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Looking at Chen Xiaojun beside her, who was exhausted from days of intense rehearsals and coordination work and fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow, Su Ning felt a deep sense of shame.

The girl followed him north without complaint, sacrificing the Spring Festival to reunite with her family. She was busy like a spinning top, handling all sorts of trivial but crucial matters, but never asked him for anything.

Moreover, most of the promises I made to her were just empty words, without much substance.

He quietly walked into the living room, dialed the number of the person in charge of the Hangzhou office of "Guangguai Luli", and solemnly gave instructions.

A few days later, Chen Xiaojun, far away at home in Zhejiang, was greeted by a jaw-dropping "New Year's goods storm".

First came a whole Iberian Black Label ham, beautifully packaged and delivered by a refrigerated truck; then came a bottle of fine Burgundy red wine, sealed in a wooden box with clear wax markings; next came a highly recognizable gift box of Moutai liquor; and finally, exquisite dried abalone, fish maw, and other precious New Year's goods...

The living room of the Chen family was almost filled with high-end gifts that ordinary people had only seen in magazines.

Finally, a well-dressed staff member personally came to the door and handed over a heavy, bright red envelope with the logo of "Guangguai Luli Culture Media" printed on it.

"Uncle Chen, Aunt Chen, Happy New Year. This is a small token of our appreciation from General Manager Su and 'Guangguai Luli' Company. We thank you both for raising such an outstanding daughter, and we also thank Assistant Chen for her hard work and great sacrifices during the busiest time of the company's early days. General Manager Su specifically instructed us to wish you both a happy and prosperous New Year."

Chen Xiaojun's parents were ordinary wage earners who worked hard all their lives and had never seen anything like this before.
The two looked at the lavish New Year's gifts filling the room, and then opened the envelope, which contained two neat stacks of brand-new 10,000-yuan banknotes. They were so shocked that they couldn't speak for a moment.

"This...this is too valuable! I can't accept this..." Chen's mother looked at the staff member helplessly.

"Please accept this. President Su said that this is a reward that Assistant Chen deserves, and it is also his way of apologizing and thanking his employees' families for not being able to go home to be with their parents during the Spring Festival."

After the staff left, the elderly couple stared blankly at the room full of gifts and the thick red envelope for a long time before slowly processing the huge shock.

Immediately, an indescribable sense of surprise and pride welled up within me.

"Jun Jun, this boss is so generous! He really values ​​our daughter!" Mr. Chen rubbed his hands excitedly and picked up the bottle of red wine to examine it carefully.

Chen's mother carefully stroked the smooth ham packaging, her eyes even becoming a little moist: "I knew our daughter was capable! Before, the theater troupe was stable, but how could she have developed like this? And she was covered in injuries every day. Look at that boss, the generosity! The thoughtfulness! It shows that our Junjun is truly talented and truly valued!"

The dissatisfaction and worries that had accumulated before because of Chen Xiaojun's sudden resignation from the state-run theater troupe were completely dispelled at this moment by the real attention and courtesy shown to her that far exceeded expectations.

Instead, there is trust in her daughter's judgment and boundless expectations for her future development.

Chen's mother immediately took out her phone and sent Chen Xiaojun a long voice message on WeChat, her tone filled with excitement and relief: "Junjun! I received the New Year's gifts and red envelopes your boss sent! Oh my, so many and so valuable! My dear child, you must work hard out there and never let down President Su's great trust! Everything is fine at home, don't worry, just focus on your work in Beijing!..."

On the other end of the phone, Chen Xiaojun, who had just woken up, listened to the joy and pride that was almost overflowing in her mother's voice. Looking at the cold sky of Beijing outside the window, and thinking of the man who seemed to have arranged everything unintentionally, she was filled with mixed feelings. A warm current of being properly settled and deeply understood quietly dispelled all her fatigue and grievances.

"Suning, thank you."

……

Of course, Suning's arrangements did not stop with Chen Xiaojun's family.

He naturally considered the family of his official girlfriend, Fan Lin, even more carefully.

Fan Lin comes from a well-off family, and ordinary gifts are insufficient to express her feelings.

He specially asked someone to find a batch of top-quality collectible Pu'er tea cakes, as well as a set of Yixing teapots made by a famous craftsman, which not only showed good taste but also valued the tea, and suited Fan Lin's father's refined taste for tea.

