"The north wind blows, the snowflakes flutter.
The snowflakes float as the years go by,
The wind sweeps the snow outside the door,
The wind knocks on the door open..."
Xie Yumian sang and danced, her steps light yet ensuring her voice remained gentle. However, as she sang this line, she suddenly spun around and kicked over a prop table next to her. The burning kerosene lamp on the table spilled over the oil droplets, rapidly spreading to the backdrop curtains behind.
The curtains were dry, and the flames shot up three feet high. The first audience member who noticed immediately shouted to alert them. But on stage, Xie Yumian hadnāt reacted, continuing her jumping and singing, unaware that she had messed up the lyrics.
It wasnāt until she felt a searing heat behind her that she finally turned her head to look. Her voice caught in her throat, her face filled with shock and panic, as she looked around in a disheveled state.
She subconsciously looked towards Xu Zheāan in the audience, realizing he just sat there watching indifferently. His back was straight, and his military uniform made him look so handsome and unreachable. Noticing the lack of recognition for her in his eyes, most of Xie Yumianās heart grew cold, feeling as if all she had done was foolish, a waste.
It wasnāt until someone pulled her away that Xie Yumian despondently left the stage, immediately facing the anger of the literary troupeās leader.
Because of Xie Yumian, the showcase performance of the arts show was ruined. This yearās performance had even more important figures attending than previous years. Everyone had rehearsed tirelessly for over a month for this, and now it was all destroyed.
Xie Yumian hung her head, unable to say a word, her eyes brimming with tears, her fists clenched, her whole body trembling.
Jiang Lai, a married woman, not only took away her dearest third brother but now also wanted to take her beloved. How could such a woman sit innocently in the audience? Is there no justice in this world?!
Seeing Xie Yumianās crumbling figure, the troupeās leader could only sigh bitterly and briefly said.
"Itās over! Go back!"
What could be done at this point?!
He only regretted assigning such an important role to Xie Yumian! Truly a lapse in judgment, the lead role was already chosen. Xie Yumian was originally just a supporting actress, but before the performance, the lead sprained an ankle and couldnāt perform. Thatās when the pretty and talented Xie Yumian appeared.
He didnāt know why he chose Xie Yumian out of all the girls in the literary troupe, someone with no background and no professional training!
Initially, he thought of applying to have Xie Yumian officially join the arts troupe after the performance, but now, let alone joining, he didnāt even want to see her!
Outside the theater, the chill of early autumn hit, and Xie Yumian shivered, realizing her situation, as she looked back, tears streaming down.
Finished.
All finished.
The opportunities within reach, the feelings she painstakingly nurtured, all destroyed by a countryside woman!
It was bearable when she tortured everyone at home, but why wouldnāt she spare her here?
A curse, if she was a blessing, then Jiang Lai was a curse meant just for her!
Rushing outside, she happened to see Xu Zheāan standing by the roadside.
Xie Yumian walked up without hesitation, collecting herself to muster a smile.
"Brother Xu, what a coincidence."
"After you and Jingyi came to our house, you even sent me a letter."
Xu Zheāan, hearing her, was momentarily puzzled and only recalled who this girl was after she continued speaking.
"Hmm, hello, are you here to perform?"
Thinking of the performance, embarrassment flushed Xie Yumianās face, and she quickly changed the subject.
"Yes, I saw you in the audience; oh, by the way, the person sitting next to you looked familiar, she seemed like my sister-in-law."
Xu Zheāan instinctively asked back.
"Sister-in-law, which sister-in-law?"
Xie Yumian no longer cared about trying to matchmake Xu Jingyi and Xie Jian to get closer to Xu Zheāan, she just wanted to tell Xu Zheāan everything so he could see Jiang Laiās true nature.
No matter what, Jiang Lai must have used some unspeakable means to sit beside Xu Zheāan.
She believed that if everyone knew the real Jiang Lai, she would never have the chance to sit next to Xu Zheāan again.
"Iām pretty sure I wasnāt mistaken, sheās indeed my third sister-in-law. You saw my third brother last time, thatās her."
Third sister-in-law.
A sliver of indescribable regret crossed Xu Zheāanās heart, but his face remained calm, serene.
"Hmm, your third brother married quite an impressive wife."
Hearing this, Xie Yumian wished she could pry open Xu Zheāanās eyes to see Jiang Laiās true colors.
"Yes, my sister-in-law is indeed impressive, married into our family and got my brother to split the household. All the money my mother saved for decades went to building them a brick house. Now my mother is bedridden, needing care for all her meals, and I havenāt seen my sister-in-law, yet surprisingly see her here."
She thought Xu Zheāan would see Jiang Laiās true self after hearing this.
Xu Zheāan remained impassive, his expression unemotional.
"Hmm, a woman truly focused on her career shouldnāt be shackled by household trivialities."
The things Xie Yumian said seemed innocuous to him; after all, given his background, he didnāt understand the petty schemes of rural folks, he only found her talk loud and irritating.
How could she freely discuss her sister-in-lawās issues with an outsider like him, and with nothing but trivial drivel?
The car arrived, Xu Zheāan said.
"Goodbye."
Then he immediately boarded, with no intention of continuing the conversation with Xie Yumian.
The driver at the front looked back.
"Commander, the young lady was waving, should I turn back?"
"No need, keep going."
Xie Yumian silently watched the car leave, feeling an inexplicable resentment, as if knowing things shouldnāt be this way.
Returning home, seeing the house completely altered by her two sisters-in-law, Xie Yumianās heart felt bleak, unable to see the path forward.
She thought of being alone to calm down for a moment. But as she pushed open her room door, an indescribable, mixed smell hit her, presenting a jumbled scene to her eyes.
All of her parentsā belongings had been moved into her room. Her once spacious and bright space was now divided in two by a plastic curtain. Her bed was shoved into the corner, while her parentsā bed was outside. Besides, a stove had been built where her desk used to be.
It was clear her parents ate directly on her desk usually. The once spotless table she maintained was now covered in grease and dust.