Seven, the initial stirrings of emotion

From a young age, apart from her and Guiyun, Zhan Feng had no other close female friends. At that moment, a single glance from Miss Yanfei made him obediently walk away. She felt an inexplicable tremor in her heart, and when she came to her senses, Zhan Feng had already run far away

"The Chinese police specifically target students resisting the Japanese, which is truly heartbreaking," sighed the owner of the Du family. Guiyun also sighed, continuing to read. A large photograph revealed the police officer who had injured Zhuoyang, glaring and brandishing his baton. This must have been taken just as Zhuoyang was attacked. Could it be that Zhuoyang is a journalist? Guiyun pondered, then chuckled at herself. Regardless of whether it was Zhuoyang or the Frenchman André, who had stirred the affections of Xiaodie, she was unaware of their true intentions. What is the need for familiarity in a genuine encounter? They are merely passersby, and once they pass, they are gone. Guiyun reflected again, chuckling at herself, whether it was Zhuoyang or the Frenchman André who had stirred Xiaodie's heart, she remained oblivious to their purposes. What is the need for familiarity in a genuine encounter? They are merely passersby, and once they pass, they are gone. The last line of the report read: "Our newspaper's intern photographer was also injured by the police, and our staff is deeply outraged by the brutality of the police towards the Chinese in the concession."

Bailemen, Guiyun never expected that there would come a day when she would be connected to the Bailemen of this grand Shanghai.

Turning his head, he found that the person beside him was Guiyun. She wore a worried expression, and he thought he must not let her worry, so he took a deep breath and smiled, saying: "Miss watching the Western mirror, help me a bit!" Without much thought, Guiyun pulled apart the blue silk and quickly wrapped it tightly around Zhuoyang's injured calf. Then she grasped his arm, resting it on her frail shoulder, while placing one hand under his other arm, bending at the waist to help him slowly stand up. After all, the girl lacked strength, making it quite difficult. Zhuoyang also realized this and used his other foot to push down, trying to bear as much of his weight as possible, not putting all the burden on Guiyun. He steadied himself, balanced his body, and reassured her: "It's fine, it's just a scratch from a fragment; otherwise, it would have bled profusely by now."

There were still quite a few domestic and foreign journalists by the roadside, holding cameras, snapping photos while following the parade. Then, Guiyun spotted an acquaintance. That familiar profile, that familiar black Zhongshan suit. He straightened his back, turned away from her, facing the students in the parade.

Yan Fei and the woman in red named Man Li walked shoulder to shoulder to the elevator. As usual, Yan Fei ignored Gui Yun in front of the crowd. Gui Feng looked a bit puzzled and glanced at Gui Yun, who then walked away to observe the Western-style floor lamp in the center of the hall. "Those two wealthy individuals have come again! It seems that only the two of them can handle this situation," Jiang Taizhong said kindly as he pressed the elevator button.

They are truly well-acquainted. Guiyun said, "Alright, wait a moment." He went downstairs, rummaged through the kitchen, and found a French baguette and a few eggs. Oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar were all available; this foreigner, having lived in the Chinese environment for a long time, had indeed adopted the eating and drinking habits of the Chinese.

The constable sneered: "I don't care whether you are patriotic or not; on my turf, you must follow the rules!" Zhuo Yang, trying to protect the camera in his hands, could only dodge left and right under the constable's baton. Two patriotic students, seeing this, came over to help Zhuo Yang pull the constable away. When the constable saw he was alone against three people, he reached for his gun. At that moment, another constable, who was in conflict with the students, fired a shot into the air. The first constable, unwilling to back down, fired at the ground. Zhuo Yang and the two others were caught off guard and stumbled, falling to the ground. The constable, seeing he was alone against three people, reached for his gun. At that moment, another constable, who was in conflict with the students, fired a shot into the air. The first constable, unwilling to back down, fired at the ground. Zhuo Yang and the two others were caught off guard and stumbled, falling to the ground.

Guiyun moved a bit quickly, and upon reaching the road, he saw that the trams, which had previously avoided the student protests, had resumed service. However, the crowd waiting for the tram was surging, and it took a long time for one to arrive, moving slowly and swaying unsteadily. After much effort to squeeze in with the crowd, he found himself packed tightly on the tram, making it difficult to breathe.

