Why did the system take my request to take photos with a cosplayer seriously?

Hua Qing stood on the far left, her back straight, her expression aloof, like a statue of Mazu that had stepped out of a temple.

Shen Tingwan stood next to Hua Qing. Although they were of similar height and had similar features, something about her just didn't quite have the same charm.

Originally, there were seven people to be selected, but now only five remain, as two have already withdrawn.

One felt hopeless and used injury as an excuse.

One of them was reportedly poached by another theater troupe, preferring to be a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond...

There are still twenty days until the official selection is finalized, but those who remain know in their hearts that the lead dancer will most likely be either Hua Qing or Shen Tingwan.

The reason why others are still willing to run alongside is simply to compete for a substitute spot, or if they are lucky, to get a supporting role.

Qi Yanran stood at the front of the line, holding a folder in her hand.

"The results of today's official rehearsal are out."

She said calmly, "First place, Hua Qing, with a total score of 98.5."

Hua Qing remained expressionless, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

98.5.

It was a little higher than she expected.

"Second place, Shen Tingwan, with a total score of 98."

Shen Tingwan tried her best to remain calm, but a fleeting look of disappointment crossed her eyes.

"Third place, Fan Chenxi, 90."

Upon hearing her score, Fan Chenxi immediately sighed in dejection, making no attempt to hide her emotions.

90 points.

In previous training sessions, the gap between the three was within 3 points, but unexpectedly, in today's official rehearsal, the gap widened to a full 8 points!

Is there absolutely no hope left...?

After adjusting her mindset, Fan Chenxi approached Hua Qing and sincerely congratulated her, "Hua Qing! You're number one again! 98.5, are you cheating?"

Hua Qing smiled awkwardly: "No... I was just lucky today."

Fan Chenxi chuckled: "I think it's the power of love."

"Chenxi, don't talk nonsense."

"Hey...you must have been pampered by your boyfriend a lot last night, right?"

Shen Tingwan, who was standing to the side, heard the conversation between the two clearly, lowered her eyes and took a deep breath.

She had been consistently outmatched by Hua Qing for eight days in a row, but today was the day she was in the best condition!

Back in April, she practically considered the lead dancer a sure thing, and she didn't see Hua Qing and Fan Chenxi, who were always at the bottom, as rivals at all.

Only a month and a half has passed...

"Listen tonight!"

A gentle female voice rang out at the entrance of the rehearsal hall.

Hua Qing and Fan Chenxi turned their heads to look at the same time.

A middle-aged couple stood at the door, dressed smartly and exuding an air of refinement.

A woman in her early fifties who takes good care of herself.

The man was half a head taller than her, with a calm face and a resemblance to Shen Tingwan in his features.

Shen Tingwan jogged over, stopped in front of the woman, and softly called out, "Mom."

The woman reached out to straighten Shen Tingwan's clothes, her movements gentle and her eyes full of affection.

A murmur of discussion arose in the rehearsal hall.

"Those must be Shen Tingwan's parents?"

"I heard her father is a former leader of the General Song and Dance Troupe, and also has connections at the National Centre for the Performing Arts..."

"real or fake?"

"It's definitely true, everyone in the industry knows it."

"No wonder she has such good resources; she even did a national tour right after graduation."

"That's their skill, what does it have to do with their family?"

"Come on, without her family's support, how could she have started a national tour at the age of twenty-two? What were you doing when you were twenty-two?"

Hua Qing withdrew her gaze and did not participate in the discussion.

Fan Chenxi leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Hua Qing, what do you think her parents came for today? To watch their daughter rehearse?"

Hua Qing replied calmly, "Maybe."

"Shen Tingwan was ranked first every day for a while, why didn't they come?"

Fan Chenxi pursed her lips, her tone worried: "I don't think it's that simple..."

A short while later, Shen Tingwan walked back to Qi Yanran and said politely, "Teacher Qi, my parents would like to invite you over for a few words."

