Shall I call you Brother Shen?

Wen Shuang exchanged a few words with Director Su.

Director Su said to her, “From now on, just dance well. With your looks and professional skill, if you keep gaining experience in ballet, you’ll surely achieve something remarkable. But if your purpose in joining the troupe is to find some bigwig to marry, like the previous principal dancer, then forget everything I’ve just said!”

Director Su was straightforward.

Wen Shuang immediately assured him that her dream was to become an international dancer in the future.

Director Su nodded, “Then keep at it. Dance well. Your future is promising!”

Wen Shuang went backstage to pack her things, and half the female dancers in the troupe gathered around, praising her talent and warmly hoping to get to know her.

Today, Wen Shuang had just arrived and was already favored by Director Su, instantly landing the lead female role.

This was an unprecedented exception at the provincial theater!

With her skill so outstanding, she might well become the next principal dancer. Naturally, they wanted to build a good relationship early.

Of course, the remaining few comforted He Luo, their faces cold toward Wen Shuang.

“Luoluo, don’t be upset. You just weren’t in your best form today, so your role got snatched. Anyway, you still have two lead dances left—what are you afraid of? Some people won’t shine for long!”

He Luo’s eyes were red, but she didn’t respond.

“Oh, so Wen Shuang won’t make it, but you will?” Yao Qianqian stepped forward to defend Wen Shuang. “You’ve always danced the C role—where do you get the face to mock her? Besides, you all saw Wen Shuang’s performance this afternoon. It was exceptional. Director Su was practically beaming.”

“Yao Qianqian, mind your own business!” The woman snapped. “If not for you, Luoluo’s role wouldn’t have been taken!”

“If He Luo can’t be the lead, it’s because her skill falls short! Why blame Wen Shuang?”

He Luo finally looked up, “Yao Qianqian, shut your mouth!”

Yao Qianqian seemed ready to argue further, but Wen Shuang took her arm. “Enough, Qianqian. There’s no need to waste words on people who aren’t worth it. Come on, dinner’s on me tonight.”

He Luo glared fiercely at Wen Shuang. “Just you wait—there’ll come a day in this troupe when you’ll be the one crying!”

Wen Shuang’s red lips curled into a faint smile, undaunted. “Then I’ll wait for you to make me cry, B role.”

He Luo nearly exploded with rage!

Calling her the B role was the greatest insult.

Wen Shuang sent a message to Ji Shen, saying she’d be dining out with friends tonight.

Coincidentally, the man had to work overtime.

Ji Shen: [Good. You’ll have company for dinner.]

Wen Shuang: [When will you get off work? I’ll make you a late-night snack.]

Ji Shen: [I’d rather eat you. Teacher Wen, would you consider waiting for me in bed, all cleaned up?]

Ji Shen spent the whole day at work replaying last night’s scenes in his mind: Wen Shuang lying beneath him, her chestnut hair scattered across the sheets, her beautiful eyes hazy and alluring, making him crave more.

He wished he could have her several more times.

Wen Shuang didn’t reply.

But truthfully, she didn’t mind it either. Being with someone like Ji Shen was quite enjoyable.

Over dinner, Yao Qianqian quickly analyzed the relationships among the female dancers at the provincial theater for Wen Shuang.

This June, the provincial theater had welcomed fresh graduates, injecting new blood. The previous star was Hao Li, but after marrying a prominent figure and successfully getting pregnant, she quit and returned home to become a lady of leisure.

Now the principal dancer’s position was vacant, with Xia Anran and He Luo both vying for it.

In terms of background, Xia Anran was heiress to the Xia family, while He Luo had snagged a pharmaceutical magnate—both were powerful.

The woman who defended He Luo today was Yu Xueyi, a perennial C role who used to follow Xia Anran. Now that Xia Anran was in trouble, Yu Xueyi switched allegiance to He Luo.

