***
On New Year’s Eve, City TV Station rented a large auditorium for their gala.
After getting ready, Yu Dong arrived backstage half an hour early. People were bustling around wearing colorful clothes, but sadly, none could rival Yu Dong’s sequined skirt.
Yu Dong wasn’t some big shot so naturally, she didn’t have a separate lounge to wait in. In the end, she found a small corner and sat down to play with her phone.
Alas, phones right now had limited functions…
“Dong Dong….” Xiang Xiaoyue had been looking for Yu Dong for ages before finally finding her sitting in a corner.
“Xiaoyue? How come you’re back here?” Yu Dong sent both Xiang Xiaoyue and Ren Xinxin tickets, but Ren Xinxin was becoming too big to come to busy places like this. In the end, Xiaoyue came alone.
“I had an acquaintance let me in.” Xiang Xiaoyue smiled and pointed behind her.
Yu Dong tilted her head and saw Lei Zhen, Fang Hua’s university friend. Because Yu Dong hadn’t seen Lei Zhen in 10 years, she doesn’t really remember him. In the few times she met him after her rebirth, Yu Dong couldn’t even remember his name, but after yesterday’s rehearsal, she’s finally a little more familiar with him.
“You’re not on until 9:30.” As the host of the gala, Lei Zhen naturally knew the schedule so he made a proposal: “You still need to wait for 2 hours, why don’t you go wait at our lounge, there are fewer people there.”
“Will I be troubling you?” Yu Dong hesitated.
“Not at all, we’re all classmates, and you’ve met sister Enna.” Lei Zhen smiled.
“We should go. Look how busy everyone is, you’ll just be in other people’s way.” Xiang Xiaoyue also advised.
So Yu Dong and Xiang Xiaoyue followed Lei Zhen to the host lounge. Li Enna was reading her teleprompter cards when she saw people entering. She smiled and greeted them; obviously Lei Zhen had already talked to her beforehand.
Yu Dong thanked Lei Zhen and sat down with Xiang Xiaoyue.
Soon a staff member came in and told Li Enna and Lei Zhen that the director was looking for them, so they both left the lounge.
When Yu Dong and Xiang Xiaoyue were finally the only people left in the room, it soon became lively.
“The skirt looks fine, it’s not as exaggerated as you described.” Xiang Xiaoyue looked at Yu Dong’s skirt and commented this.
“But don’t you think that it’s a little too grand for a no-name amidst a gala with bigger stars?” Yu Dong pointed to herself.
“Oh. That’s true. Your dress is more eye-catching compared to what Li Enna was wearing.” Xiaoyue smiled, “But you’ll look stunning on stage, with all the lights the effect will definitely be amazing!”
“Don’t you need to find your seat soon?” Yu Dong remembered that the audience had to enter the auditorium early.
“It’ll be fine, I only came to cheer for you anyway.” Xiang Xiaoyue opened her bag and pulled out a small camera, showing it to Yu Dong as if it was a treasure, “I’ll take lots of pictures later.”
Yu Dong didn’t look at the camera, her eyes trained at Xiaoyue’s bag.
It was a small women’s satchel, its whole body shaped like a sharp cone. It glittered in the light and anyone who saw it would certainly feel chills.
“Is that a bag or a murder weapon?” Yu Dong couldn’t help but say.
“This…” Xiang Xiaoyue glanced at her bag and proudly showed it off: “It’s a popular bag right now, I ordered it from America especially. Isn’t it cool, it can also act as a weapon when I need one.”
“Right!” Yu Dong’s mouth twitched.
Suddenly, Yu Dong’s phone rang. When she took out her phone, Yu Dong saw that Xia Feng had sent a text.
[ I’ll be watching your performance from here. ]
At this, Yu Dong couldn’t help but smile sweetly.
“Xia Feng sent a text?” Xiaoyue saw Yu Dong’s sugary smile and guessed.
“Yeah!” Yu Dong nodded.
“I’m really jealous,” Xiang Xiaoyue pouted. “I’ve been waiting for so long, where’s my own dog?”
