Fangyuan and Milan walked towards us with determined steps, finally meeting us by the fountain in the hotel plaza. Milan still carried herself with her usual arrogance, ignoring everyone present, and spoke directly to Mica: “Sis, Fangyuan and I came here especially for your wedding…”
Mica looked at Fangyuan standing beside Milan, expressionless, and replied: “Later, bring the wedding invitation to the hotel front desk to register. We’ve already booked the rooms.”
“Okay,” Milan responded briefly. Mica seemed to have no intention of inviting Fangyuan and Milan to join us for dinner. She hooked her arm through mine and prepared to leave, but Milan called out again: “Sis, wait. There’s something else I need to talk to you about…”
“I’m going to have dinner with my friends now. Talk about it after dinner.”
Milan glanced at the group waiting nearby and didn’t insist. She nodded and said: “Fine, but after dinner, remember to call me so I can find you.”
Mica remained cold and indifferent, merely uttering a “Hmm,” before signaling to everyone to leave. Those who came with us understood the family history between the two sisters and weren’t surprised by Mica’s coldness. One by one, they started walking toward the hotel exit. The newlywed couple, Fangyuan and Milan, were left standing there, awkwardly ignored. In truth, they probably shouldn’t have arrived early—it would have spared them some embarrassment. Or perhaps, they arrived early with other intentions. But I had no desire to speculate further, because nothing could stop this wedding between Mica and me from happening.
…
Inside the restaurant, we reserved a large private room and sat around the table together. Everyone was in pairs except Luo Ben, who was alone. He seemed unfazed outwardly, but I could sense his loneliness. He kept drinking tea without pause while everyone else chatted with their companions. I couldn’t help wondering what was going through his mind at that moment—was it the woman he could no longer have, Weimanwen, or was it CC, who had long since disappeared from our lives?
As we continued chatting, the conversation shifted. Leyao, who was preoccupied with her film career, addressed Mica, Anqi, and Jingsisi: “My film company is preparing to shoot a major youth-themed drama. The male protagonist is divided into three life stages in the story, and in each of these stages, he fantasizes about three perfect women… Of course, these women don’t exist in reality—they’re purely figments of his imagination! I plan to use psychological montage techniques to piece together his entire youth… Unfortunately, I’ve auditioned many actresses for these three imagined female roles, but none have met my expectations… So, I’d like to invite you three to kindly participate in this film. It’s not difficult at all—no complex acting skills are required, since there are no lines or interactions between characters. It only requires a few specific facial expressions captured as still images. However, the actresses must possess a very unique personal aura, which is precisely why I haven’t found the right people yet!”
Mica, Anqi, and Jingsisi were quite surprised by Leyao’s request. Jingsisi, being a pingtan performer, was more adaptable, but neither Mica nor Anqi had any prior experience in acting.
As Leyao waited hopefully, I spoke seriously: “This film concept is truly excellent, but I have a feeling that your creative idea will become a highlight of the entire movie. Given the massive investment and how well it aligns with current market trends, it will definitely generate buzz even before its release. If the three of you do help out with these guest appearances, you’ll likely become the center of public attention. Mica and Sisi might handle it fine, but Anqi, as the head of a listed company, represents a corporate image. The resulting media hype from being involved in the entertainment industry could significantly impact her position… So, I suggest you abandon this idea and leave this great opportunity to actresses who truly need it—they’ll be grateful!”
Leyao looked disappointed but didn’t press further. She said: “It’s really a pity you’re not part of the industry. Zhaoyang makes a valid point, but it’s a shame those three roles that could elevate the entire film won’t get the attention they deserve!”
After this topic, Cao Jinfei began discussing potential business collaborations with Anqi, the true business queen, while Zhang Yixi expressed his hope that Leyao would consider becoming the spokesperson for his developing tourism project. The dinner conversation remained lively and engaging throughout… and I, too, was inspired by the strong business atmosphere, feeling even more eager to launch my second entrepreneurial venture.
…
It was 9:30 PM. We had already been in the restaurant chatting for nearly two hours. The biggest winners of the night were Zhang Yixi and Leyao, who had reached a cooperation agreement. Zhang Yixi’s company would become one of the film’s investors, and Leyao agreed to become the image ambassador for his tourism project. Additionally, several scenes of the film would be shot at these tourist attractions, further promoting the project’s visibility… I couldn’t help but admire Zhang Yixi’s business acumen. He gained a lot that evening. Of course, Leyao also benefited, but compared to this man with an acute business sense, her gains seemed somewhat passive and minor.
At the same time, I observed the interaction pattern between Zhang Yixi and Anqi, the couple soon to marry. Although they were inseparable in daily life, they never interfered with each other professionally. Throughout the dinner, I didn’t hear them exchange a single word about business. They were completely independent individuals. I could only interpret this as Zhang Yixi being thoroughly intimidated by Anqi! I’d heard that Zhang Yixi’s “Seaside Café” had been easily acquired by Anqi amidst a whirlwind of love and hate. I could easily imagine that if Zhang Yixi ever dared to waver in their relationship again, Anqi would ensure he lost everything—even his last pair of underwear—in a business battle! Of course, these were just my mischievous imaginings. In reality, they were genuinely happy together.
After the gathering ended, everyone returned to the hotel in a harmonious atmosphere… Mica, after seeing everyone off, called Milan. On the phone, they agreed to meet at the hotel’s teahouse. I wanted to accompany Mica, but she refused. I didn’t think much of it, because I never got along well with Milan. My presence would only make their conversation awkward and strained. So, while waiting for Mica, I went to Luo Ben’s room.
At that moment, Luo Ben was washing up in the bathroom, while I sat on the sofa lighting my last cigarette of the day. I absentmindedly browsed the latest news in the gaming industry on my phone, trying to accumulate knowledge for my future endeavors in this field.
After smoking half a cigarette, a WeChat notification popped up, indicating a new friend request from a stranger. I opened it and immediately froze, then felt overwhelming joy. On the screen, those four words—“Rose Patient”—were unmistakable! I would never forget that this was the artistic name CC had once used!
With trembling fingers, I clicked the “Accept” button and immediately sent a message: “Are you CC?”
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