Abstract Art Award Winner

After Meng Ziyi's amazing performance, the atmosphere in Peach Blossom Village, which had been somewhat unpleasant before, became unusually relaxed and harmonious.

That slightly awkward yet amusing scene subtly broke down the last vestiges of restraint and distance.

The goal is to make everyone realize that this is just a show where people can relax and be themselves, without having to be constantly on edge and trying to be perfect.

In the following dramatic performance segment, each group displayed their unique talents and abilities.

Song Dandan put together an extremely relatable skit that focuses on the amusing stories of elderly people using smartphones. Song Dandan is naturally the absolute lead, while Wang Sulong and Wang Chuanjun play supporting roles, one as an impatient son and the other as an equally clueless old friend. The skit is full of laughs and also touches on the warmth of the occasion.

In particular, Wang Sulong's performance was incredibly immersive.

Anything is fine as long as he doesn't have to sing.

Surprisingly, Su Mang's group put on a short play with a touch of suspense. Zhang Han and Huang Jingyu delivered extremely serious performances. Although the script was a bit melodramatic, their handsome faces and dedicated performances still won applause, especially from Su Mang, who was particularly satisfied.

Li Xueqin's group's impromptu performance was a complete farce, a blend of Northeastern dialect, crosstalk jokes, and internet slang, but in some ways...

The final act was performed by Zhou Le and Tian Xiwei, who acted out a ridiculous script, mainly focusing on abstract concepts.

The performance was a great success.

At this point, everyone started urging musician Wang Sulong to perform as well, instead of just providing accompaniment.

Wang Sulong stood up with a smile, adjusted his glasses, looked at Zhou Le, and deliberately brought up the old matter again: "Performing is fine, but if you want me to sing? That's a different price! Le'er, you said that first, where's the money?" He directly changed the subject and shifted the conflict.

As I said before, singing is out of the question.

Everyone looked at Zhou Le with smiles, wondering how he would respond.

Zhou Le laughed and said frankly, "Brother Long, talking about money hurts feelings. We're like brothers."

"I don't have money, but..." he deliberately kept everyone in suspense, "I've prepared something else for you, something more substantial than money. You should be able to get it back when you leave after the show is finished."

Wang Sulong was just joking, and seeing this, he went along with it: "Okay, I'll be waiting. I'll perform one on credit first!" He then played the guitar and sang a children's song.

The work was done, and the songs were sung.

The art style is also quite contrasting.

In the following days, life in Peach Blossom Village became increasingly leisurely.

The bakery has wafted the aroma of successful cakes a few times, and also the smell of burnt cakes a few times.

In the meditation room, Song Dandan and Shu Qi often went to meditate, and Su Mang would occasionally join them.

As they spent time together day after day, their relationship gradually settled down, with less of the initial testing and calculation, and more of a naturalness and tacit understanding.

Zhou Le's initial proposal to "highlight everyone's strengths" indeed permeated the entire program.

In the edited footage, everyone's strengths were captured and amplified.

Song Dandan's patriarchal demeanor and occasional childlike innocence, Su Mang's sophistication and refined taste, Huang Jingyu's steadfastness and honesty, Guo Qiling's humor and laid-backness, Wang Sulong's talent and good temper, Meng Ziyi's cuteness and contrasting adorable clumsy beauty, Tian Xiwei's seriousness and hard work, GAI's loyalty and musical talent, Lamu Yangzi and Li Xueqin's optimism and comedic sense, Shu Qi's gentleness, Wang Chuanjun's immersive experience, Yin Zheng's easygoing nature, Lai Guanlin's well-behavedness...

Even Zhang Han has a lot of merits to show.

Some people have become more well-rounded as a result, while others have had certain past labels cleared.

Of course, all presentations are based on their own behavior. The direction set by the production team and Zhou Le is just to provide a more friendly and insightful perspective, rather than to forcibly shape it.

As Zhou Le said in a private conversation with the director: "Whether you want to establish a persona or break through, we will provide you with plenty of material. What the audience sees in the end depends on what they themselves express. We are only responsible for presenting real and diverse possibilities."

As the recording of the program came to an end, the farewell dinner was filled with a warm yet slightly sentimental atmosphere.

Everyone exchanged small gifts, shared many heartfelt words, and reminisced about the past ten days.

Zhou Le also took out the gift he had prepared.

The gift given to Wang Sulong was a custom-made microphone from Germany. The metal body gleamed with a cool light, and the workmanship was extremely exquisite. It was also laser-engraved with Wang Sulong's initials and a special symbol representing his music career.

