Abstract Art Award Winner

At dawn, the hot spring villa on the outskirts of Beijing was gently enveloped by a layer of milky white mist.

The sweltering heat from last night has not completely dissipated, lingering in the cool air like a tender, lingering dream from which one is unwilling to wake.

Zhou Le gently lifted the silk quilt, and the chill instantly swept across his skin, causing him to shiver slightly.

His gaze fell on her side. Yang Mi had her back to him, and her smooth, jade-like back drew a breathtaking arc in the dim morning light.

The thin blanket slipped just to her waist, revealing her rounded shoulders and skin that shimmered with a delicate, pearly glow in the dim light, as if carved from the finest mutton-fat jade.

The other person didn't seem to be truly asleep. The moment Zhou Le got up, their eyelashes fluttered slightly, and then a languid laugh, thick with a nasal tone, escaped their lips:

“Le’er…you’ve already…run away?” She didn’t turn around, but buried her face deeper into the fluffy down pillow. Her voice, filtered through the fabric, became even more husky and magnetic. “You little ingrate…I’ve completely jumped out of that Jiaxing pool now, and I’m free.”

Yang Mi finally slowly turned over, the silk quilt outlining its undulating curves with her movements. Her peach blossom eyes were half-open and half-closed, misty with moisture, as she looked into Zhou Le's heart. "But in the future... the road ahead is long, and I might have to rely on Boss Zhou to make a living under your wing."

Zhou Le was buttoning his shirt cuffs when he heard this. His fingers paused, and he looked up with a cautious smile on his face: "Sister Mi, you're joking a bit too much. How could my little stall possibly invite a god like you?"

"You're the kind of person who can shake the entire industry with a stomp of your foot, and you want to work for me? If word gets out, won't I be torn to pieces by your fans?" Zhou Le's tone was relaxed, but his eyes carried a subtle scrutiny and aloofness, as if he were measuring an invisible boundary.

Playing around is one thing, but Zhou Le wouldn't dare to joke around with Sister Mi.

Yang Mi opened her eyes completely. Her usually alluring eyes now seemed to have been immersed in hot spring water all night, shimmering and unfathomable.

A meaningful smile played at the corners of her lips. She raised her hand, her slender, pale fingertips unconsciously tracing a shallow crease on the silky, cool bedsheet. Her voice lowered, trailing off with a hooked tone: "Oh? Is that so? But I remember last night in the pool, someone wasn't so modest..."

Yang Mi deliberately dragged out her words, each one sounding like it was heated by a hot spring, making people's hearts itch.

Zhou Le's heart skipped a beat, as if he had been struck by that gaze and those words at the same time.

Without changing his expression, he quickly and smoothly buttoned the last button, grabbed the custom-made suit jacket draped over the back of the chair, and moved with the fluidity of dodging an invisible predator.

"Sister Honey, you must be dizzy from soaking in the water and have misremembered."

Zhou Le spoke with certainty, but his gaze avoided those eyes that seemed to pierce through the soul, turning instead to the misty fog outside the window. "Last night? It was just everyone soaking in the hot springs, relaxing, and chatting about the possibility of future cooperation. A whole night of pure, unadulterated conversation, the water was crystal clear."

When he spoke, he deliberately emphasized "clear" and "pure".

Yang Mi stared at Zhou Le for a few seconds, her deep peach blossom eyes swirling with emotions, which ultimately turned into a clear, bell-like "pfft" laugh.

She pulled up the silk quilt to cover the lower half of her face, revealing only a pair of eyes filled with satisfaction and understanding. Her eyes were full of charm as she looked at him: "Haha, you're quite sensible and quick-witted. Go ahead, Boss Zhou. I know you're very busy."

Zhou Le felt as if he had been granted a pardon and left the room with an ambiguous atmosphere almost as if he were fleeing.

Only after getting into the car and the engine roared in a low voice, completely shutting out the gentle embrace behind him, did Zhou Le lean back heavily on the seat and let out a long, complex sigh.

The scenery outside the car window rushed past, but the scene at the hot spring pool last night played back vividly in my mind uncontrollably.

The rising steam blurred my vision, leaving only the tactile sensation.

Zhou Le subconsciously raised his hand to rub his temples, his voice a mixture of three parts lingering relish, three parts lingering fear, and four parts admiration that only men could understand: "Tsk... a top-notch young woman... subtly and silently, killing... no, bewitching people without a trace... her skill is indeed very impressive."

At the end of the year, Beijing is like a tightly wound precision machine, with the air filled with the hum of high-speed operation and a tense excitement forcibly embellished by the holiday.

