mchenry-crisis.org Chapter 585 The Peony Pavilion
Chapter 585 The Peony Pavilion
……
……
"A dazzling heiress? A beautiful union?"
Gu Qing leaned against the headboard, swiping her finger across her phone screen a couple of times, her eyes still sleepy.
"This is interesting... Did Brother Qian get his base raided?"
He rubbed his eyes. He had slept all afternoon, and his eyelids were still a little swollen, but the redness under his eyes had subsided considerably.
The team's information has been compiled. The document Xu Wei sent was three pages long, with a clear timeline, relationships between people, and key milestones, just like a professional research report.
Gu Qing felt something was off the more she looked at it, and her expression became slightly strange.
"Why does it feel like Brother Qian is being 'collected' more like a collector?"
This rich young lady seems a bit unusual.
From the message sent by Xu Wei, Gu Qing learned that this young lady born in the 2000s was once a well-known "fan leader" of XO.
When XO became a sensation in 2014, a photo circulated online:
The twelve EXO members smiled broadly backstage at the concert and took a photo around a little girl standing in the center.
The little girl had pigtails, wore a white dress, and smiled innocently, like a princess surrounded by admirers.
Back then,
The photo went viral, sparking intense jealousy and anger among EXO-Ls.
Countless fans protested in the forum.
They criticized her, asking, "Why should she stand among the oppas?"
"It must be because of connections."
"Disgusting! This is unfair treatment of the fans!"
The outcry lasted for a full month before the heat gradually subsided.
The woman in the photo is none other than the young lady of Yao Lai – Qi Meihe.
Yaolai Entertainment is now the core of the Beijing entertainment circle.
They possess considerable power and extensive connections.
The partners include: Brother Chen Long, Li Binbin, Feng Xiaogang, Huang Xiaoming, and Zhang Guoli.
Below them is Kris Wu, a top young idol of the new generation, who is their "favorite son" whom they are promoting.
With this strong background, Qi Meihe, who was Huang Zitao's first fan, has completed the incredible transformation from fan to lover.
She's practically the pinnacle of female fans in the Chinese entertainment industry.
"But there's one thing I don't understand: if she likes Huang Zitao, why did she sign Chris Wu?"
Gu Qing was completely baffled and sent a message to ask.
"Boss, is there any possibility...?"
Xu Wei was silent for a moment before replying through the voice message: "Does this young lady like everyone?"
"Same as me."
Gu Qing is quite self-aware.
"Boss, your relationship is mutual, it's definitely different from what they're like."
Xu Wei suppressed a laugh.
"I heard that, in order to win over Chris Wu, this young lady even gave him the endorsement of the top luxury brand 'Burberry,' which Yaolai China was the distributor for."
"real or fake?"
Gu Qing was surprised.
It's important to know that these top luxury brands have very strict requirements for selecting celebrities to endorse their brands.
It's normal for evaluations to take one or two years. Brands need to conduct a comprehensive assessment from multiple dimensions, including image, reputation, commercial value, and international influence. None of these can be overlooked.
Those artists who have been under evaluation for two years and are still waiting for notification are probably crying their eyes out in the bathroom.
"So, it seems Brother Qian is living off a woman."
Gu Qing couldn't help but chuckle. He didn't feel much, because he was also a newcomer to the Bulgari brand.
"Boss, being a kept man isn't a good thing."
Xu Wei's voice carried a hint of schadenfreude:
"Look, Wu Da, a top star, was just 'taken down' and then kicked out, and it was his former teammate who 'stole' his base."
"This young lady is ruthless. Of all people to talk to, she had to talk to Huang Zitao."
If I were Chris Wu, wouldn't I turn to the dark side if my base was raided by my most hated former teammate and enemy?
"Brother Qian is inherently evil; he can't turn evil."
Gu Qing smiled and shook her head.
"Besides, didn't he also get a top luxury brand endorsement for free? His luck is just too good."
Of course, this luck only lasts for a few years.
"Boss, why do you call him 'Brother Qian'? Is there some special meaning behind it?"
Xu Wei couldn't suppress his curiosity any longer.
He thought about it for a long time.
