Chapter 1, A Hair-raising Crisis

Chen Ziliang was wearing a Tang-style coat, his sideburns graying. A few years ago, he was still spirited, but now he showed signs of decline. Su Jiayan felt a sharp pain in his heart, recalling the words of Fu Ningyan, and a heavy shadow seemed to press down upon him.

Before his retirement, Grandfather Fu Ningyan held a significant position in the military. By the time of Fu Ningyan's generation, the Fu family had largely transitioned from politics to business. The prime land in the southeastern Jingxia District of Chongcheng, which had been fiercely contested by major real estate developers for a long time, was ultimately granted to the Fu family. The Lanting Theater is located within the development area. This is also the reason why Fu Ningyan was able to invite Su Jiayan out today

Then, in the startled gaze of Su Jiayan, he unexpectedly lowered his head and captured her lips. It was just as soft and sweet as he had imagined, as he firmly held her struggling hands, domineeringly seizing the sweetness from her mouth

Amidst the delicate tea smoke, Su Jiayan reined in his smile, "Mr. Fu, this is precisely the purpose of my visit. The Lanting Theatre has a history of a hundred years, and I do not wish to ... ... "

If the price of saving the theater is to make a deal with the devil, then so be it; she can only go alone, facing the meeting with nothing but her sword.

Fu Ningyan smiled and shook his head, no longer responding

The junior disciple stared blankly as he released Jingxue's wrist, "Master ... ..."

I am also helpless; my mother is ill, and the medical expenses are so high... Jingxue covered her face and wept bitterly

The driver, Tan Rui, also noticed his cheerful mood and tentatively asked, "Is this Miss Su this time?"

Who

Fu Ningyan called the waiter to come and order dishes, seeking Su Jiayan's opinion on each item ordered. By the time the dishes were ordered, he already knew that Su Jiayan was originally from the south, that her hometown had been flooded when she was a child, resulting in the loss of her parents, and that she and her younger brother Su Yihang were adopted by Chen Ziliang, learning Kunqu opera from a young age.

Kunqu opera performers are ultimately not comparable to stars in the entertainment industry. Moreover, the Lanting Theatre is too small; no matter how popular Su Jiayan is, he is still less known than a low-tier dan performer in the Chongcheng Grand Theatre

Su Jiayan took a gentle sip and smiled, saying, "The tea is very delicious, Mr. Fu, thank you for your thoughtfulness"

Several people stood silently without moving, while Jing Xue knelt down in tears and heavily bowed her head towards Chen Ziliang, saying, "Please forgive your disciple for her unfilial conduct"

Miss Su must already be aware that the development of commercial housing in the Qiyue River area of Jingxia District is being undertaken by the Fu family

One year ago

The next morning, she was awakened by a commotion. Su Jiayan put on her clothes and stepped outside, only to find three or five fellow disciples standing at the door. Meanwhile, Jingxue, who had been flirting with her, stood by with two large suitcases at her feet—this situation spoke for itself

Su Jiayan then turned his gaze towards Xie Zeya, smiled briefly, and said, "Isn't my face just your face?"

The restaurant was not crowded, and the dishes were served very quickly. Knowing that Su Jiayan could not eat heavy oil or salt, Fu Ningyan ordered very light dishes and even specially had a small bowl of bird's nest stewed.

He slightly loosened the tie of his shirt, waiting leisurely for the sound of the doorbell to ring

Fu Ningyan poured tea into a white porcelain cup and said, "Miss Su, please take a seat"

Xie Zeya's hand trembled suddenly, and a drop of blood quickly oozed out

Su Jiayan wore a costume in a blend of blue, yellow, and white. Although his face was painted with grease paint, his brows and eyes were still strikingly beautiful, with a pair of particularly affectionate and lovely eyes. Every gesture he made exuded an indescribable elegance and charm. Fu Ningyan had long heard that someone had invited Su Jiayan to a banquet, offering a price that was more than double that given to the hottest stars in the entertainment industry.

