Chapter 88 Chapter 88 End of the text Cloud...
The F1 concert was very successful and exciting. For Xing Ai, it not only opened up the European market, but also allowed her to meet more musicians with Zhilong. The European Electronic Music Festival invited her to participate in next year's European Electronic Music Festival, and RCA's agent Louise is in talks.
After the performance, All Star Love focused all their energy on their solo album. On November 11th, they officially released the pre-release song, and on December 12th, the full album was released. Then, South Korea finally had its second idol to dominate the charts after GD G-Dragon and Kwon Ji-yong. All the charts from 1st to 10th were occupied by All Star Love. "A Walk in the Clouds" was jointly released by neon and RCA at home and abroad, and achieved impressive results not only in Korea but also in the United States.
She became the first Korean idol to reach the top of the US Billboard charts. Her title song, "Walking in the Clouds," surprisingly became a hit in Europe. Its lyrical hip-hop melody with touches of classical music perfectly suited European tastes. Europeans were particularly drawn to Sarah Jeon Seong-ae after she revealed in an interview that she rescued a little boy in Scotland and encouraged him to contribute to the songwriting process.
A British reporter with a keen sense of smell went to Scotland and found the Thomas mentioned by Quan Xing Ai. After confirmation, he found that Quan Xing Ai was not exaggerating at all.
Thomas Sr. was very grateful: "You know, when Thomas left home, I told him that if you wanted to play the guitar even once, you should give up the thought of death. That means God wants you to live. Then we met an angel, a real angel, a messenger from God who saved my child. I am very grateful."
The song is nice and has a fairy-tale feel. "A Walk in the Clouds" became even more popular in the UK, and then spread to Europe and the United States, and it blossomed overseas. There was also a drastic change in the attitude towards Jeon Seong-ae in South Korea. Everyone became a good person, and the media, radio stations, newspapers and magazines were all writing about Jeon Seong-ae's story.
Even social welfare institutions underwent a major upgrade, with a host of chaebols beginning to sponsor them, and ultimately the government stepped in to comprehensively upgrade their facilities. As All Star Love became more and more famous, Yang Xianshuo naturally became increasingly unlucky. He was still under investigation, the tax investigation was long and arduous, and the label of malicious competition from his fellow songwriters was undeniable.
All that awaits him is prison.
Entering 2022, offline activities have finally been fully lifted, and the entertainment industry around the world has finally come back to life. Before the start of the new season of fashion, Quan Xing Ai went to Paris during her busy concert preparations. She received a dinner invitation from Pirate Lord, and then she received another surprise at the dinner: Galliano is returning to Dior!
He shared the good news with his new muse, and also brought her a gift: the title of "Dior Global Spokesperson." Then, Quan Xingai's Paris trip was happily extended by a week, as she filmed the official announcement pictorial and the 2022 Fall/Winter advertising campaign at Dior headquarters.
Kwon Ji-yong, who returned last year, also accepted Chanel's invitation to star in its latest Autumn/Winter 2022 campaign. In the second half of the year, you'll be surprised to see that in luxury shopping malls around the world, if Dior and Chanel are next to each other, you'll see Chanel's Kwon Ji-yong billboards and Dior's All Star Love billboards standing side by side or facing each other.
These two seem to be telling everyone in various ways that they are compatible in every aspect, but they just won't tell the frank truth and are unwilling to tell everyone that they are lovers.
At Paris Fashion Week in March, Sarah All-Star Ai only walked for Dior. On the day of the show, Dior officially announced Sarah All-Star Ai as the brand's newest global spokesperson. At the post-show party, she stood alongside Kate Moss and Galliano throughout the show, engaging in a close and friendly exchange. Foreign media dubbed her "Galliano's new muse." That same month, Sarah All-Star Ai and Kate Moss appeared together in the March issue of French Vogue, with Dior footing the bill.
Squid! was aired on March 21st and unexpectedly became Netflix's most watched TV series in history. This Korean drama produced in South Korea became popular all over the world, and Jeon Seong-ae once again became popular in the acting circle. The guitar playing clip of her character went viral on the Internet. At the end of the year, the Emmy Award nominations were released, and Jeon Seong-ae was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress. The organizers invited her to attend the Emmy Awards ceremony.
The good news doesn’t stop there. When Xing Ai finished shooting the Dior pictorial at the beginning of the year, she received a long-distance call from RCA agent Louise - her collaboration song with Doujiamao, "Best Friend", was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Song, and other big names such as Kanye West were also nominated.
