Chapter 149 Long time no see

The sudden temporary recruitment of guests for the "Shan Hai" program was completely timely. Ren Limeng made a prompt decision and seized this rare opportunity, for the sake of her own hosting transformation opportunity and for her own unspeakable selfish motives.

The Jingchu season of "Shan Hai" is very suitable for her. As a native of Meishi, from the moment she was selected as a guest, Ren Limeng had guessed that the program team would let her return to Meishi. This time, with the help of work opportunities and contract constraints, she can no longer avoid going home, and there is no reason to delay the unresolved family estrangement that has lasted for more than ten years.

The recording was almost completely under control, and everything seemed to be going smoothly in Mei City these days. Except for the little episode with Shen Xingzhi, Ren Limeng was secretly worried about the distance she still had with her parents.

But no matter how distressed she is, time goes on and she will not hesitate.

Ren Limeng had a perfect smile on her face. She put aside all her thoughts and looked up at the brand new gilded sign of the Huangmei Opera School in front of her. In the sunlight, each of the lively and elegant golden characters seemed to be interwoven with modern innovation in the ancient style.

"Mengmeng, is this your first time at our new drama school campus? Isn't it more impressive than it looks in the photos? Hey, Teacher Qi is here!"

In front of the gate of Huangmei New Opera School, Yan Fangshu held Ren Limeng's left arm, raised her right arm excitedly, and waved to Qi Yunxi who was standing next to the security room.

"Fangfang, did you make an appointment with Teacher Qi?"

Ren Limeng nodded to Qi Yunxi who was not far away. She raised her left hand slightly to greet her. Looking at Qi Yunxi who was much more mature than she remembered and walking towards her, Ren Limeng's fingers suddenly tightened, and there was a hint of helplessness in her smile.

After going to college, Ren Limeng returned to the drama school to see Teacher Qi two or three times, but in the years since she graduated with a doctorate, she has not been to the relocated drama school, nor has she seen her teacher again.

Facing the teacher who had once taught her earnestly and was full of expectations, Ren Limeng suddenly became nervous involuntarily, and even felt a little scared and bitter.

After the college entrance examination, Ren Limeng chose to change her career. After going around in circles, she never performed Huangmei Opera again until she officially joined the Orange platform, breaking the last possibility of returning to Mei City.

She was unwilling to admit it, but she had to accept one thing - she didn't know how to face the teachers who had taught her opera.

She was afraid to look into their eyes filled with disappointment, and was saddened by every sigh they made for her "not doing her job properly". Ren Limeng could understand the regret in their words, and could see clearly that everyone disapproved of her sudden career change.

But she has her own experience, and Ren Limeng has no regrets about any of her choices.

But no matter what, she admitted that she had let down many people's expectations.

"Li Meng, long time no see."

"Teacher Qi..."

Qi Yunxi smiled and stood in front of Ren Limeng. She suddenly stretched out her arms, took a step forward, and hugged Ren Limeng, who was hiding all her nervousness. She gently said in Ren Limeng's ear, "Welcome home."

Ren Limeng clenched her hands, slowly raised her arms and hugged Qi Yunxi. A complex look flashed in her eyes. She pursed her lips, suppressing all the grievances that she thought had long passed.

When they were in the drama school, after every performance of Ren Limeng, Qi Yunxi would be the first to hug her as she came off the stage and give her the warmest affirmation. Because of her mother Wu Murong, Qi Yunxi had always been very close to her until she chose to change careers.

Over the years, every time Ren Limeng and Qi Yunxi chatted, they would always try to avoid talking about Huangmei Opera and Wu Murong. However, the more careful they were, the more difficult it became, and the conversations they had with him hesitant to talk about something became less and less frequent. Until one day, Ren Limeng opened the chat box with Qi Yunxi, and after deleting so much, she didn't know what was being sent.

With Yan Fangshu helping to lighten the mood, Ren Limeng and Qi Yunxi couldn't help but smile as they chatted about their memories of the drama school and their familiar teachers and classmates. Even though they were not familiar with the new drama school, Ren Limeng still felt dazed in front of Qi Yunxi, as if she was no longer a graceful professional host, but had returned to her innocent and reckless student days.

"I watched your live broadcast yesterday. Meixiang's arrangements for Huangmei Opera Week this year were very exciting. No one expected that Meixiang would actually invite the performance of 'Shan Hai'. This has allowed even more people to learn about Huangmei Opera. Even our drama school has received many inquiries from parents in the past two days."

After a rough tour of the campus, Ren Limeng and Qi Yunxi went to the office together. Qi Yunxi was no longer a front-line teacher. Her office was a spacious two-person room. It was lunchtime and the office was empty.

Ren Limeng and Yan Fangshu sat down on the sofa, stood up slightly, took the disposable paper cups that Qi Yunxi had used to brew green tea, and whispered "thank you" in unison.

"Li Meng, your performance in 'The Female Imperial Consort' was quite unexpected. The whole school has been discussing your play these past two days. Come to think of it, your photo is still hanging in the school history museum!"

"School History Museum? Is it because of my high score in the cultural subjects of the college entrance examination?"