Startled, I thought it was an illusion. After focusing my eyes, it was indeed Zhuo Yang, dressed in a black suit, standing tall and straight. This person always wears all black. He stood in a corner on the other side of the dance floor. Zhuo Yang's gaze also caught sight of her immediately; he furrowed his brow slightly, glanced at them, and then tried to squeeze through from the side.

Zhuo Yang said softly to Gui Yun: "This Miss Wu truly impresses me." Gui Yun merely followed Chen Manli's and the middle-aged man's gaze to look over. Yan Fei was standing in a dim corner of the return corridor, facing two individuals. One was short, bald, with a thin mustache. The other was tall, leaning down to speak to Yan Fei. Both of them seemed familiar.

The red star points have stained this expanse of blue, while the pure blue has been tinged with the red of these star points, creating an unexpectedly harmonious and pristine beauty.

Zhuo Yang directed her to the innermost Shikumen in the alley, without mentioning whose house it was. Gui Yun did not ask, merely following his indication to press the doorbell. Suddenly, a hurried sound of footsteps descending the stairs echoed from within, followed by a loud "bang" as the door opened

The middle-aged man, unable to contain his anger, glared at her twice, breaking his facade of simplicity. As his eyes shifted, he smiled and said, "You may not know the times, but some do." Chen Manli also cast a sharp glance, sneering a few times, and bitterly remarked, "I really didn't expect that little prostitute to have developed a taste for Eastern flavors"

Xiao Die suddenly said: "No matter what, Zhan Feng is a double insurance; there is not only Gui Yun, but also Gui Feng!"

Jiang Taizhong Dao and the Book: "I still need to attend to these two ladies and help Manager Yuan finalize that deal, so it will take a while. You might as well go to the ballroom and have some fun first!" The owner Du instinctively wanted to refuse, but considering the purpose of today, he had no choice but to agree and led Guiyun and Guifeng upstairs with Jiang Taizhong.

Mona invited the American doctor neighbor over and saw Guiyun bustling in and out of the kitchen, asking Zhuoyang: "What is she doing?"

Then the American doctor spoke: "Oh, young man, I admire your patriotism, but I hope you will pay attention to safety"

With these items, it would be difficult for Guiyun to be at a loss. She took out the coal stove to start a fire, found the oil pot to heat the oil, beat the eggs evenly, tore the bread, dipped it in the egg mixture, and placed it in the oil pot to fry, making a sizzling sound. While Guiyun was busy lighting the fire in the courtyard, Zhuoyang leaned on the windowsill to watch. He had not expected her to prepare something for him to eat, and upon seeing it this time, he was pleasantly surprised, unable to help but smile slightly, just staring at her.

Guiyun chuckled softly and pointed to the door of the east wing. Guiyun pushed it open, and the door was ajar. Inside was a Western-style bed with copper legs, accompanied by a writing desk and a bookshelf, all neatly arranged as if specially prepared. She cast a discreet glance at Zhuoyang, who then casually fell onto the bed, took down the camera, and winced in pain, furrowing his brow. She thought to herself, he must be in pain! It felt inappropriate to ask anything further. With nothing to do, they wanted to talk but found themselves at a loss for words. Zhuoyang glanced over and noticed a pair of sparrows outside the skylight grooming each other's feathers. He said, "Look." Sunlight streamed in at an angle through the window, casting a rainbow over Guiyun's black braid and the tips of Zhuoyang's black hair. Guiyun turned to look, her hands resting on the edge of the bed, and Zhuoyang's other hand hanging down from the bed's edge seemed to almost connect with hers, their pinky fingers nearly touching.

Zhuo Yang frowned, hung the camera around his neck, looked at his calf again, reached out to Gui Yun, and said: "Could you please help me a bit."

There were indeed many foreigners. As soon as they entered the alley, they encountered two foreigners who curiously stared at them, causing Guiyun to feel flustered. Zhuoyang slightly lowered his head and softly said, "Don't be nervous; the foreigners here come from all over the world and are not interested in meddling in others' affairs." A warm breath brushed against Guiyun's cheek. She lowered her head and looked at the shadows of herself and Zhuoyang, leaning against each other under the sunlight, and her face suddenly flushed.

