Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Early Summer in London
After the Romagna Grand Prix, the three members of All-Star Love followed the Ferrari team back to the Ferrari headquarters 30 kilometers away. At dusk in Maranello, Italy, the sky was a warm, dirty orange. The Ferrari headquarters lacked the bustle and bustle of the Imola circuit during the day. Instead, a relaxed, old-money tranquility steeped in victories and history reigned. It felt old, yet also new: an old town, brand new supercars, racing cars, and engines.
Everyone here is a family, there are no reporters, media, or fans. Kwon Ji-yong holds Xing Ai's hand and walks at the end of the team, while Charles takes Zhu He to visit the Ferrari Museum.
Giant Prancing Horse logos are everywhere, and the air is filled with an almost sacred aesthetic of machinery and industry. Photos and trophies of legendary race cars hang on the walls, and glass cabinets display worn steering wheels and championship-winning racing parts.
A simple celebration took place in a corner of the garage. Chilled bottles of sparkling wine were opened, and the foam splashed out, wetting everyone's smiles. Charles and Hamilton chatted with the three of them about the race and the cars.
"Want to try it?" Leclerc winked, a hint of mischief in his voice. He pointed to several different Ferrari sports cars in the garage not far away. "How are your preparations for the last race going? Sarah, are you ready?"
The proposal came so suddenly that Quan Zhilong tightened his grip on the girl's shoulders. Quan Xingai patted him reassuringly, "Of course. I've been waiting all day and can't wait."
"Me too. I can't wait to try it." Li Zhuhe was unaware of Quan Zhilong's concerns and was the first to raise his hand to try it.
"I'll sit in the passenger seat with you, Xing'ai." Quan Zhilong said quickly, then looked at Xia Er who raised an eyebrow and said, "It's not a competition, it's just an experience, right? You just think I'm too worried about her."
"Well, you two are inseparable lovers." Leclerc shook his head.
A moment later, they arrived at a secluded, closed-off test track inside the base. Three red Ferrari road cars were already parked there, a low, alluring hum emanating from under their hoods.
Quan Zhilong opened the driver's door for his girlfriend who was eager to try. She pinched Zhilong's puppy cheek and said, "Don't worry, you are sitting next to me." After that, she tilted her head and kissed his cheek soothingly.
"My heart is beating so fast, but I agree with my baby. Since it's a nightmare, let's get over it."
Quan Xingai smiled and sat in, skillfully fastened her seat belt, adjusted the seat and rearview mirror, and her fingers brushed across the golden prancing horse logo on the steering wheel. Her mind flashed through her past life, and she took a deep breath to put aside these chaotic thoughts.
Quan Zhilong then walked around to the passenger seat. He turned his head and looked at Sarah. Sitting in this position, he seemed to be in the same mood as Sarah at midnight in 2016.
Charles and Lee Joo Hyuk were in the car next to them and gestured to them through the car window.
The green light is on.
The roar of the engine suddenly intensified, no longer a distant rumble, but a surge of power surging forward from their backs. Quan Xing'ai stared intently ahead, pressing the accelerator deeply. The intense push pressed them tightly against the backrests of the seats. Quan Zhilong subconsciously grasped the roof rails. His fear wasn't directed at the scene before him, but when he closed his eyes, he could imagine how lonely and helpless Sarah had been that night. The wind poured in through the gap in the lowered window, ruffling his short hair.
It wasn't a true race, more like a friendly chase. The red car carved a smooth arc across the track beneath the setting sun, braking, turning, accelerating, the engine roaring in a high-pitched rhythm. After one lap, Quan Xingai regained her driving composure. With her at the wheel, her lover beside her, she felt like she had found an anchor and a source of security.
This time she will treat her life well. She will not let down Xing'ai's life and her own life, and she will no longer treat love as an empty expectation and shackles as in her previous life. She and Quan Zhilong love each other, but they are also free. Quan Xing'ai does not want to have any regrets in this new life.
If there are difficulties, challenge them; if it is a nightmare, overcome it, just like the decision she made after encountering the F1 cooperation and the possible overseas agency contract - the decision to confront the negative public opinion in South Korea, knowing that it might lead to backlash and everyone's pessimism, but Sarah is a rock singer, and rebellion is her nature.
