Chapter 130:1 Need to Be Tacky to Make Money
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Classes continued at the dance studio. Two hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon.
Tang Beibei was too tired to move. After a long time, she wiped her sweat with her sleeve, got up, and walked to Ruan Qi and helped her stretch her legs.
“Qiqi, we still have to practice the first part of the dance with the vice-captain later.”
“Aw.”
Ruan Qi responded simply and closed her eyes, clearly exhausted.
Tang Beibei brought her some water. Only then did Ruan Qi open her eyes to look at Tang Beibei as she pointed at her own head. Tang Beibei thought that her head was hurting and offered to massage her head.
“Where does it hurt?”
Ruan Qi said, “I felt that the water I drank just now didn’t go down my digestive track at all. Instead, it went to my head. My brain is a mess now. It’s like mush. The movements we learned just now, it’s like I can remember or can’t. I don’t even know anymore.”
Tang Beibei sighed. “Me too! But since we’ve made a choice, we must carry on even if we had to move kneeling!”
“… Ouch, don’t even mention kneeling. My knees hurt.” Ruan Qi was miserable.
“Beibei, Ruan Qi, please come with me.” Fu Jin walked over and called out to them.
Everyone stared at the two of them with complicated gazes.
Tang Beibei helped Ruan Qi up. Ruan Qi even joked, “I think Fu Jin is biased.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you hear him just now? He called me by my full name, Ruan Qi, so cold. But he called you Beibei, so affectionate!”
“… But my name is Beibei. Tang Beibei. Don’t you call me Beibei too?”
Ruan Qi laughed in frustration. Who was she to Tang Beibei? Of course, she could address her affectionately. But who was Fu Jin to her?
Preferential treatment shouldn’t be so blatant!
The two of them followed Fu Jin to his office. He had prepared their contracts and asked them to read and sign.
Tang Beibei opened the document and read the contents. She realized that they were paid for training every day. There was also commission if they participated in certain activities.
There were even opportunities for them to appear on variety shows. If they did, their subsidy would be even higher.
“It’s very generous.” Tang Beibei sighed.
Ruan Qi glanced at Tang Beibei and said softly, “Beibei, you’re too optimistic. There are so many professional dancers here. Do you think it’s that easy to participate in those events? Everyone is competing and newcomers like us have almost no chance.”
Tang Beibei was puzzled. She pointed at the document. “The contract doesn’t say that newcomers can’t participate.”
“You can ask Fu Jin, maybe he’ll give you a chance.”
The corners of Tang Beibei’s mouth twitched. Ruan Qi made it sound like she and Fu Jin had some kind of special relationship. It was odd.
“Beibei, Ruan Qi, if you see nothing wrong with the contracts, please sign them.” Fu Jin said.
Ruan Qi flipped to the last page of the document. “After joining the professional dance troupe, you must stay here for two years and you can’t take on private jobs?”
Fu Jin explained, “We have a professional manager to help us with our jobs and commercial activities. Our studio focuses on making money. Believe me, you won’t have the time to take on private jobs with your training schedule.” “Then, is there equal opportunity for development here?” Ruan Qi asked.
Fu Jin chuckled and said to her, “Ruan Qi, only the strong have the right to speak in any place. You must grab every opportunity yourself instead of waiting for someone to give it to you.”
It was a very cold statement, but it was the truth. She could not refute it.
Tang Beibei and Ruan Qi looked at each other and then picked up their pens.
Fu Jin said, “Signing this contract is akin to selling yourselves. My requirements are stricter than the dance majors in the school. What takes a year to learn in school, 1 expect my dancers to learn it in a few months, or your pay will be docked.”
Tang Beibei was quite frightened by his imposing manner. She looked at Ruan Qi again.
“Fu Jin, your words are so scary.”
Fu Jin replied, “I’m not trying to scare you. The tension you feel in the dance studio today is due to an assessment I’m conducting in two days. Those who don’t pass the assessment will be punished.”
“I will also tell you clearly that in this dance troupe, everyone has their own small teams where they have their dance partners with matching characteristics. You’ll have to find a way to blend in or you won’t be able to endure the marginalization, which may cause you to leave eventually.”
“… Fu Jin, what you just said make this sound like a trap.” Tang Beibei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Blending in really wasn’t her strong suit.
Fu Jin let out a soft laugh. He rested his elbows on the table and looked at the two of them.
“Dancing is sacred in your hearts, a hobby, and a dream. It’s tacky when we talk about money. I need to be tacky to make money and push everyone to achieve excellence. Only then will you have a long runway in dance.”
“This isn’t an ivory tower of academia where we spread superficial rumors that are gone with the wind. If one lacks the ability to protect themselves here, they will be eliminated.”
“You can choose to accept the challenge or leave. These are the only choices you have.”
Fu Jin’s attitude was honest. At this moment, he did not look like a captain who founded the dance troupe because he loved dancing. He was more like a businessman who was pursuing his dream.
Tang Beibei and Ruan Qi had a new understanding of him, and because he was so serious and cautious, they trusted him more.
“Alright, 1’11 sign the contract!”
Tang Beibei turned to look at Ruan Qi. “Sign it. We young people don’t have to be afraid of hardship. Worst case, we’ll be eliminated. We won’t lose anything.”
Ruan Qi laughed in amusement. “That’s very open-minded of you, but you’re right. I get paid for training so there’s really nothing to lose. I’m going to sign it!”
The two of them signed their names boldly and handed the documents to Fu Jin.
Fu Jin said, “Please sign two copies. One for you and one for me.”
Ruan Qi teased, “Fu Jin, you’re quite stern at this moment. You look too much like a boss. If you wear glasses, you’ll definitely fit the mold of a social elite.”
Fu Jin accepted the documents and became less serious.
“I’m your boss now. I’m stern because I want you to know that my dance troupe is not a place for fun or favoritism. This is a place where you pursue your dreams with your capabilities.”
“We will be good, Boss.”
Ruan Qi and Tang Beibei quickly stood up straight, but Fu Jin laughed.
After walking out of the office, he clapped his hands to let everyone know that he had something to say.
“As a welcome to our two new members, I’m going to treat everyone tonight. Let’s go for dinner and then karaoke!”
The students cheered and quickly packed their things to take a shower and change their clothes.
Tang Beibei was confused. Fu Jin was so serious in the office just now, and now he was so lively. Which side of him was the normal side?
Tang Beibei called Jiang Jingchen to tell him about her dinner with the dance troupe.
Although Jiang Jingchen didn’t want his wife to spend time with others, he couldn’t say it directly. He just asked her to send him her location and told her that he would pick her up.
He didn’t expect this dinner to cause so much trouble, forcing him to abandon his cover as a cripple..
