Chapter 139 Blocking the Road
At the edge of the central square, Ren Limeng finally caught up with her mother Wu Murong, who was walking slowly towards the outside of the ancient city.
"Mom... aren't you coming to the celebration party?"
As she approached her mother, Ren Limeng slowed down her pace. She stood in front of Wu Murong, smiled widely, and looked at her with bright eyes.
"It's too late. I won't join you."
Wu Murong finished her narration calmly, and a dull atmosphere spread between the two. Even though Ren Limeng was eloquent, she lacked the ease of a host when speaking to her mother.
"That's right, take care of yourself and get more rest."
Ren Limeng stood there somewhat at a loss. Both sides seemed to want to say something more but didn't know where to start. The smile on Ren Limeng's lips turned polite as she looked at her mother who was just a few feet away. The lights were dim and the figures were blurry. She couldn't see her mother's face clearly, nor could she judge her mother's mood at the moment.
"Mom...I sang 'The Female Prince Consort' this afternoon. Did you...see it?"
Her voice was a little cautious. Even though she had been an adult for many years, facing her mother, it seemed like she had returned to her childhood. Ren Limeng still unconsciously looked forward to her parents' affirmation. Even a simple compliment was enough to make Ren Limeng extremely happy.
"Well, that's pretty good. You've really improved a lot to be able to outperform the three of us professional actors."
Her calm tone didn't betray any resentment of losing, nor did it suppress any fluctuating emotions. Wu Murong's eyes remained sharp, "But you also took advantage of it."
Ren Limeng pursed her lips. Whether it was the careful consideration of the setting proposed by the Fanhua Theater or her final interaction with the audience, they were all intended to please the audience and canvass for votes. She did not deny that this was her choice.
"...After all, the audience will vote this afternoon. My acting is definitely not as professional as yours, so I can only use some unconventional methods."
Ren Limeng spoke in a relaxed manner, with a hint of modesty hidden in her light teasing. She tried to comfort her mother in a clumsy way and explain why she was able to win.
"You know it's a crooked path. As an actor, you should have your own persistence instead of just trying to please the audience. Over the years... you've been getting more and more backward. Of course, you're no longer a Huangmei Opera actor."
Wu Murong smiled, her face calm and composed. Her tone was not harsh, she was just stating her own thoughts, but it was enough to affect Ren Limeng's emotions.
She could hear the sarcasm in her mother's words, or perhaps this little dissatisfaction was her mother's final disappointment, but... was this all her mother saw?
“Yes, I’m the host now.”
Ren Limeng straightened her back and suddenly smiled gently, hiding all the fragility on her face. She responded to her mother's words neither humbly nor arrogantly, with some firmness in her tone.
"What did you come here to say?"
Wu Murong suppressed her smile, and a complex look flashed across her eyes, but she was not as cold and stern as before when Ren Limeng's career was mentioned. She had seen Ren Limeng's hosting tonight.
This was the first time Wu Murong saw her daughter hosting a show. She was full of witty remarks and graceful manners, and even standing at the side of the stage, she was enough to attract everyone's attention.
Ren Limeng is suitable for this profession. Looking at the shining Ren Limeng on the stage tonight, Wu Murong was distracted countless times in the audience.
She had imagined countless times the scene of her daughter walking onto the stage with grace and elegance, just like the flowers and applause tonight. However, as a Huangmei Opera actress, not any other profession, she had taught Ren Limeng how to perform for more than ten years. How could she not regret this result!
Obviously, Ren Limeng performed "The Female Prime Minister" so professionally in the afternoon. Why is Ren Limeng unwilling to be a Huangmei Opera actor?
Are you dissatisfied with her and Ren Shunan?
She couldn't accept insisting on rebelling even if it meant wasting all her talents.
Even though Ren Limeng does look dazzling now, Wu Murong believes that if Ren Limeng had become a Huangmei Opera actor as they planned, Ren Limeng's today would have been even more dazzling.
Wu Murong laughed at herself secretly, she still couldn't let it go.
"You are my mother. Isn't it my duty to send you away?"
Ren Limeng lowered her eyes and did not answer Wu Murong directly. She had her own pride and would no longer force any affirmation that she could not get.
"No need to send me off. You guys still have things to do. Go back and do your own things..."
Wu Murong's voice was a little hoarse, and she suppressed the words that were about to rise up in her throat. She actually wanted to ask Ren Limeng again what she thought of Huangmei Opera. With such a good talent, she had not wasted it for so many years. Did she plan to sing opera again?
Putting aside her dissatisfaction with them, what are her feelings towards Huangmei Opera?
Ren Limeng's interactive innovation is not wrong. Wu Murong is just worried that promoting Huangmei Opera in this way on a well-known variety show will cause many young actors to lose sight of the main goal, slack off in practicing basic skills, and blindly pursue so-called interactive popularity.
Ren Limeng defeated the top actors from the three major troupes in the afternoon competition. Even though she was one of the losers, Wu Murong could only feel relieved. But besides being proud, as a veteran Huangmei Opera actor, Wu Murong had too many concerns about the future of Huangmei Opera in her heart and didn't know how to express them. She was secretly annoyed and wanted to frown when she looked at the instigator.
