Fan Chenxi chimed in from the side, "Hua Qing's boyfriend treats her so well! He bought her a car, rented her an apartment, and he's super handsome too!"

Feng Leyi raised her eyes and glanced at Hua Qing again.

"Really? Or not?"

Su Zhiyi exclaimed "Wow!" and rested her chin on her hand, her tone a mixture of envy and amusement.

"It's so nice to have a generous boyfriend... My ex-boyfriend said his family's assets were A8.5, but he was so hesitant to send me a 520 yuan red envelope for my birthday, saying something like 'the thought is enough,' which made me so angry that I didn't talk to him for three days."

"You're actually doing alright."

Fan Chenxi chimed in, "Last time it was my birthday, one of my suitors gave me a package, but the greeting card I was supposed to give to someone else was still inside. It was all secondhand and I hadn't given it away yet."

"Ha ha ha ha……"

The group burst into laughter.

Hua Qing smiled along, but still didn't say much.

After laughing for a while, Su Zhiyi turned to Hua Qing and said, "But seriously, your boyfriend treats you so well, why doesn't he come to the capital to see you?"

Hua Qing was taken aback and didn't know how to answer.

Fan Chenxi tried to smooth things over, saying, "It's a long-distance relationship, so it's inconvenient."

"Even if it's inconvenient, you should still come at least once every month and a half, right?"

Su Zhiyi put down her chopsticks and said seriously, "Hua Qing, don't think I'm being blunt, but when it comes to men, if they only give you money but not companionship, they're just keeping you as a caged bird."

There was a moment of silence on the table.

Feng Leyi put down her teacup: "Zhiyi, say less."

"I'm telling the truth."

Su Zhiyi was unconvinced and was about to continue to express her views on love when Feng Leyi spoke first.

"Hua Qing, don't listen to her nonsense. She's just a sophomore, a little kid who hasn't figured things out yet."

Feng Leyi began to tell a story.

"I have a cousin who dated a boyfriend a few years ago. He was also a rich man and spent a lot of money on her. They were about to get married and their parents had already met."

Thinking it was a safe bet, she began to demand that the other party be available at any time and provide emotional support.

And what happened? The guy simply dumped her and found someone three years younger than her.

Su Zhiyi was speechless.

Feng Leyi said earnestly, "So, sometimes you have to think from a man's perspective. He spends money on you, which, to put it bluntly, is spending money to buy emotional value. If you expect him to be at your beck and call every time, aren't you just asking for trouble?"

Hua Qing began to ponder upon hearing this.

Emotional value...

Thinking about it carefully, Ding Heng hadn't come to see her for a month and a half, but she hadn't taken the initiative to go to Ding Heng either.

Sometimes she couldn't sleep because she missed Ding Heng so much, she dreamed about him, and even had the urge to buy a plane ticket back to Xingcheng the next day.

But every time I wake up and get back into training, I put those thoughts out of my mind.

Now, after being enlightened by Feng Leyi, I suddenly realize that I have a lot of problems.

Ding Heng spent so much money on her, yet she completely failed to provide the emotional support a girlfriend should offer.

Ding Heng spent so much money on her, yet she completely failed to provide the emotional support a girlfriend should offer.

But then she thought about it again: Ding Heng had Zhao Yanxi, Wen Jing, and Lin Man by his side.

Do we really need her to provide emotional support?

Hua Qing became increasingly conflicted and agitated as she thought about it, and her lower abdomen began to ache again.

She stood up instinctively: "I'm going to the restroom."

Fan Chenxi quickly asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

"fine."

Hua Qing quickly walked out of the private room and went down the corridor.

The restroom is at the end of the corridor, just around the corner.

Instead of rushing into the women's restroom, she went to the sink, turned on the tap, and splashed cold water on her face.

The coolness seeped into my skin, making my mind clearer.

She looked up at herself in the mirror.

His face was still pale, and his lips were almost bloodless.

She patted her face, then looked down and rummaged through her bag—it was empty.

I was in such a hurry when I got off the bus that I left my sanitary napkin on the bus.

Hua Qing stood frozen in front of the sink, feeling even more agitated, so she turned around, went out, and returned to her car.

As soon as she opened the car door and settled in, a large hand reached out from behind the driver's seat and gently covered her eyes.

Hua Qing was startled and was about to struggle when she heard a gentle breeze blowing past her ear.

"Senior, did you miss me?"