The word "sign" evokes thoughts of signing contracts, receiving documents, and signing autographs... I just can't figure out how it could be connected to Chris Wu.
"Well, it's just a rumor. You might find out someday."
Gu Qing threw back the covers, got out of bed, and walked towards the bathroom.
"Brother Wei, any more news? If not, I'll hang up now."
"Boss, there really is one."
Xu Wei remembered something and quickly joked,
"An opportunity that brings you very close to becoming a top luxury brand ambassador."
"What do you mean?"
Gu Qing was taken aback, and paused slightly in her steps.
"When Xiao Jie was helping to collect information online today, he saw that some netizens seemed to have uncovered the alternate account of this Yao Lai heiress."
I discovered that her profile picture and homepage use your background, and she frequently likes and shares your blog posts. She's been following you for two years now, some even dating back to her time on the variety show "Running Man."
Xu Wei's voice was full of laughter.
"Although the news was suppressed quickly, if I'm not mistaken, she seems to be... a fan of yours, boss."
Gu Qing: "..."
"You mean, while she was involved in a love triangle with Chris Wu and Huang Zitao, she was also secretly following me using a secondary account?"
"And they're suspected to be longtime fans from when I debuted?"
Gu Qing thought her brain was fine, but right now it was almost shutting down.
Wow, Miss, you really know how to have fun! Where did you learn this trick from?
Could it be your uncle, my Uncle Long?
"Boss, I remember that Chris Wu's Burberry endorsement doesn't last much longer."
After working together for a long time, Xu Wei's reserved yet passionate personality began to emerge.
"This may be our only chance in this lifetime."
Why don't you just grit your teeth and go for it? After all, it's a free endorsement deal!
"Go away, go away, I'm hanging up now."
Gu Qing, his forehead creased with exasperation, hung up the phone.
Are you kidding me? Is he that kind of person?
Having debuted for three years, putting everything else aside, just the fact that he only dates the female leads in his dramas puts him ahead of 99% of the artists in the Chinese entertainment industry.
most,
He simply doesn't take the initiative, refuse, or resist.
Other than that,
Gu Qing has never played around.
Those internet celebrities, high-society ladies, socialites, models throwing themselves at you, and rich, beautiful women...
He never made the mistake that "all men make."
He considers himself to be quite virtuous and has a moral standard that is considered "supermodel" in the entertainment industry.
Anyone with a face like his and such a high status would have beautiful girls showering him with offers wherever they go, practically wanting to devour him. Who could possibly remain calm?
……
Gu Qing walked into the bathroom and turned on the faucet. The water gushed out, splashing into the white ceramic basin and creating fine droplets.
He bent down, scooped up a handful of cold water, and splashed it on his face.
The cool water stimulated my skin, gradually driving away any lingering drowsiness.
He looked up at himself in the mirror—a handsome face, slightly reddened whites of his eyes, and wisps of hair on his forehead that were wet and stuck to his skin.
I'm awake now.
After quickly washing her face, Gu Qing called Zhao Ya and her assistant to go to the hotel gym for an hour of exercise.
The gym is located on the basement floor of the hotel. It's not large, but it's fully equipped.
Treadmills, elliptical trainers, dumbbell racks, Smith machines—they have it all.
The full-length mirror made the entire space appear even more spacious, and the cold white lighting made people's skin look bluish.
Gu Qing didn't need to worry about being disturbed by outsiders.
The truth is, after he checked in, the hotel manager waved his hand and the gym automatically started maintenance.
Things will be bad when Gu Qing comes down, and good when she doesn't come down.
An hour after a simple workout,
Then eat some meals customized by a nutritionist.
By the time Gu Qing returned to her room, it was almost nine o'clock.
"Swish~"
Opening the window, the cold wind of early winter rushed in, carrying the city's unique smell, a mixture of exhaust fumes and cooking fumes.
Gu Qing wandered aimlessly around the room to digest her food, walking from the bedside to the window, from the window to the door, and then back again.
I slept for two or three hours in the afternoon, and by evening, I felt much better.
Before I knew it, it was past ten o'clock.
Gu Qing lay down on the bed and forced himself to close his eyes and sleep. He needed to maintain a good biological clock.