She drove more and more smoothly, letting out all the frustration and worries about the future on the track.
The red Ferrari took the corners neatly and quickly, like a steady veteran driver. Circle after circle, Quan Zhilong gradually put on a smile. He seemed to feel the change in Xingai's increasingly steady driving state. Every time he changed gears or accurately cut through the center of a corner, he would turn his head to look at her, with undisguised appreciation and a sparkling smile in his eyes.
It turned out to be his girl, his Sarah, who would stand up where she fell.
Finally, the three cars slowly stopped behind the finish line. The engines died, and the world fell silent, leaving only the lingering hum of the music and the pounding of my heartbeat.
Quan Xingai let go of the steering wheel, let out a long breath, turned her head to look at Zhilong, her eyes surprisingly bright. The two looked at each other, and there was a kind of ignited light in each other's eyes that was completely different from the one on the stage, which only they understood.
"What do you think? I told you my skills are good, right? Are you assured?" Quan Xing raised his eyebrows in a cocky manner.
"Wow, incomparable..." Quan Zhilong exclaimed and shook his head, as if he couldn't find a more appropriate word.
Xing Ai unbuckled her seatbelt and couldn't help laughing. She reached out to help him straighten his hair, which had been completely messed up by the wind. "How is it? Riding in my car is more exciting and fun than writing songs. Is your adrenaline rushing?"
He grabbed her hand and laughed a deep, hearty laugh, especially clear in the fading light of dusk. "It's completely different. But... you're amazing, baby."
Charles and Li Zhuhe came over and knocked on their car windows, with knowing smiles on their faces. Quan Xingai rolled down the window and heard the other party ask with a hint of pride in his tone, "How do you feel?"
"How is Zhilong? Are you still worried about Xingai's driving skills? Seriously, is Xingai really a novice driver? You are a veteran when it comes to cornering and speeding up." Li Zhuhe gave a thumbs up in amazement.
Quan Zhilong smiled and shook his head at his friend's words, raising their still clasped hands in a gesture of "unparalleled." The setting sun's afterglow stretched their figures, along with the gleaming red sports car beside them, into the everlasting red dream of Maranello.
On the way back to the hotel, Quan Zhilong was still immersed in his previous mood. He hung on Xingai's shoulders coquettishly and hugged his girlfriend tightly. The two of them walked slowly on the lawn beside the paddock hand in hand. The sunset in the distance had already set behind the mountain, and the sky was a blue-purple twilight.
"Baby, luckily you're back, otherwise I would really regret for the rest of my life for not getting back together with you earlier."
"Why are you so sad? Since the angel gave me a second chance, I shouldn't dwell on the past." Xing Ai put her arms around Quan Zhilong's head and ruffled his hair. "Actually, holding the steering wheel made me forget about that midnight nightmare. Thank you, Zhilong. It's you who taught me that facing fear is always the best way to overcome nightmares."
"Watching you drive makes me scared but also proud of you, you know, proud of me. You are indeed a warrior."
"Actually, I almost wanted to lie down, but when you told me that I was a warrior in the past, I started to reflect on myself and wondered if I really shouldn't waste my second life like this."
"Nu Na, I love you so much that I want to get married with you right now."
"Hmm? I'm a professional idol. Getting married? Yeah, sure."
"Arathor, I just suddenly felt this way. I also know that Nuna has completely become a career-oriented person now, and he wants to lead RD to the top."
"Hehe, I'm not completely a workaholic. Love is also important. Aren't I secretly in love with Zhilong?"
"Do you remember that we were secretly in love ten years ago? At least things are better now than then. We live together, work in the same company, and can work together. The most important thing is that although we can't make it public, we can tell everyone openly that we are very special." Kwon Ji-yong hugged Xing'ai tighter and even lifted the girl up completely.
"Ah—Zhilong, your arm strength is so good now? You were still a weakling ten years ago."
"Nuna, you are 168cm tall now, but you were 178cm tall ten years ago!"
"It seems so... Oh, this is the most regrettable thing."
"But I really like the height difference now."
"Oh, man—"
The two of them walked on Yangguan Avenue in the twilight, hugging each other and smiling, looking back on their past and looking forward to their future.
