**February 16, 1968**
**Backstage at the Theater**
After the performance, the theater was nearly empty, save for Yan Zu, who remained behind.
Ah Hua was searching for him.
"Xiao Wang, have you seen Yan Zu?" Ah Hua inquired.
"I just spotted him around here. Ah, Taipan, he's incredibly detail-oriented! He works hard and is always ready to follow instructions," Xiao Wang responded loudly.
"Alright, you wait here. I'm off to find Azu," said Ah Hua.
As Ah Hua climbed the stairs outside the backstage area, he found Yan Zu in tears. He approached him...
"Azu! Why are you still here?!" Ah Hua exclaimed.
Yan Zu quickly wiped away his tears.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry! I'll get to work right away," he stammered anxiously.
"Azu, what are you doing? Everyone is waiting for you to join the New Year's Eve dinner," Ah Hua scolded.
"Who would celebrate with me!? Even my own parents don't want me! I asked them, and they said I was disobedient, yet I spend most of my time at home!" Yan Zu cried, leaning back against the stairs.
"Since your parents don't want you, from now on, you will be with your uncle! No matter your differences, your uncle will never abandon you!" Ah Hua declared firmly.
At that moment, the rest of the theater troupe arrived...
"We are all your brothers and sisters!" they shouted in unison.
Yan Zu managed a smile through his tears.
"You silly boy, there will be no more tears for the New Year. Let go of your sorrows," Xiao Wang said loudly.
**In the Restaurant**
"Tonight, I, Mr. Chen, will treat everyone to a New Year's Eve dinner. Consider it my treat!" Ah Hua announced with enthusiasm.
Wang Ling poured a cup of tea for Yan Zu...
"Quickly, take this cup of tea to your uncle, Mr. Chen," Wang Ling instructed.
Yan Zu took the cup and knelt beside Ah Hua...
"Master Chen, this tea is for you," Yan Zu said.
Ah Hua sipped the tea and gently pulled Yan Zu to his feet...
"Stand up, good boy," Ah Hua encouraged.
He embraced Yan Zu tightly.
**Back at the Troupe**
Exhausted, Yan Zu nearly collapsed.
Ah Hua and Xiao Wang rushed to assist him to his room.
**In Yan Zu's Room**
"Hey, you have a fever! Why can't you even speak?" Ah Hua asked, worried.
"Master, I'll fetch some medicine and prepare herbal tea for Azu," Xiao Wang replied.
"I'll help him shower. Please set the medication on the table in the room," Ah Hua instructed.
As Ah Hua helped Yan Zu shower, he began to remove his pants and stumbled upon a significant secret. He sat in shock by the basin...
"What… what is this!?" Ah Hua exclaimed in disbelief.
"I have a headache; my head is pounding," Yan Zu mumbled to himself, dazed.
Years earlier, Ah Hua remembered encountering a man with a similar condition in Beijing. That man was Lin Yuanhai, a renowned Peking Opera singer.
He recalled performing "Farewell My Concubine" with him, where Lin Yuanhai portrayed Cheng Dieyi, sharing the same physical traits as Yan Zu.
Noticing that they had been in the restroom for quite a while, Xiao Wang knocked on the door...
"Master! Master! Are you alright in there?" Xiao Wang called out.
"Everything's fine! Nothing is wrong!" Ah Hua replied loudly.
Ah Hua dried Yan Zu's body and helped him get dressed, then laid him on the bed.
"Here, Azu, take some medicine and rest for now," Ah Hua said.
In a daze, Yan Zu took the medicine.
**December 10, 2010, Hong Kong**
The antique clock in the room chimed, signaling one o'clock in the morning.
"It's time for you to sleep; it's already one o'clock," Yan Zu said.
"I'm not tired. You haven't explained the difference between you and others," Xiao Chen replied.
"But I'm tired," Yan Zu insisted.
"Oh, alright. By the way, everyone claims this is a haunted house, but I disagree. It's just old-fashioned, and I really love the decor," Xiao Chen remarked.
Yan Zu was taken aback by her words.
"If you like it so much, you're welcome to visit often. Besides, you're a lovely girl," Yan Zu said.
"Wonderful! Thank you! I'll come over right after school," Xiao Chen replied.
Yan Zu handed her the key.
"This is the key to this room. You can come anytime. Since you enjoy music, I have many instruments on the third floor that you can play," Yan Zu said.
"Wow! That sounds amazing! But why do you trust me so easily? We only met tonight. Aren't you worried I might take advantage of you?" Xiao Chen asked.
"Steal? You couldn't even manage that. Anything taken from this house would turn to ashes once it leaves the mansion."
**-End of Chapter-**