When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 251: Chapter 102: Top Star of the 60s Cultural Troupe (41)

Before Master Yuan could even figure out how to team up with Jie Xiaoqin and snatch the device,

Zhao Si’en’s voice came from outside the door. "Little Xia, haven’t you borrowed a radio yet?"

While the two were stunned and panicking, Xia Zhaoyun had already strode back to the door, shouldered past Jie Xiaoqin, and walked out.

"Stop," Master Yuan said through gritted teeth. "Let’s talk."

Xia Zhaoyun half-turned and said coldly, "Director Yuan, my patience is limited, and my time is precious. I have no time to play games with you!"

Master Yuan glanced at the pleading Jie Xiaoqin, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I will make sure you’re satisfied this time. Now, can we continue our conversation from last night?"

She then turned and told Jie Xiaoqin to go back to her training. The latter nodded worriedly and left, looking back over her shoulder with every few steps.

Xia Zhaoyun gave a lazy nod. "Fine. I’ll give you one more chance."

She told Zhao Si’en and Peng Shulan, who had arrived together, to wait outside. Then she shut the door again, sat down in a chair like she owned the place, crossed her arms, and waited with a raised eyebrow.

Master Yuan’s lips were a thin line. "Name your price. As long as you drop this matter, I’ll agree to anything!"

Xia Zhaoyun looked her up and down, surprised. Instead of bringing up their conversation from the previous night, she said coolly, "On the surface, this may seem like a simple prank with a couple of thumbtacks. But those tacks were rusty. The victim could very well have contracted tetanus and died!"

"Perhaps you think that even if this all comes out, you can just sweep it under the rug?"

"But have you considered the current climate? Everyone is walking on eggshells, terrified of making the slightest mistake, lest they be publicly denounced and slapped with a political label. Once Comrade Jie Xiaoqin is saddled with accusations like ’damaging the collective’s honor,’ ’showing a callous disregard for human life,’ and ’using unscrupulous means to achieve her goals,’ what do you imagine the consequences will be?"

"Jail might even seem like the easy way out, don’t you think?"

The corner of her mouth quirked up. "Or do you think we’ll just let this go?"

The color drained from Master Yuan’s face. Every word from Xia Zhaoyun struck home, shattering any shred of hope she had of getting away with this.

"So, what do you want?" she asked, defeated, just wanting to get it over with.

Xia Zhaoyun stopped beating around the bush. "Resign, Director Yuan. Without you to protect her, I trust Comrade Jie Xiaoqin will learn some restraint. Or, the next time she does something stupid, there will be no one there to wipe her ass, and she’ll finally have to take responsibility for her own malice."

Master Yuan trembled, staring at her in disbelief. "Xia Zhaoyun... you... what makes you think I would do that?"

"Oh, so I misunderstood? You’re not going to handle Comrade Jie Xiaoqin this time?" As she spoke, Xia Zhaoyun once again produced the troublesome recording pen.

"Are there no other options?" Master Yuan asked, all the fight gone out of her. Her voice was pleading. "For instance, I could have Little Qin apologize to Comrade Wang Huiwen in private and compensate her with money and ration coupons?"

Xia Zhaoyun scoffed. "Do you think she’s hurting for any of that?"

"Jie Xiaoqin tried to destroy a dancer’s path to the stage of her dreams. For someone like Comrade Wang Huiwen, who wants for nothing, that path is everything."

"Even this demand I’m making might not be enough to get Comrade Wang Huiwen to back down. Frankly, she might prefer to see Jie Xiaoqin do a little time, just to get some satisfaction."

Master Yuan’s eyes were fixed on the recording pen in her hand. "If... if I agree, will you delete the recording?"

Xia Zhaoyun nodded. "Of course. What would I keep it for? This recorder doesn’t have much memory; why would I waste the space?"

"However, your resignation is only one part of it. You also need to write a letter of guarantee, promising that from this day forward, you will not play any more games with the girls in the troupe. Otherwise, if I find out, I can still bring this whole case up again!"

A bitter smile touched Master Yuan’s lips. "Once was more than enough. There won’t be a next time."

She walked back to her desk and sat down. She took out a pen and paper, her gaze sweeping around the familiar office. A wave of bittersweet emotion washed over her as memories flashed through her mind.

’She had been a fighter her whole life, only to be brought down by her own daughter.’

’So it’s true! Children are just debts you have to pay!’

’There was nothing to be done. Once you reach a certain age, your children become especially precious.’

’Besides, her own life was more or less set, but Little Qin’s was just beginning. She couldn’t let this incident ruin her child’s future!’