"Brother Long, take a look and see if you like it? This thing is said to be particularly good at capturing and reproducing sound, it should be more convenient than the ones you usually use," Zhou Le said casually.

Wang Sulong was a discerning person. She picked it up, weighed it in her hand, and then carefully examined the brand and model number. Her eyes widened: "Le'er! This...this is too valuable! There must be over a hundred of these, right? I can't accept this!"

The "more than one hundred" he mentioned naturally refers to "ten thousand".

"Shh—" Zhou Le gestured for him to lower his voice, "Tools only have value when used by someone who understands them. They're just decorations here, but they can produce great works with you."

"Take it, consider it... to settle the other price." Zhou Le blinked.

Wang Sulong was so moved that he didn't know what to say. He knew that this was not just about money, but also about Zhou Le's thoughtful gesture of having someone prepare it in advance. Such a gift could not be prepared in just a few days. After all, truly top-notch equipment is custom-made and designed according to each person's voice and characteristics.

He patted Zhou Le on the shoulder hard: "Bro, thanks! I love this gift! I'll give you a discount next time I write a song!"

The gift given to Song Dandan was a more advanced and exquisite indoor water feature, with a white jade base and extremely precise water flow control, producing a gentle and delicate sound that blends better into the environment.

It also comes with a special essential oil drip tray for diffused aromatherapy.

"Sister Dandan, since you like the meditation room, let me upgrade you to a more professional one. You can put it in your study or bedroom at home; it's great for helping you sleep," Zhou Le said with a smile.

Song Dandan was overjoyed, hugging the ornament with obvious delight: "Oh my! My eldest son is so thoughtful! This is much better than that little gadget from the production team! I love it! I love it so much!" She happily called Zhou Le her eldest son.

Everyone else laughed and teased, saying that Zhou Le was really good at giving gifts.

Zhou Le just smiled. In his view, this was just an expression of his feelings for the friendship he had shared over the past period; the value of the gift was secondary.

The recording of Peach Blossom Village came to a successful end amidst warmth and reluctance.

As they left, everyone remarked that they never expected that what started out so awkward and tense would ultimately lead to such an unforgettable memory.

Su Mang looked at Zhou Le and said, "Zhou Le, you're really good at making variety shows! Your control of the rhythm and atmosphere is excellent!"

"It feels like you were born knowing how to make things look good and how to make everyone feel comfortable."

"I'll be back for any variety shows you plan in the future!"

Zhou Le simply smiled modestly: "It's a collective achievement; I was just suggesting an idea."

But to be honest, I can't keep inviting Su Mang.

Moreover, even if the other party compliments you, those clips will still be released afterward.

After finishing the recording of "Peach Blossom Village", Zhou Le felt extremely relaxed and immediately threw himself into the preparation work for the new drama "The Long Ballad".

The original novel of the TV series "The Long Ballad" has a large fan base, but the script does have some logical and plot holes. Zhou Le, after receiving the script, did not simply accept it but instead engaged in in-depth communication with the writing team, offering many suggestions for revision based on his understanding of the story and his keen dramatic intuition.

It not only pointed out the problems but also provided feasible solutions to fill the gaps, making the story logic smoother and the characters' motivations more reasonable. At the same time, it balanced the delicate emotions and the grand narrative of national sentiment in the dramatic plot, elevating the entire script to a higher level.

The female lead has been cast as Gulnazar, whose bright and elegant period costume look is enough to carry the role of a leading lady.

As for acting skills, Zhou Le can ensure that he does it himself.

The male lead is naturally Zhou Le himself.

The second male lead was played by Liu Yuning. He is not only a singer but also a decent actor. He has a large following and a good rapport with the audience. His team and background are also quite influential in the industry, making him a good choice.

Of course, the downside is that he looks a bit ugly in period costumes.

But that didn't stop them from acting. Zhou Le didn't mind too much; after all, he was number two, so as long as he could act, that was enough.

After careful consideration, the second female lead was chosen to be Zhang Jingyi.

She is relatively affordable, has solid acting skills, and possesses a cool and aloof temperament with a hint of stubbornness and a sense of story, making her very suitable for the role in the drama, which has a tragic background and a tragic ending.

Her personal style complements Naza's bright and beautiful appearance, creating a harmonious and complementary effect.

Actually, I had considered Zhao Lusi as well, and her company even contacted me.

But it was ultimately rejected.

The main issue is that the other party's fans and public opinion have been a bit strange in the past year or two.

However, just one week before filming for "The Long Ballad" was about to begin, Zhou Le received a call from Jia Ling.

