nycdaug Chapter 129 Overcoming Alienation and Embarking on a New Chapter
Chapter 129 Overcoming Alienation and Embarking on a New Chapter
Overcoming Dissimilar Risks and Opening a New Chapter
The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the opera troupe in a somber atmosphere.
Su Yunlan and Xiao Yuhan strode into the courtyard. The opera troupe, which should have been bustling with activity, was unusually quiet at this moment. An invisible pressure seemed to be condensed in the air, making it hard to breathe.
The opera troupe members, who were usually filled with laughter and joy, were now like frightened birds, their expressions panicked. They gathered in twos and threes, whispering about something in hushed tones, their voices barely audible yet filled with an overwhelming anxiety.
"What's wrong?" Su Yunlan's heart sank, and she quickly grabbed a pale-faced young apprentice and asked anxiously.
The apprentice, as if grasping at a straw, stammered, "Miss Su, something terrible has happened! A terrible tragedy has occurred!"
Before he finished speaking, others gathered around, each offering their own opinions.
"I don't know where the rumor came from, but it says our opera troupe is going to go out of business!"
"Yes, they say we changed the play and offended the gods, so they're going to punish us!"
"Some people even said that the play we acted in was unlucky and would bring disaster!"
All sorts of rumors spread like a plague through the opera troupe, and panic surged like a tidal wave, threatening to engulf everyone.
Master Li stood in the center of the crowd, pacing anxiously, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
He tried to calm everyone down, but to little avail.
"Everyone, calm down! Calm down! Those are all rumors, they can't be believed!" Master Li's voice was a little hoarse, revealing a sense of helplessness.
Zhao Mingjiao stood to the side, his usual arrogant expression now showing some unease. He frowned, seemingly deep in thought.
The screenwriter, Qian, looked distressed, his script crumpled in his hand, clearly having suffered a significant blow as well.
As Su Yunlan listened to these absurd rumors, her expression grew increasingly solemn.
She realized that this was not just simple gossip, but probably concealed a deeper conspiracy.
"Master Li, what exactly happened? Why are such rumors spreading?" Su Yunlan walked up to Master Li and asked in a deep voice.
Master Li sighed and said helplessly, "I don't understand either. These rumors came too suddenly and spread too quickly. No matter how I explain, it's no use. Several actors have already said they're leaving. I really..."
At this point, Master Li's voice choked up, and his eyes reddened slightly.
Xiao Yuhan stood beside Su Yunlan, silently observing everything around him. His sharp eyes swept across the crowd like a hawk, trying to find the mastermind hidden in the shadows.
A tense atmosphere hung over the entire opera troupe like a dark cloud, and everyone felt an invisible pressure, as if the end of the world was coming.
Su Yunlan took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
She knew that now was not the time to panic; she had to find a solution as soon as possible, otherwise the opera troupe would really be finished.
She looked around at the bewildered members of the opera troupe and felt a strong sense of responsibility welling up inside her.
She couldn't let these people be defeated by baseless rumors; she had to protect this place full of hope and dreams.
"Everyone, please be quiet!" Su Yunlan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority that instantly silenced the noise.
All eyes turned to her, filled with expectation and a hint of doubt.
Su Yunlan composed herself and was about to speak when suddenly a sharp voice rang out from the crowd: "So what if Miss Su is eloquent? The opera troupe is almost finished, so there's no use in saying anything more!" Who was speaking?
Su Yunlan's sharp gaze swept towards the source of the sound. A thin young actor was standing at the back of the crowd, his face full of resentment and unwillingness.
Su Yunlan recognized him; he was a minor actor named Xiao Wang in the opera troupe, usually unknown and with mediocre acting skills.
"Xiao Wang, just say what you have to say." Su Yunlan's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.
Xiao Wang, with his neck stiff, said loudly, "Miss Su, what kind of reforms did you come up with? You changed all the proper rules of the opera troupe! Now look what's happened, we've offended the gods, the opera troupe is doomed, what are we going to do?"
His words were echoed by some people around him, and the panic that had subsided somewhat began to spread again.
Su Yunlan took a deep breath and said loudly, "What is the purpose of reforming the opera troupe? It is to make the opera troupe better! Would you rather stick to those outdated plays and watch the opera troupe decline day by day?"
Her voice was powerful and resonant, echoing in the silent night sky and striking a chord in everyone's heart.
