Huayu: A master director who debuted as a singer

Chapter 120 New green maple leaves and newly published books; at this time, I am in Hunan, gazing towards the capital.

The following day, May 17th, Changsha Huanghua International Airport.

The early summer sun shone through the glass curtain wall of the waiting hall and onto the floor. Zheng Hui was flipping through the Southern Weekly.

Less than ten days after leaving Hong Kong, the musical hurricane of "Half a Lifetime" has completely swept across the Luohu border, sweeping across the entire mainland with overwhelming force.

"A Social Phenomenon Named Zheng Hui: A Masterpiece Written in Four Days, &It: Half a Lifetime; Mainland China's Tape Shipments Exceed Six Million in the First Week!"

In the article, music critics and cultural scholars who usually scoff at pop music all lowered their guard and used every word of praise to analyze every lyric in the album.

Some have even compared him to Luo Dayou of the 1980s, calling him a "musical poet who transcends the millennium."

Zheng Hui's gaze swept over the exaggerated numbers and words of praise, but he remained unmoved; it was as expected.

"Boss, you can board now." He Yan handed the boarding pass to Zheng Hui.

Zheng Hui closed the newspaper and nodded: "Let's go."

With a roar of the engines, the plane soared into the sky.

Two hours later, the plane landed at Beijing Capital International Airport.

Back at the familiar VIP Lou Hotel, Lin Dashan put his luggage away and then left, closing the door behind him.

The room quieted down, and Zheng Hui pressed a number he knew by heart on his phone.

After a brief beep, the call was connected. Before the other party could speak, Zheng Hui said, "It's me."

"Brother Hui?! You—you're back in Beijing?!" Gao Yuanyuan's voice trembled with excitement.

"Yeah, just got off the plane and I'm already at the hotel." Zheng Hui's lips unconsciously curled into a smile. "What are you doing?"

"I'm reading! Looking at the pile of miscellaneous books my brother left behind!"

Gao Yuanyuan's tone was full of excitement: "You're finally back! Do you know how popular you are lately?"

Yesterday I went to the record store at the entrance of the alley to ask if they still had any cassette tapes left. The owner said your "Half a Lifetime" was sold out long ago, and even the posters on the wall were torn down and kept as collectibles!

"Is it really that exaggerated?" Zheng Hui chuckled softly.

"It's no exaggeration! Even my mom plays 'Father' every day now. Once she was even wiping away tears while chopping vegetables."

Gao Yuanyuan chattered on and on, as if she had endless things to say: "By the way, were you tired from your trip to Hong Kong and Taiwan? Was it fun there?"

"It's alright, I've mostly been running around doing promotions, so I haven't had much time to play. But—" Zheng Hui's tone became somewhat drawn out, "I have indeed seen some different scenery."

"What scenery is it?" Gao Yuanyuan asked curiously.

"I'll tell you the details when we meet." Zheng Hui didn't answer directly, but changed the subject: "When I left the capital before, someone said that when I came back in May, they would take me to see the peonies."

On the other end of the phone, Gao Yuanyuan's voice softened, filled with shyness and anticipation: "You still remember?"

"Of course I remember. I timed my return perfectly, knowing exactly when the peonies would bloom. The peonies in Fengtai Garden should be in bloom by now, right?"

"They're open! They've been open for a while!" Gao Yuanyuan exclaimed eagerly. "I passed by Fengtai Garden a couple of days ago, and it was full of red and pink flowers, they were so beautiful! When are we going?"

Zheng Hui turned around and looked at the calendar on the wall.

May 17th.

He silently calculated the time in his mind, and a date that would later carry a romantic connotation surfaced in his mind: 1999.

In 2000, this day was just an ordinary Thursday, without any special meaning.

Zheng Hui said softly, "May 20th, I happen to be free that day."

"May 20th—"

Gao Yuanyuan repeated the date to herself, completely unaware of what those three numbers would represent in the future: "Okay! This Thursday then! Let's meet at the south gate of Fengtai Garden at 10:00 AM, is that alright?"

It's a deal.

Over the next two days, Zheng Hui asked He Yan to find a senior figure in Beijing's real estate industry to help him find a suitable villa.

