radicalducati Chapter 22 Those Flowers~
Chapter 22 Those Flowers~
December 12, 2014, evening.
Beijing, Hesong Company.
Gao Huan was leaning back on the sofa in his office when his phone started vibrating incessantly. He had just sent the follow-up data report for the "Medal" music video to Li Xue.
One WeChat message after another, like raindrops pelting down on a summer evening.
He didn't check it at first, went to pour himself a glass of water, and when he came back, the phone screen was still lit up.
In the upper right corner of Nazha's profile picture, the red number has jumped to 28.
He clicked on it.
Nazha: [Brother, brother, brother!!!]
[Your Weibo followers have surpassed 10 million!!!]
I just took a screenshot, look, look, look! [images][images]
Ten million!!!
Do you even know that you have more than Lu Han and Wu Yifan combined?!
[No, no, I misspoke. It's more fans than both of them!!!]
I'm so excited, hahaha!
"Medal" is so good, I've been listening to it on repeat all day, my ears are almost deaf!
But it's worth it!!!
[In your music video, the scene where you take off your helmet]
I've watched it twenty times!!!
[Twenty times, Gao Huan!!!]
How can you be so handsome?
When you took off your helmet, your hair, your eyes, your profile...
I took a screenshot, you know that?
That's my current phone screen saver.
[Computer screensavers are also included]
[iPad screen saver or...]
I've gone mad.
I'm really going crazy.
【Gao Huan, you owe me money!!!】
You've completely bewitched me!!!
Gao Huan leaned back in his chair, typing with one hand.
【Um. 】
The other party replied instantly.
【You only have one word? ? ?】
I sent almost thirty messages and you only replied with "Hmm?"?
[Anger]
【look in.】
What are you looking at?
[Looking at your WeChat Moments.]
【Then say something more!!!】
I've been thinking about your movie "Medal" all day in Hengdian.
My assistant said I'm crazy.
【I told you I'm not crazy, I just like my brother, so what?】
She said she liked it too.
I told you you're not allowed to like him, he's mine.
She said she just likes your songs.
I said that won't work either, the song is mine too.
[Smirking]
Gao Huan's lips curled slightly.
【overbearing.】
[Just domineering]
What's wrong?
Don't you like my domineering nature?
【good.】
What does "it's alright" mean?
Do you like it or not?
Gao Huan did not reply to this message.
A dozen seconds later, Nazha sent another message.
Never mind, I already know even if you don't tell me.
You'll definitely like it.
Otherwise, why would you write "A Little Happiness" for me?
I listen to that song every night.
You're not allowed to tell anyone you wrote this song for me.
This is our secret.
Did you hear that?
I heard you.
That's more like it [grinning face]
Oh, right, I have something to tell you.
Do you know Zhang Han? He's the male lead in the classic Chinese novel *Classic of Mountains and Seas*.
He's been trying to chat with me a lot lately.
Saying things like, "You acted really well today," or "You look great in that dress."
So annoying!
Gao Huan's fingers paused for a moment.
He knew Zhang Han, a famous celebrity, a professional actor who played greasy, domineering CEOs who dragged their penises around.
The male lead in "Classic of Mountains and Seas" successfully pursued Gulnazar in his previous life, causing Gulnazar to be cyberbullied by Zheng Shuang's fans for a whole year.
She was accused of everything, including "interference," "mistress," and "giving money away," and during the worst period of the abuse, Nazha didn't even dare to look at Weibo.
Now......
【Um. 】
【You mean... huh? ...
Aren't you angry???
Why are you angry?
[You're not angry if someone's pursuing your girlfriend?]
Don't be afraid, the next one will be even better.
【? ? ? 】
Who do you think will be next?
【Gao Huan, explain yourself clearly!!!】
Just kidding.
You scared me to death!!!
I thought you didn't want me anymore!!!
【Won't.】
【real?】
【real. 】
【Then you're not allowed to make jokes like that again!!!】
Did you hear that?!
I heard you.
【This is pretty much it】
Look, I deleted Zhang Han.
Clean and efficient
[Screenshot for you]
The screenshot was sent over.
It's a WeChat chat history.
The other party's contact name was "Zhang Han," and the last message was sent at 4 PM yesterday.
[Nazha, the crew is having dinner tonight, are you coming?]
There were no replies.
Scrolling up further, you'll find a long list of Zhang Hanfa's posts:
Why didn't you come to the reading session today?
Are you sick?
Should I come see you?
[Nazha?]
