Abstract Art Award Winner

Brilliant fireworks lit up the dark blue sky, outlining the tail feathers of a phoenix.

The magnificent sight of blooming flowers illuminated this small corner of the cliff as if it were daytime.

The light from the fireworks danced on Naza's face, and her eyes, which reflected the dazzling starlight, were initially filled with unbelievable shock, but then quickly misted over.

The fireworks lasted for almost an hour.

They watched for an hour.

The last golden firework, trailing a long, bright tail, streaked across the sky like a shooting star before fading into silence, leaving only the faint smell of sulfur and the twinkling stars.

The world seemed to have been muted, with only the rustling of the mountain wind through the withered grass and Naza's slightly rapid breathing.

She turned around abruptly, without saying a word, but opened her arms and hugged Zhou Le tightly beside her.

Naza's body trembled slightly as she buried her face deep in his neck, her warm liquid instantly soaking his collar.

"Thank you..." The voice was muffled, with a heavy nasal tone, and contained an overwhelming sense of gratitude. "This is the best New Year's gift I've ever received."

It wasn't expensive jewelry, nor limited-edition bags, but this night sky that bloomed just for her, a night so brief yet eternal.

This sentiment is unique and touches the heart.

Zhou Le held her close, feeling the gentle trembling of her delicate body and the overwhelming emotions emanating from her.

He gently patted Naza's back, rested his chin on the top of her head, and inhaled the faint fragrance of her hair.

No more words needed.

At the same time, I was filled with admiration for Xiao Su.

Preparing such thoughtful fireworks in one day, you truly deserve to be my prized assistant, Zhou Le!
The darkness of night provides the best cover, and the silence at the edge of the cliff isolates it from the world.

The temperature quietly rose in the cramped space inside the car.

The initial embrace gradually changed its meaning.

Naza raised her head, her tear tracks still wet, but her eyes were already glazed over.
She took the initiative to kiss him, no longer a fleeting touch, but a tender embrace that bordered on possessive.

Even with Zhou Le's strong physique, his mind still went blank for a moment during this intense demand.

Before the shock of the fireworks had completely subsided, Naza's passion swept over him, and for a moment he could only respond passively, feeling the thrill brought by her skillful tongue.

Her kisses traveled down his jawline, burning hot, and finally landed on his collarbone, leaving a clear mark.

"Hiss..." Zhou Le gasped, the slight stinging pain mixed with an indescribable tingling sensation instantly igniting a long-suppressed flame within him.

He never imagined he would be in the car.

This was the first time for him.

With such a cramped space, bumps and knocks were inevitable, but outside the car window stretched an endless wilderness, giving rise to a secret yet intense sense of excitement.

The chair was slowly reclined, and the clothes became disheveled amidst rapid breathing and groping.

A thin layer of condensation gradually settled on the car windows, blurring the cool starlight outside but clearly reflecting the entangled silhouettes inside.

Every touch was electrifying.

The car body made a barely perceptible, rhythmic creak on the silent mountaintop, intertwining with the occasional calls of night birds in the distance.

Now, only the two of them remained that night.

When everything calmed down, all that remained were their pounding heartbeats and intertwined breaths.

Naza curled up in Zhou Le's arms like a lazy cat, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on his sweaty chest.

Zhou Le lowered his head and kissed the top of her head, his voice hoarse with the aftermath: "Next time we'll have to drive an MPV, this car is still a bit too small."

Naza chuckled: "What, you still can't get going?"

Zhou Le shook his head: "No, it's because your legs are too long."

It was already past midnight when we got back to the city.

Zhou Le dropped Nazha off at her apartment building and drove away only after watching her enter safely.

On the morning of the first day of the new year, Gulnazar updated her Weibo.

The picture shows last night's fireworks, with only one line of text on it:
"Thank you for being unique, Happy New Year."

I didn't tag anyone.

