霜莫一回到流仙堂,就撞見師傅板著臉在房門前等他,他低著頭不說話,等著挨打,師傅卻只是拍拍他的臉,聲音細細嬝嬝地罵了一聲:「臭崽子,還知道要回來?還不快去準備著。」32Please respect copyright.PENANAlXpblwSk0d
32Please respect copyright.PENANAws0hx8PNuA
霜莫推開門溜進房裡,師傅的聲音在後頭緩緩跟上來,「冬爺要你今晚去他那兒,才不打你,就欠著,回來再打,你要是敢溜了,就看是刀劈子硬還是你的皮肉厚。」32Please respect copyright.PENANAYHwG13lcZD
32Please respect copyright.PENANATAh9mb9KGr
這樣威脅的話霜莫打小聽到大,橫豎都是挨打,他倒不怕了,冷冷回一聲:「知道了。」他關上房門,打開衣箱子翻找等會要用上的行頭。32Please respect copyright.PENANAjrQBGsGeKa
32Please respect copyright.PENANAUTAXTAsRfY
師傅還沒走開,隔著門又唸了一陣,語氣帶著諷刺:「你倒了不起,別人還沒成角兒都睡大通鋪,就你有這間屋子,不是誰都能讓冬爺中意,多少人嫉妒你哪,要怎麼做自個掂量著。」32Please respect copyright.PENANAQvahBj7a3P
32Please respect copyright.PENANA5L9uRDIV39
霜莫當然懂師傅話裡沒點明的意思是什麼,反倒是師傅不明白這提點對他是多餘的。32Please respect copyright.PENANAFGC2XgqWac
32Please respect copyright.PENANAKhCixl2C2C
傍晚下了戲,霜莫跟著榮芳坐車到冬家的大宅子去,那是一戶滿清時代的舊式宅子,有前廳有林園,林園兩旁繞著屋子的長廊,進去了又給僕人領著走了好一段路,才到冬爺的屋子,屋子有個不小的前院,曲徑山石之間鋪滿各樣香草,芬芳清奇。32Please respect copyright.PENANAUEPZx5lvqt
32Please respect copyright.PENANAmEvCj00yUD
僕人朝門裡頭喊一聲,聽見有人應了,就開門讓霜莫進去。屋子裡漫著一股檀木香味,四面牆上掛滿畫,有花鳥有山水,也有幾幅西洋油畫,一幅幅都筆觸流麗雅緻,燈光照下來的地方擺一張書桌,冬爺坐在書桌前,一襲珠白的長衫像清透的流水,從他頸子前潺潺到腳邊,桌上攤著畫紙,他頭也沒抬,畫筆在紙上又慢又穩描著。32Please respect copyright.PENANAGNWKvM857G
32Please respect copyright.PENANAvnEXxa3aCm
「坐,順福,叫人拿點心過來。」32Please respect copyright.PENANAzYRcYLWsUy
32Please respect copyright.PENANAEthDBS3Ya8
霜莫在書桌對面的一只扶手椅坐下來,稍微靠著椅背,靜靜盯著畫紙上還沒有莖和葉的黃蕊白花瞧,冬爺又勾了幾筆,畫完最後一只瓣兒,清清嫩嫩的水仙花成形了,才擱下畫筆,抬起頭,眉眼一展,對霜莫露出俊朗的笑容。32Please respect copyright.PENANAaYkaXNDuNX
32Please respect copyright.PENANAnvXI3jnKOB
在霜莫識得的客人之中,冬爺算是很年輕的,只有二十來歲,身材修長,頭髮梳得溜順,整張臉沒有稜角,圓滑溫潤,軟軟的柳葉拱眉,垂垂的單眼皮,眼神卻是有鋒芒的,那是春草相爭出頭時蓬勃的、驕矜的光采,他爭在最高最前頭,昂揚得意,他不迎合風,而是風要迎合他。32Please respect copyright.PENANAYbDhGRv7p5
32Please respect copyright.PENANAvjW5DBVNGJ
冬爺的名字叫冬白泠,冬這個姓氏來自滿清鑲黃旗的貴族,他家族是北京的書香門第也是大地主,祖父是滿清國子監的博士,父親做過京師大學堂的教習,是嗅著書墨氣味長大的,他學畫跟學寫字一樣早,當他還不到二十歲就已經是北京頗有名氣的畫家,他喜歡傳統的、含蓄的美,但近年開始向洋人學油畫,辦過幾次畫展,不少仕紳和商人會來向他求畫,客人來了瞧見他的畫掛在牆上,就顯得自己懂文化有品味。32Please respect copyright.PENANAgAZtF1il1K
