Chapter 47. Rediscovering My Name: Chen Zhoudu, and the Person I Like is...
After getting off work in the evening, Xia Chan, as usual, sat down at her usual subway station and slowly stopped, turning around to look behind her.
There was no one there.
There is a plaza near the subway station on Taoyuan Lane, which is a good place for local residents to take a walk and relax.
Xia Chan bought a crab roe bun from a roadside stall and sat on a bench in the square, lost in thought.
As dusk settled, the setting sun shone on the fountains, making them appear like twinkling stars, and the square was filled with a lively and harmonious atmosphere.
As the neon lights and streetlights along the roadside gradually lit up, Xia Chan remained alone.
There was one crab roe bun left, and it was already a bit dry and cold.
She sighed, threw the one into the trash can, got up, dusted herself off, and turned to leave.
A figure suddenly came into view.
Behind me, the fountains splashing in the square were also lit up with colorful lights. The musical fountain danced and jumped to the beat of the music, and even the most invisible water could bloom in the most gorgeous way.
He stood between the fountain and the bench where she was, wearing a white shirt and jeans, with the gushing fountain behind him becoming a dazzling backdrop.
His face was still covered by his usual hat and mask, but his handsome and upright figure could not be hidden.
The wind billowed the hem of his coat, clinging to his narrow waistline, and a balloon in his hand floated gently in the breeze. The moment his eyes met hers, the corners of his eyes curved slightly, clearly indicating a smile.
The balloon in Chenzhoudu's hand is a magic balloon; it is long and can be twisted into all sorts of shapes by craftsmen.
The one in his hand was actually shaped like a cicada; the small, brownish-black insect fluttered its golden wings and floated gently in the empty space, a truly unique sight.
"Sorry for the slight delay."
As she shoved the balloon into her hand, Xia Chan glanced up at it with a strange look.
When walking alongside him in the square, this unique cicada balloon became an even bigger attraction for passersby, drawing frequent glances and discussions.
"Mom, look! They're holding a fly balloon!"
"How interesting! Why would anyone make a fly balloon?"
"Can I also pinch a mosquito..."
"..." Xia Chan was speechless. She held the balloon awkwardly, feeling extremely uncomfortable. After what seemed like the umpteenth time someone looked over with a smile, she handed it back to him without saying a word.
"You keep it! What kind of monstrosity is this, you must be out of your mind to have made this thing..."
Chen Zhoudu couldn't help but chuckle. To avoid attracting attention, he decided to tear the balloons off and twist them into different patterns.
They twisted and turned, but only managed to form two not-so-full flowers. Fortunately, it wasn't too strange anymore, and each person took one and let it float in mid-air.
The two walked side by side under the shade of a tree at the edge of the square where there were few people. Chen Zhoudu asked her, "You said you'd wait for me at the subway station, why are you here?"
Xia Chan paused slightly, her expression indifferent. "There are too many people at the subway station."
"Aren't there many people here?" He pointed to the crowd of people having fun in the square, which was now quite dense.
There weren't many people there just now.
His exposed eyes twitched slightly, as if he were inexplicably thinking of something, and a hint of cautious expectation rose in his gaze as he asked, "What time do you get off work?"
"Five..." Xia Chan's lips twitched slightly, and she was about to tell the truth, but when she met his eyes, she suddenly realized something. In order to avoid falling into his verbal trap, she decided to lie, "Not long. I also worked overtime today, only five minutes earlier than you."
"Oh." He laughed even more jokingly, his eyes brimming with laughter even though his face was covered by a mask. He stared at a spot near her lips. "Still have time for a crab roe bun?"
Xia Chan paused, followed his gaze suspiciously, and touched the corner of her lips, only to find that there was still some residue left on her lips that she hadn't had time to wipe away. She was stunned for a moment and subconsciously stepped forward to kick him, "You saw it all along, didn't you? Waiting to see me make a fool of myself?!"
He nimbly dodged and took a few steps forward, the balloon in his hand swaying and bobbing with his movements, and his laughter became clearer, like that of a carefree young man.
Xia Chan stood there looking at him for a while before lowering her eyes and saying calmly, "I was a little tired today and wanted to clear my head, so I wasn't in a hurry to go back... nor was I waiting for you."
