Chapter Fourteen (Part One)

"Xia Mo!" Yao Shu'er rushed forward in shock. She hadn't seen Yin Xia Mo since the wedding. Recently, rumors had been rampant that Yin Xia Mo was deeply distressed by the death of her younger brother. She had asked Zhen En about it, but Zhen En had been vague and unclear.

Even though she had some psychological preparation, seeing her so gaunt in person still startled Yao Shu'er greatly.

Moreover, Yin Xia Mo's eyes were unfocused and vacant, as if she could see nothing at all. Yao Shu'er, filled with suspicion, raised her hand and waved it in front of Xia Mo's face.

"Please move aside."

Ou Chen spoke with a displeased, deep voice. If he hadn't remembered that the woman before him had once been invited by Xia Mo to the wedding, he would have broken her hand.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I just—" Yao Shu'er snapped back to reality in embarrassment, quickly stepping aside. She watched awkwardly as Ou Chen, his expression unreadable, held Yin Xia Mo tightly and walked past.

"Tsk!" An Hui Ni, standing nearby, let out a mocking sound, looking smugly at Yao Shu'er's mortified expression, and then at Yin Xia Mo, whom Ou Chen was helping into a vanity chair.

When she first saw Yin Xia Mo appear, she felt both surprised and angry, mixed with an inexplicable fear.

But this kind of dazed Yin Xia Mo was no match for her at all! An Hui Ni continued to touch up her makeup and fix her hair in front of the dressing mirror, not bothering to glance at Yin Xia Mo again.

"Xia Mo, would you like some touch-ups? My makeup artist is right here, she can help Xia Mo—" Seeing Yin Xia Mo sitting quietly in the vanity chair with a bare face, Yao Shu'er hesitated, then approached again, speaking to Ou Chen with gentle shyness, trying hard to recover from her momentary lapse.

"No need." Ou Chen gazed at Xia Mo, who was still as a doll, as if no one else existed in his sight. His low voice carried into every ear in the suddenly quiet dressing room.

"She looks wonderful just like this."

"Yes, yes," Yao Shu'er quickly agreed, suppressing a faint twinge of bitterness in her heart.

On the other side of the dressing room, Shen Qiang turned to observe Yin Xia Mo for a moment before turning back, her expression maintaining its usual aloof coldness.

Park Su Ji seemed unaware of what was happening. She whispered a few words in Korean to her assistant and translator, apparently sensing that something was wrong with Yin Xia Mo, unsure whether she should approach to greet her.

Just then, a wave of lively noise erupted from outside. The door opened, and Director Wu and his entourage entered, which surprisingly included Zhong Ya, the former screenwriter of Pure Love Ballad! An Hui Ni quickly stood up and eagerly greeted the director. Park Su Ji and Yao Shu'er hurriedly followed suit. Even Shen Qiang rose and offered a polite smile. The atmosphere in the dressing room immediately became animated! Director Wu nodded casually and led his staff into the adjacent meeting room, leaving the assistant director to explain the audition process to everyone—"Please prepare yourselves. In five minutes, Miss Zhong Ya, the film's screenwriter, will briefly introduce the film's content in the meeting room. Afterward, everyone will audition sequentially using the same scene from the film. Assistants and other personnel, please wait in the lounge."

Thus, An Hui Ni, Park Su Ji, and Shen Qiang all entered the meeting room, leaving their assistants behind in the dressing room.

"Don't worry, I will look after Xia Mo," Yao Shu'er said gently to Ou Chen as she helped Yin Xia Mo up.

Ou Chen silently used his fingers to gently smooth Yin Xia Mo's long hair, watching her back disappear behind the dressing room door.

"The film tells the story of two sisters who depend solely on each other. They were orphaned at a young age, and the younger brother is an extremely gifted young painter..." In the audition meeting room, screenwriter Zhong Ya explained the film's plot while scrutinizing the several actresses seated opposite her.

Shen Qiang was not the most suitable candidate for the lead role in her mind. The sister in the film is a girl who is outwardly strong but inwardly fragile, whereas Shen Qiang's aloofness seemed to emanate from within. However, since Director Wu selected Shen Qiang for the audition, perhaps her acting skills could compensate for the disparity in temperament and appearance.

Yao Shu'er, Park Su Ji, and An Hui Ni all appeared to be gentle and fragile types, the difference being that Yao Shu'er carried a touch of shyness within her gentleness, while Park Su Ji exuded virtuous demureness. Looking at An Hui Ni, Zhong Ya frowned, always feeling there was something she deeply disliked lurking behind An Hui Ni's gentle smile.