Gui Feng also saw Yan Fei and was momentarily taken aback. She did not expect to see her giving a signal to Zhan Feng.

Zhuo Yang sighed: "The war is imminent, and the vast land of China is about to fall. Yet, in the bustling cities, everywhere is filled with song and dance, with performances continuing, stars being adored, gambling and drug trafficking rampant, and financial speculation thriving, all oblivious to the looming national crisis. Hmph! What does it mean by 'The merchant women know not the hatred of a fallen nation, still singing the songs of the garden across the river!' Every word strikes at Gui Yun's heart. What does this mean? With performances continuing, stars being adored, gambling and drug trafficking rampant, and financial speculation thriving. What does it mean by 'The merchant women know not the hatred of a fallen nation, still singing the songs of the garden across the river!' Every word strikes at Gui Yun's heart. What does this mean? With performances continuing, stars being adored, gambling and drug trafficking rampant, and financial speculation thriving. By such reasoning, those who 'perform' are also categorized among these 'merchant women' who know not the hatred of a fallen nation.

Zhuo Yang had not yet reacted, calling out "Hey" twice, but Gui Yun did not turn back, heading straight towards Zhan Feng and Du Ban Zhu as if to rescue the situation. She approached the old man and the young man, hurriedly exchanged a few words with the elder, and then tugged at the young man's sleeve. Following that, the two of them left the dance floor with the elder. It was all so rushed, without any words exchanged. He felt a slight regret. Du Ban Zhu, however, was almost furious; he had not expected his son, who had gone to Chongqing, to appear in such a place. Seeing her approach the old man and the young man, hurriedly speaking a few words to the elder, and then pulling the young man's sleeve, the two of them followed the elder out of the dance floor. It was all so rushed, without any words exchanged. He felt a slight regret. Du Ban Zhu, however, was almost furious; he had not expected his son, who had gone to Chongqing, to appear in such a place. He was so angry that he felt like a Buddha descending to the world and another ascending to heaven. His family was in dire straits, and his son, who should be doing serious work, was in a place of revelry. He must have been deceived by his son, which made him furious: "You—" Yet, due to the occasion, he could not erupt in anger and had to suppress it, saying, "I will settle this with you at home!" Zhan Feng lowered his head, secretly pondering how to explain or how to conceal. He remained silent, partly out of fear of his father, and partly because he knew it was not the right time to argue. He must have been deceived by his son, which made him furious: "You—" Yet, due to the occasion, he could not erupt in anger and had to suppress it, saying, "I will settle this with you at home!" Zhan Feng lowered his head, secretly pondering how to explain or how to conceal. He remained silent, partly out of fear of his father, and partly because he knew it was not the right time to argue. Gui Feng followed them out, and upon seeing Zhan Feng, was both surprised and delighted: "Zhan Feng, you?" Noticing Gui Yun's glance, she first reported the serious matter: "Mr. Jiang said Manager Yuan is currently unavailable and asked us to reschedule for next time!" Du Ban Zhu, preoccupied with the urgent matter of reprimanding his son, was indifferent and said, "Very well, let’s go home first!" He shot a fierce glare at Zhan Feng, "Are you still embarrassing yourself? Hurry up and get back!" After saying that, he led the way out. She first reported the serious matter: "Mr. Jiang said Manager Yuan is currently unavailable and asked us to reschedule for next time!" Du Ban Zhu, preoccupied with the urgent matter of reprimanding his son, was indifferent and said, "Very well, let’s go home first!" He shot a fierce glare at Zhan Feng, "Are you still embarrassing yourself? Hurry up and get back!" After saying that, he led the way out. Unexpectedly, Zhan Feng stood still and did not move. Gui Feng tugged at his sleeve: "What’s wrong with you? Don’t be like this."

Guiyun rose to inquire: "May I use her kitchen?" Zhuoyang nodded: "Yes, everything here belongs to her, and you may freely use anything in the kitchen!"

