Chapter 200: Chapter 86: Top Star of the Cultural Troupe in the ’60s (25)

It was late by the time the awards ceremony ended and they headed back. He Qingran and Liu Mingkun tactfully led the children ahead, while Huo Tianhao carried the tape recorder and ambled along with Xia Zhaoyun, trailing far behind.

"We’re catching the bus back to the factory first thing tomorrow morning," Xia Zhaoyun said, gazing at the dim yellow glow of the streetlights. Each one only illuminated a palm-sized patch of ground, yet on a cool, tranquil night like this, they still filled those heading home with a sense of peace and longing.

Huo Tianhao nodded. "I’ll see you off. Once you get your letter of introduction, we’ll go register our marriage."

"Why the rush?" Xia Zhaoyun was a little surprised.

A faint smile touched Huo Tianhao’s lips. "I’m worried if we move too slowly, someone will interfere. That person loves to exploit every possible opportunity to pave the way for their own future."

"If used correctly, a living hero is more valuable than a dead one."

"It’s not that I’m afraid of him or anything. I just don’t want any more unnecessary complications between us."

Xia Zhaoyun pursed her lips, repeatedly glancing sideways at him. "Why do I feel like I’ve sold myself and am helping you count the money?"

Huo Tianhao couldn’t help but chuckle. "You’re the one who crashed into me and successfully stowed away on my ship. Now that you haven’t run into a single setback, you’re starting to suspect it’s a pirate ship?"

"Xiaxia, can’t you be a little more reasonable?"

Now that he put it that way, Xia Zhaoyun felt she was being a bit unreasonable, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on how.

"Fine. But to get the letter of introduction for the marriage, I have to go through Master Yuan," Xia Zhaoyun said, the thought of "Master Yuan" at her workplace already giving her a headache. "She’s never liked girls like me—pretty, well-connected, and a thorn in her side she can’t get rid of."

The woman had dedicated her entire life to the stage. After her youth faded, she transitioned to working backstage, enjoying the performance from a different perspective.

She was exceptionally harsh on the pretty young girls in the troupe, a strictness that constantly bordered on the breaking point, tormenting everyone until they were half-dead.

But it was also her sadistic high standards that made the factory’s arts troupe one of the most renowned in the entire Capital City, with every girl in the troupe becoming outstanding in her own right.

The reason Xia Zhaoyun had fallen off the stage and broken her leg was that she had missed a step and plummeted while dodging a piece of equipment overhead.

In truth, someone had noticed the problem with the equipment long before, but Master Yuan, busy with a city-wide arts competition, paid it no mind. "The equipment’s been in use for over a decade without any problems," she had said. "What’s going to happen in the next few days? If you have time to get distracted, you’d be better off practicing a few more numbers."

After Xia Zhaoyun’s accident, Master Yuan was the first to show up at the hospital with gifts to apologize. Her attitude was so sincere, her remorse so profound it seemed she wished she could take Xia Zhaoyun’s place and suffer herself. It left one with a bellyful of blame and anger, with no way to vent it but to swallow it back down.

Huo Tianhao ruffled her hair. "Don’t worry. I’m here for you."

Xia Zhaoyun gave a light laugh and hummed in agreement, but ultimately didn’t take his words to heart.

’Happiness had always felt so distant. She didn’t dare to ask for too much, terrified that it would only become a vain hope in the end.’

On the surface, she had agreed to Huo Tianhao’s idea of starting a family with him, but her heart remained tightly closed. It was as if by wanting nothing, she could protect herself from getting hurt.

Huo Tianhao squeezed her hand. "Xiaxia, I’m not asking how much you feel for me. I just hope you can trust me a little more, and when things happen, rely on me like a dear friend."

"I’m your man. Don’t leave me with no way to be useful. Wouldn’t you be getting the short end of the stick then?"

Xia Zhaoyun just smiled and nodded again.

"Forget it," Huo Tianhao said. He took advantage of the darkness to pull her into a brief hug before letting go. "Once we’re registered, I’ll submit a transfer request. The transport corps has a lot of divisions in the city. I think there’s one that’s only a ten-minute bike ride from the Zhaoyang Clothing Factory."

"Brother Hao, you... you don’t have to do that. Your career prospects are definitely better at the main branch than at a division," Xia Zhaoyun said hurriedly. "I don’t want you to give up a promising future because of us. Doesn’t the saying go, ’A man’s ambition should take him far and wide’?"

"Honestly, I figure you must have had your own reasons for choosing to be a convoy escort and a technician. The kids and I are doing fine, really. Please don’t mess up your own plans."

"You silly girl," Huo Tianhao said, his heart aching a little at her overly formal attitude. "Why don’t you plan my future for me, then? My ambitions aren’t that big anyway. All I want is a simple life with a wife, kids, and a warm bed."

Xia Zhaoyun’s face reddened. "Then... then I’ll try my best to find an opportunity to transfer to the city."

"Everyone’s breaking their necks trying to get a transfer *in* here. This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone like you, trying to get a transfer *out* regardless of everything. So who’s the silly one now?"

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