Chapter 114 - 99: Official Debut, Theater Manager

Chapter 114: Chapter 99: Official Debut, Theater Manager

"For you, a beauty like a flower, in years that flow like water..."

It was a famous passage from *Peony Pavilion*.

As the manager of a grand theater, Deng Ming naturally knew his opera. So, with just that one line, the somewhat dismissive expression on his face instantly changed.

The voice was clear and resonant, mellow and flawless. But what was truly rare was the charm that seeped into one’s very bones. It was... it hardly seemed like something a mortal could sing!

He subconsciously lightened his steps and crept to the window, peeking inside through a crack.

One glance, and Deng Ming was stunned.

He saw a young man with an impeccable posture, dressed in plain clothes, practicing his movements in front of a mirror.

Despite having a bare face, a single glance, a lift of his hand, a turn of his body—each movement perfectly conveyed the character’s every thought, making the observer’s heart flutter.

Before he knew it, Deng Ming was completely captivated.

Seeing this, Guan Sihai, who was standing beside him, laughed inwardly. He cleared his throat and asked, "Master Deng, what do you... think?"

"Excellent! Absolutely excellent!" Deng Ming exclaimed, snapping out of his daze. He couldn’t help but praise him aloud, his chubby face flushed with excitement.

"So, about him taking the stage..." Guan Sihai pressed, striking while the iron was hot.

"He must go on stage! He absolutely must! Anyone who dares to stop him is a bastard!" Deng Ming slapped his thigh, even more worked up than Guan Sihai. "Master Guan, don’t you worry. You can leave this matter entirely to me."

He knew with perfect clarity that with this young man’s talent, all it would take was one opportunity for him to skyrocket to fame and become a household name.

And the Guangle Building, as the venue for his debut, would surely become a legendary tale within the Peach Garden Lineage!

This venture, therefore, was a surefire win!

Guan Sihai led the ecstatic Deng Ming into the room.

Up close, seeing Chen Ye’s incomparably handsome face, Deng Ming was even more astonished.

’This face, this physique, this aura... The heavens truly play favorites.’

And when he heard that Chen Ye was an orphan whom Guan Sihai had found in the snow, Deng Ming’s eyes went red with jealousy.

’How come I never have the good fortune to find such a promising talent?’

"Boss... Boss Chen," Deng Ming said, wringing his hands, his form of address having already changed. "For your debut, have you decided what you’d like to perform?"

Chen Ye thought for a moment. "I’m fine with anything, but if possible, I’d like to play a young male role."

The moment the words were out, Deng Ming shook his head like a rattle drum without a second thought.

"No, absolutely not!" he refused flatly. "Why play a young male role? Even the best of them can’t become true stars! And with your looks, your physique, your voice... you have to be a Cyan Robe Huadan! Right, Master Guan?"

Guan Sihai nodded in profound agreement.

Chen Ye’s natural gifts were indeed exceptional. Guan Sihai had discovered that when Chen Ye sang Cyan Robe roles, not only was it not the least bit awkward, but it possessed a unique charm that easily drew the audience in.

Next, Deng Ming and Guan Sihai teamed up, lecturing Chen Ye for a long time until he finally, reluctantly, agreed to perform a Cyan Robe role.

And Deng Ming truly went to great lengths to ensure Chen Ye would be an instant sensation.

He and Guan Sihai conferred for a long time that day, and he didn’t leave until late at night, bursting with excitement. The very next morning, Deng Ming arrived at the Opera Troupe, leading an old master who was carrying photographic equipment.

Photography already existed in this era, but the technology was still nascent, and the equipment was extremely bulky and expensive. Nevertheless, Deng Ming didn’t hesitate to spend the money to hire a renowned photographer in preparation for the promotional campaign.

"Boss Chen, if you would, please change into your costume and put on your makeup. We’re going to take a few photos."

Chen Ye did as he was asked.

When he emerged from his room, dressed in the Cyan Robe costume with his makeup exquisitely applied, everyone in the courtyard fell silent.

Even the worldly photographer was so stunned his mouth hung open. He pressed the shutter relentlessly—CLICK, CLICK, CLICK—terrified of missing a single moment.

Afterward, Deng Ming meticulously sifted through the dozens of photographs and selected the one that best captured Chen Ye’s spirit. He immediately got to work on producing it.

「Just two days later.」

A massive poster was plastered on the outer wall of the Guangle Building.

