The full manuscript is complete before posting. The story won't launch until it's finished, so feel free to follow it.
The eighth year of the Republic.
In Sizhou City, the Ye Family Theater is all the rage. Its star performer, Ye Ningmu, captivates the packed audience with his distinctive singing and the dance he created himself, Swan's Shadow.
Inside a lavish yet understated private box on the second floor, a stern-looking, elegant man sits on a dark green leather sofa in a military uniform. His thin lips are tightly pressed together, his legs crossed with effortless grace.
The adjutant beside him carefully bends to offer a wineglass. The rich aroma of wine fills the room. Overhead, the crystal chandelier gives off a cold light, playing across the man's face and casting mottled shadows on his collar. No one knows what he is thinking as he watches the stage.
His long fingers hold the glass, slowly turning it from side to side. The dark red wine swirls against the sides, leaving thin traces behind.
Onstage, Ye Ningmu wears exquisite makeup. With watery eyes and long sleeves fluttering, his cool yet tender voice brings Swan's Shadow to a slow close. The moment he turns around, wild applause and cheers erupt from the audience.
Many people have waited for days just to see him perform.
“Second Master.” The door opens, and a cool, soft voice rings out.
Ye Ningmu enters and passes the adjutant. Whenever he visits, the man at Second Master Shen's side thoughtfully takes his leave and closes the door behind him.
Shen Baijin turns slightly. His long, narrow phoenix eyes conceal bottomless depths, at once sharp and profound, yet also languid and cool. They carry the calm, disdainful poise of someone tempered by the vicissitudes of life.
Whenever Ye Ningmu meets his gaze, he can't hold it for more than three seconds before looking away. That look makes him inexplicably uneasy. He always feels that the next moment, Second Master Shen, feared by everyone in Sizhou City, will tear him apart.
“You're here.” Shen Baijin looks away. The room suddenly grows unbearably hot, making it hard to breathe. Ye Ningmu's ears burn as the other man rises and pulls him into his arms. He bows his head, his tall frame shielding Ye Ningmu, making him look like a little white flower blooming in the wind, trembling and all the more endearing.
“Afraid of me?” The man's hoarse voice seems to have a spellbinding power, making Ye Ningmu's very bones melt.
“No...” His voice trembles without his meaning it to. He tries to escape the man's dangerous embrace, but Shen Baijin narrows his eyes and strokes his delicate cheek. His lips are rosy, his expression hazy. He probably doesn't even realize how alluring he looks right now.
Feeling the roughness of the other man's fingertips, Ye Ningmu lets out a couple of soft moans. Then he is pulled and pressed against a solid wooden cabinet, knocking over the tablecloth and vase. A teasing heat fills the air, and little by little, he loses his reason.
Republican Era domineering boss top / cool opera singer beauty bottom
A fleeting performance in this world, and you were there by my side.
Also known as Swan's Shadow [Republican Era] and The Republican Era Tycoon's Only Beloved White Moonlight
PS:
An alternate-history Republican Era setting, very loosely based on reality and completely unrelated to it. This is a personal fantasy I've wanted to write for a long time. Expected length: around 200,000 characters.
On December 1, 2023, I took a screenshot of the original blurb as proof.
Anyone who copies the blurb will be taken down immediately.
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