The three of them were closer to the character's external appearance, only slightly lacking in the trait of strength. As for Yin Xia Mo, she had lost so much weight filming Pure Love Ballad that Zhong Ya was shocked when she first saw her. However, despite the weight loss, she possessed a breathtaking beauty, as if all her loveliness was displayed without concealment in a posture of despair. If Yin Xia Mo's former beauty carried a distant, detached quality, the way she sat there looking dazed next to Yao Shu'er now evoked profound pity alongside her beauty. But Yin Xia Mo did seem to have a genuine mental issue. Zhong Ya looked at her hesitantly; could she film a movie in her current state?

"...The two sisters lived a very meager life, but they were happy. The younger brother, Xiao Cheng, was about to have his solo art exhibition. That night, he took some drafts to pick up his older sister, A Jie, who worked at the supermarket, but unexpectedly ran into a group of thugs robbing the store..." Zhong Ya refocused her thoughts on the script, meticulously detailing the film's content.

The audition meeting room was utterly silent. Although all the other actresses, except Yin Xia Mo, had read the script beforehand, everyone listened intently.

The words "Xiao Cheng's art exhibition" echoed softly in the room. Yin Xia Mo sat bathed in sunlight, her long eyelashes shimmering with golden light. She sat motionless, as if listening to something, yet perhaps hearing nothing at all.

"If I have a chance to hold an exhibition, I don't want too many people to come," Yin Cheng gazed at her deeply, "because most of those paintings were drawn only for you, big sister."

"...Xiao Cheng collapsed in a pool of blood, the blood soaking the drafts around him crimson. A Jie held Xiao Cheng in the pool of blood, crying out in grief and despair..."

"Thump—" Yin Cheng’s body sprang high into the air.

"Increase the current!" the doctor shouted urgently.

"Thump————" Yin Cheng’s body jumped high again, only to fall back listlessly.

"Increase the current further!"

"Thump—————" Like a soft rag doll, his slender body was lifted high, then dropped heavily back down. The electrocardiogram monitor shrieked with a single long tone—a flat line, showing no heartbeat.

"I'm very sorry, we did our best..." In the afternoon sunlight, the doctor walked toward her against the light, his face hazy and piercing, his voice drifting into her ears like shredded cotton.

The golden sunlight glittered in the audition meeting room. Yao Shu'er suddenly felt something strange. When she turned her head, she gasped in shock! Yin Xia Mo, who had only been sitting there blankly, now looked terrifyingly pale, as if severely ill. Her dark eyelashes trembled violently, and her entire body shook incessantly, like someone in the dead of a harsh winter night, struggling in a horrible nightmare, half-awake and half-asleep...

"...A Jie could not accept the fact that her brother was dead. Day and night she stared blankly at his blood-soaked drafts, always thinking Xiao Cheng wasn't dead, that Xiao Cheng was still alive..."

"...Did you hear what I said, Xia Mo? Xiao Cheng is dead! He is dead! When the doctor announced at the hospital that treatment had failed, he died! He never said he wanted chicken wings, he is dead!"

"...Xiao Cheng is dead..."

"...Xia Mo! Are you even listening to me! I'm saying, Xiao Cheng is dead! Even if you cook chicken wings every day, he won't be able to eat them! Xia Mo, I beg you, wake up, okay!"

"...Xiao Cheng is dead..."

"...What Xiao Cheng wanted to see most was your smile." Ou Chen held her gently in his arms, his voice hoarse. "If he could see you from heaven, he would want to see you living happily, to see the smile blossoming softly on your lips."

"...Xiao Cheng is dead..."

In the audition meeting room, Zhong Ya was recounting the story of the film, but gradually, there seemed to be a strange movement, and everyone's gaze involuntarily shifted in one direction. In that corner of the oval conference table, the sunlight was serene and transparent.

Yin Xia Mo closed her eyes, trembling. Her pitch-black eyelashes. Tears spread across her pale face like scattered starlight.

"Miss Yin!" Zhong Ya looked at her in astonishment, but the whispered exclamation was abruptly stopped by Director Wu, who had been resting with his eyes closed, waving his hand—"Don't disturb him..." Director Wu scrutinized the tears flowing down Yin Xia Mo's face and said with satisfaction, "Excellent. She can be drawn into the story just by listening to the script."

