Chapter 138 Thank You
"...We make a living selling alcohol, and we don't understand love or affection..."
Ren Limeng and Shen Xingzhi stood in the shadows of the stage, listening to the cheers of the audience not far away as they performed "The Wine Family". As a local opera troupe in the ancient city of Fan County, the performance of Fanhua Troupe was quite exciting.
Ren Limeng was concentrating on appreciating the performance of the actors on the stage with a smile on her face. No one noticed that she was completely unable to calm down and immerse herself in the Huangmei Opera at the moment. In addition to the hosting work that she had to keep in mind all the time, what made Ren Limeng unable to ignore was the extremely strong presence on her right... Chen Xingzhi.
I wonder if Shen Xingzhi is adaptable to hosting tonight?
How does Shen Xingzhi feel now?
The party just now started very smoothly, so smoothly that Ren Limeng almost felt dazed. She thought she was a dozen years younger and was just hosting a performance that had been rehearsed many times in college. She and Shen Xingzhi could understand each other's hidden meanings with just a glance.
Ren Limeng deliberately suggested that the two of them host the performance in a down-to-earth style. In addition to being more in line with local customs and habits, Ren Limeng also hoped that Chen Xingzhi, who would pick up the microphone to host again, would change his mindset and at least not recall too much about his past at school or various competitions in this show.
Compared with the rigid structured hosting in formal school classes, this kind of rural activities are rare in schools. Perhaps, Shen Xingzhi can now reminisce less about the past.
Although, she didn't do it herself.
Ren Limeng's eyes were a little complicated. She quietly turned her head slightly, secretly paying attention to Shen Xingzhi beside her from the corner of her eyes, observing his every move, and trying to figure out his mood at the moment.
It's strange to say, it was she who invited him to host the event, but besides wanting him to face his past, she was also worried that he couldn't bear the pain of the past, and hoped that this hosting wouldn't make him too uncomfortable.
Ren Limeng took a deep breath, her dark and indistinguishable face hidden in the dim light. As she thought about it, the words "it's over" suddenly popped up in her mind.
etc!
Was she just feeling sorry for...Shen Xingzhi?
Why did she have such an idea?
"Thanks."
Chen Xingzhi suddenly turned his head to look at Ren Limeng and spoke coldly. His voice was almost lost in the actors' singing voices on the stage, and also concealed all the inexpressible emotions in his few words.
Thank you for your invitation.
Thank you for allowing me to dare to pick up the microphone again as a host.
Thank you for still being willing to host with me.
Thank you for still choosing to host and sticking to the old dream that I seemed to have forgotten.
Thank you... for not giving up on me.
Li Meng, thank you for our reunion. We are so lucky.
"Um?"
Ren Limeng's ears moved slightly, and her eyebrows raised slightly. Taking advantage of the confusion of not being able to hear Shen Xingzhi's words, she finally turned her head slowly, and met Shen Xingzhi's deep eyes openly, her eyelids trembling slightly in doubt.
Ren Limeng's left hand, which was hanging in the shadow on the left, unconsciously tightened its grip on the microphone. Neither she nor Shen Xingzhi spoke again, staring at each other in silence. The actor on the stage was singing at the climax and the voice was melodious and moving.
Every word of the lyrics conveyed the character's complex emotions, infecting every audience member present, and making Ren Limeng and Shen Xingzhi involuntarily quicken their heartbeats.
Perhaps, they were just infected by the actors' emotions.
Ren Limeng and Shen Xingzhi's eyes met quietly in the dark night, and the same deep silent emotions spread strongly in their eyes, silently permeating all the air between them, making it impossible for each other to ignore this abnormality.
But only they can feel this indescribable throbbing.
In addition to recording the wonderful performance where the lights converged on the stage, the camera of the "Mountains and Seas" program also quietly and faithfully captured all the interactions between Shen Xingzhi and Ren Limeng. In the picture, there were only the two of them looking at each other with polite smiles.
Ren Limeng raised her head slightly, and everything around her became a little blurry and unreal, only Shen Xingzhi in front of her became clearer and clearer outside the light and shadow in the dim corner of the stage.
Shen Xingzhi slowly raised the corners of his lips, and his usually tense facial muscles relaxed slightly, like a bright meteor across the silent night sky, his gentle smile tinged with memories of the past.
Deep in Ren Limeng's tightly locked heart, there were many such smiles hidden during the countless times she waited in the wings while hosting in college. She once treasured them.
Especially the year when they first started working together, Ren Limeng will never forget Chen Xingzhi at that time.
Whenever they were waiting for the performance, they would stand side by side in the corner of the stage. She would always unconsciously reveal some nervousness and uneasiness, and Shen Xingzhi beside her could always sense her emotions, gently tilting his head, with a relaxed smile on his lips, and whispering to her over and over again, "Junior sister, don't worry, I'm here."
The light tone of voice was calming and steady. Every time it reached Ren Limeng's ears, it was filled with the confidence and composure of someone in control of the stage, as if any emergency could be handled steadily by Shen Xingzhi. It also contained the patient encouragement of his partner and senior, which seemed more fascinating than home, making Ren Limeng unable to help but fall.