This seemingly random Weibo post instantly ignited the gossip-loving hearts of fans and onlookers.

The penguin has no hands: "Unique? What's unique? A gift?"

Xuan Yu Zhenjun: "Sister Nazha is up to something! Who! Who sent this one-of-a-kind gift!"

Short-circuited Ah Bai: "I'm guessing Zhou Le! They're probably the closest of friends, right?"

Yes, Yu: "Don't make wild guesses upstairs. Zhou Le was photographed at another dinner party yesterday!"

How to relieve worries: "Maybe it was a gift from my best friend? But the tone doesn't quite seem like it..."

Meeting Strangers: "Waiting for a follow-up! Please, brother-in-law, show up!"

Loves to drink aged vinegar: "Happy New Year, my darling Nazha! Whoever it is, as long as I'm happy!"

The trending topic was quickly:

#NazhaIsOneOfOne#
#Nazha's Mysterious Gift#
#Nazha's Romance#
The terms "etc." occupy the space.

Fans turned into Sherlock Holmes, analyzing her recent schedule and the male celebrities she had been in contact with. Various speculations arose, and some even compiled a long list of "suspects," with Zhou Le's name prominently featured. However, this list was quickly overwhelmed by other speculations.

Just as everyone was discussing it enthusiastically, Dilraba updated her Weibo in the afternoon.

She posted a selfie in the mirror, showing only her long neck and delicate collarbone.

The focus was immediately drawn to the exquisitely designed diamond necklace she wore between her collarbones, with a small, abstract moon-shaped pendant.

The accompanying text is equally concise:
"New Year, step into a fairy tale."

The moment this Weibo post was published, the public opinion shifted dramatically.

"Dilraba has a new necklace? It's so pretty!"

"A fairy tale? Naza's Weibo post... unique... wow, these two..."

"Holy crap? Are they having a competition from afar? You show off your unique items, and I'll show off my castle?"

"I feel like I've never seen Dilraba's necklace before."

"Could it be from the same person? Could it be Zhou Le again?"

Zhou Le: Don't call me out. I'm just sitting at home, and trouble is falling on my head.

"Hahaha, Zhou Le has been dragged into this again as a scapegoat? But this time it seems like he really has nothing to do with it?"

"The people here are ecstatic! Are these two beauties putting on a soap opera for us on the very first day of the new year? Let's fight! (Just kidding!)"

The public discourse was bustling with activity, with various interpretations emerging one after another.

Although Zhou Le's name was mentioned, it was mostly in joking tone, with comments like "Brother Le has become a tool again" and "Brother Le's attempt to disappear has failed."

It was quickly overwhelmed by speculation about Gulnazar and Dilraba's "gift competition".

Both actresses remained silent, allowing outside speculation to fester. Eventually, lacking concrete evidence and responses from the parties involved, the controversy gradually died down, becoming a much-discussed unsolved mystery in the entertainment industry at the beginning of the new year.

A few days later, the final rehearsal for the Spring Festival Gala will take place.

Zhou Le did not participate in the program this year, but he received an invitation from CCTV to sit in the front row of the audience as a guest.

That day, he discreetly entered the broadcasting building through a special passage.

I had barely sat down in the backstage rest area when I saw Wu Jing, wearing a military green jacket and walking with a brisk pace, stride over.

"Le'er!" Wu Jing laughed and patted Zhou Le on the shoulder, then sat down next to him. "You're keeping a low profile, aren't you? Are you really just going to be a spectator this year?"

"Brother Jing!" Zhou Le replied with a smile, "I've been busy this year and haven't prepared any performances. It's a good time to take a break and focus on enjoying the performances of all the teachers."

Wu Jingdian nodded, picked up the water brought to him by the staff, and took a sip: "That's good, it's rare to have some free time."

He paused for a moment, then lowered his voice, "But do you know what? Zhen Zidan and I are on the same show this year."

Zhou Le was genuinely surprised to hear this.

