Spring Night of Misty Rain - Chapter 45

Xu Huaiyu was a true bandit; by the time she finished rummaging through everything, few valuable gifts remained. Upholding the principle of protecting her own, Xu Luosu allocated quite a few items to Shen Zeyu. Shen Zeyu was so startled she declined repeatedly, until Weng Ran finally spoke up and told her to accept them.

Just when it seemed the day’s activities at the Xu house were over, Weng Ran extended an invitation to Shen Zeyu: “A new year brings a new look. Grandma and I are both getting our hair done; the hairstylist will be here in a moment.”

“I see your hair has grown quite long. Why not tidy it up a bit? It’ll make you look more spirited.”

In any other circumstance, Shen Zeyu would have firmly declined. But Weng Ran’s invitation felt different, so she simply nodded and agreed. Xu Luosu, standing nearby, initially wanted to help her navigate out of it, but since Shen Zeyu had already agreed, she let it be.

The Makeover

A short while later, the hairstylist arrived, and Weng Ran led them to the family’s public styling area. This area was actually prepared for Grandma Xu. She enjoyed makeup and styling but hated the hassle, preferring “fragrant young girls” to fuss over her.

The visiting stylist had collaborated with the Xu family for over a decade. Seeing a new face, she was quite curious. The one assigned to Shen Zeyu was an auntie who specialized in Grandma Xu’s hair. She stood behind Shen Zeyu with her scissors, studying her carefully.

“This lady’s hair looks easy to cut, but it’s actually quite difficult.” She sighed and looked at Old Mrs. Xu. “Teacher Xu, do you have any thoughts?”

Xu Qiongyu turned her head, looking Shen Zeyu over from left to right, and finally concluded: “The child is so sweet-looking. Just trim the front a bit, then a little off the back, and she’ll look wonderful. But you still have to follow her wishes. A-Ze, tell this auntie how you want it cut. Don’t be shy.”

The auntie understood instantly—this new face held a high social standing in the Xu household and was no ordinary guest.

Shen Zeyu raised her eyes to her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were covered by curls that had grown too long; her gaze was calm. “Just as Grandma said. Just cut it shorter.”

Conversations and Dream of the South

The styling process was a long one. Xu Qiongyu and Weng Ran shared a great relationship and chatted about family matters and industry gossip. Eventually, the conversation turned to Shen Zeyu’s professional work.

Xu Qiongyu mentioned casually: “Oh, A-Ze, in that Dream of the South you made, didn’t Teacher Lin Xiang star in it? What was he like to work with? Was he easy to talk to? Professional?”

Background: Dream of the South It was a Republican-era drama about Nan Meng, a genius Cantonese opera writer. The film contained the persistence of an artist and the helplessness of a broken country. Lin Xiang, a veteran star, played Nan Meng’s teacher.

This was Shen Zeyu’s best work to date, but due to industry blacklisting involving her ex, the film had been ignored during awards season despite its high quality.

Hearing someone mention the work now brought a faint sting of pain to Shen Zeyu. She was silent for a moment before retrieving her memories. “Teacher Lin Xiang is a wonderful collaborator. He was very professional on set and gave us a lot of guidance regarding opera.”

She offered her praise and then asked tentatively, “Does Grandma Xu like Teacher Lin Xiang very much?”

Xu Qiongyu waved her hand, looking a bit embarrassed. “Oh… I wouldn’t say ‘like’ exactly. It’s just that song he used to sing: ‘Green mountains reflected on the pale lake…’”

Xu Qiongyu sang a short segment, and Shen Zeyu recognized it immediately as “In the Middle of the Water.”

“Ah, yes! That’s the one! You know it too?” Grandma Xu asked. Shen Zeyu nodded. “Yes, a little. My grandmother liked it quite a bit.”

The styling room was filled with laughter. Weng Ran, seeing the “grandmother and granddaughter” pair chatting so happily, suggested: “How about this—it’s been a while since we’ve had a sing-along at home. What if we do some KTV after dinner tonight?”

Home KTV Night

While they called it KTV, it was actually singing together in the family’s 100-square-meter, 4D-standard home theater. After dinner, everyone gathered as the equipment was set up.

As soon as Shen Zeyu sat down, Grandma Xu tapped the microphone. “A-Ze, let’s sing ‘In the Middle of the Water’ together.”

Shen Zeyu stood up and sighed, taking the microphone handed to her by a supportive Xu Luosu. “I’m not very good at singing. Grandma, please lead me if I go out of tune.”

As the song began, Grandma Xu sang with a sweet, timeless voice. But when Shen Zeyu joined in, the room went still. Her singing voice was different from her speaking voice—using nasal resonance, it was deep, husky, and incredibly sexy.

Xu Luosu’s eyes instantly lit up. She sat beside her, watching her with eyes full of stars. The two sang several old Cantonese hits together, their voices blending perfectly.

Weng Ran leaned over to Xu Luosu and whispered, “Where did you dig up this little antique?” These songs weren’t things a modern child would know without a specific upbringing. Weng Ran asked, “Did you tell her Grandma likes Lin Xiang?”

Xu Luosu turned to her mother with a helpless look. “I didn’t say a word. And it’s my first time hearing her sing, too.”

Xu Luosu thought for a moment and added: “Besides, she doesn’t need to do those things. I only need her to be as comfortable and secure as possible in my home.”

Weng Ran studied her daughter’s expression in the dim light. Xu Luosu was gazing at Shen Zeyu with a very steady, determined look.

Weng Ran gave a soft “tsk.” She glanced at Shen Zeyu, who was awkwardly spinning in circles as she danced with the old lady. She pulled her gaze back to Xu Luosu, her expression softening. “You really like her that much?”

Xu Luosu poked a piece of kiwi and put it in her mouth. She thought about it and said, “I don’t know.” As she spoke, she propped her chin on one hand and turned back to Shen Zeyu, her eyes shimmering. “But I just feel like everything she does is so cute.”

Weng Ran: “…”

Although she was happy her daughter finally had some normal human emotions, a look like that… it really was quite an eyesore for a parent to witness! She began to feel a bit “troubled.”