For Fan Lin's mother, it was a necklace of excellent quality Australian white pearls, gentle and elegant.

When the gift arrived, Fan Lin happened to be at home. Seeing the satisfied and slightly surprised smiles on her parents' faces, she felt honored and felt even warmer about Su Ning's thoughtfulness and consideration.

The most astonishing gift, however, belonged to the enthusiastic and bold senior student, Song Yujie.

When a brand-new, gleaming Maserati Ghibli was driven to the vicinity of Zhejiang University by a uniformed car sales consultant, who then respectfully handed her the keys, Song Yujie could hardly believe her eyes.

The striking red, streamlined body shone brightly in the winter sun, attracting the attention of many passersby.

The only item included in the car was a simple card with Su Ning's strong, vigorous handwriting: "Happy New Year, Senior. —Su Ning"

The enormous, almost extravagant surprise instantly overwhelmed Song Yujie's rationality.

Her cheeks flushed with excitement, her heart pounded, and almost immediately she pulled out her phone and dialed Su Ning's number. Her voice trembled slightly with excitement, carrying an undisguised allure and urgency:

"Suning! I received the car! My God...you...you're simply...I love you to death! Where are you? I'm coming to find you right now! Tonight...I'm going to give you a proper 'reward'!"

On the other end of the phone, Su Ning could be heard faintly in the background, with the rhythm of music from the rehearsal hall and the instructor's commands.

He was clearly extremely busy, his voice tinged with fatigue but still clear:

"Senior, I'm glad you like it. But my rehearsal schedule is packed lately. I'm working on the movements and rehearsing on stage with CCTV from morning till night, so I really can't find the time. I'll remember your 'reward' for now, and we can talk about it after I'm done with this busy period."

Hearing the busy tone of the call being disconnected, Song Yujie was not disappointed at all. Instead, she looked at the red sports car in front of her, a symbol of luxury and pampering, and a charming smile of determination appeared on her lips.

She gently stroked the smooth car body, as if caressing a lover's skin.

This junior was more interesting and more difficult to control than she had imagined.

But this feeling of seeing something but not being able to have it for the time being stirred her heartstrings even more, making her have an even stronger desire to conquer this unfathomable and generous man.

She put away her phone, got into the driver's seat, and felt the comfort of the leather seats and the luxurious atmosphere inside the car. The passion in her heart did not die down; instead, it burned even more intensely.

She was already looking forward to how she would deliver this incredibly tempting "reward" after Suning finished his work on the Spring Festival Gala.

However, she didn't know that although the gift Su Ning gave her was the most extravagant, it was also the least thoughtful.

The different gifts reveal the differences in how these female confidantes hold a place in Suning's heart.

……

On New Year's Eve 2014, CCTV's Studio One was brightly lit and filled with warmth.

Below the stage were eagerly awaiting audience members and celebrities; on the stage, it was a grand feast that carried the joy and laughter of millions of families.

Inside the backstage area, however, there was a tense silence that contrasted sharply with the festive atmosphere at the front.

Suning, dressed in his signature faded old-fashioned work clothes, stood quietly in the shadows of the waiting area.

He could clearly hear his own steady, powerful heartbeat, and the deafening wave of applause emanating from the front desk. Chen Xiaojun straightened his collar one last time, her fingertips slightly cool, but her voice was filled with unwavering determination: "President Su, no problem! You can definitely do it!"

Su Ning nodded to her, her gaze calm and serene, having cast aside all distractions and fully immersed herself in the role she was about to play.

"...Next, please enjoy the solo dance - 'The Light of the Times'! Performer: Su Ning!" As the host finished announcing the performance, all the lights in the venue suddenly went out.

A cool, clear spotlight, like a sharp sword cleaving through time and space, shone directly on the center of the stage.

There, the silhouette of a young worker suddenly appeared...

He bent over, swung the hammer, his movements carrying the heaviness and abruptness characteristic of the industrial age.

The music started with a monotonous and powerful mechanical rhythm, which, combined with Suning's powerful and controlled dance, seemed to instantly pull the audience back to the 1970s and 80s, a time of great enthusiasm and fighting spirit.

Every movement he made was full of solid craftsmanship...

It mimics the stiffness and precision of gear rotation, simulates the explosive force of a hammer falling, and showcases the repetitive and monotonous nature of assembly line operations.