Zhou Le quickly pulled himself out of last night's dream and plunged headlong into the CCTV Spring Festival Gala.

Also coming up is the long-awaited blockbuster for the start of the year – "All or Nothing".

"All or Nothing" – this film, which focuses on the dark inferno of a telecom fraud park in northern Myanmar, carries his ambition to win higher awards. He feels that this film can be as successful as "Dying to Survive".

The script has been polished and the casting has been finalized.

The core characters are Yi Yangqianxi, who plays "Pan Sheng," a character who is tricked into falling into the abyss, and Lu Bingkun, the head of the park.

The protagonist's name was changed based on the whistleblower.

However, both Zhou Le and Yi Yangqianxi happen to be performing on the Spring Festival Gala.

So they have plenty of time to talk about the script.

That day, after the group broke up, they contacted Yi Yangqianxi again.

"Director Zhou." Yi Yangqianxi raised his head, his voice clear and steady, "I'm currently preparing for that role. My condition is progressing according to plan. The nutritionist and coach's plan is very detailed. I'm cutting out sugar, controlling oil, building muscle and losing fat all at the same time. I'm also doing skin management."

Yi Yangqianxi pointed to his face, which was noticeably thinner and had a more defined jawline. He even deliberately held his wrist up to the light to show it off. "Look, isn't it whiter than before?" A self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips, but his eyes were incredibly serious. "I will capture that feeling of 'Pan Sheng'."

"Of course, the Spring Festival Gala is no problem either. I haven't missed any of my physical education or vocal lessons, so I can guarantee I won't let either down."

Zhou Le carefully examined Yi Yangqianxi and nodded in satisfaction: "Very good, Qianxi. Remember, Pan Sheng is not simply thin and weak. He was gradually drained of his energy by fear and despair, but the tenacity in his bones that refuses to give up is like a spark buried in ashes that cannot be extinguished."

Eye contact is key.

Zhou Le patted Yi Yangqianxi on the shoulder with a steady and firm touch, "After the New Year, when filming starts, take these next few days to digest the firsthand materials from the field research in northern Myanmar and the interview transcripts of those victims, and find that deep-seated despair and anger."

"Of course, you'll definitely have plenty of action scenes, don't worry about that. I promise you I won't go back on my word. I won't go into the first day of the Lunar New Year, but you'll need to practice a lot in the days that follow. I'll give you the script later. The script isn't difficult, the main thing is to find the right feeling."

During a break in preparations, Zhou Le's personal cell phone vibrated, displaying the words "Li Yundi" on the screen.

Once connected, it was still that same carefree, perpetually slightly drunk tone: "Hey? Director Zhou! Busy as bees, huh? A new shop just opened in Yanjiao, the owner's a buddy of mine, the ambiance is amazing! A truly secluded and tranquil place, and the ladies... cough, I mean the service, it's incredibly attentive! How about taking some time out, I'll take you there to relax? I guarantee it'll make your inspiration flow like a spring!"

The word "relax" was pronounced by Li Yundi with a myriad of nuances, full of implications.

Zhou Le gripped his phone, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. This wasn't the first time.

In recent encounters, Li Yundi's excessive excitement and almost neurotic energy have become increasingly apparent, and his eyes often wander.

An ominous premonition, like a cold snake, quietly coiled around Zhou Le's heart.

Zhou Le declined in a calm but unequivocal tone: "Teacher Yundi, I appreciate your kind offer, but the Spring Festival Gala rehearsals are at a critical stage, like a death knell. I also have a lot of things to decide on for my projects at the beginning of the year. I really can't be in two places at once."

He paused, then added, his tone carrying a moderate level of concern between friends and a subtle, almost imperceptible warning: "Take care of yourself too. Relax a little, that's enough. Don't overdo it. Take it easy, it's better to stay healthy."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, so quiet you could hear the hissing of electricity.

Immediately following, a slightly exaggerated laugh, barely concealing something, burst forth: "Haha! Teacher Zhou, what are you saying! What could possibly happen to me? Don't worry! We know what we're doing! Alright, you go ahead and get busy! We'll make another appointment later!"

The laughter abruptly ended, and the call was abruptly cut off.

Zhou Le looked at the darkened phone screen and couldn't help but sigh again.

New Year's Eve, CCTV Studio One.

This place is like a giant, high-speed, sophisticated honeycomb, or a bizarre and condensed arena of fame and fortune.

The air is fermented by a mixture of countless smells.

The base notes of high-end perfumes, the pungent smell of cheap hairspray, the greasy smell of backstage lunch boxes, the sweet scent of face powder, and the slightly salty smell of sweat.

And the ubiquitous hormone called "tension".

