Grab The Heroine and Run Away Ch. 102 Epilogue
Yuri is an impossibility, and Cui Jingji would have killed them all like this.
Director Liu smiled gently, holding a suitcase and a plane ticket, flying abroad for a vacation with his wife.
As the year came to an end, Universal Entertainment had its holidays, bonus distributions, and late nights, each department experiencing its own joy and pain.
“I think Director Liu flew abroad to avoid being tied in a sack.”
Xu Heran squatted in the snowy ground, talking on the phone with Xin Nuo.
The signal on Xin Nuo’s side was poor; the video couldn’t show any clear figures. They could barely maintain contact through a phone call.
Xin Nuo’s laughter flowed through the phone, as if a feather gently brushed against hearing ears. Xu Heran’s ears tingled, and she couldn’t help but raise her hand to touch her ear.
“When will we be able to meet?” Xu Heran sighed, “Is there a chance this year?”
“There will be,” Xin Nuo whispered, “Uncle Mu is very satisfied with me. After going through the script with Aunt Mu again, we can start shooting directly.”
Sounds like they’re quite satisfied. Xu Heran thought to herself, even referring to them as “aunt” and “uncle.”
“I’m coming to find you,” Xu Heran said, “Wait for me, okay?”
With a beaming smile, Xu Heran hung up the phone. When she turned around, the three people standing by the French windows simultaneously turned their heads. Only Xu Jiamu held a glass of water, calmly maintaining eye contact.
Getting up, Xu Heran rubbed her slightly numb legs and walked over at a leisurely pace. She raised her hand and knocked on the glass.
“Hey, Mom, is Ranran’s TV drama about to start?”
“Dad, could you tell me about the swordfish you caught in the sea this year? How heavy was it?”
Mrs. Xu Menglan linked arms with her parents, smiling as she walked into the house.
“Hey!” Xu Heran gestured and pointed at the three figures through the glass. When the three figures were no longer visible, Xu Heran immediately turned her head to look at Xu Jiamu.
Why is this ice cube suddenly so gossipy?
The ice cube took a sip of hot tea, calmly picked up the tea saucer from the coffee table, and turned to leave at a leisurely pace. Her demeanor made it seem as if she had simply come out to enjoy the snow.
“Weird,” Xu Heran patted her clothes and entered.
Xu Junran sat on the sofa reading reports. After graduating, he officially joined Global Tech, responsible for artificial intelligence research and development. He was busy beyond measure, seemingly becoming the next ice cube. In response, Xu Menglan sighed and lamented every day. Nevertheless, she still unloaded the heavy burden of growing the Xu family onto Xu Heran. To this end, she and Ms. Diana, for some reason or another, concocted a love story full of affection and hope, hanging it in Xu Heran’s room.
Just returning home, Xu Heran was frightened by the vividly red wedding decoration in her bedroom, leaving her unable to sleep half the night. She took a picture and sent it to Xin Nuo, complaining that even if they had to put up a love story, why did they lay out a large red wedding bed for her? She hadn’t even proposed to anyone yet!
Someone’s face turned slightly red. They averted their eyes, and Xu Heran smiled, changing the topic.
“Has it started?” Xu Menglan turned on the TV and said happily.
In the familiar song, Xu Heran’s embarrassed fingers curled, and she quickly turned around and escaped.
Forgive her, she really couldn’t contribute to the show’s viewership. She couldn’t stand looking at her own face on the screen.
“Rising Wind in Changyang” had a total of twenty-four episodes and was currently in the middle of airing.
In the earlier plot, the fifteen-year-old little princess suddenly heard the sound of a qin. Of course, the little princess, who spent her days practicing martial arts, wouldn’t be drawn to the qin’s sound; she found it noisy. How dare someone disturb her nap!
Following the qin’s sound, Changyang leaned against the palace wall and saw a beautiful woman in red dancing gently in the midst of the garden’s deep flowers. The garden was as beautiful as a woman accompanying her, yet it paled in comparison to her.
The little princess hung on the wall, holding her face in her hands. After the beautiful woman finished dancing, the man in a bright yellow dragon robe became delighted and called the woman to approach him, asking her questions and rewarding her with numerous gold, silver, and jewels.
The little princess perked up her ears, listening for a while. Suddenly, she heard someone advising the emperor that it would be better to send the beautiful woman to the imperial music palace. The little princess couldn’t help but roll her eyes and shout, “What are you all doing!”
In the garden, the people who were drinking and reveling coughed awkwardly and looked over in panic.
