Captivated by You - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

WHO WOULD HAVE A SOFT SPOT
TOGETHER IN LIFE OR DEATH
EMBRACING ONE ANOTHER SINCE A LIFETIME AGO

After two days in the hospital, Mo Lan didn’t feel anything else, only felt the deep maliciousness of the female nurses and the popularity of Gu Ye Mi in Drum Tower Hospital.

On this day, Mo Lan was chatting with her dad by the bed while peeling an apple, peel peel, suddenly she heard footsteps by the door, she looked up, and immediately saw Gu Ye Mi in a white coat walked in from the door, his temperament was clean, distinct and aloof, his eyes warm and crystal clear.

“Uncle, how are you feeling today, are you still dizzy?” He spoke, with very articulate pronunciation and enunciation, amiable, in that split second the surprise of a pool of spring water.

Mo Lan continued and kept on peeling the apple on the outside, however inwardly she could not helped but secretly glimpsed at her father’s expression at this very moment.

En… among those who’ve heard Gu Ye Mi’s voice, her own father was unexpectedly and beyond expectation calmed and collected.

“I feel better than a few days ago, Dr. Gu, when will I be able to be discharged from the hospital?” Papa Mo asked bitterly, his expression was obviously already tired of staying in the hospital.

Mo Lan instantly 囧ed, and hurriedly put a stop to it: “Pa, you’ve just stayed for a few days and you want to leave? Besides, this time you were in a car accident, not a fever or cold or anything, you definitely have to stay a while longer.”

“It’s not like you don’t know me… me ah, I feel like I’m suffering all over if I don’t play chess for even a day.” Papa Mo sighed, glanced at Mo Lan, his voice seemed quite discontented.

Gu Ye Mi heard what was said and laughed softly, just by chance a medical record cart pushed by the ward’s door, it probably was the nurse doing her rounds. He drew near, lowered his voice slightly and said, “Uncle, if you* want to play chess, just call me, I’ll bring a chessboard and play with you.”

(Formal/courteous you)

“You can play chess too?” Papa Mo asked somewhat amazed.

Gu Ye Mi merely laughed: “Not very well, I just know a bit nothing more.”

“… you would truly come and play chess with me? You’re not lying right?” Papa Mo heard the words, and widened his eyes, a little unfathomable.

“Oh… of course it’s true, but, don’t tell anyone.” Gu Ye Mi winked, he softly replied, his tone so serious that it even made people overlooked completely that he was an anesthesiologist, who was right in the middle of work, who openly invited his patient to play chess together.

Here the voice of Gu Ye Mi’s had just fallen, and over there the voice of the nurse sounded at the door: “The patient in room 312, the round have been done.”

When the voice came to the last few words, it ineffably paused for a moment, then turned around the corner, compared with the previous calmness and indifference, she suddenly became a little… excited.

Mo Lan turned her head a little puzzledly, and saw the nurse stared brightly at the back of Gu Ye Mi’s head, her gaze was so roasting hot that Mo Lan felt a little embarrassed.

She looked back, but saw that Gu Ye Mi still looked as if nothing had happened, he was in the middle of helping Papa Mo adjust the height of the bed under his instructions.

Sureee… ignore the apple in Mo Lan’s hand, in this setting she practically almost thought they were the father and son.

The nurse walked in pushing the medical record cart, while she proficiently took out the thermometer and blood pressure meter out of the cart to set it up, she secretly stared at Gu Ye Mi, after watching for a while, she still found the courage to asked: “Umm, Dr. Gu, this weekend… are you free?”

Mo Lan’s hand which was peeling the apple couldn’t help but stopped.

Yet she saw Gu Ye Mi adjusting the bed height, his eyebrows shot up slightly, his voice polite and indifferent: “Sorry, I have an appointment* this week.”

(约 yuē – to make an appointment, to invite – it could also be construed as a date)

Have an appointment?

An appointment with whom?

Mo Lan’s train of thoughts were carried away by his answer, the continuous apple peel that was peeled with great difficulty just now just snapped off all of a sudden, she picked up the long peel and threw it into the rubbish bin, and couldn’t help but sighed with some regret in her heart.

“Dr. Gu, I’ve definitely heard that you don’t have a girlfriend, why… have you never agreed to people’s invitation?” The nurse’s shoulders slouched defeatedly and despairingly, as she still questioned unresignedly.

Gu Ye Mi laughed, paused for a moment, the somewhat distinct and aloof tone for no reason had an added bit of gentleness: “No girlfriend… doesn’t mean I have to accept other people’s invitation, isn’t it?”

Never accepted invitations from the opposite sex?

Obviously, he still invited her to the music concert the last time.

Mo Lan’s mouth twitched, while roasting her in her heart, she lowered her head and continued to cautiously and conscientiously pared the apple.

“Is it because, you already have somebody you like?” The nurse’s eyes was already undoubtedly very bleak, but she still smashed the cracked pot* and asked.

(破罐破摔 pò guàn pò shuāi – idion – crazy despair in the face of a blemish, defect, error or setback – it’s like preaching to the choir)

En, her courage was commendable.

