Chapter 468
Inside the East Canteen.
Because Zhou Xiao announced the end of the rehearsal in advance, the staff who were preparing for the evening party arrived earlier than other colleagues for the first time in recent years.
Everyone was chatting and laughing skillfully, and the air in the hall was suddenly filled with a cheerful atmosphere. After all, even just being the first in line to get food was filled with a happy sense of "superiority".
Shang Xia, who was used to sitting in her old seat, had her eyes rolling around non-stop, making Du Huiyue, who was putting the dinner tray on the table, a little confused by her little movements.
"What are you looking at?" Du Huiyue scooped up a spoonful of hot stew, blew on it, and looked up at Shang Xia and asked.
"Hmm, sis, I think something's wrong with the cafeteria!" Shang Xia pointed her index finger at a lush patch of green ivy. "When I ate with Teacher Zhou and the others the day before yesterday, it was still sparse!"
Because they were chatting about the differences in the planting of flower species in the north and south, and they happened to see the pot of green ivy and said a few words about it, so Shang Xia obviously realized that something was wrong.
In fact, she wasn't the only one. Almost all the plants in the cafeteria, which had looked a little wilted a few days ago, had been replaced. But Shang Xia remembered clearly that it wasn't even mid-month yet, so why were they already starting to replace them? After all, the logistics department had always provided everyone with a fixed schedule for replacing the plants.
And it's not just the greenery; the entire restaurant feels completely new. It's not that the restaurant used to be dingy and messy, but this feeling is simply unique. Anyone who's eaten there once can sense the difference.
Just like now, Shang Xia watched her colleagues gradually enter the cafeteria. Unlike in the past, when some even cut in line, everyone seemed to be under a quiet sign, following the rules with remarkable obedience. In her mind, this was a scene she only witnessed when she was a student and was chosen as an NPC to appear in the school promotional video.
Du Huiyue followed Shang Xia's gaze and indeed felt something different. There was even a stark contrast compared to those of them who had just come out of the studio.
However, she had more experience than the other person and already had a pretty good idea of what this was all about. After all, other than filming a promotional video that would be shown on CCTV, Du Huiyue couldn't think of anything else to do. As for why they weren't notified, it was probably because the crew didn't expect their rehearsal to be over so quickly.
Here, a senior was explaining science to the junior, while on the other side, Ji Shao had already followed Ji Wenbo into the East Canteen.
Ji Wenbo has always been very popular in the station. In addition, after all departments were notified this morning that they would cooperate with him in filming today, some staff members sitting near the door subconsciously stood up and greeted him when they saw him, without even putting their food into their mouths.
"Hey, hey, sit down!" Ji Wenbo saw that the man stood up with a spoon in his hand, and he pressed the man's shoulders and sat down at the table, "Brother, you eat yours, you don't have to cooperate with me like this!"
"Although we face the camera every day, I still can't help but get nervous when I see it after get off work," Ji Wenbo said with a helpless smile to Ji Shao.
It was his action that prompted the other employees in the cafeteria to notice there was someone behind him. Upon closer inspection, their eyes widened. Wasn't this Ji Shao, who had disappeared for almost a month?! The higher-ups only mentioned filming a promotional video, not hiring Ji Shao!
For a moment, everyone was so eager to turn the cafeteria into an office that they pulled out pens and paper and asked Ji Shao to sign for them. Even if they weren't fans of Ji Shao, there were so many family members, relatives, and friends who liked him! If they missed such a good opportunity, if people knew about it, they would definitely have to sigh and lament for a few meals.
"Xiao Shao, I'm right, aren't I?" Ji Wenbo, who had become familiar with Ji Shao on the way, teased, "Look, there are still many people in our station who are your fans."
Ji Wenbo's emphasis on the "station" in his words made some people who were almost cheering with excitement feel that they had been called upon, and they subconsciously held their breath. Remember, there was a camera following Ji Shao, so no matter how excited they were, they had to try hard to suppress it.