The little princess leaped down from the wall and walked over with a smiling expression.
“Your Majesty is also here.”
The emperor smiled instead of getting angry. His face, already showing signs of aging, bore a gentle smile as he motioned for Changyang to come and sit beside him.
“This is the dancer that your third brother found for us. Changyang, take a look, is she beautiful?” the emperor asked gently.
The little princess scratched her face. “Beautiful.”
The third prince immediately teased her, “You haven’t even looked, how do you know if she’s beautiful?”
The little princess’s temper flared up in an instant. She turned her head and said, “Are my eyes on you? How do you know I haven’t looked!”
“Yes, yes, yes,” the third prince immediately appeased her. “It’s Third Brother’s fault. Changyang, don’t be angry.”
Not getting angry wasn’t an option.
The little princess pointed at the third prince and said, “Third Brother isn’t studying properly, always seeking pleasure and enjoyment. Your Majesty, punish him!”
The third prince’s expression sank, and he quickly said, “Father, your son is innocent. It’s your son who saw that you’ve been troubled by state affairs recently and heard that the dancers in the city’s pleasure district are unmatched in their skills. So I had someone find one to help alleviate your worries.”
“Then why did your ears grow on your ears? You could hear all that?” The little princess didn’t let up.
The other princes exchanged glances, their expressions uncertain. They had no idea how the third prince managed to get on the little princess’s bad side.
“Changyang is right. If you focus on your studies and close your ears to the outside world, how would you know what’s happening outside the palace? I heard from your mother that your recent studies have been successful. It seems she’s been deceived by you,” the emperor’s tone was wistful. The third prince’s knees weakened, and he knelt on the ground, feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
“Your son dares not.”
Changyang’s eyes shifted, sweeping across the faces of the various princes with different expressions. She grinned and said, “But Third Brother is also doing it for Your Majesty’s sake. Your Majesty, don’t punish him either. Studying… well, I don’t like it either. I suppose Third Brother feels the same way.”
The emperor burst into laughter. “Alright, alright. Since that’s the case, Third Son, reflect on your own actions. Focus your thoughts on important matters. You’re about to attend court sessions, and yet you act so carefree all day. How can you achieve greatness like this!”
The third prince hung his head down and quickly said, “Yes.”
He let out a sigh, feeling a mixture of anger and frustration. When he looked up, he met Changyang’s icy face. A trace of provocation and satisfaction hid in her eyes, and her black pupils were as bright as flames.
The third prince’s frustration dissipated instantly. He straightened his clothes and sighed.
Oh well, he owed her for this.
The originally joyful feast started to feel strange with Changyang’s appearance. Some were thinking that if the little princess hadn’t shown up, the palace might have welcomed another favored beauty. The third prince was afraid he’d lose some influence.
When it came to the allocation of beauties, everyone was calculating in their hearts. But then, beside the emperor, the little princess raised her hand and pointed. “Your Majesty, let her stay with me!”
“She’s beautiful, and I like her!”
In an instant, the Crown Prince, the Second Prince… even a hint of surprise flickered across the emperor’s face.
Under the table, the dancing girl who had been kneeling blinked slowly.
“Your Majesty!” Changyang grabbed the emperor’s wrist.
The emperor took a deep breath and held Changyang’s hand. “Alright, alright, I’ll give it to you.”
Changyang smiled as she stood up, clapping her hands together, radiating a brilliant smile. She walked over to the woman in red and bent down to help her up. “Come, let’s go have some fun!”
“Huh?”
The dancer’s skirt fluttered as she looked back in surprise, meeting the gaze of the Second Prince at the table.
The Second Prince subtly nodded.
“Hongyi, how did you end up in a place like this?” The princess who had pulled Hongyi out of the banquet hall opened her mouth wide. “What about your cat? You said that beauties like you don’t hide properly and end up in places like this.”
In her words, the magnificent golden palace seemed like a wild marshland, not a place she should approach.
Hongyi looked at her. “Princess…”
“Hongyi, how old are you this year?”
Hongyi hesitated. “This servant is eighteen this year.”
“Eighteen, then I’ll call you older sister.” The little princess held her hand. “Come, I’ll take you to where I live. No one will dare to bully you there!”
Before Hongyi could speak, she was brought to the wall. With the tall-legged princess by her side, the little princess leaped up onto the wall and waved to the girls below. “Come on, climb over these three walls and you’re done.”
Hongyi: “…”
She hesitantly lifted her skirt and reached out her hand. Her fingertips barely touched the wall.
