Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

Yang Che laughed and said, "There's nothing to apologize for. I didn't even mention the title of the work."

Liu Xiaoli had no choice but to ask, "Oh? What kinds of works do you have?"

"The movie 'My Sassy Girl' is currently showing. As for songs, I've written a few, one of which is called 'Fleeting Years'."

Liu Xiaoli frowned, then her eyes widened: "The song Wang Fei sang? You wrote it?"

Yang Che suddenly chuckled: "Yes, it's also a theme song from my movie. It seems Wang Fei is quite famous in New York."

A smile finally appeared on Liu Xiaoli's face, as if she had instantly closed the distance between them: "Yes, her songs are quite popular in the Chinese community in New York. Uh... sorry, I haven't seen your movies."

Yang Che asked knowingly, "It seems you've immigrated. My movie is the hottest movie in China right now, haha."

"Really? Haha. I'm not exactly an immigrant, I just immigrated for my child's education."

Yang Che, feigning ignorance, asked again, "How old is your child? Is it a boy or a girl?"

"It's a girl, born in the Year of the Rabbit, and she's 13 years old."

Yang Che looked surprised: "You're already that big? Then... I'm sorry..."

Liu Xiaoli smiled and said, "There's nothing to apologize for. I'm not a foreigner, I don't stand on ceremony. I'm 40, how old are you?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Xiaoli felt a pang of surprise. She realized that she had been careless with her words and wondered where her usual guard had gone.

Yang Che's mouth was slightly open, as if he was still in shock: "I'm 31. I always thought we were about the same age."

That's obviously nonsense, and it's a lie that's easy to expose. If Liu Xiaoli just asked around in China, she would know that Yang Che is actually 23 years old.

However, once Liu Xiaoli inquired, she would definitely start to wonder: Why did he lie?

Hey?

Think about it carefully.

Yang Che just stared at Liu Xiaoli. She was truly beautiful, beyond description. Her temperament far surpassed her appearance, yet she was exceptionally beautiful with incredibly smooth skin. Where could anyone argue with that?

Liu Xiaoli was both surprised and unsurprised: "Then you've taken good care of yourself."

"She's naturally healthy, just doesn't take care of herself, but she's nowhere near as good as you."

"hehe."

The two then started chatting, just like two strangers having a pleasant conversation on a train.

Both of them were quite truthful. Yang Che explained his purpose for coming to the United States, the popularity of "My Sassy Girl" in Asia, and didn't hide the fact that he was a self-taught artist who had previously taught painting... He was indeed telling the truth.

He also mentioned that he would be returning to China from Los Angeles the day after tomorrow.

Liu Xiaoli said she was from the Jiangcheng Song and Dance Troupe. She was too old to dance anymore, so she took the opportunity to move to the United States. She is currently a classical and Latin dance teacher at a dance training studio in Queens, New York.

I went to Los Angeles to deal with a house there.

Naturally, neither of them brought up their personal matters.

Yang Che took the initiative to ask Liu Xiaoli many questions about dance, even though his intention was to create a professional field that would give her confidence, and he did so under the guise of film art.

such as:

How do water sleeves express joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness?

"Do the gestures of shaking sleeves in traditional Chinese opera and dance convey the same meaning?"

"......."

"I'm currently writing a story about a Qin Dynasty general and a Goryeo princess, and there's a scene where they fall in love through a dance. The dance is crucial, and I've been struggling to understand it. Could you tell me about Korean dance? I'd also like to know the differences between Korean dances in China, North Korea, and South Korea."

Just as Yang Che had predicted, Liu Xiaoli answered in great detail and with great seriousness, sometimes with animated gestures, sometimes raising her arm and pointing her fingers to explain.

"North Korean dance style is very rigid; both posture and breath control require lifting the body."

"I understand. Model operas emphasize collectivism and revolution."

Liu Xiaoli nodded: "Hmm... that's a good way of putting it, haha, but you understand it quite well. Korean North Korean dance is profound and restrained, exquisite and delicate, emphasizing a deep breath, a relaxed chest and drooping shoulders. Like this... movement within stillness."

As she spoke, she made dance moves with her upper body.

Yang Che just stared at her intently: "It feels a bit... stingy, but it's quite beautiful, hehe."

Liu Xiaoli smiled and said, "Chinese Korean dance is graceful and flowing, simple yet grand, combining strength and gentleness, and incorporating more classical Chinese aesthetics. The movements are larger than those of North and South Korea, for example, the same crane step and willow hand gestures..."

She demonstrated the willow hand gesture from China, North Korea, and South Korea, but unfortunately she didn't show the crane step.

Even so, she is still very charming.

Yang Che finds anyone with expertise in their field fascinating.

Xu Tao from "Legal Report" and Yin Junjie from "Entertainment Online" are only passable in appearance; otherwise, they would have already tried to develop a relationship beyond friendship.

Of course, that's a joke. Yang Che is willing to be friends with these charming people, regardless of gender.

Looking at Yang Che's appreciative gaze and his attentive attitude while listening to her speak, Liu Xiaoli felt increasingly happy and confident, and also felt that he was becoming more and more approachable.

Mencius said: "The problem with people is that they like to be teachers."

Clearly, the tendency to "like to teach others" has existed since ancient times and is a common human weakness.

Everyone has this problem. It happens whenever you want to gain recognition from others or feel superior. It's just a matter of degree.

In emotional relationships, skillfully using the tactic of "being a know-it-all" can be surprisingly effective.

When dealing with "newbies" and "young girls," you should appropriately use your "teachers-like" tendencies. Of course, this is on the premise that you can actually give them some benefits; otherwise, it's just bragging.

When facing an "older brother" or a "mature woman," there's no need to hold back. Ask for their advice, especially in areas they are familiar with. Don't pretend to know what you don't, because you naturally have your own charm.

Of course, Liu Xiaoli's feeling of warmth towards him wasn't solely due to Yang Che satisfying her "love of teaching" mentality; the foreign environment also played a role. In China, she certainly wouldn't have reacted this way. Admittedly, Yang Che wasn't bad-looking either.

Therefore, fostering a relationship truly requires the right timing, location, and people.

Two-thirds of the way through the journey, Liu Xiaoli went to the restroom. When she returned, the two who had been chatting happily just moments before suddenly stopped talking.

They were still like strangers who had just been chatting happily on the train, but were now silent.