Tomb raiding: A mere 20 is nothing!

The only audience member was in place, and the show began amidst the beating of gongs and drums.

The stage lights converged, and Xie Yuchen, dressed in a magnificent theatrical costume, gracefully entered to the beat of the drums. He wore a phoenix crown, held a golden fan, and his flowing sleeves fluttered as he raised his hand; his movements were elegant and graceful as he turned.

As he sang excerpts from the opera, his voice seemed to hold a myriad of tender emotions, as mellow and rich as a fine vintage wine.

The audio-visual feast before him was so captivating that even Shen Mingchao, who knew little about opera, couldn't help but be immersed in it.

Occasionally, the two would catch each other's eye, and the beautiful woman's eyes would sparkle with tenderness.

It truly is a smile that could launch a thousand ships.

When Xie Yuchen finished playing his piece, the lingering melody still echoed in the rafters.

As Shen Mingchao savored the breathtaking scenes that had just unfolded, he couldn't help but raise his hand and applaud.

Applause alone is not enough.

She rose and walked slowly onto the stage, waving her hand with a faint smile under Xie Yuchen's surprised gaze.

"Master Hua, please lower your head."

What does this mean?

Although Xie Yuchen was puzzled, he still followed Shen Mingchao's wishes and slowly bent his neck.

Before him lay a phoenix crown adorned with pearls and jade. Shen Mingchao took out the red money flower he had already folded from behind his back and carefully placed it among the dazzling pearls.

"I've heard that there's a rule in the opera world that if the audience thinks the performance is good, they can go on stage and give a tip. The act of placing money on the actor's head is called 'top prize,' which is a unique appreciation and recognition of the actor."

"Thank you for inviting me to the opera. I hope you like this lucky break."

The evening breeze swept through the hall, stirring the wind chimes on the eaves. Their clear, melodious sound carried far away, accompanied by the girl's bright voice.

Xie Yuchen quietly raised his eyes, and after seeing Shen Mingchao's entire body, a look of amazement flashed in his eyes.

The girl wore a pale yellow cheongsam that clung to her body, outlining her slender waist. Her long, dark brown hair cascaded down like a waterfall, adorned with an elegant yellow flower hair ornament on one side, the petals still glistening with dew-like luster.

Her features were delicate and refined, and her dimples appeared when she smiled, like a lady from Jiangnan who had stepped out of the old days.

It's obvious that she's been carefully dressed up.

Xie Yuchen understood. He had only asked Huo Xiuxiu to bring the person over, but he hadn't expected Huo Xiuxiu to dress the person up so exquisitely.

He reached out and took the "prize" down, examined it closely, and discovered that it was a flower made of a hundred-yuan coin.

A slight smile played on his lips, and a hint of amusement appeared in his eyes as he was captivated by the other person's exquisite ingenuity.

"One hundred yuan for a laugh, it's worth it!"

The girl's words drifted into his ears on the evening breeze, and Xie Yuchen's breathing faltered. He lowered his eyes, concealing the emotions within, and changed the subject to another matter.

"In the Ming Dynasty, my identity was finally confirmed."

"Really?!" Shen Mingchao's eyes lit up with surprise.

Xie Yuchen nodded, his gaze falling into the void, his voice carrying a hint of vacancy.

"By seniority, you're my cousin, so if you'd like, you can call me that, like Xiuxiu did—"

"Little Flower Brother!"

Shen Mingchao blurted it out almost without thinking, his eyes shining like stars, his eyebrows and eyes radiating an undisguised arrogance.

Why wouldn't one be willing to acknowledge the God of Wealth from the Thief's Chronicles as their brother?

Xie Yuchen stared blankly, wondering how he could have changed his mind so easily.

At that moment, his eyes were fixed on that charming and lively figure. His gaze was like an ink-stained pool, fixed on the girl's crimson lips, and his Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.

His hands rose subconsciously, his fingertips just touching the hem of the other person's clothes, then suddenly froze and fell back down.

