Chapter 182 Leaving Home
Ren Limeng's raised mouth corners remained until she got on the high-speed train.
"Attention, passengers! Train G3201 from Meishi South to Jiangcheng is about to arrive at the station. Passengers on G3201 are requested to proceed to Gates 6A/6B as soon as possible to check in..."
As the program crew walked from the VIP lounge to the elevator to the station, they suddenly heard the faint sound of ticket checking broadcast from the lobby. The overly familiar daily broadcast did not attract the attention of other guests, but Ren Limeng could not help but pause. She turned her head and looked towards the lobby with a dazed look in her eyes.
Even though they were using the VIP passage of the train station with the "Mountains and Seas" program this time, the countless ticket checking announcements played every day could still easily stir Ren Limeng's thoughts.
The ticket checking for the high-speed rail from Meishi to Jiangcheng has been fixed for many years. Tickets have always been checked in through Gate 6A/6B. Ren Limeng remembers it very clearly. Every time she went to Communication University at the beginning of the university semester, she also went through Gate 6A/6B.
At that time, she didn't feel anything every time she left home. Every time she thought about going back to school to see Shen Xingzhi and not having to listen to her parents' repetitive accusations and nagging for a while, her steps were full of joy.
In a blink of an eye, so many years have passed.
Many things have changed unconsciously, from cyclical migratory birds to birds with uncertain return dates. Year after year, time is always silent but cannot be ignored. Ren Limeng couldn't help but sigh secretly that even this week, time has passed too quickly.
She is leaving Mei City again.
Having left home so many times, she seemed to have become numb, but some faint emotions still emerged in some hidden corners of her heart, just like her steps that she couldn't help but pause slightly.
The night deepened quietly without anyone noticing, and the familiar city was shrouded in a dark sky. The neon lights outside the window flickered like snowflakes as the high-speed train passed by. Ren Limeng supported her head and looked quietly into the inky night, listening to the rhythmic "clang" of the wheels rubbing against the rails, each sound seemed to tell of a silent farewell.
The sudden vibration of the phone seemed particularly inappropriate in the silent car.
Ren Limeng lowered her eyes and stared at the screen of her mobile phone. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. She subconsciously looked at the cameras on both sides that were still recording silently. After a slight hesitation, Ren Limeng quickly stood up, raised her mobile phone towards the camera, and indicated that she would go to the corridor to answer a call.
The production crew booked three train carriages, and even in the corridor there was a black camera hidden in the dim light.
Ren Limeng glanced ahead, turned off the microphone, and looked at the boundless night outside the car window. She slowly raised the phone to her ear and finally answered the call.
"Hey, Mom, what's going on?"
Is there anything urgent in particular?
Ren Limeng and her mother Wu Murong have always had very little contact. In recent years, the two have communicated more through WeChat text messages. Ren Limeng has not received a call from her mother for a long time. This is why she didn't care about the recording and immediately decided to answer the call.
"Nothing...nothing...I just wanted to chat with you. Have you left Mei City?"
"Yes, I'm already on the bus. We'll be in Jiangcheng at nine o'clock."
"It's fine...stay safe."
The question and answer session ended quickly, and both of them suddenly fell silent. Ren Limeng seemed to realize something, and unconsciously clenched her phone. Her deep gaze stared straight at the quiet car window. Her own figure was vaguely visible on the window glass, straight and slightly stiff.
She took a deep breath secretly, and a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth again, as if she was listening to her mother on the other end of the phone, instead of hearing only silence.
"Why? Why...why didn't you tell me back then?"
After a long time, Wu Murong finally spoke slowly, her tone filled with bitterness and melancholy. Her low voice was almost drowned out by the sound of the passing train tracks. Although she asked a nonsensical question, Ren Limeng understood it immediately.
"You know?"
The story of what happened between Li Chuyue and herself spread faster than expected. Ren Limeng guessed that her mother would know about the past that had long been forgotten. With so many people at the recording site in the evening, it was destined that even if everything that happened would not be shown on the broadcast camera, it would not be a secret that everyone kept secret. This was also the reason why Ren Limeng seemed to be so graceful and did not elaborate on the so-called truth of that year.
Rumors are more terrifying than the truth. Ren Limeng will not be as lenient this time as she was many years ago. Some of her ambiguous words have left room for everyone to share gossip. Exaggerated rumors are always attractive. Ren Limeng's intention is Meixiang Theater.
Ren Limeng was not surprised at all when she heard her mother called to ask about this matter. The "Peach Blossom Fan" she and Li Chuyue had performed back then was the beginning of all the decisions, and even Ren Limeng had asked herself this question repeatedly.
If it weren't for the "Peach Blossom Fan" incident, would she have followed the routine and walked towards a completely different path in life? Ren Limeng's tone at this moment was more of a frank sigh.
"I heard from your Aunt Chen that... during your evening recording session, you and Li Chuyue were arguing about the costumes. That's when I realized... everyone had made a mistake."
