45. Children's March
◎It's alright, I'm here. ◎
The filming proceeded smoothly and according to plan over the next few days.
Liang Chuling's part is mostly finished, and Li Xun is fulfilling his duties as director meticulously, coordinating, communicating, and overseeing. Apart from necessary work exchanges, the two maintain a tacit understanding and calm between them.
The shoot that day required Jinxi to appear as a representative of her friends, showcasing the pianist's relaxed side offstage.
The day before, Li Chi learned of today's arrangements and asked Li Xun to help deliver Nishimoto Tomoyuki's autographed photo to Jinxi, as well as the gift he was going to bring to Nanjing for Liang Chuling. There was quite a lot of stuff, so Li Xun simply went back to his room to carry a backpack.
When Li Xun picked up his backpack from the table, he noticed that several photos were missing.
During this period, he only went home to sleep and feed the cat, and didn't pay much attention to other changes. Now that he noticed them, he didn't bother to analyze them. He just assumed that he had accidentally put them somewhere or that Chestnut had lost them while playing.
He was about to put the photos in the drawer when he noticed a mark on one of the photos that looked like it had been squeezed. He had a guess in his mind, and this guess left him feeling helpless, so he stuffed the rest of the photos and the old cell phone on the table into his bag.
-
On the day of the shoot, Jinxi, who is naturally lively, was even more energetic with Liang Chuling by her side, making Liang Chuling laugh several times. Li Xun watched from behind the monitor, occasionally gesturing to the photographer to capture details of their natural interactions.
"Great, that's enough filming." Li Xun picked up the walkie-talkie.
The atmosphere relaxed. Jinxi stretched and whispered something in Liang Chuling's ear, to which Liang Chuling smiled and nudged her. The two discussed going back to the Liang family home for dinner that evening; Aunt Zhang had mentioned several times that Jinxi should come over for soup.
After packing their things, Liang Chuling and Jin Xi walked out of the filming location park side by side. It was already evening, and the streetlights were gradually coming on. The two stood by the roadside and hailed a taxi.
“Chu Ling, look over there…” Jin Xi suddenly nudged Liang Chu Ling with her elbow, looking surprised.
Liang Chuling followed her gaze.
Not far from the side gate of the park, under a ginkgo tree, Huang Xiao was embracing a tall man. They were facing each other sideways; the man had blond hair and was exceptionally tall, appearing to be of mixed race. Huang Xiao's face was resting on his shoulder, her face beaming with undisguised sweetness. The man lowered his head and kissed the top of her head affectionately. The atmosphere was clearly that of a couple deeply in love, and the winter sun added a warm glow to their scene, making one feel quite happy.
Liang Chuling was incredulous, and Jin Xi's mouth dropped open as well; both of them saw the same astonishment in each other's eyes.
Because of Liang Chuling's words, Jinxi also tacitly agreed that Huang Xiao was Li Xun's girlfriend.
They wouldn't stoop to malicious speculation about others; their first reaction was: Li Xun and Huang Xiao have already broken up?
Liang Chuling's heart skipped a beat, then began to race erratically.
It was as if someone had sprinkled a handful of popping candy into her chest cavity, causing it to explode with a mix of sweetness and chaos.
It was clear from what was happening that Huang Xiao had a boyfriend she deeply loved, and their relationship was very strong.
So, what about Li Xun?
Is he single?
Various speculations raced through Liang Chuling's mind.
"The car is here." Jinxi nudged her.
After getting on the bus, Jinxi couldn't help but look back again. The couple under the ginkgo tree had already separated, holding hands and chatting as they walked in another direction.
"My God..." Jinxi turned around, "What on earth is going on?"
"I don't know either."
"Never mind, it's someone else's private matter and has nothing to do with us." Jinxi was easygoing and hugged Liang Chuling's arm.
Liang Chuling nodded in agreement, but she still felt like there was a flying insect in her head. She was a little dazed and couldn't quite figure out what it felt like.
Unable to figure it out, Liang Chuling choked on her own saliva and couldn't help but cough violently. While coughing, she noticed a patch of red in her peripheral vision. She leaned to the window to look and saw a faint red color, which inexplicably reminded Liang Chuling of a bunch of pomegranate flowers.
But pomegranate flowers bloom in May. So what could this be?
"Master, what's that red thing outside?"
"Maple trees! You like them? It's too late now! You'll have to go to Shunyi next November to see them. There's a whole mountain there covered in these red maple trees, a beautiful sight!"
Liang Chuling felt an unexpected calm; it turned out to be a tree, not a flower.
