Chapter 5

Page 1/3

Qilin quickly caught on. “What can you sing?”

“Peking opera.”

After speaking, Yu An immediately cleared his throat and sang a few classic lines from The White-Faced Gentleman.

The more Qilin listened, the brighter his eyes grew, and his tone toward Yu An became increasingly respectful, even addressing him as “Teacher Yu.”

Yu An waved his hand. “Just call me by my name.”

He wasn’t deeply versed in opera; he had only picked up a few songs under the influence of Teacher Yu.

After a moment’s pause, he asked, “You know me?”

Qilin led him toward the opera house. “Of course. I was impressed with you from the audition day. Old Su liked you too—he even threatened to take you as his disciple.”

“Old Su?”

Qilin explained, “That’s Teacher Su Su, who’s in charge of your troupe. He’s only in his forties but sports a beard that makes him look like an old man, so we all call him ‘Old Su.’”

Yu An’s eyes curved slightly at the mention.

On the way, Qilin introduced their boss, Mr. Gu: “Mr. Gu is our employer. He’s usually busy with work but sometimes comes to the theater to listen to performances. After listening, he leaves—you don’t need to be afraid.”

Yu An nodded.

The opera house stood two buildings away from the theater, surrounded by a bamboo grove that rustled softly in the night breeze.

Passing through the bamboo and crossing a water bridge, they finally saw the courtyard, its architecture rich with classical charm.

Entering through the gate, Qilin first took Yu An to the backstage dressing room.

Time was tight; Yu An simply touched up his eyebrows and changed into clothes Qilin had prepared earlier.

Before parting, Qilin reminded him, “Once you go in, just start singing. When you finish, come straight back.”

As the music began, Yu An slowly entered the room from the back door.

Only then did he notice the room’s layout.

It was divided into two sections: one for the audience's seats, the other the performers' stage, separated by a ten-meter-long screen.

The screen was translucent white, embroidered with lotus flowers and carp.

Through the screen, Yu An could faintly make out a blurred figure seated opposite.

So they were listening without watching the show.

He steadied himself, assumed the starting posture, and immersed in the opera.

Gu Yuzhou sat with his eyes closed, head resting against the chair. Upon hearing a clear, bright voice, he opened his eyes and glanced toward the screen for the first time.

The figure behind the screen was slender yet tall—it was a man?

At the climax of the song, the man extended his fingers, gracefully moving his wrists from inside to outside and back again, tapping air lightly, as if signaling, “Look at that person!”

His movements were fluid and elegant, without a trace of stiffness.

Gu Yuzhou put down his teacup and listened attentively.

After finishing, Yu An bowed slightly and quietly left through the back door.

Qilin waited at the entrance; seeing him emerge, he praised warmly, “You sing beautifully.”

Yu An smiled. “Thank you.”

Qilin followed him back to the dressing room, curious. “You have a solid foundation. Why didn’t you continue learning opera?”

“My voice was injured when I was a child. The teacher said I wouldn’t last long on this path.” Yu An took off the costume, revealing his own clothes underneath, changed out of his dance shoes, and began removing makeup.

Qilin fell silent and looked apologetic. “I’m sorry.”

Yu An washed his face and smiled faintly. “It’s okay. I really love dance too.”

They left the opera house together. Qilin recalled Yu An’s dancing at the audition and sighed, “Yeah, you’re excellent at dancing as well.”

“I heard you have a teacher?”

Yu An nodded.

Qilin said, “That’s a pity. Old Su wanted to take you as his disciple. Though Su Su looks unreliable, he’s very capable in dance. You might want to consider it.”

Page 2/3

Yu An shook his head. “My teacher did me a great kindness.”

Mentioning this, Qilin stopped pressing the matter.

He transferred Yu An’s wages for the day and glanced at the time. “Thanks again for today. It’s late; I’ll drive you home.”

Yu An accepted the transfer and waved his phone. “No need. I just got the money and will take a taxi home.”

Qilin didn’t insist. “Then be careful and let someone know you got home safely.”

Yu An replied with a “Got it.”

—

Yu An returned home at eleven o’clock; the living room was empty.

After showering and entering his room, he was suddenly grabbed from behind.

He quickly turned, pushed the person away, and switched on the light.

Yu Qing was thrown aside, his expression stunned, as if he couldn’t believe Yu An would treat him this way.

He called out, “Brother.”

Yu An didn’t respond, only said, “Get out.”

Seeing the coldness in Yu An’s eyes, Yu Qing’s eyes reddened.

He had never seen such a look from Yu An—as if he had been excluded from his world long ago.

Panic rising, Yu Qing hurried to explain.

“Brother, what’s wrong with you? Are you still mad that I dragged you into the water back then? I had no choice—you know I can’t swim. I was really scared. I didn’t mean to!”

