Sheng Nian did not sleep peacefully this time.
His consciousness muddled, he began to dream again.
It was the same courtyard filled with white flowers as last time, but this time, it was a bright, sunny day.
The young man, much thinner now, sat alone at the dining table in the courtyard, lonely and frail.
"Yan Feizhuo!"
A clear call broke the somewhat sorrowful atmosphere.
Sheng Nian saw himself run over from a distance, unlatch the courtyard gate with practiced ease, and plop down beside the young man. "Didn't I tell you to wait and eat with me?"
"Look, I brought your favorite cold shredded chicken salad. I specially learned how to make it from the auntie at home. Hurry, try it and see if it's good!"
After setting out a bowl and chopsticks for Sheng Nian, the young man took a bite of the shredded chicken salad. "Mm, it's good."
"Right? Aren't I talented? I'll make you something else next time."
"Yan Feizhuo, I'm performing onstage tomorrow. Will you come watch me after school?"
The moment he sat down, he chattered nonstop, a proper little chatterbox. Never mind that lonely atmosphere from earlier-Sheng Nian thought it was already good enough that the young man didn't find him noisy.
But the young man truly did not find him annoying. Instead, he responded to everything he said.
In the sunlight, Sheng Nian waved at the young man. "Yan Feizhuo, I'm going home! You have to come tomorrow, okay?"
For an instant, the young man's face became a little clearer in the dream, revealing a pair of pitch-black eyes.
His own figure ran off toward the Villa District.
"Quick, quick, quick! Where are the costumes for this side?"
"Someone here still hasn't had his makeup done! Where's the makeup artist?"