Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

The group ate at a roadside noodle shop with soybean paste. This place is probably the noodle shop most frequented by Chinese singers. Wang Fei said she has eaten there no less than 20 times.

Besides noodles, we also ordered smashed cucumber, mixed shredded tofu, mustard greens, and shredded pork with eggs.

Perhaps because he was used to eating Gao Yuanyuan's dad's fried sauce, Yang Che thought it was just okay, a bit salty.

Wang Fei isn't that fussy about what she eats, but of course she wouldn't disregard her image, after all, she has a strict mother.

After the meal, everyone said their goodbyes.

Yang Che got into Wang Fei's van and immediately told the driver, "Go to Xinjiekouwai and get to the North Gate of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications."

"Okay, Mr. Yang."

Wang Fei frowned: "Where are you going?"

Yang Che said nonchalantly, "I'm going back to Courtyard No. 8 to take a nap. I have to go to the film set this afternoon."

Wang Fei retorted, "Didn't you say you weren't going?"

Yang Che said casually, "It's fine to go back to your place."

Wang Fei felt that same feeling from that morning again.

"What's wrong with you?"

Yang Che frowned slightly: "Nothing."

Wang Fei's eyes were filled with a mixture of confusion and grievance: "Just say what's on your mind, don't act like this."

Yang Che let out a long breath and looked at her: "You really didn't know?"

Wang Fei looked at him but didn't say anything.

Yang Che opened his mouth, then gritted his teeth and said, "When you call me, you always say 'hey hey hey,' which makes me feel really uncomfortable, especially today."

Wang Fei was a little confused, as if she didn't understand what he was saying. After a moment, she asked, completely puzzled, "Why are you like this...? What's wrong with me calling you like that?"

"Call me dramatic or crazy, I'm just not feeling well. You can call me by my name if you want."

"Well, you're my boyfriend, right? No, never mind. If you feel uncomfortable, I won't yell at you."

Wang Fei had a strange feeling, a tightness in her throat. She had always felt that he understood her very well. She always felt at ease when he was by her side. It was okay to call him "darling" or "husband" occasionally in bed, but she really couldn't say them out loud in normal times; it was just too embarrassing.

Yang Che didn't say anything more; he was feeling unwell.

Because in another timeline, his second wife started calling him "Hey" after cheating on him, and she strongly resisted his affection, just like the look of disgust she gave him when he tried to hug Wang Fei this morning.

After the divorce, he talked to a friend who specializes in psychology about this. If the "hey" at the beginning of getting to know someone is a cautious exploration of boundaries, then the "hey" after getting to know each other for a long time is often a concrete manifestation of psychological defense, especially when there is also resistance to physical contact, then there is basically no affection left.

Today, Wang Fei's resistance reminded him of these things, of his gloomy mood and of the past that made him very unhappy.

And so, without saying a word, the car drove to the north gate of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. Across the street was the alleyway leading back to Courtyard No. 8.

Yang Che pressed the unlock button.

Wang Fei looked at him, her eyes filled with vulnerability and pleading: "Can you please stop being so childish?"

Yang Che paused for a moment, then turned around and smiled: "You're right, I was being childish. I'm sorry, sister. Old Song, let's go."

After saying that, he closed the car door again.

He "returned" to his normal demeanor, but Wang Fei felt a sense of powerlessness.

She looked at him, and he looked at her.

Yang Che's eyes held a natural and gentle smile, as if nothing had happened.

Wang Fei felt wronged; she didn't understand.

Yes, she's just a typical little girl, habitually dependent, yet craving control. Yang Che calls her "sister" so often, and sometimes he really does treat her like a confidante, but he's clearly chosen the wrong person.

Yang Che laughed and said, "I was really wrong. Why don't you call me brother? That way we can both save face."

Wang Fei couldn't hold back and punched him hard—it was infuriating.

Yang Che did not dodge.

After Wang Fei finished pounding him, she got up, sat on his lap, and kissed him without caring about anything else.

Afterwards, Yang Che said with a smile, "I have my vulnerable moments too. Besides, look at me, even though I'm feeling so unwell, I didn't give up. I'm still working hard for you. I've done more than enough."

"You want me to praise you, don't you?"

"certainly."

"..."

The driver, Lao Song, kept a stern face. He felt that the two people behind him were no different from those twelve or thirteen-year-old kids—childish.

But why do I feel a little envious?

Back at Jialin Garden, the two didn't bother to talk. It was a habit; after every argument or quarrel, they would always have sex.

Moreover, Wang Fei had been secretly touching her boyfriend's abs in the car, and became even more proactive after entering the house.

He soon began to pant softly, "Hey... tell me, how should I call you?"

Yang Che patted her shoulder: "Whatever you want. Call me whatever you like."

"oops."

Wang Fei shouted in dissatisfaction, glared at him, and removed his hand.

Yang Che had no choice but to say, "I'm serious, I'm not just saying this to appease you. I don't want to change you. If you change to please me, will you still be the person I love after the change?"

Wang Fei hugged and kissed him, then said emotionally, "I'm not that particular, I just do whatever makes me comfortable. It's not that I don't care about you, I care about you so much, you have no idea how charming you are, I went weak just looking at you in the recording studio today."

"I think..."

Yang Che became interested and turned to look for her underwear.

Then he let out a loud shout.

"Wang Fei, are you crazy? Aren't you afraid of living the life of a widow?"

Wang Fei snorted, then released her grip, squatted down, and went to pick up the clothes she had thrown on the ground.

"Hmm..."

"Hiss... Sister, you're so kind."

"Hmph... Ugh... Ptooey, that's enough."

Yang Che was almost in tears: "You're being way too perfunctory."

"Stop talking nonsense! Hmm... Honey!"

"......"

The next day arrived in the blink of an eye. When Yang Che was leaving, Wang Fei, unusually, saw him off at the door and even grabbed him for a goodbye kiss.

Yang Che put his arm around her waist: "If you keep this up, I'll have to stay here with you tonight."

Wang Fei curled her lip: "You'd better not say things you can't do."

Yang Che smiled, patted her bottom, and went out. He had to go to the set of "Waiting Alone" today, mainly to see how Jia Jingwen's filming went last night.

As soon as the car drove out of the residential area, Yang Che saw paparazzi taking pictures of him on the roadside.

Yang Che turned the steering wheel, drove over, rolled down the window, and asked with a smile, "Are you filming me?"

The guy was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, and seemed very awkward. He didn't say anything, just picked up his camera and took another picture before nervously saying, "No."

Yang Che laughed heartily: "Go ahead and film it if you want, but it's not newsworthy."

That's when the guy said, "I actually wanted to take pictures of you and Wang Fei."

Yang Che nodded: "Good luck then, goodbye."

My friend was already quite natural: "Thank you, my name is Yang Liu, goodbye."