"Rainbow across the skies and a hundred flowers bloom, butterflies come in pairs and twos, through the end of time my heart will not change, Liang Shanbo and—"
Deng deng!
"Hu Tao, are you here?"
Outside the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor came Yun Jin's voice. Hu Tao quickly opened the door. "What is it, what is it?"
"I came to check on your progress… This play is indeed wonderful, but with only two days to prepare after receiving the script, isn't it still far too rushed?"
Ever since getting the script last night, Hu Tao had sought out Yun Jin. Yun Jin was also very fond of The Butterfly Lovers, but Hu Tao wanted to perform it in just two days—because Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai would be released for publication in exactly two days.
The Butterfly Lovers wasn't a one-person play—it required two main leads and at least six supporting roles.
The supporting roles didn't have much stage time, and the script had been arranged beautifully and with great care, as though the author had already played it out in their mind several times. The lines didn't need any adjustments, and finding supporting actors in two days was no problem.
But the two main roles had a lot of lines. Even an ordinary person would spend quite some time memorizing them, and there also needed to be at least one rehearsal in those two days. The schedule was tight.
Hu Tao shook her head confidently. "It's fine, it's fine! Didn't you already perform it right after reading it yesterday? That means we only need one more main actor. I also have a Vision, my memory is strong, and I've already memorized the entire script."
"Then the lines won't be a problem, and the supporting roles have already been arranged by the Yun-Han Opera Troupe. But…"
Yun Jin still looked worried. Acting wasn't just about memorizing lines—there was singing technique and acting skill to consider.
And the program list had to be released at least a day in advance. Since The Butterfly Lovers was set for tomorrow night, the program had to be announced tonight, after which it couldn't be changed.
Since there was still a chance to back out, she had come now to check Hu Tao's readiness.
"Aiya, don't worry! What's that saying… paint a cat by copying a tiger? I may have never performed on stage, but I've watched you sing plenty of times—I must've picked up something. If you don't believe me, just listen."
Hu Tao cleared her throat and sang the very first line she had started practicing: "Rainbow across the skies and a hundred flowers bloom, butterflies come in pairs and twos, through the end of time my heart will not change, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai."
To a layman, this might pass, but to a professional's ears… there were many issues. Ah, well. For a friend, what's a little loss of face?
"Your intonation is off."
It wasn't Yun Jin speaking, but the voice of Zhongli, the guest consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
He stepped toward the doorway and repeated the line: "Though you've improved from just now, the intonation is still wrong. The correct way to sing it is—'Rainbow across the skies and a hundred flowers bloom, butterflies come in pairs and twos, through the end of time my heart will not change, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai.'"
His tone was rich with emotion, the pitch nuanced, and though his voice was male, it carried a unique charm.
"See? I've only practiced for two minutes and already improved—that means I must be a genius, right?" Hu Tao pouted, brimming with peculiar confidence.
"Mr. Zhongli!" Yun Jin greeted him with a nod.
The guest consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was no ordinary man—he could explain obscure allusions and history to fellow listeners at a play; he could wax poetic about tea leaves; he could offer Xiangling suggestions to improve her cooking; he could appreciate Xinyan's rock music; he knew the traditions of opera handed down through generations inside and out; and some even claimed he had never lost a bet at stone gambling. Simply calling him "knowledgeable" hardly covered it.
Seeing him gave Yun Jin the feeling of spotting a savior.
"Mr. Yun, I've read The Butterfly Lovers as well—it's indeed a fine work."
"To receive such praise from an expert like Mr. Zhongli, I trust the performance will be nothing short of excellent."
"An expert I dare not claim to be—only somewhat familiar. I have also heard of Hall Master Hu's sudden inspiration to perform. I will do my best to help her. With a day and a half left… speaking rationally, focusing only on rehearsing the lines for this one play is entirely feasible."
"Though this Hall Master is a genius, I have come prepared. I absolutely will not tarnish the Yun-Han Opera Troupe's name."
"Alright, alright~ If Mr. Zhongli is helping you, I can rest easy. So, have you decided which role you'll play?"
"…I'll play Liang Shanbo."
"Are you sure? Didn't you say your favorite was Zhu Yingtai?"
"I do like her, but I'm only guest-starring this once. The leading role of Zhu Yingtai should be yours—I can't steal the spotlight."
Yun Jin affectionately took Hu Tao's hand, encouraging her. "If you like it, then play it! You're only guest-starring, but you are the main character."
"Since you put it that way, I won't hold back!"
"Who asked you to hold back?"
The two exchanged a smile.
"In that case, I'm also curious—curious to see what results a play prepared in just two days can achieve."
"You'll see soon enough~"
That night, news spread that the Yun-Han Opera Troupe, in collaboration with the famous author Dust, would premiere a new play in just two days of preparation.
By the next day, after only a single day's buildup, the three keywords—Yun-Han Opera Troupe, Dust, new play—had intertwined opera lovers and literary fans alike, ensuring the Heyu Teahouse would be packed to the brim that evening.
As the largest teahouse in Feiyun Slope, the Heyu Teahouse was far larger than its depiction in the game—it could never stage a play for just two tables of eight people; that would be a guaranteed loss.
The ornate stage was also much bigger, since the Yun-Han Opera Troupe didn't only perform Yun Jin's solo operas—they also did multi-role performances, sometimes with on-stage fights and swordplay. Performing The Butterfly Lovers was no problem at all.
This time, Victor Wang had received a formal invitation before taking a seat at the table closest to the stage. Sitting with him were all members of the Bubblegum Squad except Hu Tao, including Zhongli.
