The theater was comfortably warm, and after changing, the two didn't feel the cold outside. Yan Cheng looked at Wang Muman, who was dressed lightly, and asked, "Do you want to put on your jacket first?" He offered his jacket to her.
Wang Muman shook her head, indicating she wasn't cold. A young girl, her collarbones exposed, a delicate strap resting against them, her dress perfectly accentuating her figure. Yan Cheng watched Wang Muman, anticipating her performance on stage. With He Lele around, it wasn't boring; He Lele always managed to make Wang Muman and Yan Cheng laugh.
"Number 668, prepare to go on," a staff member called.
"This is a good number, isn't it? I got a lucky draw," He Lele blinked. "I'll go sit in the back and watch you perform. Good luck!"
In reality, Wang Muman looked at the large audience, so different from school, from a place she was accustomed to. The eyes of students were not the same as the eyes here. Wang Muman was very nervous; her legs were trembling as she walked onto the stage. Suddenly, a hand reached out beside her. For some reason, her heart softened. Wang Muman looked up. Those puppy-dog eyes blinked at her, and her heart instantly relaxed. She placed her hand on his, felt his gentle grip, and warmth flowed through her. The two walked onto the stage, bowed to the people in front of the stage, and then took their positions.
The piano music began, and the spotlight was direct, a single bright lamp. The girl on stage was like a black swan. There were no lyrics, but every movement conveyed the lyrics: the arduous pursuit, the desperate struggle, the loneliness and disorientation. The spotlight seemed to vanish, leaving only this black swan yearning for something, lost and solitary, a hint of fear in her eyes. Finally, she looked at Yan Cheng, as if seeing hope, turned, leaped forward, fell, and the curtain fell.
At the end, there was no applause. Unsure of what had happened earlier, Yan Cheng reached out his hand to her as she opened her eyes. They bowed again to the front, and then applause began to ripple through the hall.
"A brilliant performance!" the judge exclaimed, looking at the two. "Please introduce yourselves."
"I am Yan Cheng, from Sucheng High School, Year One," Yan Cheng said, taking the microphone from the staff member. He wasn't nervous; only the warmth lingered on his hand, his sleeve being gently tugged.
"I, I am Wang Muman, same as him." Whenever faced with such a situation, Wang Muman's voice would tremble, and she couldn't help but clutch the sleeve tighter.
Yan Cheng sensed the girl's unease and asked, "Can we go down now? There's probably nothing else to introduce, right?"
The female judge was surprised by their eagerness to leave and felt helpless. She had wanted to ask a few more questions. "Then you'll have to wait for the results. They will be announced on the official account in a week."
Yan Cheng nodded and signaled Wang Muman that they could leave. Backstage, He Lele and Wang Mujin came over. "After watching that, my eyes were glued! I forgot to clap!" He Lele, noticing Wang Muman hadn't fully recovered, put an arm around her shoulder. "You'll definitely pass. If this doesn't pass, what else can go on stage!"
Wang Mujin hadn't realized Wang Muman would be so nervous on stage. He thought she wouldn't be afraid, having participated in school performances so often. He took their clothes and handed them to them so they could change.
"Lele, is my sister still nervous when she goes on stage?" Wang Mujin asked He Lele while they changed.
"Yes, she has social anxiety and doesn't like talking to people she doesn't know well. Basically, you have to be persistent to stay by her side," He Lele said with a smile, thinking about how she always stuck close to Wang Muman.
Wang Mujin nodded. It seemed that if she were to appear on television in the future, he would need to encourage her greatly. Today, she was well taken care of by Yan Cheng.