Hidden Marriage: Spoiled by the Imperial Commander
Chapter 159: The Biggest Joke of Tonight

Chapter 159: Chapter 159: The Biggest Joke of Tonight

Yan Qianyi also tiptoed to peer down at the audience.

When she caught sight of that impressive figure, the chirping noises around her ears faded away.

The entire world fell silent, and she could only hear the "thump thump thump" of her own heartbeat.

The Lord Chief Commander, accompanied by two Deputy Officers, took his seat in the front row, closest to the stage.

Today, he wasn’t wearing a military coat or a cape, and with a belt cinching his waist, his physique stood out even more.

Such a dashing figure, and to think she had once mistaken him for an old man.

The girls waiting backstage buzzed with excitement, each seeming to wish they could transform into giraffes with their heads practically stretching onto the stage.

Only Ning Nuan remained unflustered.

She curved her lips into a smile, her gaze upon Mu Yunlie filled with deep affection.

A few days ago, she had sought out Grandpa Nangong, asking him to persuade Brother Ah Lie to come watch her performance.

She hadn’t held out much hope.

But he had actually come.

She would give her best performance soon!

Ning Nuan withdrew her attention and gently cautioned the excited underclasswomen, "Be careful not to fall out, that wouldn’t look good."

The younger girls heeded their senior’s advice and quickly stepped back.

One of the girls asked, "Senior Sister, I heard you come from a military family. Have you ever seen what the Lord Commander looks like?"

Ning Nuan’s lips held a smile, neither confirming nor denying.

"Wow! Senior Sister must have seen him, I’m so jealous!"

Hearing this, Yan Qianyi glanced at Ning Nuan.

She felt a bit envious too!

"Ladies, get ready to go on stage. Your act is the grand finale of the welcome party. Perform well, our Lord Chief Commander is also watching from below!"

At this moment, Yan Qianyi suddenly had a strange illusion.

It was as if she were in an otherworldly brothel; at the call of "Ladies, a guest has arrived~," the girls became excited as though they were on a high.

And now, the distinguished "guest" was none other than the Supreme Commander sitting down below.

The competition was indeed fierce.

The lights dimmed, and as the girls ascended the stage, they gracefully began to dance to the music.

Ning Nuan, as the lead dancer, took her place at C position in the front.

Yan Qianyi’s position was directly behind Ning Nuan.

She couldn’t help but keep her eyes on the radiant man in the audience.

Then came another illusion.

Eh? It seemed like the Lord Commander was watching her?

No... it seemed like he was watching Senior Sister Ning Nuan?

To capture more of the high and mighty lord’s attention, the girls danced even harder than they did in rehearsals.

Yan Qianyi was beginning to regret.

Had she known the Lord Commander would be present tonight, she should have practiced diligently all week.

Her unimpressive dancing would never catch the Lord Commander’s eye.

Look at Ning Nuan in front of her, the way she swayed her slender waist.

Tsk tsk~ Even as a woman, she couldn’t help but admire her.

So it really was an illusion; the Lord Commander must be watching Ning Nuan!

But she wasn’t one to admit defeat!

Biting her lip, Yan Qianyi also started dancing with vigor.

As she huffed and puffed with her movements, she suddenly realized she couldn’t move.

Looking down, she saw Yan Ruyi’s foot was on her dress’s hem.

Yan Qianyi coldly hooked the corner of her lip, feigning nonchalance as she yanked hard on the hem of her dress.

The next moment, Yan Ruyi stumbled and fell.

A burst of laughter rose from the audience.

Yan Ruyi lay awkwardly on the ground while the other performers were unaffected and continued to dance.

She scrambled up from the ground and resumed dancing, but the thick foundation could no longer hide her flushed face from the embarrassment.

Originally, she had intended to make Yan Qianyi take a fall.

But unexpectedly, she was outmaneuvered and humiliated herself in front of the entire school and the Commander.

Below the stage, the principal’s face darkened.

Among all the performances tonight, Yan Ruyi was the only one who made a mistake, and it was in front of Lord Commander no less.

The principal glanced nervously at Mu Yunlie.

Behind the silver mask, Mu Yunlie’s lips curled into a slight smile.

The principal, with an embarrassed face, "Lord, the newcomer... hasn’t seen the world, perhaps she was too nervous seeing you here."

"It’s alright, quite entertaining."

Mu Yunlie’s gaze landed on the figure dancing vigorously on stage.

Although her dance moves were not as comically awkward as when she posed for photos, they could only be described as mediocre.

It seemed she truly lacked talent for dancing.

But in fighting, she surely couldn’t lose.

Tripping someone with a skirt hem was beyond the capability of a weak woman with no strength.

After the performance ended, Yan Ruyi was in tears.

She had just returned backstage when the dance teacher scolded her.

"Yan Ruyi, what’s the matter with you?! You were fine during rehearsals, weren’t you? It’s the first time the Lord Chief Commander has come to our school for an evening event, and you let him see you fall? Our Federation Military Academy’s reputation has been completely ruined!"

Yan Ruyi choked back sobs and glared at Yan Qianyi, "Teacher, it was Yan Qianyi who caused me to trip."

"You stepped on her dress yourself!" Ning Nuan showed a stern face for the first time in front of the younger students, "If you didn’t step on her dress, could you have fallen?"

She had finally had the chance to showcase her dance to Brother Ah Lie, and a perfectly good dance number was completely ruined by Yan Ruyi, the rotten apple.

Ning Nuan asked, "Did you fall intentionally, trying to catch Lord Chief Commander’s attention?"

When Yan Ruyi fell just now, she saw Brother Ah Lie’s gaze fall onto Yan Ruyi.

"I... I didn’t!" Yan Ruyi hurriedly explained, "It really wasn’t on purpose."

"A fine performance, ruined by you!" Ning Nuan left with a dark expression.

The other students also turned their blame toward Yan Ruyi.

"Yan Ruyi, you really... even Senior Sister Ning Nuan, such a good-natured person, is angered by you."

"Exactly, we all danced so earnestly and hard, and because of you, our number became the joke of the night!"

Faced with the attack from everyone, Yan Ruyi ran away crying in a meltdown.

Yan Chuhua came over to Yan Qianyi and quietly gave her a thumbs up.

"Qianyi, well done, I saw everything just now. Yan Ruyi definitely did it on purpose, stepping on your dress to make you fall. I told you she was going to pull something, didn’t I? Harm others and you harm yourself; she’ll be crying tonight."

Yan Qianyi was somewhat distracted, however.

She saw the Commander stand up and leave the audience.

Yan Chuhua took hold of her arm, "It’s the carnival dance next, let’s go enjoy ourselves, have a little drink to celebrate!"

"You go ahead, I’ve got something to do, I’ll find you later."

Yan Qianyi turned and walked away.

She wanted to meet with Lord Commander.

She wanted to thank him in person for vouching for her innocence during military training.

And more so, she wanted to thank him for saving her that year.

Back then, she was only thirteen years old, too stunned to even utter her thanks before he boarded the spacecraft and left.