I thanked the driver, and my cough stopped.
-
The next day was the last day of Liang Chuling's solo filming schedule.
The location was changed to the rehearsal hall of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, where she and Li Chi conducted the orchestra during rehearsals. This was to showcase her collaboration with the orchestra, which was also Liang Chuling's request, and could also help generate some buzz for the orchestra.
As the morning's filming came to an end, a commotion arose outside the rehearsal hall.
A moment later, the production assistant came in with a somewhat embarrassed yet excited expression and said a few words to the producer.
The double doors of the rehearsal hall were pushed open, and several deliverymen in uniform filed in, carrying exaggerated flower baskets shaped like hearts made of red roses and white baby's breath, with ribbons hanging on them: "To my beloved Chuling—your Ivan."
Following closely behind was a delivery driver pushing a food cart piled high with cakes and milk tea, the labels also bearing Ivan's name and a blessing.
The whole team was a bit stunned; this was quite a show of force, and they were also a little excited—with both goodwill and malice.
Liang Chuling was discussing the handling of a musical phrase with the conductor when she saw these things and was startled. She and Ivan had not been in contact since the last time, and her sudden offer of help made her feel uneasy.
Li Xun walked up to the assistant director in charge of on-site coordination and asked, "Who authorized the delivery of these things?"
The assistant director also looked bewildered: "I don't know, director. It was just sent over suddenly. They said it was for Teacher Liang and the whole crew."
Li Xun walked up to Liang Chuling again and quietly asked, "Do you know about this?"
"I don't know." Liang Chuling was a little nervous because Li Xun suddenly approached.
"Does he know you're filming here?"
"My schedule has not been made public."
Li Xun nodded. Either someone in Liang Chuling's team leaked the information, or Ivan's side used less-than-honorable methods to find out. Either way, it was unsettling.
He walked back to his assistant and said, "Don't touch these things yet, especially the food that goes in your mouth. Tell everyone not to eat or drink anything."
Huang Xiao also realized that Liang Chuling herself seemed a little resistant to these 'gifts', so she quickly came over to help, instructing the staff to move the flower basket to a corner and put the desserts and drinks aside, making it look like a bunch of brightly colored but awkward items.
Li Xun called out to the team, "You've all worked hard. I'll order a fresh tea break for you all. It'll be here in a bit. Please wait a moment."
Liang Chuling also turned to the staff and musicians present: "I'm sorry for the trouble and for taking up your time."
She spoke politely, but her fingers were trembling. Li Xun noticed and sensed her unease, so he took another half-step closer to her, forming a protective stance. He suggested, "Why don't you go back to the lounge first?"
Liang Chuling shook her head.
She felt uneasy and wanted to continue talking to Li Xun, but a staff member came over and asked Li Xun if he had any disinfectant swabs. Li Xun then walked away to rummage through his bag. He had been carrying a backpack for the past few days, and it contained all sorts of things.
-
Twenty-four hours earlier, in a hotel suite, Ivan smashed an ashtray on the floor.
"How dare they?!" Ivan grabbed the termination letter from the table, the paper crumpling in his hand. "Berlin, Vienna, Paris—all shut down? Just because of that bitch's few words?!"
The agent stood in the center of the living room: "It's not just a few words. Andrei has video footage. It shows what you said when you were drunk in the villa, and those drugs."
Ivan froze.
The party three months ago. Vodka, [illegible], and that violinist Andrei who had just turned nineteen. He didn't remember what he said, but his agent played the video Andrei had sent him. In the video, Ivan, with a slurred speech, said that several veteran conductors in the industry should have been in their coffins long ago, that a certain female pianist won awards by sleeping with judges, and made obscene jokes about underage music fans.
"How much does he want?" Ivan's voice was forced out through clenched teeth.
“He doesn’t want money, and he will publish it online tomorrow night. I have also contacted Ms. Yelena.”
"What did she say?" Ivan asked, as if grasping at a last straw.
“Ms. Yelena said,” the agent’s voice was dry, “Let Ivan die. It’s best if he dies out there. If he dares to come back to Russia, I’ll personally beat him to death. And don’t even think about dragging Liang Chuling down with you.”
The suite fell into a deathly silence.
Ivan stood there, then suddenly laughed, a low, broken laugh.
"Fine, fine..." He staggered to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the traffic and neon lights of Beijing at night. "If they all abandon me, then none of them will have a good time."
He turned around: "Where will Liang Chuling be tomorrow?"
"The National Centre for the Performing Arts. They're still filming that documentary."
“Documentary,” Ivan murmured, savoring the word. “How glamorous. What makes her so special?”