A quick glance behind him revealed other audience members: Uncle Tian with several other elders; Qi Xiuming and a group of colleagues he had brought; Granny Ping, Yaoyao, and a bearded stranger; staff from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor here to support Hu Tao; and a group of familiar patrons Victor Wang had met during "Stay Tuned for the Next Part" sessions.
Aside from them, there were many others Victor Wang didn't recognize.
Even with the size of the Heyu Teahouse—already far larger than in the game—there still weren't enough seats. Many guests had to stand.
Among them was the owner, Master Fan Er, his expression full of delight.
"No seats? Good! That means business is booming!"—his eyes seemed to say.
Surveying the audience, sipping the complimentary fine tea, the crowd waited with anticipation for the show to begin.
"Rainbow across the skies and a hundred flowers bloom, butterflies come in pairs and twos, through the end of time my heart will not change, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai~" The voices came before the singers appeared—two voices, one after the other, singing for the audience members who did not yet understand.
Then, two people walked onto the stage from left and right: one a servant, the other Hu Tao playing Zhu Yingtai.
Her face was painted; her usual energetic twin ponytails had been styled by Yun Jin into the coiffure of a noble lady—she looked especially beautiful.
Gasps and murmurs of admiration rose from the audience. They had heard that a newcomer would appear in the play, but hadn't expected her first appearance to be so stunning.
The Harmony Hexagram Hat on her head had been replaced, and she wore a beautiful opera costume that suited her perfectly. Yet her expression was listless, sickly.
When the servant trying to get her to take medicine left the stage, however, she turned toward the audience, a mischievous glint in her eyes—perfectly capturing Zhu Yingtai's feigned illness—and stealing more than a few hearts.
She left the stage to change into plain men's clothing, returning disguised as a doctor to trick Zhu's parents into letting her attend school.
Then Yun Jin, as Liang Shanbo, appeared—also in men's attire, lips red and teeth white, the image of a handsome young scholar.
That alone drew brightened eyes from Yun Jin's fans in the audience, followed by applause and cheers. But when the actors began their lines, the audience quickly quieted.
Liyue's signature instruments began to play.
Yun Jin as Liang Shanbo sang: "The distant mountains as charming as brows, spring waters ripple with green waves, travelers bustle along the sunny road, wine flags sway and red apricots bloom, in the green shade a bird sings, willow branches dance lightly with the wind."
The two disguised ladies, each with their attendants, met on the Grass Bridge. Thanks to the loose tongue of Zhu Yingtai's maid, Liang Shanbo grew suspicious of her identity.
Hu Tao as Zhu Yingtai sang: "The youngest at home with wit and grace, eager to match the men in skill, the heart values ink more than powder, not fond of hairpins but of prose, longing to follow me to Hangzhou, siblings entering the academy side by side, but father's old-fashioned mind refuses to let a daughter leave the inner chambers."
After practicing nearly all night and an entire day, her first lines piqued the audience's interest.
"Who is she? Pretty and sings well—why haven't I seen her on stage before?"
"She looks familiar… like someone I know, but I can't place it…"
"It's Hu Tao!"
"Oh—that young Hall Master of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor! She's usually in the audience with us—how did she end up on stage?"
"That's what you get from listening often enough, I guess. I could never learn it, though—impressive!"
Xiangling turned her head, beaming with pride at the praise for Hu Tao.
Zhongli sipped his tea and nodded slightly. "Hall Master Hu is truly quick-witted."
The performance continued:
Liang Shanbo: "Men and women are born equal, yet the world's ways are absurd and unjust."
Zhu Yingtai: "I thought all men were the same, but he stands up for women."
"Brother Liang." "Brother Zhu."
Liang Shanbo: "Let's plant willows as incense—may I ask your age?"
Zhu Yingtai: "Sixteen."
Liang Shanbo: "Seventeen."
Zhu Yingtai: "I honor you as a brother."
Liang Shanbo: "I love you as a younger brother."
Together: "Planting willows as incense, we swear to the heavens; butterflies bear witness to our sworn brotherhood!"
…
Zhu Yingtai: "The woodcutter's wife gathers firewood, mandarin fish swim in pairs."
Liang Shanbo: "Wind stirs the water, mandarin ducks drift; never apart, always together."
Together: "Through life and death, I keep my word; holding your hand, we grow old together."
…
Liang Shanbo: "Yingtai is a woman—oh! Three years of studying together… three years! How could it be? She even offered herself to me, yet I failed to visit her family in time!"
…
Father Zhu: "This marriage is no ordinary match. You know the name—Ma Wencai of the Ma family."
Zhu Yingtai: "I will not marry!"
Father Zhu: "Defying your father is unfilial!"
Zhu Yingtai: "My heart is set!"
Father Zhu: "You will obey, whether you will or not!"
…
Liang Shanbo: "Because of you, my heart is broken; no medicine can heal the illness of the heart."
Zhu Yingtai: "Brother Liang, do not grieve too deeply; cherish your youth and strength…"
…
Zhu Yingtai: "Brother Liang! If we cannot live together, then let us die together!"
After an hour of performance, Hu Tao's Zhu Yingtai leapt into the grave Yun Jin's Liang Shanbo had created using Geo. The tomb dissolved into glittering elemental particles, and halfway through its disappearance, the audience saw that Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai had vanished—leaving only two beautiful phoenix butterflies nestled together.
"Rainbow across the skies and a hundred flowers bloom, butterflies come in pairs and twos, through the end of time my heart will not change, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai." Hu Tao and Yun Jin's voices sang in unison.
As the tomb completely vanished, the butterflies soared side by side, circling once above the crowd before flying into the night sky, disappearing from sight before turning to Pyro and scattering into the air.
A sigh rippled through the audience, and before anyone knew who started it, the sighs were replaced by thunderous applause.