Chapter 40: The Debut Performance and a Fateful Fall

That evening, Lin Duo skipped the usual exercises, making her way instead to a pre-arranged pavilion. There, all eight students slated to perform in the play were already seated. To her surprise, Wang Linshu was among them; perhaps he had caught wind of the preparations and eagerly volunteered. Another familiar face, Cai Jingyao, was also present, having seized the opportunity to settle beside Lin Duo, a sight that made Wang Linshu’s eyes burn with unconcealed fury.

With time pressing, the roles were swiftly allocated. Lin Duo was cast as Zhou Fanyi, primarily due to her striking beauty. Wang Linshu, appearing the most youthful among the male students, was assigned the part of Zhou Chong. Cai Jingyao, possessing an undeniable air of a young master, was naturally chosen for Zhou Ping. Shen Jing’an, on the other hand, was given the role of Lu Sifeng, a mere maid, a decision that did not sit well with her somewhat ‘princess-like’ demeanor. However, with the remaining roles already filled, she had little choice but to accept without further complaint.

With the roles now assigned, it was time for the initial script rehearsal, especially since the second review for the performance was just four days away. This early stage, however, proved anything but smooth. Most of the students involved had no prior acting experience in a play.

For instance, Wang Linshu stood before Lin Duo, struggling for a long moment before finally managing to blurt out, “Mom!” Lin Duo, unable to contain herself, burst into laughter right there on the spot. Shen Jing’an, too, felt utterly awkward, finding herself unable to address a male peer as “Dad.”

The most entertaining segment involved the scenes between Zhou Chong and Sifeng. Wang Linshu and Shen Jing’an were meant to portray a couple with intimate affection. Yet, Shen Jing’an was quite particular about appearances and, remembering the rumors that had circulated about Lin Duo, found it impossible to genuinely warm up to Wang Linshu. As both the organizer and an actor in the play, Jiang Mengde was truly swamped with responsibilities.

Overall, the first day of rehearsals was far from successful. It wasn’t until past eleven at night that the disheartened group finally dispersed, each returning to their respective rooms. Upon her return, Lin Duo didn’t immediately retire to bed. Instead, she meticulously reread the script, then used her phone to delve into critical analyses of the original work. She silently vowed to dedicate herself to the performance, determined to leave a strong, positive impression on her new classmates.

The following evening, after dinner, the eight students once again convened at the small pavilion for rehearsal. Thanks to Jiang Mengde’s diligent efforts, the group began to show slight improvements, slowly easing into their roles. Lin Duo, for example, after thoroughly researching the character of Zhou Fanyi, found herself overcome with profound sympathy for her tragic fate. The particular scene where Fanyi was forced to drink medicine especially resonated with her, drawing an unconscious parallel to her own experiences.

It was a marvel how Jiang Mengde, whether through his connections or sheer resourcefulness, managed to acquire the keys to the prop warehouse. There was, in fact, a small theater located within the Nanxi Green Space. While it couldn’t compare to a grand commercial venue, it could comfortably seat up to a thousand people.

The prop warehouse was situated backstage of this theater. Inside, the eight students meticulously selected numerous costumes and props suitable for a Republican-era play. They then registered their choices with the warehouse manager, signing to confirm the return date and the agreed-upon compensation for any damages, thus completing the necessary procedures.

Women’s fashion during the Republican era was generally quite conservative. When Lin Duo donned the period attire, her innocent face made her look precisely like a young student from that time, certainly not a graceful woman in her thirties. Ultimately, it was Jiang Mengde who untied Lin Duo’s hair, styling it to be slightly more voluminous, which finally lent her a subtle air of a mature young woman.

For Lin Duo, participating in the play rehearsals offered two distinct advantages. Firstly, it exempted her from the nightly exercises. More significantly, it provided a perfectly legitimate excuse to avoid showering. ‘Sacrificing personal time for the class’ was a thoroughly justifiable reason. As for maintaining cleanliness, she could simply retreat to a toilet stall and use a wet towel to wipe herself down. While not as refreshing as a proper shower, it was certainly manageable, thus neatly solving a major personal predicament.