"Nuna, why do I feel nervous when I hear the word Grammy? This is obviously your moment of glory, but you seem to be afraid to face it." The two of them sat on the sofa at home in Seoul, just after watching the old movie "It Happened One Night" from the golden age. The TV randomly played the next movie, but Kwon Ji-yong had no intention of watching it. He hugged Xing'ai and talked about Grammy.
"Don't worry, I'm just a runner-up, I won't win any prize." Quan Xingai shrugged, thinking clearly.
"Of course I hope you win the award, but I always feel that the Grammy is not very auspicious!" Quan Zhilong muttered and whined in a coquettish manner.
"Our Zhilong, do you suddenly believe in metaphysics?" Quan Xingai smiled.
"Ever since you came back, I started to believe it - so I'll accompany you to the United States. My album has been released, and the next one is still a long way off. Can I accompany you and be your assistant for the whole year?" He kissed Xing Ai's lips lightly.
The superstar who released an album but did not take a break is still writing new songs. However, this year will probably be the busiest year for Star Love. He will put his own work aside to accompany Star Love's schedule and activities.
"Oh, so our superstar wants to be an assistant."
"Yes, yes, I just want to stick with you and be with you every day. We have been so busy lately that we don't have time to sit down and have a meal together." It is difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. After experiencing the companionship of day and night before, it is rare to find it difficult to be apart for a while.
"Okay, Assistant Quan, welcome to the job." Quan Xingai pounced on Quan Zhilong, and the two soon started to get involved in the house.
The random movie playing on TV seemed to be from a rainy day, and the sound of rain and thunder seemed to become the background of white noise.
"Ah... leap year..." After the lingering moments, the movie was already halfway through. The rainy day in the movie had long since turned into bright sunshine, and large areas of familiar yet unfamiliar scenery appeared in the movie.
"Ah! It's a leap year. My trip to Ireland last year was interrupted by work. What a shame."
"Yeah, what a pity."
The two were sweating profusely after the "exercise" but still holding hands. They said it was a pity while looking at each other very understandingly, and then smiled in tacit understanding.
Quan Xingai feels that she will not have free time not only this year, but also in the next few years. Work invitations from all over the world are coming like snowflakes. At this time, she has just finished her fashion week schedule and has a week of free time. Soon there will be the Grammys in early April, Coachella at the end of April, a concert in May, and the filming of "Anna" will begin in June.
She took Quan Zhilong to Ireland for vacation again after a year. This time, they were invited by RCA mentor Mark Evans, and the two of them stayed in Evans' luxurious holiday villa in Dingle.
*
"I didn't expect the scenery here to be more beautiful than in "Leap Year." Jeon Seong-ae and Kwon Ji-yong eat and sleep every day in Evans' villa, enjoying their vacation life while looking at the beautiful scenery. They strolled by the Ceann Sléibhe viewing platform, with the surging and angry Atlantic Ocean crashing against the waves beneath their feet.
The two of them just passed by the small town of Dingle. The once bustling town has become deserted. The tourism industry has not yet fully recovered, and there are still few tourists here. Many shops are closed.
"Nuna, have you forgotten again? We went to Scotland together just because we watched "Leap Year", but we only stayed in Edinburgh for a few days at that time because someone was obsessed with the mysterious and ancient magical atmosphere. He also wanted to pretend to be Sarah Rowling and sit in the pub where she wrote Harry Potter for a whole day, and create new songs." Kwon Ji-yong tapped Xingai's forehead.
"Really? That was because we watched Leap Year together?" Quan Xing'ai tilted her head and thought for a moment. "That seems to be true. By then, I had already returned to the States, and we didn't see each other very often. We chatted on the phone overseas and watched a movie together. After the movie, we decided to go our separate ways and meet in Edinburgh, right?"
Quan Zhilong smiled softly, "Yes, we were too busy at that time. Even if we wanted to travel, we could only squeeze out a week. We only stayed in Edinburgh that week."
"So last year was our first trip to Ireland, right? It really takes a pandemic to stumble upon such an unfettered opportunity to travel and have fun."