When Xia Anran was around, though He Luo was her biggest rival, Xia Anran’s background still outshone He Luo’s, and her skills were superior. So the principal dancer’s spot had already been reserved for Xia Anran, and most lead roles were intended for her to elevate her status. But at the crucial moment, Xia Anran got herself into trouble and ended up detained.

So He Luo stepped up.

However, Director Su was strict and had never been satisfied with He Luo. Now Wen Shuang had arrived, perfectly filling the vacancy!

“Shuangshuang, you’re set at the provincial theater now.” Yao Qianqian stuffed vegetable salad into her mouth. “Director Su is the strictest, most unsentimental person in the theater. Anyone she favors is destined for great things!”

Wen Shuang raised her juice glass. “Qianqian, I still have to thank you. If you hadn’t recommended me, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity.”

“No need to be so formal. Back in college, you always recommended me to teachers for competitions.” Yao Qianqian was grateful by nature. “Consider this my way of repaying you. And besides, I’ve always disliked Xia Anran and her crowd at the theater—they acted like they owned the place, so annoying! Serves her right, getting herself arrested!”

Wen Shuang thought, she certainly deserved it!

Yao Qianqian then shared an amusing story from high society.

“Oh, and let me tell you—recently, some tycoon spent five million at a Paris auction to buy a pair of flowe ballet shoes! Can you believe it? That’s the price of a house!”

Wen Shuang nearly choked.

Yao Qianqian showed her a photo from the auction, and it happened to be the very pair of ballet shoes Ji Shen had given her.

She knew they were expensive, but never imagined they’d be worth so much!

“Isn’t it shocking? I was stunned too—such extravagance!” Yao Qianqian’s eyes sparkled. “I wonder which bigwig bought those beautiful shoes—maybe as a collectible or a gift for his beloved. I hope I get to see them in person someday~”

After returning home, Wen Shuang immediately took out the ballet shoes from her cabinet.

She examined them over and over. Although the shoes were encrusted with diamonds, she still doubted they were worth five million.

Ji Shen came home to find her petite figure squatting on the floor.

He walked over, startling Wen Shuang.

“Officer Ji, you’re back!”

“Why are you still calling me Officer Ji, hmm? Sounds so distant.” Ji Shen was still in his police uniform, exuding an air of upright handsomeness.

Wen Shuang lifted her eyes, “Shen Shen?”

Ji Shen: “......”

“A bit too sentimental. Try another.”

“What’s sentimental about Shen Shen? I think it’s quite nice.” Wen Shuang teased deliberately.

Ji Shen shook his head, utterly serious. “Miss Wen, please be proper.”

Yet it was always he who acted improper first.

“How about Shen’er?”

Ji Shen lightly tapped her head. “Are you calling your child now?”

Wen Shuang burst out laughing at his description. “How about Brother Shen?”

“That’s good.” Ji Shen finally nodded. “Has a bit of romance to it.”

He’d thought about her all day.

His hand instinctively reached for his chest, then he noticed Wen Shuang holding the ballet shoes. “Danced all day and still not enough? Are you planning to dance more, or do you just love the gift I gave you so much you can’t let go?”

Wen Shuang asked, “Brother Shen, did you really pay five million for these shoes?”

Ji Shen raised an eyebrow, “You noticed?”

“Your lavish spending at the Paris auction has become gossip in our dance circle.” Wen Shuang glanced at the shoes, then at Ji Shen. “How could you bear to part with so much?”

Ji Shen seemed baffled. “Why wouldn’t I? Spending five million to win a beauty’s smile is entirely reasonable.”

“Brother Shen, you suddenly remind me of King You of Zhou making Bao Si laugh.”

Ji Shen promptly scooped her up, carrying her to the bed.

“Tonight, my beloved, I’ll favor you—be well attended to.”

As he unbuttoned his shirt, he pressed Wen Shuang beneath him.

She laughed, “Wait—I haven’t showered yet! Let me wash first!”

Ji Shen was in no mood to wait.

At twenty-eight, he was only now experiencing intimacy; before this, he’d been content with his own hand. Now, finally blessed with warm, soft beauty, how could he possibly let her go?