Tears flowed silently down Yin Xia Mo’s cheeks. She seemed to have suddenly collapsed, or perhaps she was trapped in a desperate dream. The tears flowed endlessly, silently tracing paths down her cheeks, splashing onto the black conference table, blooming into tear-splashes. She kept her eyes tightly shut, her shoulders trembling silently.

Tears flowed silently down Yin Xia Mo’s cheeks. She seemed to have suddenly collapsed, or perhaps she was trapped in a desperate dream. The tears flowed endlessly, silently tracing paths down her cheeks, splashing onto the black conference table, blooming into tear-splashes. She kept her eyes tightly shut, her shoulders trembling silently.

All eyes turned toward Yin Xia Mo. After hearing Director Wu's assessment, those gazes held colors of admiration, surprise, bitterness, or anger. An Hui Ni’s gaze was like a venomous arrow erupting with jealousy!

Yin Xia Mo seemed utterly unaware of any of this. She just kept weeping, as if these were all the tears she had left in her entire life.

It wasn't until Zhong Ya finished detailing the entire script and the staff explained the specific requirements for the subsequent auditions, and Director Wu and the staff left for the adjacent audition room, that Yin Xia Mo remained seated.

Her tears had run dry. Her dark, damp eyelashes were tightly closed against her pale cheek.

"Xia Mo, this is the script for the audition," Yao Shu'er placed the audition script, handed over by the assistant director, in front of her with complicated feelings. Still, she thought, since the name of the brother in the script sounded identical to Xiao Cheng's name, perhaps it was fate. In any case, even if Xia Mo showed no reaction, the female lead role likely wouldn't fall to her anyway.

"It's quite splendid," An Hui Ni strolled over languidly. She had long since memorized the entire script and didn't need this moment to review it. Seeing the residual tear stains on Yin Xia Mo’s face filled An Hui Ni with a mixture of resentment and anger. Was Yin Xia Mo truly her nemesis? She had finally managed to secure this audition opportunity, and she had learned that Director Wu wouldn't give preferential treatment to Shen Qiang just because she was an artist from Star Point Agency. Therefore, she had worked hard to internalize the script, hoping to win Director Wu's praise through the audition and make a major breakthrough! She hadn't expected that this seemingly vacant Yin Xia Mo was merely acting, making her lower her guard!

"You really know how to act, those tears flow like a faucet whenever you want," An Hui Ni sneered, standing beside Yin Xia Mo and assessing her. "What, are you still acting now? Too bad Director Wu has left and can't see it."

Park Su Ji was the first to audition. She glanced over here uncertainly, unable to understand what they were saying, and walked confusedly out of the meeting room toward the adjacent audition room. Shen Qiang ignored the commotion, concentrating on reading the audition script.

"An Hui Ni, say a little less," Yao Shu'er frowned. Everyone knew about Xia Mo losing her brother; she was clearly triggered by the script just now.

"Oh, and you're defending her now?" An Hui Ni cast a sidelong glance at Yao Shu'er and said coolly, "I recall she used to be your assistant. When you attended the Leo commercial audition together, she mercilessly snatched away the opportunity that was originally yours! Have you forgotten everything? Or perhaps now that her foundation is solid and she's hooked up with the young master of Ou Corporation, you're suddenly 'forgetting old grudges' and acting 'loyal'?"

"You..." Yao Shu'er's face flushed and paled in turn.

"Tsk!" An Hui Ni stopped paying attention to Yao Shu'er and lowered her head, staring intently at Yin Xia Mo, a glint of hatred flashing in her eyes. Dying brother? She didn't believe this woman would become mentally unstable just because her brother died. It was all hype, just a ploy to grab headlines. And she actually pulled this routine in front of Director Wu! Furthermore, she managed to play the damsel in distress right in front of the director!

"Yin Xia Mo! Stop faking it! If you have the guts, come at me honestly! Faking tears while listening to the script, pretending the plot is so easy for you to grasp! You fooled Director Wu into thinking you suit the role! Is this all you have—these cheap tricks?!" An Hui Ni roared at her in a fit of anger. Seeing no reaction, her fury intensified. She paused, leaned close to Yin Xia Mo's ear, and said coldly, word by word: "Keep pretending! A vicious woman like you will get her retribution sooner or later! Oh, wait, your retribution has already arrived! Do you know why your brother died so young? It’s heaven punishing you—"

As if struck by electricity, Yin Xia Mo's eyes shot open!

"An Hui Ni!" Yao Shu'er interrupted sharply, then glanced anxiously toward the door leading to the lounge, and then at the pale Yin Xia Mo, who was staring ahead.

