At the evening party, Ruan Nianchu’s performance was scheduled as the fourth from the last. She changed into her gown, applied heavy makeup, and sat backstage, waiting. There was a lot of noise surrounding the excited dancers who finished their performance and were gathering to take selfies.
Occasionally, some familiar faces pulled her into the frame.
She listened to the click-clack of the camera shutters, pouting, staring, making scissor gestures. After the photos were taken, her colleagues sent them to her via WeChat.
Ruan Nianchu glanced at her phone. Each girl in the pictures looked youthful and beautiful. Her own face, delicate and charming, still stood out among the beauties.
She was undeniably beautiful – a fact she couldn’t dispute.
So, she was a bit puzzled, unable to understand how Li Teng could have no impression of her. She sighed at his truly poor memory.
Just then, the stage prompter arrived, loudly calling out at the makeup room entrance, “Solo performance artist! Is the solo performer here?”
“I’m here.”
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“Zsw’al wr dlmv, bwaau!”
Mbl rasxrvla bwaakle Swyd Lkydnbw vs vbl pvytl zkjl nbypkdt y ewnj. Rd vbl ekxzu zkv lhldkdt, vbl pswde sq bla pzldela bktb bllzp lnbsle sd vbl nlxldv qzssa yp pbl oyzjle. Ebld nzkxckdt vbl pvykap vs vbl pvytl, pbl pweeldzu vokpvle bla ydjzl.
Tla ydjzl bwav y zsv. Swyd Lkydnbw qasodle yde tasydle, vyjkdt kd y pbyar calyvb.
Mbl rasxrvla qwaasole bkp casop lhld vktbvla vbyd blap, “Ebyv byrrldle vs usw?”
Swyd Lkydnbw okrle vbl nsze polyv qasx bla qsalblye, nzsple bla lulp qsa y xsxldv, yde pbssj bla blye obld vbl rykd lyple y ckv, pyukdt, “Kwpv vokpvle kv, ds ckt elyz.” Mbld, pbl ldewale vbl rykd yde oyzjle vs vbl cynjpvytl sq vbl pvytl, alyeu vs ts wr.
Mbl rasxrvla oyp y ckv nsdnladle, ayd shla, yde ypjle kd y zso hsknl, “Gal usw alyzzu sjyu?”
Fbl oyhle bkx sqq, vssj vbl xknasrbsdl qasx vbl pvyqq, rwaple bla zkrp, yefwpvle bla qynkyz lmralppksd vs y pxkzl, yde vbl rasxrvla zlqv.
Lso kv’p vbl pltxldv oblal vbl bspv yddswdnlp. Nk Dkysuyd’p pollv hsknl alpsdyvlp vbaswtbswv vbl hldwl, pyukdt, “Llmv, vbl pkdtkdt rlaqsaxla qasx vbl Zwdnbldt Ykzkvyau Pkpvaknv Vlaqsaxydnl Maswrl okzz cakdt wp vbl Asknl sq vbl Ysvblazyde plaklp, ‘Gwvwxd – Vyxka, Yu Jlywvkqwz Tsxlvsod.1cvo, vbkp psdt nyd cl qswde kd uswvwcl. Rv’p y psrayds rklnl yde alyzzu rzlypkdt‘ Vzlypl olznsxl Swyd Lkydnbw!”
The female host’s pronunciation is very clear, and the audience below is very quiet. Everyone in the audience heard her name.
She stepped onto the stage, and applause thundered from below.
Ruan Nianchu smiled towards the audience. It was pitch-black there, and nothing could be seen. As the music started, she endured the pain and began singing with a clear soprano voice. The first note stunned the entire audience. The spotlight was blinding, and everyone could see the young singing performer with a smile, her pale face and fine beads of sweat exceptionally clear.
Finally, the chief director showed a smile to her.
A magnificent song with a unique rhythm expressed the praise of the Tajik2An ethnic minority in China usually residing in Xinjiang in the pamir Mountains and other ethnic minorities for their hometown and their enthusiasm for the border soldiers.3The author might be a nationalist. It was a perfect blend of emotion and scenery.
With the last transition, she smoothly completed the melody, pitch, rhythm – handling everything flawlessly.
Applause echoed in the venue once again. The singing performer, under the gaze of the audience, gracefully exited. However, once out of sight, the smile on her face couldn’t be maintained. There happened to be a pillar nearby, and she reached out to support herself.
Ruan Nianchu felt that those performers who performed with injuries and went on stage with illnesses were truly extraordinary. For the first time, she unearthed the revolutionary spirit of the Red Army’s fearlessness of difficult expeditions within herself.