“What are you doing?”
Not far away, the Third Prince had a strange expression on his face, followed by a group of attendants. Hongyi immediately blushed.
“Hey, you’re just in time. Come here, squat down, and let Hongyi step on you to get up!” Changyang said excitedly.
The Third Prince: “…”
“I’m a prince, I…”
“Hurry up!” Changyang shouted.
The Third Prince: “…”
“Your Highness, let this old servant do it,” a servant behind the Third Prince suggested.
“No need.” The Third Prince rolled up his sleeves and walked over.
Hongyi: “…”
“Your Highness.” Hongyi looked conflicted as she watched the crouching Third Prince.
“Quick, otherwise she’ll keep chattering on and on.” The Third Prince crouched on the ground and whispered.
Changyang’s ears were sharp. She took off the jade hairpin from her head and threw it, hitting the Third Prince on the head.
“Who’s chattering on and on!” Changyang laughed. “Just by looking at Hongyi older sister, you can tell she’s not heavy. It won’t hurt if she steps on you.”
She leaned out and extended her hand, saying to Red Leaves, “Come on, hold onto my hand.”
“Yes…”
With a sigh, Hongyi lifted her skirt and carefully stepped onto the Third Prince’s back. Changyang grabbed Hongyi’ arm and easily lifted her up.
“I told you it wouldn’t hurt.” Changyang and Hongyi sat on the palace wall, mischievous girls chatting. “Let’s go.”
“Changyang, you must not speak nonsense in front of Father from now on!”
“Who’s speaking nonsense? Go read your sage books!”
On the other side of the wall, Hongyi exclaimed in surprise as Changyang caught her and flew down from the wall.
On this side of the wall, the servants hurriedly gathered around, brushing off the footprints from the Third Prince’s back.
“Fine, bring the person back into the palace after being stepped on by a girl.” The Third Prince adjusted his hair and muttered under his breath, “Be more careful with what you say about what just happened.”
“Yes.”
The Third Prince looked satisfied at the respectful expressions of the people around him. With a thought, he brushed past the eunuch in front, bent down, and picked up a jade hairpin from the grass.
“Let’s go, back to the palace.”
“This is Changyang Palace, where I live, and it will be where you live from now on.”
Changyang led Hongyi into the beautiful palace garden. The Emperor was very attentive to Princess Changyang, and the exotic flowers and plants in the garden surpassed those of the Imperial Garden. Even before entering the garden, Hongyi could smell the fragrant flowers in the air.
“Princess.”
Inside the palace, the servants lowered their heads to greet Changyang.
The palace was vast, and these people moved and spoke with extreme caution. The whole hall was filled with the sound of wind and birds, and despite the luxurious decor, it felt oppressively quiet.
“You’re here, we’ll have more fun together from now on.”
Changyang curved her lips at Hongyi, her radiant smile reflected in Hongyi’ eyes.
She had been in Changyang Palace for three years.
As the beautiful princess grew older, she enjoyed venturing outside more. Like a bird that couldn’t be contained, she often played the zither in the quiet halls, injecting a touch of vitality into the otherwise silent palace.
Changyang Palace always had many guests, especially the princes. Sometimes Changyang was seen, sometimes not, and Hongyi followed suit, appearing or disappearing accordingly.
The little princess called her “Hongyi older sister,” treating her just like an actual sister. She playfully pouted and teased her, so Hongyi treated Changyang like a younger sister, playing the zither for her, arranging her hair, making porridge and snacks. When the palace gates closed, the two of them seemed like true siblings. Changyang liked to lean against her knee and take a nap, while Hongyi quietly read a book that Changyang brought back from outside the palace.
However, fate is ever-changing, much like the affairs of the world, difficult to fulfill.
The Emperor, aged and ailing, fell ill after a hunting incident that startled him. Changyang, who had shot and killed a wild wolf that had startled the Emperor, was summoned to the dragon bed. The uninvited guest who couldn’t hide his delight was the Crown Prince.
“You must take good care of Princess Changyang,” the Emperor told the Crown Prince.
With that statement, waves of intrigue surged through the court and beyond.
Spies stationed both inside and outside Changyang Palace began to move, and even Hongyi herself couldn’t discern her own thoughts.
“The Crown Prince is incapable. If he ascends the throne, the country is in danger. Children sold off like you will likely become more and more common.” The Second Prince spoke in a low voice as he held her.
“Yes.”
