Jiang Chuyi sat on a chair, facing Zongye.
He tilted his head, and except for his eyes which were too charming, the rest of his facial features were cool and clean. He had a good figure and made people like him easily at first sight.
Jiang Chuyi couldn't help but think back to two years ago when they were still unfamiliar with each other. She used her mobile phone to search for Zong Ye's photos and read other people's comments about him.
The descriptions of Souya on the Internet are all quite decent. It is undeniable that he is very charming on stage. When he plays bass and sings, his hormones can instantly charm many people. But Souya is a completely different person off stage. He is a gentle and abstinent person. He looks handsome and stylish in a suit and white shirt. He is quiet and well-mannered. He treats everyone with the same politeness, as if he is not tainted by the worldly atmosphere at all.
However, this calm man, who is considered "sacred and inviolable" by outsiders, repeatedly pushes Jiang Chuyi's limits by spouting obscene love words.
Jiang Chuyi was puzzled from the bottom of her heart: "Zong Ye, how could there be someone like you?"
"Um?"
"You are a white melon in human form. You can only see the face but not the heart."
Zong didn't react.
She went on to say, "It looks white on the outside, but it's actually all yellow on the inside."
This made Zongye laugh, his shoulders trembling slightly.
After laughing for a while, he couldn't help but kiss her, and said sincerely and frankly: "It was Chu Yi who made me like this."
Jiang Chuyi had long given up resisting his natural "blame-shifting behavior".
"Qiao Shu" was released these days, and the work schedule was too tight, so Jiang Chuyi slept less than ten hours in total.
The meeting was not over yet, and Zong Ye would most likely have to stay in the company to work overtime. Jiang Chuyi could only stay in his office and lie on the black soft leather sofa.
There was clearly a place to rest inside, but she couldn't go in and sleep on the bed. She could only stay with him where Zong could see her.
Jiang Chuyi rested her arm with one hand, curled up in a plush blanket, feeling warm all over, and leisurely tapping the screen of her mobile phone.
Xin He sent her a few videos and Jiang Chuyi turned the volume down to the lowest level.
Xin He: "Fu Cheng and Zong Ye were so young when they first debuted, full of youth and collagen. Oh! Why don't we dump them and find a high school girl? Men are more attractive when they are young."
Jiang Chuyi laughed as she watched.
But there are always people who can't stand her having a good life.
Jiang Chuyi was playing with her cellphone happily, but after a while, her cellphone was taken away.
For some unknown reason, she was pressed down and kissed by Souya again.
His habit of kissing and biting her anytime and anywhere once made Jiang Chuyi a little distressed, and she even asked Chen Yi tactfully.
Chen Yi's answer at the time was that it was like this during the passionate love period, especially since Jiang Chuyi had given Zong Ye the full buffs of Bai Yueguang and First Love, so it was normal for him to cling to her. After talking for a long time, the passion faded and love would return to normal.
But now they have long passed the honeymoon period, and Souya's skin hunger seems not to have been alleviated at all, as if he will never get tired of this kind of thing.
After waiting for the deep kiss to end, Jiang Chuyi learned her lesson and put down her phone, no longer making any noise so as not to annoy Zong Ye, and closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.
She was trying to sleep like a monk in meditation, and remained unmoved after being harassed several times. But this trick obviously didn't work, as Jiang Chuyi was guilty of appearing in Zong Ye's sight.
She was picked up with her blanket and moved to sleep behind the dark desk.
Jiang Chuyi sat horizontally on his lap.
Zongye carefully tucked the blanket in for her, and considerately placed a pillow behind her waist, "Chuyi, can I hold you while you sleep?"
Jiang Chuyi had already expected this outcome and agreed calmly.
At first, she felt uncomfortable sleeping in his arms, but after being trained many times, she got used to it. With someone holding her waist, the sound of Zong Ye's breathing in her ears, and his pleasant smell lingering on her nose, Jiang Chuyi actually felt very relieved.
Jiang Chuyi slept for four or five hours. She slept very deeply and did not wake up even when someone gently put her on the sofa. Maybe it was because she watched Zong Ye's video before going to bed, she dreamed of many things in the past.