"Yes, this time I seem to be starting to feel the joy of traveling light like you, experiencing the scenery, meeting different people, and feeling different cultures and scenery." At the beginning of the year before last, he was still not used to Xing Ai's backpacking style of travel. After trying to live in Xing Ai's way of life last year, their hearts became closer. This year, they have returned to living the way that is most comfortable for each other.
The two of them strolled leisurely until, around a bend, a small, solitary white church came into view. It sat on a small rise facing the sea, surrounded by low stone walls, with the vast blue Atlantic Ocean behind it. The church was strikingly plain, its white walls slightly mottled, its small stained-glass windows gleaming in the sunlight.
The two of them only felt a quiet and ancient atmosphere attracting them.
"What a beautiful little church, it looks like a desktop wallpaper." Quan Xingai said.
"Let's go take a look? Generally speaking, according to the development of the movie, there is always a mysterious old man with a story."
"Let's go and see if we are the protagonists of this movie." Quan Xingai pulled Quan Zhilong all the way to the church.
He paused, panting, then pushed open the creaking low wooden gate and walked in. The churchyard was empty, planted with mistletoe bushes and a few yew trees. It was unusually quiet, with only the relentless sound of the sea breeze and the crashing of waves against the cliffs in the distance.
The two looked around the yard and saw no one. They went around to the back and saw a huge yew tree in the middle of the church's cloister. It looked like it was at least several hundred years old.
Quan Xingai and Quan Zhilong stood in the middle of the dilapidated corridor and looked up at the towering ancient trees, feeling shocked.
"This is a purple yew tree that's over 550 years old and was planted in 1448."
An old woman in plain black clothes and gray hair came out with a pair of garden shears in her hand, apparently to trim plants. She was not surprised to see them, but just smiled gently.
"Sorry to bother you, so is this a monastery? Or is it a church?"
"Good day to you all. This is a forgotten church. No one has been here for a long time." She greeted in English with a heavy accent. Her voice, like the sea breeze, carried traces of time.
They responded politely.
"It's so beautiful here, and this purple fir tree is amazing." Quan Xingai exclaimed.
The old woman was called Teresa, a nun who was very talkative, perhaps because the place was usually too quiet. She told them that this small church had a history of hundreds of years and had witnessed the births, weddings and farewells of countless locals.
"So getting married here doesn't mean signing a hundred-year contract, right?" Quan Zhilong couldn't help but ask. He listened to the old man talking about the daily trivialities here, marriage and divorce. The legend of the Irish wedding ceremony was indeed just a story.
Quan Xingai looked at Quan Zhilong and couldn't help laughing.
Mother Teresa also laughed mischievously. "Countless couples who come to Ireland always ask this question. Government documents certainly grant freedom of marriage and divorce, but lovers can also write a century-long agreement. Perhaps this purple lilac tree can be a witness."
"Do you mean here now?" Quan Xingai asked curiously, sounding very romantic and interesting.
"Of course, God guided you here, perhaps to sign this one-hundred-year contract, a commitment to the heaven and earth, the sea, and time. Write down your name and oath, leave it here, let the wind and the sea witness it, and perhaps you can get Zishan's blessing that will last for a hundred years." After she said that, she smiled, and went to trim the bushes by the wall, leaving the two people looking at each other.
This legend was like a seed, quietly falling into the soft soil of their hearts.
Quan Zhilong looked at Xing'ai, his eyes gleaming with eagerness. Quan Xing'ai immediately understood what he meant, and the corners of her mouth curved in the same way, "Are you moved? Zhilong puppy?"
Quan Zhilong put his arm around his girlfriend's shoulders and patiently asked Mother Teresa: "Has anyone done this here before?" He was very excited and a little curious.
The nun smiled and said, "Why bother with the past? Wouldn't it be better for you to create a new love story?"
Quan Xingai, who originally thought it was optional, was also moved. How could two unique souls refuse something that was the first of its kind in the world? What's more, Quan Xingai had originally promised Quan Zhilong in Edinburgh to sign a 100-year agreement with him, but her schedule was interrupted by work last year. Unexpectedly, they met by chance this year.
They quickly took out the paper and pen they had brought with them from their bags. Theresa frowned and said, "My dear, ordinary paper can't stand the test of a hundred years. You two little angels, come with me. I also have parchment scrolls and glass bottles."
Quan Xingai looked at Quan Zhilong, who was covering her mouth with her hands and laughing, then leaned close to Quan Zhilong's ear and whispered in Korean, "Will there be a charge later? How much is enough for the parchment paper and the glass bottle?"
