She Lives without Regret in This Life

Men bleed, worship heroes. Xu Qigang's performance made him a true hero in their eyes. Even feelings of jealousy were spared; now, not only did ordinary comrades worship him, but even Su Huai'an, Shen Jianguo, and Hai Shen admired him with utmost reverence.

Especially Hai Shen, who had heard Shen Jianguo describe the situation in S country many times. He always felt that if he couldn't join Living Yama on a rescue mission at least once in his lifetime, it would be a great pity. If there was a chance in the future, he must strive for it. But observing the current situation, he feared it would be even harder for Xu Qigang to personally undertake missions in the future. Even if Shen Feihu and Meng Xingzhi agreed, the top three leaders might not consent.

With a bland expression, Xu Qigang nodded in greeting to everyone he knew, appearing as if he had just seen them yesterday, not as someone who had just returned from a mission.

From being suspended to going on a mission, Xu Qigang had disappeared for almost two months. Now, he had become even leaner, his facial features deeply chiseled like a sculpture, with a profile that was exceptionally harmonious and perfect when viewed from the side. He was constantly observant and listening intently; though calm outwardly, his heart was far from tranquil. He kept his gaze fixed on the stage, eagerly, loudly yearning for his little wife to appear quickly.

Xu Qigang's chest was filled with frenzied longing; heaven knows how much he missed Xiao Ning. He wished he could meld her into his body; his mind was full of her smiles and frowns. He didn't know whether she had been doing well in his absence, whether anyone had wronged her or if she had suffered any injustices!

******

On stage, the curtain opened. Wisps of smoke created an illusionary, dream-like effect; a thin blue veil shrouded the silhouette of the young girl at the piano, making her appear hazy. Suddenly, music started, a beautiful melody like a song, gradually drawing the audience into a fantastical beautiful world.

The Fantasy Impromptu was Chopin's posthumous work, not published during his lifetime but discovered in his manuscripts after his death and thus widely celebrated. It was extremely challenging to perform, profound in content and rich in imagination—it was the ultimate test of a performer's skills, and Liu Yilan chose to play it because Chopin was her most revered pianist.

The audience below was enraptured; Sheng Ning listened backstage with closed eyes. She felt spiritually lifted and her soul seemed to quiver with joy because of the beauty.

"Sheng Ning, your idea with the veil is brilliant!" Qiu Bai approached Sheng Ning and asked curiously, "How did you think of it?"

Sheng Ning opened her eyes, her bright eyes still blurry from rest. She blinked and looked towards the stage, playfully saying, "Keep watching, Teacher Qiu Bai, and you'll see why my idea gets even better?"

Her words carried a deeper meaning, which Qiu Bai picked up on. But instead of asking, she chose to look forward with anticipation.

The calmest person in the room was Bai Oulan; she fixated on the stage's thin veil, becoming more composed the more she watched. The more she watched, the more she felt she needed to do something. Would anyone appreciate her music when they saw her hideous expression?

She couldn't wait to first encounter the audience's disdainful looks, to see the union's embarrassed state.

Driven as if by a ghost, Bai Oulan moved to the edge of the stage, where the veil was tied. She stepped on it with her thin, high heels, then gave it a twist. The rope unraveled.

Suddenly, the veil fluttered up, startling everyone in the venue into alertness, and making everyone tense as they watched the veil slowly descend.

People backstage, peeking through gaps in the curtains, also noticed the mishap. Including Yang Wenying, everyone's hearts were tightly clenched, as countless eyes fixated on Liu Yilan. Bai Oulan maintained an indifferent facade, but inside, she reveled in watching the unfolding drama on stage.