However, within this somber tone, changes were quietly taking place.

A touch of light and hopeful electronic sound effects gradually seeped into the music.

Suning's actions also began to change accordingly.

After a quick spin, with the help of clever stage cover, the old work clothes disappeared as if by magic, revealing a more vibrant 90s jacket underneath!

"Wow!" A clear gasp of surprise rang out from the audience for the first time!

The costume change was so fast and smooth, it was completed in the blink of an eye, and it was seamlessly integrated with the dance moves!

The following dances began to incorporate more modern and even futuristic elements.

Suning's body language is no longer purely heavy, but is infused with more and more fluidity, speed and explosiveness.

What's most amazing is that he incorporated a highly personal modified version of the "moonwalk," as if symbolizing the exploration and passion of breaking free from constraints and venturing into the unknown.

The footsteps moved smoothly on the stage, while the body maintained a forward-leaning posture. This visual miracle, which defied the laws of physics, drew gasps from the audience.

During the second outfit change, the jacket was cleverly thrown off the ground as the person landed after a difficult backflip, revealing a sleek, high-tech new-era smart work uniform!
At this moment, the music reaches its climax, magnificent and full of hope!
Suning's dance was completely unrestrained, with wide, sweeping movements full of confidence and power.

He seemed to have transformed into a modern industrial worker, skillfully manipulating invisible precision instruments, his sharp and confident gaze fixed on the distance.

Finally, the music stopped abruptly on its loudest note.

Suning is frozen in a highly sculptural, upward-looking pose...

His left hand seemed to still carry the weight of his past hammer blows, while his right hand pointed firmly to a bright future.

His eyes were filled with respect for the past and boundless anticipation for the future.

Quiet.

An absolute silence enveloped the studio, as if time itself had frozen.

next second!
"boom--!!!"

Like a volcano that has been accumulating power for too long suddenly erupting, the thunderous applause and cheers almost lifted the roof off the studio!

All the audience members spontaneously stood up, their faces filled with shock, excitement, and disbelief!

The applause continued unabated, one wave after another!
"marvelous!!"

"That dance is amazing!"

"Suning! Suning! Suning!"

In the audience, Chen Xiaojun was so excited that her face turned red, and she clapped her hands vigorously.

Suning's parents, Fan Lin, and other relatives and friends sat in front of their respective television sets, their faces beaming with pride.

The director and choreography team were so excited backstage that they hugged and high-fived each other: "Success! Perfect! Far exceeded expectations!"

That night, the name Suning, along with the program "Light of the Times," ignited the entire nation with unstoppable force!
CCTV's real-time viewership data shows that the ratings surged during the performance of "The Light of the Times," setting one of the highest viewership records for the Spring Festival Gala that night!

Almost immediately after the program ended, all social media platforms, including Weibo, Baidu Tieba, and forums, were flooded with related topics such as "Suning," "Light of the Times," and "Best Program of the Spring Festival Gala"!

Hashtags like #SuningMoonwalk# and #SuningEraLight# shot into the top three trending searches at an alarming speed and "dominated" the top spot for a long time!
From professional dancers to ordinary audience members, everyone was amazed.

Industry insiders praised it for "perfectly combining contemporary narrative with dance art" and for "top-level technical difficulty and artistic expression".

Ordinary viewers were more direct: "So cool!"

"It got my blood pumping!"

"I cried. It reminded me of my parents' generation!"

The following day, Suning dominated the headlines of entertainment sections of major print media and portal websites across the country: "Suning's solo dance 'Light of the Times' at the Spring Festival Gala amazed the audience and interpreted the changes of the times!"

"One dance moves the world! Newcomer actress Su Ning conquers the Spring Festival Gala with her talent!"

"A dark horse makes a comeback! Suning becomes the biggest surprise of the Spring Festival Gala!"

"The Light of the Times" and its iconic "looking up across time" still image quickly became one of the most representative cultural images of the beginning of 2014, and were reproduced, quoted and imitated countless times.

Suning stood in the center of the stage, bathed in thunderous applause and dazzling lights, breathing slightly heavily, yet feeling an unprecedented calm and passion within.

He knew that at this moment, he had truly entered the sight of hundreds of millions of viewers, using his strength and hard work to win himself the most hardcore pass to a broader stage.

...(End of chapter)