When Spring Burns - Chapter 21

The Liqing Opera Troupe spent three days at the Ningbei Grand Theater, performing for three consecutive days. The theater organizers had orchestrated a highly successful event.

The interactions between the stage and the audience maximally satisfied the fans’ expectations.

Sheng Tingmian was delighted that so many people had taken an interest in traditional opera and traveled from afar to purchase tickets for the performances. She was more than willing to engage with her fans, take photos, and interact with them, even if their sole intention was simply to see her in person.

Sheng Tingmian also received numerous letters from fans, praising her singing skills and expressive performances. Some even referred to themselves as “mom fans,” expressing their wishes for her happiness and promising unwavering support for her opera career.

Recalling the young woman who had handed her the letters, Sheng Tingmian noted that she seemed only a few years older than herself. How could she already be a “mom fan”?

Back at the hotel, she lay on her bed, continuing to open the envelopes and read each letter one by one. The idea that strangers would take the time to write to her was something she had never dared to imagine before.

One letter stood out, expressing a hope that she would update her social media account more frequently, sharing more selfies and daily vlogs, as opportunities for fans to see her were far too scarce.

Sheng Tingmian made a mental note of this request but soon found herself troubled. She had no experience with vlogging, what should she record? It seemed she also lacked the time to dedicate to such endeavors.

Just then, her aunt sent over a few freshly taken stage photos of her in opera attire. With no other content to share, Sheng Tingmian decided to post them as a makeshift update.

Shortly after uploading, hundreds of comments flooded in beneath her post.

【My daughter is so beautiful!】

【You sang wonderfully today, your performance was amazing!】

【I took a photo with my daughter backstage today, so happy.jpg】

【Mianmian, now that you’re famous, you must be mindful of your words and actions, blah blah blah… I can’t remember the rest.】

【Why can’t such a lovely huadan be mine? So frustrating! (under the cover of night) (pulling out a sack) (snatching her away) (getting beaten to death) (writhing on the ground) (crawling around in darkness)】

Sheng Tingmian found these comments utterly amusing and couldn’t stop laughing in her hotel room.

That evening, they flew to Haishi for another performance in a different city. On the plane, Sheng Tingmian, clad in a white down jacket, dozed off with her head resting on her aunt’s shoulder.

She dreamed of transforming into a Bourke’s parrot, alighting on a camellia tree and chirping cheerfully.

She adored that camellia tree and the blossoms it bore. In her dream, she brushed the petals with her tail feathers, pecked at them gently with her beak, and leaned in to inhale their fragrance.

The subtle floral scent, mingled with the freshness of the early morning, felt cool and invigorating.

At the airport terminal, Sheng Tingmian pushed her luggage trolley, following the crowd as the faint morning light bathed them. The crisp dawn air was identical to what she had experienced in her dream.

Well, she supposed she could accept being seen as a Bourke’s parrot in her aunt’s eyes, after all, the early bird catches the worm and gets to enjoy the flowers.

In the afternoon, an enormous banner displaying the troupe’s performance details and promotional photos was erected at the entrance of Haishi’s largest Central Theater.

Sheng Tingmian spotted herself in the display, her face looked enormous. While everyone’s photos were featured, hers occupied the most prominent space.

Nearby, Sheng Xiaoyun was rallying the group, shouting, “Come on, everyone, gather for a group photo! No wandering off, get back here, all of you!”

“Liqing, Liqing, always the best!”

She and her aunt stood in the center, holding a red banner together, their faces beaming with joy as they shouted slogans at the top of their lungs, this was the best testament to their honor.

In the afternoon opera performances, Sheng Tingmian performed “Liangzhou Diqi” as a solo act, followed by a duet with Du Jingya in “The Story of the Jade Hairpin,” Luo Junqing and Mu Ziyin singing “The Peony Pavilion,” Mao Yongyong and Tao Jiaxi performing “The Peach Blossom Fan,” and Chen Gang’s “Single Sword Meeting,” among others. Each piece showcased unique vocal styles paired with exquisite costumes and stage design, making every performance a masterpiece and a visual feast.

After their performances, they received thunderous applause from everyone in the theater.

Once the day’s shows concluded, they still had several more days ahead. After dinner, Sheng Tingmian stayed in her hotel room and took out the gold plaque, gently tracing the engraved autumn grass parrot.

Why an autumn grass parrot? What was her sister’s motivation for carving it?

Sheng Tingmian then remembered that this was a prize her sister had personally commissioned, its sentimental value far outweighed its material worth. Carefully, she put it away again.

She wondered what her sister was doing now. By this time, she must have finished her acupuncture session. Had her leg improved at all?

Sheng Tingmian didn’t dare disturb her abruptly, afraid she might be working. Suddenly, she thought of her social media account, her sister followed it, so if she posted an update, her sister would likely see it.

Sheng Tingmian sprang up from the bed, put on her earphones, and held one close to her mouth as she began recording a short video.

This time, instead of facing sideways, she looked directly into the camera and chose a particularly inspiring song, “Left Hand, Right Hand.”

“When difficulties come your way,
Please raise your left hand.
The left hand represents direction,
It will never bow to hardship.
…”

After singing, she uploaded the video and went to wash up. Perhaps still energized from singing, she hummed the tune softly in the bathroom.

When she came out, drying her hair, she noticed a missed call on her phone.

She quickly checked and saw it was from her sister. Eagerly, she called back, holding her breath as the call connected. “Sister, did you just call me?”

“Yes,” He Jianxue answered from her study. “The performance was perfect. The organizers told me you sang exceptionally well.”