Led by this industry insider, Zheng Hui led Lin Dashan and He Yan on a tour of several villa areas surrounding the Beijing Film Academy.

They visited several properties that emphasized privacy and luxury, but Zheng Hui did not rush to make a decision and place an order on the spot.

Buying a house is something that can't be rushed, especially since he doesn't have any urgent engagements right now and has plenty of time.

He planned to take this opportunity to visit all the villa developments in the surrounding area that caught his eye before making a decision, as a way to familiarize himself with the city.

And so, with the stop-and-go pace of house hunting, time quickly came to May 20th.

That morning, the weather in the capital was exceptionally good. The sky was azure, and a gentle breeze carried the refreshing feeling of early summer.

Gao Yuanyuan got up very early today. She stood in front of the wardrobe, took out the clothes one by one, and held them up in front of the dressing mirror.

A red dress? Too bright, it'll clash with the color of peonies. Denim overalls? Too childish, makes you look like a middle school student who hasn't grown up yet.

Finally, her gaze settled on a white dress. The dress had no excessive embellishments; wearing it made her appear pure and clean, like a white magnolia quietly blooming in the morning.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she patted her slightly flushed cheeks and walked out the door with light steps.

10:00 AM, south gate of Fengtai Garden.

Because it was a weekday, there weren't many people visiting the park; most of them were retired elderly people carrying birdcages, finishing their morning exercise.

Gao Yuanyuan stood under a tree by the door, occasionally standing on tiptoe, her eyes scanning the passing crowds and vehicles.

A car was parked on the side of the road not far from the south gate of the park.

The car door opened, and a figure stepped out.

Zheng Hui took some precautions today to avoid being recognized. He didn't wear sunglasses but wore decorative non-prescription glasses. In addition, he made some changes to his facial muscles. Unless someone knows him well and looks closely, they wouldn't associate him with Zheng Hui.

But Gao Yuanyuan recognized him at a glance, and like a happy little deer, she ran towards Zheng Hui.

"Brother Hui!"

Zheng Hui stopped and looked at the girl running towards him.

Her white dress fluttered gently in the breeze, and sunlight shone on her face, making even the fine downy hairs on her cheeks clearly visible. Her large eyes were filled with unreserved joy.

"Why are you running so fast? Be careful not to fall." Zheng Hui's eyes flashed with amazement, and a smile appeared on his lips.

Gao Yuanyuan stopped in front of him, leaned forward playfully, and looked him up and down: "I was just afraid you'd be getting impatient! You look really good today. If I didn't know you well, I wouldn't have recognized you."

Zheng Hui said, "Let's go, weren't you going to take me to see the best peonies in the world?"

The two walked into Fengtai Garden side by side.

In May, Fengtai Garden is the domain of peonies.

Vast fields of peonies stretch as far as the eye can see, like a vibrant oil painting spread across the land. Red like fire, pink like the sunset, white like snow, clusters and bunches of them exuding a rich fragrance.

"Wow, it's so beautiful!" Gao Yuanyuan exclaimed sincerely as she and Zheng Hui walked onto a bluestone path in the middle of the flower field.

"Look over there!"

Gao Yuanyuan pointed to a patch of deep red peonies in full bloom not far away and excitedly introduced, "That variety is called Da Fu Gui! My mother said that the ladies in the palace used to love this flower the most because it blooms the biggest and has the most vibrant color."

Zheng Hui looked in the direction she was pointing; the red petals were layered upon each other, indeed elegant and luxurious. But he immediately turned his head away, the sunlight falling on Gao Yuanyuan's white dress.

"The 'Big Fortune' flowers are indeed beautiful, but I think that among all the red flowers, the white ones are the most eye-catching."

Gao Yuanyuan was stunned for a moment, then realized what Zheng Hui meant. Her cheeks instantly flushed a pink more delicate than the peony.

"You're always making fun of me," she muttered under her breath, but she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.

The two walked slowly along the stone path. Because the path was narrow, they were very close together. Occasionally, when they encountered tourists walking side by side, Gao Yuanyuan would subconsciously move closer to Zheng Hui to avoid them.

