Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Shen Qingyue slowly raised her hand and said, “I suspect there’s a problem with the judging process. If this performance can take first place in the Department of Performing Arts, then I seriously question how your school’s performing arts teachers graduated. Teaching like this, isn’t it misleading the students?”

Shen Xiang became anxious, “Shen Qingyue, you…”

However, before he could finish, a student stood up and loudly exclaimed, “The judges must have a problem! What was that performance by the Department of Performing Arts? I’m from the Department of Computer Science, and I can deliver lines better than her acting.”

With a starting point, those who were previously hesitant to speak up now found the courage to voice their opinions. The protest grew louder and louder. Under the pressure, the judges decided to redo the rankings.

This time, it was fair and just, and none of the Department of Performing Arts’s works made it to the top ten.

Shen Qingyue turned and smiled, “Uncle, thank you for inviting me and Grandpa to witness such a great show! The judging process behind the scenes is much better than what Shen Qingxue performed.”

Shen Xiang took a deep breath and looked at Shen Jun, “Big Brother, Qingxue is already a senior. If you invest in a play for her to try, maybe she just didn’t perform well today…”

Shen Jun interrupted, “With Qingxue’s acting skills, she still needs more practice.”

The entire Shen family was speechless. Damn it, Shen Qingyue is really suppressing them, isn’t she?

On the backstage, students from the Department of Performing Arts changed their clothes and discussed going to celebrate. Because Shen Qingxue was not discreet and had already told her classmates that she was guaranteed first place.

So they did not pay attention to the results and instead flattered Shen Qingxue.

However, when they came out after changing their clothes, they saw the Department of Performing Arts’s teacher with an angry face. “Why are you still laughing?! Because of you, our department has become a laughingstock!”

She had initially opposed bribing the judges, but Shen Qingxue had connections, and she could not do anything about it. She had to endure it. She never expected it would become such a big issue, and now people even suspected the integrity of the Department of Performing Arts’s teachers!

Shen Qingxue was stunned, “How is that possible?”

At that moment, Shen Yiyan called her and explained the situation to her. Furious, she threw her phone on the ground.

She was not finished with Shen Qingyue!!!

…

When they left the auditorium, it was already dark outside.

There were students selling snacks, and Shen Qingyue stopped. During her student days, she often went to eat at roadside stalls with her classmates. Later, Qin Zhen said that it was embarrassing to eat at roadside stalls, so she stopped doing it for his sake.

Chi Ming followed her gaze and asked, “Do you want to eat?”

Shen Qingyue nodded.

Shen Jun quickly responded, “Qingyue, you go with Chi Ming. I’ll wait for you in the car.”

After saying that, he secretly made a gesture of encouragement toward Chi Ming.

Chi Ming mouthed, ‘Thank you!’

The small square was filled with all kinds of greasy and spicy foods. Shen Qingyue ordered more than 200 skewers of grilled meat and paid before waiting.

Chi Ming looked at the food rolling on the blackened grill and was taken aback. The students’ skills seemed a bit average. He could not help but say, “It’s my first time eating this kind of grilled meat.”

He wondered if it would cause food poisoning.

Shen Qingyue thought he liked it and was afraid it was not enough, so she added another hundred yuan.

Chi Ming thought to himself, ‘Is Qingyue trying to poison me?’

During the wait, Chi Ming received a phone call. He glanced at the caller ID and moved to the side.

The call connected, and an annoyed voice came from the other end, “Where are you? Weren’t you supposed to take me out for a big meal?”

Chi Ming fell silent. He had forgotten about Chi Yan. Then he looked at the skewers of meat and said directly, “Come to the small square. Your sister-in-law ordered grilled meat, and I’ll treat you!”

Chi Yan fell silent for a moment. “Are you avoiding eating alone?”

The air became quiet for a few seconds, and Chi Yan continued, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Your sister-in-law called me. I’ll hang up first.” Chi Ming hung up the phone. But when he turned around, he realized that his big wife was nowhere to be seen!

By the lakeside.

“What do you want to say now?” Shen Qingyue crossed her arms and looked at the person in front of her.

Qin Zhen’s eyes darkened, “You brought Chi Ming to meet Mr. Shen?”

Shen Qingyue squinted her eyes, “You brought me here just to talk about that? It’s none of your business whom I bring to meet my parents. How come you always fail to understand your position?”

Qin Zhen’s heart was suddenly gripped by something, “Are you saying I’m an outsider?”

“Then what, an insider?” Shen Qingyue retorted, “Do you want me to show you the divorce certificate again?”

Qin Zhen’s face turned gloomy, and he remained silent for a while. “We’ve known each other for ten years. I’m just kindly reminding you. We just got divorced, and you’re already introducing someone to your parents. I’ve done some investigation. The previous business of the Chi family wasn’t honorable, and a person like him…”