It's not the right time yet.

Shen Mingchao didn't notice Xie Yuchen's unusual behavior. She tilted her head and asked with a hint of curiosity, "Why did you suddenly want to invite me to the play? Is it as a perk of us getting to know each other?"

A word to awaken the dreamer.

Xie Yuchen took a deep breath, letting the cool evening breeze fill his chest, forcibly severing those wandering thoughts and clearing his muddled mind.

"I guess so." He said, looking up at the night sky.

The night was as dark as ink, and the silvery moon hung in the sky, casting its cool light.

His voice also became ethereal: "October 3rd is my birthday."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mingchao's pupils dilated, and the smile on his face instantly froze.

This is awkward. Not only did the person sing an opera for her on her birthday, but she didn't even prepare a gift for her.

Xie Yuchen was very good at reading people and immediately noticed Shen Mingchao's embarrassment. He comforted him gently.

"You don't need to feel embarrassed. I don't usually pay much attention to these things. Consider this jackpot as a birthday gift from you."

It's better than some people's dry greeting.

Having lived to their age, they take worldly rituals in stride. After all, they have a ton of things to do every day, and they'll celebrate whenever they happen to have some free time. If they were to encounter a zombie while tomb raiding, they couldn't very well be singing a birthday song and blowing out candles, could they? Just thinking about it sends chills down their spines.

Xie Yuchen changed the subject: "Mingchao, how about I remove my makeup and have dinner with you? I've already asked the chef to prepare it."

Shen Mingchao touched her belly, which was already making a protesting sound, and she nodded hurriedly.

The two hit it off immediately, and Shen Mingchao followed Xie Yuchen to the inner lounge. The room wasn't large, but it was clean and elegant. A dressing table stood by the window, covered with various face paints and rouge. She casually pulled up a small stool, obediently sat down beside it, and watched with a hint of curiosity as the other person removed their makeup.

"Little Flower Brother, are you singing Peking Opera?"

Xie Yuchen nodded, picked up a makeup remover pad, and gently wiped the makeup off his face, revealing his originally handsome features: "Yes, the play is called 'The Drunken Concubine.' I had a master when I was young, and I learned opera from him from childhood, mainly Huagu Opera."

Shen Mingchao's eyes lit up, adding plenty of emotional value: "Wow! That sounds amazing!"

Xie Yuchen was amused by her appearance, and the smile in his eyes deepened, but he still told the truth.

"In terms of singing opera, I can't compare to my master. He was truly talented, with a voice made by nature. I can only be considered to have entered the field; I'm still far from becoming a star."

Xie Yuchen's words reminded Shen Mingchao of a movie she had seen—"Farewell My Concubine".

The saying goes, "One minute on stage requires ten years of practice off stage." The road to stardom is not easy; one must endure countless tedious days and nights to earn a moment of glory on stage. In today's rapidly changing world, with the rise of various forms of entertainment, the traditional opera industry is ultimately not as prosperous as it once was.

Moreover, Xie Yuchen also carries the heavy responsibility of his family. Simply learning opera is not enough to secure his position as the head of the family.

Thinking of this, Shen Mingchao noticed something suspicious. A hint of confusion flashed in her eyes as she looked at Xie Yuchen and asked, puzzled:

"Brother Xiaohua, since you majored in Huagu Opera, why did you sing Peking Opera just now?"

Shen Mingchao's eyes revealed a clear stupidity, and the question he asked left one speechless.

Xie Yuchen's cheeks gradually flushed and turned red under the girl's naked gaze.

Recalling certain moments from his past learning of opera, he hesitated for a moment before slowly uttering, "When the mood strikes."

This is just a made-up story.

The more realistic reason is that Peking Opera headdresses are more elaborate and eye-catching.

It's not that the two types of opera are superior or inferior, but if he sings Huagu Opera, it always feels like it ruins the atmosphere.