Abstract Art Award Winner

After months of intense filming, "The Long Ballad" has finally wrapped up in Hengdian.

The wrap party was held at a well-known local hotel. Hengdian is a popular filming location for many movies and TV series every year. Where there is demand, there is a market. Where there are film crews, there is usually consumption. Therefore, there are many high-end hotels, and this is also a place that many famous directors like to come to.

As the leading man, Zhou Le was naturally one of the focal points of the event, with people constantly coming up to toast him, take photos with him, express their gratitude, and reluctance to part ways with him.

He handled the situation with ease, but his gaze would always inadvertently drift towards Naza, who was sitting at a table not far away.

She wore a simple black dress tonight, with exquisite makeup, and still stood out in the crowd, but her eyes seemed to hold more complex emotions than usual, and were somewhat detached.

Finally finding a break, Zhou Le carried his juice and sat down in the empty seat next to Nazha.

He had drunk quite a bit of alcohol earlier, and that was about it. Drinking more would affect his fighting ability, so he switched to juice. Given Zhou Le's status, no one would try to persuade him to drink more. The director said a few words, but when he saw that Zhou Le wasn't going to drink anymore, he didn't say anything more. Anyway, he had already drunk what he was supposed to drink.

"How are you feeling? Do you feel relieved or a little empty?" Zhou Le asked her with a smile.

Naza snapped out of her reverie, raised her glass to clink with his, took a sip, and then said softly, "A little bit, I guess. It's just that we suddenly stopped, and I was a little unsure of what to do next."

Naza paused, chuckled self-deprecatingly, and lowered her voice even further: "Le'er, do you think... I'm pretty lazy right now? I feel like I don't have much ambition. After finishing a film, I just want to rest for a long time. Compared to you, I seem too lazy."

Zhou Le looked at her with gentle eyes: "What's wrong with that? Everyone chooses a different work intensity and lifestyle. Some people like to work non-stop and enjoy that kind of busyness, while others prefer to slow down and enjoy life itself. There's no right or wrong. The most important thing is to be comfortable. You're not unemployed; you've just chosen a more relaxed pace."

Anyway, you're earning enough to pay your team's salaries now. Taking on fashion projects and appearing on variety shows occasionally is fine too.

Naza seemed a little better after hearing this, but she still couldn't help asking, "And what about you? What are your plans for the future? It's bound to be another ton of work, right?" There was a hint of disappointment in her tone that she herself didn't realize.

Zhou Le smiled and briefly explained the upcoming arrangements: "Well, I can't stay idle. I need to push forward some collaborations we discussed before. Next, I'll be recording a variety show with Deng Chao and the others, and then I'll be filming a movie. So, does Teacher Nazha have any instructions?"

Naza blushed slightly, her fingers unconsciously twirling the stem of her wine glass. Her voice lowered, tinged with embarrassment: "I... I don't really know, I just felt... this filming experience was particularly good, especially... when I was acting opposite you."

She mustered her courage to glance at Zhou Le, then quickly lowered her head again. "This drama is sure to be a hit, I know it's largely because of how well you managed it... but I don't know why, after filming, I don't seem to have much interest in work anymore, so... so I keep thinking... can I... be like I was when we were filming..."

Her words were halting, but her meaning was clear: she was somewhat addicted to being with Zhou Le, to the point that she felt weary of their busy work schedules after they parted ways, and even had a tendency to only want to be with Zhou Le.

Zhou Le was an extremely intelligent person, and he immediately understood her implied meaning.

He leaned forward slightly, his voice low and gentle, making sure only the two of them could hear him: "It's okay, Naza, relax. In a sense, this drama was originally a gift for you. I hope it can help your career reach new heights, but it's definitely not meant to hold you hostage and force you to be busy non-stop right now."

You have the right to choose your own pace of life. Rest when you want, and tell me anytime you want to work. Your company can definitely find you good resources, but if you'd like, I'll always keep an eye out for good opportunities for you.

