Aromatic Flesh

At the age of 17, Qian YunSheng skyrocketed to fame with a stunning performance on the stage. During that time, Tang YingShao and other opera enthusiasts were tirelessly working towards the revival of the art form. Upon their first encounter, Qian YunSheng’s striking beauty left Tang YingShao in awe. With a subtle allure and an ambiguous charm, Qian YunSheng effortlessly captivated Tang YingShao, who fell under his spell.

Their first encounter, though internally consensual, was met with Qian YunSheng’s desperate resistance. As the saying goes, you have to lose something to gain something else in life, yet Qian YunSheng struggled against his chosen fate. Once he was overpowered by the tall and robust Tang YingShao, the shame and agony that followed was excruciating and tore at his very soul…

Since that fateful night, the scars of humiliation have deeply marked his being, an ever-present reminder that shadowed his every step.

Meanwhile, Tang YingShao, a persuasive benefactor, kept his word and showered Qian YunSheng with substantial amounts of money to propel his career. In just one year, Qian YunSheng, who started as a moderately known performer, skyrocketed to fame across the country.

When Qian YunSheng turned 18, his carriage crossed paths with the one carrying Xue HeZe on the street, an encounter that would seal her tragic fate.

Gu MingYue couldn’t deny that Xue HeZe held a place in Qian YunSheng’s heart, however, in his pursuit of success and revenge, Qian YunSheng didn’t hesitate to sacrifice his own body and ride the wave of reviving the declining opera art form. With the support of Tang YingShao’s sponsorship, he became a shining star in the world of opera, eventually taking ownership of the Shanghai Xian Ni Society after avenging his former master. As of now, the current leader merely served as a figurehead, concealing Qian YunSheng’s connection to Tang YingShao from the public eye.

Despite achieving fame and seeking revenge, Qian YunSheng realized that his outwardly glamorous and vibrant life was still insufficient to fill the inner emptiness he felt. He felt lost amidst the intoxicating allure of Shanghai and experienced endless humiliation from submitting himself to men. Now in the prime of his youth, his melodious voice echoed, easily allowing him to continue singing for more than another decade.

But in the world of opera, new talents would always emerge to surpass and replace the old. The leading roles have shifted from one generation to the next, making it impossible to predict what the future holds… In fact, Qian YunSheng dared not contemplate the consequences when his youthful appearance faded and his voice lost its clarity.

Being an orphan who grew up within the theatre troupe, having his stage costumes and renowned reputation stripped left him with nothing. Despite resorting to any means necessary to achieve success throughout his life, the outcome remained uncertain, akin to fetching water with a leaking bamboo basket.

Amidst his confusion and unrelieved anguish, Xue HeZe’s arrival was like a drop of sweet dew that rejuvenated his withered heart. Thus, when Xue HeZe demanded to elope with him, seeing her as a means to sever his ties with the past, he yielded swiftly.

He regarded Xue HeZe as his redemption, but sadly, she was merely an ordinary and delicate heiress. When they encountered bandits while fleeing to Beiping¹ to seek refuge with relatives, and unable to bear the humiliation and shame, Xue HeZe tragically took her own life.

The remaining part of the story took on a somewhat legendary hue. Qian YunSheng, dressed in tattered clothes like a beggar, wandered through hardships until he reached Beiping. He had no idea what his future held, but driven by the desire to see the place where Xue HeZe had wanted to live with him, he continued on his journey, until finally collapsing in front of a house.

Coincidentally, the homeowner’s daughter had just returned from school, and her compassionate nature prompted her to instruct the servants to carry Qian YunSheng inside to care for him. In that fleeting moment of awakening from his unconsciousness, he briefly mistook the person before him for Xue HeZe. From there, the fateful paths of the male and female protagonists unfolded, with Xue HeZe’s death serving as a pivotal turning point.

Understanding that Xue HeZe’s death was merely a catalyst for driving the plot forward, Gu MingYue could not help but let out a long sigh.

Suddenly, a loud “crash” startled Gu MingYue, causing her to almost jump up from her chair. As she focused her gaze, she discovered that it was Qian YunSheng who had forcefully thrown his light grey shallow-crowned soft felt hat onto the dressing table, accidentally knocking over several small cosmetic bottles.

Qian YunSheng found himself in a state of mental turmoil as the woman’s previous fervour seemed completely absent, leaving her staring at him with a vacant expression. This unconventional behaviour, combined with the profound gaze Tang YingShao had given him before departing, evoked a poignant and bitter feeling within Qian YunSheng’s heart.

Would her two years of pursuit come to an end today? He still had a thick pile of her heartfelt letters stored in a hidden compartment of a drawer at home. Despite his limited literacy and lack of formal education, he could still partially decipher the deep emotions woven through the words.

Xue HeZe had been a fervent flame capable of setting everything ablaze, and her intense passion had already consumed Qian YunSheng to the core.

However, whenever she took a step forward, he would retreat a step back. Neither rejecting nor responding, he silently savoured her kindness. He couldn’t help but acknowledge his own despicable nature.

Two years… It might sound like a significant span of time, but in the vastness of a person’s life, it was merely a fleeting moment that can easily be engulfed by the torrent of memories.

Originally, he had intentionally neglected her, but witnessing her lost and distracted demeanour, he couldn’t help but unconsciously utter in a low voice, “What’s the matter with you?”

This was the response Gu MingYue had been waiting for.

The young woman in the blush of her youth stood up abruptly, resembling a butterfly gracefully dancing in the wind as she flung herself into the embrace of the person before her. She lifted her delicate and charming face, with her eyebrows lightly furrowed and her lips quivering, an instant downpour of tears ensued.

In the midst of silence, the complex mix of restrained sorrow and tangled emotions played out on Gu MingYue’s face. She appeared hesitant, caught between the desire to speak and the impulse to remain silent, exuding a sense of bewildered longing and deep affection.

With a soft click, Qian YunSheng felt as if he heard the breaking of a tender shoot, piercing through the icy surface and emerging from the bottom of his heart. The seed named Xue HeZe, which had long been planted in his heart, suddenly sprouted and flourished, revealing vibrant and alluring blossoms that possessed an overwhelming beauty.

However, amidst the dazzling display, an unexplained sense of sadness overwhelmed him.

Witnessing her fragility and vulnerability, and her tears falling like severed strings, it struck at the depths of his heart, causing an achingly poignant sensation.

Unable to resist his emotions any longer, Qian YunSheng gently reached out and wiped away her tears with his thumb. And under the woman’s stunned gaze, his soft lips imprinted a tender kiss upon her eyelashes, capturing the teardrop that had yet to fall.

The touch was gentle, as if handling a precious and rare treasure with utmost care.

A surge of bittersweet emotions flooded Gu MingYue’s heart, making it difficult to discern whether it stemmed from the instincts of her physical body or from mourning Xue HeZe’s fate…

Clasping the man’s pale blue garments tightly and halting the flowing tears, Gu MingYue held her breath momentarily as her gaze shone with resolute determination.

Xue HeZe, I will continue your life in your place and make sure that Xue HeZe and Qian YunSheng will be together forever, dead or alive. Okay?

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