Huh? Are villainous bosses this easy to flirt with?

Chapter 155 Watching a Play at Tinghe Pavilion

The next day, after her leg pain subsided, Xie Qing resumed her opera performance training.

During the break, several young maids, carrying trays of snacks and fruit, gently pushed open the door and gracefully entered.

One of the maids gently put down what she was holding, turned her gaze to Xie Qing, and said respectfully.

"Young Master Xie, the Huo family has invited an opera troupe to perform at Tinghe Pavilion today. Butler Qi asked me to invite you over."

Upon hearing this, Yan Li's eyes lit up, and she quickly said, "Xie Qing, you really should go and take a look."

"Your training has yielded remarkable results, but observing and learning from others is equally important. Watching performances by professional opera troupes can help you better identify your shortcomings."

"Of course, the best thing would be for you to perform on stage by yourself once to build up your confidence, but with your current level, it's not time for that yet."

Xie Qing looked at Yan Li and politely invited, "Teacher Yan, let's go together."

Yan Li stammered, "Is...is it okay?"

The maid smiled and said, "Of course, you are Young Master Xie's teacher, so you are naturally included in Butler Qi's invitation list."

Yan Li looked at Xie Qing, "Then, let's go together."

She really wanted to see just how good the professional opera troupe the Huo family had hired really was.

After the two ate something simple and regained some strength, they followed the maid to Tinghe Pavilion.

Listening to the Lotus Pavilion, as its name suggests, has a large pond in the middle, the surface of which is as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the sky and clouds.

In the pond, lotus flowers bloom freely, crowding together and blooming profusely. The pink and white petals unfold layer by layer, swaying gently in the breeze.

The maid led the two of them quietly to the most spacious pavilion.

Xie Qing looked around and saw Huo Qiming in the main seat. The other three brothers had also arrived, but they were sitting in other pavilions.

Huo Qiming glanced at Xie Qing and said calmly, "He's here."

Xie nodded and hummed in agreement.

After the two were seated, their gazes swept across the pond to the stage erected on the opposite bank, where actors were putting on makeup and performing scenes of joy and sorrow.

On stage, gongs, drums, and cymbals resounded, their sounds like piercing clouds and splitting rocks; the erhu played softly, its melodies like a babbling brook.

The play currently being performed is the most classic one, "The Case of Chen Shimei".

Bao Zheng, dressed in a python robe and wearing a black gauze hat, walked out with a solemn expression and steady steps. The crescent moon on his forehead seemed to exude a sense of majesty in the sunlight.

Qin Xianglian, dressed in rags and with a sorrowful expression, knelt on the ground with her two children, weeping and lamenting, her cries filled with anguish.

Chen Shimei, dressed in a magnificent prince consort's robe, had a look of guilt and panic in his eyes.

Xie Qing and Yan Li were both engrossed in the watch, even clapping and cheering at the exciting parts.

A moment later, Qi Min quietly approached Xie Qing, his gaze fixed on the stage, and asked, "I remember you also studied opera performance, right?"

Before Xie Qing could answer, Qi Min turned slightly to the side, his gaze locking onto him directly, and raised an eyebrow to ask, "Interested in going on stage for a cameo?"

Xie Qing raised an eyebrow, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes. Yan Li, standing beside her, suddenly changed her expression, waving her hands frantically, her movements so fast they almost left afterimages. "No, no, no... he's not ready yet..."

Although Xie Qing learned the movements very quickly, so quickly that Xie Qing couldn't help but wonder if the other person had practiced before and was just reviewing them again.

But from the time she started teaching Xie Qing, it was only about twenty days, or even less than twenty days in fact.

The art of traditional opera requires years of training, often starting from childhood. It takes two or three years, or even longer, before one dares to perform on stage. How can someone perform on stage after only twenty days of training?

This won't do, this is too reckless!

Qi Min also realized the absurdity of his idea. As far as he knew, Xie Qing had only been exposed to opera for a little over ten days.

In such a short time, they probably wouldn't even have learned all the basic skills of traditional opera, let alone be able to perform on stage.

He shook his head, and before he could say "I was just kidding," Xie Qing responded succinctly and forcefully, "Okay."

Qi Min: "!"

Yan Li: "Σ(????)?!!?"

Yan Li was so startled that the fruit in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud," and she looked at Xie Qing with an expression that seemed to be questioning, "Are you crazy?"

Qi Min looked at Xie Qing with a serious expression and a suspicious look in his eyes. "Really?"

Xie Qing nodded, while Yan Li shook her head.

Yan Li grabbed Xie Qing's wrist, her words tumbling out in her haste, "Xie... Xie Qing... I think... well, it's just..."

"Don't worry, Teacher Yan, I know what I'm doing."

Xie Qing subtly pulled her hand away, smiling calmly, "Besides, didn't you say it would be best to perform on stage once?"

Yan Li: But I also said you're not at that stage yet!!!

Watching Xie Qing leave with Steward Qi and head to the backstage area, Yan Li felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, as if sharp needles were constantly pricking her bottom, and she couldn't settle down no matter how she adjusted her posture.

In the end, she still couldn't rest easy and decided to go and check on them.

……

Xie Qing followed Qi Min backstage and happened to bump into the old head of the opera troupe.

Qi Min was clearly familiar with the other person; they exchanged a few pleasantries upon meeting before getting down to business.

He said, “Old Xuan, I have a young man here who has studied drama for a while.”

"He wants to make an appearance and gain some experience on stage today, so could you do me a favor?"

The old commander knew perfectly well that for Qi Min to personally recommend him, this person's status in the Huo family must be extraordinary.

Therefore, even if the newcomer is not very capable, he has to give them face, whether he likes it or not.

But to avoid damaging his own reputation, the old commander's gaze passed over Qi Min and landed on Xie Qing behind him.

He has a good appearance, but I don't know how capable he is.

After a moment's thought, he asked with a smile, "Are you that young man?"

Xie Qing nodded. "Hello, Commander. My name is Xie Qing."

The other person smiled and stroked his goatee, his voice amiable, "How long have you been involved in theater?"

Xie Qing: "About twenty days."

Actually, it's been four years since my last life.

Back then, Xie Qing was still in university. The school had set up a traditional opera class and invited professional teachers to teach.

However, most young people today are not interested in it and would rather spend money to learn other things than learn opera performance, but Xie Qing had no choice.

He was an orphan, and he had to work and earn scholarships every year to pay for his university tuition. He had no spare money to support him to learn other skills, so he could only take the free opera classes offered by the school, which he studied for four years.

The old commander nearly vomited blood upon hearing this, "Twenty days!"

Are you kidding me?!

Seeing Xie Qing nod in confirmation, the last vestige of hope in his heart vanished.

The old commander said, "Isn't twenty days a bit too rushed?"

He quickly stroked his goatee with his right hand, looked at Xie Qing, and said, "Why don't you go back and practice more? This matter... can't be rushed, can't be rushed..."