When She Stops Being Dramatic novel Chapter 239

Chapter 239: Chapter 98: The 60s Cultural Troupe’s Top Sister (37)

Back at the troupe, she gathered the girls from the three groups in the main hall and announced the results of the lot drawing.

"Although this is just a program selection, it’s also a brutal competition where twenty will be chosen from fifty-seven, with a clear scoring and ranking system."

"As the host, our Zhaoyang Clothing Factory must secure a good ranking. To that end, there has been a significant disparity in how resources are allocated among our three programs."

"My goal for Group One is to place in the top three. Are you confident?"

The girls of Group One held their heads high, chests out, and shouted at the top of their lungs, "Yes!"

"Good. I’ve been watching your training. Every one of you has worked very hard, living up to the trust and cultivation of the leaders and teachers. As long as you perform at your usual level, this goal isn’t difficult." As she spoke, she held out a sign, motioning for Jie Xiaoqin to take it.

"After discussing it and considering all factors, the troupe’s leaders and teachers have unanimously decided that you will perform in the morning."

The girls of Group One looked even prouder. This was a privilege reserved for the strong in the troupe!

"The afternoon slot goes to Group Two," Master Yuan said without further elaboration, handing the sign to Group Two’s lead dancer.

"And the evening slot is for Group Three," she said, pushing the sign toward Xia Zhaoyun with a smirk that wasn’t quite a smile.

For a normal gala, the final act did indeed highlight a program’s importance and appeal. But this was a competition. All contestants had to be waiting backstage from early in the morning, leaving them in no mood for training.

The morning slot was advantageous in every respect: the performers’ mental state, the pressure they were under, the judges’ initial reference standards, and so on. The afternoon was second best. By evening, setting everything else aside, the energy levels of both the judges and the performers would have taken a huge hit.

Furthermore, with so many excellent programs to compare against, the judges would become pickier. The scores for evening programs were generally not very high.

This was all based on her rich experience.

Yet Master Yuan just had to say with a smile, "This is the real grand finale. I trust that Comrade Xia Zhaoyun can lead the girls of Group Three to bring glory and honor to our factory and troupe."

Xia Zhaoyun smiled faintly and nodded. "We will do our best."

The girls of Group Three were indignant, but they knew this was what their superiors considered the best arrangement.

A fire of determination burned within them. They had to wow everyone at the competition and let their skills and the results speak for themselves!

For the next two days, Xia Zhaoyun remained unhurried, fine-tuning details for the group like positioning and expressing emotion through body language. At the same time, she coordinated with the auditorium staff to ensure the stage effects would be optimal.

Early in the morning, the girls came down the stairs to assemble, shouldering their bags and looking like they hadn’t fully woken up. Compared to the other two groups—who were full of vigor, eyes wide, chests puffed out, and brimming with restless energy—they looked like they had already been eliminated.

"All of you, wake up!" Master Yuan snapped, glaring at the girls from Group Three. "Can’t you show a little more ambition? Last night, the girls from Group One and Group Two practiced as usual until eight or nine, and a few even practiced until ten. And you?"

"You probably just did a half-hearted stretch after dinner and went back to rest, didn’t you? And now you still look half-asleep. Do you really think this selection is child’s play?"

"Let me tell you, if you make our Zhaoyang Clothing Factory lose face in front of the other units, then you just wait. Every bonus and performance for the latter half of this year will have nothing to do with any of you!"

Xia Zhaoyun lowered her gaze, a faint smile on her lips.

Master Yuan saw that her words hadn’t had enough of an impact on the girls of Group Three, especially Xia Zhaoyun, who acted as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Annoyance flared in her heart. ’We’ll see how long they can keep smiling,’ she thought. ’There will come a time when Xia Zhaoyun has to beg me!’

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