After Leyao removed her sunglasses, she immediately drew a crowd’s attention. I quickly stepped in front to shield her. She put her sunglasses back on. Fortunately, the flashing lights and the bustling crowd prevented anyone from recognizing her celebrity status.
I complained to her, “Can’t you stop taking off your sunglasses every time you get excited?”
“Who asked you to always act inappropriately and provoke me!”
Sighing, I said, “Ah, you’re a famous actress now, and your temper is getting worse. Just think about how nice you used to be!”
Leyao’s tone softened slightly, “It’s just because you angered me. Who said my temper has gotten worse?”
Seeing that I had achieved my goal, I stopped provoking her further and kindly said, “There are too many people here, and I have even more things to do later. I don’t have the energy to take care of you. You should go back to the inn now.”
“This place is so much fun. Why should I leave?”
I frowned and said, “Why do you always insist on arguing with me? If you weren’t a celebrity, you could stay as long as you like.”
As I argued with Leyao, Zhou Zhaokun, who had been watching from a distance, suddenly approached us. I became even more anxious to get Leyao to leave and pushed her slightly with my hand. Unexpectedly, she stubbornly resisted and wrapped her arms tightly around me like an iron bar welded to my body.
Zhou Zhaokun approached us, and I felt increasingly embarrassed. I pushed Leyao again, but she stood firm like an immovable pillar. I couldn’t imagine where she got such strength from.
A Feng, standing nearby, couldn’t bear to watch any longer and coughed twice to remind Leyao. However, she merely glanced back at Zhou Zhaokun before continuing to cling tightly to me, leaving Zhou Zhaokun equally embarrassed.
Finally giving up, I smiled at Zhou Zhaokun in greeting.
Zhou Zhaokun nodded politely but didn’t say much, simply standing beside us until Leyao, exhausted, finally let go of me. Then he politely asked, “Zhaoyang, may I be introduced to this young lady?”
I nodded to Leyao and said, “This is Boss Zhou Zhaokun. You met him yesterday, but today let’s formally introduce you.”
Leyao didn’t seem reluctant and smiled at Zhou Zhaokun, saying, “Hello.”
“Hello.”
I continued to Zhou Zhaokun, “This young lady is my friend. You probably already know her name?”
Zhou Zhaokun looked at me in surprise and shook his head.
I was even more surprised than he was. Could it be that he didn’t recognize Leyao? Well, that wasn’t impossible, considering the sheer number of celebrities in China, and Leyao hadn’t quite reached nationwide fame yet.
Lively by nature, Leyao didn’t wait for me to introduce her and said, “My name is Leyao. ‘Le’ as in happiness, and ‘Yao’ as in the Jade Pond.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine,” Leyao replied, then turned her attention to the tourist singing on the stage, somewhat absentmindedly.
Zhou Zhaokun didn’t seem to mind and turned his attention to the stage as well.
…
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew, lifting dust from the flower beds. Instinctively, everyone squinted their eyes shut. At the same time, the wind chimes continued ringing in our ears. The previously chaotic sounds gradually became rhythmic, causing everyone listening to fall silent. The entire venue grew quiet, yet the aroma of roasted lamb became even more intense amidst the wind.
This was the perfect opportunity. I quickly grabbed a microphone from the work station and returned to the stage, addressing everyone, “Ladies and gentlemen, the wind has come… blowing up the smoke, scattering the superficiality, bringing the scent of roasted meat, making the wind chimes dance, and bringing together the fate that unites us all here today. So, follow this wind and dance—dance beyond the constraints of destiny and into the river of happiness…”
As soon as I finished speaking, the DJ played a highly rhythmic piece of music. After a brief moment of hesitation, everyone in the crowd began swaying their bodies to the beat. The natural barriers between people seemed to gradually disappear, and as the wind blew, they drew closer to one another. Even the bonfire appeared to take on human emotions, flickering high and low, bright and dim…
The atmosphere grew increasingly lively, and I was infected by this energy. My naturally outgoing personality was reignited as I loudly told everyone, “Listen up, today you must all enjoy yourselves thoroughly. Whatever you eat and drink, I’ll cover the cost. I’ll pay for everyone’s celebration…”
A fervent cheer rose from the crowd. The wind picked up again, and who could say whether this gust had brought us together or if we had brought this gust to life…
Dancing, drinking, and eating roasted lamb, everyone seemed to have shed the burdens of life and become wild and free, breaking through the depth of the night, placing their most authentic selves into the howling wind, and undergoing the baptism of time.
…
After having fun with everyone, I returned to Zhou Zhaokun’s side, watching the still-celebrating crowd as I said to him, “Art absolutely should not be isolated self-appreciation; it’s about releasing human nature. Do you agree, Director Zhou?”
Zhou Zhaokun appeared deep in thought and finally nodded after a long pause, “I do recognize the humanistic spirit this event has brought to the inn.”
“Thank you for your recognition, Director Zhou.”
Zhou Zhaokun nodded again without speaking, seemingly waiting for me to show how the inn would demonstrate its public welfare aspect.
At this moment, A Feng pulled me aside and whispered, “Zhaoyang, you’re really crazy. Do you know how much it will cost if you pay for everything tonight?”
I replied without much concern, “No matter how much it costs, I think it’s worth it!”
A Feng sighed, “I hope tonight satisfies Zhou Zhaokun… Otherwise, your investment without considering the cost will all be in vain!”
I didn’t respond, but my heart was calm, because I had already done my best today. No matter the outcome, I could hold my head high.
Avoiding the dense crowd, I found a relatively quiet corner, lit a cigarette alone to rest, and prepared for the final segment of tonight’s event. The success or failure of the entire event hinged on this last part, and I needed to smoke to relax myself.
The wind was blowing stronger and stronger. The smoke I exhaled couldn’t even intimately mix with the air before it vanished without a trace. I had a premonition that there might be an unexpected rainstorm soon. I needed to wrap up the event quickly, so I stubbed out my cigarette and prepared to return to the activity site. However, I suddenly noticed the woman in red walking into the venue from the entrance.
Instinctively, I checked the six room cards in my pocket, which were meant for tonight’s event. I thought to myself: Tonight, I must rent one of these six rooms to that woman in red. I believe she will rent it because, based on my understanding of her, she won’t refuse this upcoming public welfare activity.
Therefore, tonight I finally have the chance to find out her name!
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