Chapter 32: Why Get Tangled Up in the Past?

After speaking, Song Huaizhi’s mood was somewhat complicated.

Although she hadn’t seen Song Huaiwen herself, she had learned from the troupe members that her younger brother had come all the way here.

As Song Huaiwen’s older sister, her brother had driven four hours just to see the person he liked. The depth of those feelings was obvious. Naturally, she hoped Shen Nanqing would respond with the same sincerity and put her brother first in everything.

But as Shen Nanqing’s troupe leader, she didn’t want Shen Nanqing to be blinded by love and miss her future.

In this era where family was paramount and being a good wife and mother was the proper path, Shen Nanqing was struck by Song Huaizhi’s forward-thinking remarks.

At first, surprise showed on Shen Nanqing’s face, then she relaxed.

After all, in history, women did not suddenly awaken overnight.

It was exactly because women like Song Huaizhi, awakened and enlightened, had blazed a trail ahead, breaking shackles, that those who came after could walk a path of awakening.

This passing down and influence encouraged more women to bravely pursue their self-worth and embrace a broader life.

Shen Nanqing looked at Song Huaizhi with admiration. “Troupe leader, I understand what you mean. I will carefully balance career and love.”

This consolation performance finally ended without incident, with the army and civilians all pleased.

Shen Nanqing didn’t directly report the costume problem. Instead, she took advantage of a moment when backstage was empty and quietly hid in a secluded corner, lying in wait.

If the other party didn’t get the answer they wanted, they would surely try to investigate further, wanting to find out what went wrong.

“Why is it you?” Shen Nanqing blocked the person’s path. When she saw who it was, she was very surprised.

Zhu Xiaomeng was startled by the voice from behind and dropped the clothes she was holding onto the ground.

She turned around and faced Shen Nanqing’s questioning. A flicker of panic crossed her face but quickly faded. Since the matter was already exposed, she didn’t bother to hide anymore. “Yes, it was me. If you want to report to the troupe leader, go ahead.”

Shen Nanqing examined Zhu Xiaomeng carefully, her mind racing. She really couldn’t think of any serious grudge between them that would make Zhu go to such lengths.

“Why?” Unable to understand, she gave up thinking and just asked plainly, “I don’t think I ever did anything to you, did I?”

A trace of resentment flashed in Zhu Xiaomeng’s eyes. “You don’t deserve him.”

“Him?! Song Huaiwen?” Shen Nanqing was surprised.

No, wasn’t Liu Huixin the one crazy with jealousy over Song Huaiwen? Since her relationship with Song Huaiwen became public, Liu Huixin had often quietly badmouthed her. In contrast, Zhu Xiaomeng’s reaction was calm.

No, Shen Nanqing quickly caught a clue. That day Zhu Xiaomeng had seemed to say, “I really didn’t think he’d be able to cook.”

Shen Nanqing probed, “You and Song Huaiwen have known each other for a while?”

Zhu Xiaomeng seemed to recall that autumn, when chaos first began. Many people were arrested and sentenced.

Her father must have sensed trouble was coming and entrusted her ahead of time to a comrade-in-arms who had once shared life-and-death ties, to take care of her temporarily.

That person was loyal and took her in without a word, treating her well.

But the unrest was severe; everyone was on edge, afraid of being labeled a suspect. That person’s son somehow learned about her father’s situation and began targeting her, trying to drive her out of the compound.

Zhu Xiaomeng, living under someone else’s roof, unable to contact her father, felt anxious and fearful. Afraid of being homeless, she bit her tongue and endured.

One day, she was cornered and verbally abused again. It was then that Song Huaiwen appeared. He must have been visiting home, dusty and tired, carrying a travel bag.

At that moment, he seemed to stand in the light, shining all over. Without even raising a hand, his glare alone terrified the aggressors, making them flee in panic.

---

With Song Huaiwen’s warning, Zhu Xiaomeng’s days became much easier.

In the days that followed, she secretly trailed behind him. At that time, there was always a girl by his side, very beautiful.

That girl behaved obediently in front of him, like a little rabbit, but behind his back, her possessiveness exploded. Anyone who tried to get close to Song Huaiwen’s girl would be threatened by her.

She was a favored daughter of heaven—no one dared to provoke her. People hid, afraid to confront, angry but silent.

Zhu Xiaomeng didn’t dare to have any wild thoughts but still couldn’t help following. One day, she was caught stalking.

Song Huaiwen’s eyes turned icy cold: “Who are you? Why have you been following me?”

“I…” Zhu Xiaomeng, hearing the person she liked speak to her for the first time, became too nervous to speak, and because he didn’t remember her, her admiring gaze slowly faded into disappointment.

Song Huaiwen’s observation was sharp. Zhu Xiaomeng’s stalking skills were non-existent; he had noticed long ago. He had been waiting for her to make a further move, but she only followed day after day, doing nothing.

Only then did Song Huaiwen expose her. He was very familiar with that girl’s look in her eyes; many people had given him that clingy gaze, professing love, which he found very annoying.

“I already have someone I like. Don’t follow me anymore.” Seeing she was young and not wanting to be harsh, Song Huaiwen politely rejected her and then left.

After being rejected, Zhu Xiaomeng didn’t feel very sad; on the contrary, she thought it was normal.

Besides that girl, she had never seen Song Huaiwen smile at any other woman.

Before long, the matter involving her parents was investigated and cleared—there was no problem, and everyone was released. She was taken home and joined the performing troupe. From then on, she never saw Song Huaiwen again.

Zhu Xiaomeng believed that whoever was worthy of Song Huaiwen had to be a match for him in every way.

And that person definitely could not be Shen Nanqing. Not to mention Shen Nanqing’s family background, Zhu Xiaomeng felt that Shen Nanqing’s previous ambiguous relationship with Qiang Haoxuan made her unworthy.

Seeing Zhu Xiaomeng stubbornly refusing to speak, Shen Nanqing said nothing more and didn’t bother to pursue it.

As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat.

“If you don’t want to talk, that’s fine. But I won’t easily let go of the matter with the clothes.” Although this performance had no mishaps, Shen Nanqing was no saint—if you dare to do something, you must pay the price.

“I will confess to Troupe Leader Song myself,” Zhu Xiaomeng coldly said and turned to leave. Suddenly she stopped and looked meaningfully at Shen Nanqing. “Did you know? Song Huaiwen once had someone he liked.”

“Oh,” Shen Nanqing replied lightly.

Zhu Xiaomeng’s emotions stirred. “He once liked someone. Don’t you care?”

“You said it yourself—it was once, not now. Life must move forward; why get tangled up in the past?”

It had to be said, today Zhu Xiaomeng’s toughness made Shen Nanqing see her in a new light.

Judging by how Zhu Xiaomeng used to grovel to Qiang Zhen’s powerful faction, she would normally have argued verbally.

But instead, she was willing to confess rather than beg for mercy.

Unexpectedly, from the next day, Zhu Xiaomeng’s role was replaced. She was transferred backstage to handle various trivial errands.

At this moment, Xu Ruyan’s days in the large communal courtyard were not much better.

The Xu family was extorted 200 yuan by Shen Nanqing, so Xu’s father started giving Xu Ruyan dirty looks and picking fights over everything.

Xu Ruyan had no choice but to promise that when she got paid next time, she would hand over 30 yuan to the family—a doubling of her previous contribution. Only then did Xu’s father relax, and the household settled down.

But before two peaceful days had passed, Xu Baofeng ran into trouble—and it was a huge problem.