Naza's heart was instantly filled with emotion, and she was overwhelmed with joy.

The wrap party ended amidst noise and blessings.

Zhou Le stayed in Hengdian for two more days afterward, and of course, no one left during those two days.

Two days later, Zhou Le flew to Chengdu, where Tian Xiwei was already waiting.

They came to keep their appointment with GAI to record a collaborative song.

GAI's studio has a professional atmosphere that also has a touch of casual,江湖-like spirit.

GAI and several rappers from Changsha were already ready.

The songs prepared for Zhou Le and Tian Xiwei have already had their arrangements and demos completed.

First, we recorded Tian Xiwei's part.

As GAI said, the hook of the adapted "Orchid Grass" is easy to sing and is very suitable for Tian Xiwei's clear and clean voice.

She sang it a few times in the recording studio and quickly found her rhythm.

"Yes, yes, yes! Xiaotian, that's it! Clean! Bright! And with a touch of story! Perfect!"

GAI smiled and spoke into the microphone outside the studio.

Zhou Le nodded in agreement.

Tian Xiwei learned very quickly, and the recording process went exceptionally smoothly. She completed most of her singing parts with almost no repetition.

When it was Zhou Le's turn to record his song with a martial arts vibe, it took a little longer.

Kungfu Fat's revised lyrics retain the boldness and attitude while better matching Zhou Le's voice and temperament. The song still has plenty of fierceness and power, but it also adds a touch of elegance and narrative.

Zhou Le needs to find that rap feeling a little, but he has recorded rap songs before. Although the style is different, it is still easy to find the feeling. After all, the least troublesome thing for actors is to find the feeling.

However, GAI's style is unique, so some suggestions were still offered.

"Brother Le, you could make your tone a bit harsher here, with a hint of disdain!"

"Yes! That's it! Awesome!"

"For this part, relax a bit, tell it like a story..."

During a break in filming, GAI said to Zhou Le with emotion, "Brother Le, to be honest, it was really the right decision to go on 'Peach Blossom Village' this time. Before, everyone thought that we rappers were just underground rebels. I didn't expect that going on this kind of lifestyle variety show would allow more people to see our real side. We can be funny, and we can also follow the rules."

"The show hasn't even finished airing yet, and I've already received several invitations to music variety shows, all of them top-tier, where I'll be competing against well-known singers."

Zhou Le laughed and said, "That's because you have the ability. The show just provides a platform for more people to see you. There will be more and more opportunities like this in the future."

Just as they were recording the song, the first season of "Fifty Kilometers of Peach Blossom Village" also came to an end.

After the final episode aired, the final evaluations and benefits of each guest became clear.

The biggest and most unexpected beneficiary is undoubtedly Meng Ziyi. Her straightforwardness as a "silly beauty," her often eccentric yet inexplicably sincere and adorable reactions, create a huge contrast that makes her endearing. Although the title of "Deadly Diva" is deeply ingrained in people's minds, they actually find her "silly" in a genuine way and "dramatic" in a cute way. Coupled with her impeccable beauty, her popularity among the general public skyrockets, and various variety show invitations come one after another.

However, Sister Meng is very clear about her own positioning, especially after recording Peach Blossom Village, she felt that she was indeed very suitable for variety shows.

Beauty is justice, and this is perfectly embodied in her.

Tian Xiwei is another big winner in terms of reputation.

Her "angelic personality," "healing smile," and "hard-working and resilient" have become her new labels, leading to a surge in popularity and making her a favorite representative of healthy and sunny celebrities for brands.

Although I plan to pursue further studies for a while, I can still accept endorsement deals.

GAI has successfully broken out of the mainstream with his attitude, personality, and musical talent, gaining recognition from more mainstream platforms and receiving a constant stream of invitations to music variety shows.

Other guests such as Song Dandan, Wang Sulong, Guo Qiling, and Li Xueqin also maintained good popularity and each gained something, but compared with the three mentioned above, the increase in popularity and revenue was relatively average.

