Huayu: Starting from the top talent show

Chapter 385 The Perfect Buddy
At noon on the 30th, Shen Juan and Zhou Ye arrived by car at the wedding venue of Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin:
Montage Palmetto Bluff, a 20,000-acre luxury resort in South Carolina.

The scenery here is beautiful and the climate is pleasant.

The early autumn sun in South Carolina dyed the maple leaves a honey color, a blend of red and yellow, and a faint fragrance filled the air.

After getting off the train, Shen Juan first admired the beautiful scenery around him, which was different from that in China, and took a few photos of Zhou Ye, who was running around excitedly like a happy puppy. Then he followed the wedding staff who came to pick them up and boarded the boat to the wedding venue.

That's right, it's by boat.

Bieber divided the more than 100 guests attending the wedding into "A-level" guests who needed special treatment and ordinary guests.

Category A guests were transported to the dinner venue by speedboat, while regular guests were transported by three vintage Crown buses.

As for the guests
Considering that Bieber doesn't have many friends (he had a lot of troubles when he was young, and he also has a manager with extremely poor interpersonal relationships. Even Shen Juan, who took time out of his busy schedule to attend the wedding, thought they were more like business partners than friends), the celebrities who came were mainly from the bride's circle of friends.

The famous Kardashian family sent four members: Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Kris Jenner, and their daughter Stormi.

Then there are Hailey's supermodel friends and Jaden Smith, who came out as gay earlier this month.

Shen Juan had little interest in socializing, or rather, this group of people didn't offer him any value in actively engaging in social conversations.

In fact, he had already made all the friends he considered worthwhile last year, so the rest were either nobody or up-and-coming stars who hadn't yet gained momentum.

He is the one these people need to curry favor with.

After disembarking, Shen Juan and Zhou Ke followed the staff for about two minutes and finally arrived at their destination.

Justin Bieber, dressed in a black suit, and Hailey Baldwin, dressed in a white wedding dress, had been waiting there for a long time.

“Alex, you know what I’m going to say.” Justin jogged over and bumped into Shen Juan’s shoulder, giving him a heartfelt hug and thanking him: “Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy tour schedule to travel across most of North America to attend my and Hailey’s wedding. I will always remember this.”

When he told Shen Juan that he would probably hold his wedding with Hailey this fall, it was just a casual remark.

Unexpectedly, Shen Juan agreed without saying a word, completely disregarding his schedule and other factors.

Moreover, most of the jewelry for this wedding was borrowed free of charge from Tiffany through Shen Juan's channels (Tiffany is an American brand, and many American women use Tiffany for their weddings). So, as a friend, Alex is truly impeccable; he's incredibly loyal and generous!
Shen Juan smiled and said, "Then how about granting me one request first?"

"I will do my best."

"Don't force me to drink tonight, and don't let your friends force me to drink either. I have to fly to Paris early tomorrow for a fashion show."

Bieber burst out laughing the moment he heard that.

I thought it was something serious! That's all?

So he patted Shen Juan's arm and said with a smile, "With tours and shows all the time, you deserve to be this famous now!"

Shen Juan shrugged helplessly. "Oh, right, I brought you some small gifts. See if you like them."

As soon as he finished speaking, the staff member who had been following behind him to collect the gifts immediately came over and handed them to Bieber—two black motorcycle jackets with the Chinese characters for "husband" and "wife" printed on them respectively, as well as a bunch of exquisite little gifts that were very Chinese in style but not outdated.

Although my friend sings English and Japanese songs, he never shouts slogans or makes jokes when it comes to cultural export.

"These are awesome, bro! I love them so much!" Bieber is never stingy with his thanks to those who deserve recognition.

Meanwhile, the girls were getting to know each other.

Having worked in the modeling industry for many years, Hailey was clearly the more proactive one. She started the conversation by mentioning Zhou Ye's clothes and accessories: "Is that a Dior evening gown and Tiffany jewelry? You look so beautiful in them! I asked my stylist to pull strings for ages to borrow them, but I couldn't!"

"Thank you! You're such a complimenter! Although this is the first time I've met you in real life, I still have to say you're even more beautiful in person than in videos and photos, especially in your wedding dress. Hailey, you look as beautiful as Venus today!" Zhou returned the compliment.