The atmosphere in the ward calmed down all at once following her interrogation, even Papa Mo by the side who had always been in high spirits and liked to join in the fun was also somewhat unable to sit still, he secretly leaned into Mo Lan’s ear and asked, “Girl, I think you have an unusual relationship with this Dr. Gu, tell papa honestly, have you got yourself a boyfriend?”

“… no such thing, I say pa, why are you such a busybody like a little girl.” Mo Lan’s hand paused, although her mouth avoided her own father, yet she didn’t know why her heart suddenly beat intensely right away. She pared off the last bit of apple skin, then stuffed the apple into her father’s hand. “All right all right, hurry and eat your apple ba.”

From over there Gu Ye Mi saw her actions, his eyes filled with laughter and the smiling expression in his eyes gradually grew stronger. He raised his eyes, looked at the little nurse in front of him, he replied with no inflection in his voice: “It’s work time now, it’s not appropriate to discuss things that have nothing to do with work.”

His tone definitely was consistently distinctly aloof, but inexplicably made Mo Lan felt there was a sense of distance, just like by the operating room that day, when he talked to the others.

However, in front of her, he had never been like this.

In front of her, he had always good-naturedly accommodated her, never… ever showed a trace of impatience or indifference.

Mo Lan looked at Gu Ye Mi’s clean and exquisite appearance, and suddenly just felt a little dazzled.

The next second, she suddenly saw that he frowned, he leaned down and took the fruit knife from her hand, while he spoke somewhat helplessly, “Why still hold the fruit knife if the apples have all been pared, what if you accidentally cut your hand?”

After he finished speaking, Gu Ye Mi looked incomparably natural as he took the fruit knife and washed it clean, he placed it beside the tea, then turned around, walked over and rubbed Mo Lan’s hair: “I’m going to work, want me to send you home tonight?”

“… there’s no need, I can go home by myself.” Mo Lan quickly shook her head.

“Ohh… that’s also good, once I’m busy I’m also not sure when I’ll finish, then you take care on the way home.” Gu Ye Mi smiled, once again greeted Papa Mo who laid beside, then walked out of the ward.

Mo Lan looked at his back flurriedly lost in thought for a while, then eventually she was awakened by the not particularly friendly look of the nurse who was taking her father’s temperature.

Inexplicably felt the atmosphere was a little awkward, Mo Lan also did not know what to do, without any better option she lowered her head and pretended to play on her mobile phone, after browsing through Weibo a few times she saw that Bai Yu Luo Bo had just posted a new Weibo post, he said that he would join YY news conference for Secretly Captivated’s new drama tonight.

“En, the temperature and blood pressure are all normal, maintain your joyful mood, cooperate properly with the treatment, and there should be no major problems.” The nurse summarised, and began to pack up the instruments, but her eyes still did not leave Mo Lan.

“Uh… thank you.” Mo Lan pondered for a moment, she had better somewhat awkwardly thanked her.

“Don’t need to thank me, but…” The nurse finished packing the things, and looked into Mo Lan’s eyes with a little scrutiny, “You are Dr Gu’s?”

Mo Lan froze for a moment and answered very honestly, “Friend.”

In fact she wanted to answer that she was Secretly Captivated’s fangirl…..

The nurse looked at her somewhat suspiciously, she did not seemed very convinced and asked, “Only a friend, not a girlfriend?”

Mo Lan 囧: “Only a friend, not a girlfriend.”

The nurse stared at her again for a bit, looked at her inexplicable unconfidently, afterwards because of the time restriction for the medical rounds, entirely very unwilling, she still pushed her medical cart and left.

At about six o’clock in the evening, Xie Wan brought the simmered ginseng soup to the ward to exchange shifts with Mo Lan, Mo Lan put on her scarf and hat, and once again said a few words, just when she was about to leave, her father suddenly stopped her, he said without head or tail: “BaoBao, I think that Dr. Gu is very good.”

Xie Wan who was next to her and while carefully pouring the ginseng soup from the thermos she heard this sentence, she paused her actions, then she thought about it, and somewhat sincerely and earnestly said: “En, the young man looks good, also appears quite steady and accomplished, Xiao Lan is already 24, it’s also time to find collect a heart*.”

(收收心 shōu shōu xīn – lit. receive/harvest/collectx2 heart – get into the frame of mind for work, bring one’s mind back from, concentrate on more serious things/ concentrate on the task, have a change of heart, to curb one’s evil instincts)

For the next five minutes, Mo Lan wasn’t given the slightest chance to intervene, between the two of them, they had already neatly laid out and agreed to their daughter’s marriage.

It was already the beginning of spring season in February, the recently fluttering heavy snow in Nanjing had also come to a rest, but the road still had a sense of stillness, the cold spring chill in the air, the withered branches, the scenery still decadent, cold and cheerless.

The sky gradually darken, the pedestrians on the road in twos and threes, some in a hurry, some carefree and content. Mo Lan pulled the scarf around her neck, and walked into the train station.

The train on Nanjing Line 2, have always been overcrowded, Mo Lan stood in the crowd, and quietly waited for the next train that was to arrive in five minutes.