The recording task was successfully completed, and Zhou Le and Tian Xiwei returned to Beijing.

Back at Zhou Le's home in Beijing, he temporarily escaped the hustle and bustle of work.

Like a kitten returning to its familiar territory, Tian Xiwei nestled comfortably on the soft sofa in the living room, hugging a cushion and chatting with Zhou Le.

"Brother Le, I've had an idea lately," Tian Xi said, tilting her head slightly.

"Hmm? What are you thinking? Want to settle down again?" Zhou Le teased, handing her a glass of warm water.

"No!" Tian Xi gave him a playful glare, then said seriously, "I want to move my parents to a new house in our hometown. They are currently living in an old neighborhood with no elevator and a mediocre environment. Now that I have the means, I want them to live more comfortably."

Zhou Le nodded, fully supporting her filial piety: "That's a good thing. Have you found a property or area you like?"

"I've looked around a bit and I'd like to buy a slightly larger one, preferably with a small garden, since my parents like to grow some flowers and plants."

Tian Xiwei's eyes were full of longing, but then she looked a little troubled: "It's just that the housing prices in our area... good locations aren't cheap."

Zhou Le thought for a moment and asked, "Is this matter urgent? If it's not too urgent, I think we can wait and see."

"Hmm? Why?" Tian Xi looked at him with a puzzled expression, like a curious kitten.

“The real estate market isn’t particularly stable right now, and I’ve noticed some policy shifts recently,” Zhou Le analyzed, his tone calm. “If we slow down, we might find a more suitable opportunity and housing options. After all, housing prices have indeed dropped quite a bit, but I feel they can drop even further.”

Tian Xiwei had a natural trust in Zhou Le, so when she heard him say that, she nodded obediently: "Well, I'm not in a hurry. I'll listen to Brother Le and see."

She put down her water glass, snuggled up to Zhou Le, rested her head on his shoulder, and said softly, "Brother Le, how are you so amazing? You know everything."

Zhou Le smiled and ruffled her hair, feeling her dependence on him.

Tian Xiwei is like that. She appears sunny and independent, but in front of him, she unconsciously reveals a clingy and obedient nature like a kitten. This contrast is especially endearing.

Having just finished a busy period of work, Zhou Le and Tian Xiwei planned to rest for two more days.

But happy times are always short-lived.

Two days later, Zhou Le's short vacation ended, and he flew to Changsha, the first recording location for the second season of "5 Ha".

Deng Chao, Chen He, and Lu Han had already arrived.

For this recording, their initial mode of transportation was a rather old-looking Jinbei seven-seater van, which was full of the show's effect of being on a tight budget.

Their first task was to go to Wang Baoqiang's hotel to help him pack his luggage, and then pick him up from Hunan Broadcasting System on time after get off work.

The recording of the program has now officially begun.

The director simply took out a few plane tickets to show them.

"Your first task is to pick him up from get off work and give him a surprise. I've already got the room key, so you can just go there directly."

The group nodded, and the director didn't say anything else, but that was just the tone of the show.

But after the director left, a question arose: who was driving?
Deng Chao and Lu Han looked at the manual transmission Jinbei van, exchanged bewildered glances, and both admitted they couldn't handle it.

Lu Han had never driven this kind of car before, so Deng Chao curiously went up to try it out. He tried to move it three times, and each time it just jerked forward and then stalled, just like an incompetent middle-aged man.

"I'll take it," Zhou Le said casually, taking the keys.

He skillfully got into the driver's seat, adjusted the rearview mirror, started the engine, shifted gears, released the clutch, and accelerated—all in one smooth motion.

Before Deng Chao, Lu Han, and Chen He could react, the Jinbei minivan suddenly shot off as if it had been launched from a launch position!

"Wow ah ah ah!!!"

"Zhou Le! Slow down! This is a minivan, not a race car!"

"Le'er, I was wrong! I shouldn't have questioned your driving skills! Slow down!"