Shen Juan didn't know if Xiao Ye would still say "I regret it" in front of the live broadcast camera in this timeline. Anyway, in terms of English, whether it was Xiao Ye, Xiao Tian, ​​or Xiao Xiao, they could now basically communicate with foreigners in most aspects.

After all, they all knew that Shen Juan's main career as a singer was overseas, and if they wanted to get closer to him, they naturally had to learn English well.

It can only be said that the level of motivation determines learning efficiency.

If learning English could guarantee a date with Shen Juan abroad, then his fishing pond would likely be swept up in an English-learning frenzy, with everyone becoming an English master.

The group chatted casually while exchanging pleasantries with other guests as they walked toward the wedding venue.

The enthusiastic Hailey took Zhou Ye's hand and said she would introduce Zhou Ye to her friends, Kendall's group.

Shen Juan was a little worried, but Zhou Ye gave him an OK look, indicating that he could handle it.

She felt that she was the same age as Juanjuan, so there was no reason for Juanjuan to worry about and handle everything for her.

Bieber took two glasses of champagne from the waiter, handed one to Shen Juan, and asked with some curiosity, "Alex, if I may ask, isn't she the girl who ran with you on the Brooklyn Bridge a while ago and was photographed by passersby and made the headlines?"

Shen Juan accepted the champagne, clinked glasses lightly with Bieber, took a sip, and replied with a half-smile, "That's definitely not it."

Bieber smiled knowingly upon hearing this, thinking that Shen Juan might feel embarrassed about it, so he comforted him: "No need to feel ashamed, brother. When I was 21, I was more wild and crazy than you. I'm not going to discuss right or wrong with you. I just want to say that we all have to learn to make peace with our desires."

Born in 94, Bieber has been exposed to a lot of news and gossip through social media, so he is naturally very aware of Shen Juan's romantic escapades across the ocean, such as the absurd rumors that Shen Juan attacked Japan, conquered the peninsula, and turned the entire Chinese entertainment industry into his harem.
She is also very popular with America.

After Shen Juan created a scene in New York that was on par with an idol drama, many Alovers who have inside information about the Chinese entertainment industry compiled various clues about Shen Juan's relationships with Cheng Xiao and other "sisters-in-law" into a collection and uploaded it to the foreign internet.

The hype surrounding it during that period was really high!
After all, gossiping is human nature.

To many Americans who have only a superficial understanding of East Asia, Shen Juan is an unparalleled figure, like an emperor.

So much so that now any South Korean girl group member who tries to break into the US market can get a lot of attention just by saying they know Shen Juan.

If it weren't for the fact that Shen Juan's height and appearance are so different from the stereotypical image of Asians that is often vilified in the eyes of white people, he would probably have replaced Big Brother Cheng as the exclusive term for racial discrimination against Chinese and Asians by white people, thanks to his phenomenal fame and influence.

The problem is that Shen Juan isn't embarrassed at all; his skin, honed through countless trials, isn't nearly as thin as Bieber imagines.

So he smiled calmly and asked in a relaxed tone, "Why do you think I would feel ashamed about this? I find that you may have a misunderstanding about me."

"Wait, so the media is saying you're running a harem in East Asia?" Bieber was dumbfounded. After all, running a harem and running an impart are two completely different concepts. The former is more difficult and sophisticated, while the latter is basically no challenge for celebrities like them; it's just something to do casually.

"That's not a rumor, it's true."

"Really?" Bieber asked incredulously.

"It couldn't be more real." Shen Juan's expression remained unchanged.

"Holysh!" Bieber exclaimed in utter amazement, realizing he had underestimated this young man from China; he hadn't expected him to be so skilled.

So who exactly said that Chinese people are conservative and traditional when it comes to relationships? Who is it that Chinese people are all reserved?

That's complete bullshit!
Since Shen Juan and Zhou Ye flew from western Canada to southeastern United States, they were among the last guests to arrive at the wedding.

They arrived that afternoon, while the vast majority of guests had already checked into the hotel and participated in the rehearsal ceremony the day before.

So after arriving and exchanging pleasantries, it wasn't long before evening arrived and the wedding ceremony officially began.