Her hand held a cup of bubble milk tea, somewhat bored she swayed the paper cup back and forth, the black pearls in the paper cup also danced to her movements, swimming around in the milky white liquid. Mo Lan looked at it, and suddenly thought of a night from a long time ago, Rong Xiaxia and herself were excitedly discussing Secretly Captivated who haven’t accepted new works yet at the train station.

Back then, he was Secretly Captivated, a low-key god-level CV in the Internet Voice Circle, and her favourite.

He was not Gu Ye Mi, he was not a friend, nor was he… the person she liked.

A pearl was sucked up from the paper cup, Mo Lan just took a bite in her mouth, for no reason, she once again thought of the time when they went to listen the musical concert that day. On that day, she also stood here, but there was an additional person beside her.

That person bought her a cup of bubble milk tea from the nearby milk tea shop to warm her hands, apparently quite certain that she would like it. On the subway, he turned sideways without batting an eyelid, circled a free space for her, separated her from everyone surrounding her.

Immersed in that day’s memory, Mo Lan narrowed her eyes, and suddenly felt that she was a little… happy.

Because… Secretly Captivated was very far away, but Gu Ye Mi was very near.

When she arrived home, it was exactly a quarter past seven. The YY press conference for the new drama《Snow in JiangShan》was starting at 7:30pm, but Mo Lan was not anxious at all, because she knew that Gu Ye Mi would not finish work until at least 8pm.

At a bit after 7:30pm, Mo Lan logged into YY, and entered the channel number to enter the hall. The number of people online now had already reached 20,000, and moreover it was still continuously increasing.

Mo Lan had one hand under her chin, and saw the names of the people in the lower left corner where they were methodically laid out as “Secretly Captivated Fangirl No. 1”, “Secretly Captivated Fangirl No. 2”, “Secretly Captivated Fangirl No. 3″… after watching it for a bit, it seemed to be quite amusing, as Secretly Captivated’s fangirl for four years, Mo Lan also followed closely, and changed her YY name to “Secretly Captivated Fangirl No. 21008”.

Before long, the host came on the mic. Today’s host’s was Fantasy Moon Frost, she was considered to be a one of the popular* gold medal hosts in the ancient style circle.

(炙手可热 zhì shǒu kě rè – lit. burn your hand, feel the heat – idiom – fig. arrogance of the powerful/ a mighty figure no-one dares approach/ hot (exciting or in favour))

“Hello everyone, a welcome to everyone who have joined our second phase of the ancient-style romance radio drama《Snow in JiangShan》YY press conference, I am your host Fantasy Moon, at today’s press conference, for everybody we will offer up the plot, song and trailer of《Snow in JiangShan》, for our main feature we have invited Secretly Captivated SAMA and Qingshang Dada, for our mystery guests, one is Xiao Luo Bo, this he couldn’t keep it in and had already broke the news on Weibo beforehand, the other person… is a secret for the time being.”

Fantasy Moon Frost’s voice was very clear and elegant, very amiable and approachable. It was the kind that made one felt very comfortable when listening, a defenseless voice, very suitable for a profession as a host or even a TV anchor. In her headphones, she quietly coughed, and then said a little excitedly: “Okay, so now, everyone get ready, let’s all listen to《Snow in JiangShan》’s trailer, actually this is also the first time Fantasy Moon is listening to the finished drama, thinking about it – it is a little exciting.”

Mo Lan gently let out a breathe, because《Snow in JiangShan》was her own work, so the plot was already thoroughly printed in her heart, but… she still quite looked forward to, to be able to hear Secretly Captivated’s voice in the radio drama.

Speaking of this, during the short time when Secretly Captivated withdrew from the circle, Mo Lan whose ears was very lonely also attempted to find some other CV works to listen to, but her heart couldn’t calm down, and it also couldn’t go in. It wasn’t because those CV’s voices weren’t good enough or were too inadequate to catch her ears, rather… she had discovered a little helplessly, it was as if she was bewitched, that the voice who was capable of healing her was only that person’s voice.

In a way, this was quite a terrible thing, but she was a glutton for punishment*.

(甘之如饴 gān zhī rú yí – lit. as sweet as syrup (idiom from Book of Songs) – to endure hardship gladly – enjoy it no matter how hard it is – I’m not sure how the literal meaning relates to the actual meaning of the idiom but what do I know)

In her headphones, a burst of the melodious flute resounded, it faintly brought about a bit of love and restricted grieve, Mo Lan closed her eyes, and quietly placed herself amidst the sound space of the 2D world.

…

Chinese flowering crab-apple

In the sunset of late spring, the Chinese flowering crab-apple bloomed abundantly on a tree, the breeze brushed by, the spring vast radiance of spring shook out. Qi Yan, the daughter of the prime minister of Nanzhao* Kingdom, received an invitation to attend the Emperor’s Third Princess’ fifteenth birthday* banquet, during the banquet, she secretly sneaked out for a stroll, when she reached the koi pond, she suddenly heard the short burst sound of the whip, one by one it pierced the night sky, distinctly clear that it was somewhat ruthless.

