The Villain in the Quick Travel is My Wife

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

The next day, at the Li family class.

As An Shuting walked through the corridor, he spotted Sun Yuebai's group of fellow disciples gathered in the distance.

"Brother, you won't be able to sing for a few more years. Why are you unwilling to leave the opportunity to us?" said a woman in a bright red costume, her thin willow-like eyebrows accentuating her soft, graceful voice.

An Shuting raised an eyebrow and approached Sun Yuebai, observing the mixed expressions of the others at his arrival. "Why not let him come home with me? After all, I'll be taking care of him from now on, so he doesn't need to perform publicly or run around anymore."

Sun Yuebai, sitting with his back to him, turned in surprise upon hearing his voice. "Why are you here?"

An Shuting pressed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, signaling him to make space on the long bench. He lifted his coat and sat down leisurely. "I had nothing to do at home, so I thought I'd come see you."

After speaking, his gaze swept across the crowd before finally landing on the young woman who had spoken the loudest. "You were the one who was most vocal just now. Why don't you share your thoughts on this idea? Your troupe is in a small place; it really feels like a little temple filled with spirits."

An Shuting's voice was clear, his eyes sparkling with a smile. He carried an air of gentleness and politeness, yet inexplicably, the others in the yard felt a sense of shame as if they had been reprimanded.

Sun Yuebai chuckled, the irritation and sarcasm in his heart quietly dissipating. He turned to Class Master Li. "What did the class master say?"

Boss Li sat comfortably in a wide chair, his gaze drifting among the apprentices who had already made names for themselves. His rough fingers rubbed the armrests of the chair as he spoke. "Yue Bai is the leading actress of our Li family troupe."

He glanced around the group again. "Qiuyue's performance as Concubine Yu was good, and her singing was commendable."

At this point, a hint of regret crossed his face. "But, Yue Bai, you're not young anymore. As a senior, you should at least give the younger generation a chance. If your uncle had always occupied the position like this in the past, you wouldn't be where you are today, right?"

Boss Li smiled, seemingly oblivious to the earlier dispute, his chubby face adorned with an honest grin.

An Shuting noticed the other members of the troupe sighing with relief, and his brows furrowed in concern.

What had initially appeared to him as a simple opera troupe now revealed layers of complexity and intrigue. It was clear that the troupe leader was not as upright as he pretended to be.

Of course, An Shuting couldn't just watch Sun Yuebai fight alone. Just as he was about to speak, Sun Yuebai gently patted him on the waist from behind.

"I'm very grateful to my uncle for giving us a chance," Sun Yuebai sneered.

The way he emphasized the word "we" made Boss Li's eyelids twitch. He feared that Sun Yuebai's sharp tongue would lead to further confrontation.

As An Shuting, tall and straight as a pine or cypress, sat beside Sun Yuebai, Boss Li felt a sense of relief. His disciple was always unreasonable, but he was forced to put on a show of restraint in front of his young lover.

Sun Yuebai's mention of his uncle made several senior brothers, who were in the same class, unconsciously avert their gazes from his burning stare.

Everyone knew this was just a normal process; each person had a chance, but Sun Yuebai had seized his opportunities more firmly than anyone else.

He hadn't risen to fame overnight; it was through steady improvement with each performance that he transformed from the poor, despised boy into someone capable of standing on his own.

Seeing everyone fall silent, Sun Yuebai smiled. "But the troupe owner is in charge. Since he said so, I will not participate in this Liyuanchun. I will give the opportunity to others."

Shen Zhong, feeling ashamed, suddenly stood up. "This won't work, Master. If Senior Brother doesn't participate, we have no chance of winning."

The others exchanged glances, uncertainty washing over their faces.

An Shuting let out a sigh of relief. Watching the collective shame and sudden panic among the group, he marveled at the professionalism of the opera actors. Their expressions shifted so quickly; it was clear they understood the truth deep down.

He secretly gave Sun Yuebai a thumbs up. This was a person who didn't care what others thought, yet could command attention and control the room with a few well-chosen words.

Class Master Li glanced at Shen Zhong before laughing to ease the tension. "Your junior brother is right. Our Li Clan is relying on you now. You must join us."

"But Yue Bai," he continued, "our family has been around since my grandfather. The reason we've survived for so long is our continuous legacy. To endure, we must keep moving forward."

"Master An," he added, turning to An Shuting, "you're a scholar. Isn't what I'm saying reasonable?" His words were profound and persuasive, effectively drawing An Shuting into the conversation.

In his view, Sun Yuebai's lover was clearly a young master from a respectable background, a type who prized integrity. He doubted Sun Yuebai would dare to be defiant or speak as he usually did.

An Shuting looked at Boss Li, who appeared ordinary but was skilled in the art of moral blackmail, with newfound respect.

He blinked and placed a hand on Sun Yuebai's shoulder. "We are a family now. I can't bear to see you wronged. Our family isn't short on money. Don't stay with this troupe-come home with me."

When Sun Yuebai heard his teasing words, a smile flickered in his eyes, and he nodded obediently. "It's all up to you."