On the poster, a performer in a magnificent Cyan Robe costume was captured in a soulful glance, their beauty breathtaking.

Every passerby, whether man or woman, young or old, was captivated. They all stopped in their tracks to stare and murmur amongst themselves.

"My god, which troupe’s star performer is this? How have I never seen them before?"

"Such a beautiful costume and makeup... You couldn’t find another one like it in all of the Sea Guardian Guard!"

"Look, there’s writing at the bottom!"

Beneath the stunning promotional photo was a line of large, eye-catching text:

[Five days from now, Liyuan’s new prodigy, Chen Ye, takes the stage. An event not to be missed!]

Chen Ye?

Who was that?

In an instant, the entire Sea Guardian Guard, especially the old opera aficionados, was buzzing with anticipation.

They were desperate to know just who this newcomer named Chen Ye was, and even more, they longed to see for themselves what magnificent grace the Cyan Robe Huadan from the poster would command on stage.

And just like that, before he had even set foot on stage, Chen Ye’s name was already known throughout the Sea Guardian Guard.

「The Lu Family Estate.」

Lu Jinghong clutched a newspaper featuring Chen Ye’s promotional photo, pacing back and forth in her chambers. Her face was flushed red with excitement.

"Nana, look! It’s Chen Ye! He’s really going to perform in an opera!"

Qi Nana took the newspaper. As she looked at the image of the Cyan Robe performer of unparalleled beauty, she couldn’t hide the surprise in her own lovely eyes.

She simply couldn’t connect the stunning beauty on the poster with the handsome young man who had been performing opposite a ghost in the Lu Family’s backyard.

"He... he looks like that in costume."

"He looks more than just ’like that’!" Lu Jinghong declared, her face beaming with vicarious pride. "I’m telling you, you didn’t see him that day. When he stands on that stage, *that’s* a true star!"

"So, in five days, I’m definitely going to the Guangle Building to support him. Are you coming?"

Unable to contain her own curiosity, Qi Nana nodded.

It wasn’t just them. After hearing the news, Mr. Lu and Qi Shihao also immediately declared that they would definitely go to support him in person.

Meanwhile, the Qingchun Troupe was in an uproar.

The fellow apprentices were abuzz with discussion, their faces filled with envy.

But while they were envious, not a single one of them was jealous.

Everyone knew Chen Ye was destined to become a star, so being jealous was pointless.

It was better to build a good relationship with him now than to risk offending him later.

Amidst widespread anticipation, five days flew by in an instant.

On the day of the performance, the Guangle Building was surrounded by a sea of people, all packed shoulder to shoulder.

Tickets had sold out three days prior, yet countless fans still flocked to the area, jamming the entire street until it was completely impassable.

Seeing the opportunity, ticket scalpers immediately hiked up their prices severalfold, yet the tickets were still snatched up in an instant.

"Make way, make way!"

Mr. Lu led his party through a special entrance, guided by an attendant, and into a private room on the second floor.

"Jinghong, Nana, you two sit here," Mr. Lu arranged cheerfully. He was feeling generous today and had booked the entire private room just so they could watch in comfort.

Qi Shihao sat by the window, gazing at the seething crowd below. He couldn’t help but remark, "The stir Younger Brother Chen is causing... I’m afraid it’s even bigger than what some long-established stars get."

While the atmosphere in the private room was lively, it was a different story in the theater’s main hall.

Many Class Leaders from other opera troupes had also come, drawn by the news. Most of them were here hoping to see a farce.

’An unknown apprentice... So what if he’s caught the eye of the Guangle Building’s Deng Ming? What kind of splash could he possibly make?’

’After all, success in the Peach Garden Lineage depends on real skill, not cheap tricks.’

"I think Guan Sihai of the Qingchun Troupe must be getting senile, daring to promote a wet-behind-the-ears kid like this."

"Just you wait. He’s bound to be utterly humiliated today."

Amidst these discussions, the appointed hour arrived.

CLANG—!

A single, clear, lingering note from a gong resounded throughout the theater.

The Guangle Building, deafeningly noisy just a moment before, fell instantly silent. You could have heard a pin drop.

Everyone held their breath, their ardent gazes fixed on the empty stage.

Then, a clear and graceful female voice, as lovely as a warbling oriole, drifted out from backstage.

"To see the riot of purple and red in bloom, only to be left to this broken well, these crumbling walls..."