His tears streamed as he spoke, his delicate face full of guilt and pitiful.

Yu An remained unmoved and dragged him out.

Yu Qing, sensing something, grabbed the doorframe tightly, face flushed, and revealed his true reason for coming.

“Did you go to the theater? You’re secretly learning to dance! Brother, have you forgotten Mom’s illness?!”

Yu An’s gaze turned ice cold. He grabbed Yu Qing’s long hair and pushed him out the door. “Get lost.”

Yu Qing’s scalp stung, and he froze, only reacting when the door slammed shut in front of him.

His brother actually pulled his hair?

His eyes reddened, tears falling uncontrollably.

Back in his room, he knocked over all seventeen neatly arranged pig figurines onto the floor, then stomped on them a few times as if venting his anger.

He ran to the mirror and touched his waist-length hair.

Since he was twelve, Yu An would wash and blow-dry it for him and even learned hair care specially for him. How could he treat him like this now?

Ignoring the unease inside, Yu Qing called Yu You.

Recalling Qin Ran’s tearful words earlier, a chill crept up his spine.

He absolutely wouldn’t allow Yu An to go to the theater. If Mom remembers him, he didn’t want to return to that broken, cramped, dirty welfare home!

—

Before bed, Yu An changed into pajamas. Early the next morning, he went to the theater.

The day passed as usual with training.

After stretching, Su Su approached Yu An, asking about his hair care routine.

Others overheard and gathered around.

Excess male hormones often cause hair loss with age.

With the troupe’s busy schedule and continuous performances, not to mention dancers’ makeup and styling needs, hair often became fragile and prone to falling out.

After hearing Yu An’s explanation of the hair care process, everyone eagerly asked for the recipe.

Page 3/3

Yu An kindly added each of them as contacts and shared the organized document, earning unanimous praise.

Upon learning Yu An was still a minor, they all agreed, “We’ve got this little brother covered.”

They patted his shoulder. “If you have any professional issues, just come to us!”

They were all excellent dancers from prestigious schools and had participated in numerous competitions, a testament to their caliber.

Song Zhao remarked in Yu An’s ear, “I always knew you’d be popular, but never thought it’d be this soon.”

Song Zhao’s familiarity was intense; in just one day, he had befriended several other troupe members, which also helped Yu An become more active.

At noon, to show gratitude, they invited Yu An to a meal. Upon learning he couldn’t gain weight, they both envied him and fed him plenty of snacks, which also benefited Song Zhao.

At five in the afternoon, knowing Yu An planned to stay to practice, Song Zhao said goodbye and left.

Yu An bid farewell to everyone, ate the little buns they gave him, and was about to continue practicing when his brother Yu You called.

He got straight to the point. “Yu An, are you working at the theater?”

Before Yu An could answer, Yu You continued, “I want you to quit immediately. Come home or come to the company; I’ll arrange a position for you.”

Yu An’s expression turned cold. “On what grounds?”

Yu You frowned. “Don’t you know Mom’s condition? The family only allows Yu Qing to study drama and dance. If Mom sees otherwise...”

Before he could finish, Yu An interrupted firmly, “I’m moving out.”

Then he hung up.

Yu An stood silently in the rehearsal hall for a long moment, then changed out of his dance clothes, left the theater, and took the subway to the school he had applied to.

He had already researched apartments nearby and contacted several agents on WeChat.

They replied they were available to show him around.

Yu An replied “Okay.”

Counting the days left before receiving his admission letter, it was time to find a place to live.

—

8 p.m.

Gu Yuzhou exited the hotel, followed by Qin Zhou. “Thanks for today, Gu. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have closed this deal. Let me treat you to a meal sometime.”

“Hmm,” Gu Yuzhou responded faintly, lowering his head to light a cigarette.

Qin Zhou stood nearby. “Want me to send you back?”

Gu Yuzhou exhaled a puff of smoke. “No need.”

Qin Zhou chuckled. “Makes sense, you didn’t drink today. They wouldn’t dare let you.”

Gu Yuzhou’s expression remained unchanged. When his cigarette burned out, he said, “You should go back.”

Qin Zhou nodded, watched him get in a car, then turned and entered the hotel.

Gu Yuzhou headed toward the company, but after a few minutes, changed course to the theater.

This time, after hearing the singing voice, he tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest.

When the song ended, Gu Yuzhou, unusually, requested the schedule of the opera teachers.

Qilin respectfully brought in the printed schedule.

Gu Yuzhou asked, “Do you have the schedule for the opera teacher who sang yesterday?”

Qilin was momentarily stunned, then whispered, “Mr. Gu, sorry, the one who sang yesterday is from our troupe.”

Feeling Gu Yuzhou’s gaze upon him, he broke out in a cold sweat.

“His name is Yu An.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuzhou’s brow relaxed slightly—it was him.