Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

Upon arriving at Hongqiao Airport, the group of more than ten people did not stop in Shanghai. Instead, they took a bus directly to the Yongcheng Nanyuan Hotel.

After resting briefly at the hotel, Wang Fei went with the organizers to the banquet hall for a simple press conference.

It wasn't for publicity or to sell tickets—the tickets sold out within 48 hours of being put on the shelves—but rather to cooperate with the local cultural bureau.

After all, the bureau chief started by saying, "Introducing a high-level singer like Wang Fei to perform has greatly enriched the cultural life of the citizens, promoted cultural exchanges between Ningbo and the outside world, enhanced Ningbo's image of openness to the outside world, boosted consumption in local service industries such as accommodation, catering, and transportation, and invigorated the cultural market. We have done a lot of logistical support work for this, such as..."

Such speeches are common in every economically developed city.

After Chiu Li-kuan introduced the general overview of the concert, it was time for Wang Fei to answer reporters' questions.

Unsurprisingly, after answering a few pre-arranged questions about music, a reporter asked, "Wang Fei, has Yang Che come to Ningbo?"

Wang Fei said calmly, "They're here, but this has nothing to do with the concert, right?"

The reporter then asked, "Are there any songs written by Yang Che on the new album?"

Wang Fei smiled inexplicably: "Yes, quite a lot."

The reporters were so touched, they laughed and laughed... but then the person said, "Don't ask any more questions, let's talk about it when the new album comes out."

After a while.

Will Yang Che perform any new songs at this concert?

Wang Fei replied calmly, "Yes."

"I think you two are a perfect match."

"Thanks."

.......

After the press conference, Wang Fei went to the Olympic Sports Center and walked around the venue. That concluded her work for the day. Rehearsals were for tomorrow; today, it was more important for her to get a good rest.

Yang Che stayed in his hotel room drawing storyboards. He didn't go anywhere. Of course, he wasn't sick in Ningbo in August.

However, Li Xiangdong was ill and not afraid of the humid heat at all, so he went to the Bund alone.

Yang Che scolded him for being spineless. But Li Xiangdong still went. He always felt that it would be a waste to go to a place and not visit the local attractions, especially since the boss had nothing else to do.

When Wang Fei returned to her hotel room, she saw her boyfriend working diligently at his desk. He walked over and realized she was back.

Then naturally he couldn't draw anymore, because Wang Fei seduced him.

"Old Wang, I think you're being a bit too demanding."

Wang Fei looked down at him with disdain, but ignored him and just kept busy with her own things. To her, this was a gas station and a beauty salon.

Moreover, she felt that a brother in his early twenties and a sister in her early thirties were a perfect match.

When the reporter said they were a good match, she actually wanted to say, "I think so too."

That evening, instead of just the two of them having dinner together, Yang Che dined with the team, and he seemed to fit in quite well.

Well... when you don't need to ask anyone for anything, you'll be able to handle any situation with ease.

During the meal, Chen Jiaying said, "If you could play the piano, Ah Che, you could collaborate with Ah Fei on 'You Exist in My Song'."

Yang Che said in a serious tone, "I can play, but she won't let me play. I guess she's afraid people will say it's just showing off our relationship or something."

Wang Fei, standing beside him, looked speechless: "Stop talking nonsense, okay? Besides, all you know how to play is 'Two Tigers'."

"I can play a section of Canon too, okay?"

"I can't even find the right note."

"Wang Fei, you can't be so hurtful."

"Where did I hurt you? I was just telling the truth."

"I'm a beginner, I need encouragement, and having a girlfriend like you is wonderful!"

Wang Fei chuckled, then looked at the dumbfounded people at the table. He felt a little embarrassed, but not too awkward, since it was not uncommon for the two of them to start bickering as they talked.

Yang Che didn't care at all. He even smiled at the somewhat embarrassed makeup artist guy—no, wait, wait, that's not right either. Anyway, that's just how it is, as long as you understand.

Chiu Li-kuan's expression softened even more, just like Chen Chia-ying's, with a big smile on her face.

Liu Xiaosong, the drummer who replaced Dou Wei in the band, was stunned. "Dude, you're so good at writing lyrics and composing music, and you're telling me you can only play 'Two Tigers' on the piano? Are you kidding me?" But looking at the calm expressions of Zhang Yadong, Yue Haokun, and the others, he didn't dare to ask. Maybe they were just geniuses.

Night falls, and the city lights shine brightly.

Yang Che led Wang Fei on a stroll along the sidewalk outside the Nanyuan Hotel to digest their food, while Li Xiangdong and a brother named Cui Qiu'an followed far behind.

"Oh, magnolia jelly."

Following her boyfriend's gaze, Wang Fei saw a three-wheeled food cart being ridden by the roadside.

"What is it?"

Yang Che explained, "It's a bit like Guangxi sweet soup, which is made from magnolia fruit jelly topped with brown sugar syrup. It's very delicious."

After saying that, he turned around and waved: "Qiu An."

Cui Qiu'an jogged forward: "Brother Che, Sister Fei."

Yang Che pointed and said, "Buy a few bowls of that wood lotus jelly, you two can try it too."

"Okay, sure."

Cui Qiu'an responded and jogged after it. Just as he caught up, a red Volkswagen Polo traveling in the wrong direction swerved to avoid the oncoming car and crashed directly into the tricycle selling wood lotus jelly.

The soup and other liquids spilled out immediately, and the middle-aged woman who owned the car stumbled and fell off her seat, landing on her elbow first. She didn't seem to care about her bleeding arm, but instead stared in panic at the red Polo in front of her, and a heavily made-up young woman who got out of the car. She spoke in an extremely shrill voice:

"What's wrong with you? Are you blind? You see an oncoming car and don't know to give way, even a beat-up old car wants to drive onto the main road..."

The woman was both angry and scared, and for a moment she couldn't even speak.

Cui Qiu'an, who was nearby, turned to look at Yang Che, only to see that Yang Che had already hidden Wang Fei behind him and was waving at him.

"Brother Che..."

Yang Che spoke very quickly, "Do you understand now?"

"clear."

"Go quickly."

So Cui Qiu'an quickly ran to the tricycle and stood next to the old woman who was complaining about the other vehicle going the wrong way, saying, "Second Aunt, let her go, we can't afford to mess with her."

He then looked at the young woman and said, "Miss, I'm sorry, you should leave."

Upon hearing this, the young woman's eyes lit up, and she immediately turned around, got into her car, started the engine, and drove away.

The older woman naturally refused, but she saw the young man shake his head at her. Although she felt aggrieved, she knew that the young man meant well.

But the next second, the young man took out his phone and dialed 110.

"Hello, I'm calling the police. Here's the situation: a Volkswagen Polo with license plate number Zhejiang B... was driving against traffic and hit someone. The driver swore and then drove off. The person who was hit is bleeding near the Nanyuan Hotel. Please dispatch your officers as soon as possible. I'm a tourist from out of town."