As the artistic consultant for the language-based program and a participant in his own song performance, Zhou Le, dressed in a sharp performance suit, wandered through the maze-like backstage area.

The sounds around my ears were incessant:

"Props! Where's the props team?! This lantern is crooked!"

"Teacher Zhang! Touch up your makeup! Quick! Cut the camera to me right away!"

"Brother Li, the third button on your coat is wrong!"

"Oh my little darling, how many times has this happened already! Move aside! Watch your positioning! Don't bump into the lifting platform!"

...The place was bustling with noise and the interplay of light and shadow.

As Zhou Le passed by a group of young dancers with exquisite makeup and sparkling costumes, they immediately bowed to him and sweetly greeted him in unison, "Hello, Brother Le!" Their eyes were full of awe and longing. Zhou Le simply nodded slightly and did not stop walking.

He turned the corner and ran into a highly respected elderly artist, who patted him on the arm with a smile: "Little Zhou, you're in great shape! It's your turn to shine later!"

The tone was that of a kind elder.

Zhou Le quickly responded modestly.

At the heart of this noisy vortex, Zhou Le felt a strange sense of detachment.

Zhou Le took out his phone and opened the pinned chat box.

Tian Xiwei sent me a photo.

In the photo, Tian Xiwei is wearing a fluffy, off-white coral fleece loungewear set with bear ear hats, looking like a giant glutinous rice ball, nestled in the soft sofa.

She was holding a carrot-shaped cushion that was almost as tall as her, and on the coffee table in front of her was an open bucket of potato chips and several bags of snacks.

The house was carefully decorated by Tian Xiwei over the past few days. The warm yellow floor lamp emitted a soft halo, and there were several cartoon drawings she had drawn herself on the wall. Several potted green plants on the windowsill were full of vitality.

The TV screen was lit up, showing the live broadcast of the Spring Festival Gala, with the camera focused on the host.

In one corner of the photo, you can also see her feet wearing pink fluffy slippers.

Xiao Tian: "[Image] Reporting to Director Zhou! Xiao Tian, ​​the audience on the front lines, is in position! (^▽^) Giving you her full support! Plenty of ammunition, potato chips, sunflower seeds, and sugary drinks! Waiting for your triumphant return to enjoy the surprise I've prepared!"

Following that was a real-life photo shoot of the "Golden Cat" skin that she and Yu Shuxin collaborated on during an advertisement shoot in Shanghai a few days ago.

Looking at Xiaotian's adorable smile in the photo, Zhou Le's tense lips unconsciously curled up.

Yu Shuxin had been called back home by her family a few days ago. In the vast city of Beijing, with its myriad lights, it seemed as if only this one light was shining brightly for Zhou Le, with a touch of silly persistence and warmth.

As midnight approached, the atmosphere in the studio reached its peak.

When the virtual fireworks, so dazzling they seemed unreal, exploded on the dome, a golden torrent, accompanied by a stirring symphony, swept across the entire venue, and the deafening cheers nearly lifted the roof off.

Standing on the side of the stage, Zhou Le looked at the bustling crowd and flashing light boards below. A mix of immense exhaustion and an equally immense sense of accomplishment welled up in his heart.

ended.

The hustle and bustle of the year seemed to settle down at this moment.

After removing her heavy stage makeup and changing into comfortable casual clothes, Zhou Le declined all invitations to celebrations and drove away alone from the still brightly lit city that never sleeps.

The city's neon lights rushed past in the rearview mirror, the hustle and bustle faded into the distance, and a tranquil feeling, as if longing to return home, slowly filled my heart.

The key turned gently, and the door opened.

A warm, sweet fragrance instantly enveloped Zhou Le, as if he had fallen into a giant, freshly baked cotton candy.

The TV was still playing a rebroadcast of the Spring Festival Gala on a low volume, and the joyful songs became a warm background sound.

My eyes immediately fell on the sofa, where Chef Tian was indeed still holding his ground, only now his posture had changed from that of a proper audience member to a completely "battle-damaged" one.

He held the giant carrot pillow in his arms, his head tilted against it, a few soft strands of hair playfully clinging to his slightly parted lips, which shone with a healthy, rosy glow.

He was asleep, his long eyelashes casting quiet fan-shaped shadows under his eyes, his breathing even and long, like a defenseless kitten that finally succumbed to sleepiness.

A fluffy slipper lay beside the sofa, revealing a white, jade-like, round and adorable toe.

The sound of the door opening startled Tian Xiwei from her light sleep.

Xiaotian mumbled a "hmm" in a daze, her long eyelashes fluttering violently like the wings of a startled butterfly, before finally managing to lift her lips a crack.