The group went to a small church and took their seats.

Bieber and Hailey's family and relatives were seated in the front row, while Shen Juan and Zhou Ye were seated in the fourth row on the left.

To the beautiful melody of Canon, Bieber and Hailey stood face to face beneath a flower arch, gazing deeply into each other's eyes.

The priest began reciting the vows: "Justin Drew Bieber, do you take this woman beside you to be your wife?"

"I do." In front of more than a hundred people, Bieber nodded firmly and repeatedly to his bride.

"Hailey Rhode Baldwin, do you take this man beside you to be your husband?"

He received the same firm, earnest, and even more eager and long-awaited reply from Hailey: "I do!"

"As a testament to our love that lasts until death."

"What is our love that lasts until death?"

"As a testament to our love that lasts until death."

"What do you mean?"

Justin Bieber's humorous portrayal of a father elicited good-natured laughter from the guests, easing the originally serious atmosphere.

And so, their wedding continued in this solemn yet humorous and relaxed atmosphere.

Soon they arrived at the last line of the vows: "In the name of God, I declare them to be husband and wife."

Amid cheers and applause from the crowd as the pastor announced that the groom should kiss the bride, Bieber and Hailey kissed.

As Shen Juan clapped and watched, he felt a mix of emotions, mainly moved by the very nature of marriage and love.

From any perspective, Bieber is far from a good role model; he has done far too many wrong and disastrous things!
However, judging from his behavior over the past two years, Hailey's entry into Bieber's life has indeed changed him to some extent, leading to positive changes in him.

To summarize what Bieber's manager Scooter Braun was talking about with Shen Juan: When a man finds a good woman, he undergoes this change. Hailey made Bieber a better man and a better person.

So who was the girl who made me a better person?
Shen Juan subconsciously turned his head to look at his side, only to see that Zhou Ye, who had been jumping around excitedly, already had tears in his eyes.

"I don't know why, but I just feel like crying," Zhou Ye said pitifully to Shen Juan, her soft, tearful appearance evoking sympathy.

"If you want to cry, just cry. Don't hold it in. But to be honest, Xiao Ye, you're actually quite cute right now. I really want to take a picture of you with my phone," Shen Juan said with a smile, gently comforting her.

Zhou Ye looked at her boyfriend, who had suddenly started laughing for no reason, with teary eyes. Why wasn't he coming to comfort her?

She pouted uncontrollably and asked softly with a hint of coquetry, "Then why didn't you take a picture?"

“Because I don’t want to take pictures. When I really like a moment or a scene, I don’t want my phone and camera to distract me.” Shen Juan took out a tissue from his suit pocket and gently wiped away her tears. He said earnestly and gently, “I just want to immerse myself in this moment.”

"Why did you always send me photos when you were working abroad? Didn't you like those landscapes?"

"Actually, I really like it."

Zhou Ye's eyes were full of doubt and confusion. After a moment of silence, Shen Juan suddenly laughed and explained gently, "We all know that the brain can sometimes lie. We all have many false memories, so we need some tokens to prove or remind us of everything we experienced. But some feelings can't be captured by a mobile phone."

Zhou also felt that Shen Juan's words made a lot of sense and nodded in agreement. Reality is a million times better than photos!
Then I heard him continue, "But I will still take pictures, not to record them, but to show them to you."

Shen Juan gave a gentle smile, "Now you understand why I always share photos with you, right?"

Zhou was stunned.

She even forgot to cry.

Like a sudden explosion, all the doubts that had accumulated before were answered by the person involved at this moment.

She had expected to feel happy and excited after the truth came out, but instead she felt guilty and sad.

Because she didn't realize Juanjuan's feelings in time, she made him miss so many beautiful moments. Because she couldn't connect with him on a deeper level, she often treated the photos he sent with a playful and casual attitude, failing to notice the emotions contained in the photos, which made her feel guilty and sad.

She felt she had really done something wrong!

She knew perfectly well that while expressing love to others, she also needed to feel and receive the emotions and love that others extended to her.

The relationship between people is always reciprocal.

But she only gave, she didn't receive.

So, will Juanjuan feel even the slightest regret because I didn't realize his overflowing emotions?

