Chapter 80: Dancing Through Youth, the Super Rookie

It was eight thirty in the morning.

Outside the Ninghai Cultural Square, an outdoor stage had been erected, displaying a massive promotional poster for "Strongest Male and Female—Super Rookie."

Three judges sat on the stage, all renowned figures in the entertainment industry, responsible for assessing contestants at the Ninghai regional audition. The judge in the center, Li Weidong, was the oldest at around forty-seven or forty-eight. Besides being a musician, he was also a famous director in China, enjoying immense respect in the industry.

Seated to the right was Lu Zehao, a strikingly handsome young man of about twenty-six or twenty-seven. Having risen through talent competitions himself, he excelled at both singing and dancing, and had acted in several blockbuster films. Now, he was one of the hottest young stars in the country. His popularity was evident; many girls around the stage wore the expressions of devoted fans, excitedly shouting his name and holding lightboards with his name on them.

To the left sat Guan Yaoqi, a fashionable beauty in her mid-twenties. She was equally adept at singing, dancing, and acting, and currently a popular leading actress. Her own fan base was no less impressive—many boys in the crowd shouted her name and snapped photos with their phones.

The square was packed with a bustling crowd—at least a thousand or two people by rough estimate. Among them were contestants and many onlookers. The auditions had officially started, with contestants taking the stage one after another, showcasing their talents.

“Hello, teachers. My name is Li Mengying, I’m twenty-one, a junior at Ninghai University. I’ll be performing a fast-paced dance…”

“Good morning, teachers. I’m Wang Jian, twenty-three years old, a factory worker. I’ll perform an original song…”

“Hello, judges. I’m Sun Tao, twenty-five, a courier. Today, I’ll present a dance I choreographed myself…”

Each contestant had one minute to perform. If two judges approved, the contestant would officially pass the audition. Contestants came from all walks of life, many with original works, though most were young people.

For those talented, unwilling to be ordinary, yet unable to find an opportunity, this was a rare chance to rise above the crowd. If someone stood out from thousands, even without reaching the top three or ten, their appeal might attract entertainment companies to sign and nurture them as artists.

Of course, the most important appeal was outstanding looks—especially if someone was exceptionally beautiful or handsome.

At this moment, a stunning long-legged girl stepped onto the stage. She was not only beautiful and youthful, but also had an impressive figure, standing about one meter seventy-two, graceful and tall. Her face was almost makeup-free, a natural beauty.

She was the kind of girl whose allure couldn’t be hidden even without makeup.

Wow, a goddess…!

Damn, this girl is gorgeous—even without makeup, she’s a feast for the eyes. What a pity—such a beauty entering showbiz, she’ll probably get taken advantage of by directors…

Ning Dou Dou’s appearance was like a breath of fresh air, accompanied by a subtle, elegant fragrance that enchanted everyone. Unsurprisingly, she caused a huge stir at the scene. Since she appeared, the exclamations had barely ceased.

Thousands of astonished gazes followed her as she ascended the stage.

Even the two male judges stared, visibly captivated. Girls with such stunning looks, natural and unadorned, were exceedingly rare.

In truth, just by standing there, without performing any talent, the two male judges already knew their answer.

Passed!

With a bit of packaging, she’d become the next popular leading actress. Li Weidong even felt an urge to cast her in his films.

“Good morning, esteemed judges. My name is Ning Dou Dou, I’m eighteen, a student at Ninghai Academy of Arts. I’ll sing and dance together!”

After stepping on stage, Ning Dou Dou gave a simple self-introduction.

“Oh? You’ll perform singing and dancing at the same time?” Lu Zehao asked with a smile. His gaze made clear how interested he was in this remarkable girl.

“Yes, that’s right,” Ning Dou Dou replied with a sweet laugh and a nod.

“Well, it seems you’re not only beautiful but also talented. Please begin your performance…”

“We’re looking forward to seeing what you can do,” said the judges, their faces full of anticipation. With such exceptional looks, if her singing and dancing were even halfway decent, she’d certainly be a future star.

Under the eager attention of nearly two thousand people, Ning Dou Dou began to showcase her talent.

She sang “Wind of Life” by SNH48; since she only had a minute, she started directly from the high point of the song.

Even if the future is near
The wind blows, life remains unchanged
The caress on my cheek
The chapters of life’s breath
If adversity is by my side
My heart survives with determination

Let this piece and tile
Begin anew, rebuilt from zero
Let’s start now…

As she sang, Ning Dou Dou twisted her supple figure, dancing energetically. The powerful singing paired with dynamic dance, combined with such a lovely performer, naturally drew cheers from every man present.

Even after her minute was up, they were left wanting more.

“Goddess, one more dance, please! Amazing—I’m your fan…”

“Wow, perfect—I feel like I just watched a superstar rising…”

Each contestant only had a minute, so no matter how loud the calls from the audience, she wouldn’t perform again.

“Thank you all for your support—I’ll keep working hard,” Ning Dou Dou said, flashing a grateful smile at her many male supporters. Her smile, like an orchid in a secluded valley, was refreshing and gentle, sending the men’s hearts soaring.

There was no doubt that such a promising girl would pass on the spot.

“Quite impressive—both singing and dancing are above standard. This is exactly the kind of talented newcomer we’re looking for…”

“Truly stunning—so much potential…”

“She’s the most satisfactory contestant I’ve seen so far. With a little training, I think she’ll have a bright future…”

“In that case, let’s all raise our cards and pass her!”

The judges didn’t hold back their praise, especially the two men. The green card of approval was handed to Ning Dou Dou by the famous director and musician Li Weidong himself.

As he gave her the card, Li Weidong smiled and shook her hand, saying with particular meaning, “Young lady, you have great potential. I believe in you. As long as you seize the opportunity, your path to stardom will be smooth. Remember, you must seize the chance.”

“Thank you, sir,” Ning Dou Dou replied, accepting the green card with a polite smile before stepping off the stage.

After leaving, she looked at the card and found a small slip of paper attached to the back, bearing a string of numbers and a few words: Waiting for your call…