After experiencing the Grand Prix and visiting Ferrari, it was Charles' turn to go to the F1 Group headquarters in London with Kwon Ji-yong and Xing Ai on Monday. Lee Joo-hyuk stayed in Italy to shoot a commercial and will return to Korea after the filming to have other work.
The London-based group company is specifically responsible for the operation and promotion of F1. Kwon Ji-yong, as the supervisor and producer of the collaboration song, will participate in the recording of the driver's version, and star drivers such as Hamilton, Verstappen, Russell, etc. will also gradually arrive at the F1 Group headquarters.
Originally, Jeon Seong-ae was not included in this version of the chorus, but during the recording, Kwon Ji-yong discovered that although the rap part could be performed by him and Hamilton together, the chorus still needed Seong-ae's harmony. So Jeon Seong-ae, who could have rested in the hotel for two days, was pulled into the recording studio to record her harmony first. During the recording process, she met many famous F1 drivers, some of whom sang well, while some were tone-deaf. After two days of getting to know each other, they formed a friendship.
There's even new news: Formula One and Sony Music will be collaborating. How could this not be good news for All Star Love, who are looking for an opportunity to sign an overseas contract with Sony? Myungjin-unnie is right; even a small seed of thought can take root and sprout. Once she has this idea in her heart, the whole world will come to her aid.
The recording session lasted two days, wrapping up half a day early. Because of this unique recording session, the drivers even asked to appear in GD's official music video. Fortunately, their next stop was Spain in mid-May, giving them ample time to participate.
"Unlimited" is a fast-paced song that combines hip-hop and retro melodies. The director of the MV is Aidan Zamini, a British man who has recently become quite famous in the fashion and film and television circles. He has always been engaged in artistic and creative work in the past. Because he shot Billie's MV and directed several documentaries, he was listed as a well-known director by fashion magazines.
Quan Xingai began to be really curious about Zhilong's unfathomable network of contacts. Where did he get so many friends?
The music video, with its postmodern, avant-garde plot, is a road movie-style film. Kwon Ji-yong is on the road searching for himself, constantly challenging different drivers, while Jeon Seong-ae makes a cameo appearance as his late girlfriend. This time, Kwon Ji-yong faces the challenge of revealing his two sides: appearing handsome, powerful, and alpha, he possesses a sensitive, delicate, and traumatized heart.
The theme of the music video is about finding yourself, and the first scenes shot featured cameos from several drivers. Verstappen is portrayed as a stern supercar enthusiast, his only focus being cars 24/7; Russell is the racing king, surrounded by beautiful women; Hamilton is a fleeting comrade who's both a friend and foe; Lock & Lock has the most scenes, even fighting with GD; and then there's a cameo appearance from Jeon Seong-ae, who plays her ex, who passed away in a car accident.
The drivers' cameo appearances lasted only a short while before filming concluded. Some, still unsatisfied, stayed to watch the fight between Charles and GD. The filming was a completely relaxed and enjoyable affair. By midnight, the drivers had returned to their hotel, and the set began filming the death scene of Jeon Seong-ae's ex.
This is a script written by Kwon Ji-yong himself. In the suburbs at midnight, in the spring of London, the camera is facing GD, who is holding the blood-covered Jeon Byul-ai and crying heartbreakingly. In the distance is a prop Ferrari sports car. He completely reproduces the night 5 years ago when he just learned the bad news.
Quan Xingai, wearing a white dress symbolizing white moonlight, was covered in prop blood. She was held in Quan Zhilong's arms and couldn't help crying while listening to his wailing, until the director called cut - both of them were immersed in the plot and silently shed tears.
"It's fake. It seems like you two are really separated by life and death." Director Aidan shook his head.
How could he know that this was actually a completely genuine performance by Kwon Ji-yong, and that as soon as the filming of "Jeon Star Love" was over, the boy hugged her and held her in his arms, patting his back to comfort him.
"I'm here, Zhilong, I'm here! I haven't left!" She stroked Zhilong's cheek and repeated it over and over again.
"Nuna Nuna, never leave me again." Quan Zhilong's eyes were red from crying.
This fragile and pitiful state was immediately captured by Aidan, who placed GD's fragile heart in the MV's plot. After the magic of editing, this collaboration song with full speed and rhythm has a subtle undertone of sadness, but this time regret is no longer the ending.
