Wow, she was surprised that he actually remembered. It seemed he had thought of her. She was also very happy; after all, he had thought of her, and it wasn't because of her seduction. The huge hole in her heart that she had been worrying about was being filled, little by little, like a boat on a clear sky filled with hatred.
He immediately became innocent and devout, casting aside all tricks and deceit, intending never to use them again in his life.
Her heart began to pound as he gazed at her. A thousand emotions raced through her. She thought of the past few years, surrounded by men with means, giving her everything she wanted: fame, fortune, status, praise, and flattery. None of them were like Huaiyu—he had no conditions, yet he was rare. When she wanted him, he desired her. She no longer wanted Jesus.
He said seriously:
"Tang, I know you might not love me in the future. But there's nothing I can do about it. We'll each follow our own conscience... Don't make up lies. Really, if you don't love me, there's nothing I can do."
Using a feigned retreat to advance, the young, arrogant man on the bed, unaware of the dire situation, hastily defended himself:
"No, I am loving."
"Then, you stay in Shanghai."
"—You know perfectly well that I'm just taking it one step at a time, that I can't take on other gigs or perform at private parties. Now it seems that Mr. Jin is determined not to let me live."
Duan Pingting pondered for a long time.
"I'm determined not to lower myself to rely on a woman. But my talent lies only in the stage. Maybe I should just go back to Beiping."
A little butterfly began to flutter in Duan Pingting's heart. Was this good? Was that good? All sorts of wonderful plans were laid out. Suddenly, she reverted to her shrewd and clever self, a witty spirit honed through countless adventures. How strange, an infant had grown up so quickly. She knew it all.
"Go see your Master Hong."
Huaiyu, unaware of the situation, refused.
She coaxed him, "We're betraying Mr. Jin together, aren't we?" The next day, after one night, Huaiyu led Duan Pingting to the house in the alley on Baoshan Street.
They weren't there, but a small personal bag was found lying there.
That busybody who played the sanxian scurried over like a mouse. He glanced at Huaiyu and Duan Pingting:
"Mr. Tang, they say you have relatives coming from Beiping. Now Mr. Hong is asking around about where you are."
relative?
Is that Dad? He's here? I just received a letter saying he was doing well in Beiping and not to worry about me, how come he's here?
Huaiyu hurried inside and was struck dumb by a long braid. He wondered if he was seeing things, shook his head, and looked again. She was engrossed in his theatrical costume photos. Hearing the slightest sound, she immediately turned around. Those slight sounds were: the door creaking softly, a foot stepping lightly, or a glance.
Though she was in a foreign land, nowhere felt like home, nowhere felt like home. This foreign land became a stirring new dream, and so she came. Without hesitation, she blurted out:
"Brother Huaiyu!"
Huaiyu was utterly astonished. He couldn't hear her calling him; the world seemed to have changed, completely unexpected. Everything was accidental, everything was out of place. Helpless, he murmured, "Dandan?"
If it's not true...
I saw Duan Pingting at Dandan's grave. Why didn't I see her? She's such a person; how could she tolerate others if she can't even tolerate a grain of sand in her eye?
Huaiyu invited her in, so she had no choice but to introduce them;
"This is Miss Duan. This is Dandan."
Duan Pingting smiled. She was dealing with this young girl.
"Miss Liu, what is your surname?"
She insisted on not calling her by her childhood nickname. She insisted on not seeing her in person.
Dandan? Hmph, it's Huaiyu's business to call her that.
Huaiyu was taken aback. What was her "honorable surname"? In fact, even she herself didn't know.
Immediately stepped in to resolve the situation:
"We all call her Dandan."
"What's your surname?" Duan Pingting asked firmly with a radiant smile.
Huaiyu then said, as if to appease the situation:
"Surname: Jia. Song Mudan."
"Hello, Miss Song!"
Dandan was speechless, her heart churning.
Did Huaiyu force her to take the surname Lai? Did he secretly betroth himself to Zhigao? He never even asked her.
Fortunately, at that moment, Hong Sheng rushed back. Upon seeing Huaiyu, he inquired:
"Boss Tang, where did you go yesterday? As soon as Miss Dandan arrived today, I had people looking for you everywhere."
Huaiyu, quite perceptively, noticed that the troupe leader no longer addressed him as "you" (formal), but instead as "you" (informal). This clearly caused him immense distress, especially since he was no longer promoted and his status had been forced to change from "you" to "you." How snobbish! Even family members are like this.
His face flushed red, not necessarily because of "where did you go yesterday," but because he was "not as good as before" in front of the two women. He gritted his teeth, as if only Duan Pingting could guide him to a new life and restore his former glory. Otherwise, how could he bear being constantly teased like that? It was like eating an ice pop in December, and he was suddenly half-asleep. Hadn't he earned any money for the troupe leader in the past few months? Hadn't he become famous? He really couldn't bear to see it all crumble.
Alright, the white cloth is now in the blue vat. Having steeled his resolve, he said to Master Hong:
"Let's go outside and talk things over."
Seeing that Dandan had come all this way, and that he was bound by invisible shackles, his cleanliness extremely limited, his suffering known only to himself, he didn't know where to begin. Due to the circumstances, he was pushed aside, and given a few words:
"Dandan, stay here and don't wander off. I'll settle you in when I get back tonight."
Dandan's eyes suddenly reddened.