The final segment of the evening was a group photo of all the performers and the leaders present on stage. Ruan Nianchu’s position had already been arranged, and there was no way she could skip it. So, after the program ended, she could only limp back to the backstage area to wait.
She carefully took off her high heels. Tsk. With just one glance, she looked away, unable to bear the sight.
The sprain wasn’t light, and without timely treatment, it was now a bit swollen.
Ruan Nianchu tried to move. Fortunately, she didn’t injure her muscles or bones. A passing dancer noticed her foot and exaggeratedly gasped, saying, “Oh, what happened to your foot? Tell the director and go rest first.”
Ruan Nianchu smiled, thanking her for her concern. If the chief director was easygoing, he wouldn’t be the chief director, and in tonight’s event with divine beings gathered, there was no place for her to speak.
Little people are destined to make sacrifices for big people; this is the natural order, and she had long accepted it.
Not long after, the stage prompter arrived.
Actors from each program formed queues according to the pre-arranged order. A girl standing to the left of Ruan Nianchu noticed her difficulty in moving and kindly supported her forward.
Amid the music of “Unforgettable Tonight,” fireworks shot up from both sides of the stage. Everyone took their positions. Ruan Nianchu bit her lip, limping to the side of the male host and standing there.
Leaders successively walked onto the stage. Following tradition, every passing actor and leader shook hands with a smile, saying things like, “The performance was wonderful.” or “Thank you for your hard work.”
Under the dazzling stage lights, Ruan Nianchu spotted Li Teng at a glance.
In that brief moment, she had some thoughts. In Cambodia, for a considerable period, her impression of him was “a ruthless and hideous villain.” Now, it seemed that this impression was indeed inaccurate. His appearance and temperament were outstanding; there was no way to associate him with “hideous.”
Ruan Nianchu suddenly wanted to laugh. At the age when she should be infatuated, her heart was as calm as still water, and at the age when she should be calm, she began to infatuate. It showed that she was actually quite eager.
Li Teng’s expression was very calm. After shaking hands with several actors one by one, he walked up to Ruan Nianchu and extended his hand.
She looked at his five long and powerful fingers, and a thought inexplicably crossed her mind—The host just announced her name; she wondered if he heard it and remembered her.
In a brief moment, she clasped Li Teng’s hand with both of hers. The touch was firm and rough.
He raised his lip slightly, with a faint and formulaic smile, “Thank you for your hard work.”
It seemed that this leader’s memory was indeed poor. Ruan Nianchu nodded slightly, revealing a brilliant smile, “Don’t say that; it’s my duty.”
Li Teng’s subtly looked away. Ruan Nianchu knew he was going to continue shaking hands with the next actor, so she voluntarily took a step back.
Unexpectedly, as she stepped back, she accidentally stepped on the skirt of the person behind her. The person frowned, “What are you doing?” as she tried to push Ruan Nianchu. With an already injured ankle, she couldn’t stand firm under the shove and staggered forward.
Ruan Nianchu’s heart sank. She had initially considered using her strength, thought about who was standing in front of her, but gave up on the idea. Unexpectedly, just before she fell, someone firmly supported her.
The distance closed in an instant, and the person’s breath enveloped her. It was strong, strange, yet oddly familiar after a long absence.
Ruan Nianchu was truly speechless. She never expected that a reunion with an old acquaintance would turn into such an awkward and embarrassing scene.
She forced a dry laugh, quickly and subtly freeing herself from Li Teng’s grip, “…Thank you.”
Li Teng didn’t respond to her words. His gaze swept down her awkward stance, and he furrowed his brow, “Can you stand steady?”
She nodded.
His gaze landed on the hem of her skirt. The dress was long, and the skirt was loose and wide, revealing only one exposed ankle, delicate and as white as jade. The other side was not visible. He asked in a low voice, “What happened to your leg?”
Ruan Nianchu replied, “Nothing.”
After saying that, she distinctly felt Li Teng giving her a glance. His sharp gaze was piercing, reminiscent of the past. She frowned slightly, a sudden tightness in her chest. Fortunately, in the next moment, he turned and walked away.
Ruan Nianchu inexplicably sighed in relief. Her gaze shifted slightly, and she saw Li Teng a few steps away, shaking hands with Li Xiaoyan. The female host, whose face had been frozen in a forced smile all night, finally liberated herself and revealed a genuine smile from the heart.
As the saying goes, a woman in a happy relationship has a radiant smile.
Their relationship must be very good.
*
The evening party was a great success, and the leaders gave very high praise. After it ended, the chief director finally felt relieved, and he invited the main leaders of the Literature and Art Troupe and the Performance Troupe to a celebration banquet.
