9 9 301 Changyu ...It's not like I did anything illegal. 1
10 10 301 Director I didn't say you did... 2
11 11 301 Changyu Seriously! I'm not lying! 1
12 12 204 1 1
13 13 301 Changyu Oof... (Guilty) 1
14 14 301 The director grabs Changyu by the arm.
15 15 301 Director Regardless if you did something illegal or not, you always go around jumping over rooftops. 2
16 16 301 Changyu I did no such thing! I just fell is all! 1
17 17 301 Director ...Wait here. I'll go find you a tetanus shot. 2
18 18 204 1 14
19 19 301 Changyu Ol' man, no! We don't have the money to buy another shot! 1
20 20 301 Director If you already knew that, then why'd you go off and be so reckless? 2
21 21 301 Director Your food money for the second half of the month is all going to roofing repairs for your victims! 2
22 22 204 1 1
23 23 301 Changyu Alright, then I'll just eat plain rice for the rest of the month. That'll do, yeah? Don't be mad! 1
24 24 301 Director You! 2
25 25 301 Hearing this, the director gets even more angry. Just as he raises his hand, Laoyu pushes open the doors and enters.
26 26 301 Laoyu D-Director... T-there's a message for you.
27 27 204 1
28 28 301 Changyu What's with ol' stuttery answering the door? 1
29 29 301 Director Yusheng asked for leave today because it is the deathday of his mother. But at least he finished up his morning exercise. Did you finish it? 2
30 30 204 1 5
31 31 301 Changyu Hmph, I never fall behind on morning exercise! I ran fifty laps around the stage before I left! 1
32 32 301 Director Enough. Head on back. I still want a word with you. 2
33 33 204 1
34 34 301 Changyu Alright... 1
35 35 202 1 2 1
36 36 301 The boy pouts. He takes off his backpack and walks back to the yard.
37 37 301 But just after walking pass the door, Changyu stops. He climbs up the roof and sneaks into the rafters of the room.
40 40 301 DialogEnable He gently opens his waist pack and pulls out a bag of braised meat.
41 41 301 Changyu Hehe. If I'm living off plain rice for the rest of the month, I might as well feast on some meat now to tide me over.
42 42 301 Changyu Whodda thought you could "snag" a pack of braised pork from Zhennies off of some hoodlum?
43 43 301 Changyu ...Wait. Better save some for Laoyu. He likes it with a good drink.
44 44 301 Just as Changyu is about to munch on a slab of meat, the sound of the director's voice grabs his attention.
45 45 301 Director Oh! Hello there, Boss. Long time no see. Right—right—last time we went to your house to perform, but you got a cold and had to rest in the inner hall.
46 46 301 Director Yes, yes. Of course. Everything's still all ready for you.
47 47 301 Director It's all there. Isn't your daughter's sixteenth birthday next week? I already have the calligrapher planned for the congratulatory message as well.
48 48 301 Director ...What?
49 49 301 Director Um, oh... It's okay, Boss. No—really, it's not an issue. Don't feel guilty about it. We'll manage...
50 50 301 Changyu finds himself shocked. The theater depended on this order to live through the month. If this order is cancelled... that will surely be the final straw.
51 51 301 Director Ah, I see... The younger ones wanted a VR trip to Mars to celebrate...
52 52 301 Director It's okay, Boss. Don't worry about it. For a theater troupe like us, not performing for a day won't starve us out of house and home...
53 53 301 The old director's crooked back as he replies sends a pang of remorse through Changyu's heart.
54 54 301 With a long sigh, the director finally puts down the receiver and slumps back into his chair.
55 55 301 Director Heard enough?
56 56 301 Changyu !
57 57 301 Director Then get down here.
58 58 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Knowing that resistance is futile, Changyu jumps down resentfully.
83 84 301 The director pounds his cane. After a moment of silence is restored in the room, the old man sighs and opens his mouth.
84 85 204 1
85 86 204 2 14
86 87 301 Director I know what you've been doing to help, but it's pointless. 2
87 88 301 Director Even our regulars can't convince their children at home to come. Do you think putting up posters will convince hoodlums to come and pay to see our plays? 2
88 89 204 1 14
89 90 301 Changyu But... 1
90 91 301 Laoyu Y-you're right, Director. W-we haven't had a play in t-two months.
91 92 301 Changyu Where there's a will, there's a way! You taught me that! 1
92 93 301 Changyu We've been performing for years. We can't just call it quits like that! 1
93 94 301 Director If we quit now, we can do it with our heads held high. Selling the theater should be enough for a fresh start for each and every one of us. 2
94 95 301 Director If we wait this out, then... There won't be any money to line our pockets. 2
95 96 301 Changyu's face turns sour. People used to fear the stubborn and arrogant director. But with the steady decline of the troupe, his hardiness malformed into something pathetic. That is what unsettles Changyu the most.
96 97 301 Director I've also considered who will take over the theater—a member of the Chiwen Crew. They've offered a fair price. 2
97 98 301 Director ...If this truly is the end, I'll at least be able to say that we're even. 2
98 99 202 1 2 1
99 100 301 The director rubs the wooden handle of the chair begrudgingly. In his mind, the theater is a living thing.
100 101 301 But alas, some things must be put out of their misery, and he had to be the one to end it.
101 102 301 The director stands there in silence. The fatigue seems to have taken on an almost age-long pallor. No one knows how to console him.
102 103 301 And so everyone stands there as well, in solemn silence.
103 104 201 1 500230 14 -400
104 105 201 2 500229 14 400
105 106 301 1 Director Changyu, you're no longer a child. Even if you leave the theater, you should have other ways to support yourself. 2
106 107 301 Changyu ... 1
107 108 301 Laoyu D-D-Director...
108 109 301 Changyu If there's another way... A better way... 1
109 110 301 Director Let this be the end. 2
110 111 301 Director These ol' bones aren't what they used to be. Maybe it's not necessarily a bad thing that I end it here. 2
111 112 202 1 2 1
112 113 301 Everyone is overcome with silence seeing the director lean dejectedly on his chair. They want to keep living the life they have had—they just cannot.
113 114 301 They all know that his old and feeble body has paid a heavy toll trying to hold up this fizzling dream. They even begin to think that it would be best to relieve him of this responsibility.
114 115 301 Laoyu If... If we can just m-make it through this month...
115 116 201 1 500230 5
116 117 301 1 Changyu There must be another way. I'll think of something! 1
117 118 202 1 1
118 119 301 Changyu rushes out of the room, his voice trailing at his footsteps.
119 120 301 Laoyu D-D-Direct...
120 121 201 1 500229 14
121 122 301 Director Let him. 1
122 123 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin Director When Yusheng returns at dawn, remember to wake me up. 1
