TL: Hua
“Are you Qi Xiaoyu?” The theater manager had just finished the introduction when Jiang Jing stopped in front of Qi Xiaoyu, tilted her head, and asked very arrogantly.
Qi Xiaoyu dragged the name out from his memory, finally understanding why the face looked familiar. On the train back to Shanghai from Suzhou, he had seen Jiang Jing’s name in the newspaper. She was the daughter of the deputy director of the economic department and had appeared in the newspaper with Xun Qian.
Jiang Jing’s gaze swept over Qi Xiaoyu impudently and disdainfully. “Manager Wu, I have something I want to say to him alone.”
Seeing this situation, the theater manager didn’t want to get involved at all and quickly slipped away as soon as he heard Jiang Jing’s words.
Qi Xiaoyu knew the person had ill intentions, but his face remained polite as he returned Jiang Jing’s gaze. “May I ask what urgent business Miss Jiang has?”
“Urgent business?” Jiang Jing snorted from her nose. “If it were truly urgent business, would a mere actor like you be worthy to hear it?”
Jiang Jing’s words were truly impolite, but at this time, Qi Xiaoyu didn’t want to cause trouble for the opera troupe, so he suppressed his anger and gestured for her to leave. “If Miss Jiang has nothing else, then please.”
However, Jiang Jing was clearly not someone who knew when to stop. “A mere actor, yet you put on such airs.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and looked into the backstage with a disgusted expression. Gu Zizhen had stayed home today, and Qi Wanrou had come to the opera troupe to help.
“Is this the kind of place where you put on makeup and flirt with people everywhere? It’s truly a mixed bag, men and women without any sense of shame.”
“Miss Jiang,” even with Qi Xiaoyu’s good temper, his voice turned cold at this point, “if you know this is my territory, you had better watch your words.”
Jiang Jing scoffed sarcastically, her eyes fixed on Qi Xiaoyu. “I’m here today to talk about Commander Xun’s affairs.”
“My affairs with him,” Qi Xiaoyu smiled slightly, “even his older siblings have no objections, so is it Miss Jiang’s place to offer her opinions?”
Qi Xiaoyu turned his body towards the dressing room, not wanting to get entangled with her any further. “If Miss Jiang has nothing else, I’ll go back now.”
“Stop!” The moment Jiang Jing heard Qi Xiaoyu mention Xun Qian’s older siblings, her heart skipped a beat.
She had heard people say that Xun Qian had openly taken Qi Xiaoyu to the welcoming banquet for Xun Ran’s return to Shanghai. Now, hearing that Qi Xiaoyu had met Xun Mo and Xun Ran, she was already filled with anger and embarrassment. She called out from behind, flustered and furious, “How can someone like you have the nerve to be with him? Are you worthy? You’re just an actor who shows his face in public. Do you understand economics or politics? Does your family have connections or influence? Besides pleasing people, what help can you offer him?
Do you know what people are saying about your relationship behind your back?”
Each of this series of questions struck precisely at Qi Xiaoyu’s weak points, and his steps involuntarily faltered.
A victor’s smile appeared on Jiang Jing’s face. She was very clear about her advantages, this natural advantage that came from her birth and family.
“Do you know how complex and tense the situation in Shanghai is right now? Do you know how much pressure Commander Xun Qian is under?
The banks are on the verge of collapse, and the financial market could crash with the slightest carelessness. The northern government’s silver reserves are insufficient, demanding that banks in Shanghai suspend cash payments. But do you know what a fatal blow suspending payments would be to the entire Shanghai economy? Oh, I forgot, you’re just an actor; you wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”
Qi Xiaoyu stood still without turning his head, his face pale, his hands clenched tightly in his sleeves.
He knew the recent situation was bad and that Xun Qian was busy with work, but he didn’t know it was this serious. When Xun Qian called him, his tone was always the gentlest, saying the most nonchalant things, never letting him worry about anything.
Right now, Jiang Jing’s words seemed to carry a layer of coldness, invading his body and spreading through his internal organs.
Jiang Jing continued relentlessly, speaking in a condescending tone.
“Commander Xun is working day and night in the Economic Department, planning for the entire Shanghai, while you can only go on stage and perform. Do you think you are worthy of him?”
Jiang Jing paused triumphantly. “Only my father, my family, including myself, can give him the best support and help him stabilize the situation in Shanghai as soon as possible. Think carefully and weigh your own importance. What can an actor who can only appear in gossip columns bring him?
Can you help him get silver or secure support from international banks?”
After Jiang Jing finished speaking, she looked at Qi Xiaoyu’s stiff back and sneered before turning around and leaving with her two bodyguards, full of self-satisfaction.
After Jiang Jing left, Qi Xiaoyu remained standing there in a daze.
He loved performing, although he had always known that it wasn’t a glorious profession, even considered lowly.
But now, performing seemed like a deep chasm separating him and Xun Qian.
Whether from his master’s perspective or from the world’s perspective.
“Xiaoyu, what’s wrong?”
Qi Wanrou walked over and grabbed Qi Xiaoyu’s arm. She could feel his body trembling slightly.
“Who was that woman who came to find you just now? What did she say to you?”
“It’s nothing.” Qi Xiaoyu came back to his senses, forcing a smile. “You guys go home first. I want to go for a walk.”
Qi Wanrou looked at him worriedly, and after a long while, she let go of his arm.
“Alright. Don’t be out too long; come back early.”
The night outside was already deep, but by the Huangpu River, it was the busiest time.