In the dressing room, the troupe leader found Ruan Nianchu and smiled approvingly, “Nianchu, well done. Your singing was really good today; several high-ranking leaders specifically praised you.”
She was busy removing her makeup, and upon hearing this, she chuckled and dryly replied, “It’s mainly thanks to the guidance of the troupe leader.”
The troupe leader was in a good mood and said, “You’re free later, right? Come with us for dinner.”
Ruan Nianchu politely declined, “Thank you, troupe leader. I won’t be going; my mom hasn’t been feeling well lately, and I need to go home early.” She never participated in such gatherings. One reason was her poor tolerance for alcohol, and the other was her lack of acting skills.
The troupe leader frowned, glanced around, leaned in towards her, and spoke in a low voice, “Why aren’t you smart? With so many leaders present today, you’ve left a good impression. If you join us for dinner, you can show your face, and it’ll make things much easier for you in the future, especially for ‘handling matters.'”
The troupe leader meant well, trying to strategize for her future conversion to a regular military position, as every contracted actor’s goal was to obtain military status. Unfortunately, Ruan Nianchu was an odd one.
She apologetically smiled and repeated, “Troupe leader, I understand what you mean. But my mom is really not feeling well, and I do need to go home early.”
Seeing that she wasn’t receptive, the troupe leader shook his head and left.
The evening party, which began at eight o’clock, didn’t end until ten thirty. After changing clothes, removing makeup, and washing her face, when Ruan Nianchu left the Art Palace, the old street outside was already deserted.
The streetlights cast a golden glow. Carrying her bag, she walked slowly along the edge of the old street, planning to hail a taxi on the main road. The night breeze was slightly cool, stretching her shadow long.
At this moment, the sound of a car engine suddenly came from behind.
Ruan Nianchu subconsciously turned her head. It was a black jeep, tall and large, appearing particularly conspicuous on the narrow street. She glanced in the direction of the Art Palace parking lot and quickly looked away.
The black jeep approached from a distance and then stopped next to her.
Ruan Nianchu became suspicious. At that moment, inexplicable news headlines flashed in her mind, such as “Young Woman Disappears Late at Night, Body Found.” She turned her head, and the window of the driver’s seat happened to roll down.
The driver was Li Teng.
She was instantly stunned.
He glanced at her, “Ruan Nianchu.”
Ruan Nianchu’s eyes jumped for a moment. Then she heard him continue coldly, “That’s your name, right?”
“…Yes.” She nodded, “I am Ruan Nianchu. What does the leader need from me?”
At this moment, Li Xiaoyan’s voice came from the back seat. She smiled and said, “Oh, that’s right. I found your work ID in the dressing room just now. What a coincidence to run into you here again. Here you go!” She handed out a work badge hanging from a string through the car window.
Ruan Nianchu took a look, and it was indeed hers. She quickly expressed her thanks to the two.
Li Xiaoyan waved her hand, “It’s just a small effort.” Looking around, “Hey, how are you getting home later?”
Ruan Nianchu said, “Taking a taxi.”
Li Xiaoyan frowned, “It’s late, and it’s dangerous for a girl to take a taxi alone. Come on, get in the car. Where do you live? We’ll take you home.”
“No need to trouble you.” Ruan Nianchu smiled and refused, “You go back quickly, thank you.”
“Alright, take care of yourself then.” “Yeah.” The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then the black jeep drove straight into the night.
Inside the car, lively Li Xiaoyan chatted about this and that, trying to find topics that could resonate. Li Teng was not very talkative; he occasionally responded but in a cold and indifferent manner.
She suddenly sighed, “Your eyesight is really good. You could recognize Ruan Nianchu even in the dark. Thanks to you, or I’d have to find another time to return her work ID.” Pausing for a moment, she became a bit suspicious, “But, you’ve only seen her twice today, and your impression is so vivid?”
Li Teng remained silent. His expression was still cold, but a faint hint of something unusual flashed in his slightly lowered eyes. Suddenly recalling something, he said, “It seems like she injured her leg.”
Li Xiaoyan didn’t hear clearly, “What did you say?”
Li Teng frowned, kept a straight face, and didn’t answer. Immediately after, he turned the steering wheel sharply, retracing their route.
Ruan Nianchu had just reached the side of the main road when she saw them coming back, feeling a bit bewildered, “…Is there anything else you need?”
Li Xiaoyan in the car was just as confused as her.
Li Teng’s gaze fell on her face, and he uttered only two words, “Get in.”
Sansukini: I really do like this novel. It doesn’t waste any words to drag the story. Do you feel like finding Nianchu suddenly is no coincidence?
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