It was as if she had returned to the past, when Zong Ye was still a star. She was in the crowd, watching him from afar as he walked across the red carpet surrounded by cameras and flowers, shining brightly on the stage of a stadium with tens of thousands of people, and loved by countless people.
The last scene in the dream was their last concert in Shanghai. The people around them were in tears. She was in the stands in the corner, watching on the big screen, Zong Ye bent down to put down the microphone, and his figure slowly faded.
Jiang Chuyi felt empty inside and woke up.
When Zongye finished the meeting and opened the door, he saw Jiang Chuyi huddled in the corner of the sofa, with his hands around his knees, staring ahead, in a daze.
Jing Lianbei stood not far away and urged impatiently, "Why are you watching your wife when she's asleep? Come and have supper quickly, don't keep us waiting."
Jiang Chuyi turned her head away.
Zong ignored Jing Lianbei, let go of the door handle, went in, walked in front of her and squatted, "Are you awake?"
Jiang Chuyi looked at him blankly.
Zong Ye carefully looked at her expression and said in a gentle voice: "Chu Yi, what's wrong with you?"
"It's okay..." Jiang Chuyi came back to her senses and lifted the blanket, "Are you going to have a midnight snack?"
He squeezed her hand, "I can stay here with you."
"I'm a little hungry too, let's go eat together."
"good."
Zongye held her ankles and helped her put on her shoes.
The two of them went out, and Zong Ye took her for a walk around the studio. Fu Cheng was still in the recording studio. Zong Ye said hello to the assistant and asked them to eat something first.
The place for supper was in Design Room. The lighting was not bright enough. There was beer and barbecue on the table, and a bunch of people were sitting around it, all of them familiar faces.
A random movie was playing on the projector. Everyone was eating and drinking and chatting, and they all seemed to be at ease. Jiang Chuyi also felt relaxed among them.
Jing Lianbei and Zong were discussing the new album in a casual manner. Xiaoou was itching to talk and, being drunk, he had an impromptu rap battle with the others.
This group of musicians are really good at talking, free and playful. Jiang Chuyi found it very interesting and listened to two passages carefully.
After they finished singing one by one, the atmosphere was just right, and a group of people started to cheer, "Zongye, you should sing a song too."
Zong Ye refused without thinking: "No."
Xiaoou raised the bottle and cursed: "Can you stop being such a spoiler?"
Zong Ye remained calm and said leisurely, "I only sing for my wife."
This time, Jing Lianbei also cursed: "You'll die of hypocrisy if you keep being so pretentious."
Everyone's expectant gazes fell on Jiang Chuyi at the same time.
Feeling the pressure, Jiang Chuyi tactfully said to Zong Ye, "Why don't you sing a song? I want to listen to it too."
Zongye smiled: "What do you want to hear?"
Jiang Chuyi thought seriously.
Xiaoou remembered something and immediately nudged Souya's arm, saying, "Stop messing around with your 'Love Loser' song. It's too innocent. This is an adult world. Release your nature and sing some dirty songs."
Everyone laughed.
Jiang Chuyi whispered, "Listen to your friend and do whatever you want."
Zong Ye stood up and sang a song.
Before he started singing, the people present started laughing when they saw the song title "Sexy Back" appear on the screen.
The Design Room has complete audio equipment, and English songs with subtitles are played on the projector.
In front of everyone, Zongye stared at her without hesitation while singing the song.
Jiang Chuyi insisted on looking him in the eye at first.
Zong Ye's voice is naturally very magnetic, and his singing style is sexy and attractive to both men and women. Especially at this moment, the lights were dim, and after a few seconds of getting into the mood, he looked lazy, with a smile on his lips, which really made her unable to resist at all. Jiang Chuyi was so tempted that she turned her head to read the subtitles.
It would be too embarrassing to make a fool of myself in front of his friends.
But she found that subtitles can also be quite damaging.
Accompanied by Souya's subwoofer, Chinese and English subtitles scrolled on the screen along with the song—
Dirty babe/You see these shackles /
Baby I'm your slave/
Dear baby, these handcuffs prove that I am your slave of love
I\'\'ll let you whip me if misbehave/
That no one makes me feel this way /
If I am not good, you can whip me, but only you can make me willing.