The night was exceptionally dark, with no stars in the sky. Hongyi walked through the garden, reminiscent of the days when she used to sneak out without Princess Changyang’s knowledge.
The Second Prince loved her, she knew that, and she held similar feelings for the Second Prince.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have stepped through the gates of Seahaven Palace.
The Second Prince had rescued her from darkness. When she was young, the moment she took the steamed bun from the Second Prince’s hand, she owed him a profound debt.
The capital city had once been filled with peach blossoms, and she and the Second Prince had witnessed the blossoms falling like rain. The capital city had also seen heavy snowfall, and she and the Second Prince had walked through the snow together. They had even taken shelter from the rain under the eaves of blue-tiled houses.
The palace walls were deep, and he would come under the cover of night, leaving a begonia below her window, a red bean. She knew the Second Prince was right.
The famine that had struck her hometown was caused by the corruption of disaster relief funds led by the Crown Prince’s faction. Raised in the capital city under the care of the Second Prince, she had witnessed the Crown Prince’s extravagant spending. Despite the Second Prince’s years of planning, he had only managed to clip the wings of the Crown Prince’s power. If Princess Changyang were to truly marry the Crown Prince, everything the Second Prince had done over the years would turn to dust.
And how could Hongyi not know.
“Big Sister Hongyi, where did you go?” On the steps, the grown-up and elegant princess rested her chin on her hand, smiling as she asked.
Hongyi chuckled, “Feeling a bit restless, went out for a walk.”
“You’re restless too?” Changyang patted the steps next to her. The two of them sat side by side in the night, looking at the shadows filling the garden.
“Ah Yang,” Hongyi asked softly, “Are you really going to marry the Crown Prince?”
Changyang rested her chin on her hand and lazily replied with an “Mm,” “Perhaps.”
“To marry or not to marry, it’s never been up to me to decide.” Suddenly, she turned her head, gazing at the dark palace. “It’s all the same.”
Hongyi suddenly held Changyang’s hand, “What if you and I were just countryside girls? Would it be better than now?”
Changyang thought for a moment and smiled, “Then I’ll be strong, I’ll farm and cultivate the land. Sister, you don’t eat much, so you’ll be easy to take care of.”
A sudden thought crossed Hongyi’ mind. She wanted to tell Changyang, “Let’s run away, leave this place, run far away.”
But then she thought of the Second Prince, the displaced commoners, and Changyang’s father.
If they were to run away, what would become of the world?
Her lips moved, but no words came out.
“But don’t worry,” Changyang shook Hongyi’ hand playfully and said with a smile, “I won’t let you marry someone you don’t like. Sister, you’ve treated me better than my birth mother. With me here, I’ll definitely protect you!”
Hongyi unconsciously curled her lips into a smile.
“Mm.”
Yet, Hongyi had forgotten that from the very beginning, since she had appeared before Princess Changyang, it had all been a deception.
The grand wedding of the Crown Prince was set for late spring. Changyang Palace seemed enveloped in red fabric, radiating an inescapable redness from the inside out.
Because the God Martial Marquis was stationed at the border year-round, he couldn’t rush back for his daughter’s wedding. In the early morning darkness, dressed in a red bridal gown, the princess appeared as beautiful as a blazing fire, yet beside her, there was only one confidante, Hongyi.
“Truly beautiful,” Hongyi whispered.
“When it’s your turn to marry, you’ll definitely be even more beautiful than me,” the princess looked up and smiled, but the smile froze on her lips.
She unsheathed her sleeve sword and fought against the assassins that descended from the sky.
In the thirty-sixth year of the Ming Li era, the Emperor passed away. The Empress kept it a secret and sent assassins to kill Princess Changyang, framing the Crown Prince.
The black-clad figures swarmed like a tide. Hongyi had never seen the princess so valiant. The assassins were like locusts, yet they couldn’t harm her in the slightest.
Blood flowed like a river. In her moment of panic, Hongyi saw her standing behind the princess, guarding her. Amidst the assassins, a familiar voice sounded.
“Ah Yi!”
Hongyi stood frozen in place.
“Splat.”
The blade penetrated, but it wasn’t her body.
“Changyang!”
The Third Prince rushed in with his guards, his body covered in blood, only to see Hongyi fall to the ground.
“Your Highness, you must escape!”
“Ah Yi.”
“Your Highness! You absolutely cannot be discovered by anyone, go!”
“Hiss…” Changyang’s lips curled into a smile, “I… will keep my word.”
“Ah Yang.” Hongyi trembled, tears blurring her vision.