Kwon Ji-yong created a perfect ending for the music video, with him driving with Star Love beside him towards the distant future. This is certainly beautiful, but Aidan's editing makes it seem as if the male protagonist finally indulges in illusions, surrenders to his vulnerability, and drives to heaven with the memories that he cannot let go.
The song is full of rhythm, story and atmosphere, and is interspersed with a sad storyline. To be honest, the finished product is so good that even Kwon Ji-Dragon himself could not have imagined it. He couldn't wait to give fans a spoiler, so he posted his old song R`O`D on Snapchat for several days in a row, and also posted a bunch of racing-related photos.
While fans were interpreting and analyzing, they finally discovered that Seoul National University had uploaded an excellent short film assignment from the sophomore Department of Drama and Arts. Why does this "Postmodern Hamlet" look so familiar?
*
Title: Which female idol dares to openly film her rumored boyfriend in a short video?
Content: Recently, it seems that Dao2 has been dominated by social media again. Ever since she was caught on live broadcast watching the F1 Grand Prix with Kwon Ji-yong and biting his ear affectionately, her Instagram account has been blocked again. How come Korean entertainment has also learned from Europe and the United States to use the "snake" style? However, Dao2 doesn't seem to care. The excellent short film "Homework All Star Love" released by Seoul Grand Prix is the one with the Little Prince costume that Kwon Ji-yong had posted on Instagram before. It turns out that it was used to shoot homework for Dao2... I thought it was an MV, which made me excited. Alas!
Blade 2 is not afraid of being scolded at all and posted a bunch of group photos on IG. Of course, Quan Long is just one of them. Most of them are with drivers and other staff members. Even Lee Joo Hyuk is in the photo. However, fans seem to have only seen Quan Long and Blade 2, and public opinion seems to have returned to 2017 and 2018.
However, the current All Star Love is not the All Star Love of the past. Back then, Blade 2 was still affected, but now Blade 2 seems to really not care. However, it is hard to judge a female idol who is still in the rising stage and is involved in a scandal with a senior and still calls her a good friend. Do they dare to openly announce their relationship?
It’s so cool to be an idol. Who is as free as her? Damn, I envy her company so much. Even if she does whatever she wants, she still has the chaebol sister to pamper her. A few days ago, she was photographed having afternoon tea with Moon Eun-joo and Lim Si-ling... There is such a big difference between people!
But having said that, Jeon Xingai is indeed talented. I watched a lot of short films shot by Seoul University and hers is the most interesting one. I can get her artistic sense.
Quan Long's face was not shown throughout the whole process, and his real appearance was blurred, only the back of his head and back were shown. The theme was postmodern Hamlet. The background looked very familiar at first, and then I thought, isn't that the background of the live broadcast of Paris Fashion Week? It is indeed a concert hall.
And I always feel that in the lens of Blade 2, Quan Long has a kind of beauty, really like a little prince, better than many directors and photographers. Is this the "eyes of a lover"? I want to ask if the dragon egg sisters are already angry to death.
1L: I came in with the answer as soon as I saw the title. It was indeed the name I thought of.
2L: Hahahaha, the title fits the bill. No one else has released a Blade 2 yet. Is she really going to die? Have you forgotten the scene where she was scolded a few years ago?
3L: It doesn’t matter if she forgot. Recently, Korean Internet has been full of satires. SNS is full of people criticizing her. This prosperous world is just what she wanted...
4L: This is so strange. These two people were photographed in Paris before. Why did the public opinion suddenly explode now?
5L: The fans are lagging behind. Before, it was just photos, and Vogue was also photos. They could brainwash people about their work, but now they can’t stand the two of them whispering openly on the big screen of TV.
6L: I still find it so strange. The Korean media is the same. It’s all negative news overnight.
Is Sarah Xingai F1's resources due to Moon Eun-joo or the help of her rumored boyfriend Quan Zhilong?
"She won the F1 concert and starred in GD's new song MV. What is her relationship with GD?"
Growing up in an orphanage, did Jeon Seong-ae bully her classmates?
"A creative talent? Or does she rely on male actors and superstars to rise to fame?"
…
To be honest, I was worried for her. This scene reminded me of Sydney back then.
