Chapter 67
After finally breaking through the crowd and getting into the car that was picking him up, isolated from the madness of the outside world, Lu Xiao let out a long, extremely tired breath, his body sinking heavily into the wide seat as if all his bones had been removed.
He took off his mask and hat, his forehead was wet with sweat, his eyes were dark and his face looked pale in the dim light of the carriage. Even his breathing was heavy with the feeling of exhaustion.
Looking at him like this, Zhuohua felt that feeling of "depression" that had been lingering in her heart ever since "Dark Night Lantern" became a hit resurfaced. What she wanted was the leisurely time to watch the clouds drift by with him, the simple warmth of teasing Shuangling and feeding him spirit fruits, not to see him being whipped around like a top, so tired that he didn't even want to speak.
But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, her gaze fell upon his tired profile, and that slight annoyance instantly transformed into helpless heartache. She reached out, her fingertips gathering a tiny, barely perceptible, warm, clear light, and with an extremely natural movement, placed them on his temples, gently massaging them.
The clear light, like the finest dew, carried the coolness of a mountain spring and the vitality of newly sprouting plants, seeping into his tense nerves.
"Hmm..." Lu Xiao let out a comfortable sigh almost immediately, and his tense brows visibly relaxed a little.
The heavy, leaden weariness slowly receded under the gentle strength flowing from her fingertips, like the first snow melting in the warm sun. He instinctively leaned closer to her, resting his heavy head on her slender yet reassuring shoulder, absorbing her comforting presence and the constant flow of warmth.
Zhuohua looked down at the man leaning on her shoulder, his breathing gradually becoming long and steady, and sighed almost inaudibly. The light from her fingertips flowed more gently, carefully smoothing away the man's excessive mental energy.
What could she do? A helpless yet indulgent smile curved her lips. She had chosen a top-tier boyfriend herself, so no matter how busy or tired she was, she had to protect and pamper him.
The car drove into the underground parking garage of their upscale apartment building, and the elevator ascended smoothly. As soon as they opened the door, a small, snow-white figure rushed over like lightning, carrying a resentment of being neglected for a long time.
"Chirp! Chirp chirp chirp—!"
Frostwing flapped its incredibly beautiful, iridescent feathers, and like a small cannonball, it charged straight at Zhuohua's face, its little head almost touching the tip of her nose. Its sharp beak opened and closed, emitting a series of rapid and shrill cries, and its round, intelligent eyes were filled with accusation.
"Busy! Busy! Busy! All you humans know is being busy!"
Shuangling's mental fluctuations strongly impacted Zhuohua's sea of consciousness, filled with grievance and anger. "Where are my spiritual fruits! Where are the promised delicacies! Look! Look at my feathers, they're all dull and lifeless! My spiritual energy is about to be depleted! Don't you need to feed the birds when you're in love?!"
As it complained, it deliberately flapped its wings vigorously in front of Zhuohua, and a few tiny, icy-crystal-like down feathers drifted down to show that it was really "starving and thin" and "lacking in spiritual energy".
Zhuohua was both amused and exasperated by the little rascal's antics. The tenderness and affection she had felt for Lu Xiao earlier vanished completely. She stretched out her finger, precisely avoiding the little guy's angry pecks, and gently tapped its fluffy head, calmly channeling a gentle stream of immortal energy into it.
"Alright, alright, Lady Frostfeather, please calm down," she said, suppressing a laugh, her voice coaxing. "It was our oversight that we neglected our esteemed divine bird. We'll make it up to you with double the spiritual fruits, how about that?"
Shuangling tilted her head, her beady black eyes darting around suspiciously, as if assessing the weight of the "double" offer. Zhuohua's fingertips twitched slightly, and a wisp of pure spiritual energy, like the most tempting scent of candy, lingered around her fingertips.
The little guy's nose (or rather, a nose-like organ) twitched noticeably, and the anger in his eyes was quickly replaced by craving, but he still tried to maintain the composure of a divine beast, only the frequency of his wing flapping slowed down significantly.
"Hmph! You're smart to know what's good for you!"
Shuangling proudly raised her little head, still maintaining her airs amidst her mental fluctuations, but her body honestly landed on Zhuohua's outstretched fingers, her little claws gripping tightly. She even deliberately turned her head away from Lu Xiao beside her, displaying a haughty demeanor that said, "I only accept your offerings; the exhausted human beside me has nothing to do with me."
Zhuohua shook her head helplessly, leading the little phoenix, who was all talk and no action, towards its special food bowl inlaid with several pieces of warm, cold jade. Lu Xiao watched the interaction between the man and the bird, leaned against the wall in the entryway, and finally a genuine smile appeared on his tired face.
This chaotic yet vibrant home is where all his hard work truly comes from.
The year-end chill, carrying with it a festive atmosphere, swept through every corner of the city. The annual film and television extravaganza—the "Golden Feather Awards" ceremony—kicked off on this highly anticipated, star-studded night.
Outside the venue, a red carpet stretched out like a burning galaxy. Flashbulbs blazed wildly, illuminating the night as bright as day.
