The next day, Tian Xiang and her group had breakfast at the eatery beside the guesthouse, then took the car arranged by the theater to the City Workers’ Hall.
Today’s performance starts at 2:30 PM, expected to last three hours. Two programs from Tian Xiang’s troupe are scheduled in the middle: a stage play and a skit.
Tian Xiang only participated in the stage play.
The morning was a tense rehearsal. According to the program schedule, everyone changed clothes and makeup and rehearsed once.
By noon, everyone ate at the canteen with the worker representatives who came for the meeting, then the awards and cultural event could begin.
Yesterday, Tian Xiang had already arranged with Meng Cheng’an that they’d each have lunch, and he would find her backstage when he arrived.
So, for today, until the performance ended, Tian Xiang could fully focus on her work.
At a certain university canteen, this morning, due to the event, the school also organized a gathering.
Wanting to meet his fiancée quickly, Meng Cheng’an finished eating just as others were starting and then left after greeting the teacher.
He was just about to the entrance when someone called him.
"Meng Cheng’an, wait a minute."
Meng Cheng’an looked over curiously and saw his classmate Yao Ling.
Yao Ling was a bit secretive and called Meng Cheng’an outside.
Meng Cheng’an checked his watch, frowning slightly, "I’m busy."
"A few minutes won’t hurt!"
Yao Ling glared at him reproachfully and then smilingly took out two tickets.
"Red Mountain Grand Theater concert tickets, want to go?"
Meng Cheng’an: "I already have them."
Yao Ling was very surprised, "You got tickets too?"
Meng Cheng’an nodded.
Yao Ling: "How many?"
Meng Cheng’an: "Why are you asking?"
Yao Ling: "Many classmates in our class want to go. If you have extra tickets, we can invite a couple of more people."
Meng Cheng’an: "Sorry, I don’t have extra tickets."
After Meng Cheng’an said this, he checked his time again and left directly.
Yao Ling was frozen in place, watching his hurried figure, her smile slowly fading.
They’ve been in the same class for more than half a year, and he’s always alone, like a lone ranger.
Even with such a good family background and better looks than movie stars, his cold demeanor is really off-putting.
Yao Ling stood there for a while, then her classmate He Shuang approached her, "Couldn’t get him to join?"
Yao Ling pouted, "He just left after a few words, acting like he didn’t want anything to do with me."
He Shuang: "That’s Meng Cheng’an for you. You still don’t understand? You know the drama college’s talented girl Pang Meiqi, right? She wrote him a love letter, and he found her, returned it publicly, and even said he had a fiancée. Pang Meiqi was so embarrassed, she cried."
Yao Ling: "He has a fiancée?"
He Shuang clicked her tongue, "There isn’t any fiancée, no one has seen her. He probably just wants everyone to give up. After all, he’s so popular, being pestered every few days can be annoying."
Yao Ling: "But saying that is too much, he’s not a three-year-old, really doesn’t want a relationship?"
He Shuang: "Who knows. Anyway, I can’t possibly compare. Yao Ling, try harder. Maybe you’ll catch the handsome guy nobody else could, making them all envious."
Yao Ling: "Nonsense, he’s so cold, his heart is as hard as stone. I don’t have the skills to warm it. Forget it, I’ll just read more books when I have time..."
Despite saying that, Yao Ling was determined to pursue Meng Cheng’an to the end.
He has a grandfather in a high position, an aunt recently appointed as a diplomat, and a father in a research institute. Just his family background is enviably good, and Meng Cheng’an himself is so excellent, not to mention his looks. In her twenty-one years, Yao Ling has never seen a man so handsome.
Before, Yao Ling didn’t seriously consider what kind of person she wanted to find, with men around her all vying for her attention. It wasn’t until Meng Cheng’an appeared that she instantly had a goal.
Meanwhile, when Meng Cheng’an arrived at the workers’ hall, Tian Xiang had already changed and finished her makeup.
Due to his special status, the backstage staff let him in directly.
But Tian Xiang was too busy to pay attention to him.
They only exchanged a few words before Tian Xiang told him to watch the program from the front and wait for her to find him after her performance.
Meng Cheng’an nodded and, seeing he couldn’t help much, went to the front.
Meng Cheng’an had an invitation as a representative from a certain unit, and the organizers arranged a seat for him in the front row.
In truth, Meng Cheng’an wasn’t interested in these performances. He didn’t pay attention to what was performed earlier; he was just there to see his fiancée.
When Tian Xiang’s program was about to start, the leaders of the organizing unit came to Meng Cheng’an’s side and said to him: "Mr. Meng is here."
Didn’t he have an event too!
Meng Cheng’an was a bit surprised and followed them out to take a look, and sure enough, he saw his grandfather arriving with guards and a secretary.
Meng Cheng’an walked over to ask, "Weren’t you not coming?"
Mr. Meng: "Why, am I not allowed to watch Xiangxiang’s performance?"
"Whatever. As long as you don’t disturb things."
"I only have twenty minutes to watch Xiangxiang and then leave. And, don’t think because you’re engaged, you can rest easy. Be careful, or Xiangxiang might think you’re not attentive enough."
The old man took the flowers from the guard and stuffed them into his grandson’s hand.
Alright, it was his oversight.
The group returned to the hall.
Because people inside recognized the old man, it caused a bit of a stir.
The old man told the event leaders not to make a fuss and not to disturb everyone; the event should proceed as usual, and he would leave after a short while.
The old man wanted to keep a low profile, but his sudden appearance in such a place inevitably attracted attention.
Later, some people gradually learned that he was here to watch his granddaughter-in-law’s performance.
Granddaughter-in-law?
The Meng Family’s grandson is still in college and not married!
Engaged, it was before the old man’s return to Beijing.
Alright, which girl is so lucky, with such good foresight?
In front, when Tian Xiang got on stage, Mr. Meng smiled and then said to the leader of the organizing unit sitting next to him: "Look closely, that’s my granddaughter-in-law. This is her hobby, self-taught, not a trained professional."
The leader could only compliment accordingly, not knowing what else to say.
The old man was very pleased. As the program was ending, he urged Meng Cheng’an, "Don’t just sit there, go backstage and send the flowers. Don’t wait for Xiangxiang to come out; I’m about to leave."
Meng Cheng’an nodded and headed backstage.
Tian Xiang was focused entirely on her performance, unaware that the old man had arrived, until the team leader told her as she got off stage.
At dinner last night, the old man said he had something to do; how come he showed up anyway?
Tian Xiang was about to go see when Meng Cheng’an appeared backstage, delivering flowers to her.
The old man was busy and had already left.
Tian Xiang held the bouquet of flowers, feeling elated. She hadn’t noticed earlier that he had brought flowers.
Meng Cheng’an was too embarrassed to admit he didn’t buy the flowers himself and whispered, "I’ll make sure next time."