"Well said." Shen Qiang, from a distance, closed the audition script and stood up. "Since this is an audition, let's compete with genuine effort in our performances. Isn't arguing about pointless things here boring?" With that, Shen Qiang coldly left the meeting room; she was the second to audition.

An Hui Ni glared furiously at Shen Qiang's retreating back, finally letting out a forceful snort before turning back to her seat and flipping open the audition script. Right, the result of the audition was what mattered most. It wouldn't be easy for Yin Xia Mo to defeat her with that minimal acting skill! Crying? An Hui Ni let out a contemptuous smile. She used to hold the position of the 'Jade Maiden Leader' in idol dramas; her crying skills were second to none. This little trick from Yin Xia Mo wasn't even worthy of carrying her shoes!

"I wonder if the audition has started yet..." In the makeup lounge, the assistants of the actresses were whispering amongst themselves. Having followed their stars to various events, most of them were already familiar with each other. However, this time, instead of their usual excited chatter, they were discussing things in hushed, ladylike tones because of the tall, distinguished man in the room. He seemed to be the legendary young master of Ou Corporation. So handsome. Although his face looked a bit haggard, his detached, noble aura and forest-green eyes exuded an intoxicating masculine charm.

The assistants chattered distractedly about how far along the stars might be in the process, while sneaking glances at Ou Chen, who hadn't looked at them once since arriving. Ou Chen sat silently, appearing indifferent to everything. But suddenly, he frowned sharply, as if straining to listen to the sounds coming from the meeting room.

The assistants then noticed that muffled voices, like people arguing, could be heard faintly from the meeting room. Their curiosity was piqued. An Hui Ni's assistant actually tiptoed to the door and quietly pulled the door separating the lounge and the meeting room open a crack.

The argument seemed to be over. The assistants only saw An Hui Ni angrily walking away from Yin Xia Mo.

"Park Su Ji has already gone to audition, right?"

"Ah, Shen Qiang went to audition too."

"Who's next?"

"Is it Yao Shu'er or An Hui Ni?"

"Yin Xia Mo will probably be last; she looks a bit abnormal."

"Shhh!" One assistant signaled, and the others quickly and nervously fell silent, glancing at Ou Chen. Seeing that he seemed not to have noticed, he was still standing silently where Yin Xia Mo had been, gazing through the slightly ajar door at the figure in the meeting room.

The slanted sunlight in the meeting room. Her seaweed-like long hair cascaded down her cheeks, revealing only her pale, thin profile. In the light, her eyes were slightly red and swollen, and her eyelashes were long and dense. She looked like she had been crying.

Ou Chen’s heart suddenly tightened, and he instinctively wanted to walk over! But then, his breathing suddenly froze. Even from such a distance, he had a strange feeling—it seemed her eyes were no longer as vacant and unfocused as before.

"Oh, it's Yao Shu'er's turn now..." The assistants idly passed the time, speculating on who would win this audition. The clock on the wall ticked second by second. From afar, Ou Chen stared intently at her. She sat alone at the conference table, her face pale, looking straight ahead. The audition script on the table before her remained unopened.

Audition Room.

Several pots of bright yellow winter jasmine sat on the windowsill, their tiny blossoms covering the branches like a waterfall, bursting with dazzling vitality. Director Wu, Zhong Ya, and the other staff sat behind the camera monitor, watching the performances of the actresses in rapt attention as they tackled the same scene from the film.

Park Su Ji displayed the delicate facial expressiveness characteristic of Korean actors, completely in control. Shen Qiang’s performance carried her unique style, with a barely perceptible fragility beneath her strong coldness. Yao Shu’er perfectly conveyed the vulnerable quality of the sister in the film, her eyes filled with tears, looking pitiful and endearing, causing everyone present to feel sympathy.

Each had their own merits; it was hard to judge. Zhong Ya couldn't help but admire Director Wu's eye for talent; the people he selected for the audition indeed had unique qualities, no wonder every film he made turned out to be top-tier. Thinking of this, Zhong Ya looked toward An Hui Ni, who was stepping in front of the camera, perhaps Director Wu had his reasons for choosing her to audition as well.

The camera focused on An Hui Ni. She stared blankly at a certain spot, and crystalline mist gradually gathered in her eyes. With a soft "plop," two tears rolled down silently, then large tears poured out like broken pearls from beneath her eyes. She cried out sadly—"Xiao Cheng!"

Her face was streaming with tears, her cry mournful. It transitioned from suppressed sobs to loud wailing, yet it didn't feel abrupt; instead, it possessed a shocking, heart-stopping impact!