The feud between Wu Jing and Zhen Zidan, which began when they collaborated on "Sha Po Lang," is no secret in the industry. Although they later reconciled on the surface, it's clear to everyone that their relationship is delicate, and they rarely appear on the same stage, let alone on the same show.

"Oh?" Zhou Le raised an eyebrow. "What program? You two...fighting? In the octagon? It's not some kind of no-holds-barred fighting game, is it?" Wu Jing: "."

"What are you thinking? You want me to have some kind of unrestricted fighting on the Spring Festival Gala?"

"Martial arts performance, 'Heroes of Heaven and Earth'."

Wu Jing's tone was flat, revealing little emotion. "It's what the higher-ups arranged. The theme requires it to showcase the profoundness of Chinese Kung Fu and... well, unity and harmony." He shrugged. "The director team's intention is very clear. I'll just go along with it."

Zhou Le understood.

On the special stage of the Spring Festival Gala, personal grudges must indeed give way to the greater good.

"Great, Brother Jing, your kung fu skills are definitely enough to hold your own," he said sincerely.

As the two were chatting, the chief director, Chen Lin, hurriedly walked by, surrounded by several staff members.

He caught sight of Zhou Le in the rest area, stopped in his tracks, and a surprised smile appeared on his face. He immediately turned around and walked over.

"Zhou Le! You've finally arrived!" Director Chen warmly shook hands with Zhou Le and then greeted Wu Jing. "I was wondering if you would come today! That's wonderful!"

"Hello Director Chen, I've been invited to watch the rehearsal and learn from the teachers," Zhou Le replied politely.

"What are you looking at!" Director Chen waved his hand, his tone filled with undeniable enthusiasm. "Since you're already here, how about you lend a hand? Just step in and save the day!"

Zhou Le and Wu Jing were both taken aback.

“Director Chen, please speak,” Zhou Ledao said.

“That’s right,” Director Chen said quickly, “There was originally a piano solo by Li Yundi, ‘I Love You, China’.”

However, the production team unanimously felt that a pure piano performance combined with dance might be a bit too monotonous in terms of impact on television, and the performance would also be a bit too long. After some discussion, we decided to add vocal performances.

He looked intently at Zhou Le: "Time is tight and the task is heavy! There's no time to find someone else to learn and practice on the spot, and I'm afraid we won't be able to sing with that momentum and flavor."

Zhou Le, you have a great voice, a strong stage presence, and most importantly, you're incredibly quick to learn! How can I help you out? The sheet music is ready; you and Li Yundi can coordinate, and it'll be perfect!

A way to save the day for the Spring Festival Gala?

Or should we collaborate with Li Yundi?

Zhou Le's heart skipped a beat.

I never expected to actually encounter something like this, and I'll have to step in to save the day in just a few days.

"Since Director Chen trusts me, I will definitely do my best!" Zhou Le agreed without hesitation.

"Great! That's fantastic! I knew you could do it!" Director Chen was overjoyed and immediately called to his assistant, "Remember to take Teacher Zhou Le to the practice room later! Teacher Yun Di should still be practicing there! You two need to make the most of your time to practice together!"

After the director and the main cast left.

Zhou Le then looked at Wu Jing.

"Brother Jing, I don't think this is as simple as it seems, is it?"

Wu Jing smiled.

"Of course! The Spring Festival Gala is a high-level event. There aren't that many things that need to be salvaged. It's already a miracle they didn't cut your program. I reckon it's related to the meeting a few days ago; someone must have put in a good word."

"I think so too. I'll ask around later. Shall I go check on the rehearsal?"

"Go."

Come to the door.

The door of the piano room was ajar.

A melodious and powerful piano sound flowed out.

Pushing open the door, I saw a man in a well-tailored black suit sitting in front of a grand piano.

Fingers danced and leaped across the piano keys, their movements elegant yet powerful.

