When Spring Burns - Chapter 51

Sheng Tingmian, currently seated on her sister’s lap, suddenly thought of something and asked, “Sister, who is this playwright?”

He Jianxue leaned back in her chair, looking relaxed and elegant as she gazed at her sister on her lap. “It’s hard to define her profession precisely, but she has worked in the opera industry.”

Sheng Tingmian lowered her head, puzzled. “Oh?”

He Jianxue explained, “She actually wrote this script a long time ago. However, after going through the internal review process, one scene was deemed unsuitable for performance, another was rejected, and some critics dismissed it as lacking literary merit, while others claimed it was devoid of everyday charm. It faced all sorts of criticism and was eventually shelved. She revised the title, adjusted the details, and carefully polished every line of the libretto and every closing poem. That’s how ‘Bird Carrying Flowers’ came to be.”

Sheng Tingmian sighed softly. “I had no idea the playwright went through such a difficult journey. I think the script is wonderful, I don’t see any reason it shouldn’t be performed…”

Just as she finished speaking, the assistant suddenly entered.

“Um… Chairwoman He, Miss Sheng…”

Hearing this, Sheng Tingmian froze, suddenly aware that her current position on her sister’s lap was somewhat improper. She feigned composure and stood up.

He Jianxue released her grip on Sheng Tingmian’s waist and straightened her expression.

“Sister, I’ll step out now.”

“Mm.”

With that, Sheng Tingmian hurried past the assistant. She paused briefly, nodding in acknowledgment, and the assistant nodded back. Sheng Tingmian wondered what the assistant might be thinking and hoped she hadn’t left a bad impression.

It was just an accident, she had only happened to sit on her sister’s lap.

It was all her sister’s fault.

Yet, as she left the study, a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Whether it was the script or her time with her sister, both filled her with joy.

Although they now had the script, it was only the beginning. The composition, costumes, props, and supporting roles still needed continuous adjustments and design.

Not long after, the dean announced that they would be performing in another city, meaning the Liqing Troupe would be traveling again.

As Sheng Tingmian packed two days in advance, she suddenly realized she was reluctant to leave her sister. Being able to see her before and after work every day felt like a blessing.

She went to the courtyard to water the cherry tomatoes and, turning around, noticed the white camellias in full bloom. She couldn’t resist stepping closer to inhale their fragrance, a wild, romantic scent, different from her sister’s perfume, which was specially crafted by a perfumer. Though it also carried notes of camellia, it was more refined and cool.

Sheng Tingmian picked up the cat and brought it closer to the camellias. “You’re so short, how can you even smell the camellias Sister planted?”

“Aren’t they fragrant?”

“Meow…”

After letting the cat sniff the flowers, she carried it back inside. Just then, Ji Siyi called.

“Hello, Sister Siyi, what’s up?”

On the other end, Ji Siyi looked at her reflection in the mirror, wearing a beautiful swimsuit, still unwilling to give up. “We’re having a pool party tonight. Your sister will be there too, Tingmian. Would you like to come? If so, I’ll send someone to pick you up right away.”

“A pool party?” Sheng Tingmian repeated, suddenly recalling the swimming skills she had recently mastered. She hadn’t found the right opportunity to showcase them in front of her sister and let her know she could now swim with her.

“Is swimming the main activity?”

“Almost there, almost there. You can swim, eat, drink, and have fun. If you don’t know how to swim, I can teach you.”

Sheng Tingmian thought for a moment and decided to agree. Ji Siyi immediately arranged a car to pick her up and take her to the private villa on the mountain. The 500-square-meter outdoor lawn garden was spacious enough to host a bonfire party, while on the other side was a swimming pool.

By the time Sheng Tingmian arrived, a few unfamiliar sisters were already chatting there. Ji Siyi pulled her over and introduced them one by one. Sheng Tingmian smiled and nodded.

“Sister Siyi, where’s my sister? I don’t see her.”

Ji Siyi replied, “She’ll come right after work. Just wait a bit. By the way, Tingmian, do you know how to swim? If not, I can teach you.”

Sheng Tingmian said with a hint of pride, “I can swim. I just learned recently.”

Ji Siyi’s plan fell through, and she let out a calm “Wow.”

Sheng Tingmian went to change into a pink swimsuit and joined the party. The sisters all took good care of her, treating her like a younger sister. Most of them were curious about her profession and asked many questions about opera.

On the other side of the pool, a huge screen was set up, playing a movie. As night fell, a bonfire was lit behind them, and they swam in the pool while watching the movie.

Sheng Tingmian didn’t swim much, just soaked in the water for a while before climbing out. Wrapped in a towel, she sat on a beach chair and chatted with them.

“We’ve heard a bit about recent events. Sister He treats you quite differently.”

One of the sisters, tired from swimming, leaned back on the beach chair, holding a glass of red wine, and gave her a meaningful glance. “Kunqu opera is such an elegant art, ordinary people can’t really appreciate it. It’s too highbrow and niche. Yet she’s pouring so much money into it. That doesn’t seem like her style.”

Sheng Tingmian pursed her lips, unsure of what to say.

Another sister, lounging on a transparent inflatable raft in the pool, wearing sunglasses with supermodel-long legs and a sun-kissed complexion, sighed deeply. “Isn’t it just because He Xiu is gone? She’s raising a new little sister all over again.”

Sheng Tingmian sat up straight, legs together, lowered her head, and took a sip of her juice through the straw, her heart aching with bitterness.

Oh, so she was the new little sister being raised all over again…

Ji Siyi walked out of the villa. “What are you all talking about?”