There were only a few centimeters between their shoulders. Zheng Hui could even smell her delicate fragrance, which, mixed with the strong scent of peonies, seemed exceptionally refreshing.

Zheng Hui didn't deliberately try to hold her hand, nor did he make any inappropriate intimate gestures. He maintained a distance that was both reassuring and subtly aloof.

This perfect restraint only made Gao Yuanyuan's heart beat even faster.

"You mentioned on the phone that you saw some different scenery outside. What was it?" Gao Yuanyuan asked, trying to calm her racing heart.

"It was in Hunan. When I went to record a program, I visited Yuelu Academy. There are many ancient trees that are hundreds of years old there, as well as the Aiwan Pavilion."

"Yuelu Academy? I know it! We learned about it in history class; it's one of the four great academies!"

Gao Yuanyuan turned to look at him: "The scenery there must be very antique, right?"

"It's very rustic, but what's most special is the maple forest there."

"Maple trees? Aren't maple leaves only red in autumn? If we go in May, they'll all be green, right?" Gao Yuanyuan asked, somewhat puzzled.

"It is green, but precisely because it is green, when a gust of wind blows, a green leaf that should not have fallen at this time breaks off from the branch and lands at your feet."

"Don't you think this is a kind of romance that's out of season?" Zheng Hui turned his head slightly to look at her.

Gao Yuanyuan nodded as if she understood: "Romance out of season...it sounds a bit regrettable, yet also a bit special."

0

"Many things in this world don't necessarily have to happen in the specified season."

Zheng Hui stopped and looked at a peony bud that was about to bloom: "Just like this flower, it will naturally bloom when the time comes."

But whether it opens too early or too late, it still has its unique flavor.

He was using the imagery of Fan Binbin to represent Gao Yuanyuan. He knew Fan Binbin's passion and Gao Yuanyuan's purity, but he didn't want to be completely bound by any relationship right now.

He didn't give a clear promise, but he still managed to create a lot of emotional tension.

Gao Yuanyuan was unaware of the complex emotions swirling in his heart. She simply felt that this man not only possessed extraordinary talent, but also had a far more profound perspective on the world than his peers.

This worship made her sink deeper and deeper.

The two strolled in the garden for nearly two hours. They talked about Zheng Hui's new album, Gao Yuanyuan's funny stories at school, and topics related to flowers.

Before we knew it, the sun had already begun to set in the west, and the sky was tinged with orange-red sunset clouds.

"It's almost time, let me take you home," Zheng Hui suggested, glancing at his watch.

"Mmm." Gao Yuanyuan nodded, feeling a little reluctant, but also knowing that today had been wonderful enough.

After leaving the park, the two got into the car that Lin Dashan had rented from the hotel.

The car stopped on the street in front of the Fengtai compound. Gao Yuanyuan got out of the car, and Zheng Hui followed her out.

"Thank you for today, I'm very happy." Gao Yuanyuan looked at Zheng Hui, her face full of joy.

"I should thank you. I've been working non-stop lately and haven't had a relaxing stroll in the park in a long time." Zheng Hui smiled and then took a paper bag from the back seat of the car.

"Here, this is for you." Zheng Hui handed the paper bag to Gao Yuanyuan.

Gao Yuanyuan paused for a moment, then took the paper bag with both hands, somewhat surprised and delighted: "There's a gift too?"

"A little something, including a collector's edition CD of 'Half a Lifetime,' which is not available on the market now."

There's another book, a sample copy given to me by the staff when I was at Yuelu Academy. They thought you enjoy reading and would like it, so they gave it to you.

He didn't emphasize the secret hidden in the book, as if it were just a casual gift.

Gao Yuanyuan hugged the paper bag tightly and nodded, "Thank you, my poem sounds so good and looks so good."

"Go back and get some rest." Zheng Hui waved his hand, turned around and got back into the car.

Only when the car's taillights completely disappeared at the end of the street did Gao Yuanyuan reluctantly turn around, clutching the paper bag, and run into the courtyard.

back home.

"Yuanyuan's back? Have you eaten?" her mother asked, poking her head out from the kitchen.

"I'll eat later, Mom. I'm going back to my room to rest for a bit!" Gao Yuanyuan mumbled a reply, then ran into her bedroom, closed the door, and locked it behind her.

