Chapter 1700: Beiping Old Dreams: The Beauty‑Actor Overpowers the Big Shot 15

A drum sounded, accompanied by increasingly dense gong and drum beats.

Water sleeves fluttered as she trod on cloud steps, her robe shimmering as she drew out a fan.

The first act shows the miserable state before he obtains a strange object—just plain cloud‑like robes; after Jin Chen assumes the role, his aggressive cold beauty is weakened a bit, revealing instead snow‑white skin and jade‑like bones, his gaze lazy and sweeping.

Pei Yinnian sat in the center of the audience, locking eyes with the gaze that Jin Chen and Youyou sent over.

He lowered his eyes, a smile hidden in their depths.

Indeed, it was a pleasant surprise.

The costume Jin Chen wears was given by him; it's not particularly valuable, but when Jin Chen first followed him, he heard people say they ought to give a gift to send him off.

He figured he ought to give something good; saying so wouldn't be shabby.

"Eh… this play is actually quite interesting."

Boss Nan is also a drama aficionado, thinking he's seen every play; yet this act after act truly holds one's gaze, eager to see how the revenge unfolds later and, as if personally experiencing it, drawn into the story by the singing—singing a segment of prosperity and splendor laced with sorrow and helplessness, before he could even feel much sadness, the next segment rushes in.

It keeps one glued, drawing them deeper in,

But Boss Nan is watching the play; as Pei Yinnian's right‑hand man, Yun Cunxuan may not be.

He had previously been ordered by Yinnian to investigate Jin Chen thoroughly, but he was just an ordinary nobody from Hu City with no fame, and originally there was nothing special about him.

But the person on stage wields the sword for revenge with clean, neat movements; his swordplay looks like that of a trained martial artist, and the flash of his swing even makes him feel a hint of killing intent.

Such technique and bearing could hardly belong to an ordinary commoner, let alone a half‑beggar whose family has been destroyed.

Yun Cunxuan's handsome brows and eyes narrowed; he nudged Pei Yinnian's shoulder and said, "Yinnian, don't blame me for saying a few more words—this character you've brought out is no simple role; perhaps there's some hidden identity behind him."

How could Pei Yinnian not know what he was saying?

Pei Yinnian gave a noncommittal hum, didn't continue the topic; Yun Cunxuan stopped after making his point, and those nearby also believed Pei Yinnian knew what he was doing.

Yun Cunxuan's gaze toward the stage inevitably grew a bit more probing.

But Jin Chen's attention was nowhere near him, so he didn't notice that there was still another matter below the stage.

But probing aside, Yun Cunxuan had never seen such a fresh play; before long he was drawn in, and only when the final gong and drum sounded and the curtain fell did he gradually come back to himself.

"Quite the fellow…"

Boss Nan even scratched his head in agitation, eager to see how the oppressed would take revenge after their comeback, but unfortunately he was stuck right here.

"I'm not done yet… Boss Pei, you've gotten a fine treasure; after these seven days, probably all of Beiping will remember Jin Chen's name."

Boss Nan's words were full of flattery, yet Pei Yinnian remained indifferent, as if nothing could stir him; still, he slightly curled his thin lips and nodded.

"Then I'll take Boss Nan's auspicious words as a loan."

And just like that, the deal was settled.

But the few flips Jin Chen had just performed on stage made Pei Yinnian feel, upon seeing them, that he had sustained an injury; after hesitating a few seconds, he had Yun Cunxuan go back first, while he himself went backstage.

"Eh, who among opera performers doesn't have a few injuries?"

Yun Cunxuan pondered, lit a cigarette, then found it amusing—his close friend had never shown such concern for anyone before, yet he rather resembled that type.

He just didn't know how it would end in the end.

Yun Cunxuan, who always leaned toward pessimism, mentally listed several possible endings for them; he first amused himself with them, but really couldn't imagine his close friend being hurt for love.

——

Just after Jin Chen removed his headgear and makeup, a few sturdy kids from the opera troupe ran over laughing, begging for candy, and didn't forget to praise how well the play was performed.

They were all roughly half‑grown; Jin Chen didn't know how they could tell good from bad, nor did he stint on the candy in the dressing table—just as he was handing it out, he saw Pei Yinnian walk into the makeup room.

The lively atmosphere suddenly fell silent; the kids, who had grown up hearing tales of Pei Yinnian's deeds, were frightened, clutching their candy and bolting away lest they be the last.

Jin Chen chuckled; the costume he hadn't yet taken off lent him an air of otherworldly gentleness beyond his usual.

"Are you still satisfied with this play?"

"Your script is excellent, and you sing it superbly."

Pei Yinnian's words were true; as he approached Jin Chen, the latter took his hand and pressed it to his own face.

"Sir, you weren't really listening down there—who's that person beside you, always talking to you?"

Pei Yinnian gave a light sigh: "The factory boss we're cooperating with."

"Oh, all right."

Jin Chen let it go, and Pei Yinnian gently lifted his chin; seated on the round stool, he was forced to tilt his head back, his peach‑blossom eyes filled with doubt.

"Mr. Pei, are you going to kiss me?" Jin Chen asked with a laugh.

The makeup room was quiet, filled with various costumes and jeweled headpieces, layers upon layers under the light.

Before the dressing table stood a man in a Zhongshan suit and a plain‑clothed beauty‑actor, one standing, one seated, their silhouettes overlapping yet each lost in thought.

Pei Yinnian peered into Jin Chen's eyes and suddenly asked in a low voice, "Do you know how to wield a sword, or practice martial arts?"

Jin Chen lowered his gaze, his smile not fading; he suddenly raised his arm, tightening his grip on Pei Yinnian's firm waist and pulling him close, gradually increasing the pressure.

"There's plenty I can do."

The two stood close; as Jin Chen spoke, his brush against Pei Yinnian's earlobe carried a voice not as clear as on stage, muffled and hazy with a seductive low tone.

"Sir, you ought to get to know me better."

Pei Yinnian's body trembled; the other words he hadn't yet asked were cut off, and instead, from being kissed so suddenly, he breathed a light gasp, overwhelmed by the fervent entanglement.

The previously still atmosphere inexplicably flared with scorching heat.

Jin Chen was quite frank, showing none of the guilt he and Yun Cunxuan had anticipated.

Even so, Pei Yinnian deeply knew he shouldn't fully trust Jin Chen, yet the rhythm of his heartbeat was unusually clear.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total now 30!】