Chapter 5, Like a Thorn in the Back
Su Jiayan has never had the habit of eating late-night snacks, but at that moment, he truly could not find the words to refuse, so he could only nod his head
Su Jiayan hung up the phone, took off her costume, and slowly removed her makeup, finishing after half an hour. After bidding farewell to the theater staff, she exited the theater. Just as she turned a corner, she saw a car parked under the locust tree, with Du Yange leaning against the car window, casually humming the song she had just performed.
Su Jiayan felt both ashamed and embarrassed for a moment, and just as she was trying to find a reasonable explanation, Du Yange spoke up and asked: "Since I have waited for you, would Teacher Su be willing to have a late-night snack with me?"
This Saturday, Su Jiayan will perform "The Tale of the Green Tomb: Departure from the Frontier," wearing a bright red cloak. The line "Zhaojun rides on a jade saddle, mounting the horse with tears of red blood" is particularly desolate and heroic
She stood still for a while before picking up the chopsticks again, absentmindedly rinsing them.
As he reached the door, he caught a whiff of a rich aroma of food. He knocked on the door and stood idly. Before long, he heard the sound of approaching footsteps, and Su Jiayan asked, "Who is it?" with a slightly elevated tone, indicating that he was in a good mood.
From then on, everything he did was no different from that of a naive freshman entering university. He had many ways to find out Su Jiayan's correct phone number, yet he chose the most foolish one; he purchased a large number of books related to Kunqu opera, flipping through them whenever he had a moment, without being confined to specific chapters. Other professors in the laboratory joked with him, "Professor Du, are you planning to pursue another literary doctor's degree?"
Try it
What did Teacher Na Su sing when she first took the stage
After washing up, Fu Ningyan was sitting on the sofa watching television. Su Jiayan did not look at him and walked towards the bedroom while letting down her hair, saying, "I am going to take a nap"
Su Jiayan did not respond, merely eating the vegetables in silence
Previously, I only knew that Mr. Mei Lanfang was a master of Peking Opera, but a few days ago while reading, I learned that he also has deep connections with Kunqu Opera
Su Jiayan suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to reply to his message, feeling a bit guilty at the moment, "I apologize, I got busy just now and forgot to respond to your message"
On a spring evening when the temperature was still low, Su Jiayan wore a light apricot-colored double-breasted trench coat, walking in the night breeze like a graceful magnolia flower. Along the way, Du Yange shared some amusing stories from the laboratory, which made her unable to suppress her laughter, and her fatigue was significantly alleviated.
After the curtain call, I saw someone in the second row walking forward with a bouquet of lilies. With a gentle smile, it was Du Yange.
This week, Fu Ningyan went on a business trip to a neighboring city. Upon his return, he inquired about the whereabouts of Zhong Kai and Su Jiayan. He initially intended to call Su Jiayan to invite him to the villa, but changed his mind at the last minute and went directly to where Su Jiayan resides
Fu Ningyan smiled and said, "Of course not." As she spoke, she took her into the room and casually closed the door behind them
In recent days, Fu Ningyan had not contacted her, and she could not discern whether this call was a discussion with her or an ultimatum that she could not refuse, so she tentatively said, "I am a bit tired; I would like to go back and rest early"
Su Jiayan took off her headpiece and looked at her made-up face in the mirror, "Not bad."
How was the performance
Su Jiayan exclaimed as she finished speaking, and the next moment, she collapsed onto the bed, her hands bound at her sides, followed by a forceful kiss that descended upon her.
