Fang Yan Huan's smile faltered upon hearing this, her eyes immediately welling up. "Did I say something wrong? Miao Miao, Huan Huan, why aren't you participating? Didn't we all agree to join enthusiastically?"
"Yan Huan, didn't you say four acts were too few?"
Fang Yan Huan finally remembered what she had just said and quickly explained, "I didn't mean it that way just now. You must have misunderstood. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have spoken like that and caused a misunderstanding. I'm very sorry."
Cui Man Tong felt a headache coming on as she saw the audience pointing and whispering not far away. "Are you trying to make everyone see how disharmonious we are, and how we're ganging up on you for a single performance?"
Fang Yan Huan seemed to hear something terrifying, taking a step back in disbelief. She looked at Cui Man Tong nervously, shaking her head. "Sister Man Tong, how can you misunderstand me like this? I just spoke rashly and apologized. What more do you want from me?"
She raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes. "I, I'll go explain to them. I'll tell them not to misunderstand you. This is my fault. I'll explain."
"Heh." Cui Man Tong let out a cold laugh. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Fang Miao Miao shake her head at her.
"Yan Huan, you've misunderstood," Fang Miao Miao said with a smile. "I'm not really suited for things like singing and dancing. I genuinely just want to help out with logistics."
"Sister Miao Miao."
"As for the performances you mentioned, we haven't discussed them yet. How can you think we're targeting you? I don't understand," Fang Miao Miao spread her hands. "Your attitude makes it seem like we're bullying you, and that's not good. This is a parent-child show; what we need is to instill the right values in the children."
"Sister Miao Miao, I didn't mean it like that." Fang Yan Huan, with a red nose, apologized to Cui Man Tong and everyone else. "I'm sorry. I got too emotional just now and didn't think things through, which caused this big misunderstanding. It's all my fault."
"Okay, we forgive you, right?" Fang Miao Miao looked at Cui Man Tong.
Cui Man Tong knew they were filming. No matter how displeased she was, she couldn't show it openly.
"Yes, I was also wrong just now. My voice was too loud, I apologize."
[Wow, Fang Miao Miao is so articulate! Thank you, Fang Miao Miao, for speaking up for our Man Tong. Our Man Tong is just blunt, the kind who wouldn't know if she's being sold. It was obvious just now that FYH wanted to use Man Tong's raised voice to create an image of herself as weak and bullied.]
[Exactly! FYH was acting like a white lotus and a green tea b*tch. I don't know what Chen Tian Ming is thinking. It's a perfectly good parent-child show, why add a 'confidante' segment? She's certainly confiding, teaching the children how to backstab and how to use tears to manipulate situations to their advantage?]
[You guys are going too far! Our Yan Huan is a wealthy young lady, a princess! What is Cui Man Tong? Why should she yell at our Yan Huan? Our Yan Huan is proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Is it wrong for her to showcase her talents? Do you want to see it or not?]
[All day long, she just talks about being blunt. Is that bluntness? That's shamelessness, just looking for excuses. If I encountered someone like that in real life, I'd feel so unlucky.]
The live stream was in an uproar, eventually devolving into heated arguments. It only quieted down after an administrator banned many viewers.
"I can play the piano, and my fans say I'm good at singing and dancing too," Fang Yan Huan said bashfully, pursing her lips. "I see many fans here, so I want to sing for them."
If she could also play the piano, a solo dance would be even more perfect.
Zhou Jia Xin's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as she subtly asked, "Are you singing alone?"
"Is that not allowed?" Fang Yan Huan quickly waved her hand. "If not, that's fine. I just said what I can do. As for what happens next, I'll follow your arrangements."
Chen Huan glanced at Fang Yan Huan and said nothing.
"Children, what can you do?"
"Mom, I can sing."
"Play the piano," Cui Yong Si said.
"I can play the erhu."
Zhou Jia Xin doubted her hearing. "An An, what did you just say?"
"Play the erhu."
Zhou Jia Xin and the others simultaneously turned their gaze to Fang Miao Miao.
Fang Miao Miao's eye twitched. "Why are you all looking at me?"
She didn't teach him to play the erhu; she was just as surprised. The author didn't mention that Wen Yan An could play such a down-to-earth instrument.
"That's great, promoting traditional culture," Cui Man Tong said, giving a thumbs up.
"What's an erhu?" Ye Nan asked curiously.
"It's a musical instrument. If there's a chance later, I'll play it for you."
"Okay, okay!" Ye Nan clapped his hands in delight.
After much discussion,
four acts were decided.
Fang Miao Miao and Wen Yan An would have one act: playing the erhu and singing.
Cui Man Tong and Cui Yong Si would perform a piano piece and a solo dance together.
Ye Nan, Wu Yue Yuan, Zhou Jia Xin, and Chen Huan would dance a children's dance together.
The final act was given to Fang Yan Huan.
As for what her act would be, Fang Yan Huan didn't say.
Chen Tian Ming, who had already arrived backstage to wait for the program list, suddenly felt his right eyelid twitch violently. "It should, probably, be fine, right?"
Immediately after, the group began rehearsing their acts nervously.
Except...
for Fang Miao Miao's side.
"Wow, I didn't realize, little guy, that you're so skilled at playing the erhu?" Fang Miao Miao looked at Wen Yan An, who had just finished playing, with starry eyes. "Impressive, very impressive."
"It's not that impressive," Wen Yan An said, pursing his lips and lowering his head shyly.
"Tsk, Xiao Peng You Wen Yan An, your mom is going to teach you a lesson."
Wen Yan An listened attentively.
"A person can be humble, but excessive humility can be off-putting. So, when we should be proud, we must be proud, understand?"
"Is that so?"
"Of course. At this moment, you are my pride."
At least she couldn't play the erhu as well as Wen Yan An. "You've put in the effort, and to a certain extent, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor, including praise."
If nothing else, Fang Miao Miao was certainly adept at offering praise.
"Mom."
"Good boy, tonight is your night to shine, so..."
"So what?" Wen Yan An asked.
"So, I can't go up and steal your spotlight, right?"
"What does Mom mean?"
"Good son, you go up alone, and I'll cheer for you from below, okay?"
"Comrade Fang Miao Miao, I haven't been away from you for a second, and you're already plotting something?"