The supermodel said, “Nothing much. When is Sister He coming?”

Ji Siyi replied, “Oh, she’ll be here soon.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a familiar car pulled in. Sheng Tingmian looked over and saw her sister getting out of the car. Ji Siyi immediately pushed her to go change into a swimsuit.

But as she walked away, she glanced back in Sheng Tingmian’s direction.

Sheng Tingmian avoided her sister’s gaze, pretending not to see.

Not long after, He Jianxue came to the poolside in a swimsuit with Ji Siyi. Seeing her two other friends and her younger sister present, she shot a glare at Ji Siyi.

Ji Siyi rubbed her nose. “More people make it livelier, right?”

Sheng Tingmian’s eyes dimmed. So, her sister didn’t welcome her at their pool party.

Was she an outsider…?

Suppressing the tightness in her chest, Sheng Tingmian stood up, wrapped in her towel, and approached Ji Siyi. “Sister Siyi, I’m going back now…”

Ji Siyi was taken aback. “Why are you leaving already? Weren’t you just asking when your sister would arrive? She just got here.”

Sheng Tingmian glanced coldly at the woman beside her without meeting her eyes. “My sister is here, and I’ve seen her… So it’s time for me to go.”

Ji Siyi: “…” She couldn’t quite follow the conversation.

Watching Sheng Tingmian about to head back inside to change and leave, He Jianxue stopped her, “Mianmian, wait a moment and go back with me later.”

He Jianxue could clearly see her discomfort, it was obvious she had overheard what Ji Siyi said when He Jianxue gave her a meaningful look earlier, making her think she wasn’t welcome.

Sheng Tingmian gazed at her with a resentful expression, not saying a word, her thoughts written all over her face.

He Jianxue reached out and ruffled her hair, “How about keeping your sister company?”

Sheng Tingmian’s expression remained sullen, unmoved by the soft words. He Jianxue had no choice but to coax her further, “Do you know how to swim? If not, I can teach you?”

Only then did Sheng Tingmian reluctantly respond, “A little, but I’m not very good at it.”

“Alright.” He Jianxue took her hand, “I’ll teach you.”

Left behind, Ji Siyi: “…”

Tingmian, that’s not what you said before.

Feeling rather speechless, Ji Siyi sat down on a lounge chair by the pool, watching enviously as the woman taught swimming in the water. That should have been her spot.

Tingmian swimming was truly a delight to watch. Unlike some girls who were overly delicate, she was soft and elegant without being fragile or fussy.

In the pool, Sheng Tingmian accidentally choked on some water, and He Jianxue, thinking she wasn’t comfortable in the water, immediately scooped her up by the waist.

“Are you okay?”

Sheng Tingmian wiped the water droplets from her face and looked at her sister, who was so close now. The water beneath them was constantly shifting, pushing her legs against her sister’s, from her toes to her knees, even her hips.

“My temples hurt a little,” Sheng Tingmian said, gently pressing her fingers to both sides of her temples. The choking had left a dull ache there.

He Jianxue released her waist and instead began massaging her temples, “When did you get here?”

Sheng Tingmian obediently lowered her hands, her gaze dropping, “About an hour ago.”

He Jianxue: “Did Ji Siyi invite you?”

Sheng Tingmian: “Mm, she said you’d be here too.”

He Jianxue sighed softly.

Though it was faint, Sheng Tingmian caught the sigh, and a pang of sadness washed over her.

They were in a corner of the pool, quite far from Ji Siyi and the other two women. Sheng Tingmian asked quietly, “…Sister, did you not want me to come?”

She had naively thought this was a party centered around swimming, not realizing that swimming was just a social activity.

After a quick swim, the other women had settled comfortably on lounge chairs or inflatable rafts, chatting about life while listening to movie soundtracks.

He Jianxue looked down at her, her wet hair clinging damply behind her ears, and reached out to smooth it back, “It’s not that I didn’t want you to come, but I was worried you might not have much in common with us.”

Their group was nearing thirty, and their conversations revolved around careers, family, future plans, and recent updates, topics relevant to their current stage in life. But with nearly a decade between them and Mianmian, the generation gap was likely immense.

Sheng Tingmian felt a bit sad, “I understand, Sister… I won’t casually agree to come to these kinds of events with Siyi anymore.”

“Sister…” Sheng Tingmian glanced over He Jianxue’s shoulder at the three women in the distance, making sure they couldn’t hear, then looked up and asked, “Am I the new little sister you’re raising all over again?”

“Why do you ask that?” He Jianxue paused, “Did they say something to you?”

Sheng Tingmian didn’t respond, only biting her lip as she stared at her.

He Jianxue could tell from her expression that she cared deeply about this matter, afraid she was just a substitute for He Xiu, afraid her sister’s kindness stemmed from guilt.

“You two are different. You are you, and He Xiu is He Xiu. I won’t transfer the regrets I have for her onto you. Even before He Xiu passed away, I had already invested in your aunt’s theater troupe. That alone should prove my kindness toward you isn’t born out of guilt toward He Xiu. It’s not about raising a new sister all over again, because from the very beginning, I was moved by your sincerity. I genuinely wanted to be good to you.”

Water droplets dripped from the ends of her hair, creating ripples on the surface of the swimming pool. After hearing the explanation, Sheng Tingmian was visibly convinced. Her gloomy mood gradually lifted, the resentment in her expression melted away, and a smile bloomed as she nestled into her sister’s embrace.

“So, I’m not a new sister being raised all over again.”

She was herself, her sister’s sworn sister, not a replacement.