(南诏国 nán zhào guó – Nanzhao, 8th and 9th century kingdom in Yunnan, at times allied with Tang against Tibetan Tubo pressure)
(及笄 jí jī – to reach mariageable age (a girl’s 15th birthday))

She secretly went around and hid behind the rock garden, the source came from a group of people flogging a young man in white. The young man was as black as an ink stick, his facial features distinctly aloof, he knelt on the ground without saying a word, his clothes had already been stained entirely with blood, but his features were neither servile nor supercilious* his temperament highly dignified.

(不卑不亢 bù bēi bù kàng – idiom)
(Servile: having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others, subservient. I learnt something new.)

Qi Yan looked at this bloody scene with some surprise, her eyes widened for a long time while being entirely speechless, perhaps her facial expression was too ridiculous, the young man glanced towards her, the corner of his lips actually evoked a smile.

Afterwards, Qi Yan ran out and stopped that group of people.

After the crowd dispersed, the young man stood up from the ground, not forgetting to wipe the dust off his clothes, without even a glanced at Qi Yan, he just turned away and left.

The girl behind yelled out somewhat bitterly*: “Hey, tell me anyway, what’s your name?”

(气不过 qì bu guò – so angry it’s unbearable, bitter about unbearable grievances)

“My name is Rong Che.” The young man in white spoke unenthusiastically, his expression indifferent.

That was the first time Qi Yan met Rong Che, not until that night did she realised, that actually in the vast Nanzhao Kingdom, there could unexpectedly still be a concealed emperor’s seventh son with such a lowly status that even the palace eunuchs and maids could all humiliate him as they wished.

…

In the study, the girl grasped the white Go chess piece, the young boy held the black Go chess piece, a chessboard between them, they were right in the middle of playing Go chess.

The girl held the white Go piece in her hands, and swapped back and forth several places, she couldn’t figure out where to place it. The young man opposite looked at her, a look of helplessness flashed past his eyes: “Laozi* have no regrets, once you put down your piece, you can’t change your mind anymore.”

(落子 lào zi – genre of folk song with accompaniment of bamboo clappers
The raws gave me the above but I think she wanted to write the below instead
老子 lǎo zi – I (used arrogantly or jocularly), “I, your father” (in anger or out of contempt))

The young lady ignored him, still continued doing her own thing, after a while, she covertly lifted her eyes, and pretended to ask indifferently: “Rong Che, the Sixth Prince just married* the main imperial concubine today, she’s the daughter of the general commander of the country.”

(迎娶 yíng qǔ – (of a groom) to escort the bride to the wedding ceremony)

“En, and so?”

“… so, when are you going to marry an imperial concubine?”

The young man’s fingers which were right in the middle of placing the black piece paused all of a sudden, then, he lifted his head and concentrated on the bright and exceptional young lady in front of him, his expression very indifferent: “Do you think, that there would be any family’s young lady* who would be willing to marry me?”

(千金 qiān jīn – (in this context) daughter (honorific))

Qi Yan froze for a moment, and opened her mouth, she haven’t yet spoke, her cheeks already reddened: “Then…I’ll marry you, okay?”

Yet saw that the young boy’s expression was a bit cold, his eyes drooped down towards the endgame* in front of him, his tone indifferent: “The only daughter of the prime minister, Rong Che dare not pull myself up that high*.”

(in chess)
(不敢高攀 bù gǎn gāo pān – lit. not dare high pull – (humble term) – I cannot presume on your attention)

…

960 AD, during the reign of Zhao Dynasty, autumn. The demise of Emperor Qing Huan, the seventh son of the emperor Rong Che succeeded the throne. The world finally understood, it actually turned out, that Emperor Qing Huan used this type of method, to smoothly and steadily delivered the title of the Emperor to his favorite son by himself.

In the same year, when the prime minister, Qi Xiu, was guilty of collaborating with the enemy and committing treason, he executed the whole family and confiscated their property, only a lonely lady was left in the mansion.

A written imperial order, Qi Yan who should have been reduced to a prisoner of the ranks was treated with a palanquin with eight carriers in splendid red for 10 miles*, the bright custom welcome bestowed on the imperial consort as she entered the emperor’s palace.

(1 Chinese mile = approx 500m)

palanquin

In the bridal room, the married couple* wept out blood, the red candle* shed tears, the young lady lifted the bridal veil, her tone filled with bitter resentment: “Rong Che, there will be one day where I will personally kill you, take your blood… and sacrifice it to my father’s deceased soul and spirit!”

(鸳鸯 yuān yāng – mandarin duck, fig. affectionate couple, happily married couple)
(red candle used during birthdays and other celebrations)

The young man’s black hair was like a waterfall, he was dressed in his wedding suit, between his eyes it was entirely distinctly aloof, not in the least happy: “Didn’t you say before… that you wanted to marry me?”

“…Why? Why would you want to do this?” Qi Yan thought she had no more tears, but looking at Rong Che’s distinct aloof appearance, her eyes still reddened.

The young man merely went silent, after a while, he took off his wedding suit, placed it on the ground, and then lay down: “Qi Xiu took bribes and bended the law, he collaborated with the enemy and betrayed the country, piece by piece, pile by pile, all of them were capital crimes, it would have been impossible for me to turn a blind eye.”

