"Yes, everyone’s feeling quite stifled," Bai Oulan agreed.
"So the pressure on you, as the mainstay, is even greater," Gu Jun looked at her sympathetically.
Competition among the performing soldiers was fierce as well. As a man, he was in a better position since the focus of his future development had already gradually shifted to singing. But Bai Oulan was different—if the 39th Division excelled, Qianjin’s status would inevitably plummet. The glory they had before would only make their decline look more ridiculous.
That was also why everyone looked at those from the 39th Division with such disdain.
Bai Oulan knew all what Gu Jun was talking about; it was precisely because she knew that she prepared early. She turned her head toward the audience and unexpectedly saw Su Yun and Meng Ping sitting behind Meng Xingzhi.
Gu Jun noticed them too and exclaimed in surprise, "The regiment commander? I didn’t expect her to come too!"
"It’s great that the regiment commander came!" Bai Oulan whispered, "And Meng Ping actually came back." Meng Ping had a great relationship with her and deeply respected her as his elder sister-in-law. Whenever she had a problem, Meng Ping was always active in helping.
Meng Ping had once said that she would be his elder sister-in-law for life. Even if his elder brother was no longer around, he would fulfill his elder brother’s duties and take care of her.
Bai Oulan never believed that Meng Ping would continue to be prodigal for life—he was so smart, he would surely make something of himself one day. And his promise to take care of her for life was a promise she could squander for a lifetime.
In the audience, Meng Ping’s seat was central, giving him a view of many familiar faces. Older uncles and grandfathers, whether they ought to be there or not, nobody wanted to miss such an event. Among the younger generation, Shen Yu, Jiang Shaobo, Su Huai’an, Hai Shen, Shen Jianguo...they were all there!
Meng Ping’s presence also turned many heads; his influence was not insignificant. After all, he was the sole heir to the Meng Family—a man of considerable status!
The last incident, which caused quite a stir, went unnoticed by Meng Xingzhi, but rumor had it that the old man from the Meng Family was furious. If Meng Ping hadn’t clearly been in the wrong, the old master of the Meng Family would not have let the matter drop easily. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoveI~Fire.net
The performances on stage grew more and more exciting with tight control over the plot and music that increasingly gripped people’s hearts. However, the thoughts of the people below were not focused on the stage.
If the stage represented the common man’s counterattack, then below it was a duplicitous court drama unfolding.
Meng Ping’s melancholic, affectionate gaze swept around the room; strangely, he didn’t see Xu Qigang’s figure. Shen Feihu was also absent, and even the leaders weren’t there.
Meng Ping’s handsome, delicate features knit slightly—a casual motion that inadvertently captivated the souls of the women in the audience.
Jiang Shaobo was sitting on the other side of Meng Ping and leaned in to whisper in his ear, "You’ve changed quite a bit, pal! Women go weak at the knees just looking at you!"
Jiang Shaobo had always admired how quickly Meng Ping used to switch partners, and now he was utterly impressed. It seemed that without doing anything at all, women were already daydreaming about him.
Meng Ping wrinkled his brow in distaste upon hearing this.
His transformation was too great; he seemed like a different person. His looks hadn’t changed, but his entire demeanor, personality, and habits had. Those brooding eyes were like an unfathomable abyss, appearing to harbor a wild beast within. It left people feeling unable to predict his next move and sensing danger.
Many had noticed these changes, and there was much secret speculation about what he might have gone through to undergo such a transformation.
To say he had undergone a complete transformation would not be an exaggeration.