"Le'er, are you busy? I have a movie coming out and I'd like you to have a cameo role. It's not a big part, just a few scenes, so it won't take up too much of your time. Can you help me out? Money is no object." Jia Ling's voice was as warm and cheerful as ever.

Zhou Le's schedule was indeed very full, and he hesitated for a moment: "Sister Ling, I'm fine with a cameo role, but I'm afraid that if the time is too tight, it will affect your progress."

Jia Ling immediately said, "It's okay! It won't delay anything! It's just a volleyball match scorekeeper role, I'll be done in no time."

Having said that, Zhou Le couldn't refuse any longer and said with a smile, "Alright, since Sister Ling has asked, I have to go even if it means going through fire and water. Send me the time and place, and I'll coordinate a time to go."

So, before filming began for "The Long Ballad", Zhou Le took two days off to make a cameo appearance on the set of Jia Ling's film "Hi, Mom".

When I arrived at the film set, everyone there was indeed a familiar face.

As soon as I entered, I saw Shen Teng.

"Brother Teng!" Zhou Le greeted him with a smile.

"Hey! Le'er's here!" Shen Teng was slumped in a chair resting when he saw Zhou Le and immediately sat up. In his uniquely lazy yet humorous tone, he said, "Come and let your brother see, you've gotten even more handsome!"
You're a hot commodity on all the major variety shows these days! It would be such an honor for us to have you make a guest appearance in our little production!

"Brother Teng, please don't make fun of me," Zhou Le hugged him. "I'll always be a primary school student in front of you. So, how did Sister Ling torment you this time?"

"Don't even mention it," Shen Teng said with a look of utter dismay, "My back is about to break..."

While we were chatting, we saw Aunt Xue, Wang Lin, again.

Zhou Le stepped forward and said, "Hello, Ms. Wang Lin. I grew up watching your shows. I watched a lot of 'Romance in the Rain' back then."

His words were sincere yet witty.

Wang Lin laughed too: "Oh, Zhou Le, right? I often hear them mention you, saying you're really amazing."

That's all ancient history. Now it's your era, the era of young people." She had a very good temperament, and her speech and behavior were very elegant.

What Zhou Le found most impressive was meeting Xu Juncong.

When Xu Juncong saw Zhou Le, he was quite polite: "Hello, Teacher Zhou."

Zhou Le immediately burst out laughing and stepped forward, mimicking his classic line: "Teacher Xu! I've finally met you! Can we take a picture together?"

Xu Juncong hadn't expected Zhou Le to be so enthusiastic towards him.

Naturally, there's no problem.

But in reality, Zhou Le was very familiar with Xu Juncong's jokes.

"I'll go to bed at eight in the morning!"

"Professional mage Liu Haizhu".

"Where did you come from?"

Zhou Le took a photo with Xu Juncong and immediately posted it on Weibo.

The atmosphere on set was excellent. Zhou Le's cameo role was indeed small; he was just a staff member who looked nervous during a crucial match and kept flipping the scoreboard. Several close-up shots were needed to capture his reactions.

This was no challenge for Zhou Le; he passed it in just a few takes.

After filming ended, Jia Ling organized a meal for everyone.

During the meal, Zhou Le said to Jia Ling, "Sister Ling, your filming was very interesting. If you need anything in the future, just let me know."

"Or how about you come and have a cameo role in my show? Pick any role you like. 'The Long Ballad,' a historical romance drama, I'll arrange a stunningly beautiful woman for you."

Jia Ling burst into laughter, waving her hands: "I can't do that! If I go, I won't be a beauty that could topple kingdoms, I'll just be a disaster! The audience will be distracted!"

After laughing, she suddenly thought of something, and her eyes lit up. "But... now that you mention it, I do have an idea. If this film doesn't lose money, I'd like to try making a new kind of film next."

"What kind of subject matter?" Zhou Le and Shen Teng asked curiously.

Jia Ling touched her chin and said with a slightly serious expression, "It's about weight loss, which seems quite interesting and challenging."

She seemed to mention it casually, but the idea had clearly already taken root in her mind.

Zhou Le raised his drink glass: "Sister Ling, whatever you want to film, it'll definitely work! I wish this movie great success, and the next one can start right away!"

"Haha, thank you for your kind words. But this movie is my first work. Whether it's a two-hour skit or something else, I made this to commemorate my mother."

But if the next movie is about weight loss, what do you think would be a good title?

Zhou Le thought for a moment: "If you're going to lose weight, you can't just say 'lose weight.' There needs to be some contrast, and some inspirational element. After all, passion is about having a burning heart, and with a contrast, it'll be...hot and fiery!" (End of Chapter)