When Spring Burns - Chapter 3

Just as Sheng Tingmian was lost in her thoughts, Guan Leyou suddenly approached with a grave expression and bluntly announced that Miss He had some matters to attend to and would not be listening to the remaining performances.

Everyone expressed their disappointment, while Sheng Tingmian’s previously tense mood took a sudden turn. She stared at Guan Leyou in astonishment.

“Uncle Guan…”

Guan Leyou walked over to her. “Don’t worry. Miss He just had to step out for a while. She’ll continue listening when she has time.”

Unable to hold back, Sheng Tingmian pressed further, “When will Miss He listen to the opera again?”

Guan Leyou reassured her, “She didn’t specify, but she asked us to head back first.”

Sheng Tingmian lowered her gaze and had no choice but to agree. She removed all her makeup, boarded the bus, and returned.

…

In a private room at Yuxian Harbor Club.

The bartender brought in the dishes and wine, then retreated.

He Xiu, wearing an elegant green dress paired with a chic short jacket, sat across from He Jianxue. With her left hand supporting her right wrist, she picked up a piece of meat and placed it in her sister’s bowl.

“Sister, try this.”

He Jianxue quietly watched her for a few seconds before picking up her chopsticks and taking a bite.

He Xiu looked at her expectantly. “How is it?”

He Jianxue replied calmly, “Not bad.”

He Xiu’s eyes curved into a smile. “I’m glad you like it. This is the best foie gras in Yuxian Harbor.”

She then asked, “How have you been feeling lately, Sister? Have you been listening to any opera?”

He Jianxue replied, “Yes. How could I not listen when you invited performers for me?”

He Xiu smiled, gazing at her older sister seated in the wheelchair before her. Though He Jianxue was seven years her senior, she had always been the one who cherished her the most.

“Was it enjoyable?”

“Not bad. They were all Kunqu operas that Mother loved. The singing style was exactly the same as it was over a decade ago.”

“I’m glad you liked it. I was worried you might find it boring.”

He Jianxue picked up a napkin from the side and wiped her mouth. “What’s the occasion for treating me to a meal today?”

He Xiu’s hand paused briefly. She lowered her gaze and chuckled softly. “Of course, it’s because I missed you. It’s been so many days since we last saw each other, I’ve missed you terribly.”

He Jianxue looked up at her adopted sister, a gentle woman from the Jiangnan region. When their mother had brought the six-year-old He Xiu home, she had timidly hidden behind their mother, staring at He Jianxue with fear in her eyes.

Years ago, during a business trip to the south, their mother had met many people. He Xiu was the orphaned daughter of one of her friends. Worried that He Xiu might feel like an outsider, their mother had changed her surname to He, showering her with the utmost affection. To He Jianxue, she was her dearest sister.

Unaccustomed to such sentimental words, He Jianxue merely responded with a quiet “Hmm.”

After a moment, she added, “Come back to visit more often.”

He Xiu’s expression grew complicated. She softly acknowledged the remark and picked up a glass of red wine beside her. “Sister, let’s make a toast.”

Her words hung in the air, met with prolonged silence. She watched as her sister glanced down at her paralyzed legs.

A flicker of regret crossed He Xiu’s face. “I forgot the doctor said you can’t drink.”

“…It seems I’ll have to drink alone,” He Xiu murmured, tilting her head back and downing the glass in one go.

He Jianxue wheeled her chair closer. “Drink less.”

After just one glass, a blush spread across He Xiu’s cheeks. She looked at her sister beside her, a gentle, shimmering smile gracing the corners of her long, narrow eyes. “But I want to drink, Sister. Let me.”

“…Only when I’m with you can I truly indulge in what I want to do.”

He Jianxue, who had initially raised her hand, slowly lowered it at these words. “Is the Lin family giving you a hard time?”

“No…” He Xiu shook her head. Seeing He Jianxue’s hand drop, she suddenly picked it up and pressed it greedily against her own cheek. “You know how it is, wealthy families always have so many rules and restrictions.”

He Jianxue stroked her cheek, the warmth from the alcohol gently transferring to He Xiu’s palm. He Jianxue recalled her last birthday when she had asked He Xiu how things were going over there.

He Xiu had avoided her gaze and said everything was fine, but He Jianxue knew she wasn’t telling the truth.

“If you’re not happy, then get a divorce. I’ll beg Auntie to help you dissolve this marriage, even if it means giving up all the Qingguan Lake properties.”

“No…” He Xiu shook her head. “The Qingguan Lake properties are the last things Mother left for you.”

She suddenly lifted her face, forcing back her tears, and smiled. “I’m just venting to you, complaining a little. What marriage doesn’t have its conflicts?”

He Jianxue studied her expression for a long moment, her brow furrowed tightly. “Are you sure?”

“Really…” He Xiu set down her glass. “I just need you to hold me, Sis.”

He Jianxue spread her arms open. “A-Xiu…”

He Xiu’s nose tingled with emotion. She stood up, bent over, and nestled into her sister’s embrace.

“Sis…”

He Jianxue patted her back, slowly closed her eyes, and softly called her by her childhood nickname.

After what felt like an eternity, He Xiu finally pulled away, smoothing the hair at her temples. “I’ve made a fool of myself in front of you.”

“Feeling better now?”

He Xiu nodded. “Sis, let’s keep eating.”

“Mm.”

The two continued their meal, not leaving the Yuxian Harbor private club until evening.

In the car, He Xiu urged her to actively pursue treatment and not remain dispirited.

He Jianxue closed her eyes. “I know.”

He Xiu knew her sister resisted talking about her legs, but she still hoped she could regain her spirit.

So, she added, “Sis, do you remember when I was eight, and you taught me to swim? You had just won the swimming championship in the school sports competition back then.”

