Chapter 5

I suddenly realized that my flights of fancy are akin to a director encountering a vibrant actor, or a painter experiencing a moment of heart-stopping inspiration; the story and imagery do not require any conceptualization, as they are already vividly present in my mind

As expected, Sisi and I hit it off immediately, sharing a deep connection, not just mutual interests, but also engaging in open conversations. We often made plans to go out to eat or she would come to my house to use the WiFi, staying up late together binge-watching American dramas

It is somewhat subtle that, at the time, they asked me to avoid any suspicion with Yu Gaoxing, yet did not require us to directly swear in front of the camera that we would never become lovers. Are they perhaps worried that one day I might actually be with Yu Gaoxing

A true hero does not boast about past glories; moreover, when he was on the award stage, I was still busy filming a low-budget web drama, waiting in line for my lunch box. He could only remain humble for a few seconds before seriously stating, "If he had entered the film industry to take on a leading role, we would undoubtedly have become competitors."

I reluctantly responded with a sound, my expression still one of confusion. He then asked, "Do you not recognize me?"

What I am referring to is the person sitting directly opposite me, at another long table. He has fair skin and a somewhat thin face, but he should be quite young. He is wearing a checkered coat from an Italian luxury brand, with an ivory white suit underneath. The lighting falls perfectly on his face.

I once believed that the criteria for becoming a star were looks and charisma. However, after entering the industry, I discovered that some rely on packaging and luck, some on family background, and of course, there are those who possess both looks and charisma, truly standing out from the crowd

Regardless of the circumstances, Yu Gaoxing wants to introduce friends to me, and I am very interested. On one hand, I have encountered such individuals before; I only know male colleagues who drink, chase women, and show off, as well as female colleagues with a terrifying temper who can finish a whole pack of cigarettes in a morning, and even those who vent their dissatisfaction on the staff. I understand that in any industry, one will inevitably come across unsatisfactory colleagues. As long as they do not disturb me, I will not interfere with them either.

The paparazzi only reported on the rumors between him and me once, which did not stir up much commotion. The ambiguous atmosphere between men and women is easier to capture than that between same-sex individuals. However, Yu Gaoxing and I are open and aboveboard; even if we play late, we still return to our respective homes, showing no signs of any rapidly developing potential. We have firmly established a friendship based on camaraderie, and they no longer waste their energy tracking us as we wait by the roadside for the pancakes to be ready.

At this moment, I am not referring to Yu Gaoxing.

I asked, "What flower?"

Indeed, he has already caught the third nut.

Who would boast while laughing? As I thought this, I lowered my head and laughed as well, and no one noticed that at this moment, we had already been captured on camera

I will not disclose the specific address of the sesame seed cake shop. At that time, Yu Gaoxing, believing the rumors, took me there to investigate. In my opinion, it was acceptable.

Upon arriving at the hotel hosting the banquet, I was greeted by a sea of media reporters holding cameras, a dark crowd. Behind them stood two tall camera cranes, while on the other side lay a spacious yet desolate red carpet, waiting for guests to walk upon it. I swallowed my yawn, fully awake.

During the film promotion period, Yu Gaoxing and I often shared the same schedule, and after work, we would have a meal together. Even though we have not collaborated again since then, we still meet whenever we are in the same city, and it is no longer a novelty to be spotted by passersby.

You actually know? I'm sorry, although Yu Gaoxing does not seem to resemble a good-for-nothing delinquent, he also does not appear to be an intelligent top student. He is the kind of child who does not arrive late or leave early, dozes off during class, runs wildly after class, possesses a strong athletic ability, and has a simple mind

He conveyed to me a feeling—this was a dinner hosted by his family, and he was not particularly interested, yet he had to attend and maintain politeness, not wanting to lose face for his family. He pretended to be indifferent, turning his wrist out from the neatly arranged cuff to check his watch, internally muttering: Oh God, let time pass quickly!

What we are quietly discussing is also the arrangement on the table. He said, "These are real flowers, aren't they?"

I suddenly realized, we can start from here

The box office performance of "Full Moon" is impressive, attributable not only to substantial investments and post-production promotion but also to the efforts of all those involved in the film's production

I do not like to insult others verbally, and I hold in disdain those who derive pleasure from undermining the confidence of others. Yet, in the moment, I could not help but say, "What do you all have to compare?"

He smiled, helped me pull out the chair, and I naturally took a seat beside him, not daring to let my guard down. Cameras surrounded us; even though they tried to hide in the shadows, they still captured everyone's attire, the smiles on their faces, and the soft sounds that were lighter than the clinking of highball glasses. They chatted about recent events, overflowing with compliments.

