Chapter 48. Absurdity: A 17-year-old's dream won't last until 26...
That night, after returning home, Chen Zhoudu posted a message on his WeChat Moments: "Group photo, gratitude."
The accompanying photo was a picture of a billboard at night, with her carefully cropped out. In the somewhat blurry night image, you could only make out what appeared to be two small shadows standing in front of his billboard taking a picture, with a faint shadow cast on the ground.
The photo has a double meaning; those unaware of the facts might assume he captured two fans who met by chance.
Xia Chan didn't see his post on WeChat Moments until almost an hour later. She didn't have many mutual friends with him, but she could see that two assistant directors from the film crews had liked it, and Guan Bohan had replied: "666, I see eight hundred people recording my screen every day when I browse Weibo, I'm so grateful."
The sinking boat was completely ignored.
But what no one knew was that the shadow on the ground wasn't his, but hers.
Xia Chan hesitated for a long time on the "like" button, but finally pressed the lock screen, put down her phone, dried her freshly washed hair with a towel, and continued to work overtime to prepare reports.
After that, life returned to its usual mundane yet hectic pace. The filming of "The Boundary Line" at the hotel was nearing its end, and in the final few days, Xia Chan and the front office staff were once again spinning like tops.
Filming locations for "The International Date Line" will span three cities, with over a hundred scenes in total. The Asia Pacific Tianze store is just the first stop.
The crew will continue filming in other parts of Shanghai, Chongqing, Liancheng, and other cities.
A few days before the hotel rental contract expired, the main crew had completed 99% of the filming and gradually withdrew, leaving only a few assistant directors and cameramen to shoot some empty shots and backup footage.
Several leading actors, including Sang Ning, Lu Sheng, and Shen Zhoudu, have all checked out of their rooms.
No one knows when they left. Even the check-out procedures were handled by the crew's assistant. By the time everyone realized they had left, no one could remember when they had last seen them.
The filming during this period felt like a grand banquet that was hastily concluded. Originally, the noisy fans gathering downstairs at the hotel every day were a headache for many hotel staff. Now, the sudden quietness is somewhat poignant.
After Xia Chan finished their check-out procedures, she and several housekeeping staff inspected the rooms. When they checked the room where Chen Zhoudu was staying, she still felt a little dazed.
It feels like our first meeting after the reunion was just yesterday... but in the blink of an eye, everything has passed.
She inexplicably thought of that year's "crossing," which was just an ordinary morning when he said he was leaving for a while and never returned.
In the future... as we gradually stop seeing each other, things will fade away, right?
That's fine too.
Actually, it should have been like this a long time ago. A dream at seventeen wouldn't have a better ending at twenty-six, but at least it has come to a close.
After the crew of "The Boundary Line" completely withdrew, Xia Chan received two messages from Chenzhoudu.
One theory is that he will continue filming in Sheshan, Shanghai, and will not leave Shanghai for the time being;
The other item is his itinerary.
Xia Chan opened and read it. Filming, commercials, recording studios, music festivals, interviews... His other time was also filled with activities, including several days when he had to fly around all the time. It looked exhausting.
Xia Chan wanted to reply to his WeChat message to calmly explain her thoughts again. Now that he was no longer at Tianze Store, they wouldn't have to see each other again, and she wished him all the best for the future.
But then she worried that his current high-pressure work environment might affect his performance, and after much deliberation... she deleted everything and only replied with two words:
Best wishes.
After the film crew finished their work, Xia Chan turned her attention to Guan Bohan's birthday party, still feeling a headache.
As Guan Bohan had said, the entire preparation process for his birthday was handled by people from his studio, who were responsible for overseeing, planning, and setting up the venue, so she didn't have to worry about anything.
But she always felt that Guan Bohan was like a time bomb, and that he might explode at any moment.
Whether it was her unique sixth sense or not, the bomb did indeed detonate in an unexpected way.
That day, Guan Bohan returned to the hotel after a long absence, claiming he wanted to check the final results. Before coming, he also mentioned that an even more important guest than himself would be arriving, and he earnestly reminded Xia Chan to make sure she received him well.
It happened to be Xia Chan's period that day, and she felt a little uncomfortable while waiting to be received at the door, so she asked Yu Lianxin and Du Na to help her out.
When Guan Bohan arrived, she was somewhat reluctant to see the two of them. "Where's Xia Chan?"