32Please respect copyright.PENANAmVbPFOEMDg
冬白泠除了作畫,不打牌不抽菸,但是個京戲的癮君子,認識很多伶人,霜莫是其中一個,很多人都說是與他最親暱的一個,可是霜莫自己不這麼認為。32Please respect copyright.PENANAi7w3QJ7EJ4
32Please respect copyright.PENANAhZk0JmMdOZ
「霜莫,你瞧瞧,這水仙花勾得好麼?」冬白泠輕喚霜莫一聲,亮著一臉愉悅的光輝,瞧他的眼神很溫和,把鋒芒歛起來了。32Please respect copyright.PENANAez0Tndqhkm
32Please respect copyright.PENANAAr3ePdOW45
「勾得有靈氣。」霜莫渺渺地吹出一口氣,語氣裡沒有讚賞,但以他來說算是有誠意了。32Please respect copyright.PENANA8YTAwzUaHz
32Please respect copyright.PENANAB082Nn8WPs
冬白泠放鬆原本挺坐著的身子,往椅背上一靠,雙臂懶懶地搭在扶手上,「勾得有靈氣,可你一來,就沒這花的分兒了,你今天唱的楊貴妃還是嬌媚動人哪,一枝紅艷露凝香──」冬白泠拉長了嗓音感嘆著,眼光流露慕色,在霜莫臉蛋上纏綿流連,好像用雙眼在撫摸他似的。32Please respect copyright.PENANAvOdKpYnxF7
32Please respect copyright.PENANAAzpXhX6zR7
霜莫別開眼,將自己當成牆上的一幅畫,高高掛在那兒,不怎麼想理他,「冬爺哪回不是這樣說。」32Please respect copyright.PENANAOtRXfw74kC
32Please respect copyright.PENANAfhiuoxIAQJ
「你又哪回不是難討好了?誇你呢,嫌聽膩了,不誇你呢,又嫌我聽戲不經心。」冬白泠聽著是跟霜莫辯,一氣的無可奈何,卻又是擺明端著他。32Please respect copyright.PENANAZYr0A34vRj
32Please respect copyright.PENANA8HXwFBO2Qq
「我可沒說過冬爺不經心。」霜莫向冬白泠飛了一個眼色,還是不在意,其實不經心的是他自己。32Please respect copyright.PENANAO4T6OLNxPI
32Please respect copyright.PENANAnVybhEyeLc
這時候門被敲響了,婢女端點心進來,用幾個小碟子盛,蜜供、銀絲糖、豌豆黃、桂花糕,都是合霜莫口味的,堆成四座小小的塔,還有一碗碧螺春,霜莫湊上前,捻了一個銀絲糖送進嘴裡,比起冬白泠,眼前的點心還更引他興趣。32Please respect copyright.PENANAOO0Z6OZNYo
32Please respect copyright.PENANAMmtqnJ3so2
冬白泠也喝起茶來,瞧著霜莫吃點心,說最近家裡頭找了新的廚子,問他合不合口味,霜莫的嘴倒也沒那麼挑剔,只要好吃就行,換了口味無所謂。他邊吃邊聽冬白泠說最近學西洋油畫的收穫,又拿幾幅收藏的油畫讓他品賞,霜莫不懂西洋畫,只見畫上頭一點一點的濃亮色斑交雜在一塊,好像有光在上面流,又像戲衣上的繁複繡花,桌上裱框疊起來了,碟子裡的點心倒消得很快,眼看就剩一小塊桂花糕孤零零地縮在碟子角落。32Please respect copyright.PENANAyywJwcBG9W
32Please respect copyright.PENANAjm1RF2poXT
霜莫配著茶,吃完最後一塊糕,要是說他心甘情願來趕冬白泠的條子,第一個肯定是看在這些點心的分上,第二個,這人不只是個老斗,還是個聽戲聽進骨子裡的,是有文雅的。32Please respect copyright.PENANAisus63fXSP
32Please respect copyright.PENANA78gFGuADhW