“Dog?” Yu Dong gave her a look.
“My single dog.” At Xiaoyue’s explanation, Yu Dong couldn’t help but laugh.
” Aren’t there several men pursuing you right now?” Out of the three girls, Xiang Xiaoyue had the most peach blossom encounters.
Xiang Xiaoyue picked up a pillow and hugged it in her arms. Acting very emotional, she said: “All the guys I told you about before were all better as friends than as lovers. Sigh, when will I find someone I can fall in love with?”
Yu Dong remembered Qin Yue. She tilted her head and told Xiang Xiaoyue: “Maybe that someone already appeared in your life, you just haven’t fallen in love with them yet.”
“How is that possible? If I like someone, I like them immediately.” Xiang Xiaoyue thought back to all the single men she knew. After a while, she shook her head.
“If they’re your fated person, even if they don’t meet your standards, it’ll be inevitable.” Yu Dong told her meaningfully.
The pair sat in the lounge and chatted until a staff member notified Yu Dong to go backstage. Xiang Xiaoyue then left to go look for her seat.
……
That night, in City Hospital, all the TV’s were tuned to the New Year’s Eve Gala.
Head nurse Liu looked up at the TV and saw the program schedule. When she saw that Yu Dong would be on soon, Head nurse Liu rushed to make a call.
In the Oncology Surgery Office.
“Is Dr. Xia there?” Nurse Liu asked.
“Xia Feng is out checking the ward.” It was Qiao Ming who answered the phone.
“I see.” Head nurse Liu hung up the phone and walked along the inpatient building. When she saw Xia Feng coming out of a room, she hurriedly shouted out to him.
“Dr. Xia, Yu Dong’s going to be on soon.”
Xia Feng had been trying to extricate himself from Nurse Liu all night, but in the end, he thanked her and went back to the nurse’s station with her.
…..
“Friends, next up is the radio host Fish Jelly, she’ll be singing the song ‘Blue and White Porcelain’. Everyone, please give her a warm welcome.”
As Li Enna’s voice drowned under the applause, Yu Dong in a fishtail sequined dress walked under the colorful lights.
“Ahhh…you’re the prettiest Yu Dong!” Originally, Xiang Xiaoyue had been sitting quietly. When Yu Dong entered, she instantly jumped out of her seat and screamed, scaring the people around her.
The nurse’s desk where Xia Feng watched was also full of surprise.
As the song started, Yu Dong’s soft and pure voice resounded throughout the venue, traveling straight into Xia Feng’s heart.
(T/N I looked for the lyrics instead of MTLing it here.)
The brush outlines a beautiful pattern, brush strokes becoming lighter
The peony on the bottle, simplest beauty, just like you
Whiffs of incense smoke bring your troubles to my heart
I pause halfway while painting.
The glazing of the lady’s portrait hides her charm
Your smile, to me, like a budding flower
But your beauty dissipates like smoke,
To a place I can never reach.
The perfect shade of blue awaits the right weather, like how I wait for you
……
A female cover of ‘Blue and White Porcelain’ hasn’t been dubbed yet, so Yu Dong’s cover which had a different atmosphere affected the hearts of everyone listening.
Xia Feng watched Yu Dong intently. The TV screen showed a beautiful woman on stage; she was like a precious blue and white porcelain that’s been handed down generation to generation.
At the end of Yu Dong’s performance, the previously quiet hall thundered in applause. Xiang Xiaoyue jumped up again with excitement.
“Yu Dong, Yu Dong, I love you! You’re wonderful, so beautiful!” The more she shouted, the more excited Xiang Xiaoyue became. She didn’t realize that her body was getting closer and closer to the front. Her bag bounced around because of her jumping and ended up scratching the person in front of her seat.
Qin Yue was originally focused on enjoying the performance. After, he applauded very much like a gentleman. But as a result, disaster struck. Suddenly he had been scratched, his forehead burning.
Almost as a reflex, he grabbed the weapon that attacked him, his face turning black.
By then Xiang Xiaoyue was finished cheering and was planning on going backstage. As she turned to leave, she felt a tug. She turned around to look at the source and-
Fuck!!
