She was like a wild grass, growing wildly amidst the bumps and bruises of life, and in the end, neither suffering nor adversity could diminish her shine.
The disfigured girl donned an exquisitely beautiful half-butterfly mask as she stepped into the Vienna Royal Music Academy.
Sheng Ning’s strokes were even more delicate and touching than those of Blood Rose. Each scene, every effort the girl made, every setback and moment of despair deeply moved the readers.
She named the female protagonist "Phoenix," and the script was also titled "Phoenix."
Phoenix—reborn from the ashes of despair.
Sheng Ning put down her pen and rubbed her sore eyes, stretching her back.
Wu Youli was also writing at her small desk. Seeing that Sheng Ning had finished, she expressed her surprise, "Sheng Ning, why did you write your self-criticism so slowly this time?"
She hadn’t dared to disturb her for a full two and a half hours.
Sheng Ning looked at the manuscript in her hands, her expression a mix of tears and laughter, but she decided to let the misunderstanding be. She chose not to explain, lest Wu Youli find out that she was indeed Rebirth and become suspicious about her position as the female lead of Blood Rose.
Initially, she did demand that Su Hai cast Wu Youli as the leading lady, but later events proved that Wu Youli was indeed the perfect choice.
No one was more suitable than her.
"Are you writing a self-criticism too?"
"Not at all!" Wu Youli sighed, "Right now, the entire General Union Dance Troupe is writing them, and everyone is on edge. By the way, why haven’t Chen Huaying and Zhang Hongmei come back?"
Sheng Ning glanced at Zhang Hongmei’s bunk bed, a tinge of sadness flickered in her eyes. "I doubt she will come back before bedtime."
Wu Youli might seem obedient, but she had a keen mind and could easily see through Zhang Hongmei’s ulterior motives.
"I’m sorry, Sheng Ning, don’t be sad. As long as we believe in you, that’s all that matters!"
"I’m not!" In fact, the whole General Union was filled with negative rumors against her. First, because the fight between Liu Yilan and Qin Cuifen was indeed sparked by her.
Second, because the Living Yama had audaciously carried her out of the dormitory, an absolutely shocking and outrageous act in the 1980s. She couldn’t believe that Huo Yan, who blushed at her teasing, would dare to do something so bold.
He was indeed a dark horse, shocking everyone when he finally took action!
The third reason was more direct, as quite a few people believed the words of Qin Cuifen. It was obvious that the General Union was spreading rumors that she had lost her mind, harboring delusions of grandeur by climbing up to the Su Family, a mere sparrow transforming into a phoenix.
Hmph! Qin Cuifen and Hai Lan indeed had talent, she had to admit; even from the Detention Room, they could manipulate public opinion.
"Sheng Ning, you’re not really tied to the Su Family, are you?" Wu Youli was actually curious. Chen Huaying was very tight-lipped and never spoke of others’ private affairs.
Lu Dabao, even with her careless demeanor, also never mentioned her time at the Su Family’s place. It seemed like a habit ingrained in those raised in the General Union Courtyard.
So Wu Youli was still completely in the dark.
"Not at all!" Sheng Ning shook her head firmly, "I know some of the rumors are nasty, just think of those people as being senseless."
Sheng Ning really wanted to curse someone out directly.
"Right! Since it has nothing to do with us, let’s completely draw a line between us and them. We won’t go to the General Union Courtyard anymore, I don’t like it there," Wu Youli declared. Every time she went, she felt incredibly nervous, fearing encounters with frightening leaders.
She much preferred the ease of the outside world.
"Yeah! I won’t go either." In the end, Sheng Ning had to thank the Su Family for remaining silent. If they had made a public announcement like Qin Cuifen did in her previous life, she didn’t know what would have become of her.