Qi Yanran was taken aback, subconsciously looked at Hua Qing, and then turned to look at the door.

Shen's mother was smiling at her, her smile polite and unhurried.

Qi Yanran let out a soft breath, her face expressionless.

"it is good."

She handed the folder to her assistant and walked towards the door.

Hua Qing stood there, watching Qi Yanran's figure disappear through the doorway.

The rehearsal hall was quiet for a few seconds before murmurs began to rise again.

"Do you think Teacher Qi might..."

Don't make wild guesses.

"I'm not just guessing; this kind of thing has happened before."

Hua Qing didn't speak, her fingers unconsciously stroking the sash around her waist.

A few minutes later, Qi Yanran returned.

That's all for today's training.

She spoke in her usual tone and gave the same instructions once again.

"There are only twenty days left, everyone practice hard. First, don't be complacent, and last, don't give up. Everyone has a chance! Even if you don't get selected as the main dancer, you can still strive for the opportunity to participate in the entire tour... Substitutes, supporting roles, ensemble dancers, etc., are all valuable stage experiences."

Everyone nodded in agreement and began packing their things.

Hua Qing and Fan Chenxi walked out side by side. Fan Chenxi took Hua Qing's arm and walked much faster than usual, as if she had a lot to say.

Stepping out of the rehearsal hall, she finally couldn't hold back anymore.

"Huaqing."

"Ok?"

"What do you think Shen Tingwan's parents said to Teacher Qi?"

Fan Chenxi lowered her voice: "Won't Teacher Qi end up being unable to fight back against the powerful?"

Don't make wild guesses.

Hua Qing interrupted Fan Chenxi, her tone serious: "Teacher Qi isn't that kind of person."

Fan Chenxi stuck out her tongue: "They're just worried about you, aren't they? Everyone has seen your performance. You're number one, why should you let someone else have it?"

"It's not over yet."

Hua Qing slowed her pace: "And your performance today was not bad either. If it weren't for that mistake, your score would definitely be above 95."

Fan Chenxi scratched his head: "A mistake is a mistake, there's no 'what if'! That's where I'm worse than you and Shen Tingwan. You guys never make obvious mistakes. I just can't. From April until now, I still make mistakes in my movements."

Hua Qing thought for a moment and asked, "Speaking of which, did you change a few moves today?"

Fan Chenxi paused, then nodded.

"correct."

"That side spin in the third section?"

"Um……"

Fan Chenxi stopped, turned around to face Hua Qing, and began to gesture.

"Teacher Qi designed it like this... Mazu turns her head, looking into the distance, her posture conveying a sense of compassion for all living beings, very divine."

But I feel... although Mazu eventually became a goddess, she was originally a mortal. She was a woman from a fishing village who sacrificed herself to save her father and fellow villagers. Her compassion wasn't divine compassion, but human compassion.

Fan Chenxi's speaking speed gradually increased.

"Her gentleness towards mortals stems from empathetic 'understanding,' not condescending 'pity.' She is not high above, but stands beside you..."

Hua Qing stood there, stunned.

Fan Chenxi was still gesturing and muttering to herself.

"And then there's the turn later, I changed the angle of her arms. Teacher Qi designed her arms to be fully extended, like wings spreading out, very grand. But I changed it to her arms being slightly drawn in, like a preparatory gesture for an embrace... She's not high above, but standing at a distance, waiting for those who suffer to come forward and embrace her, rather than making people look up to her."

Hua Qing swallowed hard, speechless for a moment.

It felt like something exploded in my mind, a sudden and profound realization.

During this period, she and Shen Tingwan worked hard on the precision and fluidity of their movements.

But they never thought about it—who is Mazu?

Only Fan Chenxi was thinking; she understood the core of the character better than either herself or Shen Tingwan.

"Hua Qing? Are you alright?"

Fan Chenxi waved her hand in front of Hua Qing.

"N-nothing."