The agent remained silent.
Ivan's voice rose: "I'm asking you, what gives her the right? All my performances were canceled! And her? She's on the Cliburn jury next year! Curtis is going to give her an honorary professorship! I begged her to share the stage with me, and she brushed me off! What gives her the right to have such a smooth ride?!"
Jealousy corroded his heart like sulfuric acid. Ivan recalled Liang Chuling's overly clear eyes, the way she stood on the podium accepting applause from the world, and the expression on her face when she rejected him.
A Chinese woman. A yellow-skinned woman who climbed up the social ladder through luck. What makes her think she can stand higher than him?
"Since she won't help me up, let's just fall down together."
The agent looked up: "You mean..."
"Arrange for paparazzi. I'm going to surprise her tomorrow, so get your cameras ready. Understand? I'll turn her into a crazy woman."
"But your image..."
“I’m already like this, what do I care about my image?” Ivan sneered. “I just want her to be worse off than me. I want everyone to see what kind of person this piano goddess is in private.”
He walked to the liquor cabinet; the alcohol burned his esophagus, but it also brought him to his senses.
"The headline needs to be harsh, the uglier the better. Once the photos are released, no amount of explanation will help. People only believe what they want to believe. A young and beautiful female pianist, secretly a madwoman—what great gossip!"
The agent nodded: "I understand."
“Remember,” Ivan said finally, “I don’t want a scandal, I want a controversies. I’m going to ruin her.”
--
As the afternoon shoot drew to a close, Liang Chuling's unease grew stronger. She was already familiar with Ivan's team's methods; every step was purposeful. These flowers and food seemed like a kind of foreshadowing.
After filming the last scene, Liang Chuling wanted to leave as soon as possible.
"Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Liang!"
"Teacher Liang is in great spirits today!"
The staff greeted her, and Liang Chuling forced a smile in response. Without stopping, she grabbed her coat and bag and walked outside.
Just as they reached the door, Ivan, wearing a baseball cap, suddenly appeared, startling Liang Chuling to a halt. Ivan acted faster than she could think; he stepped forward, grabbed her wrist with considerable force, and dragged her in another direction, urgently saying, "Ling! I finally found you! There are paparazzi! Quick, come with me!"
When celebrities encounter paparazzi, their first reaction is often to avoid and run away. This is a conditioned reflex formed over many years, and Liang Chuling is no exception. She subconsciously followed him for a few steps, her brain still processing the information.
After running more than ten meters, Liang Chuling was struck by a ray of rational light amidst the chaos—
Why run?
Wouldn't it be more suspicious if they ran away?
She and Ivan are a public couple, so what's wrong with being photographed together?
So, halfway through the run, Liang Chuling stopped, not only halting herself but also forcefully pulling Ivan, who was rushing forward, so hard that he stumbled.
"Let go of me!" She forcefully pulled her hand back.
"What are you doing?" Ivan turned his head, his expression annoyed under the brim of his hat.
Liang Chuling steadied herself: "Why are you running? Aren't we a couple? So what if we're photographed?"
Ivan tried to take her hand again: "They'll write nonsense, let's get out of here first!"
"Then let them write it." Liang Chuling's voice turned cold. "Ivan, what exactly are you up to?"
The flash was almost upon them.
Liang Chuling could now clearly see the figures rushing out of the shadows. There were three or four at the front, carrying cameras, their movements practiced and swift, like sharks smelling blood. They moved while taking pictures, capturing images from different angles.
Each image, viewed alone, may seem unremarkable, but when paired with sensational titles and guiding text, they are enough to weave countless stories.
Liang Chu felt a sense of panic. The constantly flashing, dark camera shutters seemed to be blinking, making her skin crawl. She was actually very afraid of the camera, but she had always tried her best and wanted to have no weaknesses, so she forced herself to learn to smile, answer, and present herself in front of the camera.
Every woman, every time she is pointed at by countless cameras like this, it's never a good thing, and Liang Chuling is no exception.
The suffocating atmosphere created by the countless trials and judgments she faced years ago, scrutinizing every move she made, has returned.
She can perform perfectly in front of the camera for work, but when caught off guard, she cannot hide her fear and panic in front of the camera, which will be interpreted as a guilty conscience.
"I heard Clayburn reserved a seat for you on the judging panel?" Ivan suddenly asked.
Liang Chuling looked up at him but didn't reply.
"Of course, of course. Your playing was perfect, full of emotion. I can't help but wonder, what were you thinking when you played those tragic pieces? Were you rehearsing those dark thoughts, or were you reliving them—"
"How come Huiwei plays better than you?" Liang Chuling actually didn't have the strength to speak, but she always refused to admit defeat and always wanted to outmaneuver others, so she liked to overexert herself to attack.
