Chapter 87

Curtain Call: Fame the Musical (4)

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For this new year, Tan Yiming was able to give his boy a happy reunion that he had not experienced for many years.

Both of them had only a short break and so could not travel abroad. They discussed and settled on driving through a nearby city to see the scenery.

Unfortunately there was a sudden heavy snowfall in Huacheng the night before their departure. Huacheng hadn’t had such a heavy snow in many years; large swaths of snowflakes fell like goose feathers onto the ground, trees, cars, and houses. In less than an hour, the world became a vast expanse of white.

Tan Yiming and Xiang Cai exchanged glances, and tacitly decided to change their ‘self-driven city scenery tour’ to a ‘downstairs garden tour’.

The two made a big snowman in their garden, with a round body and a round head. Tan Yiming also found an old scarf from their house and placed it around the snowman's neck.

Tan Yiming was afraid that Xiang Cai’s feet would become cold, so he put two foot warmers in his snow boots. Xiang Cai was so wrapped and puffy that when he stood beside the snowman, they almost looked like twins.

They spent a long time in the snow, so when they went back inside, their hair was soaked.

The two squeezed into the small bathroom and took a bath together. The water vapor mixed with the fragrance of shampoo floated in the air. The water coming from the shower head was very hot, but their naked bodies were even hotter.

When they looked at each other, they saw their own reflection in each other's eyes.

When they were infinitesimally close to each other, Xiang Cai slowly closed his eyes, raised his head, and offered himself to his lover as tribute. The swan's long neck stretched, causing the other man's eyes to fall on his unceasingly rolling Adam’s apple and he gently press a kiss there.

... They merged into one under the shower.

As a result, the originally scheduled self-driving tour became another kind of self-driven activity in the bedroom.

...

Before the new year had ended, Xiang Cai immediately plunged into a new round of rehearsals to prepare for the upcoming tour. Tan Yiming regretted that he had to be absent from it because of other work commitments.

Tan Yiming had recorded the soundtrack of ‘Midnight Sun’ as early as last year. When Xiang Cai performed on stage, the sound engineer played the soundtrack in the background. The two ran through this several times and soon became harmoniously in sync.

However, there was a noticeable gap between Tan Yiming's ‘live accompaniment’ and his ‘pre-recorded accompaniment’.

This subtle difference may go undetected by the audience, but Xiang Cai, as the protagonist, could still feel the obvious void. He truly missed Tan Yiiming's stage presence.

This time, because he didn't have Tan Yiming's company, he was really acting in a ‘one-man show’.

After the rehearsal that day ended, Xiang Cai received a call.

Unexpectedly, the person who contacted him turned out to be the head of the musical theatre department of Huacheng University of Dance.

Waiting for the Midnight Sun was a dark horse in this year's stage dramas, attracting the attention of all practitioners in the circle. Domestic musicals were originally very small-scale. The fact that such an excellent work could receive unanimous praise from the audience upon its release was enough to prove its superb quality.

The male protagonist Xiang Cai was an outstanding graduate of Huacheng University of Dance. After internal discussion at the school, they decided to invite Xiang Cai to perform there. The tickets for performances would not be for sale, but issued to students of Huacheng University of Dance and its affiliated Huawu Academy.

For this reason, the school specifically sent the head of the Musical Theatre Department to use the family card on Xiang Cai.

It has only been half a year after Xiang Cai graduated and he was already been invited by his alma mater to return to school and perform; this is a great affirmation and testament of his talents.

He was pleasantly surprised and proud, how could he refuse? He busily gave an affirmative reply. He didn't need to be paid, but after all, this was a commercial stage play and there were still many others such as the band, and sound and lighting engineers: where would they get the money to eat? The school assured him that he need not worry, and asked that their management should find the time to come over and officially discuss a contract.

After returning home, Xiang Cai couldn't restrain his smile, and smirked while preparing dinner in the kitchen.

Tan Yiming asked what happened.

Xiang Chai immediately told Tan Yiming, and asked if he could spare time to accompany him back to his alma mater to perform.

"Of course I can. Inform me as soon as the time is set, and I will free my schedule for that day in advance." Tan Yiming had been very busy recently, but even so, he would never allow himself to be absent for an occasion that is so important to Cai Cai.

One should know, the thing Tan Yiming regretted most was that he hadn’t met Xiang Cai earlier, and that he hadn’t seen the Huacheng University of Dance, where the boy had studied and lived. With such a great opportunity in front of him this time, he could finally visit Xiang Cai’s alma mater!

Tan Yiming held Xiang Cai’s waist with both hands and lifted him up. Xiang Cai helped him by leaping forward, so Tan Yiming took advantage of the situation to press him against the table.

The boy wore an apron and hung his legs in the air, swaying and humming to display his extremely good mood.

He could go back to his alma mater to perform! —This opportunity was more powerful than the numerous first-class scholarships he had received during his time in school!

Tan Yiming teased him: "So happy? Are you returning home to your natal family?"

Xiang Cai kicked him and rested his hands on his hips: "Who’s my natal family? Now I'm really furious, you scum wife must obediently accompany your husband back to his house!"

Tan Yiming lowered his voice, and blew into his ear: "'Scum wife'?... Cai Cai, you didn't call me that last night."

Xiang Cai: "..."

He flushed in embarrassment, but forced his mouth to stay stubborn: "Men, men... what they say in bed can never be counted on."

Tan Yiming laughed and held the boy’s little ass - he held him with both hands and let the other climb on him like a child, then carried him out of the kitchen all the way to their marriage chambers...

When Xiang Cai realized that he had accidentally fallen into his clutches, it was already too late. He yelled anxiously: "I...I...I haven't taken off my apron yet!"