Her words, however, seemed more like a cover-up, which only made Shen Zhoudu secretly chuckle.
Xia Chan glanced at him and saw through him, but said nothing and continued walking forward aimlessly.
Night had completely fallen, and the huge LED screen in the square made the surroundings seem like daytime. Several square dance groups had already gathered in some corners.
"Don't they worry if you don't go home after work?" Shen Zhoudu asked her again.
“Anyway, I often work overtime, and they’re all used to it,” Xia Chan said.
Xia Chan didn't actually want Chen Zhoudu to visit their residence often, nor did she want him to have too much contact with Siyi and the others.
Ultimately, he is a person who clearly distinguishes between right and wrong. The more he interacts with them, the harder it is for him to let go of his feelings.
It's best to draw a clear line and face reality as soon as possible.
She has always been a person who likes to cut to the chase and disdains procrastination. Rather than getting caught up in a fleeting, beautiful dream, she prefers to face the reality of pain. A short, sharp pain is always better than a long, drawn-out one.
How could Chen Zhoudu not guess what she was thinking? He paused for a moment, then lowered his eyes and dimmed slightly. But Pian Qing still managed to smile and change the subject, saying, "Huang Mao and Pang Hu seem to be very busy with their work as well."
“Working, huh! There’s no other way but to survive. One’s a lowly office worker, the other a workaholic.” Xia Chan took a breath, met his eyes, and joked to herself, “Right? 208.”
This sentence made Chen Zhoudu's face turn pale.
Xia Chan only realized what she had said when she saw the sudden shock in his eyes. Her face paled slightly, and she looked at him apologetically for two seconds before whispering, "I'm sorry."
“You’re right. Compared to your hard work, I’m really nothing.” He smiled gently instead, and the unreserved smile only made her feel more guilty. He remained tolerant and humble throughout.
"Society really favors our industry, and I've certainly been very lucky, but sometimes having a lot of money doesn't necessarily mean you're worth that much. Sometimes I feel like I'm not worthy of my position."
“Emotional value is also value.” Xia Chan avoided his eyes, gazing into the distance, but said sincerely, “Isn’t it said that… music heals the soul? Chen Zhoudu, you must have comforted some people. Those who like you, your fans… all see you as a role model, and they must have been subtly influenced by you in some way. Even if they are scattered in any corner of this world and you don’t know it, even if you may not hear their echoes…”
Just as she had once received healing from him, she was also his echo.
As they were talking, the music video for "The Crossing of the Sunken Boat" suddenly appeared on the LED screen in the distance, and his singing voice flowed out and resounded in every corner of the square.
Some people excitedly pulled their companions forward to film videos.
The two of them paused for a moment, then involuntarily looked in that direction. Xia Chan smiled, "Look."
Chen Zhoudu smiled slightly, his eyes reflecting a faint light.
The city's nightscape was so dazzling that it eclipsed the moonlight; a gentle breeze stirred, and the evening primroses along the roadside swayed slightly.
"Xia Chan".
He paused for a moment, then looked back into her eyes, his pupils reflecting the dim light of the screen as he gazed at her quietly. He said softly, "I thought carefully about what you said to me that day after I got back."
Xia Chan looked back at him quietly, slightly taken aback.
"I still can't bring myself to go my separate ways with you."
Her heartstrings trembled slightly, and her fingertips quietly pinched the hem of her dress.
Chen Zhoudu smiled, her eyes clear and bright. "Didn't you say that I knew you when you were seventeen and didn't understand you now? What does it matter? I'll just get to know you again, won't that be fine?"
"My name is Chen Zhoudu. I'm a music composer, producer, and singer. The person I like is Xia Chan. What about you?"
He slowly reached out his hand to her, his eyes still fixed on her eyes with a smile.
Xia Chan's hand, which was gripping the hem of her dress, was already clenched tightly. She stared blankly at that hand, her mind blank for a moment. She hesitated and almost reached out, but then she forced herself to stop.
She glanced at him again with mixed feelings, then turned and continued walking.
Shen Zhoudu's hand slowly fell, but he still smiled fearlessly and continued to follow her.
“Sinking boat crossing.” Xia Chan took a few steps and then slowly stopped, as if after struggling with her thoughts, she turned back to him and said, “Stop fooling around.”