The biggest reason why most celebrities' looks "collapse" is that they drink and party and have irregular sleep schedules.
An irregular lifestyle will ruin your skin, your condition, and everything else.
Gu Qing didn't want to end up having to go to a beauty salon for "threading".
That's "threading a needle" in the true physical sense.
at first,
Gu Qing thought that the beauty treatments celebrities got were nothing more than getting hyaluronic acid injections, using some kind of equipment, or getting Botox.
To go even further, it would simply involve shaving the bone.
But then one day, he witnessed it with his own eyes—
The beauticians used a steel pipe with protein threads attached to it to pierce the skin near the corner of the customer's mouth.
The steel pipe wriggled gently in the muscles beneath your skin, like a living snake, moving from the lower part of your face all the way to your temple, and then bursting out with a "poof".
The protein threads are implanted between the skin and muscles to help lift and tighten the skin and absorb nutrients.
And it doesn't end in one go.
To lift all the facial muscles, several protein threads need to be inserted. One, two, three…
Each hair must travel from the corner of the mouth to the temple, and each time it must wander beneath the skin.
Anesthetic can only be applied lightly to the outside and cannot completely suppress the pain.
Since witnessing this scene,
Gu Qing removes her makeup immediately after each event and takes every spare moment to close her eyes and sleep, making sure she gets enough sleep.
Killing someone is nothing more than a scar on the head!
You can ask him to be suspended dozens of meters high by wires, and he won't mind.
But if those beauticians were to hit him with a steel pipe like that,
Gu Qingneng would be scared to death.
……
But tonight, for some reason, I just can't fall asleep.
It wasn't a big deal at first, but Gu Qing kept having those terrifying images of beauticians flash through her mind, which really made her feel uneasy.
In particular, his memory was exceptionally clear; he could recall every detail—the length of the steel pipe, the color of the protein thread.
The expressions on the customers' faces, the way the beauticians' hands were stained with blood and lubricant...
Every detail is crystal clear, playing in my mind like a 4K high-definition video.
"Why would I need such a good memory?!"
Gu Qing was on the verge of a breakdown.
Fortunately, at that moment, the phone on the bedside table suddenly dinged.
"Is Da Tian Tian going to surprise me by arriving early?"
Gu Qing took the phone with suspicion, and the more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
Jing Tian is a bit childish and is best at this kind of "surprise attack".
But when I opened the screen—
The name, which he rarely contacted, surprised him greatly.
"Li Xin? Why would she message me?"
Gu Qing still remembered this good friend who was introduced to her by Sister Yixin.
When he first added the other person as a friend, their greeting, "Hello, Mr. Gu Qing," completely baffled him.
The formal, official-sounding wording made it feel less like chatting with an artist and more like having a face-to-face conversation with an ancient person.
Gu Qing unlocked the screen and tapped to view.
He discovered that Li Xin had forwarded him a video.
However, it was a legitimate video, and it was still in a field that Gu Qing was familiar with.
"The Peony Pavilion? That's a famous piece from Kunqu Opera, isn't it?"
Gu Qing became interested.
He leaned back against the pillow, sat up straight, and curiously clicked on it.
The video is quite long, lasting 17 minutes and 47 seconds.
The image quality is slightly blurry, and there is a TV station drama logo with a red sun and white clouds in the upper left corner, which clearly indicates that it is a precious document from many years ago.
The edges of the image are a bit shaky, and the colors are somewhat distorted, but it is precisely this sense of age that gives it a sense of the weight of time.
Gu Qing had learned about the story of "The Peony Pavilion" when she took opera classes before.
The full title is "The Peony Pavilion: The Return of the Soul," which tells the story of Du Liniang, the daughter of a prefect in the Southern Song Dynasty, and Liu Mengmei, a scholar, who become entangled in a dream and stay together through life and death.
"The first section, if I remember correctly, should be 'A Dream in the Garden'?"
Just as Gu Qinggang thought of it, the words "Visiting the Garden" appeared in the lower right corner of the video.
"Da da da... da da da da..."
Accompanied by the unique fast tempo and light tapping of gongs and drums in traditional Chinese opera, the drumbeats are like raindrops on banana leaves, crisp and dense, like some kind of ancient summons.
