Adding one more dance performance was no problem for them; they agreed without hesitation.
I hired a professional dancer to perform a dance that mirrored Juliette's. I remembered the dance Juliette performed in the past life, so I had the dancer learn and modify it, giving it a new name.
The new dance was scheduled as the penultimate act. When it was performed, it was a hit—a stunning, energetic display that left Juliette's routine in the dust.
Watching from the audience, I relished every change in Juliette's expression—from initial confidence to shock and, finally, to anger and retreat. She had been waiting by the right side of the stage for her turn.
If it had been in my past life, with no professional dancers among the college students, Juliette's high-energy dance would indeed have brought the house down. But with a professional routine preceding hers, she now appeared out of place, like a poor imitation.
She would embarrass herself.
If she didn't go on stage, however, it would damage her reputation and blacklist her from future major events, making it impossible for her to stand out in the future.
As Juliette's turn came, the host, unaware of the earlier dance's impact, continued to urge her to go on stage.
Juliette's face changed colors like a painter's palette. Under the pressure from the crowd, she reluctantly took the stage and performed her routine in a rush. As predicted, the anticipated excitement and climax didn't materialize.
The audience, having just witnessed a dance spectacular, found Juliette's performance to be a poor imitation. Booing erupted.
"What was that? It's just like the earlier dance."
"Yeah, it's nowhere near as good as the previous dancer…"
"Juliette, the 'beauty and talent' of the design department? She's not as pretty as Erica, and her talent isn't impressive either."
The audience booed and demanded Juliette leave the stage. Juliette, caught in a moment of embarrassment, stood there helplessly, her face going from flush to pale, much like how I had been during my forced performance.
She cast a pleading glance at Joel, unaware that Joel's feelings for her had changed. My on-again, off-again relationship with Joel had only deepened his interest in me, leaving him little time to pay attention to Juliette.