A handsome man with a bleeding forehead was holding her bag, looking gloomy.
“I…I…” Xiang Xiaoyue didn’t fully understand the situation, but she still felt guilty. “Are you alright?”
“What do you think?” Qin Yue saw that the woman was remorseful, but who can stay in a good mood after being injured for no reason.
“Right…I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. Why don’t I drive you to the hospital to get it looked at.” Xiaoyue rushed to apologize.
Qin Yue saw that the woman’s attitude was favorable, so he could only consider himself unlucky. He followed Xiang Xiaoyue out of the auditorium and to her car so she could drive him to the hospital.
While driving, Xiang Xiaoyue called Yu Dong: “Yu Dong, I have to leave first…it’s nothing…I have a situation…it’s not serious.”
“Yu Dong?” Qin Yue, who was using toilet paper to blot his wound, remembered something and carefully looked at the girl driving. He realized that this was one of the two girls who had fooled him in Lu Group’s building.
Qin Yue never thought he would see them again. What a coincidence.
Although he was still bleeding, the wound wasn’t particularly deep, so it wasn’t that serious. When they arrived at the hospital, a nurse simply dressed it.
“I’m really sorry, here’s my card, if there are any complications, please call me directly. I’m definitely the one responsible.” Xiang Xiaoyue handed over her business card.
“Xiang Xiaoyue?” Qin Yue looked at the card, “Xiaoyue Dubbing Studio, General Manager? So you really aren’t a part Qingfeng Architecture.”
“Ah??” Qingfeng Architecture sounded familiar. Xiang Xiaoyue thought for a while, carefully looking at the man in front of her. Suddenly, her eyes widened as she remembered.
“Have you remembered?” Qin Yue arched an eyebrow as he asked.
“Ha ha ha…What was your last name again?” Even if she was beaten to death, Xiang Xiaoyue had no intention of admitting to anything. Anyway, it was all Yu Dong, it had nothing to do with her.
“You’ve forgotten? Never mind, it doesn’t matter. I’ll just properly talk with you later.” Qin Yue waved the business card in his hand.
Xiang Xiaoyue wanted to smack herself in the face.
“Please take me back first.” Qin Yue looked at his watch, it was 10:30 p.m.
“Alright!”
Xiang Xiaoyue took Qin Yue to the International Hotel in the city center. As they got out of her car, she took out a box of walnut crisps and handed it to Qin Yue.
Qin Yue looked at the box, puzzled.
“I truly didn’t mean to hurt you. Take this as my apology, adults shouldn’t bear grudges.” After offending the other party twice, Xiang Xiaoyue wanted to smooth things out.
“Su Ji?” Qin Yue looked at the gift box in his hands, surprised.
“You know this brand too? This is a vintage gift box from Suzhou, they’ve been making walnut crisps for hundreds of years.” Xiang Xiaoyue said proudly, “This box was given to me by Grandma Su, the retired owner of Su Ji, can’t be bought anywhere.”
“Oh? That’s quite a prideful looking expression on your face.” Qin Yue said.
“Of course, our two families were neighbors when I was young, Grandma Su saw me grow up.” Xiaoyue smiled.
Looking at the tall, beautiful and charming woman in front of him, Qin Yue suddenly couldn’t help but laugh.
“What are you laughing at?” Xiang Xiaoyue percieved that Qin Yue was laughing at her.
“It’s me, chubby girl.” Qin Yue lifted the walnut cake in his hand and said, “Your neighbor’s handsome brother.”
The hell!!
“You’re Grandma Su’s grandson!!!!”
Xiang Xiaoyue desperately wanted to sink into the earth, Fuck, this was the only failed confession in her entire life- when she confessed at 5 years old to the handsome grandson next door!
The author has something to say: Xiaoyue’s emotional line is so clear, so it doesn’t matter if they met a little early because of Yu Dong, she was doomed from the start. Grandma Su is God’s assistant ha ha.
***
Funny. Also, a wild author note has appeared!
I lied, I managed to translate this chapter fast.