“Don’t… cry, you’re fine.” Her eyes gazed at the tearful Hongyi, as if also looking beyond her, at the butterfly that flew past the crescent moon outside the window.
“I… hate it here, hate marrying someone I don’t like, this… is better.” The princess raised her hand and held onto Hongyi’ hand.
“Better…”
Much better.
The young princess’s body grew colder bit by bit. She wanted to smile, but the last bit of strength quietly left her. Hongyi held her close to her chest, her voice faint, her eyelashes slowly drooping. “I’m so foolish… Who are you, really?”
“Drip.”
A tear fell onto the lifeless face of the princess. Hongyi raised her hand and gently wiped away the tear.
“I don’t belong to anyone, Ah Yang.”
“I belong to you.”
The Crown Prince, the Second Prince, the Third Prince.
Standing amidst the collapsed tower of manipulation, the so-called entanglements of love and hatred suddenly became distant.
The Second Prince escaped successfully, engaged in a power struggle with the Crown Prince, and successfully ascended the throne. However, Changyang Palace was now left with only Hongyi.
“Hongyi, once I’ve cleaned up the court, I’ll marry you.”
The laughter of the new Emperor echoed in Changyang Palace, yet Hongyi could only feel her heart growing cold.
How long had it been since there was laughter in Changyang Palace?
Through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, across the four seasons, it took away the mistress of the palace and carried away the last trace of hope in Hongyi’ heart.
Changyang Palace seemed to have turned into a forbidden place. Hongyi lived alone here, tidying up the princess’s chambers day after day, as if once upon a time, there was a lively little princess who used to playfully bother her in Changyang Palace.
Hongyi lifted her gaze, and in a daze, it seemed as if she saw Changyang still present. She chased after the phantom of Changyang, finding a letter and half a tiger talisman deep within her bed.
“Sister Yi, there are many spies in Changyang Palace, be careful, walls have ears. Your beloved is still in training~ But it’s okay. If someone troubles you, just take this tiger talisman and go find my father with your beloved. He will definitely protect you!”
“Drip.”
She knew it all.
Changyang understood everything clearly.
The silk beddings felt as cold as ice. Hongyi clenched the tiger talisman in her hand, her heart as if being twisted by a knife.
In the thirty-sixth year of the Ming Li era, the daughter of the God Martial Marquis died at Changyang Palace in the capital. The attendant, Hongyi, fled with a letter penned by the princess and half a tiger talisman, seeking refuge with the God Martial Marquis. They revealed that the person responsible for her death was the newly crowned Emperor.
At the end of the thirty-sixth year of the Ming Li era, the God Martial Marquis led his army to besiege the palace. The Third Prince struck down the new Emperor with his sword, and the country’s name was changed to Yang.
In the early years of the new Emperor’s reign, a great fire consumed Changyang Palace, extinguished after three days. Then, a heavy snowfall blanketed the earth, turning the world white.
After the fire, only the dry bones of women remained, devoid of red attire.
“That’s enough.”
The new Emperor stood before the ashes for a long time, holding a jade hairpin in his hand.
“Your Majesty, Hongyi ultimately repaid the life-saving favor to you. In this life, I thank you for sharing glory with me, for providing me with abundance, for showing me the prosperity of Chang’an and its beautiful flowers.”
“Hongyi embarked on this journey to fulfill a promise with someone. She feared the darkness and the cold. I worried that on her long journey, shrouded in darkness, she might slow down for a moment and be unable to find her spirit.”
“Ah Yang, I will accompany you. May we reunite in the next life. I will be your ox and horse, your servant and slave, ready to be driven by you, willingly and contentedly.”
“I’m sorry.”
“…”
On the day of the ending of “Wind Rising in Changyang,” director Liu and the screenwriters were bombarded with countless comments. Angry fans surged forward, shaking their fists and throwing daggers in their comments.
“When the dog director accepted the interview, he said he had done plenty of variety shows and wanted to practice by filming a TV drama. It just happened that Ranran and Zhuzhu had some time. Ah, ah, ah, you dog director! This is how you make dramas!”
“The dog director deliberately killed the princess. How could she, who was mighty and invincible, die so easily! You did it on purpose! You intentionally wrote her death!!”
“Changyang and Hongyi could have lived happily together! Why did you do this!! Give them back to me!!”
“What a piece of junk you filmed! Re-shoot it!!”
“I’m so frustrated!”
“The Angry Bowl Mom has already started drawing a new ending. What a rubbish ending they aired! It’s fake! What Bowl Mom draws is the real one!”
