It's only two o'clock in the afternoon, and the scene in front of the Almeida Theatre is in full swing with rising expectations, a noisy and noisy side by side, outlining a unique corner of London's West End, but in the eyes of high society, there is no style at all.

Business and art are always two contradictory individuals, but in reality, every artist is seeking to integrate the two. As for the aristocracy, they would rather starve to death than refuse to lower their taste and dignity, so it is natural that they will abhor such a sight.

After the death of Princess Diana. The Queen of England has always refused to meet with the public, and even more so to show her vulnerability in public, because in the Queen's mind, it is a family affair and at the same time a scandal. However, this move of the Queen of England has met with opposition and protests from the people across the country, and some people even proposed to abolish the royal family. In the end, the queen had to compromise.

This true event was later adapted into the film "The Queen". Although the script of the film is seriously inclined to defend itself from the standpoint of the royal family, completely avoiding the irreconcilable contradictions between the queen and Princess Diana, it is undeniable that this does show the attitude of the British aristocracy.

A sight for the Almeida Theater. The situation is different, but the reason is the same.

With a decent smile on Elph's face, "It's good that father and mother weren't in attendance. ”

Without further words, Arthur understood. For the young people of Ellef and Arthur's generation, they have accepted the changes of the times, just as the queen finally showed her vulnerability and mourning in front of the public, but for the middle-aged generation of George and Elizabeth, and even the older generation, they still refuse to compromise.

Arthur raised an eyebrow and muttered, "I'm looking forward to their presence even more, it's going to be exciting." "He can just sit back and watch the show. But then, Arthur felt Elph's gaze, he closed his mouth, pretended that nothing was wrong, stretched out his left arm, let Elf hold it, and took a step in the posture of a flower messenger.

After making their way through the crowd and into the theater, the waiting hall on the first floor was full of flowers and lively, and the costumed audience, with champagne in their hands, pretending to be high-class VIPs, as if attending a Christmas party, Arthur and Elf did not pause, and went straight up the stairs to the second floor.

The scarlet carpet, dark yellow oak walls, creamy yellow halo, and the creaking sound of wooden planks under the feet tell the history and story of this theater, and after reaching the second floor, I avoided the crowded audience hall on the left, walked towards the heavy wooden door on the right, and showed the invitation to the waiter at the door.

Entering the VIP room, a noble and elegant warm-up party is presented in front of you, the restless sound and the crowded crowd are left behind, the clothes are fragrant, the sideburns are fragrant, generous and decent, and the staggered planning is staggered, fading away from the irritability of early summer, leaving the warmth of spring and summer communication, and the mood gradually calms down.

Walking up to him, it was Andre, with a graceful smile on his handsome face, and a dark blue suit reflecting his upright and chic temperament, "Hey, it's finally time for you." I was thinking about whether I should call Arthur so that you don't run away. ”

In the face of such a chiguoguo's joke, Elf didn't care, her smile barely changed, and she changed the topic, "I don't know, you actually served as the doorman today?"

A faint ridicule, a faint mockery, a faint sharpness, and the counterattack was completed in an understatement, but it would not tear the face. Elf's social etiquette is still perfect, but André doesn't buy it.

"If it weren't for me as the doorman, it is still unknown whether this show can be staged today. What do you think?" Andrei's edges and corners were so distinct, and he had no intention of hiding them, and he stabbed at the ground.

Arthur, who stood by and watched, couldn't help but cry out in pain in his heart, but Elph didn't change his face, and his calm smile seemed to be looking at a child with a temper.

Andre pursed his lips, not hiding his disgust, "Elf, you're always so boring. God, how the hell did the Hall family come up with this freak of Lan Li. Freak, used here is a compliment, André glanced at Arthur in passing, "You too." ”

The same, with whom? with Elph? or with Lanli?

Arthur shrugged his shoulders slightly, revealing a look of "I'm helpless, I'm pitiful, I'm innocent" in response.

Andre ignored it and was about to leave, but Elle didn't surrender, but interrupted Andrei's words and movements with a smile, "As a doorman, aren't you going to introduce us to tonight's play? ”

"I believe you are better prepared than I am. André didn't eat the social etiquette of the aristocracy at all, and blocked back, "Elph, please, you are the most dramatic of all the people I know; don't tell me that you have no research on tonight's play?"

