Hard to Escape

Chapter 23

In truth, even up to now, I still didn't know my Chinese name. I only deduced from the name "Alicia Tang" that my last name was probably Tang (唐). There were very few French media reports on me. There was only a few clipped phrases from when Madame Taylor took on new pupils. Afterwards, there apparently were no article features. Even with my disappearance, there was only the police announcement. Even more strange was that among the materials Frank gave me, other than the recordings from his documentary master tape, there weren't any recordings of my public performances.

The mysteries were piled one on top of the other.

Why would an accomplished ballet dancer not perform on stage even once for over 8 years, not even attend a single ballet competition, and not even exist in the ballet social circle? It was like she was purposely suppressed. These 8 years it was like she was hidden in a blanket of snow and wearing a "Madame Taylor's beloved pupil" cloak. She originally could have relied on this to climb the mountain and become a dancer in the spotlight. Yet she completely faded from the public eye.

No matter if it's the post-amnesia me or pre-amnesia me, the mark we've left on the earth is so frail.

Contrarily, Yin Xuan wasn't like this. The fashion tabloids loved to gossip about her the most. Her competition awards could be traced back all the way to when she was 10. She was a young lady of note among the upper echelons of French society. The television was now playing the high-profile interview she gave after returning to the country. The interview publicized the fact that she would soon be starring in "Alone I Dance", a huge blockbuster film.

I sat in the Yin residence looking at Yin Xuan's young and proud face on the screen.

"I've tried acting for the first time because the subject matter is just to my taste. Ever since I started dancing at the age of 4, dance has been the fire in my life. I very much like the script. I will be appearing as the female lead. I'd like to thank the directors for giving me this opportunity."

The host of the show smiled and asked, "I've heard that Director Meng has planned for this movie for three years already, but never found the appropriate actress. I imagine that he has looked for a long time to find such a perfect person like Ms. Yin to cast. Ms. Yin's ballet accomplishments are even noteworthy in France. In the whole of Chinese history, there hasn't been another person who has achieved your level of ballet skills and name recognition at such young of an age. "Alone I dance" will have many ballet dance shots. To be able to find Ms. Yin is the fortune of us all. We don't even have to pay the price to be able to appreciate such a elegant, refined ballet performance."

Yin Xuan comfortably accepted the host's praise. Her expression read of a self-righteous nobleness and a stern pride, as if all was as ought to be. This sort of life was rightfully hers. With Yin Li as protector and the Yin Corporation as backing, she could pursue anything she wanted. Everything she thought a nuisance would be crushed to smithereens.

Even to this day, there was not a trace of regret to be found on her face, let alone shame or fear. For the most part she deeply trusted in her brother, and trusted that I had been pulled out of the wide open ocean into a quagmire, and no matter how hard I tried I would never be able to make any ripple again.

Her road was full of glory and splendor, and her future was just as bright. In contrast, I didn't even know what I did in the past.

"Yan Xiao, dinner is ready." Yin Li's voice was tender. When he opened the door and entered, he also saw Yin Xuan on the screen. I glanced at him and then turned off the television. Yin Xuan's face abruptly disappeared.

Yin Li probably felt a bit awkward. He rubbed my head and bent over to kiss my forehead. "Yin Xuan originally came back just to shoot this film. If you don't want to see her, I'll have her permanently stay in France."