【How are you?】
At the very bottom of the screenshot is a line of small gray text—
The other party has enabled friend verification, and you are not yet their friend. Please send a friend verification request first.
Am I a good boy or a bad boy?
【good.】
What will you reward me with?
What do you want?
I want to hear you sing.
Right now
[Singing "A Little Happiness"]
[Video Singing]
[In the office.]
So what?
Are you alone in your office?
[A golden opportunity awaits at the door.]
Let her hear it too.
I don't mind.
[Smirking]
Gao Huan did not reply to this message.
He stood up and walked to the window.
As evening fell in Beijing, a patch of orange-red clouds lit up the horizon, and office buildings in the distance lit up.
He picked up his phone and pressed the voice call button.
He sang a section.
It's short, just four lines.
"It turns out you are the luck I most want to keep."
It turns out we were once so close to love.
That decision to fight the world for me
The rain that got soaked with me
Every scene is filled with you.
A pure and innocent heart
Send it over.
There was silence on the other end for about ten seconds.
Then came a long string of exclamation marks and crying emojis.
I cried.
I really cried.
Gao Huan, you've gone too far!
You sing so well!
I want to set this voice message as my alarm.
I listen to it as soon as I open my eyes every morning.
It's unlikely.
As for!!!
Do you know what I was thinking when you reached 10 million followers today?
What?
I'm thinking.
So many people like you
But only me.
I've heard the song "A Little Happiness" that you wrote for me.
【just me】
I know you keep your most tender songs hidden away, singing them only to me.
[Animated Emoticons]
Don't send emojis.
[You speak]
What did you say?
Tell me you like me.
I've already said that.
Say it again.
【...】
Say it!
【like.】
Who do you like?
【you.】
【who I am?】
[Nazha.]
[Full Name!]
【Gulnazar Baihtiyar~】
The other side fell silent.
About half a minute later, a voice message came through.
Gao Huan clicked on it.
Her voice was a little hoarse, as if she had really cried.
"Gao Huan, I love you."
Just these five words.
It's short, but heavy.
Gao Huan stared at the voice message for two seconds, then locked the screen without replying.
Outside the window, the clouds on the horizon changed from orange-red to deep purple.
He picked up his water glass and took a sip; the water was already cold.
My phone vibrated again.
It's not Gulnazar anymore.
It was Yang Mi.
Yang Mi: [Huan-ge, are you there?]
Half a minute interval.
[I heard you've surpassed 10 million followers? Congratulations! [Grinning face emoji]]
Another ten seconds or so passed.
Why aren't you replying to me?
Gao Huan glanced at it but didn't reply.
My gaze fell on the script of "Brotherhood of Blades" on the coffee table.
The cover was frayed, and the corners were curled up beyond recognition.
He didn't know how many times he had flipped through it.
Turning to the first page, the blank space was filled with dense annotations.
Red represents the character's motivation, blue represents the rhythm of the dialogue, and black represents the reaction of the other character.
The scenes featuring the blind girl Zhou Miaotong have the most annotations; some parts are written and then crossed out, crossed out and then written back.
Every time Yangyang Jin came in to deliver fruit, she would say, "Brother Huan, you've practically worn out this script from reading it so many times."
He always replied, "That's not enough."
My phone vibrated again.
Yang Mi: [Are you reading the script again?]
Workaholic
【[Wronged]】
【Um. 】
The other party replied instantly.
You finally replied!
I thought you had blocked me.
【No.】
Why don't you ever reply to my messages?
【busy. 】
What are you busy with?
The movie "The Coffin in the Mountain" is almost out of theaters.
Filming for "The Left Ear" has wrapped up.
Aren't you single right now?
[Read the script.]
What script?
"Brotherhood of Blades"
[Ancient costume martial arts?]
Which one is Lu Yang's?
【Um. 】
Did he contact you?
【Um. 】
[Male lead?]
【Um. 】
That's great!
Although Lu Yang isn't very famous...
But the script is quite good.
I've seen it.
【Um. 】
Couldn't you have said just one more word?
【...】
Forget it, I won't argue with you.
By the way, I was in Beijing yesterday.
I was thinking of asking you out to dinner.
You didn't reply to me.
I didn't see it.
[A lie]
You definitely saw it.
You just don't want to eat with me.
[Sister Yang Mi, you're busy, and so am I.]
I'm not busy.
I've been really free lately.
I'm just waiting for you to ask me out.
Gao Huan looked at the message but didn't reply.
Half a minute later, Yang Mi sent another message.
Why aren't you replying again?
[Sister Yang Mi, it's getting late.]