Andrei's provocation carries a profligate, uninhibited casualness, every action, every look, every detail is breaking the rules of the aristocracy, but with an innate temperament, "To sum up, a group of actors who have never heard a name appear in a familiar play, that's all." ”

Instead of getting angry, Elph chuckled, "So you realized that. A faint irony and ridicule are revealed, but then they are retracted, "However, experimental repertoire is always like this, and it requires bold and arrogant attempts." Regardless of the outcome, this is always positive. ”

The subtext is: tonight's play is doomed.

Without warning, André burst out laughing. Such an outrageous and inexplicable reaction made Elph's words stuck in mid-air, and he didn't know how to continue for a while.

However, Elf didn't know André for the first day, so she didn't panic, but Arthur, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but laugh, and then listened to Andre explain, "Lan Li said, you will definitely think so. God, your actions and actions are so predictable. ”

Arthur lowered his head, otherwise the smile would be uncontrollable.

Elph is still calm, and the perfect smile on the corner of her mouth is not flawed, "Daisy-Ridley, Joe-Alyn, Tom-Holland, Charlotte-Kennedy, Karis-Jack, Ezra-Miller." ”

One name after another was spoken in a rounded London accent, and then, after a slight pause, the corners of Elph's mouth curled upward, "None of the names have ever been heard, and all of them are twenty-year-olds." Elf chuckled, "Huh", the perfect demeanor was impossible to fault, "Are we enjoying the high school version of 'Les Miserables' tonight?"

Andre spread his hands unconcernedly, "At least, now the one-of-a-kind Elph Hall remembers the names." It's a start. That frank and relaxed gesture made Elph's sarcasm fall on the cotton, and this was not the end.

"I still have things to attend to, so I won't entertain you. I don't think I need to introduce it today, and I promise, you won't get bored. Andrei didn't stay too long, not even too polite, he raised his feet and prepared to leave.

Standing under this big tree of the "Duke of Hamilton", Andre has been wanton since he was a child, never really cared about the so-called aristocratic etiquette, and no one was able to restrain him. Of course, he was a smart man, and his manners were never a thorn in the way he really needed them, and in private, he had a good relationship with Prince Harry.

Facing the two representatives of the Hall family, Andre had no intention of giving face. In the Hall family, except for Lan Li, everyone else, Andre didn't buy it. Edith was barely half-counted.

"I hope you enjoy today's play. André said meaningfully, with a hint of pride in his eyes, and before he left, he added, "If you have a special request for drinks, I recommend looking for Eton Dormer and Matthew Dunlop, who are today's publicists." After saying that, Andrei also blinked, and turned away with brisk steps.

Then, Elph and Arthur were exposed.

There is a vague look, a smile with deep meaning, and a casual look...... Everywhere, silently surrounded Ellef and Arthur.

It's not the kind of direct gaze or greeting, but through a thin layer of fog, flickering, flickering and flickering, it seems that there is no superfluous emotion, but the schadenfreude and discussion under the surface are surging in the dark tide, and the invisible sword light and sword shadow make people almost suffocate.

Tonight's Almeida Theater is like a tiger's den in Longtan. The bustle on the first floor came from the chatter of the civilian audience, and the silence on the second floor, the onlookers from the upper class, the collision of turbulence and silence, like a whirlpool, did not leave much room for Ellef and Arthur.

As Andre said, Elph and Arthur are definitely not boring and can be called the focus of the audience. Strictly speaking, compared to the party in front of you, Longtan Tiger's Den seems to have become cute.

Is this the scene that Lan Li was looking forward to, or is this the Lan Li counterattack after George and Elizabeth cornered Lan Li?

"Let's go. Invisibly, Elph lifted her chin slightly, and her delicate face burst into a resolute and powerful light. In a trance, you can capture a trace of the charm of Lan Li.

Elph took Arthur's arm and chose to take the initiative.

Tension was flowing slowly in the Almeida Theater, not only in the waiting hall on the first floor, not only in the VIP room on the second floor, but also in the backstage, the sound of the hourglass sliding was becoming clearer and clearer, and the air seemed to be ready to ignite at any moment.