I do not mind, and neither does Yu Gaoxing, but his agent and my sister Fangfang both believe that we should avoid suspicion. Therefore, for the entire year before last, I was like a stranger to him. It was not a matter of friendship breaking down or going our separate ways; rather, it transformed from frequently meeting for meals to being 'dead upon exposure' as online acquaintances, and moreover, as underground acquaintances, because Sister Fangfang said, 'It is best if you do not interact on Weibo at all.'

Which one? He received my hint and replied in a low voice, "The one in the white clothes? Zhou Jiashu."

Amidst the crowd, some engaged in dignified greetings and others in lively banter, I spotted Yu Gaoxing, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, and walked towards him. Upon seeing me, he looked up and asked, "Which celestial fairy has descended to earth?"

Although I cannot draw a definitive conclusion about the type of person I like, which does not have a complete outline, Yu Gaoxing's ideal type is very firm and clear. How do I know this? This matter, as Teacher Meng said, is 'full of charm.' But where should I begin to tell this story?

If that is the case, I believe this concern is unnecessary; we are not each other's cup of tea

He seemed to sense my gaze, so I turned my face away and nudged Yu Gaoxing with my elbow, quietly asking him, "Who is that person?"

"Buttercup, do you not know?"

The next day, on the way to the airport, Tongtong was scrolling through Weibo and saw a GIF shared by a fan, which bluntly stated, "When you two are together, your IQ drops."

Winter has arrived, and no one is stopping Yu Gaoxing from joining me and Sisi for hot pot. Perhaps it is due to the belief in the stability of a triangle, just a joke. It should be that both Yu Gaoxing and I have new 'partners'.

Although abandoned by the paparazzi, it does not prevent fans and friends from wanting to pair me with him

I write and delete, struggling to find the right way to describe it in order to achieve the sense of progression I desire. It's quite amusing, as I am not a writer. However, this is just my nature; if I can do something well, I must do it well. If I anticipate that I will not do it well, I would rather lie down and take a nap, as that is more meaningful than expending effort in vain

Until then, Yu Gaoxing had the fortune of meeting Qiao Sisi and also wanted to introduce her to me. The first time I heard the name Qiao Sisi, I was unfamiliar with it. I searched online and learned that she is a television actress from the mainland, the same age as me, and has been in the industry for five years. When her first television drama was aired, I had already moved to Hong Kong and had little interest in mainland television dramas.

I am ` more ' ! '' He laughed so hard that his shoulders shook

I am from Guohui Hotel, No. 179, Nanhe Road

It was at the beginning of last year when I received an invitation to a charity gala hosted by a fashion magazine. However, the day before, I was in another city attending a ribbon-cutting event for a watch brand. On the day of the gala, I woke up early, flew to the capital, and started getting my makeup and hair done from noon, which left me so exhausted that I could barely keep my eyes open

The comments under this Weibo post differ from hers; they are quite excited about the thawing of my relationship with Yu Gaoxing, the rekindling of old ties, the long-held memories finally receiving a response. Thanks to the organizers, and thanks to the staff who arranged the seating

Yu Gaoxing, with his distinctive yet non-threatening face, has won the favor of the vast majority of the audience. I have also returned to the public eye, receiving numerous accolades. However, I am well aware that, in order to protect my state of mind, those around me will not allow me to hear any negative comments.

I believe it is because they are still not very familiar with each other; those who are acquainted would probably feel like I do with Yu Gaoxing, as if they are just there to mooch a meal.

Secondly, I have very few friends in my circle, so I cherish Yu Gaoxing greatly. He does not require me to make an effort to focus on his strengths in order for us to collaborate; his merits are evident and thus precious. The people he wants me to befriend are certainly not lacking in quality

Never? I was thinking, there seems to be one occasion, perhaps because it was only that one time, I remember it very clearly

He humbly said, "I know him, but he may not necessarily know me"

He must know you, for you are the youngest Best Actor.

Who are you

After walking the red carpet and concluding the interview, I entered the banquet hall under the guidance of the hostess. I passed through the Western-style reception setup and arrived at the long table closest to the stage. She informed me that I could choose any seat here at my discretion

Thus, I picked up my phone to indulge in a bit of laziness and also to seek some inspiration. I happened to come across an interview with Yu Gaoxing, where the reporter asked him how he would evaluate his friend Tang Yike.

Isn't this obvious? One is handsome, and the other is even a bit more handsome

Do you know ?

Yu Gaoxing said, "She... is not a detrimental friend; she has never harmed me and has only provided affirmation and encouragement. This is something I should learn from her"

It is truly strange; I thought I could not appreciate the charm of very young men. In the past, I even harshly thought of them as translucent wrappers of colorful candies, shimmering and carrying a hint of sweetness, yet in reality, they have no flavor when tasted

At around six o'clock in the evening, it was all due to the car driving steadily that I could doze off even with a few styled hairpins clamped on my head

I know that no one is perfect, but his imperfections align perfectly with my aesthetic