Chapter 151: Chapter 151
After breakfast, Shen Jianian headed to Yan Qiusheng’s villa to share the good news with him and ask for his help in selecting the music for the performance.
Yan Qiusheng had known this result early on and didn’t seem surprised; he just smiled and congratulated her.
Based on her personal situation, he helped select a few pieces, asked her to play them on the spot, and finally chose one piece for the performance to report to Director Liao.
The entire morning passed by .
At eleven forty, the live-in nanny prepared lunch and served the dishes one by one at the dining table.
Mrs. Yan went to the music room to call them to eat.
Shen Jianian took her bag and went to the bathroom first, taking out the sanitary pad she had packed in the morning, ready to change it, only to find the previous one was clean.
Apart from last night, she hadn’t felt the usual lower abdominal pain she experiences during her period that morning.
Shen Jianian washed her hands and went to the dining room to eat.
As soon as she started eating, she received a reply from Director Liao, who sent a voice message.
With no outsiders present, Shen Jianian opened it directly, and Director Liao’s voice came through: "OK, I got it. Rehearsal might be next week; I’ll notify you of the specific time later. Please be prepared."
Shen Jianian put her chopsticks on the chopstick rest and used both hands to carefully type a response on her phone.
Mrs. Yan served soup to the three of them, just in time to see Shen Jianian finish sending the message and put away her phone, lightly asking, "Jianian, are you going to participate in a program?"
Shen Jianian held the edge of the bowl with one hand, curling her lips into a modest smile, "Yes." She looked at Yan Qiusheng, her words full of gratitude, "I must thank the teacher for fighting for the opportunity for me."
Yan Qiusheng smiled at her.
"He’s your teacher; it’s only right for him to fight for opportunities for his student," Mrs. Yan chided.
Shen Jianian did not reply, only smiled, clearly genuinely happy.
Mrs. Yan asked again, "Which day is the performance? I’ll go see it if I’m free, it’s been a while since I’ve gone out for some relaxation."
Yan Qiusheng unexpectedly raised his eyebrows, looking at his mother: "You’re going to see the performance?"
Mrs. Yan looked at him: "Is there a problem?"
Since starting chemotherapy, his mother has been reluctant to go out. Choosing to live here was partially due to the serene environment conducive to her recovery and partly to accommodate her aversion to interacting with people.
Except for weekly hospital check-ups, she spent the rest of her time tending flowers and vegetables at the villa, never expressing a desire to watch movies or go shopping.
This time, she unexpectedly wanted to go to a crowded place to watch a performance, which surprised Yan Qiusheng.
Shen Jianian glanced between the mother and son, smiling at Mrs. Yan: "It’s not confirmed yet. I’ll inform you when I have news and ensure you and the teacher get the best viewing position."
Mrs. Yan beamed, "That would be great."
Shen Jianian was busy practicing the violin every day, not having much mind to dwell on the sudden appearance and disappearance of her period. Before she knew it, it was the day of the rehearsal.
The driver drove her to the theater, where she was stopped at the entrance by security guard.
Shen Jianian called Director Liao and said she had arrived but couldn’t get in.
After waiting for about three minutes, a staff member came running out to meet her.
He was a young guy, wearing a blue and white plaid shirt with a black vest over it, and black-framed glasses on his face. When he saw Shen Jianian, he was stunned for a few seconds, handed her a work pass with red ears, wrapped in a blue lanyard.
"Your pass, Mr. Shen." The young man found it shy to make eye contact with her, "in the future, you can come in directly with this."
"Alright, thank you." Shen Jianian accepted it with both hands and casually mentioned, "Don’t call me Mr. Shen; I’m probably about the same age as you. Just call me Shen Jianian."
In this circle, regardless of age, backstage people referred to those on stage as "teacher," which had almost become an industry default.
The young man froze for a moment, embarrassed to call her by her name and unsure how to address her, he simply raised a hand and said: "This way, please."
The south entrance of the concert hall in the theater was wide open, and both front-stage and backstage personnel were busy with their preparations.
Shen Jianian, carrying her cello, was led by staff to Director Liao’s side.
Liao Kai was focused on the monitor, grabbing a megaphone to direct on-site activities: "The lights in the northern area aren’t working; I want a starry sky effect. That area is too dark; add more small lights. Make the ribbons on the stage longer; they’re too short to flutter, but don’t make them too neat; staggered, understand—"
Shen Jianian stood at the side, waiting for his shouting to end before greeting him: "Director Liao."
Liao Kai turned his head upon seeing her arrival, set down the megaphone, and took a sip of tea from his space cup: "Go backstage later and look at the overall effect. I’ll let you know if adjustments are needed."
"Okay." Shen Jianian obediently went backstage.
Today was for rehearsal, no need to change into a gown. She wore her own clothes: a misty pink sleeveless long silk dress beneath her trench coat.
The entire hall and backstage were fully heated, so Shen Jianian took off her coat, hanging it on a stand-alone coat rack, and took out her cello from the case.
Backstage had been somewhat noisy, but somehow it gradually became quieter, with everyone looking at Shen Jianian.
Some who weren’t into entertainment gossip were seeing her for the first time in the video Director Liao had released. She wore the simplest white sweater and straight-cut jeans, with her long hair flowing and her makeup lightly done, already enough to astonish.
Seeing her up close now, the young woman’s hair partially pinned up, draped in a long dress outlining a graceful figure, her ears adorned with diamond earrings, her makeup slightly more refined than in the video; elegant, demure yet cool, truly, as described by netizens, a celestial being descended.
Shen Jianian noticed everyone’s gaze converging on her, and thinking she needed to cooperate with their work, she couldn’t ignore it. She smiled broadly with courtesy and greeted them: "Hello everyone."
Her smile was picturesque, like a spring breeze.
Everyone was dumbfounded, taking a moment to remember to respond, collectively saying "Hello."
"Director Liao is urging; are you ready?" The staff member who brought Shen Jianian in came to notify her.
Everyone marveled at the chance to feast their eyes today while busily returning to their tasks.
When it was Shen Jianian’s turn to go on stage, her slender arms effortlessly picked up the heavy cello, while her other hand held the bow, calmly walking to the stage center.
The surrounding lights dimmed to their lowest, leaving only an expanse of starlit sky overhead.
It seemed to affirm the program’s name—Shining Starlight.
Shen Jianian sat in her chair, and a spotlight "snap" turned on, enveloping her.
The bow in her hand seemed like a magic wand, with the first note pouring out, like silky satin, like stream water in a valley, providing a dual visual and auditory enjoyment.
Liao Kai watched her from behind the monitor, his eyes gradually lit by her brilliant performance.
This was only a rehearsal; she wasn’t in formal stage attire, and the stage lighting hadn’t reached his standards, yet the effect presented had exceeded his expectations in appearance.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Shen Jianian was born for the stage.
After the rehearsal, Liao Kai raised his head from behind the monitor, gave Shen Jianian an OK gesture from afar, indicating she was flawless. When it came time for the official recording, just maintain this standard.
Shen Jianian sighed in relief with a smile, returned backstage, packed the cello back into the case.
Suddenly, a panicked female voice behind her warned: "Mr. Shen, watch out!"
Shen Jianian straightened up, her head not fully turned yet when a heavy shadow rushed over; she instinctively sidestepped, but it was too late.
Everyone watched in dismay as the massive spotlight fell toward Shen Jianian; some were so frightened their breaths were halted, hands covering mouths, unable to imagine the consequences of such a large lamp hitting her.