After all of the athletes had entered, it was time for the awaited performance prepared by Mr Liang.
It was extravagant, of course—a love letter to China's rich culture and its evolution through time.
The arena was bathed in golden light, lanterns floating like stars against the night sky. Each one carried the hopes of a nation, drifting upward and shimmering before vanishing into the darkness.
The stage itself was a marvel, a circular design that moved in harmony with the performance. At the center, a massive clock face lay embedded in the floor, its hands unmoving.
Dancers in flowing silk robes stepped forward, each movement timed as they traced the clock's edge in a circular pattern.
Twelve acts—the twelve hours on a clock.
The first act was serene, capturing the origins of ancient China. Performers dressed as emperors and scholars moved with grace, their hands miming the creation of calligraphy and art.