"Yes... and the Fenghua Competition. You and Chuyue are the pride of the school. Until now, our city hasn't won a second championship. In the past two years, it's been difficult to even reach the finals."

A flash of regret passed through Qi Yunxi's eyes. Looking at Ren Limeng's reserved and gentle smile, she secretly cheered herself up. She didn't want her emotions to affect this hard-won meeting, nor did she want Ren Limeng to recall the unpleasant past.

That is everyone's deep regret.

She hesitated slightly, then changed the subject, "We were all very happy to hear Fangshu say you were planning to return to the drama school. Your program team also came to discuss this in advance. The school leaders were planning to receive you together today... By the way, where is the cameraman for your program?"

"They'll be here soon, and I wanted to come and see them first. We're scheduled to meet at 3:30, so it's kind of a private trip now. Teacher Qi, I... I'm a host now, and I'm a little embarrassed to face the school. I'm sorry for letting them down. However, if the school needs any publicity, I'd definitely be happy to help. Just ask."

Ren Limeng finally plucked up the courage to tell Qi Yunxi in person about her current occupation. She felt ashamed that the student who achieved the best result in the school's Fenghua competition did not end up showing her talent on the opera stage.

Ren Limeng's voice was very sincere. A hint of surprise flashed through Qi Yunxi's mind. She didn't expect that she just nodded secretly, and Ren Limeng immediately reacted to her implied meaning. She was a little surprised that the once carefree little girl was not only graceful now, but also so delicate in mind.

That's the magic of time.

Hearing that the recording would not start until 3:30, Qi Yunxi leaned back on the chair, and the muscles in her neck relaxed instantly. She noticed the bitterness in Ren Limeng's eyes and spoke slowly.

"Li Meng, please don't belittle yourself in front of me. Your performance of 'The Female Prime Minister' was so brilliant, and you didn't give back what we taught you at all. How can you be so shameless? You're a good host. I believe that even if you've changed careers, all the hard work you put in since childhood wasn't in vain. Besides, after all these years, even I didn't expect you, Li Meng, to still persist."

As Yan Fangshu spoke, her voice unconsciously carried some emotion. She looked at Ren Limeng gently, without a trace of blame in her eyes. Ren Limeng pursed her lips slightly and secretly took a deep breath. At this moment, she almost couldn't keep the smile on her face.

Is she...still holding on?

She thought she had chosen to give up Huangmei Opera at the age of eighteen.

However, in the past two days, many people seemed to have expressed the same sentiments as Ren Limeng. Ren Limeng kept questioning her inner self, and became more and more hesitant. Now... is she still holding on?

Her love for Huangmei Opera is no longer purely devoted, but everything about Huangmei Opera seems to have been integrated into her bones.

Ren Limeng thought of her mother's indifference and sighed in her heart. She didn't know that there was more than just Huangmei Opera.

"Teacher Qi...I'm sorry, I...let everyone down."

The office suddenly fell silent for a long time. Sensing Ren Limeng's depressed mood, Yan Fangshu was just about to change the subject when she suddenly heard Ren Limeng's voice with a wry smile. Yan Fangshu turned her head and looked at Ren Limeng, who was facing everything truthfully and bravely.

Qi Yunxi was also looking at Ren Limeng. After not seeing each other for many years, everyone began to speak politely unconsciously. But when Ren Limeng suddenly said this, it seemed as if time had flown back and everyone was back to the days when they used to spend every day together at the drama school.

Qi Yunxi still remembers Ren Limeng who suddenly gave up before the "Peach Blossom Fan" selection. She also specifically apologized to her after the competition. But this time, Qi Yunxi put herself in her shoes and no longer dwelled on Ren Limeng's giving up, nor would she stop blaming her just out of regret.

"Li Meng, don't apologize. You are worthy of yourself."

Qi Yunxi looked at Ren Limeng, who slowly lowered her head, and said patiently and seriously, "The wonderful performance of 'The Female Prime Minister' has shown everyone your attitude towards Huangmei Opera. Although I don't know why you insisted on changing your career, as your former teacher, I trust your decision."

The play on stage is silent, but it does not lie. Ren Limeng's smooth performance of "The Female Prime Minister" is enough to prove everything.

"Yes, Mengmeng, be happy, Teacher Qi. Mengmeng and I were talking about returning home in glory at lunch, but I didn't expect Mengmeng to do such a sentimental thing as soon as she arrived. But the drama school is really all about our youth, and seeing Teacher Qi again, even I can't help myself."

Yan Fangshu patted Ren Limeng's shoulder gently and pulled her into her arms, feeling the complex and heavy breathing of Ren Limeng beside her. Thinking of Ren Limeng's experience along the way, Yan Fangshu suppressed the emotions that inexplicably welled up in her eyes, and smiled and tried to make the atmosphere relaxed again.

"Sorry, the recording has been a bit stressful lately."

She has to smile in front of the camera as soon as she opens her eyes every day. Even Ren Limeng feels uncomfortable facing the high-intensity filming and complicated interpersonal relationships.

These days when she returned to Mei City, too many memories came to her mind again. Coupled with the increasingly complicated cooperation with Chen Xingzhi, Ren Limeng still looked calm, but in fact, she had long been like a taut string, ready to explode at any moment.