"Xiao Cheng, don't go!" Reaching toward the empty air, An Hui Ni sobbed, trying to grasp something. Tears flowed like a bursting dam. She sobbed until she was breathless, crying desperately and helplessly, as if the world were about to end, wailing loudly!

"Xiao Cheng—" An Hui Ni's hoarse, heart-wrenching cry was like a needle, startling Yin Xia Mo, who was sitting in the adjacent meeting room, into standing up! Xiao Cheng—it was as if she heard someone calling Xiao Cheng’s name. She looked around in confusion and unease; there was nothing there. Who was calling Xiao Cheng? Where was Xiao Cheng? She walked dazedly toward the direction the sound had come from.

"OK!" Director Wu waved his hand dismissively! Zhong Ya looked with surprise at An Hui Ni, who was wiping the tears from her face, secretly admiring how masterful her crying skills were—the tears came immediately without hesitation. Although she didn't appreciate An Hui Ni’s past actions, she felt admiration for her acting ability in producing those tears.

Though she couldn't read Director Wu's expression regarding her audition, a wave of quiet joy washed over An Huini as she noticed the approving glances from the surrounding crew members. Before An Huini could even settle into her resting seat, the door to the audition room was pushed open, and she fixed a cold stare on Yin Xia Mo as she walked in.

Hmph, impatient indeed, she thought. Let’s see how Yin Xia Mo auditions. I refuse to believe she can cry with more impact than I can. This role is mine! Yin Xia Mo drifted in slowly, her gaze still somewhat unfocused, looking around vaguely as if searching for something.

In the brilliant afternoon sunlight, her white dress billowed softly in the wind, making her seem almost translucent, her very soul transparent.

“Ahem! Miss Yin, you can begin now!” After waiting for a long time without any sign of her starting the performance, Director Wu frowned, and the assistant director quickly cleared his throat and called out awkwardly to Yin Xia Mo.

“Tch—” A short, mocking chuckle sounded from An Huini’s corner.

It was as if she heard nothing.

Yin Xia Mo stood frozen.

Her eyes landed on the pot of bright yellow winter jasmine blossoms sitting on the audition room windowsill.

It seemed like ages ago that Zhen En had brought in a pot of winter jasmine just like it—small, brilliant yellow flowers placed on Xiao Cheng’s hospital room windowsill. But he had been in a coma the whole time, never waking up. He never saw that flower. Wait, if he never woke up, why did everyone say he was dead? He was clearly alive! She heard it! Amidst the dizzying chaos and dead silence of the hospital room, she heard him breathe again! She walked over, and in that moment, she heard his heartbeat and his breath! “Sister,” brilliant golden sunlight bathed Yin Cheng’s long eyelashes, and as he looked at her, a gentle smile slowly spread across his lips. In the quiet room, that smile seemed to possess a golden radiance, too. “Xiao Cheng!” Staring at the golden-yellow winter jasmine, Yin Xia Mo murmured hazily, a mix of joy and sorrow in her voice, as if lost in a dream as fragile as foam.

... “How could I die? I promised you, I would always stay with my sister, never leave your side...” “Yes, I remember. That’s why I wasn’t fooled by them.”

Her fingers gently stroked his warm cheek as she gazed tenderly at Xiao Cheng. “See? Sister hasn’t cried. Sister didn’t fall for their trick...” ...Xiao Cheng isn't dead... Xiao Cheng won't leave her... ...“Sister...” Bathed in the golden light, Yin Cheng’s smile seemed almost ethereal as he nudged her palm gently, like a child, “...I won’t die. I can’t bear to leave you.”

... “Sister, I will always stay with you...” ... “Xiao Cheng...” She knew Xiao Cheng wouldn’t leave her.

In this world, she had no mother; she only had Xiao Cheng, and Xiao Cheng wouldn't have the heart to leave her... ...“Did you hear me, Xia Mo? Xiao Cheng is dead! Dead! That day at the hospital, when the doctor announced he was beyond saving, he died! He never asked for chicken wings, he never said a word to you. When you got to his bedside, he was already gone!”... The dazzling, dizzying yellow of the winter jasmine on the windowsill... It felt like all the blood in her body rushed toward her eardrums, the whole world roaring around her. Her body shook with waves of coldness, then shattered piece by piece, drifting apart in the empty air.

He was dead... was he...? So that’s why she made chicken wings every day—they were so delicious, truly delicious—but no matter how loudly she called him, he never came out of the room to eat a single bite... He was dead... was he...? Summer of Foam III

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