But Chen Xingzhi never knew that what she was worried about at that time was not the problem with the hosting, but the fear that one of her actions or words would leave even the slightest bad impression on him. She unconsciously reflected and reviewed their communication and her own performance over and over again.
Time buried all the unspoken panic. How magical! More than ten springs, summers, autumns and winters passed quietly, and they were actually hosting together side by side again tonight, just like they had longed for countless times after graduation in college, and they were partners in hosting the stage outside the school.
Ren Limeng pursed her lips tightly, not letting herself reveal even a trace of vulnerability, and quietly concealing all the sighs in her heart.
I thought that singing "The Female Prime Minister" on the Huangmei Opera stage in the afternoon was perfect enough, but at this moment it seemed to be another kind of unforgettable experience.
For her 20-year-old self, it was surprising that she was able to fulfill her wish, even if it was only for a single night.
And now, even standing next to him, she would no longer doubt herself, and would not let him see through her easily.
"Xingzhi...Brother, what did you just say?"
Ren Limeng took another deep breath, and with a faint smile, she finally suppressed all her emotions and took away all the feelings that should not belong to the moment.
"Thank you, Li Meng. I've been waiting for your Huangmei wine tonight. Just now on stage, you told everyone that you would let me try a few more glasses of wine. You can't go back on your word."
Chen Xingzhi smiled half-heartedly, his eyes flashing with a warm and charming light. At this moment, his deep eyes seemed to be gentler than the bright moon behind him, turning into a trace of quiet tenderness, quietly spreading in the air.
In an instant, the autumn eyes turned into fine silver threads, appearing and disappearing, lightly and heavily entwined between the two people, reminding people of the intoxication of Huangmei wine, and also carrying an addictive temptation.
Ren Limeng turned her head slightly, her expression returned to normal, with a perfect smile on her face.
She subconsciously avoided Shen Xingzhi's gaze, lowered her eyes, stared at Shen Xingzhi's slightly rolled Adam's apple, and nodded evasively, "Of course, when you come to our Mei City, you will have plenty of Huangmei wine."
Ren Limeng spoke openly, as if she had not heard the "thank you" that she had been reluctant to say just now, nor did she notice Shen Xingzhi's abrupt change of excuse.
All the obscure ambiguities are hidden in the shadows in the corners, and blown away in the silent air with the gentle summer breeze.
When the two raised the microphones again and walked towards the spotlight with their heads held high, they had the business smile that a host should have on their faces, and they controlled the rhythm of the entire performance with just the right interaction.
It was a perfect performance that was enjoyed by both the guests and the hosts. The final chorus was the theme song of Huangmei Week. Chen Xingzhi and other four guests of the "Mountains and Seas" program were surrounded by actors from the Meixiang Theater and the four major theater troupes in the center of the stage. Everyone sang and danced, looking at the audience at tables below the stage who could not help but sing along to the climax, and waved interactively.
Ren Limeng immersed herself in the atmosphere of the gathering. When she withdrew her gaze from the audience, her eyes suddenly met the gaze of her mother Wu Murong beside her. It might be a deliberate arrangement by the program team and Meixiang. During the chorus, Wu Murong happened to be standing next to Ren Limeng. Ren Limeng couldn't help but pay some attention to observe her mother.
Perhaps it was because she was on the stage, Wu Murong's eyes and brows were particularly gentle while she was singing. Even when meeting Ren Limeng's gaze, Wu Murong had a smile on her face, perfectly displaying the joy that a Huangmei Opera actor should have at that moment.
Or maybe her mother is really happy now?
Ren Limeng couldn't help but wonder, could any part of this radiant smile be for her?
Whether it was the afternoon performance or the evening hosting, on the Huangmei Opera stage, this time, she probably didn't disappoint her mother...
With the ending song on the stage, Ren Limeng was finally so close to her mother Wu Murong. The distance of arm touching arm allowed her to clearly see every new wrinkle on her mother's face. The smile in Ren Limeng's eyes faded unconsciously, and she couldn't help but feel a little concerned.
"mom."
When the last ray of melodious tune faded away in the night sky, the Huangmei Grand Theater, which had carried countless joys and sorrows, returned to silence in the hurried footsteps of countless people gradually leaving the square. Across the houses, the ancient theater and the ancient city wall, which had been silently watching everything, faced each other.
After leaving the stage, the Huangmei Opera actors returned to the backstage in an orderly manner, quickly removed their makeup and finished their performances as trained, repeating the routine movements of each performance.
The difference is that after this performance, the "Shan Hai" program team and Meixiang Theater arranged a sumptuous banquet. All actors and guests will have a midnight snack together to celebrate the successful conclusion of today's Huangmei Arena Competition.
Across the crowd in the makeup area, Ren Limeng noticed that her mother, Wu Murong, was waving to Director Li of the Qianfang Troupe, as if she was about to leave first. She stared silently at the makeup mirror in front of her, in which she saw the makeup artist busy touching up her makeup. The white powder was delicately applied to her face, quickly smoothing out all blemishes, but inadvertently, she revealed some of her thoughts that she was trying to hide.
Ren Limeng took a deep breath and suddenly stopped the makeup artist embarrassedly. She stood up suddenly and chased towards the square in front of the stage.
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