This is indeed what Souya is good at, putting on a holy face and acting as if nothing has happened.
A song of this scale barely satisfied the others, and after a while of laughing and joking, they let Souya go.
They were forgotten in a hidden corner of the room by a group of very discerning people.
Zongye put his arm around her waist, "How was my singing?"
“It sounds good.”
"Then I'll only sing for you from now on."
Jiang Chuyi unconsciously grabbed the corner of Zong Ye's clothes and turned around and around, "I just had a dream. I dreamed that you haven't retired yet. It would be great if you could keep singing."
Noticing that she was a little depressed, Souya asked, "What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"
"No, I just think you're very charming when you sing. It would be a pity if you only sang for me."
Zongye's breathing became lighter after she praised him like that, "Isn't it good to be mini?"
Jiang Chuyi looked up, "Zong Ye, I have always wanted to ask you a question."
"Will you feel lost after you retire?"
Having witnessed him being loved by so many people, she sometimes worried that she wasn't giving enough and that he would feel lonely.
Hearing her say this, Zong also understood. He pondered for a while, put away the ambiguous flirting on his face, and said to her, "I won't be disappointed because of this kind of thing."
Jiang Chuyi pursed her lips.
Zong Ye suddenly said: "Chu Yi, your evaluation of me is very accurate."
"What?"
"I'm not normal."
Jiang Chuyi was still confused: "Why?"
"Because of me, I tried my best and did whatever it took."
She then asked: "And then?"
Souya stared at her, "Just to make you fall in love with me."
He was always like this, he would confess suddenly and express all his preference and enthusiasm for her without reservation.
"I am indeed different from others. I am not normal. Because all the efforts I made and all the choices I made were just to make you fall in love with me. As long as you love me, I don't care about anything else."
Jiang Chuyi tightened her fingers, clutching his clothes, her heart felt like it was soaked in vinegar, soaked through, sour and bitter. She lowered her voice, "Then congratulations."
"What?"
Jiang Chuyi looked at him boldly, "You have done it now."
Zong also smiled.
*
The following year, the 34th Golden Flower Awards announced the shortlist, and Qiao Shu's name was among them. Jiang Chuyi was not too surprised when she heard the news.
This award is neither low nor high in weight, it can only be considered a good start, her goal is far more than this.
Before going to the award ceremony, Jiang Chuyi received news that she would win an award tonight.
Many people sent their congratulations in advance.
She remained calm throughout the entire ceremony and just smiled and clapped when the camera panned past.
When Jiang Chuyi's name was read out by the host and she became the "Best Actress" of the night, the audience burst into applause.
Jiang Chuyi stood up and hugged the people around her. Under everyone's gaze, she walked step by step to the stage.
She held up the golden trophy and gave a speech under the spotlight, thanking her mentor, the jury, the film team, and countless behind-the-scenes staff...
"Finally, I want to thank someone."
Jiang Chuyi paused.
Since the relationship was exposed, Jiang Chuyi never mentioned Zong Ye in public. She was afraid of upsetting his former fans, so she didn't even repost his Weibo post about his retirement, and never talked about her love life or anything related to him in front of the media.
The people in the audience seemed to feel something, looked at each other, and then there was silence.
Zong Ye, a male star who retired from the entertainment industry in a way that was so spectacular that it went down in history. He was once a famous actor, well-known to everyone and famous all over the country. But now he has disappeared cleanly, abandoning all fame and fortune, and resolutely bidding farewell to his acting career. It is incredible to think about it. Jiang Chuyi lowered her head slightly, moved closer to the microphone, and her voice was clearly heard throughout the audience, "I debuted at a young age and experienced many years of lows. I was discouraged and doubted myself. Until many years later, I accidentally discovered a star."
“There are many stars in this world, but he is the only one that lights me up.”
"So I think I have to be brave at least once." Jiang Chuyi smiled without a trace of gloom, but her eyelashes were a little wet. "Zongye, life is so long. When it rains, I will hold an umbrella for you."
After the award ceremony, Jiang Chuyi’s celebration banquet was held at 23Epoch.