'Du Liniang' took small, delicate steps from one side.
That gait wasn't walking, it was floating.
With toes touching the ground and heels suspended in the air, the whole person looked like a cloud being blown by the wind, clearly demonstrating great skill.
She wore a kingfisher feather headdress, the jewels on her forehead shimmering under the lamplight, and a red cloak draped over her pink robe embroidered with butterflies and flowers.
She is dignified and serene, a lady of high birth, charming and lovely, and immediately catches the eye.
"A Dream of Wandering the Earth: The Warbling of Orioles Returns ~ A Chaotic Sight of Time Spreads Across the Land..."
A person stands in a small, secluded courtyard, the incense stick burns out, and the embroidery thread is left unfinished.
"Is this spring's passing just like last year's?"
As soon as he spoke, Gu Qing's expression changed slightly.
In the video, Du Liniang's slender, pale fingers lightly flick in the air, her bright eyes filled with affection, a mixture of anger and resentment, joy and sorrow.
Du Liniang awoke from her spring dream amidst the warbling of orioles. Facing the desolate courtyard, she lamented that her sorrow for the passing of spring was even greater than in the past.
Her voice was clear and melodious, like a mountain stream or birdsong in the forest. Every word was pronounced clearly, demonstrating her exceptional skill.
"This person doesn't look very old, does he?"
"Sings so well?"
Gu Qing was a little surprised.
His fingers tapped lightly on the sheets in rhythm.
The charm of Kunqu Opera lies in its "slow" pace.
A turn can last for more than ten seconds, a glance can linger for more than ten seconds, and a single aria can be dragged out for more than ten seconds.
For most viewers and young people, it will feel boring and drawn out.
Gu Qing herself was an opera singer, so she didn't have this feeling and gradually became immersed in the opera.
unconsciously,
The anxieties at work and the restlessness from lack of sleep gradually subsided.
A Dream in the Garden – A Love Story Between a Human and a Ghost – Overcoming Obstacles, They Finally Become a Couple.
The story of "The Peony Pavilion" boils down to nothing more than the word "love".
But it was this word "love" that made a sixteen-year-old girl dream, brought a woman who had been dead for three years back to life, made a poor scholar become the top scholar in the imperial examination, and made a pair of lovers finally become husband and wife.
"Love arises without knowing its origin, and deepens with each passing moment; the living can die for it, and the dead can live for it."
Mr. Tang's words are true; feudal ethics and morality were indeed a constraint on human nature.
As the song ended, Gu Qing sighed softly.
He glanced at the pitch-black night outside the window; there were no stars, no moon.
He's become a bit like someone who's experiencing NetEase Cloud Music depression.
Gu Qing picked up her phone and typed a line of text without thinking:
"That sounds great, Ms. Li Xin. Could you please send me another part?"
Before sending it, he added, "Besides 'The Peony Pavilion,' I also quite like Mr. Tang's 'When Appreciating Flowers'..."
At the same time,
A certain elegant girl,
He was lying in bed, tossing and turning.
The quilt is white, the pillow is white, and the lamp on the bedside table is also white.
The entire room had a cool color scheme, like an ice cellar.
"Am I crazy to send someone a video of me singing opera late at night?"
"Why can't I undo it after just one minute? Can't this feature be changed?!"
“They sing Huizhou opera, I sing Kunqu opera, they're not even related. Besides, they don't even know me…”
Li Xin felt more and more regretful, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt that she was "sick".
She's not usually such an impulsive person.
But tonight,
For some reason, a voice inside me kept saying, "Just send it, what if he understands?"
"Why did I suddenly become so tactless!"
She tossed and turned in bed, crumpling the blankets into a ball and deforming the pillows.
Her hair was scattered on the pillow, spread out like splashed ink.
Her face carried a hint of cold bitterness, and there was an innate, pitiful fragility between her brows and eyes.
Her lips were slightly pursed, and her eyelashes cast faint shadows under her eyes.
Suddenly, my phone beeped.
She hurriedly picked it up and looked at it—
Li Xin: "!!"
……
...(End of this chapter)