In several encounters, he and she are like the unattainable red and blue. When they do meet, it feels like a sun in the blue sky, brightening everything, warming the heart slightly. Mona looked at him and asked, "Is it a pity?" Zhuo Yang fell silent, gently stroking the silk, then looked up again; the little sparrow at the window was still hopping around energetically. The sun had already tilted towards the west, and the sunlight was fading. After a long while, he finally said, "Before my injury heals, I’m afraid I’ll need to borrow your space for a while." "Should we inform Teacher Zhuo?" Zhuo Yang shook his head. Mona looked at him and asked again, "Is it a pity?" Zhuo Yang remained silent, gently stroking the silk, then looked up again; the little sparrow at the window was still hopping around energetically. The sun had already tilted towards the west, and the sunlight was fading. After a long while, he finally said, "Before my injury heals, I’m afraid I’ll need to borrow your space for a while." "Should we inform Teacher Zhuo?" Zhuo Yang shook his head, recalling the most important matter: "You still need to help me with one thing, take the film in this camera to the 'Morning News' office on Fourth Avenue." Mona asked, "Is it urgent for tomorrow's publication?" Zhuo Yang nodded, solemnly instructing, "It must be delivered today." He moved his leg, still in pain. Remembering the most important matter: "You still need to help me with one thing, take the film in this camera to the 'Morning News' office on Fourth Avenue." Mona asked, "Is it urgent for tomorrow's publication?" Zhuo Yang nodded, solemnly instructing, "It must be delivered today." He moved his leg, still in pain. Peering outside again, the returning clouds had already drifted far away, their shadows no longer visible.

Guiyun was not in a good mood; she knocked heavily on the door, pushed it open, and placed the plate on the table. Zhuoyang said, "Thank you." His originally serious face softened, and he smiled slightly. She did not smile, glanced at Zhuoyang's injured leg, which was wrapped neatly in white gauze, and said, "You all should eat while it's hot! I will leave first." Her tone was indifferent, indicating a desire to distance herself. Zhuoyang's heart raced with alarm, not understanding the source of the girl's stiff attitude. He anxiously said, "Shall I see you off?" He looked at his own leg, wondering how he could do that. Guiyun wanted to laugh but held it back: "You can take the tram on the road." She left without lingering or saying goodbye, leaving the confused young man in distress. Doctor Jiesheng suddenly asked, "Who upset this beautiful young lady?" Attracted by the aroma of the bread on the table, he pinched a piece, chewed it, and gave a thumbs up, saying, "GREAT!" Mona also tried it and handed it to Zhuoyang. Zhuoyang picked up the bread, turned his head, and looked at the blue silk piled neatly by the bedside, which had spots of his own blood on it.

One of Mona's neighbors, who appears almost every year, seems more like Andre's landlord

Guiyun was indeed lost in thought as she walked. Today, her mind was quite chaotic, yet the sunlight was splendid, infused with the spring breeze, brushing against her face, clearing her thoughts and leaving her mind blank, allowing her not to think of anything. This made her long for a solitary stroll, and she gradually found herself on Aiduoya Road. This road was filled in from the once narrow and dirty Yangjingbang, compacted with asphalt, becoming solid and transforming into the widest road on the Bund, bearing the weight of people's lives. This road was named after the British Emperor Edward VII. To build a road in China to commemorate the emperor of the invading and plundering nation, who cares about the dignity of the Chinese people? At this time, the dignity of the Chinese people was not worth mentioning. The prosperity of Shanghai was elevated to be on par with that of New York and Paris. However, this prosperity was superficial. The ten-mile foreign concession, with its songs and dances, seemed to render everything weak. After much contemplation, her heart gradually ached. She wished to head towards the racetrack, but the vehicles on the road became increasingly congested, forming a long line. Passersby stopped to look around, unsure of what was happening. Guiyun was also puzzled. Ahead, a dense crowd surged forward, the vast procession approaching from afar.

The interior of the Palais is even more splendid, as they step into the dance floor on the second floor, awash in a kaleidoscope of colors. Men and women, with arms around each other, jostle and sway, stepping on the vibrating steel floor, surrounded by dim yellow lights, where everyone is lost in a state of intoxication. The heart-wrenching songs and dances that Zhuo Yang spoke of must be like this! Gui Yun thought, and then caught sight of Zhuo Yang's profile.