Her acceptance speech was quickly posted online, sparking endless discussion. Her friends even joked when they saw her, "Teacher Jiang, the weather forecast says it's going to rain tomorrow."
Jiang Chuyi was drunk tonight and didn't feel embarrassed sitting with Zong Ye.
The 23Epoch venue was as lively as ever, just as it was a few years ago.
Zhao Guangyu was born with a noisy personality. Coming here was like returning to his old nest. He and Xiaoou hit it off immediately and sang several rounds of songs on the stage, which made everyone go crazy.
When they were tired, Wang Tan sat on a high chair on the stage and played Eason's "Under the Mount Fuji".
The noise in my ears finally stopped. Under this lyrical song, the lights flickered and became blurry. Jiang Chuyi fell into Zongye's arms, "Did you see the speech I just said?"
“Yes.”
"What does it feel like?"
Zongye wiped the water stains from the corners of her lips and told her earnestly: "It feels like a dream come true."
As they were talking, the music suddenly stopped without any warning.
Jiang Chuyi looked up and didn't react for a moment.
I don’t know what happened, but the big screen behind Wang Tan suddenly started playing clips of all the movies Jiang Chuyi had filmed since her debut.
On the singing stage, Wang Tan coughed softly, switched from Cantonese to Mandarin, and lazily opened tonight's ceremony: "Who can own the stars with love?"
As if it was planned, everyone stopped talking and laughing, and a spotlight hit the two of them.
Someone threw a microphone into Chaozong's arms.
He raised the corners of his lips, picked up the microphone, and looked at Jiang Chuyi, "Zong Neng."
At this moment, all the lights in the venue suddenly lit up.
Jiang Chuyi was in a trance for a moment, then gradually came to her senses.
Because the light was too dim and she was being forced to drink by different people, she didn't notice that 23 Epoch had long since turned into a gallery filled with roses, balloons, and ribbons, with posters of the roles she had played since she was a child hung everywhere.
There is even a photo of Jiang Chuyi when she was 15 years old. She was at the celebration party for the completion of "Argo". She was wearing a white puffy skirt, smiling carefree, and standing in the middle of the crowd holding flowers.
It seemed as if all of Jiang Chuyi's experiences in this life, bit by bit, were carefully treasured.
—This celebration party for her has just begun.
The two looked at each other.
Zongye held the ring he had prepared long ago, knelt on one knee in front of her, his enchanted eyes like an abyss, staring straight at her, "Chu Yi, can I?"
Jiang Chuyi stood there motionless, lost in thought, her mind going blank.
The heart was beating disorderly, but at a certain moment, it suddenly relaxed.
She pretended to be calm and said with a smile: "So you are going to propose to me."
Everything around became quiet.
After a long while, Jiang Chuyi stretched out his hand and softly repeated what he had just said, "Zong is capable."
—Zong can also own the stars through love.
The two of them were pushed to the front of the stage by the noisy crowd. Jiang Chuyi looked up and stared intently at the big screen, watching the documentary prepared for her.
When "Catching Stars" appeared, Jiang Chuyi remembered a question and asked the people around him, "Zong Ye, why do you remember that scene the most?"
"Which one?"
"The one I spied on."
Zong Ye just smiled.
"Is it because you held my hand for the first time? Or because you got scolded by the director?"
"neither."
She was confused: "Why?"
"Because, that was the first time you looked at me."
Jiang Chuyi seemed to understand but not quite.
The memory seemed to suddenly go back to Venice with its winding water lanes, white pigeons and solemn churches. Back to the day when Zong Ye played the role of Jiang Chuyi's secret crush and was peeped at by her.
Even though he was being scolded by the director, Souya couldn't help but open his eyes.
Even though it was just an act, even though it was just an act, Zong Ye still wanted to see it.
I want to see what it feels like to be loved by her.
Perhaps from one day many years ago, when Jiang Chuyi looked at the stray dog with pity, Zong began to hope.
I hope he can get some favor from God.
One day, such a gentle look will fall upon me.
That day, Jiang Chuyi looked up at him.
The stars trembled in a trance, this was the beginning of his lifelong dream.
(End of this chapter)