Chapter 136: Chapter 131: Ji Xizhi Isn’t the Center? (Double Release)

[Hahaha, that thief Zhu Xiu’an really cracked me up here!]

After Zhu Xiu’an’s performance, next was Guan Fengyan playing the flute and Zou Li on the guzheng. Together they reinterpreted an old song that used to play often on big broadcasts in the seventies and eighties.

The villagers below didn’t recognize it at first, but during the climax, everyone suddenly remembered it and got so excited that they started singing along.

Sheng Yaoyao and Qin Yutian put together a skit about the love stories of past generations, with Sheng Yaoyao playing the role of the factory belle and Qin Yutian as one of her many suitors. The series of hilarious stories that unfolded during his pursuit had everyone bursting into laughter.

Zhong Yulu and Bai Xing chose a singing and dancing routine. She invited a group of elderly men and women who enjoyed dancing in public squares to showcase the latest popular square dance, which prompted many of the aunts below to start waving their hands involuntarily.

Zhong Yulu and Bai Xing sang and danced, perspiration dripping, while the audience below responded with endless applause and swinging actions. By the end, some even began shouting for lessons; the live effect was fantastic.

The fourth group’s performance finished, and soon it was time for the final act.

Zhong Yulu passed by Ji Xizhi and the others, who were getting ready to take the stage, as she exited.

Under the side stage lights, Ji Xizhi looked even more graceful; the pale blue cheongsam she wore was beautifully accentuated. In the small dressing room earlier, it was already clear how lovely it was, but upon closer inspection, the cheongsam’s hem was embroidered with subtle threads that shimmered beautifully under the lights.

Zhong Yulu felt a tightening in her chest as she watched.

Her gaze remained fixed as she exited the stage and entered the dressing room.

With no cameras filming in the dressing room now, all the show’s cameras and the film crew were elsewhere capturing the stage.

Bai Xing hurriedly grabbed a coat and rushed out.

“I’m going out to watch Sister Zhi Zhi perform, want to join?”

Zhong Yulu’s face seemed frozen and a bit pale. She rubbed her arms and smiled, “I’m a bit chilly, you go ahead first, I’ll warm up and follow!”

Bai Xing, hearing this, expressed concern and then impatiently dashed out.

Zhong Yulu watched Bai Xing leave, slowly lowering her arms, then put on a coat and exited through the back door of the dressing room.

The back door exit was where the stage’s main power switch was located.

–

With the fourth group off the stage, the production team quickly inserted an advertisement, and then it was Ji Xizhi’s turn to perform.

The stage lights went out, leaving it in complete darkness.

Then suddenly, a spotlight shone down, illuminating Uncle He.

Uncle He was dressed magnificently, holding a custom-made erhu, and began playing a classic, cheerful tune.

Quite a few villagers below, upon hearing this familiar melody, couldn’t resist cheering.

The erhu’s sound set the stage, and as the lighting dimmed again while the erhu gradually faded out, Uncle He left the stage.

The stage lights came on brightly, and all the villagers took their places.

Ji Xizhi’s stage was different from the other guests’ performances. While the others focused the spotlight on themselves, with the supporting villagers typically playing a secondary role, Ji Xizhi did the opposite.

She stepped aside and gave the spotlight to the supporting villagers, becoming the backup.

The live stream fans instinctively focused on the center stage, but as the lights came up, they found a vibrant aunt standing there.

Fans: ?

The stage production for Ji Xizhi included many from the start, so fans, not seeing her at the center, were momentarily confused.

[Huh? Where’s my Zhi Zhi?]

[Ridiculous, Zhi Zhi not going on stage?]

[At the corner, far right!!!!]

Fans took thirty seconds to realize Ji Xizhi’s position.

[This position is just… too off to the side! Why isn’t she in the center? Could it be the plot starts from the right?]

As fans were speculating, the stage play began.

Ji Xizhi had prepared this stage play mainly to tell the story of an elderly villager who was swindled out of money, a simple story close to daily life, drawn from real cases that occurred in Lishui County—a topic Ji Xizhi had recently discussed with Director Wan.

The stage performance only did some editorial condensing, adding comedic elements to resonate more easily with the audience.

This was also why these villagers were relaxed backstage—being themselves was enough, as most of the dialogue was their own, drawn from real experiences.

The stage performance quickly started, with villagers authentically acting, while Ji Xizhi stood to the side, occasionally providing narration.

In the backstage, the cheongsam was mainly selected because the production team ran out of gowns; otherwise, she could have just thrown on a gown and gone on stage.

Standing quietly in the corner aiming to reduce her presence, a soft light cast on her, Ji Xizhi barely raised her head. Even the post-production crew was moved, wondering how to edit in more screen time for her, as there were hardly any frontal shots of Ji Xizhi during the performance.

Fans who had been watching noticed this moment.

[No way, Ji Xizhi is giving all the spotlight to the villagers?]

[I’ve been waiting for so long, wasted effort! I came just to see Ji Xizhi!]

[Judging by the show’s competition rules, I feel like she would lose, but from a legal awareness perspective, this might be more effective. There’s less immersion with a beautiful female star. Clearly, the villagers being the protagonists is more genuine~]

[I’ll proudly say this, Ji Xizhi isn’t a fixed guest. Please engrave ’Qing University Law School’s Special Invited Guest’ on her forehead. If you’re a true fan, just seeing Zhi Zhi is enough! (Besides, it’s not a loss to see Zhi Zhi in a cheongsam)]

There were occasionally fans who protested in the live chat, but a few words from the educated viewers quickly silenced them.

Indeed, it was reasonable. The production team had stated before her coming, she was there for public legal education!

Once that was clear, even any viewers who intended to stir trouble ran out of arguments, as it fit the show’s message of fraud prevention!

The stage performance flowed quickly, frequently bringing bursts of laughter, and it struck a chord with the audience in a way different from Sheng Yaoyao’s skit.

As the plot developed, Ji Xizhi’s narration became less frequent, and many gradually got carried away by the storyline, starting to forget about Ji Xizhi and focusing more on the villagers at the center of the stage.

But just as everyone got immersed, the lights suddenly went “pop,” and went out.

The stage was plunged into darkness in an instant.

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