“That’s right!”
Fans cried and protested, unable to change the TV ending, but would these fans give up so easily?
No!
Fans who were skilled at video editing immediately combined the episode of the Zhao family case from “Crazy Interpretation” with the content of the TV drama, creating a montage that depicted the past and present of Changyang and Hongyi. There were also those who drew, wrote stories, and more.
In any case, they steadfastly refused to accept that Changyang and Hongyi were not together!
Anyway, I absolutely do not acknowledge that Changyang and Hongyi are a couple!
Even if Changyang and Hongyi were a couple, Pengran Xindong (the ship name for the fans) wouldn’t be!
The manager of Universal Entertainment’s Economic Division sat in her office, sipping coffee and reading comments. When she saw the comments filled with countless requests for Xu Heran and Xin Nuo to star in a sweet and romantic lesbian drama, Manager Cui chuckled coldly.
This ending is just fine. Sweetness is impossible. If you really knew these two were already together, would you even want them to livestream their wedding?
Thinking about this, Cui Qi’s head began to ache. Fortunately, Xu Heran was still at school, and Xin Nuo was off filming. The two of them wouldn’t appear together this year, which would calm down the shippers.
Thus, amidst the sea of tearful comments on the drama’s official page, Xu Heran released her new album titled “You Know I Love You.”
Xu Heran’s first album was a collection of love songs, released on Valentine’s Day.
As soon as the album was released, it received an enthusiastic welcome from fans, especially the shippers.
It doesn’t matter; this is definitely written for NuoNuo!
She loves her!
She really loves her a lot!
Who doesn’t know that she wrote songs for her!
“I’m innocent, the songs and the album’s title are all things you’ve seen before,” Xu Heran playfully told Cui Qi, “Can you believe that I’m saying all of this was accidental?”
Cui Qi: “…”
I believe in ghosts.
Xu Heran’s album achieved excellent results, relieving the team’s worries. Although Xu Heran had focused on her studies in the past two years and hadn’t affected her popularity, this boosted the team’s confidence in her career after her graduation next year.
In the new year, Xin Nuo filmed “Distant Mountains,” and Xu Heran and Jian Yueyin were invited to write lyrics and compose for the movie.
In the year “Distant Mountains” was released, Xu Heran graduated, and Xin Nuo was only twenty-two years old.
Universal Entertainment looked at the box office earnings of “Distant Mountains” and soared to new heights, with a total box office of over five billion, breaking Ji Songyu’s record and becoming the biggest dark horse of the year.
“Distant Mountains” is a film depicting the relationship between a mother and child, with Mu Dao’s wife, Tan Lanlan, playing the mother Lanfang, and Xin Nuo playing the daughter Lanyue. When the disheveled, dirty-faced, dull-eyed girl appeared in a gray and gloomy shack, at the same moment as millions of viewers watched, nobody could have expected that this was actually the once dazzling Xin Nuo, who had risen to fame with her beauty and once shone brightly on stage as an idol.
The mother and daughter who depend on each other live their lives at the foot of a mountain. They’ve faced bullying countless times. When the daughter was almost harassed by ruffians from the village, Lanfang decided to leave the mountain with her daughter. They were going to a place where they could live better lives.
Lanyue was clumsy and slow-witted, mocked by the villagers until her head was full of mud. She could only follow her mother around blankly. Thankfully, she was not afraid of hardship. The mother and daughter relied on their feet, step by step, to make their way out of the mountains. They worked odd jobs everywhere to earn their meals. They slept under a bridge. One evening, they saw a butterfly flying by. Lanfang pointed at the butterfly and said to Lanyue, “This butterfly is like you—beautiful.”
Lanyue’s eyes moved blankly, and she shook her head. “I’m not.”
She picked up a rotten leaf from the ground and held it up. “I’m like this.”
Upon hearing this, Lanfang slapped Lanyue’s hand, her palm striking down. “You need to have ambitions. You need to be more ambitious than your mother.”
The leaf in Lanyue’s hand fell to the ground. She stared at it, speechless.
At night, Lanfang would sing to Lanyue, singing “Ni ya ni ya, don’t let go, don’t cover someone’s head with a flower. The little stream flows slowly, you are my heart.”
Lanyue gazed at the top of the bridge, thinking of the butterfly that had flown by, but she didn’t speak.
Until one day, Lanfang excitedly dragged Lanyue to a theater. She took off her coat and wiped the dirt from Lanyue’s face with water from a basin.
