Song Zhi held the several sets of clothes Wang Jun had given him. After thinking it over repeatedly, he still couldn’t bring them home.

He absolutely had to return them to Wang Jun today!

Accepting bribes was something he absolutely could not do.

He carried the bundle and continued wandering around the backstage of the theater troupe.

Everyone was busy, and no one glanced at him again.

This was his first time coming backstage, and he found every scene before him quite interesting.

“Make way…”

He saw several people carrying a square wooden board in from outside.

That board was covered in yellow earth!

With some green leaves still protruding from it.

Freshly prepared!

Song Zhi squinted his eyes and asked unnecessarily: “What is this?”

The four people stopped and glanced at him.

Surprised: “Oh my, it’s Master Song!”

“Yes.”

“How does Master Song have time to come here?”

“Just came to wander around casually.” As Song Zhi spoke, he hid the bundle in his hands behind his back a bit, then asked: “What are you all carrying?”

The several people carrying things smiled: “Surely Master Song doesn’t not even know this? This is yellow earth!”

Song Zhi appeared slightly embarrassed: “I naturally know this is yellow earth, but why are you carrying earth here?”

“To use as props.”

“Props?”

“It’s the yellow earth used when the ghost bride buries her husband. Originally we used fake mud before, but the troupe master suddenly said to use real mud. This way it’s more realistic too.”

“Oh!” He nodded.

That Troupe Master Tao was truly thoughtful.

“Does Young Master Song have anything else?” that person asked.

Song Zhi wanted to speak but hesitated, then shook his head: “Nothing more. You all continue with your work.”

“Alright.”

Those several people then carried the yellow earth away.

After a while, Song Zhi wandered around backstage for a bit more, asking several people before finally finding Wang Jun’s makeup room.

Worthy of being a young male lead—he had a separate space to use.

Though not large inside, compared to other performers, the treatment was already quite good.

Song Zhi looked around inside. Stage costumes and props used by the young male lead hung everywhere. The makeup table was also filled with many cosmetics.

Bottles and jars piled everywhere!

Song Zhi then placed the bundle in his hands beneath the makeup table.

Then feeling that Wang Jun might not notice it later, he simply placed it on the table instead.

Making sure Wang Jun would notice it as soon as he entered.

“Young Master Wang, I cannot accept rewards without merit! These several sets of clothes, I truly cannot accept.” He bowed to that bundle.

Then he went out!

Just as he left the theater entrance, he heard someone behind him say: “What’s going on with Wang Jun? Is tonight’s performance still happening or not?”

Another person said: “I’ve searched everywhere.”

“Still no sign of him?”

“None.”

“What can be done about this?”

“Master, don’t worry. The troupe master has already had Zhang Xiaobai on standby anyway. If Wang Jun ultimately can’t make it back, he’ll go on instead.”

“Zhang Xiaobai only plays minor roles—he’s completely unsuitable!”

“He is unsuitable! But what can be done now? Only he can go on. The others aren’t familiar with the lines.” The person called Master sighed and waved his hand: “Forget it, forget it. Have someone go out and search again. If you find Wang Jun, quickly drag him back. Really! Normally if he has even the slightest matter, he’d tell us first. Knowing full well that many people are coming to the theater tonight to watch ‘Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband,’ and this play is now the main attraction. Yet he’s playing disappearing on me. When I see him, I’ll skin him alive.”

“Master, please don’t be angry first.”

“Forget it, forget it. Hurry and go search.”

“Yes!”

After listening, Song Zhi looked back and saw that the theater troupe’s master’s face was completely dark.

Looking ready to devour someone alive!

He didn’t dare provoke him and left.

Since he still had to watch the play in the evening, after buying the needed firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea, he carried those items and wandered aimlessly around the street.

For a while, he sat beneath the large tree outside the City God Temple.

For a while, he sat in front of the storytelling stall.

For a while, he went to the teahouse and ordered a bowl of tea.

But time passed extremely slowly!

After wandering aimlessly for half the day, it was only afternoon.

…

Ji Yunshu rested for a night, and early in the morning pulled Jingrong onto the street to browse.

Yiwu was truly beautiful!

Almost every household hung lanterns and birdcages at their doors—quite poetic.

The small town was surrounded by mountains and water, with a moderate climate. In December, the weather was neither cold nor hot.

People felt much more refreshed too.

Jingrong accompanied her browsing, his lips curving upward the entire day.

He liked Ji Yunshu’s current state, liked seeing her smile, liked the carefree look in her eyes.

During this period from Da Lin to Yiwu, Ji Yunshu had barely mentioned a word about previous matters.

As if that experience had never existed.

But no one understood her better than Jingrong. He knew she hadn’t forgotten at all, nor had she “healed.” That scar had merely scabbed over, but could be torn open again at any time.

Once torn open, blood would flow like a river.

But seeing Ji Yunshu like this now, he felt much more at ease.

Perhaps coming to Yiwu was a good decision.

Leaving the place of heartbreak would allow forgetting the past.

Throughout this entire day, Bai Yin had become somewhat impatient and didn’t have much interest.

He crossed his arms, his eyes randomly looking around, saying: “Yiwu is good and all, but there are just too many merchants and travelers. When there are many people, everything becomes complicated.”

Jingrong patted his shoulder: “Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes. Rivers and lakes are inherently complicated places.”

“Whatever you say is right!”

“Reasonable words are naturally correct.”

“Can’t argue with you scholarly people—you have one set of sayings after another.” Bai Yin didn’t like refined scholarly talk and quickly walked forward.

Watching his retreating figure, Jingrong couldn’t help but laugh.

This Bai Yin could freeze people to death when cold, could be ruthless to death when harsh, but sometimes when he spoke, he was also extremely interesting.

Ji Yunshu, listening to their conversation from the side, the corners of her mouth curved slightly upward.

She smiled too.

Finally, the three found a restaurant and sat down.

They ordered a few small dishes and requested two pots of good wine.

The dishes had just been served when Jingrong’s guard arrived.

“Young master.”

Jingrong made an acknowledging sound.

The guard pulled out three theater tickets from his clothes and said: “Young master, these are the tickets.”

Exactly three tickets!

One for Ji Yunshu.

One for Jingrong.

One for Bai Yin.

Jingrong took them and waved his hand.

The guard then withdrew.

Ji Yunshu looked at them, her eyes widening as she asked: “These are tickets for ‘Ghost Bride Buries Her Husband’?”

Jingrong: “Weren’t you still savoring those two lines of opera lyrics? Tonight we’ll go watch it.”

Bai Yin interjected: “Didn’t they say tickets were hard to come by?”

Jingrong patted the theater tickets in his hand, raised an eyebrow, and said smugly: “As long as there’s silver, there’s nothing that can’t be done.”

Money makes the world go round—absolutely correct.

Bai Yin was left speechless.

Jingrong looked at Ji Yunshu with tender affection and said: “Even if you wanted the moon from the sky, I could pluck it down for you.”

Ji Yunshu’s cheeks reddened.

She lowered her eyes slightly.

This public display of affection came too suddenly.

Bai Yin coughed lightly several times.

Mind the occasion, mind the occasion.

Jingrong deliberately smiled and said: “You’ll have to gradually get used to it.”

Bai Yin: “…” A certain someone indicated that he had already eaten this public display of affection the entire journey and didn’t want to eat anymore.