He lay quietly on the bed, with his back towards Qi Yan, his uninhabited eyes finally became bleak when no one was there: “Ah Yan… if you hate me, then hate ba.”

…

The new emperor ascended the throne, the whole world was forgiven.

After the investiture ceremony, before the civil and military officials, the new emperor unknowingly heard some news, he actually abandoned the empress, abandoned the group of state officials, and hurriedly ran out of the ceremony.

In Weiyang Palace, the newly promoted imperial consort seemed to be in a nightmare, her complexion pale, cold sweat from head to foot, her tone dismal and sorrowful: “Father… it’s not like this… I don’t like him, I don’t like him…”

Rong Che ran all the way in, even the tassel from the gold imperial crown on his head fell to the ground without him realising it, he drew near, stepped onto the broken pieces of ceramic glaze, and gently and cautiously embraced the young lady into his arms: “Ah Yan… don’t be afraid, it’s okay, you have me here, it’s okay.”

The young lady’s face gradually calmed down, and Rong Che merely tightened his arms, and tenderly pressed a kiss down on her eyes, he opened his mouth, it was indeed a rare moment of tenderness, “If there’s a hell, then let me go down. If there’s evil karma, then let me bear it.”

……

A year later, Imperial Consort Qi smoothly gave birth to a little princess. Three days later, the little princess died prematurely in her infancy.

Rong Che stood in Weiyang Palace, Qi Yan among the layers upon layers of white muslin, held the already cooled body of the little princess in her arms.

Rong Che pursed his lips, his palms that clenched into a fist buried under his wide sleeves, after a long while, he once again somewhat powerlessly let go, he spoke, tenderly enduring silently: “Ah Yan… we will still have another child.”

Don’t know how long later, Qi Yan released the body from her hands, slowly turned around, passed through the layers of white muslin and walked towards him. As she drew near she looked at him, her eyes exhausted, she spoke: “Rong Che, I’m tired, I don’t want to vent my anger on you anymore.”

Rong Che looked at her determinedly, the distinct and aloof appearance that had always been there melted the ice and thawed the snow, the flowers blossomed in the warm spring, unimaginably incredible.

The following year, the daughter of the guilty state official Qi Xiu, Qi Yan, had no family nor heirs, but was later bestowed, the favoured crown of the sixth palace.

…

The fire, the big earth-shattering* fire, the tongue of the fire lapped up every inch of land within the Nanzhao Kingdom Palace. The people of the palace lost their heads out of fear, they scattered in all directions to escape, bodies were chaoticly all over the imperial palace, the mournful whine of the geese*.

(铺天盖地 pū tiān gài dì – idiom – lit. hiding the sky and covering the earth)
(哀鸿遍野 āi hóng biàn yě – fig. land swarming with disaster victims/ starving people fill the land)

Meanwhile Rong Che merely sat quietly immersed in within the Chenxin Palace Hall, and filled a glass of liquor for himself.

(In case you wanted to know, Chenxin means a profound heart/mind)

In the distance, the circle of bell ornaments tinkled through, the door of the palace hall pushed open, Rong Che faintly smiled, without even raising his head: “My empress has arrived.”

(朕 zhèn – imperial I/we – above and below)

Qi Yan’s footsteps faintly came to a standstill, for the past many years, this was still the first time Rong Che had used I in front of her.

“Today Rong Che has no sons nor daughters, the country is ruined and the people are starving, the raging flames burned lives. Empress… is certainly satisfied?” Rong Che lifted his head, his appearance was still entirely as before distinct aloof and highly dignified, his tone very serene, in spite of everything it still faintly carried a bit of tenderness.

Qi Yan suddenly looked up at him, her eyes unbelievable: “You.. knew everything?”

Instead she saw Rong Che composedly raised his head and drank a small cup of strong liquor, the corner of his mouth evoked an iota of a gentle and soft smile: “Is the queen referring to the fact that, she killed the little princess with her own hands, or that she secretly colluded with the crown prince of Cloud Kingdom, and conspired to commit treason?”

Kacha, Qi Yan’s white jade cup fell from her hand to the ground and shattered. She started to speak, her voice sharp and pointed: “Since you knew everything, why didn’t you kill me earlier?”

Rong Che did not speak, his line of sight looked to the desperate situation that was already covered in dust right in front of him, and suddenly smiled a little self-deprecatingly: “Because… I’ve always thought you would come around, always thought… you won’t be able to harden your heart against me.”

“That was also my personal greatest wishful thinking.” Rong Che looked up at Qi Yan, the woman facing him had on a bright and colourful makeup, devastatingly capable at causing the downfall of a kingdom, she vaguely overlapped with that yellow-garment girl in the spring evening. That year, she stood under the crab-apple flowers, with bright eyes and white teeth, the bright and beautiful her continuingly contrasted with that Chinese flowering crab-apple tree.

(倾国倾城 qīng guó qīng chéng – idiom – capable of causing the downfall of a kingdom/ fig. (of a woman) devastingly beautiful)

Qi Yan felt a chill from her head to her toes, as she determinedly looked at him, she suddenly felt, even if they’ve accompanied each other morning and night for so many years, but she herself, was as if she had never entirely understood the inferior crowned young man before her.

