When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 135: Chapter 66: Top Star of the 1960s Art Troupe (5)

Xia Zhaoyun’s body was still covered in numerous scars. Although they had gradually faded as time passed and she grew into her body, every single one was seared into her memory!

When she was in the second grade, she got a 99.5 on her language test for writing a single character incorrectly. For that, Father Song burned the top of her thigh with a cigarette butt.

During the summer vacation of third grade, she was replaced as the lead dancer for being too thin. Mother Song knocked over a cup of freshly boiled water, scalding her shoulder.

When her new dance leotard was cut to shreds, Father Song—who had just been passed over for a promotion and had been drinking—beat her back with his belt until it was a bloody mess, scolding her for not cherishing things and always wasting the adults’ hard work.

When her two older brothers stole money and framed her for it, Mother Song beat her calves with a clothes hanger until they were dripping with blood. That’s why she never dared to wear skirts that were too short...

Every time Father Song and Mother Song laid a hand on her, she felt a window closing, shutting out all the light and beauty in the world!

And yet, like an unkillable cockroach, she stubbornly grew up strong and capable, meeting all of their expectations.

But the darkness in her heart was accumulating bit by bit, destining her to be different from the recently returned Song Zhenbao. She could never be innocent and naive, never kind to the point of being easily bullied.

In high school, she threatened suicide to force them to let her give up her spot at a Worker-Peasant-Soldier University, choosing to pursue her passion for dance instead. It was then that Father Song and Mother Song finally recognized her resentment and rebellion.

They no longer dared to beat or scold her and began to adopt a gentler approach.

’Heh, for someone like me, who had barely felt any familial warmth yet still harbored a sliver of instinctive affection for her parents, that was fucking fatal!’

That was why Xia Zhaoyun had no doubt that her former self, without these memories to warn her, could have been pushed into the abyss time and time again by those who doled out affection like charity.

”What do you want to eat? With an injury this bad, you need to eat something good,” He Qingran said, pulling her along with one hand while carrying a cloth bag with their lunchboxes in the other. She darted back and forth in front of the cafeteria windows, peeking in every so often.

”You’re not fat at all! In fact, you’re so skinny you’re practically nothing but ribs. You wobble when you walk; a strong gust of wind could knock you over! Starting today, you’re going to listen to me. Focus on getting healthy first, and we’ll worry about everything else later.”

Xia Zhaoyun snapped out of her daze and said with a smile, ”I’ll have two eggs, a fried pastry, and a bowl of brown sugar millet porridge.”

He Qingran nodded in satisfaction and pointed to an empty table. ”Go grab that spot, little sis. Big sis will get your food.”

Xia Zhaoyun gave her a light flick on the forehead, lips pressed into a smile. ”Getting into character, are we? Such a mother hen!”

The moment she sat down, Xia Zhaoyun could feel gazes on her from all around.

Accepting her memories and her new reality had drained her of too much energy. She felt completely listless and couldn’t stop an air of gloom from emanating from her entire being.

Although her emotions had scattered like the wind back when she was a ghost, leaving only video-like memories that made her feel like a detached observer, she could now empathize completely. The moment she dwelt on it, Xia Zhaoyun was filled with a crazed urge to grab a knife and take the entire Song Family down with her.

’And that’s not even counting the fact that the ’her’ in those memories had to endure it all, one agonizing day at a time...’

And malicious gossip had certainly played its part in fanning the flames of her misery!

Xia Zhaoyun lowered her gaze, her mind racing. ’How do I break this cycle? To put it bluntly, my life has been miserable simply because I am too beautiful and talented, yet lack the status to protect myself.’

A few male comrades who had just gotten their food walked over, arms slung around each other’s shoulders. Seeing her, they started snickering and playfully shoving one another.

Finally, one of them stepped forward, cleared his throat, and said, ”Comrade Song Ruoyun, there’s a concert in the city tonight featuring some nationally renowned artists. I happen to have two tickets, and I was wondering if I might have the honor of inviting you?”

At the sound of his voice, Xia Zhaoyun looked up. She glanced at the man, then at the five or six companions behind him, and finally at the people all around them, whose ears were clearly pricked for gossip.

’The news that I broke up with Tong Yuanbin must have spread. And now the vultures are circling.’

’Whether I refuse or accept, the rumors will spread. In the end, they’ll just brand me as promiscuous!’

’The only solution is to get a human shield. But it has to be someone I can use for my own ends, without any strings attached... In that case...’

Xia Zhaoyun’s gaze flickered as she spotted someone at the table in front of hers. Inspiration struck. She propped her chin on her left hand, her pink, cherry-blossom-like lips curling into a slight smile as she said nonchalantly, ”Oh, I can’t.”

Her voice was naturally soft and sweet, with an indefinable coquettishness to it. It sounded like she was flirting, and it was the kind of voice that could easily go to a young bachelor’s head.