冬白泠將茶碗往桌上一擱,撞出清脆一響,像戲院的鑼一敲,就來了興,「跟我唱《拾玉鐲》。」32Please respect copyright.PENANAR9Pu54Gvw4
32Please respect copyright.PENANAPfLCMDk7qq
「冬爺的水仙還沒畫完呢。」霜莫瞟了一眼畫紙上凌空飄浮的水仙花,他碗裡還有幾口茶,說完話便慢慢喝見底。32Please respect copyright.PENANAzjN2kmA7Ii
32Please respect copyright.PENANAsj2oQ75lZz
冬白泠收拾起畫紙,把畫筆浸入筆洗,水裡游出一尾灰墨色的魚,眨眼間又消散開來,筆洗裡的水色暗了一分,他斯文臉上的笑意則亮了一分,「眼前的人會去,畫紙上的花不會凋,明兒再畫也不遲。」他從書桌後頭走出來,踩著闊昂的、翩翩的步子。32Please respect copyright.PENANAt5R44AApuR
32Please respect copyright.PENANAUFsd5kYa6h
霜莫沒再推拖,也站起來,省去前頭的亮相,雙手一比,抬頭就換上一張明俏可愛的臉皮子,捏著細嗓子唸起開場白,成了個情思綿綿的俏姑娘,冬白泠隨手從桌上摸來折扇,往面上一搧,眼裡就生出明朗的光,兩人搭起戲來。32Please respect copyright.PENANAzAlmCZDnMd
32Please respect copyright.PENANAM3QuMlLX5G
古典的俊郎嬌娘總是這個樣子,見一眼就心生悅慕,偏偏男女授受不親,男子要是大大方方多搭幾句話了,肯定嚇跑人家良家姑娘;女子要是坦坦率率上去喊住人了,鄰里邊無數的眼睛在看,肯定要落個放蕩勾搭男人的口實。32Please respect copyright.PENANAP8qd7qsj4Z
32Please respect copyright.PENANA5tD1DVXYMm
一個簡單的相遇,竟能拐這麼多迷宮似的心思。32Please respect copyright.PENANAEgxCvAqFJz
32Please respect copyright.PENANAdFAwhpPySE
明明近在眼前,卻又只能視而不見,怎麼能不讓人又心急又扭捏,一個悄悄瞥著的雙眼都要瞧歪了,另一個手上揉來絞去的帕子都要擰出水了,明明心口上漲到滿潮了,表面上波浪卻還要退著打,退退進進,進進退退,浪上石頭都要磨成沙了,兩個人還怎麼也搆不著,只能趕緊落個玉鐲子下來讓對方搆,對方若是撿了,這情就定下來了。32Please respect copyright.PENANAeDh90cmHxi
32Please respect copyright.PENANAUw7q59mZVX
冬白泠喜盈盈笑著,腰彎下去,果真落了個東西在霜莫跟前,定了目光去瞧,卻不是玉鐲子,是一串桃花色的和田玉壓襟。要做定情物的東西,要能表送禮人的情意,瞧這串壓襟放著灼媚的光采,飽滿鮮濃的色澤堪比枝頭上的真桃花更豔,這樣擺明的情意啊,想必是正值盛放待摘採的時候。32Please respect copyright.PENANAhNMaMReT2I
32Please respect copyright.PENANAXKsLq8NtVd
霜莫卻不是這麼想的。32Please respect copyright.PENANAVvhfmyRGQd
32Please respect copyright.PENANAu5ALYcc6Ep
他按著譜走,步子繞著地上的壓襟幾番婉轉,像擇枝棲息的鳥兒,落近了又驚起,撿或不撿,沒能拿個主意,一雙眼睛依然靈動鮮活,左右瞟著,可神情冷下來了,又變回那個獨立高嶺上不近人情的秋霜莫,而不是純真羞澀的孫玉姣。32Please respect copyright.PENANA48Mz9zv2MH
32Please respect copyright.PENANA4NJGnwZ32L
好不容易把東西撿起來了,還沒戴上手呢,偏偏一個不存在的誰瞅見了,霜莫立刻不要了東西。32Please respect copyright.PENANAMmz8Sp3Owa
32Please respect copyright.PENANA0AQuhljhNJ
「你拿了去,我不要!」32Please respect copyright.PENANABbXKUmt112
