Xia Zhaoyun found it amusing. Just as she was about to comfort them, she saw someone leaning against the wall in the shadows and froze.
The person walked out of the shadows, smiling. He stepped forward and lightly flicked her smooth forehead, showing off the colorful bouquet in his hand. "A little surprise, isn’t it?"
Xia Zhaoyun bit her lip to keep from smiling. "Tianhao, didn’t you say it would be at least a month?"
Huo Tianhao’s eyes were gentle and filled with affection. "I suppose I was just eager to get back. In the past, I always made a habit of resting up after arriving somewhere before getting to work."
"But now, I have a wifey. I don’t need to worry so much about my image when I’m out and about. So I worked day and night to finish my handovers in each location. Naturally, it took half the time I originally planned."
"Wifey, I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you to see the play. But I think making it back in time for your performance is much more meaningful."
Xia Zhaoyun wanted to look at him but felt shy. He was too handsome, and his gaze was so intense she didn’t dare to meet it. She could only turn to the side and say to the group with a smile:
"Alright, ladies, let’s give it our all in a bit. I’ll treat you all to barbecue afterward..."
Seeing their teacher, Little Xia, so flustered and shy for once, the group’s nervousness mostly dissipated. They all giggled and said, "Then we’re in for a treat!"
Xia Zhaoyun led everyone through a dozen deep breaths. After the host left the stage, Wang Huiwen went on, limping. But the moment her foot touched the stage, she transformed, a smile on her face as she spun into position...
The morale-boosting performance was less a show and more a competition between the performance troupes of affiliated organizations. In the audience, the leaders would smile and occasionally lean in to exchange a few words.
The programs presented by the various organizations were monotonous. Even though people didn’t have many forms of entertainment back then and rarely got to see such shows, the first time was novel, the second was for enjoyment, but by the third, expectations inevitably rose.
At least for the leaders who had seen a fair bit of the world, it wasn’t easy to sit here patiently with amiable smiles on their faces.
Few of them were truly focused on the stage; instead, they were using this opportunity to network and strengthen relationships.
The several vice directors, however, were thrilled. They discussed making the prizes even more generous. After all, the girls had done them proud. The theme of the dance was excellent, and every aspect of it had brought great prestige to the factory!
A vice dean from a hospital, sitting in the second row, let out a sound of surprise. He leaned forward to ask the secretary of one of the vice directors.
This secretary was known as the factory’s walking encyclopedia. He was well-liked and there was hardly anyone he couldn’t talk to or didn’t know. "Secretary Hu, that young comrade with the camera, is she the performance troupe’s Song...?"
"That’s Comrade Xia Zhaoyun," Secretary Hu said, turning his head with a smile.
"Right, that’s her," the vice dean exclaimed. "She’s a real natural at dancing. What a pity..."
"A pity about what?" The next act was already on. After the brilliant performance by Xia Zhaoyun and her girls, this one seemed rather dull and tasteless, and everyone’s mind couldn’t help but wander. The person next to him asked, joining the conversation.

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