Ivan sneered, "You and Zhou Xu have met again. How interesting. Five years ago, he almost went to jail for you, and five years later he's still at your beck and call. What kind of spell did you cast on him?"
Who I meet is none of your business.
"It's none of my business." Ivan nodded, feigning realization. "After all, you can see whoever you want now. Zhou Xu, Li Chi, and your little follower Jin Xi are always hanging around you. What do you think they're after?"
"At least it's not because my mother is Yelena."
These words struck a nerve with Ivan. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he remained silent for a moment.
“You’re jealous of me,” Liang Chuling suddenly said. “Is that so?”
“Jealous of you?” Ivan sneered. “Jealous of a Chinese woman? Liang Chuling, do you think you’re cleaner than me? How many people’s blood have you sucked to get to where you are today?”
"I didn't force anyone."
"No, you just put on that pitiful act and ruined Zhou Xu's reputation. And now it's my turn. I've been ruined by you too."
"You ruined yourself, okay?!" Liang Chuling wanted to spit in his face.
Ivan gave an even more vicious smile: "How I ruined her is not important. Let's talk about you. Do you know what happened to that woman? The woman you almost killed."
Liang Chuling's pupils contracted.
"Of course you wouldn't ask around. How could you possibly want to know that she still needs medication to get through the night, and that her son is afraid of any sudden noise or strangers approaching?"
Ivan finally found the words that could trigger Liang Chuling's emotions, and became even more unrestrained.
“You don’t know,” Ivan answered for her. “Of course you don’t know. You’re playing the piano at Curtis, winning awards, being a judge, enjoying all the glory. Who remembers the fear that’s on your hands? Every award you win, every time you step onto that stage, you’re reminding her—that the person who hurt her is doing very well, very well. That’s crueler than kidnapping, don’t you think?”
Liang Chuling's body began to tremble uncontrollably. She tried to grasp something to retort, but her mind went blank.
The sound of the camera shutter grew closer, and Liang Chuling could feel the lens capturing the changes on her face.
Her heart pounded like a drum. Liang Chuling reached for her phone in her pocket. Who could she call? Her manager? Her assistant? They were too far away to help her in her immediate predicament. Who else could she turn to?
She was so anxious that she wanted to pray to heaven for someone who would never harm her to appear...
Skipping over those familiar work-related names, almost uncontrollably, she dialed a number from her memory. The moment she dialed it, she remembered that it was Li Xun's old number.
Then the number may already be disconnected—the call went through.
So this number might not have been used by Li Xun for a long time—the call was already connected.
"Liang Chuling?" Li Xun's voice came from the other end of the receiver, tinged with surprise.
Liang Chuling was almost speechless, her eyes were almost wet, and she was almost unable to control her trembling.
Ivan stood beside her, taking in all her reactions. "So flustered, who are you calling? Your savior?" Ivan's voice was like a viper's hiss, piercing her eardrums. "Ah, let me guess... is Zhou Xu the first person you think of at a time like this? Or have you found a new toy?"
Few people knew the names Liang Chuling and Li Xun. Li Xun was only known as the son of Liang Chuling's mentor, and the two had once taken classes together. Ivan had never heard of Li Xun and was certain the person on the other end of the phone was Zhou Xu.
"It's really touching. Five years have passed, and he's still available whenever I call. But you two are indeed a perfect match, otherwise you wouldn't have gone and attempted murder together back then. Two teenagers—truly remarkable."
Liang Chuling trembled as she tried to tell Li Xun her location, only to find that the call had been disconnected.
She leaned against the wall, and Ivan stood beside her, his once handsome face now showing only madness.
“Look,” Ivan suddenly laughed, “those shots. Don’t they look like those that blocked your door five years ago? I remember the news photos—your mother shielding you behind her, and you were scared like a rabbit.”
"Were you thinking at the time, 'If only that woman were dead? If only that child...'"
"Shut up." Liang Chuling's voice began to tremble.
"Why should I shut up? You were a madman five years ago, why are you pretending to be normal now? Do you have nightmares about that mother and daughter?"
"Look at you now, trembling, scared, like that little girl hiding behind her mother five years ago. You haven't changed at all. Why did you do that five years ago? Because your father cheated on you? Oh, how pathetic, so you had to ruin another woman's and child's lives? Liang Chuling, isn't that the logic of a madman?"
