Chapter 242
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288 [Vouchers
“Ms. Gomez, I’m going up!”
Lucille told Meredith.
Seeing the bright sparkle in Lucille’s eyes, Meredith suddenly teared up. She covered her mouth and nodded vigor- ously.
Lucille stared at the spot where Aydan stood–a real stage, not the dance studio, not the rehab room, but the very stage she hadn’t set foot on for five years…
She walked toward Aydan, her steps unavoidably uneven.
Linda moved to support her, but Lucille waved her off, striding straight to center stage.
The curtain–call performers had filled the platform, yet now they parted, clearing her path to the spotlight.
Aydan clasped her hand, his voice resonating, “This is Lucille, a brilliant young dancer. The footage playing now captures her original performance–preserved in our academy’s curriculum. Many of us later learned this piece, yet its creator suffered an accident five years ago that ended her dance career…”
A collective sigh swept through the audience.
“Today is her birthday. If possible,” Aydan’s earnest gaze locked with hers, “I’d ask our senior Lucille to reclaim this dance.”
The crowd erupted in cheers. Departing spectators halted, applauding the unfolding scene.
Amid the spectators sat one man, eyes riveted to her dancing image onscreen as a question echoed in his ears: Have you ever seen her dance?
The music of Romeo and Juliet flowed, a melody etched in her life.
As the music played, every cell in her body awakened and danced with it.
She took Aydan’s outstretched hand.
Fortunately, for convenience at work, she was already wearing practice clothes. As for dance shoes… she kicked them off, and the moment her bare feet touched the stage, it felt like a surge of power rushed up from her soles, instantly ig- niting her entire body.
When Aydan lifted her up, she transformed into a butterfly, dancing in sync with her five–year–younger self on the LCD screen, while the audience below erupted in thunderous applause.
Lucille knew this was the audience’s warm tolerance.
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Chapter 242
288 (Vouchers
Her performance was surely not the same as her peak five years ago, but art lovers gave her heartfelt encouragement, unlike some who would say, “You can’t dance anymore, I’ve seen you dance, you’re not good enough…”
When she and Aydan struck a beautiful pose, the music shifted to the cheerful “Happy Birthday” song, and the audi- ence below sang along while clapping.
Linda pushed a three–tiered cake out from somewhere backstage, and amidst the birthday song, asked Lucille to make a wish.
Surrounded by candlelight and smiles, Lucille made three wishes: for her grandmother’s health and longevity; for all teachers and dance partners to have all the best; and… to one day truly return to Birdie’s state.
The moment she opened her eyes, cheers once again ignited the entire theater.
Beaming with joy, she cut the first slice of the huge cake.
Then, her partners helped her cut the cake into small pieces, distributing them to every actor and staff member of the touring group, as well as the audience below.
The audience said it was the most special performance they had ever seen.
Lucille also wanted to say it was the most special birthday she had ever had since childhood.
Several young backup dancers carried trays of cut cake down to distribute.
“Sir, thank you for coming to our show.”
A backup dancer approached a Chinese man.
The man looked at the cake for a while, silent.
“Sir, are you allergic to something?”
The backup dancer asked apologetically.
“No.”
The man quickly said, “Thank you.”
He hurriedly took a piece, then handed a gift bag beside him to the dancer, “Could you please give this to the lady whose birthday it is today?”
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