The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 682 - 681: Mistake in the Competition

Chapter 682: Chapter 681: Mistake in the Competition

Seeing Ren Jingshu walking intimately with another boy, Zhao Yun felt as if everything before his eyes had turned green.

Perhaps noticing his green-eyed gaze, Ren Jingshu suddenly looked over.

"Zhao Yun? Is that really you? What are you doing here?"

Upon confirming it was Zhao Yun, Ren Jingshu could hardly hide her surprise.

Zhao Yun had been squatting, but when he saw the boy approaching as well, he immediately stood up and deliberately straightened his back.

Even if he had lost in love, he couldn’t afford to lose in height and presence as well.

"Yo, Su Su, who is this guy?"

"Where do you think you’re putting your hands? Get them off me!"

Seeing the boy put his hand back on Ren Jingshu’s shoulder, Zhao Yun got angry.

The man didn’t back down either, nonchalant and speaking with a Beijing accent, "Who are you to care where I put my hand? I will even kiss her; do you believe me?"

As he spoke, he leaned his face towards Ren Jingshu’s.

"CNM!"

Zhao Yun shouted angrily as he swung his fist.

The boy had been keeping an eye on Zhao Yun from the corner of his eye, and he tried to dodge when he saw Zhao Yun strike. However, Zhao Yun anticipated his move and his punch connected with the boy’s jaw.

"Cousin!"

Hearing Ren Jingshu’s call, Zhao Yun was momentarily dumbfounded. "He, he’s your cousin?"

Ren Jingshu gave him a cold look and bent down to help the boy up.

Zhao Yun was able to take a hit as well as dish one out and immediately apologized, "I’m sorry, Cousin, I got it wrong. Are you alright?"

As he spoke, he went to help, but was pushed away by the boy.

"Do I look like I’m alright to you?"

Zhao Yun studied his jaw carefully and honestly said, "It doesn’t look too bad."

Ren Jingshu laughed out loud.

The boy couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity, "Su Su, where did you find such a big fool? He’s as stupid and wild as a barbarian."

Because of playing basketball, Zhao Yun had a darker complexion, and standing next to the fair and slender Dai Yu, he did indeed seem rather rough around the edges.

"My boyfriend, Zhao Yun."

Dai Yu’s hand rubbing his jaw came to a halt.

Zhao Yun was both surprised and pleased.

This was the first time Ren Jingshu had introduced him as her boyfriend in front of her family; he had thought she would say he was just a friend or classmate.

Dai Yu looked Zhao Yun up and down.

It wasn’t clear whether he was surprised by Ren Jingshu’s early romance or shocked that she, looking like a fairy, had chosen such a burly boyfriend.

...

"When did you get here? Why didn’t you tell me in advance?"

In the room, Zhao Yun accepted the glass of water Ren Jingshu handed him with a look of pleasant surprise, "I just arrived this afternoon, I wanted to give you a surprise."

After speaking, he sneakily glanced at Dai Yu, who was sitting diagonally opposite him.

Seeing Dai Yu staring at him with a feigned smile, Zhao Yun quickly flashed a flattering smile.

Dai Yu sneered coldly, evidently not willing to let it go just like that.

Having heard that Pei Ziheng and Pei Tang had also come to the Capital, and were staying in a room downstairs, Ren Jingshu immediately went down with Zhao Yun to greet them, with Dai Yu following along.

With the competition being the very next day, to prevent any unforeseen incidents, Ren Jingshu’s mother had her nephew—who was attending university in the Capital—accompany Ren Jingshu to ensure her safety.

After meeting, they had dinner in a nearby restaurant and then each retired to their rooms to rest.

The next day.

With her mother and Dai Yu as company, Ren Jingshu had just walked out of the hotel when she bumped into Zhao Yun and the Pei siblings.

Although they had sat at the same table for dinner just the night before, Dai Yu, Zhao Yun, and the Pei siblings all acted as if they didn’t know each other.

But Ren Jingshu’s mother still recognized Zhao Yun.

"That young man in red at the door just now, he was the same one who sent flowers at the drama theater last time, right? You said you didn’t know him. Are you two in a puppy love or something?"

With Ren’s mother’s irritated questioning, the atmosphere in the taxi became tense.

From the front seat, Dai Yu turned his head, intending to help Ren Jingshu out of the awkward spot but heard Jingshu respond with a cold and indifferent voice, "I’m about to compete. Are you sure you want to talk about things that might affect my mood at this moment?"

Ren’s mother turned blue with frustration but had to relent.

"Alright, we’ll stop talking about it. You should rest up and focus on the competition."

Dai Yu turned his head back, but he was somewhat shocked.

Ever since they were kids, his cousin was like a clay figure, silently enduring whatever his aunt shaped her into.

Having not seen her for just two short years, had her temperament become this assertive?

But this was a good thing, lest the rotten kid take advantage of her.

Ren Jingshu looked out of the car window and suddenly said, "I must place in the top three this time."

Ren’s mother and Dai Yu both looked at her.

Ren’s mother cheerfully encouraged her, "Good, that’s the spirit. Mom believes you can definitely do it."

As long as I’m in the top three, I can get into the Capital Dance Academy and escape from your control.

Ren Jingshu silently vowed to herself.

Yet Ren’s mother mistook her daughter’s determination as a sign of enlightenment, finally understanding the importance of striving for excellence, and she was overjoyed.

...

"Respected leaders, teachers, and competitors from all over the country, good morning!"

Following the host’s opening remarks, the competition officially began.

Unlike the city-level competitions, this national event featured top contestants selected from provincial and city competitions, all possessing both talent and skill.

The thunderous applause and the continually updating high scores exerted immense pressure on the contestants preparing backstage.

Ren Jingshu was no different, inevitably feeling nervous and scared.

But this was her do-or-die battle where only victory was acceptable, not defeat.

"Next, please welcome contestant number 026 from Fengcheng, presenting the classical dance ’Fleeting Youth’. Please come on stage!"

As the host announced her entry, Ren Jingshu steadied her heart and walked to the center of the stage with graceful steps.

Don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous. Just relax and clear your mind.

But as is often the case, exactly what she feared happened, and Jingshu made a mistake on her first jump.

In the instant she fell, she looked toward the audience in despair.

Despite the distance, she immediately spotted Ren’s mother.

In that moment, all the years of being controlled flashed through her mind. She faked a stumble, cleverly turning the fall into a designed part of the dance.

As the mournful, poignant sound of the flute began, Ren Jingshu slowly raised her head, a tear trailing down her beautiful face.

Under the lights, her tear-filled eyes as she tried to stand again resembled a fledgling bird struggling in the mud, desperately trying to flap its wings to no avail.

At that moment, the audience was silent, everyone holding their breath, silently cheering "it" on.

After numerous failures and falls, it finally stood up.

Spreading its wings, heading for the sky.

Twirling, leaping.

In that moment, she forgot everything, completely immersed in the world of dance.

With her every tense movement, she expressed her dissatisfaction and anger towards Ren’s mother, every cell in her body screaming to break free from the shackles.

She was like a brave pursuing the dawn, undeterred by obstacles, unconcerned with life or death, all for the sake of chasing her beliefs.

As the dance ended, the applause lingered on.

"Huff~ Huff~ Huff~"

Accompanied by her heavy breathing, Ren Jingshu, with tears streaking her face, looked towards the audience with her lips curled up high.

She had done it, she really had done it!

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