7L: I just want to say that it’s obvious that she’s been attacked. Suddenly there are so many negative articles overnight. Who would believe that there are no internet trolls? Even those who are in real relationships have not been attacked as badly as her, haha.
8L: I still like Blade 2 very much. I can get through this wave and reach the next level!
9L: Honestly, I think the current K-pop scene is different than it was before. Are there any idols who aren't dating these days? And All Star Love has been around for ages...it's already been five years, so why shouldn't they be allowed to date just because the person might be a superstar? I even said the person was Leclerc, and it's confirmed. The Sun photographed them, and they even went to the game. Look at Lock & Lock, they like every post about All Star Love. They're way more popular than superstars.
10L: The trend of Xiao Han is just coming in waves. Just wait for the new album and new songs of Dao 2 to come out.
11L: I want to know what to do if the new song fails?
12L: All Star Love relies on her own talent. I believe she is absolutely sure of it, so she lets it go like this.
13L: I just want to say that Lao Long looks so handsome in the short film! The concept of combining music with Hamlet is also amazing.
The velvet chairs are covered in dust, the gilt trim is peeling, and the crystal chandelier flickers. There's a tattered curtain in the background, and in the center, Hamlet, his face completely obscured by shadows, lies supine under a spotlight. (Hahahaha) He holds a dusty violin. The best part is the classical setting, the rock soundtrack, and a deep female voice reciting Hamlet's classical lines. Her British accent is absolutely beautiful! It must have been voiced by Blade II himself.
[Should I continue playing? Or should I break the strings? This is the question that arises during the rest.]
Should I endure the fate written on the music stand and play this damned music step by step? Or should I completely tear apart this hypocritical harmony? Tear it apart?
Who would still want to live in this rotten orchestra pit? To endure the tyranny of the conductor's baton? To endure the boos of the critics? To endure the deviated loyalty of the mother? To endure the usurped harmony of the uncle? And those buzzing flattering flies! To take away the work you have worked so hard on?!
It's very good. The background of Hamlet is changed into musicians, and then a montage of quick cuts makes Quan Long's back wander quickly in the midnight of Paris, and finally stop in front of the monastery. The shouts and questions stay on the angel wings on the back of his neck, which is both spiritual and divine. Putting aside other things, don't you think this short film is really good to watch?
14L: I agree! I like this short film too. I am a Quan Long fan. Although I am very sad that the scandal seems to be getting more and more true, I was really shocked when I saw this short film. Quan Xingai really has some talent. I won’t criticize people with real talent too much. At most, I will feel sad for a while. QAQ
15L: Most of them are grown up, not teenagers. Can't they tell whether they are just trying to ride on the popularity or are true friends, taking advantage of the opportunity to get ahead or are strong cooperation? This wave of public opinion about Blade 2 has nothing to do with Sister Longdan at all.
16L: I think judging from the situation, Knife 2 will be criticized for a while.
17L: She and Quan Long are still in London?
18L: Are you busy with the collaboration? I think I’ll be in the UK for half a month.
19L: These two have been quiet recently, and haven’t updated their social media. I only seemed to have met them by chance during the MV filming.
20L: Ah!! Where did you meet me? I want to see it!
21L: Here [A chance encounter with the crew building the scene in the suburbs of London] [Photo of the rider] [Lock & Lock and the crew standing together and chatting]
22L: Wow, are they really filming a music video together?! It’s so open and aboveboard that I even doubt they’re just friends.
23L: Brother Long has never been so high-profile before. It’s either true love or true friendship.
24L: But there are no photos of the two main characters, only photos of the drivers, the set, and the crew...
25L: These photos were taken near the peripheral hotels. You won’t be told about the real shooting location.
26L: The music video has been filmed, so the new song will be released soon! ! Around the end of May, right?
27L: Ahhhh my brother is really coming back!
…
Quan Xingai was already aware of the online backlash against her in China, but she ignored it for now. She and Kwon Ji-yong finished filming their music video and began their backpacking trip. This time, she wanted to relax and unwind, so the two of them packed light and flew directly from London to Edinburgh.
It is also a city they have visited before, full of memories.
The hotel they stayed in was not on the main street, but hidden deep in the intricate cobblestone alleys behind Princes Street. It took several turns to find it. It was an old courtyard-style building. Their room was on the second floor. The huge windows offered views of the ruins of the temple columns on Calton Hill in the distance. Nearby was the quiet private courtyard downstairs, with a few hardy shrubs and a bench vaguely visible. The thick dark green velvet curtains by the window were half-closed.