The fire spreaded and got bigger, outside of the Chenxin Palace Hall, the engraved beams and painted pillars were all in ashes, hidden in the dust. The sound of weeping, anguished wailing grew further and further away, it had already become a ghost town.

Rong Che chuckled, and drank the last cup of liquor: “Laozi have no regrets. Empress, you ought to leave.”

“Laozi have no regrets…” Qi Yan opened her mouth in a daze, her eyes hazy as well as soft and gentle. After quite a while, a smile suddenly appeared on her lips, her look unexpectedly was the rarely seen in these years kind of naive bright and splendid: “Rong Che, you have played chess with me so many times, don’t tell me you don’t know that I love playing dumb the most? Today, I will stubbornly not leave anymore.”

…

980 AD, the Nanzhao Kingdom Palace was destroyed by a big fire, the nation captured while the people fled. The emperor and empress died together in Chenxin Palace Hall, burnt to a charred corpse, still in the embrace of each other.

In the trailer of this radio drama, only a few important scenes were used, the technique was a little like a movie montage, where different scenes overlapped, edited, and joined together.

The beginning of the story, was at the Koi pond in the spring sunset of that year, the boy in white turned his head over, his tone distinctly aloof highly dignified, like the unchanged all year round snow and ice on Tianshan Mountain, as well as like the peaceful blooming green lotus in the pond, elegant and indifferent.

He spoke, his tone light: “My name is Rong Che.”

In the wedding room, the young lady rested inside with a look of bitter resentment, and he spoke softly, his consistent distinct aloof tone that yet held a bit of desolation, he asked, “Didn’t you say before… that you wanted to marry me?”

In Weiyang Palace, he gently and cautiously hugged the girl in his arms, yet his tone brought a bit of tenderness that shocked the eyes and astonished the heart*, similar to attracting the spirits and gaudy ghosts from the underworld, he said: “If there’s a hell, then let me go down. If there’s evil karma, then let me bear it.”

(触目惊心 chù mù jīng xīn – idiom – shocking, horrible to see, a ghastly sight)

In the end… the flaming raging blazed, he sat alone in Chenxin Palace Hall, his voice rang clearly in the quiet room, with a little self-deprecation, distinct aloof like a refined monk that came from the earth, but yet tender that made one recall the feeble candle flame flickered in the wintry wind of the twelfth lunar month: “Because… I’ve always thought you would come around, always thought… you won’t be able to hardened your heart against me.”

Mo Lan heard Secretly Captivated’s tender silent endurance that brought a hint of hoarseness, the rim of her eyes still couldn’t help but reddened. As expected… only his voice, could interpret the character to the point where only by listening to the voice the scene would emerged.

Finally, everything was quiet, there was no background music, no sound effects, there only remained a hint of the flames that was still jumping around, silence in the sound system.

It was at this time, Secretly Captivated’s voice that was so good that it was somewhat not real passed through the silence, it fell clearly in the silent room.

The voice flowed as jade, peaceful as water, cold as jade, reflected in the miniature cool moonlight, with a touch of love in the despair, it seemed to have finally found an exit in this muddy mundane world, even his tone bore a bit of melted warmth and innocence.

He said, “Ah Yan, I’m tired, bring me home okay.”

His somewhat light final syllable gradually faded away, it was practically right at the moment when that final syllable dissappeared, a loud sound rang out, the entire destructed Chenxin Palace Hall finally collapsed.

That melodious and mellow flute notes followed by the singing of Flower Burial rang lowly, to complain to admire, to weep to complain*.

(如泣如诉 rú qì rú sù – idiom – lit. as if weeping and complaining/ fig. mournful (music or singing))
(I kept the “to” because the phrase before was rú yuàn rú mù. rú = as/ as if)

Often envious of the man in this world like a jade carving, rich in spirit and handsome, even heaven has pity him, and gifted him with a beautiful and intelligent lady to accompany him. Everyone said that the woman’s singing was soft and her smile was soft. When the wind rose, the song flew like a snow flake through the hot summer day to cool the world.
When you return from a distant place, you look younger, the smile is still there, and the smile still seems to carry the fragrance of Lingnan plum blossoms; I ask you: “Isn’t Lingnan’s terroir not good?” You answered frankly: “But yet, this heart’s safe place is my hometown…”

(岭南 lǐng nán – south of the five ranges/ old term for south China esp Guangdong and Guangxi)

Everyone was silent, it was extremely quiet in the headphones, not even a bit of sound could be heard, the public forum was also quiet.

After a long while, the first line of words finally appeared on the public forum.

“Damn… so tyrannical that I’m crying…”

Immediately, the second line, the third line, more and more replies rapidly appeared.

“It turned out to be BE* again, Screenwriter Dada come out I promise to not kill you (heartbroken) (heartbroken)”

(Bad Ending as opposed to Happy Ending)

“A distinct aloof deep affection sound is also very fitting ah, but I still want to sigh out a sentence why would there be a person with such a nice voice in this world T^T”

“I have a hunch… I will cut off the lines of this drama line by line and then loop it till I’m dead (biting a handkerchief)”

Along with everyone’s enthusiastic replies, the host Fantasy Moon Frost also began to recover: “Cough cough… I say, the new drama is really very tyrannical, but it’s very touching. Regarding the screenwriter… don’t tell me you all don’t know, Secretly Captivated’s two new dramas after his comeback, was all written by a girl named Ye Lanshan?”