“I’m not making a scene.” He just smiled at her, but his tone was firm. “Everything I said is true.”
They are very serious about it.
"You know perfectly well that it's unlikely."
"Hmm." His eyes seemed slightly hurt, but he still smiled confidently.
Even if you know I'll definitely refuse?
"Um."
Looking directly into his eyes, Xia Chan inexplicably thought of a winter when he stubbornly followed her and clung to her, unwavering in his resolve, without uttering a word.
Even when he fell and was bleeding from his head, he could still smile at her with bright eyes, so obsessive that it was a headache, and she could no longer bear to say a word of refusal.
She stared at him for a long time, her expression conflicted, but ultimately she didn't say anything more hurtful. She sighed and turned away.
The song by Chen Zhoudu had finished playing on the big screen, and it had been replaced by a promotional video for Shanghai. Chen Zhoudu gazed at the video and said, "Speaking of which..."
"We've been back together for so long, and I've been forgetting to ask you," he said, looking at her. "Why did you come to Shanghai?"
Xia Chan knew what he meant, but gave him a nonchalant glance as if she were deaf and couldn't understand, and said, "The capital, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen... China's four first-tier cities. Now that I'm out here, I should at least see what's so special about these first-tier cities that makes people flock to them so eagerly, forgetting all their worries, right?"
"Do you like it here?" he asked, a slight smile returning to his eyes.
"dislike."
This answer surprised him slightly, and he glanced at her in astonishment.
Xia Chan met his gaze, smiled calmly, and sighed softly, "So many people, so many cars... People live in pigeonholes, the subway is so crowded every day that people feel like they're going to vomit; everyone talks about houses, money, LV, Prada, and you can't even rent a toilet for a few thousand dollars... It's hard for anyone to like a place like this."
He listened silently, nodding unconsciously, but the smile in his eyes held a deeper, more meaningful meaning. "Then why are you staying here?"
"Then I'll leave?" Xia Chan raised an eyebrow, not to be outdone. "Seriously, your hotel isn't without second or third-tier hotels. With just a transfer order, I might even be able to become a manager in one of those second or third-tier hotels. Or maybe I should..."
He immediately raised his hand and nodded in a gesture of surrender, admitting defeat.
Speaking of Asia... I hesitated for a moment before finally asking.
"Then... how did you end up in Asia?"
He thought that, given her pride, since Shen Jinghai had said those things to her back then, she would never set foot in Ya Hai's territory.
If they had known she was here earlier, they probably would have found her much sooner, and they wouldn't have missed each other for so many years.
"Asia Ocean pays well!" Xia Chan paused for a moment and then laughed, half-jokingly. "If one day, some 'European Lake,' 'African River,' or 'South American Valley' suddenly appear and pay more than yours, I'll switch jobs in a heartbeat!"
Chen Zhoudu couldn't help but chuckle. Knowing that she was using a joke to cover something up, he hesitated for a moment and then gave up asking. He also half-jokingly said, "So it seems that my dad has done some good things too."
"It's not much better," Xia Chan teased. "Let him open his eyes and see the suffering of us ordinary people! Can't we work a little less overtime?"
Chen Zhoudu laughed heartily, and the slightly tense atmosphere finally relaxed.
Xia Chan stared at his smiling profile and the beauty mark at the corner of his eye, momentarily stunned.
Xia Chan also wanted to ask him about his experiences over the years, like a friendly chat between long-lost friends. She wanted to ask him how he got into this industry, whether it was tough, and how he persuaded Shen Jinghai.
But looking at him like this, she suddenly lost all courage to ask.
It was as if the more she explored him, the more she feared that something belonging to him would take root in her heart.
Rather than eventually pulling it out, it's better to draw a clear line early on and just maintain this small distance.
As if sensing her gaze, Shen Zhoudu turned his head to look at her, raising his eyes in confusion. Xia Chan paused, shook her head, and smiled at him, quickly thinking of a question before saying, "But seriously... Shen Zhoudu, you're always wandering around outside like this, aren't you afraid of being recognized?"
“No one will recognize you at all,” Shen Zhoudu said.
Xia Chan was puzzled.