"Brother, you're no less impressive!" Ji Shao, perceptive, immediately smoothed things over with a laugh. His eyes lit up at the dazzling array of food, and he smoothly changed the subject, "We're already in the cafeteria. Could you recommend some good food for me? Let me experience the legendary CCTV cafeteria food."
“…”
At the dinner table, Shang Xia, stunned, nearly cried out, "Holy crap!" She hadn't expected Ji Shao to be the one filming the promotional video with Teacher Ji at noon. She was thrilled, of course, but fearing a glare from Sister Du, she could only sip her soup like everyone else, glancing at Ji Shao and his group from the corner of her eye.
After staring for an unknown amount of time, Shang Xia finally closed her eyes and rested for a while, her eyes tired. Du Huiyue was so exhausted from all this that she almost laughed her hungry stomach full.
"Sister Du, I feel like my year has been fulfilled! Not only did I meet NINE STAR, but I also experienced Teacher Zhou's incredible guidance," Shang Xia clasped her hands together and muttered, "I wish to live a life of balanced food and vegetables, prosperity and wealth... I only wish for one more chance to work with Teacher Zhou."
"Then you have to work hard," Du Huiyue said after thinking for a while, putting down her chopsticks. "Don't let the opportunity come and you still fail to become a photographer."
The photographer Du Huiyue mentioned was specifically referring to her current position as a photographer for the evening party. But hearing what Xiao Shang used to make wishes was quite interesting.
"If I had known earlier that when I was shooting NINE STAR at the camping base, I should have been the photographer for Teacher Zhou. Maybe she would think I am talented and take me in as her apprentice." Shang Xia regretted it so much that she started talking nonsense afterwards.
Putting aside other things, she'd have to endure at least another fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, or ninety years of filming the live broadcast of the station's major gala. To put it bluntly, besides the technical skills involved, this kind of position relies on perseverance and patience. The perseverance part is understandable, but the waiting part is waiting for the seniors to vacate the position. After all, even if the number of camera positions fluctuated, the fluctuations wouldn't be significant.
This also proves that Zhou Xiao is really special.
Just when Shang Xia had forgotten about filming and the existence of Ji Shao in the cafeteria, and was completely immersed in regret, a gentle voice with a hint of laughter sounded from behind her -
"Hello, may I ask who is the Teacher Zhou you mentioned?"
Shang Xia turned her head suddenly and saw those eyes that were so familiar that they couldn't be more familiar. The silhouette against the light made her feel a little blurry for a moment, but the smile on his face was like a breeze blowing through a clear stream on a spring day, pure and overly comfortable, making her heart beat fast.
…
The next morning.
Zhou Xiao pushed open the door of the director's room as usual, stopped and nodded to several staff members who greeted him, then walked towards the switching station.
Zhou Xiao couldn't help but smile as he looked at the four neatly arranged chairs. Besides Shang Xia, who would be watching today's shoot, the station's chief director, Mr. Yang, would also come over to take a look, signaling the end of Zhou Xiao's rehearsal.
Because several of Zhou Xiao's programs would be preceded and followed by hosts, she and Yang Rao didn't even need to practice alternating. This was, of course, a deliberate arrangement by the station, giving her ample room for error. But it was also a good thing. CCTV, for example, should be so cautious in broadcasting such an important gala, even if she didn't need to.
Zhou Xiao had just sat down when Shang Xia, who had appeared out of nowhere, came over immediately. Seeing the expression on her face that said, "I have something important to announce, please come and ask me," she hung up the phone headset and then raised her eyebrows to look at Shang Xia.
"Teacher Zhou! Please extend your hand!"
Watching Teacher Zhou's hesitant hand reach out, Shang Xia, with a serious expression, manually curled up what he had initially thought was a handshake. Then, she pulled a small box of chocolates from her backpack and placed it sincerely in Zhou Xiao's upturned palm.
It couldn't be simpler, but Shang Xia saw it as a perfect completion of a ritual. She looked at the puzzled expression on Zhou Xiao's face and thought of Ji Shao's surprise yesterday when he learned from her that "Teacher Zhou" was actually "Zhou Xiao."