The Laurel Stage and the Paramount faced each other, each illuminated by several bright lights. One side displayed a colorful poster of Qi Xiaoyu as Yang Guifei, while the other showed a glamorous photo of the Paramount dancers in sleeveless sequined dresses.
On the street below the photos, cars and rickshaws were packed tightly, filling the entire intersection. People who had just finished watching the opera mingled with those coming to the Paramount to drown their sorrows, together creating the decadent scene of glamorous Shanghai.
The nights here were the most lively, a place for things that couldn’t see the light of day, the most useless and extravagant pastimes.
Afraid of being recognized, Qi Xiaoyu came out from the side door and turned into a much emptier side road.
The evening breeze by the river in May was very cool, making his heart feel heavy.
He was agitated and felt close to depression.
Xun Qian made his heart flutter but also made him feel inferior.
If he had no ties, he could go to the commander’s residence on Baocheng Road right now to find him.
But he had too many concerns. He couldn’t let go of his master, couldn’t let go of the Red Moon Troupe. He would never be able to escape the identity of an actor.
And he truly couldn’t do anything for Xun Qian like Jiang Jing could.
He walked with heavy steps in the light breeze.
As he walked past a fork in the road, he was suddenly bumped on the shoulder.
Then he heard an urgent male voice say to him, “Hey, do me a favor. If anyone asks later, say you haven’t seen me.”
Qi Xiaoyu turned his head and first saw a head of curly hair; then he saw the whole face. Dressed in a fashionable leather jacket and boots, he immediately recognized the person as Jiang Sicheng.
Jiang Sicheng was also holding the hand of a beautiful girl wearing a sequined dress and a beige cardigan.
Qi Xiaoyu also remembered this girl. He often saw her on the posters at the entrance of the Paramount. Her name was Xue Qingchu, and she was very popular at the Paramount.
The two of them were hiding in the shadows of the alley. Jiang Sicheng frowned and made a shushing gesture at him.
Not long after, a car did drive over. The car window rolled down, and someone asked him if he had seen a man and a woman pass by.
The car then drove away hastily, continuing to look for them.
After the car had gone far, Jiang Sicheng and Xue Qingchu walked out of the shadows side by side.
Xue Qingchu looked at Qi Xiaoyu, seemingly recognizing him as well. “Thank you, Mr. Qi.”
After speaking, she nudged Jiang Sicheng. “Young Master Jiang, stop fooling around and go back quickly.”
Jiang Sicheng also glanced at Qi Xiaoyu but didn’t speak to him. Instead, he held Xue Qingchu’s hand tightly, eagerly denying her words. “Go back? No way, I promised to take you away from here.”
Qi Xiaoyu didn’t want to get involved in other people’s emotional affairs. He nodded to the two of them and continued walking along the road.
Before he had gone far, he heard Jiang Sicheng say, “You clearly promised me; why are you unwilling to leave with me now?”
Then he heard Xue Qingchu say in a low voice, with a hint of annoyance, “How can I leave with you? I was born in the Paramount, a dancer in social circles. It’s impossible for me to elope with you. Young Master Jiang, please stop following me.”
As soon as Qi Xiaoyu heard their argument, he understood why they were quarreling. He felt a bit uncomfortable and quickened his pace.
He walked for a while, less than ten minutes, when he suddenly heard someone calling him from behind, “Hey, you in front, wait a moment.”
Qi Xiaoyu turned around and saw Jiang Sicheng catching up to him.
Jiang Sicheng, with an unexpected familiarity, put his hand on Qi Xiaoyu’s shoulder as soon as he caught up, his tone full of unconcealed disappointment and sorrow. “Have a drink with me.”
Qi Xiaoyu didn’t drink. Drinking was bad for his voice, and he had also witnessed Jiang Sicheng’s behavior after drinking, which was really not good. But he was in a bad mood at this moment, so he agreed.
Jiang Sicheng quickly bought some wine, and the two of them sat by the Huangpu River to drink.
Qi Xiaoyu knew Jiang Sicheng didn’t handle alcohol well, but he didn’t expect it to be this bad.
Jiang Sicheng had bought two flasks of wine, but he got drunk before finishing even half of the first one.
Qi Xiaoyu quickly put away the second flask to prevent a repeat of the situation.
Once drunk, Jiang Sicheng couldn’t stop talking, practically telling Qi Xiaoyu the entire story of how he met and fell in love with Xue Qingchu.
Then, the more he talked, the sadder he became. “In the end, she still wants to break up with me.”
Qi Xiaoyu comforted him softly, “Miss Xue is probably thinking of your well-being, afraid of gossip affecting your future.”
Jiang Sicheng hiccuped and waved his hand. “Other people’s opinions are just fart. Can they compare to my love for her?”
Qi Xiaoyu didn’t speak for a moment. He looked at the calm, dark water of the Huangpu River in front of him and said after a long while, “But there is indeed a distinction between high and low social status.”
Jiang Sicheng repeated the words “high and low social status” several times.
“There’s no high or low social status. If there is, then I’m the low one, the worthless one, the shameless one, clinging to her.”
After he finished speaking, he tilted his head and asked Qi Xiaoyu, “Aren’t you and Commander Xun doing well together? Would you break up with him because of social status?”
After Qi Xiaoyu returned to Aitang Road, he didn’t sleep all night. He told Gu Zizhen to go to bed, while he stayed in his master’s room all night.
Throughout the night, he thought about many things, from Jiang Jing’s words to Jiang Sicheng’s words.
Then, the next morning, he made a phone call to the commander’s residence.