A cacophony of howls erupted inside the vehicle. Zhou Le, a race car driver's smile playing on his lips, steadily steered the car into the flow of traffic, his speed far exceeding that of an ordinary van driver.

We arrived safely at Wang Baoqiang's hotel room.

Upon entering, the room appeared somewhat messy, with luggage scattered throughout.

The brothers began frantically helping Baoqiang tidy up.

Chen He, with his sharp eyes, spotted a case of unopened bottled water in the corner and immediately put his "energy-saving" nature to use: "Take this with me! I can drink it on the road! Every penny saved counts!"

Deng Chao and Lu Han agreed wholeheartedly and hurriedly stuffed the box of water directly into Wang Baoqiang's suitcase.

In addition, they took everything that was free in the hotel.

"Take the slippers too." Chen He picked up the disposable slippers as soon as he saw them.

"Wait a minute, isn't it a bit much to bring slippers?"

"It's alright, it's alright. If we're going to the wilderness, this is excellent fire starter." Zhou Le felt there was no problem.

We've almost finished packing, and there's still a little time before we have to pick up Wang Baoqiang from get off work.

Lu Han suggested, "I'm a little thirsty, how about we boil some water and have a cup of tea? We're just sitting here anyway."

Deng Chao immediately responded, then said in a very calm and unquestionable tone, "Tea? Sure, but I brought some tea, would you like some?" He took out a thermos and said mysteriously, "There's something good in there!"

"I've been drinking this a lot lately. It's very refreshing, and it also makes you sweat after drinking it. I've become a bit obsessed with it lately."

As they spoke, they took a few teacups.

Deng Chao poured tea from the thermos for them, but Lu Han frowned after taking a sip.

"Brother Chao, why does this tea taste a bit bitter?"

Zhou Le also took a sip: "Hey, Chao Ge, why does this tea taste like coffee? It tastes exactly like an Americano."

Deng Chao smiled faintly: "Oh, it's because this cup of mine has contained coffee before."

Zhou Le: "."

"Brother Chao, isn't this a bit disrespectful to the tea?"

But after taking a sip, Chen He immediately looked like he'd been tricked: "Hey, what are you doing, Brother Chao? Isn't this just American style?"

Deng Chao immediately put on a gentle, serene smile.

When a lie is exposed, all one can do is try to cover it up with a smile.

But at that moment, Zhou Le suddenly took out a small, exquisite sealed box from his bag, inside which were plump black goji berries.

He reached out and took Deng Chao's thermos, opened the lid, pinched a small handful of black goji berries, and precisely dropped them into the Americano.

"Brother Chao, this won't do. Just drinking coffee isn't enough; it's not healthy enough. You should add some black goji berries."

The dark coffee was instantly stained with an eerie purplish-red hue.

Deng Chao: "???"

Chen He: "???"

Lu Han: "Le'er...you mean...the combination of Chinese and Western medicine is more effective?"

Zhou Le remained calm and composed, his tone even: "Didn't Brother Chao want to focus on health? Black goji berries are antioxidants, good for eyesight, and will neutralize the stimulation of caffeine—perfect."

Deng Chao looked at the increasingly bizarre color of the health-conscious Americano.

His expression was complicated; he didn't know whether to accept the answer or not.

Everyone burst into laughter, creating a fantastic entertainment moment.

However, they still finished their goji berry coffee in the end.

After the laughter and joking around, seeing that it was almost time, everyone prepared to head to Hunan Broadcasting System.

This time, Deng Chao and Lu Han held the car keys firmly, determined not to let Zhou Le touch the steering wheel again.

"Le'er, I'm begging you! Please let us live for a few more episodes!"

"Let me drive! I may be slow, but I'm steady!" Chen He volunteered.

Finally, Chen He, representing the moderate faction, drove a Jinbei minivan slowly towards Hunan Broadcasting System to pick up Wang Baoqiang, their new brother who was about to join their arduous journey. (End of Chapter)