The furniture in the entire room is dark walnut, heavy and full of the atmosphere of the old times. The hotel was booked by Quan Zhilong. He knew that Xing Ai liked this gorgeous and retro atmosphere. He also knew that Xing Ai loved Scotland the most, and loved Edinburgh the most - Edinburgh, where it is always raining and filled with fog, and has a mysterious atmosphere and the accent of the past.
The last time they came here was in 2011. Now, 10 years have passed, and they finally came here again hand in hand. They are still in love and will continue to love each other forever.
The Edinburgh morning was shrouded in a thin, gray mist. The air was cool, damp, and carried the scent of stone. A faint, dull chime drifted from the window, the sound of a nearby Scottish bell. Through the gaps in the velvet curtains, the uniquely cool Scottish light streamed in.
Quan Xingai stretched, her bare feet treading on the thick carpet, letting out a comfortable sigh. She walked to the window, slightly opened the curtains, and saw a thin layer of morning mist covering the courtyard outside. The world was so quiet that it seemed unreal.
Turning around, she saw Quan Zhilong, who had woken up at some point, still holding his phone with an indignant look on his face. Xing Ai slumped her shoulders helplessly.
"Zhilong, control yourself. Don't speak for me. Don't speak for me. I have expected these public opinions. It's okay." He curled up in the big bed with bedposts. The towering ceiling was painted with oil paintings of angels and flowers.
"Mo Ya, are these people really manipulating public opinion like this? This is too much! How can they say that? They report all kinds of unconfirmed news!" Quan Zhilong sat up suddenly, playing with his mobile phone, getting angrier and angrier, and finally threw it aside.
"Let them go crazy for a while. This will give me the opportunity to sue them and expose the ugly deeds of these companies one by one." Quan Xingai returned to the bed and hugged the angry Quan Zhilong.
"Baby, do you really want to sue me directly? You will be targeted in the future. I'm very worried about you." Quan Zhilong hugged Xingai and they rolled onto the large bed in classical European style. His face was full of worry.
"That's why I ignored the public opinion and let it ferment. The more people cursed, the more fierce they became. When I fought back, everyone realized that the abuse was a deliberate suppression."
"Do I really not need to do anything? I really want to help you." Kwon Ji-yong stroked his girlfriend's hair and kissed her lightly with his lips.
"No need. You also have a physique that can withstand blood and gore. You have already given me the evidence of President Yang's hype. I can take care of the rest. Now is the time to travel. Let's not waste time on these boring things." Quan Xingai pushed Zhilong down on the soft bed, then lifted the quilt to cover them both completely.
The warmth and spring light in the room dispelled the chill that still lingered in Scotland.
"Why don't we review it and see if you still remember where we went the last time we came here?" The two of them hugged and kissed in the bed until they were sweating profusely, then they lay on their backs and looked at the ceiling. Xing Ai was still panting and asked the man with a satisfied look on his face.
Quan Zhilong showed a gentle expression: "The sunset on Calton Hill, the cafe opposite Edinburgh Castle, the second-hand bookstore on George Street...all of them are memories of our past."
"Let's walk the same route again these past two days. It's amazing how nothing has changed here. Although I like innovation and freshness, it's hard to resist a place that hasn't changed for thousands of years."
"Okay, starting tomorrow we will retrace our past journey. I guessed it when you said you were coming to Scotland. So how are the hotel arrangements this time?" Quan Zhilong raised his eyebrows quite complacently.
"Our Zhilong is the best. The location of this hotel has not changed, but the owner has changed. However, I still like the style." Quan Xingai stretched out his arms as if to embrace the entire space.
"If you like it, do it again."
"Can Pepper still hold on?"
"Nuna, you really are..."
A gentle drizzle continued to fall. The two of them simply huddled together on the soft bed, the heavy curtains drawn, gently isolating the ancient and mysterious Edinburgh from the outside, leaving only this warm, quiet nest, as if frozen in time. Outside, there was the rustling of wind and rain, but inside the warm, spring-like room, they savored the joy of this moment, the sound of each other's breaths and heartbeats.
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