Nonetheless, daytime training sessions still had to be attended. Following the class formation drills, the entire grade participated in mass exercises. This involved all first-year students from Nanli Affiliated High School forming a formation reminiscent of an ancient Roman infantry square, all in preparation for future inspections where they would stand in perfect unison, radiating vigor. Lin Duo, always possessing poor stamina and a delicate physique, found marching in such a rigid manner utterly torturous. Fortunately, Instructor Chen was quite understanding, often permitting her to step aside and rest. What truly comforted Lin Duo was that her new classmates did not seem to despise her for this; perhaps her naturally fragile appearance simply evoked a great deal of sympathy.

Meanwhile, the background actors for the play had also been finalized, numbering over twenty individuals. Essentially, anyone willing to sign up was accepted, as these were merely minor roles requiring no particular acting prowess. On Tuesday evening, a sizable contingent arrived at the small theater to present the results of their few days of intensive training before three judges.

Truthfully, the teachers were not entirely pleased with their amateurish performance. However, recognizing it as a collective program where participation was key, they refrained from being overly critical, instead offering several constructive suggestions for improvement.

Finally, Thursday arrived. After dinner, the students did not return to their accommodations as usual. Instead, they were led in formation by their instructors to the small theater, where they took their seats.

Lin Duo and the rest had taken leave since the afternoon, arriving backstage for their final rehearsal. By now, their lines and actions were deeply ingrained. They had also meticulously prepared their props. Lin Duo, for instance, wore a long wig, hoping to project the aura of a middle-aged woman. Yet, her youthful, delicate face still didn’t quite fit the part. Cai Jingyao, ever the provocateur, remarked that she looked more like a student being kept by a chairman, prompting Lin Duo to furiously pummel him with her small fists for a considerable time.

Jiang Mengde, aiming to embody an elderly chairman, donned white hair and, having found a cane from somewhere, hobbled around with a limp, resembling a comedic con artist from television. Many other students preparing backstage were thoroughly entertained by these humorous antics.

A significant drawback of being backstage was the inability to view the performance from the front. However, one could clearly see the audience from that vantage point. In the dim light, Lin Duo vaguely perceived a delicate-looking young boy sitting alone somewhere in the auditorium. Other students seemed to consciously maintain a distance of several empty seats from him.

The circus performance unfolding on stage was quite engaging. While other children watched, chattered, and munched on snacks, this particular boy simply stared silently at the acrobatic feats below, his face utterly devoid of any discernible emotion.

“Lin Duo? Lin Duo!…

Finally, Lin Duo was pulled from her reverie by Cai Jingyao’s voice. She offered him a strained smile. “Apologies,” she murmured. “I zoned out for a moment.”

“What’s wrong? Are you nervous about being on stage for the first time?” Cai Jingyao’s gaze was filled with genuine concern.

“Yes, a little,” she admitted. “I used to be so shy; I’d stumble over my words just speaking from a podium. Today, I have to perform a play in front of hundreds of eyes.”

Cai Jingyao, however, merely smiled and shook his head. “Though it’s my first time on stage too, I’m not nervous at all. In fact, I’m rather excited. Isn’t it a joyous occasion to showcase one’s talents before so many people?”

“Is that so… But I don’t really have any talents…”

“Don’t say that,” he gently interjected. “Truly, if you simply embrace your confidence, you will be the most beautiful sight on this stage.”

His words deeply resonated with Lin Duo. She lifted her small face, gazing at Cai Jingyao, her eyes sparkling. Her delicate lips parted slightly, as if she were about to speak.

Suddenly, a slightly plump figure unceremoniously wedged himself between the two. “Hey, hey,” Wang Linshu interjected, “what are you two talking about so happily? Let me in on it!”

Lin Duo, annoyed, attempted to push Wang Linshu away. “Would you stop blocking me from talking to my new classmate?” she fumed.

Alas, Wang Linshu was as immovable as Mount Tai; no matter how she pushed, he didn’t budge an inch. “Absolutely not!” he declared. “You are my princess, and I must protect you at all times, no matter where we are!”

“You’re so cheesy, why don’t you just drop dead!…

Finally, the host on stage began the announcement. “Our next performance is the play ‘Thunderstorm,’ presented jointly by Class 5 and Class 6! Please give them a warm round of applause!”