Du Yange smiled and said, "In a hurry, Teacher Su wouldn't completely fabricate a false number for me. I'll start by trying the last digits. It seems today's number is correct"
Come over to play, I will have Tan Rui pick you up
Speaking of his profession, Su Jiayan became quite talkative, "Mr. Mei's first performance on stage was in the Kunqu opera 'The Palace of Eternal Life', specifically in the segment 'The River of Heaven'"
As soon as he finished speaking, Fu Ningyan suddenly stood up and walked towards the bedroom
Su Jiayan suddenly dropped the chopsticks she was holding into the sink, feeling an uncontrollable wave of nausea. However, Fu Ningyan seemed completely oblivious, releasing her and washing the apple in the flowing water before returning to the living room
Fu Ningyan smiled and expressed his gratitude, lifting the bowl to take a small sip— the chicken was stewed to perfection, tender yet not falling apart, with its fresh flavor completely preserved. He couldn't help but laugh, saying: "It seems that the chef I hired is indeed showing off his skills in front of the experts."
When Su Jiayan was awakened, the dishes had already been served on the table. There were four dishes and one soup, all of which were ordinary side dishes, yet they looked exceptionally appealing. Su Jiayan ladled a bowl of soup and silently placed it in front of Fu Ningyan
Not far from the theater stands an old house, hidden in the shadows of the sycamore trees, its walls covered with climbing ivy, while a gentle breeze stirs up layers of green ripples. Looking up, one can see the floral curtains fluttering at the window of the fourth floor where Su Jiayan resides. Below, on the security net, sits a girl who, upon noticing him gazing upwards, immediately smiles and waves her hand. Fu Ningyan, in a good mood, also waves back. Below, on the security net, sits a girl who, upon noticing him gazing upwards, immediately smiles and waves her hand. Fu Ningyan, in a good mood, also waves back
"Strolling in the Garden." Recalling the past, Su Jiayan couldn't help but smile slightly, "The master's rule is that one can officially perform on stage only at the age of fourteen. That time was not very successful; I missed a note while singing 'Step by Step Beautiful,' and after I came off stage, the master scolded me for an entire hour"
A delicate voice calling "Third Young Master" rang out from over there, and Fu Ningyan chuckled. As the voice faded, he responded to the girl. Su Jiayan was just about to hang up the phone when Fu Ningyan's voice suddenly drew near again, saying to her: "I will pick you up tomorrow"
Fu Ningyan's actions came to an abrupt halt, yet he did not immediately let go
In less than half a month, each day feels like a year to her. How is she to endure until the moment Fu Ningyan loses interest in her
It sounds extremely noisy over there, with voices of both men and women. Su Jiayan speculates that it must be from the club last time.
In the context of her daily life, such an occurrence is particularly shameful. She cannot control her instinct to struggle, despite the overwhelming physical advantage of the other party. In a moment of desperation, she bites down hard on Fu Ningyan's lips.
She lost her parents at the age of six. Although her memories before the age of six have become vague, she has never been able to forget the time when the four of them would have dinner together every evening. Her mother, wearing an apron, busily moved about with satisfaction, while she and Yixing playfully fought over food, and their father simply laughed, not intervening. Outside the window, the evening glow filled the sky, reflecting on the rippling waters of the rivers in Jiangnan, with smoke rising from every household, and the sound of mothers calling their children home for dinner echoed through the streets—this was her earliest impression of home.
Fu Ningyan stepped back slightly, his gaze cold as if tempered by ice and snow. He quietly observed Su Jiayan for a moment before rising and walking towards the door.
If I say I mind, will you leave
The indoor decoration also extensively features floral patterns, exuding a refreshing atmosphere reminiscent of spring. The window is half-open, and a gentle breeze flows in. Fu Ningyan sits down on the sofa, feeling an unparalleled sense of comfort, and before he realizes it, he has fallen asleep.
Baby, open the door
Su Jiayan was slightly surprised, "Professor Du?"
Fu Ningyan leaned forward, wrapped his arms around Su Jiayan's waist, and gave a light kiss, "Do you mind if I join you for a meal?"