Zhou couldn't help but think so too.

Of course, Shen Juan didn't care about any of that.

After all, it's impossible to get everyone else to fully understand you.

He is not someone who needs a lot of emotional feedback.

So he just continued talking to himself:
"I remember once when I was watching a nighttime fireworks show at Disneyland, everyone around me was holding up their phones and cameras, staring at the screen and filming videos. I was no exception. Then, for a moment, I suddenly felt really confused. I didn't know what I was doing. The fireworks were blooming right in front of me, but I was staring at the scene on the screen. So I suddenly didn't want to film anymore, and I put my phone away and used my eyes to enjoy the scenery."

"So I often wonder, should I use my eyes to see the magnificence of the present moment, like a fleeting glimpse of a beautiful flower? Or should I use my phone to record the incomplete present, focusing on the future to truly feel and remember it? In order to record those wonderful and dazzling moments that are breathtaking, we may not be able to witness and feel their existence with our own eyes, but the moment I raise my camera with the intention of sharing the scenery I see with others, I will also put down the scenery that I love most in this second."

"So in my opinion, videos and photos recorded by machines are never the best way to preserve beautiful scenery or feelings. Memory is. Your eyes are the best camera, and your heart is the best film." Shen Juan put down the wet tissue and gently wiped away the tears from Zhou Ye's eyes with his fingers. He smiled and narrowed his eyes. "To me, you are much more important than those landscapes and those feelings!"

Who said Juanjuan has changed?
His eyes are still so clear, okay?

Seeing the person she liked speak such words, which were almost a confession, in such a solemn and sincere manner, Zhou Ye's tears, which she had finally managed to hold back, burst forth again in an instant.

This time, however, it wasn't for anyone else, but for myself.

She hugged Shen Juan tightly and cried incessantly in his arms.

As Eileen Chang once said: People always feel happiest when they are approaching happiness, but become anxious and fearful when happiness is actually happening.

Thus, those who share this sentiment arrive at the conclusion that the happiest moment is when one is infinitely close to happiness.

Because of liking and caring, many unfounded emotions arise. The best way to dispel these emotions is to possess them.

But she thought that statement was wrong.

At least it's wrong in her eyes.

Once you actually own it, you love it even more.

Even after knowing each other for so long, I can still find a constant stream of freshness and affection in him.

How could someone who has been moved once only be moved once?
After the wedding ceremony in the evening, there was a banquet.

The wedding banquet venue felt like a magical forest, with candles on crystal candelabras, flashing lights, and purple lavender flowers hanging from the trees.

All the decorations are white, with white sofas and dining tables accented with gold tones, and silver-plated tableware also featuring gold embellishments.

Each table had a bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne, the bottle made of gold Swarovski crystal and engraved with their wedding date and the words 'The Biebers'.

Even the favors and water bottles given to guests were printed with Bieber and Hailey's last names and the wedding date.

As the host of the wedding banquet, Bieber went on stage to say some polite words of thanks to all the guests, and then came to a more interesting part: "catching the bride's bouquet".

A number of unmarried women suddenly appeared on the stage.

Zhou Ye was among them, but standing in the middle of a group of tall, muscular women, she appeared particularly weak and helpless.

As the countdown ended in unison, Hailey turned her back to everyone and forcefully threw her bouquet behind her.

Unsurprisingly, it ended up being taken by someone else.

Although Zhou Ye was somewhat discouraged, she still joined the crowd in applauding and cheering for the lady who caught the bouquet.

Next up were singing, dancing, and games.

The singers took turns performing on stage.

Daniel Caesar, whom Bieber and Hailey both admire, went on stage to sing. Bieber's mentor, Usher, also went on stage to sing and offer his blessings. Finally, it was Bieber's turn to perform, and he then called Shen Juan up on stage to sing "10000 Hours" with him.

Different parts are sung for different people.

If Shen Juan and Bieber were the main characters on stage, then Zhou Ye and Hailey were the main characters offstage.

Kendall, Camilla, and the others surrounded the two, who were beaming with happiness and had sparkling eyes, teasing and joking with them.

The photographer responsible for filming the wedding documentary captured this youthful and vibrant moment beautifully through his lens.

