The two girls chased each other, bickering and making a ruckus.
The grass on the plain grows lush and green, its verdant hue reaching the desolate city. They ran far away, away from the crowd, leaving only the rustling grass and the gentle breeze. They smiled knowingly and stood before the pond, tossing pebbles between themselves. Zhao Xiyin nudged her shoulder: "I'll tell you a secret."
Cen Yue leaned closer to her ear.
Zhao Xiyin took her phone out of the pocket of her thick cotton-padded coat, then opened the photo album. "Ta-da! I'm getting married!"
Cen Yue's mouth gaped open in an "O" shape. "Oh my god, this is so sudden!"
"It wasn't very sudden; we reached a consensus a long time ago." Zhao Xiyin said happily, looking at it again and again.
"Is that Brother Zhou?"
"Um."
Cen Yue clapped her hands, "He's so amazing!"
Happiness seems to be like this; it can't be hidden, and you always want to share it with those close to you. Cen Yue looked at her for a while, "Zhao Xigua, you're radiating light right now, you're especially beautiful."
Facing the wind, Zhao Xiyin made a leaping motion with outstretched arms, her figure light and graceful, like a swallow about to take flight. "I've always been beautiful!"
Cen Yue scoffed disdainfully, "Stinky."
After the commotion subsided, Zhao Xiyin asked, "Besides the dance troupe, who else came this time?"
“There are quite a lot of people. This is probably their first work inspection after the New Year. I guess it's just a formality.” Cen Yue told her, “The very handsome boss and Teacher Dai are also here.”
Meng Weixi.
Even now, when she thinks of him, Zhao Xiyin feels completely at peace. She's not one to look back; some feelings were once genuine, but time changes, and one must always move forward.
While slightly lost in thought, Cen Yue said "Oh" again, "I saw Teacher Dai walking very close to a man. The man looked to be in his thirties. I've never seen him in the troupe before."
——
The county town is 20 kilometers away from the nearest town where the filming took place.
"What the hell is this place? Can't we find a decent hotel?!" Zhuang Qiu took off his coat, threw it on the bed in a huff, picked up a pillow, smelled it, and looked disgusted.
His secretary, a man of many connections, said helplessly, "There's really no way, Mr. Zhuang. It's another 70 or 80 kilometers further, and you have a meeting tomorrow, so you won't make it."
Zhuang Qiu, used to being particular, suddenly became furious and said, "If I can't keep up, I won't open!"
The secretary earnestly advised, "President Meng is here too; you can't ignore his request."
"Alright, alright." Zhuang Qiu impatiently moved on from that, and asked again, "Why hasn't Dai Yunxin arrived yet? Does she still want this investment?"
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
The secretary smiled. "I heard you calling."
The door opened, and Dai Yunxin was dressed in a long white down jacket, with a large scarf covering half her face. Zhuang Qiu immediately put on a smile, "I'm so sorry to have troubled you to make this trip."
Dai Yunxin knew perfectly well what his tricks and intentions were. But right now, she needed his help and was facing difficulties both internally and externally, so she had no choice but to put on a smiling face. "It's been a while since I last spoke with President Zhuang, isn't that a good coincidence?"
Zhuang Qiu smiled, but his tone was warm and friendly. "I know that Teacher Dai's film is having some financial difficulties. Right now, the economic climate is not good, and the government's policies are very strict. Everyone knows how many companies have gone out of business in Hengdian, Beijing."
These words were realistic, hitting Dai Yunxin where it hurt. She smiled awkwardly and listened attentively.
"My funds are just sitting idle anyway. But it's still an investment of tens of millions, so you can understand why I need to be cautious, right?"
"certainly."
“But I’ve only been back in Beijing for less than two months, and I sincerely want to be friends with you, Professor Dai. You are a master, a great artist, and I would be honored to have you.” Zhuang Qiu changed the subject and said with a smile, “As long as you are willing to do me a favor, then everything is negotiable.”
Dai Yunxin instinctively refused: "No, anyone is fine, but not her."
Zhuang Qiu exclaimed in surprise, "It's just having a meal together, it's not like we're getting married. What era are we living in? Why are you so shy?"
Dai Yunxin frowned almost imperceptibly. "She's different."
“I don’t like the same kind either.” After all that buildup, Zhuang Qiu’s patience had reached its limit. He said with a fierce expression, “Teacher Dai, I am sincere. Since we have different goals and paths, then there is no point in discussing that investment.”
Although Dai Yunxin was renowned, serving as the dance director for various plays, how much could dancing and choreography really earn? She was getting older and had long since retired from stage performance; she was building these connections to transition into other fields. Two of the originally agreed-upon investors suddenly changed their minds, and the plan fell through. Dai Yunxin looked down on Zhuang Qiu, finding him arrogant and domineering, but she knew he was indeed quite wealthy.
If funding is not secured, subsequent production and release schedules will be affected.
After a long period of thought, Dai Yunxin turned her face away and gritted her teeth, agreeing, "Just one meal, only one meal."
——
After the Lunar New Year, the weather was unpredictable. The first day was shrouded in smog, but a strong wind blew through the night, and the next day the sky was clear and blue again.
Zhao Wenchun is going back to work at school tomorrow, so while everyone is free, he invited Zhou Qishen to his house for dinner.
"Eat more fish, and more mutton, as it's warming and nourishing." Teacher Zhao is kind and loving, and she dotes on these younger generations.
Zhou Qishen had a large appetite and ate a lot; he could drink two bowls of soup after eating three bowls of rice.
"What time is your flight tomorrow?" Teacher Zhao asked.
"Around 4 p.m.," Zhou Qishen said. "I have a meeting tomorrow morning and really can't get away."
“Okay. I bought two scarves and gloves for Xiaoxi; it's cold there, could you take them to her for me?” Zhao Wenchun confirmed several times, “You really didn't tell her you were coming over?”
Zhou Qi smiled deeply, "Really not, I'll give her a surprise."
Zhao Wenchun nodded. "Okay, okay. Here, have another bowl of soup to nourish your body."