"Manager Xia said she wasn't feeling well and asked us to cover for her, Mr. Guan..."
Guan Bohan didn't let Yu Lianxin finish speaking, still somewhat suspicious that she might have made an excuse to leave because she was deliberately avoiding him.
Before she could think any further, a long Bentley came to a slow stop in front of the hotel, and the driver got out and opened the back door to greet the next woman.
"Mom." Guan Bohan immediately went to greet her.
Yu Lianxin and Du Na were slightly surprised and quickly bowed respectfully with their hands clasped together to receive her.
The woman who walked down was around forty or fifty years old; she was elegant and graceful, yet remarkably youthful.
With just a touch of light makeup, she looked exceptionally radiant. Her dark blue cheongsam accentuated her graceful figure, and the pearl shawl she wore had delicate, flowing tassels.
She took Guan Bohan's outstretched hand and stepped into the hotel amidst the "Welcome!" greetings from the crowd, smiling slightly, "What's with all the mysterious setup? You even made me come and see for myself."
"You'll see when you see it," Guan Bohan said with a smile, trying to please him.
Guan Bohan's birthday and her mother's birthday are only three days apart. The birthday party was ostensibly held for Guan Bohan, but in reality, it was organized by him for her.
Guan's mother, Xie Mei, liked cyan and blue, and the entire banquet hall was decorated with many cyan and blue elements.
Blue Moon roses lined a long flower path, and the long Western-style dining table stretched for more than ten meters. Each table was decorated with blue roses, and the crystal goblets were engraved with subtle rose patterns.
Xie Mei was slightly surprised when she saw this, but after looking around carefully, she finally realized what was going on and looked at him with a hint of surprise, "When did you prepare this?"
"I've been preparing for this for a long time. It took me so long to keep it a secret, I just wanted to give you a surprise." Guan Bohan gently picked a blue rose from the table and made a gentlemanly gesture of handing it to you. "My dad is busy this year and can't organize a birthday celebration for you, so I'll do it for you! Your fiftieth birthday can't be a small affair."
Xie Mei took the flowers and couldn't help but laugh heartily. Then, as if remembering something, she tapped him on the head with the flowers and said, "If only you were this attentive to your own marriage, your father and I wouldn't have to worry about you being such a carefree, lonely person every day..."
Guan Bohan scratched his head, "How come you can bring up every little thing like this..."
After dealing with her personal matters, Xia Chan returned looking much better. Seeing Yu Lianxin and Du Na standing guard at the banquet hall entrance, she asked, "How did it go?"
Du Na said, "She's already here. I didn't expect her to be Guan Bohan's mother... She's so beautiful and has such a great presence. Guan Bohan threw this birthday party for his mother..."
Xia Chan quickly understood the situation and nodded. Just as she was about to go in to greet them, she suddenly stopped when her gaze fell on the people in the hall.
Her blood ran cold, and she stared at the figure in disbelief.
Suddenly, I felt the absurdity and folly of fate.
That is...
Xie Jun.
-
After seeing Xie Mei off that day, Guan Bohan hadn't seen Xia Chan. After everything was over, he ordered Du Na to call her over and see her in the reception room.
"How are you? Your colleague just said you weren't feeling well."
Xia Chan's face was terribly pale. Guan Bohan wanted to question her about why she had abandoned her post, but seeing her expression, he hesitated for a moment and then changed his mind.
Xia Chan stared intently at him, her dark pupils seeming to pierce his face like two nails.
Guan Bohan felt a chill run down her spine under his gaze, and touched her face in confusion. Just as she was about to ask again, Xia Chan lowered her eyes, pursed her lips, and whispered:
"fine."
He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, smiled casually as usual, put his hands in his pockets, and glanced at her with an air of nonchalance. "Didn't expect that, did you? This birthday party was actually for my mom!"
Xia Chan slowly clenched her lightly clasped hands.
"My mom said your hotel made great arrangements! She's very satisfied. Manager Xia, we owe you a lot this time, thank you for this bonus..."
Is she your mother?
Before he could finish speaking, Xia Chan abruptly interrupted him.
The look in her eyes when she looked at him again carried a hint of questioning coldness.
Guan Bohan was slightly surprised but didn't think much of it and nodded with a smile, "Yes." She tilted her head back proudly, "Pretty, isn't it?"
"..." Xia Chan pursed her lips, and at this moment she truly felt a sense of absurdity.