Sheng Tingmian couldn’t help but smile. “Never mind about me, how have you been lately?”

He Jianxue replied, “I’ve been undergoing treatment. It’s much better now.”

Sheng Tingmian couldn’t resist hinting, “Have you been listening to any songs recently?”

He Jianxue paused her pen over the documents on her desk, a faint smile curling her red lips. “Yes, I just listened to a young girl singing ‘Left Hand, Right Hand’ with her ethereal and penetrating voice. It left me feeling full of energy.”

Ahhhh!
Sheng Tingmian’s neck flushed crimson, and she couldn’t utter a word.

Why did she have to describe it with such embarrassing words after listening to it!

As if sensing her embarrassment, He Jianxue chuckled softly. “I listened to it the moment you uploaded it.”

The blush on Sheng Tingmian’s face gradually faded. Hearing that her sister had listened right away still made her heart bloom with joy. “I’ve been away for so long, I miss you so much.”

He Jianxue’s lips curved slightly at the girl’s affectionate words. “If I’m not mistaken, tomorrow is your birthday, right? Should I come to celebrate with you?”

Sheng Tingmian was taken aback. “But your leg…”

He Jianxue reassured her, “That’s not a problem.”

Sheng Tingmian bit her lip. She truly hoped her sister would come, but was worried about her leg being inconvenient. Since her sister said it wasn’t an issue, could she allow herself to look forward to it?

“Alright, then I’ll wait for you here in Haishi. Will you come watch my performance?”

He Jianxue checked the time. “I should be able to make it. Make sure you get some rest.”

After hanging up, Sheng Tingmian held the phone a moment longer, replaying every word her sister had said. She dried her hair and drifted off to sleep.

Early the next morning, they had to perform. After a quick lunch and a nap, the afternoon brought another round of shows.

Sheng Tingmian’s pieces were scheduled for one in the morning and one in the afternoon. When He Jianxue didn’t show up for the morning performance, Sheng Tingmian kept glancing toward the audience during her final act in the afternoon, searching for a familiar figure.

But even after she finished singing, that woman was nowhere to be seen.

Disappointed, she removed her makeup. Her aunt and the other performers bought her a cake and threw a small birthday celebration. Even after the festivities ended, He Jianxue still hadn’t appeared.

Though touched by the celebration, Sheng Tingmian couldn’t shake her disappointment and sadness. As everyone gradually returned to the hotel to rest, she checked the time, it was already 10 p.m., and her sister was still absent.

She shut herself in her hotel room, buried under the covers, sulking over why her sister had given her hope only to not show up, without even a phone call.

If something had really come up, just saying so would have been enough, she, Sheng Tingmian, wasn’t someone who couldn’t understand priorities.

She let out a frustrated huff, pulled the covers over her head, and decided she wouldn’t pay her sister any attention until she returned.

At 11 p.m., her phone rang.

Sheng Tingmian fumbled for her phone, and upon seeing the caller ID, she was instantly wide awake.

Calling only now?

Might as well have waited until my business trip was over.

She answered from under the blankets, her voice muffled. “Hello…”

On the other end was He Jianxue’s familiar voice, carrying its unique poise and elegance, the kind that immediately conveyed refinement and grace. No one knew how much she adored her sister’s voice, steady and composed, with a touch of laziness even when teasing her juniors.

“Are you asleep, Mianmian?”

“I am,” Sheng Tingmian replied, a hint of pout in her tone.

He Jianxue detected the sulk and chuckled softly. “My mistake. I’m sorry. I had my final acupuncture session today and got held up on the way, so I missed my flight. I had to rebook and just arrived.”

Hearing the explanation, Sheng Tingmian thought it over and found it reasonable. Her resentment faded. “Alright, I wasn’t really mad at you anyway.”

He Jianxue could almost picture how adorable she must look right now. “Do you still want me to celebrate your birthday with you?”

“Where are you now?”

“Downstairs at your hotel. Want to come down?”

Sheng Tingmian immediately threw off the covers, hurriedly changed out of her pajamas, and considered putting on makeup but worried about keeping her sister waiting too long. She decided against it, quickly ran her fingers through her hair, grabbed her room key, and quietly took the elevator down.

In the elevator, she called her sister. “Where are you? In the underground parking lot?”

“To the right of the main entrance.”

Sheng Tingmian quickly pressed the button for the first floor, canceling the one for the basement. With a ding! the elevator doors opened. She jogged past the front desk, hurried down the steps, and peered to the right.

A black sedan was parked under the streetlight, where a tall figure leaned against the rear of the car, draped in a broad-shouldered black coat and wearing high heels. Even though the dim streetlight made it hard to discern her expression, the aura she exuded, elegant, noble, and carrying an untouchable sense of detachment, was something she had only ever seen in her sister.

Farther away, a shadowy figure seemed to be the assistant.

Sheng Tingmian didn’t see the familiar wheelchair. Taking in the scene, she hesitated, afraid she might have mistaken the person. With a nervous heart, she walked closer, and only when she saw He Jianxue’s striking and noble face did she call out softly, “Sister?”

He Jianxue lifted her gaze and saw a delicate, petite figure running toward her, clutching a phone. Her long, dark hair fluttered in the night breeze as she rushed over with unrestrained excitement.

“Mianmian,” He Jianxue’s red lips curved into a smile.

Sheng Tingmian threw herself into her sister’s arms, overjoyed and astonished, wrapping her arms around her waist. She could hardly believe it, she simply couldn’t believe it.

“Sister, you can stand?!”