Fu Ningyan rarely takes matters into his own hands, but this time he is unusually interested in personally selecting a house. A villa not far from Qiyue River, although not the newest, is valued for its tranquil environment

The glaring blood red seemed to instantly provoke all of Xie Zeya's anger. She pressed her knee hard down against Su Jiayan's abdomen, raised the blood-stained dagger, and aimed it at Su Jiayan's deep black pupils

What year of university are you in

As Fu Ningyan arrived at the entrance of Hall 1 of the Lanting Theatre, he heard the melodious tune of "Sifan" coming from inside: "Only to see the living suffer, who has ever seen the dead in shackles? ... Ah, let it be, the fire is burning at the eyebrows, yet one must pay attention to the present..."

In the late morning, besides Jingxue, three other individuals left. One of them was Su Jiayan's youngest junior disciple, who was skilled at playing the fool and had only performed on stage last year, delivering an exceptionally brilliant rendition of "Shuangxia Mountain".

Looking out from the window, one can see the courtyard where she has practiced since childhood. Regardless of the harsh winter or the sweltering summer, she unwaveringly rises at 5:30 AM, practicing her basic skills for two hours before having breakfast. She lost her parents at the age of six and has lived in the theater for a full eighteen years. Chen Ziliang is not only her teacher but also a father figure to her

Chen Ziliang often said that she was a person of the theater in life and a ghost of the theater in death—how could she be anything less?

Su Jiayan wore a cream-colored long dress, layered with a maroon knitted cardigan for warmth. Her long hair cascaded softly, exuding an elegant demeanor akin to a gentle crescent moon visible through an open window

Chen Ziliang let out a long sigh, and in an instant, he seemed to age ten years. "Jia Yan, I was born in the theater, and it is inevitable that when I die, a handful of my ashes will be scattered in this courtyard. Everyone has their own fate, and I, Chen Ziliang, can only feel ashamed of the legacy passed down by my ancestors"

Fu Ningyan observed quietly, "Is the performance very good?"

Jia Yan, if you have your own thoughts, you may leave on your own accord, and do not let the so-called 'proud disciples' bind you

No, he is studying at Chongcheng University

Well, he is very intelligent, unlike me

Please come in

Su Jiayan felt a pang of sadness; the junior brother who was speaking still needed to save money for his wedding, so how could he have spare funds to lend to others? Just as she was about to go over to mediate, Chen Ziliang came out of the room with his hands behind his back

Master, Jingxue is leaving...

Chen Ziliang did not turn around; he simply raised his hand and gently waved it. In the faint morning light, his figure was elongated, appearing exceedingly desolate

Three years ago, Su Jiayan had already noticed that the attendance rate at Lanting Theatre was not as good as before, and it has only worsened since then. Last year, a large number of actors collectively switched to Chongcheng Grand Theatre—where the stage effects, performance opportunities, and salary conditions are all much better than those at Lanting Theatre. Those who still remain at Lanting Theatre are all disciples personally trained by Chen Ziliang

Chen Ziliang had reached the door, surveying the surroundings. His gaze finally settled on the plaque at the entrance of the main hall. "Go and inform everyone, those who wish to leave may go to the accounts office to settle their wages. Let us all leave together today. It is only natural for people to seek higher ground, just as water flows downward. I, Chen Ziliang, do not blame anyone. I only hope that after we step outside, we can continue to promote and elevate Kunqu opera."

Two minutes later, Fu Ningyan reluctantly let go. Su Jiayan, in a fit of rage, slapped him and exclaimed, "Shameless!"

She looks like a person

Su Jiayan remained motionless, as if he had passed away, with not a trace of spirit in his eyes. The lyrics continued to drift out: "... ... A true man has a fierce heart, I observe that this single knife meeting resembles a competition in the village."

Su Jiayan's manner of eating was also very elegant, with every gesture and movement appearing as a delight to those around her. Fu Ningyan ate little, spending most of the time observing her. During the meal, there was no conversation between the two, and it was only after the waiter cleared the dishes that today's confrontation officially began

Fu Ningyan raised a finger to stop Su Jiayan from continuing her words, and with a meaningful smile, said, "Miss Su, I am a businessman, and a businessman always rises early for profit"

Xie Zeya's eyes burned with fury, "Isn't it your face that Fu Ningyan likes?! Today, I will ruin it, and let's see how you seductively entice him!"

Today's performance includes "Chunxiang Disturbing School", "Kao Hong", and "Si Fan", featuring the theater's leading actress, the esteemed student of the venerable Mr. Chen Ziliang, Su Jiayan

Previously, the manager of Chongcheng Grand Theatre approached her, offering a salary that was ten times that of this place. However, Chen Ziliang had shown her both recognition and gratitude, as well as nurturing care.