But there are some things she can do nothing about. Even her own daughter, she dare not even mention her own daughter. The countless disputes over the years have made her understand that she cannot influence Ren Limeng's choice. It is rare for her to be calm and composed at this moment.
Wu Murong smiled self-deprecatingly in her heart. It would be useless even if she disagreed with Ren Limeng. Why would she waste her breath and make herself disliked?
An old girl like her should have retired long ago. Whether it is Huangmei Opera or Ren Limeng, all she can do now is to let nature take its course.
Looking at Wu Murong's gradually receding figure, Ren Limeng unconsciously clenched her fingers and clenched her palms. Her slender knuckles turned white due to the force. She finally hurried to catch up with her.
"...Mom, thank you and Dad for the pastries. Everyone said they were delicious."
"Didn't you thank us on WeChat yesterday? Meixiang hosted you for the show, and you came to Mei City to promote it. It's just a small favor, so you're welcome."
Ren Limeng finally stopped. There were only a few steps between her and her mother, but it seemed as if there were thousands of mountains and rivers between them that she could not catch up with.
The summer breeze blew gently, ruffling their hair, but it couldn't blow away the barrier between them. It had stood between them for too many years, and some problems could no longer be solved with just a few words. She didn't even know how to break through it.
Huangmei Opera seems to be a deadlock between mother and daughter, and her current career as a host is an indisputable result.
Tears welled up in Ren Limeng's eyes, but soon disappeared with the wind. In the blink of an eye, she had adjusted her mood and said softly, "Then go back and be careful."
Ren Limeng lowered her head, and walked slowly back to the stage, her lonely shadow swaying step by step.
"Li Meng."
Hearing Guan He's voice, Ren Limeng paused slightly, and when she looked up, she smiled faintly, "Brother Guan He, why are you out too?"
"I came to see you."
In the corner in front of the stage, Guan He looked intently at Ren Limeng who was coming towards him. He put away his usual generous smile and looked serious. "Limeng, do you have a boyfriend?"
Ren Limeng was slightly startled. She met Guan He's gaze and didn't avoid it. Instead, she smiled. "Brother Guan He, why are you suddenly asking about my personal affairs?"
The euphemistic rejection did not make Guan He retreat at all. The fact that Ren Limeng did not nod immediately made Guan He smile, "I want to pursue you."
His frank gaze seemed even more sincere in the dark night. Even though the shadow of the stage blocked the light, Ren Limeng could still feel Guan He's burning gaze at the moment. She smiled slightly, subconsciously glanced at the quiet and deserted surroundings, and then looked at the brightly lit Huangmei Opera Hall not far away.
Before Ren Limeng could open her mouth to speak, Guan He continued speaking quickly. He lowered his head slightly, and there was a hint of subtle nervousness in his voice.
"I'm not kidding, I'm serious, Li Meng. I like you. I've had feelings for you since that Fenghua competition many years ago. Unfortunately, we were too young back then and missed each other. Now that God has brought us together again, I want to seize the opportunity this time."
"Brother Guan He, is this why you keep mentioning the Fenghua Contest?"
Ren Limeng spoke softly, without explicitly mentioning Guan He's deliberately ambiguous words and actions during the afternoon live broadcast, but the emphasis on "repeatedly" had already made her attitude clear.
She probably knew what Guan He was thinking, but Ren Limeng was unwilling to cooperate.
"No! Li Meng, today... I was anxious. I apologize, but I want to pursue you not for any other reason, but simply because I like you. Whether it was during the competition that year or your hosting tonight, I couldn't take my eyes off you. I even watched the replay of your live broadcast this afternoon. Your performance was amazing! My... heart is truly moved!"
Guan He's voice was a little nervous, whether it was because of shyness or anxiety, his cheeks had unconsciously turned red. He tried to look at Ren Limeng with his eyes, expressing his sincere feelings somewhat awkwardly, and could not help but lower his head in the face of Ren Limeng's smiling and calm gaze.
The heartbeat is genuine, and killing two birds with one stone is also sincere.
Ren Limeng smiled silently and shook her head slowly, and simply refused, "Brother Guan He, thank you for your love, but we are not suitable."
"Li Meng, how can you know if we're suitable if you don't try? You don't need to make a decision so hastily. Just give me a chance to pursue you. I promise to show you my sincerity! What happened this afternoon was just me being possessed by the devil. I really like you!"
"Brother Guan He, what do you like about me?"
Looking at Guan He who was blocking the way in front of her, Ren Limeng asked calmly.
"I like you... I like everything you do, Li Meng. I fell in love with you at first sight, but I didn't dare to confess. This time, taking advantage of the misunderstanding this afternoon, I finally dare to tell you. I... want to get to know you better."
"love at first sight?"
Ren Limeng repeated it with some amusement, and her eyes suddenly paused, looking at the tall and straight cold figure not far away.
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