Aunt Chen refers to Yan Fangshu's mother, Shen Yiran. Not long after returning to her room in the evening, Ren Limeng received a long list of indignant messages from Yan Fangshu. She could imagine the sensation caused by this incident as it spread rapidly in the Meixiang Theater. It was expected.
After hearing Wu Murong's explanation, Ren Limeng guessed that it was Yan Fangshu who told her mother Chen Yiran about this matter. Perhaps Yan Fangshu also deliberately wanted her parents to know about this matter as soon as possible through this method and know all the misunderstandings of the year.
But so many things have happened since the misunderstanding. The past misunderstandings are no longer that important. They are just a thing of the past, and she has long moved on from that.
Just like during the post-interview just now, the program crew also specifically asked Ren Limeng what the truth was about the old incident with Li Chuyue.
Ren Limeng lowered her eyes and remained silent for a long while, then slowly looked towards the camera. "Back then, Chu Yue and I were too young. We each had our own concerns, and it had nothing to do with right or wrong. In fact, the truth is no longer important. We are both in our thirties, and there is no need to judge a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl in front of the camera. If I hadn't accidentally brought this up today, I wouldn't have thought of explaining anything..."
Ren Limeng could see that the program staff behind the camera were all looking at her in encouragement. They wanted her to talk a lot at this moment and pour out her so-called grievances. Even if the program team was concerned about the Meixiang Theater, it would be a common practice to edit her and Li Chuyue's explanations as some highlights. Controversy represents traffic, and no program does not need an audience.
But Ren Limeng doesn't want to use what happened back then to attract attention. In front of the camera, she still hopes that the word "costume" will be more associated with the Huangmei Opera stage, rather than being involved in endless right and wrong.
Ren Limeng's answer was indifferent, with more of a sense of relief in her emotion. Her bottom line was hidden between the truth and falsehood. Even if the program staff continued to ask questions, Ren Limeng still answered calmly, without a trace of gunpowder.
In the end, the program team had no choice but to give up the original plan.
What Ren Limeng didn't know was that Li Chuyue, who was also being interviewed, didn't brag in front of the camera. She just covered her face with a large ball of tissue and cried. It was unclear whether she really regretted what she had done back then, or whether it was a way to deal with the program crew.
There is no way to regret the past. No matter how much regret you have, we have already moved on.
On the other end of the phone, Wu Murong's voice was a little difficult when she said "I made a mistake". She couldn't help but think of the slap she gave her daughter in anger. She couldn't imagine the sadness and pain her daughter had felt when she was caught between friendship and family affection. More importantly, thinking back to that time, she had actually been close to the truth countless times.
Just like Ren Limeng's final performance of "Peach Blossom Fan" in the art exam, she only thought that Ren Limeng was provoking her at that time, but... she never considered that what she thought were sophistry words were her daughter's actual thoughts. Her daughter might really just think that "Peach Blossom Fan" was suitable, more confident, and even... had some intention of making up for regrets.
Wu Murong straightened her back, holding the mobile phone tightly in one hand, while the other hand was held tightly by Ren Shunan. Ren Shunan looked at Wu Murong with a worried and comforting look, and there was an unspeakable bitterness in his eyes.
As parents, what exactly did they miss?
"You should have told me, Li Meng. Why didn't you tell me back then?"
Wu Murong's emotions unconsciously became excited. The missed time stood between them, and no one could let it go directly.
"Mom, it's all over."
Ren Limeng listened to her mother's questions calmly, and did not ask back her own questions as she did before. For a moment, she wanted to ask her mother, now that she knew about the misunderstanding of the past, would her mother change her attitude?
Parents... do they support her choice now?
Ren Limeng actually already had the answer in her heart. Since it was all in the past and everything was fine, there was no need for her to ask any more questions.
Anyway, she will continue to move forward, just like the high-speed train that does not look back at Mei City at this moment, but just speeds forward, heading firmly towards the deeper and wider night.
Saturday Morning River City
"Li Meng, your Huangmei Opera performance during the live broadcast was fantastic! Everyone said they didn't expect you to be such a proficient actor besides hosting. Have you ever considered acting? I think you're definitely talented!"
The large shed behind the performance recording studio is the training room and activity area for the guests. Ren Limeng had just changed into her training clothes and walked out of the dressing room when she ran into Fan Xinran, Yan Baiwei and Li Qingzi who were standing outside the door and greeting each other. Seeing Ren Limeng, Fan Xinran greeted her warmly and praised her with a smile.
Yan Baiwei's face instantly turned cold after hearing what Fan Xinran said. Before Ren Limeng could speak, she continued with a half-smile, "Is acting a job with no barriers to entry? Xinran, you're overthinking it. Limeng's mind isn't on acting or hosting."
"Bai Wei..."
Li Qingzi frowned slightly, she gently pulled Yan Baiwei's arm, and her worried eyes quickly glanced at the camera not far away.
"Qingzi, Xinran doesn't know the situation, but we're different. We were on the same team as Limeng in Yigong, but I saw with my own eyes that Brother Xingzhi favored Limeng. Limeng, are you and Brother Xingzhi together? Why did he formally post on Weibo the night before last to introduce you to everyone?"
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