Why not, I am just giving it a try
Su Jiayan initially thought she was doomed, but unexpectedly, Fu Ningyan chose to spare her. Once her nerves relaxed, exhaustion washed over her like a tide
When Fu Ningyan is not around, she naturally would not stay in the villa at Qiyue River, but continues to live her ordinary life in her small apartment of fifty square meters
Su Jiayan returned to the backstage holding a lily and heard the phone on the makeup table ringing. Upon picking it up, she saw that it was an unfamiliar number
She accepted the bouquet with a smile and expressed her gratitude. Du Yange jokingly said, "The owner of the flower shop at the entrance told me that the leading actress of Lanting Theatre loves lilies the most, and it seems this is indeed true." After saying this, he slightly bowed and turned to walk back to his seat
The tea smoke curled gently, and under the light, her expression was calm while her eyes sparkled. Du Yange ate his wonton noodles at a leisurely pace, feeling as if time had come to a standstill
A 50-square-meter apartment is naturally pitifully small compared to the places he usually resides in. However, Su Jiayan has organized it well, making it not feel cramped. She even placed a tall bookshelf, neatly arranged with many traditional Chinese books.
Since that night, Fu Ningyan had not appeared for a whole week. Su Jiayan sometimes attended classes at school and sometimes followed everyone in rehearsals at the theater, leading a life that was calm and uneventful. Because the theater was ultimately preserved and the senior who was studying abroad was returning to the country, Chen Ziliang's mood had improved significantly compared to before. Su Jiayan observed this and felt that the sacrifice was worth it.
Su Jiayan was taken aback; she clearly remembered intentionally entering the last number incorrectly. Just as she was about to reply to the message, Fu Ningyan's call came in.
Du Yange turned around immediately upon hearing her voice, surprised at first, then smiled and said: "I just wanted to see if I could wait for Teacher Su, and was just about to leave"
Su Jiayan tasted the flavor of blood on her tongue, and a sudden chill of despair enveloped her heart as she softly pleaded, "Not here."
After finishing her meal, she went to the kitchen to wash the dishes. While she was halfway through, Fu Ningyan walked in holding an apple, wrapped one arm around her waist, and playfully called out to her, "Wife" next to her ear
Do not be here
From the living room to the bedroom, there is a very short corridor, and Fu Ningyan's height of 183 centimeters becomes extremely oppressive in this confined space. Su Jiayan tightly gripped the door frame, furrowing his brows, and looked at Fu Ningyan with a wary expression, "What are you doing?"
At this moment, Su Jiayan was sitting right in front of him, and he could even smell her faint fragrance wafting through the tea smoke, like an elusive dream.
He lived to the age of thirty-two, had been in two relationships, but it was the first time he felt such a heart-stirring emotion that left him at a loss. He had often watched Su Jiayan's performances before, but always thought that no matter how captivating she appeared on stage, it was ultimately just acting. It was only when he encountered Su Jiayan in person at the auditorium that he realized her demeanor off stage was even more refined and gentle, with every frown and smile making it hard for one to look away.
Fu Ningyan had not anticipated such a strong reaction from Su Jiayan, and for a moment, she was somewhat surprised. However, she maintained a calm demeanor. As Su Jiayan's eyes grew increasingly fearful, Fu Ningyan quickly stepped forward and lifted her up by the waist.
Yet at this moment, sitting opposite her is such a person. Like a thorn embedded in her back, causing her pain, yet impossible to remove
Is it possible to invite Teacher Su for a late-night snack? Signed, Du Yange
Due to Du Yange's request for a recommendation, she chose a Cantonese restaurant that was very close to Du Yange's parking space. Du Yange ordered a bowl of wonton noodles and a plate of red bean and water chestnut cake, while she ordered a pot of Pu'er tea
The door remained closed for a long time, but eventually it was opened. Su Jiayan was wearing a floral apron, her hair was tied up, with a few strands slightly falling down, revealing her smooth neck. Below the stage, she typically did not like to wear makeup, and her natural appearance was exceptionally delicate and charming. However, her expression remained淡淡, making it difficult to discern any emotions.