Aromatic Flesh

In the late-night theatre, an air of desolation hung as the audience dispersed, leaving the backstage corridor dimly lit with flickering lights that cast moving shadows on the floor. Hand in hand, the two figures steadily made their way towards the theatre exit.

Suddenly, a male voice echoed from the shadows near the exit.

“Well, well, what a rare sight! Only now coming out at this hour. Where are you two headed next?”

Qian YunSheng and Gu MingYue paused, their hearts racing as they exchanged glances in the dimly lit corridor.

Clad in a loose black robe, Wen ChuanXi leaned against the wall In the dimly lit backstage corridor. He held a cigarette in his hand, its ember glowing intermittently, and exhaled a puff of white smoke that formed alluring rings in the speckled darkness, coincidentally drifting towards Qian YunSheng’s face.

Qian YunSheng’s eyebrows subtly furrowed as he swatted away the pungent smell, his gaze briefly scanning the glass door of the theatre before settling on the vibrant, well-lit street outside.

Despite his relaxed demeanour, he held Gu MingYue’s hand with a firm grip. “Oh, do we need to inform you of our whereabouts?” He replied nonchalantly, glancing at Wen ChuanXi.

“No, of course not. How dare I ask you to report your itinerary to me? It’s just that it’s late at night, and Miss Xue is still here with you, and there were no military officers waiting outside today either. I think it’s better to have a reliable person escort the both of you back.” Wen ChuanXi explained.

Wen ChuanXi’s seemingly considerate words for both of them carried an undercurrent of threat, leaving the two parties feeling uneasy about what he might know.

At such a crucial moment right before their elopement, the sudden interference from Wen ChuanXi caught Gu MingYue off guard, making her feel quite uncomfortable.

Unlike the original novel where Xue HeZe didn’t lose her innocence the night before, as she lacked Gu MingYue’s emotional tactics to press and tempt Qian YunSheng directly. This led to the perplexing situation where she threatened to commit suicide, which then led to the two of them leaving the theatre early.

Taking a deep breath, Gu MingYue lifted her head slightly. She was ready to clear her throat and display her usual style of acting like a spoiled and willful young lady, preparing for a dramatic display of emotions.

In fact, the acting skill of someone who had lived multiple lives in an act was definitely much more proficient than someone who makes a living from acting.

Regrettably, Qian YunSheng didn’t give her the opportunity to showcase her acting abilities. “There’s no need for such complications as I will ensure Miss Xue’s safety. There’s no need to get worried as the two of us will stay together.” He spoke calmly.

Wen ChuanXi grinned upon hearing their response, tapping the cigarette against the corner of the wall before tucking it into his pocket.

He playfully patted his head in a feigned regret before continuing, “It’s late at night, and I just don’t want anything to happen to you two on the way home. Disappearing without a trace would be troublesome. If the Young Master of the Xue family or Second Young Master Tang were to inquire, there wouldn’t be anyone in XianNi Society who knows what happened. That’s something I can’t afford.”

Gu MingYue could easily discern the underlying meaning in his words. With only the three of them remaining in the theatre, Wen ChuanXi clearly knew something and intentionally blocked them at the exit. In fact, who knows how much of their conversation in the dressing room had he overheard.

Pretend to not understand his words, and blatantly refuse to admit anything he accused them of… This was the only appropriate reaction for Xue HeZe at the moment.

“What do you mean?” Gu MingYue shook off Qian YunSheng’s hand, her eyebrows furrowing and her eyes narrowing as she pointed her finger at Wen ChuanXi’s nose, scolding him in a spoiled and sassy manner.

“Calm down, Miss Xue, I truly meant no harm. Please forgive my poor choice of words.” Wen ChuanXi responded nonchalantly, showing no concern for Gu MingYue’s exaggerated demeanour.

“What do you plan to do, snitch on us?” Qian YunSheng grew impatient as he saw no point in wasting time with Wen ChuanXi’s playful act. Trying to deceive a clever person was futile, and it was just a waste of effort.

His words wiped the smile off Wen ChuanXi’s face. The elegant man in the black robe set aside his playful expression and fixed a stern gaze on Qian YunSheng and Gu MingYue.

Suddenly, he let out a mocking laugh and reverted to his nonchalant demeanour, “Betray you? Why would I do that? I don’t know anything, just making casual remarks. If, by chance, you two vanish without a trace on the way, it might be the heavens’ way of recognizing my outstanding talents after being stuck in the second position for too long, giving me a chance to shine… Tsk, it’s getting late. You better hurry and leave.” And with that, he impatiently waved his hand as he walked away casually.

Gu MingYue was taken aback by Wen ChuanXi’s unexpected attitude, as it made it difficult for her to discern his true intentions.

Meanwhile, Qian YunSheng’s lips curved into a slight smile, and for the first time in his life at the theatre, he showed genuine appreciation to Wen ChuanXi. Taking a deep breath, he nodded and said, “Thank you.”

Being part of the same theatre troupe, Qian YunSheng didn’t doubt the authenticity of Wen ChuanXi’s words. He knew that Wen ChuanXi wouldn’t deliberately snitch on them. As a witness to the secrets of powerful families, he wouldn’t gain any favours by actively offering such information, however, if questioned later by members of the Xue and Tang families, he wouldn’t hide anything either. He would reveal what he knew, mixing truth and half-truths, to protect XianNi Society.

Everyone had different pursuits, and Wen ChuanXi genuinely loved Kunqu opera and the extravagance of the bustling ShangHai. He seemed better suited to this environment than Qian YunSheng, and now, with no more obstacles to face, perhaps he would soon establish his own achievements.

Gu MingYue pulled Qian YunSheng’s sleeve, signalling that they should leave. She pouted her lips as she stared at Wen ChuanXi with a hint of suspicion, but quickly turned her face away in embarrassment after being playfully scrutinized by the man in turn.

Wen ChuanXi was unfazed by the spoiled behaviour of the pampered young miss. He leisurely crossed his arms, watching as the two of them pushed open the theatre door and walked away, hand in hand.