"Do you know what? I feel like I'm acting on behalf of Heaven. I'm letting everyone see who you, Liang Chuling, really are."
Liang Chuling closed her eyes.
"Open your eyes!" Ivan snapped. "Look at me!"
She obediently opened her eyes.
"Yes, that's it. Break down, go crazy, that's the real you, Liang Chuling."
The paparazzi are already very close.
Ivan took a small step back, opened his arms, his face shifting to a pained tenderness, and raised his voice: "Ling, that's enough. Look at me, calm down! I know those old things are still tormenting you, I know you're under unbearable pressure, but don't get trapped in them anymore! I don't care about the hurt you've caused me; I know it's because you can't control yourself. It's okay! I'm here, I'll help you, we'll face it together, okay? Don't be afraid..."
Then the questions started coming in, mixed with the clicking of camera shutters.
[Ms. Liang! We've noticed that you almost never discuss the impact of that old case on your art. Is this silence a form of self-protection, or a lack of due concern for the victim?]
Do you believe there is an unfair contrast between your artistic achievements and the suffering they endured? Do you think artists have a moral obligation to more actively confront and heal the damage caused by the past, rather than merely using it as nourishment for their art?
Liang Chuling's vision blurred. Ivan grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look at him: "Ling! I know you didn't mean it. You were too young and too resentful back then. You regretted it later, didn't you? You're just sick, like now, the pressure is too much, and your old illness has relapsed. I'll be with you, I'll help you bear it!"
Ivan's expression was full of theatrical pain and tenderness. He opened his arms, making a gesture as if he wanted to hug and comfort her, but in the seemingly gentle embrace, he increased the force, trapping Liang Chuling tightly in his arms.
Liang Chuling was in pain from his grip, and what made her scalp tingle even more was that Ivan's face was getting closer—intending to kiss her.
"Get out of my way!" Liang Chuling used all her strength to turn her head away, broke free of her restraints with her right hand, and swung it in a wide arc, slapping Ivan across the face.
The slap was loud, and Ivan's head snapped to the side, but he immediately turned back. His face showed no anger, only an almost fanatical sorrow. He covered his face, his eyes instantly reddening, tears welling up, his voice choked yet loud: "I don't blame you! I still love you!"
He cried out as he reached out his hands again, this time with a forceful grip, pulling Liang Chuling back into his arms, and his lips pressed against hers without hesitation.
The man's strength was on full display at this moment.
Liang Chuling struggled desperately, pushing and kicking with her hands and feet, but Ivan's arms were as hard as iron and could not be moved.
She staggered backward, pinned down by the force, her voice drained by humiliation and anger, leaving only broken gasps: "Let...me... go!"
Liang Chuling turned to look at the cameras and faces around her: "Can you help me? Help me stop him!"
No one moved.
The paparazzi, cameras in hand, snapped photos incessantly, greedily capturing every frame of this farce.
No one stepped forward; only people were adjusting their positions to get a better shooting angle.
Flashes of light kept going off, illuminating Liang Chuling's helpless face and Ivan's frantic tears and snot streaming down his face.
Liang Chuling felt as if she was being ripped apart alive; she couldn't break free, couldn't escape, and couldn't get through.
Her vision began to darken, and the dizziness intensified, making it hard for her to breathe.
Before Ivan could react, a fist had already slammed into his face.
Ivan's sobs stopped abruptly. He let out a cry of pain, staggered backward from the blow, released his grip on Liang Chuling, and fell to the ground after a few stumbles.
Without even glancing at Ivan lying on the ground, Li Xun immediately took off his coat and draped it over Liang Chuling's head.
The oversized coat blocked most of the flashes and her view, enveloping her in a small space filled with his warmth and scent.
Li Xun took two steps forward and, just as Ivan had propped himself up, threw another punch, this time with even more force.
"Li Xun!" The voice came from under the coat.
Li Xun's fist, which he had thrown again, hovered in mid-air. He took a deep breath, stood up, and stopped looking at Ivan, who was groaning on the ground.
The moment he stood up straight, Liang Chuling threw herself into Li Xun's arms, hugging his waist tightly and placing her hand on his heart.
The sound of camera shutters clicking all around was almost frantic, mixed with gasps of surprise.
Li Xun ignored everything around him, one arm around Liang Chuling, the other hand shielding her face and the back of her head to prevent the camera from capturing her expression. He blocked most of the camera angle with himself and whispered in her ear in a voice only the two of them could hear: "It's okay, I'm here. Don't look up, don't let go, come with me."
[Author's Note]
Jealousy = envy.
To do our part in preventing the stigmatization of female radicals.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