Quan Zhilong pinched his girlfriend's face and said, "Don't guess blindly. I'm happy to do it even if it costs me. What Theresa said is very beautiful. I am happy to accept such an arrangement. Isn't it good to create a love myth?" The completely idealistic Long's eyes were full of anticipation.
Quan Xingai also laughed. This was her Xiaolong. Although he was getting older, his childlike innocence remained unchanged. No matter how much hurt he suffered, he was always willing to look at everything with a childlike innocence and beautiful perspective.
The two followed Theresa to a room. She did take out a roll of ancient parchment and cut a piece for them. She also handed them a feather pen that looked equally atmospheric. She didn't charge them for the whole process. After coming out, Quan Xingai silently stuck out his tongue to apologize for his money-minded thoughts.
The two of them sat against a low stone wall, facing the vast blue Atlantic Ocean. The sea breeze rustled the parchment and ruffled their hair as they whispered to each other, as if they were composing a song together, carefully considering the words.
Finally, Quan Xingai took up the pen. She used beautiful cursive English to write, her handwriting was elegant and powerful. She wrote down their simple but solemn oath:
“We don’t need God’s testimony, we just need you and I to know it.
From this moment to a hundred years from now, my answer will always be you.
This is our secret agreement with time."
There are no fancy words, but it contains all the expectations about time, companionship and constancy.
Hesse said that all the waters of the world will meet again, the Arctic Ocean and the Nile will merge in the wet clouds. This ancient and beautiful metaphor makes this moment sacred. Even if she came from the Nile and became the Mediterranean, and Zhilong is in the distant Arctic Ocean, they will always meet in the clouds. This is the way home, the right way.
G-Dragon wrote the scroll in one go, and Kwon Ji-yong didn't look at the scroll, his eyes always on Star Love. He solemnly signed his name at the end - G-Dragon, Kwon Ji-yong and Sarah, and Star Love, side by side. Then, below his name, he wrote the date and location: Dingle Peninsula, Ireland, 2022/3/27
After writing the last stroke, the shimmering blue-purple ink gleamed slightly in the sunlight, and they smiled at each other, hugged each other eagerly, and then planted countless kisses.
Kwon Ji-yong carefully rolled up the parchment, tied it with a bow, and placed it in a glass bottle. Returning to the 550-year-old yew tree, they dug a small hole at the spot Theresa had indicated and buried the vow beneath the ancient tree. It would remain there, hidden from view, amidst the tranquility of the church, the warmth of the yew, the song of the sea breeze, the eternal rhythm of the waves, through the rising and setting of the sun, the setting of the moon, and the cycle of seasons.
After doing all this, the two of them walked away slowly hand in hand as if they had completed some important ceremony. At this moment, they seemed to be not just a pair of travelers passing by, but had developed some kind of secret and profound connection with this land and this ancient love legend.
"Oh my, what is this? A QR code?" Walking out of the church corridor, there is a small monument erected next to the wooden fence gate on the other side. Many people's names are densely engraved on it, and the words "May love last forever" are all engraved on it, and there is also a QR code at the end.
"Oh, I guessed it right. It's indeed a routine, Oppa!" Quan Xingai looked helplessly at the speechless Quan Zhilong.
"Oh my god, this church..." Quan Zhilong, who believed in fairy tales and beauty so much, looked shocked.
"Hahaha, it's okay. We are closer to the myth than anyone else. After all, I really had a magical experience." Quan Xingai hugged her boyfriend and patted his back to comfort him.
"Okay, okay, at least the 550-year-old purple shirt is real, the ancient Irish land is real, and our love is even more real, so I'll donate a little too. At least I've been very peaceful and happy during this time." Quan Zhilong was coaxed into giving. After all, their 100-year promise was incredibly sincere. Thinking about it this way, it wasn't a big deal. Donating to a church or temple is a common thing. Then, the rich man used his phone to transfer $888 to the church. Paying for happiness is not bad.
"Tsk tsk, you are indeed a wealthy man." Quan Xing loved to tease. She would not donate. She turned around and pulled Zhilong out of the chapel.
The sea breeze still blew, but it seemed to carry a hint of warmth and blessing. They continued to sail towards the next unknown bend, the inscribed rings on their fingers gleaming brightly. The future lay before them, and the road was long, but they would traverse every fog and reach every tomorrow.
——End of text——
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