Since Zhou Fanyi appeared in the very first act, Lin Duo walked onto the stage with a noticeable tremble. To her surprise, however, the angle of the stage lights made it impossible to discern any individual audience members; they were merely a blurry expanse of dark shadows. This uncanny resemblance to their rehearsals helped to calm her jangled nerves considerably.

The opening lines were set within the household of the Lu family servants, requiring Lin Duo only to sit sickly in the background. Presently, Sifeng, portrayed by Shen Jing’an, approached, offering a bowl of medicine. “Madam,” she said, “please drink.”

Lin Duo feigned a sip, then frowned deeply. “It’s far too bitter,” she declared. “Throw it away!”

While the actors’ appearances weren’t entirely faithful to their characters, their lines were delivered with meticulous precision. The students in the audience watched with bated breath, their curiosity piqued.

It was then that Zhou Chong, played by Wang Linshu, made his entrance. According to the script, Lin Duo was meant to stand and greet him. However, likely due to sitting for an extended period, Lin Duo’s calves had grown numb. Coupled with the period-appropriate high heels she wore, she lost her balance after only two steps, executing a rather spectacular face-first fall onto the stage.

“Hahahahahahaha! 66666666!” The students in the audience erupted into laughter.

Lin Duo found herself sprawled on the floor, her face burning crimson with embarrassment. To have made such a blunder right at the start of the performance left her utterly bewildered and at a loss for what to do.

It was Wang Linshu who proved more quick-witted. He swiftly moved forward, proactively helping Lin Duo to her feet. “Mom,” he asked, his voice filled with concern, “are you alright?”

This line was entirely off-script. Lin Duo, forced to adapt, quickly responded in character. “I’m fine, it’s nothing serious. Chong’er, why is your face so flushed?”

“I just finished playing tennis with a classmate…” Wang Linshu replied smoothly. As he carefully helped Lin Duo sit back down, their dialogue unexpectedly aligned, and the audience gradually settled into silence.

In truth, Wang Linshu’s face was genuinely flushed, and not solely due to his acting. He had, after all, rarely had opportunities for physical contact with Lin Duo; for teenagers their age, merely holding hands often signified the establishment of a romantic relationship. As he helped Lin Duo to her feet just now, Wang Linshu was astonished to discover that the girl he admired was so incredibly light and soft, almost like a feather or a wisp of willow catkin, as if a strong gust of wind could carry her away. Had they not been on stage, watched by countless eyes, he might very well have impulsively embraced her.

The subsequent scenes proceeded largely without a hitch, a testament to their numerous rehearsals. Furthermore, to accommodate the gala’s schedule, the play’s original ninety-minute runtime had been drastically cut down to just twenty minutes, which significantly eased the pressure of the performance.

“You cannot be with her!”

“Father, why!”

“Because… because she is your own sister!” Jiang Mengde, in his role as ‘Zhou Puyuan,’ forcefully struck his cane against the floor. “This old man… I… I’m sending you to German orthopedics!”

Everyone on stage was plunged into a deathly silence. Soon after, the lights dimmed, and the actors bowed before exiting. From the audience, a thunderous applause erupted.

****

Retreating backstage, Lin Duo cupped her flushed cheeks, casting an apologetic glance towards Jiang Mengde. “It’s all my fault,” she murmured. “I was the only one who messed up.”

“Oh, you acted quite well!” Jiang Mengde flashed his characteristic wide, white smile. “Speaking of which, our school has a drama club, and I’m definitely joining. Why don’t you come along too?”

“Uh… I think I’ll pass…”

It wasn’t until eleven o’clock that night that all the performances concluded. All the actors who had appeared on stage gathered with the instructors to sing ‘Military and Civilian Fish and Water Love,’ bringing the gala to a complete close. The students then dispersed on their own.

Lin Duo, feeling a little unsettled, returned to her accommodation with Shen Jing’an. Soon, several female classmates proactively approached them. “You two performed wonderfully today! I was completely engrossed!”

“Yeah, yeah! It’s my first time watching a play!” another girl chimed in.

“We hope to see you perform in plays again in the future!”

“By the way, Lin, you looked especially stylish in the Republican-era clothing!”

“I think so too!”

Lin Duo had not expected her new classmates to be so friendly, completely omitting any mention of her embarrassing fall. Her melancholic eyes began to moisten slightly, and she repeatedly offered her thanks.