He smiled and teased her to make her laugh. "Monna has to pay rent with breadcrumbs every day." "What a cheap rent." Guiyu smiled, her heart softening, "Are you hungry? You haven't had lunch yet, have you?"

Once again, I thought of Yan Fei. In fact, I truly saw Yan Fei at the Paramount. The next night, the owner Du led Guiyun and Guifeng to the Paramount. The time was set by Jiang Taizhong. Guifeng was the star performer, not to be outdone. Although Guiyun could not currently perform on stage, singing below still had a way of impressing people, and being part of the family, he knew how to conduct himself and would not embarrass anyone. As they walked along Jiefang Road, opposite Jing'an Temple, everyone was still in awe. After all, this was the place known as the "First Music House of the Far East," a three-story building that was taller and more spacious than ordinary buildings, adorned with a tiered, four-section circular glass tower that sparkled and rotated, making the Paramount truly resemble a celestial music house. Under the night sky, one could still see the flagpole added to the top of the Paramount, standing tall against the sky. Facing the front of Jing'an Temple, there was a large English name—PARAMOUNT. How amusing! Shanghai is a city that embraces all, with all kinds of amusing scenes, such as this "First Music House of the Far East" facing the famous millennium-old temple of Jiangnan. Jing'an Temple had no choice but to choose to remain hidden in the bustling city. It turned out that the second floor of the Paramount was the ballroom, accessible by a staircase resembling that of a royal palace, though one could also choose to take the elevator.

Zhuo Yang rubbed his stomach: "I am indeed a bit hungry, but here at Andrei's, there is nothing but bread."

Jiang Taizhong appeared from the elevator door to greet them. "You still have to wait a while; our Manager Yuan is currently entertaining guests," he said, as everyone heard a burst of laughter. Guiyun then saw Yanfei, whose white qipao was slit up to near her thigh, accompanied by a woman in a bright red dress with ruffled edges. Yanfei still wore her hair in a bun, exuding an elegant, classical Chinese style. The woman in the red dress had her hair flowing loosely, styled with hair gel, sticking to the back of her head, accentuating her striking features. This contrast of white and red resembled two plum blossoms, blooming fiercely in the grand, circular hall of the Bailemen. Who held more influence? Jiang Taizhong hurriedly approached: "Manli, Anan, you have kept Manager Yuan waiting. Have you had dinner yet?"

He could already smell the aroma of bread and eggs, particularly enticing, stirring his appetite and making his mouth water. Zhuo Yang smiled and said, "She is making the Snail Girl." Mona did not understand, asking, "What?" Zhuo Yang withdrew his gaze and greeted the American doctor, "Mr. Jason, I need to trouble you again!" Gui Yun was quick with her hands and feet, frying a full plate of bread. This frying technique was learned from the master chef at the pastry shop on Sichuan Road. Although the people of Shanghai also learned to eat Western pastries like the foreigners, they always managed to infuse their own creative ideas, transforming Western pastries into Chinese flavors. Some habits of the Chinese people are deeply rooted and will never change. Gui Yun tidied up the stove and carried the plate upstairs. From a distance, one could hear the intense conversation inside. "I don't think student protests will be effective; we need more practical and more intense resistance to win," was Mona's voice. Gui Yun tidied up the stove and carried the plate upstairs. From a distance, one could hear the intense conversation inside. "I don't think student protests will be effective; we need more practical and more intense resistance to win," was Mona's voice.

The ticket seller insisted on shouting: "Everyone, please squeeze in, we still need to let more people on. Squeezing in is not a big deal; the rubber tires won't be damaged by squeezing."

