Chapter 2541


    The expressions on everyone’s faces were a dead giveaway, their eyes filled with sympathy as they


    nced in their way.


    It seemed like Ivy had really bombed her performance earlier, maybe even forgot some steps in the


    middle of her routine.


    Ophelia thought that if she were in a good mood, she might let it slide.


    “After all, Ivy is an actress, attending dance rehearsals to prep for a show-stopping number at a fan


    meet-and-greet. Practicing just a handful of sses each day, how could she possibly outshine me?”


    With this thought in mind, Ophelia was already picturing Ms. Madison dering her the winner of the


    competition. But to her shock, Ms. Madison lifted Ivy’s hand high in the air!


    She stared in disbelief. “You’ve got it wrong, Ms. Madison. I’m on your left side. You should be raising


    your left hand!”


    Ms. Madison blinked, lowered Ivy’s hand, and repeated, “I announce the winner of the first round is


    Ivy!”


    Now, Ophelia was truly baffled. “Even if you’re biased, you can’t just make stuff up in front of all these


    people, can you? The winner should be clear as day! Ms. Madison, I used to respect you, but now, just


    to curry favor with Ivy and Balfour, you’re lying to everyone’s face?”


    Ms. Madison gave her a weary look. “Why are you so convinced you had it in the bag? Have you ever


    wondered why no one objected when I said Ivy won? Look around at their faces.”


    Prompted by her words, Ophelia finally noticed the looks she mistook for sympathy towards Ivy were


    actually aimed at her!


    Shaking her head in disbelief, she stepped back. “You’ve all got it wrong. She’s the one who should


    admit defeat. Has she brainwashed you, too?”


    The others averted their eyes, unable to bear the sight.


    Eventually, Ms. Madison stepped in. “Ophelia, I’ve told you before, your dancing is technically fine, but


    it’s just too… show-offy. You’re so focused on unting yourself that you forget dance is about


    expression, about conveying an understanding of the movements, not just showcasing yourself. You


    hog the spotlight, get it?”


    Unconvinced, Ophelia snorted coldly. “Of course, because she’s your student and a big star, you’re


    ying favorites. You say my dancing’s too showy; what about her? Is she so great? Don’t tell me


    you’re going to y the ‘natural talent’ card again; I’ve heard that excuse one too many times.”


    This time, Ms. Madison didn’t say a word. She simply asked whoever had recorded the dance to hand


    over their phone so Ophelia could see for herself who was the better dancer.


    At first, Ophelia watched with a look of disdain, but as the video yed, her expression darkened.


    Her dance and Ivy’s dance were the pr opposites of what Ms. Madison had been emphasizing: one


    was all about self-disy, the other about bing one with the dance.


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    “After all these years of dancing, you should know who won and who lost after watching this video. It’s


    just the first round. Do you want to go on?”


    If Ophelia lost two rounds in a row, she’d never live it down in this studio. Ms. Madison was giving her a


    choice.


    Just as Ophelia stubbornly prepared to nod, Ivy spoke up and graciously opted out of the next round.


    Ophelia was taken aback. “Are you scared or something?”


    Ms. Madison nearly rolled her eyes right there. Ivy was trying to leave Ophelia with some dignity, and


    she had the nerve to think Ivy was scared of her.