32Please respect copyright.PENANAd7ZJnVfmmD
「送與你了。」32Please respect copyright.PENANAtTvL8HtOcn
32Please respect copyright.PENANAdy0O67E1nj
「你拿了去,我不要!」32Please respect copyright.PENANA629Qlk8lfM
32Please respect copyright.PENANA5NI4ihiKvy
「送與你了。」32Please respect copyright.PENANARn6EsEA0Au
32Please respect copyright.PENANApUeROsNHug
「你拿了去,我不要!你拿了去,我不要!」32Please respect copyright.PENANAboUGRmTVaN
32Please respect copyright.PENANAd81TypO4Ke
霜莫一個勁把壓襟往冬白泠手裡推,窘促的嬌喊一聲比一聲高,手上推出去的勁兒一次比一次急,他偏要遠遠退開,躲在角落搖扇子笑,霜莫不耐煩了,乾脆叮一聲,把東西叩在桌上。32Please respect copyright.PENANAf6NkTJhgjK
32Please respect copyright.PENANAulqQXm0mKI
這一叩,戲就突兀地結束了。32Please respect copyright.PENANA3ii552krj2
32Please respect copyright.PENANAgJy0hSLGm6
「不行,沒譜,東西你得收。」冬白泠用收起來的扇子向霜莫點了一下,那聲責備是帶著戲謔的,那對圓滑的眉毛還是鬆軟軟地,他皮面上沒生氣,卻有一種壓人的勢頭。32Please respect copyright.PENANAArWNt1LzIx
32Please respect copyright.PENANA8Qkd8bs7JA
霜莫眼光尖尖地射過去,伶牙俐齒反咬回去:「東西都拿錯了,冬爺沒譜在先。」32Please respect copyright.PENANA3NdzIIYKkw
32Please respect copyright.PENANAq63PZLZVnJ
「我外行你內行,是誰不該?」冬白泠還是笑著,揹起雙手,向霜莫大大迫近一步。32Please respect copyright.PENANASRXsYniZbF
32Please respect copyright.PENANA9KKPgreguY
「冬爺早不算外行了。」霜莫涼涼地也笑了一下,轉身便走,「我去要熱水。」32Please respect copyright.PENANAnjBnePTO3k
32Please respect copyright.PENANALo6C4gfpm4
「不唱了?」冬白泠這才有些愕然。32Please respect copyright.PENANA6IPUShPe3r
32Please respect copyright.PENANAj9Wp9KFDHV
霜莫沒回話,逕自開門出去了。32Please respect copyright.PENANAB7wFcqeAJv
32Please respect copyright.PENANAjR8FLVhlDn
那是什麼譜?把東西扔在地上讓他撿,這樣送人東西,他才不要,無論冬白泠打的主意是真想送他東西,還是藉故給他一個輕薄,他都不高興被人這樣戲弄,他才不要順著冬白泠的意假戲真做。他一直獨自站在雲間的孤樓裡,與眾星齊平的紅欄杆上,誰也別想用什麼俗世的東西把他拉下來,區區一只壓襟,再情深意重,也別想扣住他。32Please respect copyright.PENANAA1yTYWQt7R
32Please respect copyright.PENANAViR8ZpaCJm
更何況老斗對相公,都不過是水漥子,情能有幾許深?他壓根不屑那樣的情。32Please respect copyright.PENANAzZ54qvZtRj
32Please respect copyright.PENANA0KdF6IkRvo