Gui Yun glanced at Du Ban Zhu, who was engrossed in listening to Jiang Tai Zhong's boastful talk, and signaled to Gui Feng that she wanted to leave. She walked towards him. He walked without a limp, indicating a good recovery. A sense of relief washed over her. The two finally came together. "I came to find someone," she said immediately, as if fearing he might misunderstand. "My leg is fine now," he replied, not engaging with her statement, letting her know he had not misinterpreted her. Not knowing what to say, they could only exchange silly yet polite smiles. She noticed the camera hidden in his suit: "Are you doing a report for your photography internship?" He nodded: "The theme is the flourishing Shanghai Bund." She recalled his words from that day. They performed opera, adding a few more songs to this flourishing atmosphere. Her mood darkened again, her expression dimming. Zhuo Yang was puzzled; the girl had changed her demeanor again, leaving him even more unsure of what to say. Someone rushed over, bumping into Gui Yun, and Zhuo Yang reached out to steady her. The one who bumped into Gui Yun was Miss Man Li, the Red Peony, followed by a simple-minded middle-aged man who was sweating profusely.

Guiyun hurried a few steps forward and turned her head to look at him. It was Zhuoyang, holding a camera, squeezed among a group of reporters taking pictures of the marching students. She wondered if she should go over and say hello. The sirens of police cars blared. Five or six police cars from the French Concession arrived, and dozens of Chinese constables, fully equipped, rushed towards the students, brandishing their batons without hesitation. Behind them, reinforcements stood in formation, watching with hawkish eyes, clearly ready to act at any moment. Of course, there were also those pursuing from the International Settlement, following all the way to the French Concession. The Han army had not yet invaded, but the surroundings were already filled with despair. The end of the marching line became chaotic, with the boys protecting the girls in the middle, pushing against the constables. The constables, having received orders, beat the students mercilessly. Strong lives were to be brutally broken, these tender sprouts just beginning to emerge. The road was in disarray, with the police busy surrounding the scene, initially ignoring the group of photographers. Zhuoyang unexpectedly rushed to the front, taking rapid shots at the constables beating the students, the flash going off continuously. The constables being photographed were first taken aback, but upon regaining their composure, they released the students and lunged at Zhuoyang, attempting to seize the camera from his hands. The two grappled together, and all that could be heard was Zhuoyang's cold laugh: "Since you are Chinese, why are you surrounding patriotic students?"

"You winter vegetables, I, Chen Manli, have never entertained the Japanese. It is useless for you to keep nagging me." Chen Manli's sharp words cut through the air. The middle-aged man said, "Miss Manli, the world is tough now. You shouldn't be so picky and make it hard for others. If you don't seize a good opportunity while you're young, will you just wither away on the granite of the Palais de Danse?" It was surprising to hear such words from a seemingly honest person. Zhuo Yang pulled Guiyun aside. Chen Manli sneered, crossing her arms over her chest: "Even if I wither away on the granite of the Palais de Danse, I won't let the little Japanese take advantage of my flesh." With a glance, she noticed an old acquaintance among the onlookers. The middle-aged man continued, "Miss Manli, the world is tough now. You shouldn't be so picky and make it hard for others. If you don't seize a good opportunity while you're young, will you just wither away on the granite of the Palais de Danse?" Zhuo Yang pulled Guiyun aside again. Chen Manli sneered, crossing her arms over her chest: "Even if I wither away on the granite of the Palais de Danse, I won't let the little Japanese take advantage of my flesh." With a glance, she noticed an old acquaintance among the onlookers, and she sat down on the man's lap, saying, "Young Master He, don't you agree?" The fortunate dancer, who had unexpectedly received such attention, beamed with joy: "Is Miss Manli wrong? Of course, Chinese beauties should not entertain the Japanese."

In reality, the pain was still so intense that he wanted to grimace. Now, he was merely trying to calm the nerves in his face that were reacting to the pain. He took a deep breath and asked, "You know the entrance to Building 28 on Xiefu Road, right?" Guiyun nodded. He continued, "Could you please help me take this injured person there?" Guiyun nodded again, then, spotting a small alley to the side, helped him slip inside. Zhuoyang struggled to quicken his pace, thinking to himself that this young lady was indeed quite perceptive. Guiyun knew how to get to "Building 28 on Xiefu Road" and was also aware of the shortcut through the small alley. The name of this alley was a nickname given by the rickshaw pullers who frequently traveled along Xiefu Road, but its fame stemmed from the fact that almost all the residents of the twenty-eight Shikumen houses in the alley were foreigners. In fact, there was not much difference between these Shikumen houses and any high-end Shikumen in the French Concession; they all featured yellow walls and red tiles, with green branches shading the windows, and the roof tiles were gently and beautifully fish-scale shaped. As Guiyun supported Zhuoyang into this alley, she continued to think this way.

