"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 hadn't reacted, continuing her jumping and singing, unaware that she had messed up the lyrics.
It wasn't 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.