In short, everyone had a great time at the dinner party, and by the time everything was over, it was almost midnight.

However, Shen Juan and Zhou Ye did not rush back to their room to rest, but instead went to the oak forest outside to enjoy the breeze and take a walk.

The moonlight made Zhou Ye's already flawless face appear even more delicate and beautiful. She kicked at the pebbles and muttered, "I almost caught that bouquet! But they're all so tall. Hailey's friends are all supermodels over 175cm tall. I looked like a primary school student standing in there."

"So, the newbie accidentally got into a high-level game, huh?" Shen Juan laughed. He had actually secretly filmed that scene.

No offense intended, but Xiao Ye is right. Among that group of supermodels, she really does look like a primary school student who hasn't even started puberty yet. If he hadn't been paying attention to Xiao Ye's every move from the beginning, he probably wouldn't have been able to find the "weak, helpless, and pitiful" Xiao Ye among that group of people.

"There's nothing I can do but take it as a part of the experience!" Zhou sighed deeply, feeling utterly exhausted.

After walking quietly for a while, Shen Juan suddenly stopped and took out a pure white jasmine flower from his pocket.

"Still sighing in your heart? I just picked a jasmine flower at the wedding and gave it to you." He handed the jasmine to Zhou Ye. The moonlight was like water, shining on the pure white flower. "My mother once told me that the meaning of jasmine is kindness, loyalty, purity and respect. It symbolizes a pure heart and also represents unwavering loyalty to love."

"Can you also use the word 'unwavering loyalty'?"

Even so, Zhou Ye still took it and held it in her hands, her bright smile impossible to hide.

"Then give it back to me." Shen Juan rolled his eyes, feigning helplessness, and pretended to take back the jasmine flowers.

"How can you take back flowers that have been given away?" Zhou Ye quickly pulled Jasmine into his arms to avoid Shen Juan's clutches.

Just then, the sounds of the two laughing and playing startled the sparrows that were resting in the woods. Zhou Ye subconsciously took a half step back and, by sheer coincidence, ended up leaning against Shen Juan's chest.

Shen Juan raised his hand and pinched her cheek, then chuckled softly, "Do you think they're giving us a helping hand?"

Zhou Ye's ears burned, and she reluctantly withdrew from Shen Juan's embrace, the delicate fragrance of jasmine lingering in the air.

"What kind of assist is that?" she retorted stubbornly.

Shen Juan didn't reply, but suddenly took out his phone and started taking pictures of the slightly panicked girl in front of him.

Seeing this, Zhou rushed over to snatch the phone, trying to delete the photos that Shen Juantian might make fun of in the future.

Unexpectedly, Shen Juan not only did not dodge, but instead opened his arms and hugged the girl who had offered herself to him.

In the long silence, Shen Juan buried his head in her neck, breathing in the fresh scent of plants on her body and in her arms, and couldn't help but tighten his arms around her waist.

Zhou Ye seemed to sense his emotions, so she stopped struggling and acting strangely, silently feeling the body temperature coming from him, and naturally leaned against his chest.

After a long silence, Shen Juan asked softly, "Can you always stay by my side and be my buddy?"

"Buddy? Why not girlfriend or wife? Why Buddy?" Zhou asked curiously.

"Because we are not just lovers, but also the best friends, partners and collaborators in the world."

Zhou Ye's吐槽 (tu cao, a Chinese internet slang term for sarcastic or critical remarks) was stuck in her throat and hadn't even left her mouth when it instantly turned into a smile intertwined with happiness and sweetness.

"I see." As the lights of the manor in the distance dimmed, she suddenly raised her head and said with utmost seriousness, "I do!"

"Really?" Shen Juan raised an eyebrow.

“Absolutely true!” Zhou nodded vigorously.

"Let's stamp it first."

Shen Juan smiled and then slowly leaned down to kiss Zhou Ye, who was full of anticipation and eagerly waiting for a kiss.

Suddenly, a night breeze blew up their hair, and the refreshing fragrance of jasmine wafted through the air. The sparrows that had been startled earlier returned to the branches to rest.

At this moment, it's as if fate has finally returned the belated prize.

They finally welcomed each other's best friends and partners.

(End of this chapter)