婢女隨著霜莫進來,將兩人的茶碗都給斟滿了,升起熱煙將他倆隔開,那只桃花色壓襟被冷落在桌子的一角,說不準是太過明豔張揚了,反而討好不了人。32Please respect copyright.PENANAx4HCoSrYWe
32Please respect copyright.PENANAmMlaB7Y5eI
「你不喜歡便罷,別使臉色,當年還是剛登臺的小角就是冷倔脾性,現在有面上有光了還是這個脾性,以後大紅了豈不要用鞋底蹬人臉了?」冬白泠已經坐回椅子裡,慢慢搧手裡扇子,望向桌子對面的霜莫挑明著說。32Please respect copyright.PENANAOaz9Rnu5dU
32Please respect copyright.PENANA53eLzMCJrz
霜莫雙手壓在膝上,低歛著眼睛不看人,「是不喜歡,冬爺是當霜莫隨人輕佻了。」他一副受冒犯的語氣。32Please respect copyright.PENANANoosSfdy0A
32Please respect copyright.PENANA1PR58G0Ovi
冬白泠揚揚眉毛,沒有理解,「好端端送你東西,又怎麼輕佻你了?」不等霜莫答話,他又話一轉,寬著風度,不再計較下去,「都把你叫來了,不歡而散多沒意思,那你唱給我聽。」32Please respect copyright.PENANAFQCayBhCGv
32Please respect copyright.PENANANwFElnbXBF
「冬爺想聽什麼?」霜莫抬起臉問,方才他是被唐突磕了一記臉面,但憑著冬白泠懂戲,還把他當個伶人,而不只是個陪酒陪笑的相公,霜莫還是願意給他唱的。32Please respect copyright.PENANABlWZArweqH
32Please respect copyright.PENANARYVGd6UcHR
「就《思凡》。」32Please respect copyright.PENANAmaULHGwlko
32Please respect copyright.PENANAOS8pVQYPvA
桌上的茶給蓋子悶著,早已不見騰煙,方才的不愉快也就這麼消散了,霜莫嬌柔的、婉轉的歌聲像一匹剛在爐子上烘過的緞布,又暖又滑,在人的肌膚上蹭來蹭去,好不繾綣,唱盡凡俗的癡、凡俗的貪、凡俗的欲,好像他無比瞭解紅塵裡的一切情。32Please respect copyright.PENANAzRoZ69I0Wr
32Please respect copyright.PENANAmG392I7CQy
這就是躲不掉的天賦吧,他明明厭惡凡俗人們瞧他的眼光,卻能唱出凡俗的情,難怪盡得凡俗人的青睞。32Please respect copyright.PENANApoSDU4iUab
32Please respect copyright.PENANALYjEk74vST
冬爺每回都會私下給的賞錢霜莫收了,就那串壓襟一直到榮芳來接人了他都沒收下,冬爺也不勉強他,就收起來了,差人送他們回私寓。32Please respect copyright.PENANAQj7bLVpvs9
32Please respect copyright.PENANAQu5pxG61K6
人人都說冬白泠跟霜莫關係曖昧,他們是這樣說他倆之間的故事的:一個年輕的畫家看上了相公的美色,一個兼唱戲的相公看上了畫家的錢與勢,嬌花還須沃土護養,沃土還須嬌花襯其豐裕,就這麼兜上了,他倆肯定早就逾越了臺上臺下之間的距離,掩在燈光幽微的紗幕子後⋯⋯啊,太見不得光了,不可說、不可說。32Please respect copyright.PENANAq8OUrWCdtG
32Please respect copyright.PENANA3FYHAYIfYC
可是他們都錯了,冬白泠打著明燈,從來沒進過霜莫的紗幕子,和那些老斗不同,看色多少免不了,但在色之外,更真切的是冬白泠懂得欣賞他的藝,也能端出自己的藝與他交會。伶人私寓裡的打茶圍本該如此,只觸碰精神,不觸碰肉體,是後來的那些老斗帶一懷桃花,把這兒玷汙得一片妖紅。32Please respect copyright.PENANA9o6fBaXdzV
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橫豎都是賣,賣藝對霜莫來說屈辱少一些。