Fu Ningyan's narrow eyes glimmered slightly as he stood up, extending his long fingers to lift Su Jiayan's chin, gazing down at her eyes. "I can transform the Lanting Theater into the cultural center of Qiyue River, or I can raze it to the ground. The outcome... rests entirely in Miss Su's hands." The last sentence he spoke very softly, laced with malicious amusement, almost like a whisper.

Now that he has seen it with his own eyes, he instead feels that the price is rather meager

"Jingxue, are you really leaving like this? Is this how you repay your master?" A junior disciple tightly grasped Jingxue's wrist.

Fu Ningyan also smiled, handing the teacup to Su Jiayan, "Da Hong Pao, I wonder if Miss Su is accustomed to drinking it"

She has already told me, let her go

Tan Rui shook his head

Regardless, she cannot stand by and watch the Lanting Theatre turn into ruins—such an act would be tantamount to taking Chen Ziliang's life away.

Fu Ningyan leaned against the back of the chair, eyes closed in a state of relaxation. Hearing Tan Rui's question, she smiled slightly and asked, "Have you seen her performance?"

From the Lanting Theatre, the resounding and bold lyrics drift out, each line seemingly poised to pierce through the heavy night: "A true man ventures eastward, riding the waves, taking advantage of the west wind to sail this small boat..."

How much do you need? I will lend it to you, but you cannot just leave when the theater is in need of people.

Speak up!" Xie Zeya trembled as she pushed the dagger closer, the cold blade pressed against her fair cheek. "Aren't you the one who loves to utter lewd words? Didn't you speak so sweetly on Ning Yan's bed? Speak up!"

Is your younger brother also studying Kunqu opera

When Su Jiayan returned to the theater, Chen Ziliang's room was still lit. The backyard had not been tended to for a long time, and weeds had already sprouted beside the stone mill. Su Jiayan felt a sharp pain in his heart, quietly gazing for a while before turning around and slowly walking back to his room

The opera troupe that had been passed down through generations of the Chen family ultimately declined in the later years of Chen Ziliang

After everything was settled, Su Jiayan accompanied Chen Ziliang in the study to drink tea

He stood and listened for a moment, then quietly sat down in the last row after purchasing a ticket

After the performance, Fu Ningyan did not rush to leave. He watched as Su Jiayan bowed to the audience while holding the lilies presented by them, a slight smile playing on his lips, revealing a look of amusement.

The situation took a sudden turn, and Su Jiayan was momentarily taken aback, awkwardly rubbing his fingers, "Does Mr. Fu hope that ... ... "

The meeting place was chosen to be a high-end private restaurant, which is not easily accessible unless one is a prominent figure in Chongcheng. Fu Ningyan sat in the private room for five minutes before hearing a gentle sound of footsteps coming from the corridor

"Graduating next year." Mentioning her younger brother, Su Jiayan's gaze became even more gentle

Su Jiayan had never encountered such a humiliating offense, and in her struggle, despair engulfed her like dark water. It was not until this moment that she suddenly realized that Fu Ningyan's facade of propriety, his respectful demeanor, was merely a long prelude.

Su Jiayan lowered his head and said, "Master, I will not leave."

Fu Ningyan does not consider himself a scholar or a refined gentleman, nor does he indulge in pretentious elegance, yet he still sat in the back row, captivated, listening to Su Jiayan finish this performance of "Thinking of the World"

Su Jiayan appeared somewhat constrained, yet she still smiled gently as she sat down opposite Fu Ningyan. Her face bore two shallow dimples, and when she smiled, it was as if a spring breeze had awakened the peach blossoms overnight, with her eyes shimmering like rippling waves, captivating and enchanting those who beheld her.

Miss Su is being too modest

Su Jiayan was forcefully pinned against the seat of the Maserati by Xie Zeya, the sharp blade of a dagger less than an inch from her face, yet she remained motionless, her gaze fixed on the void, her eyes as dark and deep as a still pond

Fu Ningyan appeared to be completely unconcerned; he leisurely returned to his seat, his narrow and deep-set eyes looking at Su Jiayan with a smile that was not quite a smile, "I believe Miss Su will make the right choice"