eunuch

24.

Wu Mian never thought that he would get on the train bound for Shanghai so easily.

Rong Yin was in a state of desperation, and he couldn't care about him at this moment, let alone he changed his identity.

The man code-named "Old Smoke" was sitting next to him, looking sideways out the window.

Only now did Wumian realize that he was tall, his face had faded from the youthfulness he had when he was selling cigarettes at a street stall, and he was serious, as if he had grown a few years instantly.

But when he looked at the fallen leaves on the trees, the white snow in the fields, and the bewildered expressions of the pedestrians lying down on the muddy path because of hunger, it was clear that he was still the same dimpled smile, who looked at him in the middle of the night. A naive young man selling cigarettes.

"Don't move." His eyes swept all the way along the platform, and then gradually retracted.The car had been driving for a while, stopped at two stations, and rested for three to five minutes this time. People who got off the car and stretched their muscles began to gather together and move into the compartment. The front of the car emitted thick smoke again, and the car was about to leave.

"Someone is coming up, the target may be you. Turn your face and look at me, don't move."

As soon as they finished speaking, a well-dressed businessman sat across from them.

25.

The place where they rest is the dining car, and people who come in can sit at will.

The man was carrying a black leather suitcase with a slight limp on his feet. After sitting down, he was not in a hurry to order food. He ignored the menu on the table and glanced at today's newspaper.

He made a gesture of touching the cigarette. After he couldn't find it, he was about to touch the pocket of his trousers, but "Old Yan" held his elbow against it with a gun.

"Who sent you here?"

"..."

"I forgot to tell you, my gun is silenced. After I finish you, I just need to do some cover-up... and you?" His sneer made the poor man tremble, and the latter trembled and said:

"Yes...it's Master Rong Qi."

"How did he say?"

"The best result, of course, is to ask Boss Zhao to go back. But if it fails, as long as it is resolved on the spot, you can also...report to him."

26.

Wumian is not surprised by Rong Yin's arrangement.

He knew this man too well, even if he died, he would die on his territory. Rong Yin would never allow himself to leave his sphere of influence.

Wumian watched coldly as the man was threatened by "Lao Yan" with a gun, and jumped out of the car in a hurry when the next stop arrived.

"He's not the only one in the car. After dinner, we have to disguise ourselves so that we can hide the truth." After finishing speaking, he pushed the bowl of noodles that the waiter had just brought to Wumian, while he ate one dish and one soup and set the table aside. The white rice on the table was eaten up.

Wumian stared at him in a daze, always feeling that something was wrong, but couldn't tell.

27.

The two of them changed their attire unknowingly, and they exchanged boxes with other people several times with excuses along the way. Only then did they save the day and finally arrived in Shanghai.

In order to let Wumian go justifiably, "Lao Yan" arranged for him to come to Shanghai - the film company invited him to apply for a production of an opera record.

With Zhao Wumian's influence in the northern opera world, there were invitations from "Modeli", "EMI" and "Great China" in succession earlier, and each of them competed in the newspapers, and every now and then it was published that Zhao Wumian would work together to record The news about the opera record, but in the end it never came to fruition, which caused the fans to complain endlessly, and Wumian himself was framed by the outside world as an image of being arrogant and unattainable.

Unexpectedly, when he read the libretto, he was [-]% serious, even the recorder found it incredible.Before the official recording, he must avoid spicy food, strictly work and rest, find the best state of the voice, and practice the libretto repeatedly to integrate it into the character before he really enters the recording process.

28.

"Boss Zhao is a true natural talent, even if he is not on stage, his tone and demeanor are unmatched."

Zhao Wumian smiled slightly at the opposite recorder, who was a blond-haired, blue-eyed American. He would not understand that all these beautiful appearances were only due to the fact that he was an eunuch from the previous court.

During the break, he sat with "Old Tobacco" but did not touch any of the cigarettes in his box.

"There is a ballad in my hometown. I don't know why, but I always feel that no one can sing it better than you."

Zhao Wumian took the score he wrote, raised his head and said:

"As expected of an intelligence officer, do you still know the rhythm?"

The other party did not respond to him, but looked into his eyes and suggested:

"Record it at the end of the record, as a farewell gift for me."

29.

Zhao Wumian has experienced countless deceptions in his life, big and small.

This is the last one.

After recording that record, he had a break-up meal with "Old Smoke" and never saw him again.

After getting the samples, he hid his tracks, changed his appearance, and disappeared into the crowd without knowing it.

The last time people heard Boss Zhao's play was through the bulky gramophone, put down the cartridge, and the libretto from the metal-colored speakers seemed to come from a world away. Come on, spread to the streets and alleys.

The ballad was cut by the record company, and only appeared on the demo that Zhao Wumian got.

He is now working as a bookkeeper in a teahouse. When he is not busy, he is busy adding water and urging the dishes. When he is free, he enjoys the favor of the guests and listens to a Suzhou Pingtan without distraction. He is indescribably happy.

"Oh, the wrong dish was served. I'm from Xuzhou. Naturally, I ordered noodle soup. You delivered this morning tea to the wrong table." The first transaction in the morning went wrong. On the spot, Wu Mian was about to walk over to smooth things over, but suddenly stopped.

He touched the sample photo hidden in the account book, and his heart suddenly felt cold.

Long before the matchmaking, he had learned that "Lao Yan" was a native of Xuzhou.Although Xuzhou belongs to the border of Jiangsu, the eating habits are quite different from Jiangnan. If there is pasta, he never touches rice. He was negligent before.

Those specious doubts opened a hole, and they came overwhelmingly, trying to uproot everything before.

Wumian has never heard him personally introduce himself as "Old Smoke", but when he first met him, when he picked up that menthol cigarette, he leaned over and lit the fire in the dark, and ignited it for him.

In the unique way they agreed upon, the young man with a cigarette in his mouth tilted his head calmly, using the burning cigarette butt as a guide to light him up.

Only this time, since then Wumian has never seen him smoke again.

30.

Just like in the carriage that night, "Old Yan" wanted to use a certain hot and hard part of his body to touch the same place that ignited him.

But discovered the most embarrassing and unknown secret of Wumian.

Eventually their bodies cool down with endless longing, and they become strangers.

In the early spring weather, Wumian felt chills in his bones. He subconsciously put the sample in his arms and pressed it to his heart, then turned and wanted to leave the counter.

Just as he took a step forward, there was a "whoosh", and a bullet hiding in the dark flew towards him.

31.

Zhao Wumian's last consciousness stayed at the moment when he dodged the bullet, but he still lost consciousness.

I don't know how long time has passed, or it is as short as a moment, or as long as ten thousand years.

In short, when he woke up, the world had changed.

He was stuck in a big white and soft bed. There was a man with his upper body bare, with his hands on his side. Because of the backlight, he couldn't distinguish the other's face.

"you're awake."

That person broke through the shackles of time, rubbed his face with rough palms, and greeted him calmly.

(Finish)