Her gaze lingered blankly, but when she recognized who was standing at the door, her almond-shaped eyes, still heavy with sleep, instantly lit up, as if filled with a dazzling galaxy.

All her weariness vanished, and a radiant smile, bright enough to dispel all gloom, bloomed on her face.

"Brother Le, you're back!!!" Tian Xi exclaimed in surprise, her voice soft and sweet from just waking up, as if she wanted to jump up immediately.

However, the giant carrot-shaped pillow in her arms and the sinking sofa tripped her up, causing her to stumble and almost fall flat on her face.

The slipper on her other foot also flew off with a "whoosh" during the violent movement and landed on the carpet not far away.

For a moment, Xiao Tian didn't care about her image anymore. With one bare white foot, she skipped and jumped towards Zhou Le like a happy little deer.

She stood in front of Zhou Le, her small face slightly tilted up, her eyes shining brightly, filled with pure, unadulterated joy and dependence, clearly reflecting his figure.

A few unruly strands of hair playfully perched on her smooth forehead, and her cheeks, flushed with excitement and just having woken up, were two alluring, peach-like blushes.

It makes you want to take a bite.

"You're finally back! Are you tired? Are you hungry?"

Xiaotian chattered away, her voice as clear and bright as a nightingale just emerging from its valley, filled with undisguised tenderness and anticipation, "I made dumplings! Really! Three-delicacy dumplings! I tasted them, and the taste... um... it's alright! It's just..."

Xiaotian suddenly felt a little embarrassed, unconsciously poking her two index fingers together, sticking out her pink little tongue, looking extremely cute and innocent. "It's just that their shapes... are probably more creative!"

As Xiaotian spoke, she pointed towards the kitchen like she was showing off a treasure, completely unaware of how cute and tempting she looked, with one bare foot, slightly disheveled hair, and pressure marks on her face.

Watching Xiaotian's flustered yet energetic and slightly clumsy sincerity, Zhou Le felt all the extravagance, fatigue, backstage intrigue, and even the lingering thrill of last night that he had picked up along the way were instantly washed away by the warm atmosphere in the room and the vibrant life force of the person in front of him.

A warm current welled up from the deepest part of my heart and instantly spread to every part of my body.

Zhou Le's heart melted completely, as if it had been gently brushed by the softest feather.

He reached out, with a hint of barely perceptible doting, and gently ruffled her fluffy, soft hair, feeling the soft, fuzzy texture. His voice was low, soft, and husky, a tone he hadn't expected.

"Yes, you're back." Zhou Le's gaze swept over Xiao Tian's bare feet, his brows furrowing slightly, but his tone softened even more. "The floor is cold, put your shoes on."

As he spoke, Zhou Le bent down very naturally, picked up the fluffy slipper that had flown off, squatted down, and gently held Xiao Tian's slightly cool ankle.

The delicate and smooth texture made him unable to resist touching it again.

Gently help Xiaotian put on her slippers.

"Brother Le, hehe." Xiao Tian was still a little embarrassed.

After standing up, a playful yet gentle smile appeared on his lips. "As for the dumplings... the masterpiece of Chef Tian, ​​the abstract gourmet? I'd better have a good look at them. Come on, lead the way."

Zhou Le took Xiao Tian's slightly cool hand and wrapped it in his warm, broad palm. Without saying a word, he led her towards the kitchen, which was filled with the aroma of food and might be a mess, but was incredibly warm.

He squeezed the soft, boneless hand in his palm, leaned close to Xiaotian's reddened earlobe, lowered his voice, and whispered with a knowing smile that only the two of them could understand, "But... compared to dumplings, this little glutinous rice ball in front of us seems... a bit more tempting?"

Tian Xiwei's ears turned bright red instantly, and she playfully punched Zhou Le's arm, but the force was so light it was like a tickle.

In the kitchen, just as Xiaotian had said, dozens of dumplings of various shapes and sizes were laid out on the cutting board, some with their skins split open to reveal the filling.

Without exception, they all revealed the owner's deep, albeit clumsy, affection.

A few pieces of boiled dumpling soup were still floating in the pot.

Looking at the "battle-damaged" kitchen and the girl in front of him with rosy cheeks, bright eyes, and a mix of pride and trepidation, Zhou Le felt his chest filled with a strong sense of happiness called home.

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular forearms, and smiled indulgently: "Come on, Chef Tian, ​​we've been waiting for so long and we're starving. Let's eat, we'll have dumplings first and then you."

Xiao Tian suddenly had a flash of inspiration and replied, "Eat dumplings first, then eat you, life will be sweet and happy?" (End of Chapter)