Among all the young masters and ladies of noble families, the eighteen-year-old He Jianxue had shone brilliantly.

And trailing behind her was a little shadow, herself, proud beyond words.

“Sis, I hope one day we can go swimming together again.”

Seeing her sister’s darkened expression and tightly pressed lips, He Xiu knew she didn’t like hearing this. She fell silent, her intention having been only to encourage, not to provoke.

When the car stopped in front of the Lin family’s gate, He Xiu wanted to say more, but seeing her sister’s state, she swallowed her words and pushed the door open. “Sis, I’m heading in now.”

Only then did He Jianxue open her eyes, watching her deeply until she entered the house before instructing her assistant to drive to the He residence.

He Jianxue wasn’t blind to her sister’s unhappiness in the Lin family, she just felt powerless to help. Everything had changed because of her legs; the moment she became paralyzed, all her glory vanished.

After a period of despondency, He Jianxue reluctantly scheduled the long-delayed treatment and began therapy.

But there was still no improvement. In her daily despair, He Jianxue remembered her love for Kunqu opera and started listening to it again to pass the time.

…

Sheng Tingmian didn’t hear news about Guan Leyou until a week later, a week during which she had nearly gone mad with worry.

Her aunt had already found a teaching job, and their lives were settling into a routine. It seemed opera was drifting further and further away from them, and Sheng Tingmian was so heartbroken she secretly cried herself to sleep with swollen eyes.

Fortunately, heaven rewards the determined. She finally received word from Miss He.

This time, she absolutely had to ask Miss He for help.

But before that, she needed to perform “Liangzhou Seventh” flawlessly to demonstrate her skill.

Returning to the He residence, Sheng Tingmian felt even more nervous and anxious than the last time. Fortunately, Sister Fang Hanyu comforted her, saying she just needed to treat this stage as an ordinary performance.

Only then did Sheng Tingmian manage to calm her racing heart. She put on the secretly retrieved pink embroidered opera costume and kingfisher-feather headdress, then had someone help her wrap the gauze properly.

Her performance was still scheduled as the grand finale. Just before her turn, Fang Hanyu suddenly remembered that Sheng Tingmian didn’t know the way to the stage, getting there from the dressing room required passing through a series of corridors.

Worried she might get lost, Fang Hanyu decisively took the young girl’s hand and led her out of the dressing room, hurriedly guiding her toward the stage.

“Xiao Mian, we need to hurry!” Fang Hanyu urged.

“Ah… okay!” Sheng Tingmian didn’t dare run too fast, afraid the beaded curtain at the back might fall off. She followed with small, quick steps, the hem of her costume swaying with each movement, the pheasant feathers trembling in the air.

They finally reached the stage, and Fang Hanyu led her up the steps to the side of the curtain, where they happened to bump into two dan roles who had just finished their performance.

The moment they retreated backstage, their expressions changed as they discussed whether their singing had been unsatisfactory, Miss He showed no reaction and seemed to have fallen asleep.

“She was asleep, right? I glanced over just now.”

“Will the troupe leader tell us not to perform next time?”

“Probably not, right? We didn’t make any mistakes…”

“Let’s go ask the troupe leader…”

Hearing this, Fang Hanyu turned and placed a hand on Sheng Tingmian’s shoulder. “Don’t be afraid. Just sing well. As long as you don’t make any mistakes, the troupe leader won’t dismiss you after one performance.”

Sheng Tingmian nodded emphatically, showing she understood. Even without the reminder, she would give her all to deliver the best performance possible.

Because she wanted to earn Miss He’s appreciation, only then could she save her aunt’s Liqing Opera Troupe.

The instrumental prelude began, and the supporting actors were already waiting on stage.

Steadying her nerves, Sheng Tingmian exchanged a glance with Fang Hanyu and stepped out in response.

After a week’s break from opera, the repetitive melodies and familiar tunes felt inexplicably dull. Sitting in the audience, He Jianxue had been lulled into drowsiness by the previous performances and was already nodding off.

“How could one casually don this trembling helmet…”

A voice, ethereal and melodious as a nightingale’s song, unexpectedly pierced through the air. He Jianxue was roused from her slumber by this distinctive Kunqu opera style.

She slightly opened her eyes to see a charming pink-clad general gracefully adjusting her pheasant feathers, making her entrance with delicate makeup and lively eyes. Her entire presence was as tender and vibrant as an autumn parrot amidst grass.

He Jianxue glanced at the program beside her and realized this young huadan was performing “Seventh from Liangzhou” from The Dream of Nanke·Yaotai.

“First, I shall remove these soft embroidered socks and bow shoes, The tips of these small boots press too tightly on my golden lotus feet. Patting the tassels of my helmet, Lifting both arm guards, Adjusting the fine palace silk, Trimming the loose embroidered armor. The gleaming heart-protecting mirror hangs like a crescent moon, The neat crimson battle skirt flutters open in the wind. I must arrange the battle formation like the heavenly demon, Shaking the interlinked golden chain spears. Like Lady Youji, I draw the carved bow, The golden-flecked arrow bag jingles brightly. Like Lady Sun Bin, I issue commands, The golden-charactered flags shine clearly. How marvelous! You await the applause, My slender waist restrained by the lion-belt, The pink general sets the banner’s stance. Watch me ascend the commander’s platform like a crimson cloud, His gaze fixed eagerly upon me.”

This operatic voice and delicate delivery were more unique than any she had heard before, as if enchanted, captivating the listener and stirring the depths of their soul.

With her demeanor and posture, she vividly portrayed a powdered general who had taken off her embroidered socks and bow shoes, donned a helmet with a tassel, fastened a lion-emblazoned belt around her waist, and struck a commanding pose on the general’s platform.