The screams and chants of the fans rose in waves, almost deafening. Luxury cars pulled up one after another, and the elegantly dressed celebrities walked gracefully onto the red carpet, basking in the spotlight and cheers of the crowd.
The car carrying Lu Xiao and Zhuo Hua slowly came to a stop at the starting point of the red carpet. The car door opened, and Lu Xiao stepped out first. He wore a perfectly tailored jet-black velvet haute couture suit, which made his figure appear even more upright and slender. The white shirt he wore underneath was buttoned up meticulously, with only a simple yet extremely dazzling diamond brooch at the collar, exuding an understated yet undeniable sense of luxury.
His seasoned camera presence and naturally handsome appearance caused a massive wave of screams to erupt on both sides of the red carpet the moment he appeared.
He nodded slightly, a perfectly timed, composed smile befitting a top star, then turned and extended his hand into the car with impeccable gentlemanly manners.
A slender, fair hand with well-proportioned knuckles gently rested on his palm. Immediately afterwards, Zhuohua's figure appeared in the focus of all the cameras and eyes.
She did not choose an elaborate and extravagant dress, but a moon-white modified cheongsam-style long dress. The fabric was top-quality silk satin with a subtle flowing luster. The cut was extremely simple and smooth, perfectly outlining her slender and tall figure without being revealing at all.
The dress was devoid of any superfluous embroidery or sequins, except for a delicate magnolia pattern, outlined in silk thread of the same color, sparsely and elegantly coiled diagonally around the front, exuding the ultimate in refined elegance. Her long, jet-black hair was loosely tied up, adorned with a flawless, lustrous white jade hairpin, with a few stray strands falling beside her cheeks, adding to her languid charm.
Her makeup was extremely light, focusing almost entirely on her naturally striking eyebrows and eyes, with a natural rosy lip color. Standing amidst the dazzling lights and bustling crowd, she strangely exuded a serene aura, as if she were a tranquil oasis in a noisy world, untouched by the chaos of the world.
She placed her hand on Lu Xiao's arm, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips. Her gaze calmly swept over the frenzied cameras and excited fans on both sides of the red carpet, and she nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
His demeanor was not like walking a red carpet in a glamorous world of fame and fortune, but rather like a celestial being descending to earth by chance, with a detached and discerning air.
The combination of the two—Lu Xiao's dazzling brilliance and Zhuo Hua's ethereal elegance—creates a strong, almost contradictory visual impact.
The flashing of camera lights reached its peak instantly, and the shouts of reporters almost broke through the security lines. Fans on both sides of the red carpet screamed their names wildly, and their light sticks formed a sea of light.
"Lu Xiao—!! Zhuo Hua—!!!"
"Ahhh, look over here! Look over here!"
"They're such a perfect match! A match made in heaven!"
Zhuohua tilted her head slightly, leaning close to Lu Xiao's ear, her voice carrying a hint of laughter that only he could hear, and whispered, "It's even noisier than the welcoming ceremony for immortals outside the South Heaven Gate back then." Lu Xiao tightened his grip on her hand, returning a knowing smile, and the two walked hand in hand across the long red carpet with composure amidst the deafening noise.
Inside the enormous main venue for the awards ceremony, crystal chandeliers illuminated the dome like an inverted galaxy. The guest seats were glittering with stars, and the air was filled with a unique blend of perfume, tension, and anticipation.
The cast of "Dark Night Lantern" was seated quite close to the front, with Zhuo Hua and Lu Xiao sitting side by side. On stage, the award presenter was excitedly announcing the winner of the Most Popular Actor of the Year award.
"...Let us congratulate—Lu Xiao!" A loud voice, accompanied by rousing music, resounded throughout the venue.
The spotlight instantly locked onto Lu Xiao's tall figure, enveloping him in a dazzling halo. The entire venue erupted in applause, mixed with excited screams from the fans.
A polite smile of surprise appeared on Lu Xiao's face. He stood up, first gently hugged Zhuo Hua beside him, whispered something in her ear, then straightened the hem of his suit and walked steadily toward the center of the stage where everyone was watching.
Zhuohua sat below the stage, looking up at the man on the stage, bathed in glory, calmly delivering his speech. Under the spotlight, his deep-set eyes and features were sculpted even more perfectly by the light and shadow. His voice, carried through the microphone, resonated throughout the venue, steady and powerful, filled with sincere gratitude.
At this moment, he shone brightly, a star admired by countless people. This was completely different from his usual relaxed, even occasionally weary and dependent demeanor around her. A subtle emotion, a mixture of admiration, pride, and possessiveness, quietly grew in her heart. This was her man, the one she had personally nurtured from obscurity to his current radiant glory.
The lengthy awards ceremony finally came to a close, and the backstage area instantly transformed into another battlefield. Lu Xiao, the award winner, was the center of attention. As soon as he stepped out of the side door of the venue, he was surrounded by countless reporters' microphones and cameras, the flashes so bright they were blinding. His assistant and bodyguards struggled to maintain order, and the scene became somewhat chaotic for a moment.
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