In this way, we common people have no other tricks up our sleeves! Indeed, there are no other tricks; apart from striving to promote social prosperity, what else can the common people do? The most economical and practical approach is to have a clear division of labor with the soldiers. What the common people desire is merely a peaceful life, with work to do, food to eat, and a roof over their heads to shelter from the wind and rain for a good night's sleep. Such low demands actually yield great contributions. Behind all the dazzling colors and luxurious comforts lies the diligent and hard work of the common people. The common people desire nothing more than a peaceful life, with work to do, food to eat, and a roof over their heads to shelter from the wind and rain for a good night's sleep. Such low demands actually yield great contributions. Behind all the dazzling colors and luxurious comforts lies the diligent and hard work of the common people. Zhuo Yang's words indiscriminately struck a whole group of people, inevitably harming the innocent. Gui Yun felt as if she had been wounded. Perhaps it was indeed unintentional on the part of the speaker, while the listener, feeling unjustly wronged, became upset. After all, it was still the heart of a young girl. After getting off the car and crossing the street, she entered the alley, where Xiao Die and Lu Ming were softly conversing at the entrance of the Lu family's small shop, their demeanor extremely affectionate. Perhaps it was indeed unintentional on the part of the speaker, while the listener, feeling unjustly wronged, became upset. After all, it was still the heart of a young girl. After getting off the car and crossing the street, she entered the alley, where Xiao Die and Lu Ming were softly conversing at the entrance of the Lu family's small shop, their demeanor extremely affectionate. When they saw Gui Yun approaching, they immediately separated. Gui Yun found it amusing and pretended not to notice as she returned home. The head of the troupe, Gui Feng, and the others had probably gone to the theater, leaving the atmosphere feeling quite desolate. However, there were voices in the parlor. "The Lu family has come to propose marriage, which is indeed a good thing. Qiu Yue is not very sensible, but at least Xiao Die can give me some peace of mind—" Gui Yun recognized that it was Xiao Die's mother, who was sitting with Qing Gu, both working on a wool thread under the kerosene lamp. So it was. With countless threads, as long as the marriage lines of the children are well connected, the parents will feel fulfilled. Qing Gu said, "Xiao Die has actually gotten ahead of Zhan Feng and Gui Yun; my son is not an easy one to deal with either."

Yan Fei only smiled, without speaking. However, it turned out that she and Yan Fei were nicknamed the Red and White Peonies in the dance hall. As the elevator doors opened, the two flowers were sent inside by Jiang Taizhong. For a brief moment as Yan Fei turned, her gaze seemed to shift to Gui Yun, but just for a moment, she turned back to chat and laugh with Man Li beside her. "Isn't she Xiao Yan? How come she doesn't recognize you?" Gui Feng asked Gui Yun in a low voice. Gui Yun replied softly, "In this form, she and I indeed do not recognize each other." Gui Feng did not understand, but Gui Yun did. In such a setting, Yan Fei was preserving her reputation, ensuring that her innocent identity was not tainted by herself. Gui Yun understood, and thus her heart ached even more.

Guiyun was taken aback. Aunt Qing, unsure if she had absorbed the words, replied, "The children will have their own fortunes; I only hope that Zhanfeng will send me some news soon." Guiyun pushed the door open and entered, greeting the elders. The next day, the Du family received a letter from Zhanfeng, stating that he would be back in two or three weeks. Aunt Qing felt relieved. Along with the letter, the postman also delivered a copy of the "Morning News," which Master Du and Guiyun gathered to read together.

Guiyun and Guifeng dressed neatly and simply, accompanying Master Du to banquet with the person who holds the key to their future livelihood

Manli leaned against the wall with one hand, touching her hairline: "Oh, is there a distinguished guest today for us to entertain together, the Red and White Peonies?"

The angry students surrounded the bully patrol. Guiyun noticed that Zhuoyang's calf suddenly had bloodstains. Without hesitation, he pushed through the crowd and squeezed to his side, asking: "Are you okay?"