Shang Xia had always had a minor flaw, which was, in layman's terms, her overly eagerness to share. Realizing the camera was still trained on Teacher Ji, she heard Ji Shao's question and immediately suppressed her excitement, sharing what she hadn't finished.
It's a very happy thing to chat with your favorite artist, even if it's just a few words. It was this unexpected conversation that made Shang Xia, a self-proclaimed pseudo-fan of the former group, feel even more favorable towards Ji Shao.
Ji Shao had asked Shang Xia to bring the chocolate to Zhou Xiao after he learned about their relationship. Shang Xia was not jealous at all.
Because with Sister Du's "inadvertent" help, after successfully revealing her cell phone screensaver, Ji Shao took out a handful of chocolates from the bag of the tall and strong assistant next to him.
Shang Xia visually assessed the amount of chocolate, and it was clearly more than what was in the box! That evening, she checked Ji Shao's Facebook page and discovered the brand had even teamed up with @纪韶同款博V to run a raffle. Seeing this, she couldn't bear to eat the chocolate Ji Shao had personally delivered.
She recounted the entire incident from yesterday afternoon to Teacher Zhou, her exaggeration drawing quite a few onlookers. Fortunately, rehearsal hadn't started yet, otherwise everyone would have been distracted by her unremarkable but surprisingly engaging story.
Zhou Xiao looked down at the small box in her palm and couldn't help but think of the message Cheese had sent her yesterday morning while she was still cutting chocolates, saying he'd saved her a special portion of chocolates. It wasn't much, just two, but it was one she and Qimiao had each saved from the two chocolates distributed at the event.
Due to her role as a director and the confidentiality agreement in her contract, Zhou Xiao declined the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala tickets offered to her. After learning that she wouldn't be filming, Cheese didn't say much. Then, Zhou Xiao received this message yesterday morning.
At the same time, feeling the warmth radiated by Ji Shao and his colleagues, Zhou Xiao said thank you to Shang Xia with a smile on his face while holding the small box in his hand.
For Zhou Xiao, the best response to Ji Shao and his colleagues’ kindness is to do his best to let audiences across the country see NINE STAR’s perfect reunion performance after their disbandment.
Looking at Zhai Yunshao, who was walking towards them with four cups of coffee, Zhou Xiao's gaze fell on Yang Rao behind her. The moment their eyes met, it was also their first real meeting.
On Zhou Xiao's first day in the director's office, she understood why the station had the audacity to let her take charge of the stage. Director Yang's style was straightforward, meticulous, conscientious, and impeccable, all of which were his strengths. Zhou Xiao could sense that he had played a part in her promotion to assistant director.
"Xiao Zhou, my name is Yang Rao. I'm much older than you, so you can just call me Sister Yang." Yang Rao, who had short hair, was very straightforward. She stretched out her hand, shook hands with Zhou Xiao, and then sat down on the passenger seat naturally.
Zhai Yunshao put the coffee on the table and made a hand-spreading gesture towards Zhou Xiao. The original plan was that Director Yang would come over to take a look during the last rehearsal.
When she went to get the coffee, she had originally planned to take only three cups, but was stopped by someone. The person who called out was naturally Yang Rao, so Zhai Yunshao, who was dazed and had another cup of coffee, followed the person obediently.
Zhou Xiao understood what Zhai Yunshao meant and asked her to sit next to Shang Xia. He then sat in the position where he could control the whole situation under Yang Rao's gaze.
"Directing is not a easy job," Yang Rao said with a smile. "Go through it for me so I can learn from you. Don't worry or be nervous, everyone has been there for the first time."
Zhou Xiao was a little surprised. She hadn't expected Director Yang to comfort her in this way. She wasn't too nervous, but after hearing his words, she felt a lot more at ease.
Zhou Xiao is also very much looking forward to the completion of today's stage performance. She hopes that her suggestions after reviewing the stage will provide effective help to the photographers in the studio.
Looking at the members still rehearsing the formation on the screen, Zhou Xiao put on his headphones steadily, turned on the call button, and started today's rehearsal.
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