Li Yundi and Zhou Le had never met before, but he had heard of them. However, the version he heard, besides the fact that the other party had a good talent for piano, also contained some other things that he couldn't say.

He wasn't surprised that the other person was coming to the Spring Festival Gala this time, since they were often paired with other people in the past, and the main reason was that Lang Lang didn't come.

Li Yundi can be considered a younger version of Lang Lang.

After the music ended, Zhou Le went inside.

Li Yundi slowly withdrew her hand, only then noticing Zhou Le at the door.

"Teacher Zhou Le? I've heard so much about you. Director Chen just told me that it's kind of you to step in at the last minute."

"Teacher Yundi, you're too kind. It's an honor to work with you."

Zhou Le also reached out and shook hands with the other person.

The assistant handed the sheet music to the two of them.

Here, Li Yundi plays the piano, the two backup dancers dance, and Zhou Le sings.

With time running out, the two didn't exchange many pleasantries and immediately began rehearsals.

Li Yundi's piano accompaniment skills are quite good. Zhou Le couldn't hear anything wrong with it, but after all, it's the Spring Festival Gala. If they really don't perform well, they'll have to apologize to the people of the whole country.

But not long after, a music teacher came to give Zhou Le some guidance.

Zhou Le was finally relieved to see the other person.

If you try to figure it out on your own, you might not have enough time.

The Spring Festival Gala performance is unlike any other program.

It's okay to sing off-key at a concert.

If you can't hit the high notes, you can pretend to cry or laugh, and the audience will buy it anyway. But if you do something like this on the Spring Festival Gala, you'll probably have to say goodbye to the entertainment industry.

"Here, let your breath sink a little deeper, open up the chest resonance..."

"Yes, that's it! The high notes need to be high and full, but not cracking, and not too heavy, but too sharp is also no good..."

"Okay! Let's do it again, this time try to keep up with the rhythm of the music..."

In the practice room, the piano and human voices intertwined and collided, over and over again.

Sweat gradually soaked Zhou Le's temples. Singing was actually a kind of exercise, at least that's what Zhou Le thought.

Rehearsals continued until the bell rang, signaling the end of the day's rehearsal.

Stepping out of the music room, Zhou Le felt a bit tired in his throat, but his spirits were unusually high.

Li Yundi also looked a little tired, but her expression was much more relaxed.

He wiped the fine sweat from his forehead with a tissue, glancing at Zhou Le with a faint smile playing on his lips:

"Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Zhou. You were very efficient today. It's getting late, how about... we find a place to relax? I know a few places, I can recommend one if you need."

Zhou Le paused, meeting Li Yundi's deep eyes.

The suggestion to "relax" seemed to carry an unusual meaning, given the other person's gentle tone and slightly meaningful gaze.

This brings to mind certain hidden rumors within the industry…

"No, no," Zhou Le waved his hand immediately, his smile frank. "I am indeed a little tired today and want to go back to rest early to recover my voice and prepare for tomorrow's rehearsal. Teacher Yundi, you should also get some rest early."

He declined decisively.

Li Yundi didn't seem surprised. She just smiled and nodded, "Alright. See you tomorrow, Teacher Zhou."

"See you tomorrow."

After saying goodbye to Li Yundi, Zhou Le walked down the brightly lit backstage corridor.

They ran into Zhang Yixing, Yi Yangqianxi, Zhang Guoli, Yang Mi, Li Qin, and others who had just finished rehearsing.

He greeted these people familiarly, but because there were so many people, Zhou Le couldn't say many of his witty remarks openly.

Finally, he walked outside with Li Qin.

"You were incredibly busy last year. I heard from Xinlido that you were working like a model worker. Everyone at Tencent Pictures admired you. What about this year?"

Zhou Le smiled.

"As long as you can't do it to death, do it to death!"

Li Qin thought for a moment: "Are you talking about people or jobs?" (End of Chapter)