The instant Mo Lan heard the three words “Ye Lan Shan”, she was ineffably embarrassed all at once, after she finished being embarassaed then she discovered… her current name was “Secretly Captivated Fangirl No. 21008”, still very safe for the time being, hence she immediately relaxed again.

A new upsurge of topic set off once again on the public forum.

“Why do you want to say it out loud Host (waving goodbye) I’ve always chose to ignore Ye Lanshan (waving goodbye)”

“If Mi Da really likes her, I would also accept it. Sometimes I feel that some fans are a bit too much, you’re just a fan, please correct your position okay? Don’t make it as if you’re his girlfriend.”

“Actually… why are you all so excited, the male god just have a pretty good relationship with Ye Lanshan, he also hasn’t publicly said that they’re already together QVQ”

“Anyways I don’t like her.”

…

Over there Fantasy Moon Frost seemed to feel that the situation is somewhat going out of control, she gave a slight cough, and quickly started to pulled everyone back to the main topic: “Cough cough, okay okay, let’s all calm down. Then next, let’s invite our fellow Qingshang to come on the mic to discuss the drama《Snow in JiangShan》.”

Speaking of Qingshang… Mo Lan’s eyes narrowed slightly, she searched in her mind, and immediately thought of the time when Ninth Heaven’s cast and crew had dinner at Nanjing Impressions, the man with the crew cut and capable and experienced temperament.

“Good evening everyone, long time no see, I’m Qingshang.”

The clear and sonorous beautiful voice sounded, certainly a young man certainly youthful, currently a hot* excellent voice in the Internet Voice Circle.

(炙手可热 zhì shǒu kě rè – idiom – lit. burn your hand, feel the heat/ fig. arrogance of the powerful/ a mighty figure no-one dares approach/ hot (exciting or in favour))

The fans heard the voice of Qingshang, one by one they returned back to their senses, and finally diverted from the previous topic that had a little smell of gunpowder.

“Finally waited until you’re here!”

“Qingshang Da, I’ve painstakingly waited for you, you haven’t accepted any new works or filled any holes recently, you didn’t even post on Weibo…”

Qingshang saw the grumblings on the public forum, apparently a little apologetic and started to explain: “Well, recently more company business needed to be settled, I even worked for three shifts in a row, I really had no time to post on Weibo, just so happen that I was free today, and received an invitation for《Snow in JiangShan》YY’s press conference, so I came to see you all.”

Fantasy Moon Frost heard his apology, hurriedly immediately came out to smooth things over: “You all don’t blame him anymore, Qingshang had a bad cold last week, he just got better recently.” Her voice stopped for a moment, she seemed to have felt that this topic was a little personal, thus she once again started to discuss about the drama, “En… so now, fellow Qingshang, let’s first talk about the drama《Snow in JiangShan》, I say, among this list of male leads in the radio drama, which character did you dubbed?”

In the headphones Fantasy Moon Frost had already started talking about the radio drama, however, most people were like Mo Lan, their thoughts were still stuck on the previous sentence of Fantasy Moon Frost “Qingshang had a bad cold last week, he just got better recently.”

No matter how you listened to it… one would feel that this sentence… apparently, seemed like, probably, a little intimate, unlike a tone used between ordinary friends.

Between these two people….. should have….. a somewhat unspeakable relationship.

Right at this moment Mo Lan’s heart was in YY, where else in the headphones, Qingshang had already begun to answer Fantasy Moon Frost’s question: “En… when it comes to《Snow in JiangShan》, I have dubbed a total of three roles in here, one is the crown prince of Cloud Kingdom, the other is the old emperor, and one more… the palace eunuch. Up to this extreme point, I really felt that I am quite diligent.”

When Mo Lan heard his answer, she instantly just 囧.

Qingshang’s voice can be classified as clear and sonorous contrarily that type of gorgeous, his awesomeness lay in, him being able to transform his tone of voice to a large degree, from a boy’s tone to a youth’s tone and even an elderly’s tone, he could also master it, his vocal range was utterly extensive. In the Internet Voice Circle, the most common voice was a youth’s tone, and the sporadic voice was the elderly’s tone. Therefore, when they can’t find an elderly or boy’s tone among the cast and crew, they normally would look for Qingshang to save the show.

One of Mo Lan’s hand trailed under her chin, as she adjusted the volume of her headphones, it suddenly reminded her, that a long time ago, in Secretly Captivated’s first released radio drama《Difficulty Loving Deeply》, he alone dubbed four characters. The characters spanned from a young boy to an extremely aged old man, it wasn’t an easy drive on a familiar path* that one could just grasped casually. However, one could clearly and easily see the hard work included among it. Mo Lan remembered, later, Secretly Captivated’s voice was hoarse for quite a while.

(驾轻就熟 jià qīng jiù shú – idiom – fig. experience makes progress easy a task that is so familiar one can do it with one’s hand tied behind one’s back)

Perhaps, this was why their voices could be remembered right up until now, whereas this was the reason other CVs have long been forgotten.