Soon, someone complained: "How can we squeeze in? We're all packed in like dried yellow fish." "It's all these protesting students causing trouble; instead of going to class, they're just making a racket!" "It's the Japanese devils who won't let us Chinese citizens live in peace." "If a war really breaks out, what can we do?" "What can we do? We just go on with our lives, eating, sleeping, and working; those who need to fight will fight, and those who need to work will work; everyone just does their own thing!"

It turned out to be just an internship in photography, yet they worked so hard! Guiyun stared blankly at the newspaper for quite a while. Boss Li of Fengping Theater decided to close the theater in June and prepare to return home for retirement. Master Du finally managed to find someone, a former musician who used to sing boat operas with him, who has now made it to the Palais de Danse as an assistant to the manager, reportedly with significant connections. He took the initiative to invite this now successful colleague to the most famous local restaurant, Lao Zhengxing, as the host.

It is that foreign lady! Upon seeing Zhuo Yang, her eyes narrowed slightly as she approached and called out, "Oh, Yang." She noticed the injury on Zhuo Yang's leg and gasped in surprise. Zhuo Yang still had the presence of mind to introduce them to each other. "This is Miss Du Guiyun from China, and this is Miss Mona from America." Guiyun nodded towards Mona, who embraced her and gave her a kiss. Guiyun was startled by this Western formality, but being somewhat accustomed to social situations, she shyly yet graciously shook hands with Mona. Zhuo Yang remarked, "I certainly do not wish to perish outside your door; are your American doctors on duty today?" Mona shot a glance at Zhuo Yang, her demeanor casual and flirtatious, while Guiyun turned her face away. Upon hearing her say, "Difficulties have come to the door," she promptly left to find a doctor for Zhuo Yang. "Let’s go upstairs," Zhuo Yang said, handing her his hand, and Guiyun supported him. The Shikumen is also a configuration familiar to Shanghai residents, akin to a temple within a shell, but Mona lived alone, leaving three or four rooms empty, which was truly extravagant. Zhuo Yang seemed to understand her thoughts and said, "Her brother is the chief of the public concession police station, and she is also a bourgeois lady."

Yanfei's gaze began to wander again, uncertain if she had heard that person's words. Guiyun furrowed her brows, thinking that these two might be the Japanese individuals whom Manli was unwilling to receive. Suddenly, the master Du bypassed Yanfei and hurriedly walked deeper into the corridor, patting someone on the shoulder. That person turned his head, and it turned out to be Zhanfeng. Upon seeing Master Du, Zhanfeng was taken aback, his spirit momentarily lost in fear and trepidation. Noticing Master Du's increasingly fierce expression, Guiyun sensed that something was amiss and hurriedly said to Zhuoyang, "I have something to attend to, so I will leave first." Zhanfeng was taken aback upon seeing Master Du, his spirit momentarily lost in fear and trepidation. Noticing Master Du's increasingly fierce expression, Guiyun sensed that something was amiss and hurriedly said to Zhuoyang, "I have something to attend to, so I will leave first."

She accidentally pulled off the ribbon at the end of her braid, then stopped her hands and simply tore the ribbon apart, letting her hair down. One side of her hair fell freely, floating gracefully like a piece of black satin, shining in the smoke. Her heart skipped a beat, then another. Watching her slowly braid her hair again, she flicked it back, and the blue ribbon swayed playfully behind her.

Guiyun also said: "At this moment, we cannot let your father lose face; everything can be discussed when we get home." He then shifted his steps and turned to glance into the dance floor. There, amidst the darkness of the dance hall, he spotted a graceful white figure, still so striking in the center of this dimly lit space. He couldn't help but come to see this place, which he believed had allowed Yanfei to blossom. Yanfei also noticed him and signaled with her eyes, as if to say he understood. He couldn't resist coming to see this place, which he thought had enabled Yanfei to flourish. Yanfei also saw him and signaled again, wanting him to return. Suddenly, Zhanfeng realized that through the layers of chaotic light, he was so far from her, and a sense of frustration arose, prompting him to closely follow his father out.