She walked to the desk and carefully opened the paper bag.

The first thing presented was the exquisitely bound collector's edition CD of "Half a Lifetime." Its black exterior and gold lettering exuded a calm and profound quality.

She walked to the bedside, turned on the CD player, pressed the eject button, and gently placed the disc inside.

A few seconds later, a soothing yet slightly melancholic piano prelude flowed into the room.

Zheng Hui's deep voice, as if whispering in my ear, instantly enveloped the entire room.

Gao Yuanyuan sat down in the chair in front of the desk and reached her hands into the paper bag again.

What I brought out this time was the book "Collected Works of Li Qingzhao".

Gao Yuanyuan gently touched the words on the cover, a smile playing on her lips.

He traveled so far, saw a book, and still thought of her. This feeling of being constantly thought of is truly wonderful.

She casually flipped through the pages of the book.

"Splash—"

"6

The pages slid quickly between my fingers, and suddenly, when I turned to a certain point in the middle, the page seemed to freeze on its own because something was stuck between my fingers.

Gao Yuanyuan's gaze was instantly drawn to the thing tucked between the pages of the book.

It was a leaf, a bright green maple leaf with its veins clearly visible.

Gao Yuanyuan's heart skipped a beat.

She thought about what Zheng Hui had said to her during the day in Fengtai Garden.

"When a gust of wind blows, a green leaf that shouldn't be falling at this time of year detaches itself from the branch and lands at your feet. Don't you think that's a kind of romance that happens out of season?"

So this is the scenery he was talking about.

He brought this out-of-season romance all the way back to the capital and gave it to her.

Gao Yuanyuan felt her eyes getting hot. She carefully pinched the stem of the maple leaf with two fingers, afraid of damaging it.

The moment she moved the maple leaf away, her gaze fell on the poem that the leaf had been covering.

That is Li Qingzhao's "A Spray of Plum Blossoms: The Fragrance of Red Lotus Fades and the Mat Turns Cold in Autumn".

At the bottom of this page, in the blank space, a craftsman wrote the following lines: "New green maple leaves, new books published; at this time, I gaze towards the capital from Hunan. May 16, 1999."

May 16, 1999, central Hunan, looking towards Beijing.

On the distant banks of the Xiang River, he gazed upon the capital. But who was he looking at in the capital?

Gao Yuanyuan's gaze slowly moved upwards, returning to the poem marked with the character "匠" (craftsman).

"Who will send a letter from the clouds? When the wild geese return, the moon will be full over the western tower."

Flowers fall and water flows. One longing, two places of sorrow.

"This feeling can never be dispelled; it just left my brow only to rise again in my heart."

Who sent a letter from the clouds, a love letter carrying a longing between us, a sorrow shared in two places?

Only under the brow, but our hearts.

Zheng Hui didn't say "I like you" to her, didn't give her any straightforward promises, and didn't even hold her hand when they walked side by side today.

However, on the distant banks of the Xiang River, he tucked an untimely green maple leaf into a poem filled with longing, and wrote a footnote that gazed towards the capital.

This subtle and controlled expression of emotion broke through Gao Yuanyuan's psychological defenses.

In the room, the CD player had already switched to the next song.

"I was once overwhelmed by the vastness of the world, and also indulged in its delusions—"

"Neither truth nor falsehood, neither officialdom nor ridicule—"

Gao Yuanyuan placed the green maple leaf back next to the line "One kind of longing, two places of sorrow," and then pressed the book tightly against her chest.

She closed her eyes, her mind filled with the image of Zheng Hui looking at her profile in the garden earlier that day, and his seemingly casual remark, "Let nature take its course."

She felt like that green maple leaf, completely caught in a hurricane in early summer, May.

Late at night.

The evening breeze in Beijing rustled the willows in the Fengtai compound and swept across the calm surface of Houhai Lake in the distance.

In this metropolis with a population of tens of millions, some people are struggling to make a living, while others are lying low for their ambitions.

There was also a girl, under the lamplight, guarding a page of poetry and a green leaf, dreaming a beautiful dream of unrequited love.

"In the name of love, are you still willing?"