“A-Ni-Jun, Teacher, could you take A-Ni-Jun? She can play the role you’ve mentioned!”
Lanyue blinked, and a stain of dirty water entered her eye. Tears welled up in her eyes, mixing with the black water and falling down, revealing her face that had been hidden in the mud.
Note: The term “A-Ni-Jun” is most likely a colloquial expression used in the original text and doesn’t have a direct translation in this context. I’ve retained it to preserve the original feel of the text.
Lanyue blinked, and a splash of dirty water entered her eye. Tears welled up in her eyes, big droplets mixing with the dark water, falling together, revealing her face concealed within the mud.
The theater manager’s eyes lit up suddenly.
Lanyue changed into clean clothes and moved into a tidy dormitory with her mother. She was taught her lines repeatedly by others. She couldn’t read, which made her teacher furious, and her mother sang songs to her over and over again.
Lanyue successfully played a role that didn’t require much acting skill or lines. Just as things seemed to be getting better, Lanfang’s mother suddenly fell ill. While in the hospital, holding the critical condition notice for her mother, the once quiet girl knelt beside her mother, holding her hand, singing the familiar tune repeatedly.
“Mother, oh mother, walk slowly, don’t silently turn white-haired. The small river flows leisurely, mother, don’t let go of Ni’s hand.”
But miracles are rare in this world. Her mother let go of Lanyue’s hand and went to the place Lanyue couldn’t reach.
Without her mother, Lanyue suddenly understood joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. She performed all aspects of human emotions on stage, while the audience remained silent, like distant mountains within their hearts, deep and steady.
At the end of the film, Lanyue, who understood everything, went up the mountain. She sat at the summit, gazing at more distant mountains. Her dark pupils sank, as if bright stars were falling, her expression wooden and vacant.
“Moonlit river, water flows leisurely. In my mother’s heart, her daughter resides. Clear water, unhurriedly. A boat journeys within our hearts…”
“Why, exactly!”
“Two years! Nuo Nuo tormented me for two years! What have I done to deserve this!?”
“Two years, how many two years do we have in life? Nuo Nuo! Why!”
“I saw Yue Yin and Qiong Er at the Haicheng Cinema. Qiong Er was crying on the floor, unable to get up. Seeing Qiong Er in such a state satisfied me. At least I walked out of the theater on my own!”
“So ruthless! Director Liu shouldn’t be called a ‘dog director,’ Mudao is even more ruthless!”
“Do you dare to call Mudao that?”
“Sob, sob, I don’t dare…”
Director Liu: “…”
“It looks like I’ll have to make another movie next time,” Director Liu said with a smile to Director Mu.
“Good scripts are hard to come by,” Director Mu laughed heartily. “Xiaonuo’s acting is just to my liking. Encountering such talent, I must thank you, Director Liu, for initially discovering her.”
Director Liu quickly waved his hand. “You’re too kind. There are still people blaming me for not letting Xin Nuo become an idol, saying that I wasted those two years.”
“Life’s joys and sorrows, you can only appreciate them with the right people. The Xin Nuo I encountered is the perfect Xin Nuo. Without those two years, perhaps she wouldn’t be the same.” Director Mu chuckled.
“In that case, let’s raise a toast to the triumphant success of ‘Distant Mountains’.” Director Liu shook hands with Director Mu, and they bid each other farewell with smiles.
In the car, Xu Heran took out the “Song of the Year” trophy she had received at the end of the previous year and handed it to Xin Nuo.
“Share in the happiness.”
Xu Heran’s “Moonlit River,” written for “Distant Mountains,” and Jian Yueyin’s “Not Falling,” which she wrote music and lyrics for “Distant Mountains,” both won Song of the Year at the end of that year.
And now, Xin Nuo was going to participate in the Film Golden Deer Awards. She and Director Mu’s wife, along with four other actresses, were nominated for Best Actress.
“Thank you,” Xin Nuo chuckled lightly, cradling Xu Heran’s golden trophy, but her gaze fell outside the window.
The red carpet glowed in the distance, radiant. At this moment, she was twenty-three years old, standing here four years earlier than in her past life. To say she wasn’t excited would be false, but compared to excitement, her heart was tender and fulfilled.
Xin Nuo suddenly raised her hand, unclasped the necklace from around her neck, and a silver ring fell into her soft palm.
“Zhuzhu, help me put this on,” she whispered.