A mysterious smile played in his eyes as he kept everyone in suspense before finally saying, "Most celebrity leaks... like airport pick-ups, event support, or going to work on set, are all done by the celebrity's studio leaking their schedule to the fan club in advance to generate buzz. The fan club then organizes nearby fans to provide support and create hype."
"A celebrity's fan club and the celebrity's studio are not actually in a fan-idol relationship, but rather a collaborative one; you can think of them as the client and the service provider."
"If a celebrity has a private schedule they don't want to be noticed, they'll just keep it a secret. Of course, they might get recognized on the street, but the chances are actually very small. Everyone's busy these days and won't pay attention to a random passerby. If you dress casually and wear a hat and mask, you'll just be another passerby on the street, nobody's special."
Xia Chan frowned suspiciously at him, still quite disbelieving. Chen Zhoudu noticed this and smiled even more broadly, as if to verify it on the spot, and walked directly towards a passerby.
"Hey—" Xia Chan was shocked and subconsciously tried to grab him, but she couldn't stop him.
He quickly hid behind a nearby utility pole.
Chen Zhoudu had already walked up to a passerby, who looked like a male office worker who was in a hurry to make a call to work overtime. He walked up to him and asked directly, "Hello, do you know me?"
The man glanced at him from head to toe, then suddenly raised his eyebrows and glared at him, shouting, "Are you out of your mind? Don't you know who you are? You're crazy..."
"..."
Xia Chan, who was hiding behind the telephone pole, suddenly burst into laughter, falling forward and backward.
He returned to her, looking at her with a resentful yet knowing expression, and silently shrugged.
Xia Chan coughed lightly, suppressing a laugh, "Is it possible... that you're actually not as famous as you seem, that you're too obscure! That's why people don't recognize you?"
"..." Shen Zhoudu hesitated for a moment, then could only nod helplessly, "It is indeed very possible, I..."
"Sinking boat crossing!"
Before he could finish speaking, a sound suddenly rang out behind him.
Xia Chan and Shen Zhoudu's hearts stopped beating at the same time, and they almost ran away.
They both turned their heads at the same time and saw two girls in school uniforms running past them hand in hand.
Instead, they headed straight for a bus advertisement billboard about fifty meters away from them.
The two of them had already reached the side of the street. Across a one-way street, on a bus stop billboard, was Shen Zhoudu's face. It was a mobile phone advertisement he was endorsing, and the man's enlarged face was handsome and aloof.
The two girls excitedly walked over and started taking pictures with their phones, making "V" signs for a photo together.
Xia Chan's face was pale for a long time before her heart slowly calmed down. She patted her chest, still shaken, "Oh my god... that scared me to death, damn it, I..."
Chen Zhoudu was clearly still shaken, but remained relatively calm overall, silently watching them take pictures. Xia Chan glanced at him and slapped him in annoyance.
"You still say you're fine! You scared me to death... Anyone who walks with you from now on is a dog..."
Chenzhoudu chuckled softly.
The two women were taking pictures in front of him, while the two men watched silently from the shade of a tree a few dozen meters away.
Xia Chan looked at the two girls in school uniforms with a helpless yet touching expression. She crossed her arms and said, "Hey, what do you think their reaction would be if they knew that I was right behind them?"
Chen Zhoudu's brows twitched slightly, as if he had been moved by something. He looked at her profile, took a step back silently, took out his phone, pointed it at her, and softly called out, "Xia Chan."
"Hmm?" Xia Chan turned around.
With a click, a photograph was captured.
The girl turned her head under the dim streetlights, and the passing wind blew her hair, with a couple of stray strands floating on the corners of her lips, messy and natural.
His eyes were wide open, slightly questioning, quiet, bright, and clear. His face was on the billboard in the distance.
Xia Chan was stunned for a moment, then quickly stepped forward and instinctively tried to grab his phone.
"What are you doing? Delete it right now! You..."
He quickly backed it up, then shushed her and gestured towards the two girls. Xia Chan glanced over and, thankfully, the two girls didn't seem to notice anything. She breathed a sigh of relief, faced him again, and commanded in a low voice, "Delete it now!"
He refused to delete it, instead pulling up the original from his album and zooming in to examine the details.
"You always like to act like we don't know you..."
The screen finally framed their magnified faces. Shen Zhoudu looked down at them and chuckled softly, saying, "Well, at least we finally have a photo together."
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