It's only a little past six, what's so early about that?
Are you busy tonight?
【Um. 】
【What is it?】
[Read the script.]
Couldn't you come up with a different excuse?
There was a dinner party with the producer of a new movie.
There was a moment of silence on the other end.
Then a voice message was sent.
Gao Huan hesitated for a moment, but still clicked on it.
Yang Mi's voice carried a hint of laughter and a cunning, but there was something else in that laughter.
"Gao Huan, are you avoiding me?"
Gao Huan is typing.
【No.】
Then why are you afraid to see me?
It's not that I'm afraid, it's that it's inappropriate.
What's inappropriate about it?
It's not like we haven't eaten alone before.
Things were different back then.
What's different?
Gao Huan stared at the message, his fingers hovering over the keyboard for a moment.
Then I typed four words.
[Miss Yang, you got married.]
The other side fell completely silent.
About two minutes later, Yang Mi replied.
very short.
【I see. 】
Then another one came.
But you know, I don't care about any of that.
But I do care. I wouldn't touch you even if you had a boyfriend, let alone a husband.
Is it that Gulnazar isn't beautiful, or that Meng Ziyi isn't appealing anymore? Even if Yang Mi has her own stunning scenery, her big-breasted sister isn't without a fighting chance.
Gao Huan did not reply.
He placed his phone face down on the table, picked up the tea that Yangyang Jin had just brought him, and took another sip.
It was completely dark outside the window.
The office lights were on, casting a white glow on the ceiling, creating a quiet atmosphere like another world.
Yangyang Jin knocked on the door and poked half her head in.
"Brother Huan, Meng Ziyi messaged you asking if you're coming over tonight."
Gao Huan looked up and glanced at her.
"Reply to her, however."
"it is good."
Yangyang Jin turned around and closed the door.
My phone vibrated again.
It seems that Mencius was becoming arrogant and complacent, or perhaps he had developed a taste for the finer things in life.
She's always like this: after being completely conquered, she's content with being just a bed partner, yet she always wants to take a leap forward, but she never has the final determination.
Meng Ziyi: [Huan-ge, I rehearsed at school all day today.]
【worn out】
Could you come and keep me company?
[I won't go.]
Why?
Are you busy tonight?
【Um. 】
What's the matter?
[More important than me?]
【Work.】
Okay [feeling wronged]
When are you coming over?
We'll see.
[Huan Ge]
Don't you like me anymore?
【No.】
Why haven't you come to see me much lately?
【busy. 】
You always say that.
Because it's true.
There was a moment of silence on the other end.
Then a voice message was sent.
Meng Ziyi's voice was soft, with a hint of coquetry.
"Huan-ge, do you still remember the first time you sang 'Confession Balloon' for me?"
You said this song was written for me. I still listen to it every night, and when I listen, I dream about you.
Gao Huan listened but did not reply.
A dozen seconds later, Meng Ziyi sent another message.
Are you chatting with Gulnazar?
【Um. 】
【...】
Couldn't you just lie to me for once?
That last sentence was a lie.
Do you still like me?
【like.】
Will you come looking for me again?
【meeting.】
When?
Once this busy period is over...
Okay [feeling wronged]
Then I'll wait for you.
Just don't abandon me.
[Huan Ge]
I really like you.
Much more than you imagine
Gao Huan stared at the message, his finger pausing on the screen for a moment.
Then I typed two words.
【Know.】
Lock screen.
My phone vibrated again.
Note: Dudu.
Chen Duling: [Huan-ge, congratulations on reaching 10 million followers!]
【Thanks.】
I watched the music video for "Medals"
I cried while watching this.
【...】
【real】
I cried the most during Fan Zhendong's segment.
[The Zhang-Xue segment is also included.]
Their eyes are so pure.
One is seventeen, the other is twenty-six.
[The lyrics you wrote: "The story begins in that first dream, the stars in the sky twinkle only for me"]
I feel this isn't just written for them.
[This is also written for yourself]
Gao Huan looked at the message and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
Chen Duling always seemed to see something else, though sometimes it was just her own imagination.
For example, in the song "Medal," he was just a shameless plagiarist who only wanted to become a superstar of Generation Z and then make friends with more female celebrities.
Maybe.
You are not the "maybe" type.
That's probably what you're thinking.
"...You know me better than I know myself?"
【No, no!】
[Just a little bit more about you than most people]
How much is "a little bit"?
Enough for me to last a lifetime
After this message was sent, the other party paused for a moment.
Then he hurriedly sent another message.