"I like seeing you wearing an apron." The soft mattress sank quickly, supporting the two of them like clouds. Tan Yiming coaxed in his ear, "Next time, your husband will buy you a few more. Don't need to wear anything else underneath, just the apron, okay?"

※

The next day, Xiang Cai and Tan Yiming appeared in the rehearsal hall, both wearing a turtleneck sweater.

Yao Yin: "..."

Yao Yin crossed his arms and looked at them, his eyes seeming to have countless arrows swishing out, with two arrows precisely aimed towards both of them.

Yao Yin said in a strange manner: "Hey, those sweaters look similar, was it from a buy one get one free sale?"

Xiang Cai blushed, and whispered in a hoarse voice: "Um...I’m going to the back to warm up my voice."

After he spoke, he quickly slipped away like smoke.

Tan Yiming attempted to leave with him, but Yao Yin detained him.

Yao Yin: "The protagonist is going to warm up his voice, what are you doing?"

Tan Yiming candidly said: "I'm the protagonist's inner voice, I'm going to warm up my voice too."

Yao Yin thought, how could Tan Yiming grow so brazen in these five years they hadn’t met?

However, Yao Yin's way of dealing with such a cheeky person was to be cheekier than him.

Yao Yin put his finger on the table and tapped: "Mr. Tan, as the music director, I must solemnly remind you that Xiang Cai is the protagonist of this musical. It is his duty and responsibility to protect his body and voice. As his family member, can you please cooperate with his work?! Please exercise less at night, so as not to affect his rest from work."

Tan Yiming was really caught off guard by his straightforward beating, and was embarrassed for a moment.

"...I will pay attention to this." Tan Yiming could only admit to his mistake, "I will try my best not to disturb him when he has a performance."

"Only your ‘best’? This is not negotiable!" Yao Yin raised his eyebrows. "Before the next round of touring starts, you will have to sleep in separate rooms!"

Tan Yiming was speechless: "This...Xiang Cai and I are still in our love period, but we have to sleep in separate rooms?"

"What ‘couple's love periods’?" Yao Yin rolled his eyes. "My husband and I are still in our wedding's honeymoon period. If it wasn’t that my job was here, why should I fly back to China?"

Tan Yiming: "...???"

Tan Yiming: "...!!!"

Tan Yiming said in shock: "Are you married?"

Yao Yin frowned: "What is your misunderstanding with my personal charm? Five years have passed, and even you, an old tree, have blossomed. Why can’t I be married?"

Tan Yiming: "..."

Tan Yiming thought that Yao Yin had been pursuing Xiang Cai before, but if he went over it carefully, Yao Yin had never shown any over-the-line behavior. On New Year’s Eve, Yao Yin invited Xiang Cai to go to the revolving restaurant because he ‘did not want to be a lonely rich man on New Year's Eve!’. If Yao Yin just wanted to tease Xiang Cai, it seemed...that made sense?

Tan Yiming was stunned by this news: "But I have never seen you wear a ring."

Yao Yin: "I am still a pianist. When have you ever seen a pianist wear jewelry on their hand?"

Yao Yin reminded him: "Alright, I know that you two have just connected and can't help but want to show affection. However, there are many people in the crew, and the walls have ears. It is one thing to acquiesce your sexuality, and it is another to come out officially. Exercise restraint in front of the crew from now on, understand?"

Tan Yiming immediately acknowledged his understanding and agreed to pay attention to their interactions in the future. He would no longer display such an intimate relationship with Xiang Cai in front of the crew.

Yao Yin nodded, and left with his hands behind his back, wearing an incomprehensible expression.

...

In the rehearsal hall next door, the pianist and the violinist discussed something. Who knew what trouble they were stirring up.

Yao Yin knocked on the door, and bluffed, reminding them: "I asked you to practice from the fifth section of the second page to the fourth page a few times. Why aren’t you practicing? "

Yao Yin spoke very well in private, but as soon as he is in work mode, he immediately turned into a cold-hearted man who wouldn’t spare even one smile.

The band gossiped in private that Yao Yin was more suitable to be a high school dean than a music director.

Yao Yin had only left them for a few minutes before he caught the band being lazy. The violinist and pianist with mobile phones in their hands, stood up trembling, looking very pitiful.

Yao Yin stepped forward and asked, "What are you doing instead of practicing your instruments just now?"

The violinist shivered and whispered: "Looking at a joke."

Yao Yin: "Oh? What kind of joke?"

The pianist stammered: "Just...just a joke on Weibo. It's funny, we...we were just discussing it."

Yao Yin circled the two of them twice and asked, "A joke? I also like to listen to jokes, you two read it to me."

The pianist:"……"

Yao Yin: "Huh?"

The violinist was almost crying, and he could only raise his phone and read the small words on the screen word by word--

"I am a person who has had a strong self-esteem and competitive spirit since I was young. After breaking up with my ex-boyfriend, I have been single and have not found another partner."

Yao Yin: "...Continue."

"A few days ago, I received a call from my ex-boyfriend. I thought he was looking for me to get back together, but he said: 'I'm getting married. Do you have time to come to my wedding?'"

Yao Yin: "...Continue."

"I..." the violinist said dryly, "In order not to admit defeat, I said, 'I'm sorry, I'm in confinement*'."

[T/N: An about month-long period of time after a woman has given birth when they recuperate.]

Yao Yin: "..."

The pianist insisted on continuing where he left off: "After I heard this joke, I said: Hahaha, this person is so stubborn, it’s quite funny."

Yao Yin: "..."

Yao Yin waved his hand and said grimly: "You are not allowed to go home until you practice the complete piano score twice!"

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

Yao ‘very competitive’ ‘will never admit defeat’ ‘if you two fall in love, then I am married’ Yin.

***

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