Xia Chan never thought she would see Xie Jun again in this lifetime. Back then, she resolutely abandoned her, and she had already abandoned her in her heart.
Over the years, she didn't know where he was or how he was doing. All she knew was that he had chosen a wealthy man from Shanghai that year. She got what she wanted, so she probably had no regrets.
When she came to Shanghai for the college entrance exam, she did have a little bit of hope in her heart.
But after arriving in Shanghai, she realized how big the city was and how many people there were, and how some people could live in the same city but never have the chance to pass each other by in their entire lives.
Her fantasies gradually turned into bubbles that shattered on the Huangpu River, and she never dared to hope again.
Just when she had come to terms with reality and given up all hope, she suddenly appeared.
We'll continue in this manner.
She was incredulous, utterly bewildered, and completely unreasonable... She even wanted to laugh, her face turning even paler as she murmured, "I knew it... I shouldn't have thrown this birthday party for you."
"What?" Guan Bohan was stunned for a moment, tilting his head to look at her face, not understanding.
Xia Chan took a step back to keep her distance from him, reverting to her initial aloof demeanor. "Mr. Guan, everything regarding your birthday party is now complete. My colleagues will handle the rest of the arrangements. I'm not feeling well today, so I'll have to go now. Excuse me."
"……Wait!"
She turned to leave, but Guan Bohan grabbed her arm, looking surprised and puzzled. "What's going on? The birthday celebration hasn't even started yet and you're already quitting? This isn't how your hotel treats its customers, is it?"
“I can’t do it.” Xia Chan stared at him indifferently and said, “I’ve said it before, you should choose someone else.”
"Are you forcing me to file a complaint?" Guan Bohan brought up this tactic again.
"Then go ahead and complain!" This time, she retorted fearlessly, her sharp gaze startling Guan Bohan. She suddenly glared at him and said coldly, "If you keep pushing me, I'll resign first!"
They're gone.
Chenzhoudu received a call from Guan Bohan at four o'clock in the afternoon.
After hearing about what happened between him and Xia Chan that afternoon over the phone, Chen Zhoudu was greatly surprised, his brows furrowed and his tone questioning.
"No, why did you have to provoke her in the first place?"
What Chen Zhoudu feared most was what Guan Bohan would do to Xia Chan after he left Tianze Store.
Fortunately, Guan Bohan's film crew was also very busy, and he could probably only squeeze out one day off a month. In addition, Xia Chan has always been an exceptionally clear-headed person, and he has never needed to worry much about matters of the heart. On the contrary, he was more worried that she would also shut him out and draw boundaries.
Unexpectedly, Guan Bohan actually did something during this time, and it was even more unpredictable why Xia Chan was angry.
For the time being, one could only guess what Guan Bohan's sharp tongue had done to provoke her to the point that someone as emotionally stable as her could lose control.
"No... I really didn't do anything! She just said she wasn't feeling well, then said a few words, and suddenly said she was quitting and wanted to hand over her work to another colleague. When I disagreed, she got angry..." Guan Bohan said, feeling wronged.
"Do you think she got angry because she wasn't feeling well today, and I made her come over to greet people? But I didn't know she wasn't feeling well today. If she had told me earlier, I wouldn't have made her come..."
Chen Zhoudu hung up the phone immediately.
Shen Zhoudu first called Xia Chan twice, but Xia Chan didn't answer either time. In the end, she hung up and turned off her phone.
He asked the crew for an urgent leave and borrowed a colleague's car to drive alone to look for it.
She left Tianze Store long after her argument with Guan Bohan and didn't go home. Chen Zhoudu eventually contacted Siyi to ask if she knew where Xia Chan usually went when she was in a bad mood.
There is a forest park in the eastern suburbs of Shanghai that connects to the sea. Because it is not a place for viewing the sea, this park is rarely visited on weekdays, and the not-so-clear coastline stretches to the horizon in a vast expanse.
When we arrived at Chenzhou Ferry by car, a figure was sitting quietly on the shore, gazing at the sunset in the distance.
Her hair was loose, blown about by the sea breeze. Her face, now without makeup, showed a sickly pallor.
She wasn't crying, but Chen Zhoudu inexplicably seemed to hear a sob in the corners of her slightly red eyes and in the sound of the waves.
Like waves lapping against the shore, they weep and murmur. Because they are so commonplace, no one cares, and no one hears.
He crossed the sunken boat towards her.
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