Xu Heran looked at Xin Nuo in surprise, hesitating a bit. “If you want to publicly acknowledge our relationship tonight, I would be happy, but I think it wouldn’t be good for you.”
She didn’t mind, but Xin Nuo’s path was shining brightly. She couldn’t let people use the revelation of their relationship as fodder for gossip.
“Even if it’s not made public, I want you to be with me and enjoy everything today,” Xin Nuo said, her eyes curved.
“Even if it’s just a nomination, even if I don’t ultimately win the award, I still want to be with you.”
Xu Heran’s gaze softened. She held onto Xin Nuo’s fingertips, picked up the ring warmed by Xin Nuo’s touch, and placed it on her middle finger.
Their fingers intertwined, and Xu Heran leaned down, planting a kiss on her ring finger.
“Here, there will be a ring that belongs to me.”
Xin Nuo smiled, cradling her face, and the two of them shared a kiss in the car. Xu Heran sat in the car, watching her get out and step onto the red carpet, heading towards the radiant starlight.
“Xin Nuo!”
“Nuonuo—”
Cheers, laughter, like waves, rushed towards the person Xu Heran loved the most. Sitting in the car, she opened her tablet and watched the live broadcast of the awards ceremony.
Her attention was entirely on Xin Nuo.
As the awards ceremony came to its expected conclusion, for the Best Film of the Year, when Director Mu took the stage to present the award, Xu Heran noticed Xin Nuo discreetly straighten her posture and take a breath.
Nuonuo was so nervous?
“For the Best Actress of the Year, the nominees are…”
In the host’s voice, the camera swept over the six actresses in the front row, all smiling, but Xin Nuo’s youthful face stood out.
“And now, I announce the Best Actress of the Year—”
“‘Distant Mountains,’ Tan Lanlan.”
Tan Lanlan turned around and grabbed Xin Nuo’s hand.
“‘Distant Mountains,’ Xin Nuo, congratulations to both of you!”
“Ah, ah, ah, ah!!”
The barrage in the live chat exploded instantly, while the car was empty, and the viewers who had been watching the livestream were nowhere to be found.
“Thanks to my mentor Director Mu and Aunt Tan, it’s the two of them who taught me to become a true actress,” Xin Nuo held the golden trophy in her hands, and as her gaze lifted, it suddenly collided with a galaxy.
Xu Heran appeared, she wasn’t sure when, hidden among the crew, smiling as she looked at her.
Xin Nuo’s gaze softened. The fingers that held the golden trophy, with the silver ring reflecting golden light, conveyed her emotions.
“Thanks to my team, thanks to my friends, thanks to Universal, and thanks to the one who’s been by my side supporting me, encouraging me, accompanying me… my lover. Although I can’t tell everyone who she is, thank her for making this moment possible for Xin Nuo.”
“Lastly, I want to thank all my fans, film enthusiasts, thank you all for your continuous support and encouragement. I will continue to bring better works to everyone as an actress. Thank you all.”
With a smile, Xin Nuo took a step back and bowed deeply.
The barrage exploded, flooding the screen. The hashtag #XinNuoInLove# shot up to the top of the entertainment section. Reporters from all directions rushed over. The creator of the trending topic, however, quietly left after receiving the award.
The black car drove along the bustling streets of the capital city, stopping next to a quiet park. Stars twinkled in the sky. Inside the car, the woman in the driver’s seat lowered her head and gently kissed the corner of her beloved’s mouth.
Behind them, two trophies stood together, illuminated by the shimmering light of the street lamps outside.
Like two parallel stars, they coincidentally crossed paths and would never part.
Author’s Note:
The main story ends here! There’s still a long bonus chapter to write afterward! But it will be written from different characters’ perspectives. In addition to the secondary couple, I’ll write content that everyone wants to see slowly! And I’ve kept track of the owed updates in my little notebook, and I will make them up!
Although the main story hasn’t formally concluded yet, I want to express my gratitude here. I’m truly thankful for everyone’s support for Mengmeng! Starting from the outline of this article, I wanted to write a long epic, and up to this point, the main story can be considered an epic! Without everyone’s support, I wouldn’t have been able to write this far! Thank you very much! Bowing!
I’ve gained a lot from this article. Besides achievements, I now have my first long epic, my first time updating for many consecutive days, my first time on the gold list, my first deepwater interaction, and having my first Little Tyrant… It’s the first time I’ve had so many readers who are willing to support me, subscribe to me, and give me passionate comments! Thank you all!!
Love you all!
Mwah!
Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis
Proofreader: Ruu
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