Investment and reciprocation, for most situation, more often than not they were all directly proportional.

She suddenly just pursed her lips and smiled, Mo Lan in a good mood continued to listen to their chat in her headphones.

“All right, we have now more or less already discussed about the new drama, before Xiao Luo Bo comes on the mic, why don’t we gossip for a bit?”

As soon as Fantasy Moon Frost words came out, the public screen immediately burst into an applause.

Qingshang was silent for a moment, and then spoke, although his tone was helpless, there wasn’t the least bit of impatience at all: “Whose gossip ah? About Ah Mi… I wouldn’t dare to say, that guy especially hates talking about his 3D real person, everybody also knows this.”

Fantasy Moon Frost heard him spoke this way, and couldn’t help but sighed, she thought about it and she still was a little unresigned: “That’s what I’m saying… Mi Da have been so low-key in the Internet Voice Circle for so many years, but he have always also kept silent in terms of his feelings, now with great difficulty there’s some signs…. we are all really very curious ma.”

Over here Qingshang haven’t spoken yet, and over there, Mo Lan acutely discovered, in the upper left corner, didn’t know when Bai Yu Luo Bo, was already put on the mic by the room administrator.

“What are you talking about that’s so exciting? I want to join too!”

The clear bright sunshiny youngster’s voice, it brought a small sense of softness and stickiness from the south, it was a very iconic teenage voice in the Internet Voice Circle.

When Fantasy Moon Frost heard Bai Yu Luo Bo’s voice, she first grumbled about why the room admin didn’t tell her and straight away put the person on the mic, after she finished grumbling, she was immediately very excited and pulled him along to gossip: “We’re talking about who does Mi Da‘s feelings belong to, I say Xiao Luo Bo, you’re so close to Mi Da, more or less you must know something right? Come come come, just nice you can take advantage of today’s new drama release, and reveal a bit of something to everybody ma.”

Bai Yu Luo Bo heard what was said, he seemed to first pondered for a while, then only did he speak very seriously and cautiously, “To whom does Ah Mi’s feelings belong to still needs to be revealed? Over the years, have you ever seen him so attentive?”

Just when Bai Yu Luo Bo’s words appeared, it was quiet in the headphones, while the public forum exploded in a flash.

“Xiao Luo Bo your words don’t really mean that male god actually does like that Ye Lanshan right?” (heartbroken)”

“Xiao Luo Bo you sold Mi Da just like that…”

“Selling your teammate skills is really already MAX“

“I don’t believe (waving goodbye)”

…

It was chaos on the public forum, Mo Lan looked at everyone’s replies, as she unconsciously pursed her lips. She had never before like today, saw the words “Ye Lanshan” appeared so frequently. However, most of them were negative opposition comments. She looked and looked, and suddenly felt a little uneasy in her heart.

Not sure why, at this time, she unexpectedly hoped that Secretly Captivated could hurry up and come on the mic.

Subconsciously, with him around, only then would she feel that this place was safe.

Obviously beforehand she had warned herself… to not rely on him too much, but, for the kind of man like Gu Ye Mi, if he really wanted to be close to you, it should be, no girl would be able to resist it.

“Ah Mi himself also haven’t clarified, isn’t it a bit too early for all of you to be making the final conclusion now?”

An impressive unperturbed female voice sounded in the silence, slightly brought a bit of impatience, it was Flower Burial’s voice.

It turned out… today’s second mystery guest was her.

You put on the music and I’ll go on stage, tonight, was indeed very lively.

“Cough… that’s true.” Fantasy Moon Frost recovered with the faint voice of Flower Burial, and responded a little awkwardly.

Bai Yu Luo Bo heard Flower Burial’s voice, and also greeted her: “Flower Burial is also here? Your new album is awesome, my classmates especially like to listen, they were also clamouring for your signature.”

“Really? I will sign a bunch for you another day.” Flower Burial heard the voice of Bai Yu Luo Bo, her tone alleviated slightly.

Fantasy Moon Frost also started to introduce in due course: “So, the second guest for tonight’s show is Flower Burial goddess, just now in the trailer, everyone have also heard at the end, about a minute or so of the theme song? The song is called《My Hometown My Safe Heart*》, and it’s sung by Flower Burial. I heard that during the process of recording, Flower Burial SAMA herself took the initiative to asked for a replay three times, truly very dedicated to her work. I hope that everyone will support even more.”

(心安吾鄉 xīn ān wú xiāng – another translation could be: Heavenly Peace In the Land Of Our Country)

When Flower Burial heard this, she laughed lightly: “Ah Mi’s new drama, of course I’m attentive.”

The tone was as if it should be by rights*, unruffled and unperturbed.

(理所当然 lǐ suǒ dāng rán – idiom. – proper and to be expected as a matter of course, inevitable and right)

En… there’s always that CP feel just as in the past.

At the same time, Mo Lan also accidentally discovered, that by listening to her, her heart actually minded a little bit.

Flower Burial she… had previously confessed to Secretly Captivated, although she was rejected, but… apparently now, it seemed that she haven’t given up at all.