"Look at the results of our reforms! Every performance of the new play is sold out! Have you all forgotten the applause and cheers from the audience?" Su Yunlan looked around, her eyes shining brightly. "We invited the famous Zhao, we have a new script written by Qian, and Zhou, the musician, has also tried a new style of music. What is all this for? It is to give the opera troupe a new lease on life!"
She paused, then continued, "I know that change always comes with growing pains, and some people will find it difficult to adapt. But we cannot remain stagnant just because we are afraid of change! The future of the opera troupe is in our own hands! As long as we are united, there is no difficulty we cannot overcome!"
Su Yunlan's passionate words were like a dazzling light, illuminating the confused minds of the opera troupe members.
Their initially fearful eyes gradually hardened, and their faces regained their hope.
Xiao Wang's initially aggressive expression gradually softened; he lowered his head and remained silent.
Xiao Yuhan stood aside, looking at Su Yunlan with deep affection. He was proud of Su Yunlan's wisdom and courage, and also felt sorry for her dedication to the opera troupe.
He silently walked to Su Yunlan's side and handed her a cup of hot tea.
Su Yunlan took the teacup, took a small sip, and felt the warm tea flow down her throat, dispelling her weariness.
The two looked at each other and smiled, saying nothing.
Su Yunlan put down her teacup, her gaze fixed firmly on the distance, a new plan already forming in her mind.
"Tomorrow, I want to..." As the night faded and the first rays of dawn appeared, a large crowd had already gathered at the entrance of the opera troupe.
Su Yunlan stood in front of the stage, looking at the surging crowd of people, her heart filled with excitement and anticipation.
She has planned an unprecedented grand performance, inviting numerous celebrities and opera fans, hoping to take this opportunity to completely reverse the decline of the opera troupe.
"Hello, everyone!" Su Yunlan's voice resounded throughout the entire opera troupe through the loudspeaker, loud and powerful.
The audience fell silent immediately, all eyes turning to her.
"Today, we have prepared a special performance for you. We will bring you a brand new experience with a brand new play and a brand new performance style!" Su Yunlan waved his hand, and celebratory music immediately rang out from backstage. The sounds of gongs, drums and string instruments intertwined, as if to open the curtain for this grand performance.
As the first new play, "The Dragon and the Phoenix," began, the audience was immediately captivated by the wonderful performance.
Zhao Mingjiao'er's superb acting skills, Qian's new script, and Zhou Qinshi's new style of music were all flawless, drawing continuous applause and cheers from the audience.
During intermission, Su Yunlan toured the backstage area, and every actor's face was filled with joy and pride.
She walked up to Zhao Mingjiao and said softly, "Mingjiao, your performance today was absolutely brilliant. Everyone applauded for you."
Zhao Mingjiao smiled, a rare occurrence, and nodded, saying, "Miss Su, thank you for your trust and support. The success of this performance is inseparable from your efforts."
With pen and script in hand, screenwriter Qian excitedly said to Su Yunlan, "Miss Su, thank you for your innovative spirit. I have learned a lot from you. The response to this play has exceeded my expectations. I will continue to work hard and create more good scripts."
Su Yunlan patted the screenwriter Qian on the shoulder and smiled, "With everyone working together, the future of the opera troupe will definitely be even more glorious."
The performance continued, and the audience's enthusiasm grew stronger with each passing moment.
When the final play, "The Peony Pavilion," came to a close, the entire theater erupted in cheers.
The audience stood up, applause thundered through the sky, and cheers rose and fell.
Su Yunlan stood in the center of the stage, receiving cheers and congratulations from the crowd.
Her face beamed with an irrepressible smile, and her heart was filled with satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.
Xiao Yuhan walked up from the stage, hugged her tightly, and whispered, "Lan'er, you're amazing! You're my pride."
Nestled in Xiao Yuhan's arms, Su Yunlan felt a surge of happiness, like the warm spring sun, which warmed her heart.
However, at that moment, her gaze was suddenly drawn to a letter in a distant corner.
The letter lay quietly on the ground, the handwriting on it standing out prominently.
Su Yunlan's heart suddenly raced. She quickly bent down to pick up the letter and glanced at it.
Her expression changed drastically. She gripped the letter tightly and whispered to Xiao Yuhan, "There's trouble again... something's happened at the escort agency."
As soon as she finished speaking, she started walking quickly towards the escort agency.