33 Xiaoyu, thank you
After hanging up the phone, Jin Lang still felt a bit dazed. He sat quietly on the stool at the end of his bed. A few minutes later, he unlocked his phone and opened the ticket booking app. The app showed that there was only one direct flight from Milan to Beijing North every day. If he changed his flight to today's noon flight, he would have to leave the airport in two hours, which meant that all his work arrangements for this trip to Italy would be cancelled. This inevitably involved contractual provisions and liquidated damages, and some matters affected more than just him, so he couldn't make a decision completely on his own. Time was running out, and Jin Lang quickly stood up, eagerly grabbing his coat that had been thrown on the sofa, and casually putting his baseball cap on his head, ready to go to the restaurant to discuss it with Zhang Yi. As soon as he stepped out of the door, before he could even let go of the handle, he saw the person he was looking for walking towards him, carrying a bag. Back inside, Jin Lang explained the situation to Zhang Yi in a serious manner, and also bluntly expressed his hope to return to Beijing as soon as possible. Zhang Yi's face darkened. Temporarily giving up the two major fashion shows he endorsed for top luxury brands was not an easy task to coordinate. Compensation for breach of contract is easy to deal with, but such matters would have a significant impact on Jin Lang's future. Since his rise from obscurity to fame, Jin Lang hasn't deliberately sought to assert his influence, or openly or covertly question his agent's decisions, as some celebrities do. They can discuss everything. But Zhang Yi knows clearly that after Jin Lang's father's passing, Li Xin has been his number one priority, and his bottom line in the entertainment industry is that work must never interfere with his family's normal life. He's already in Milan, and if he doesn't attend the event, he'll inevitably be criticized by the unscrupulous media. Broadly explaining personal reasons would only serve to fuel their own controversy. If he were to claim a family member was unwell, someone would inevitably inquire about the specific person, the specific illness, and the specific hospital... Those who haven't lived in the spotlight can never imagine the fanaticism and extremism of sasaeng fans. They're like a pack of bloodthirsty sharks, relentless in pursuit once they smell a clue. Zhang Yi stood, leaning against the side of the sofa, pulling out his phone and tapping away. After a moment's silence, he proposed a compromise: rebooking tonight's 6 p.m. flight, connecting in Berlin before returning home, and arriving in Beijing by noon tomorrow. This way, the most important show of this trip wouldn't be affected. Tomorrow's shoot was canceled, and he negotiated with the brand to reschedule it in China. Jin Lang listened to Zhang Yi's arrangements with a frown, mentally calculating the time, and finally nodded silently. ... In Milan in January, the sun was sealed by the winter frost. It wasn't even half past five...
After hanging up the phone, Jin Lang still felt a little dazed. He sat quietly on the stool at the end of the bed.
A few minutes later, he unlocked his phone and opened the ticket booking app.
The APP shows that there is only one direct flight from Milan to Beijing North every day. If I change my flight to today's noon, I will have to leave the airport in two hours, which means that all my work arrangements in Italy will have to be cancelled.
This will inevitably involve contractual provisions and compensation for breach of contract. Some things are not just about him personally, so he cannot make decisions entirely according to his own wishes.
Time was running out, so Jin Lang quickly stood up, eagerly grabbed the coat thrown on the sofa, put on his baseball cap, and prepared to go to the restaurant to discuss with Zhang Yi.
As soon as he stepped out of the door, before he could let go of the handle, he saw the person he was looking for walking towards him with a bag.
After returning to the house, Jin Lang told Zhang Yi the whole matter in a serious manner, and also expressed frankly that he hoped to return to Beijing as soon as possible.
After hearing this, Zhang Yi's face darkened.
Temporarily giving up two major fashion shows for top luxury brands was not an easy task to coordinate. Compensation for breach of contract was easy to deal with, but such matters would have a huge impact on Jin Lang's future development.
After Jin Lang went from being an unknown celebrity to a famous figure, he did not deliberately increase his voice like some other stars, or openly or secretly question his agent's decisions.
Everything can be discussed between them.
But Zhang Yi knew clearly that after Jin Lang's father passed away, Li Xin was definitely the first in his heart, and his bottom line in the entertainment industry was that work must not affect his family's normal life.
He has already arrived in Milan. If he does not participate in the event, he will inevitably be criticized by unscrupulous media. Broad explanations of personal reasons will only allow them to take advantage of the situation.
If you say a family member is unwell, someone will definitely ask about the person, the disease, and the hospital...
Those who haven't lived in the spotlight can never imagine the fanaticism and extremes of sasaeng fans. They are like a school of bloodthirsty sharks, once they smell a clue, they will pursue it relentlessly.
Zhang Yi stood leaning against the side of the single sofa, took out his mobile phone and started to tap and swipe.
After a moment's silence, he proposed a compromise plan: to change the flight to 6 o'clock tonight, transfer in Berlin and then return to China, and arrive in Beijing North at noon tomorrow.
In this way, the most important show of this trip will not be affected. Tomorrow's shooting was cancelled, and he went to negotiate with the brand to reschedule the shooting in China.
Jin Lang listened to Zhang Yi's arrangements with a frown, calculated the time in his mind, and finally nodded silently.
…
In Milan in January, the sun was sealed by the winter frost. Before 5:30, the city skyline was swallowed by dusk, leaving only a few faint wisps of sunset struggling.
Jin Lang stood at the window of the airport lobby, gazing at the gradually dimming city, and boarded a plane to Berlin alone. Zhang Yi wanted to stay and personally explain and apologize to the partner as a show of sincerity.
Jin Lang changed into comfortable clothes for the long flight, his loose sweatpants hanging down at his feet. He pulled up the brim of his hat and put on a mask. Because it was a sudden change of schedule, he easily disappeared into the bustling terminal hall.
Late at night, the plane arrived at Brandenburg Airport. As Jin Lang stepped out of the cabin, a gust of cold air hit him, instantly enveloping him and dragging him into the realm of time.
The airport was empty. Walking in the corridor where industrial style and wooden structures were blended, Jin Lang couldn't help but recall Liu Yuwei's complaints when he first arrived in Berlin.
She said that when she landed in Berlin from northern Beijing, she couldn't believe that such a small and old Tagore Airport was a transportation hub in the heart of Europe.
As time goes by, cities change, and people change.
After waiting for more than ten years, Berlin finally welcomed a new airport, and she also had a new life.
After boarding the plane again and sitting in his return seat, Jin Lang stared at the unique glass building outside the window. The letters "BERLIN" emitted a quiet white light in the night.
Worry and anxiety about his mother's health surged like waves, crashing against his inner defenses. Yet, beneath this surging tide of emotion, a subtle tinge of inappropriate anticipation emerged, perhaps because someone was waiting for him to return home.
Wait for him to come home.
These four words are like the North Star in the vast ocean. Although weak, they can point the way for those who are lost.
Suddenly, a strange thought came without warning.
Is this chance, their decision to relocate to the city where they parted ways so many years ago, a metaphor for fate? Perhaps, like this journey, their story has had its ups and downs, but there may still be hope in the future.
Thinking of this, the corners of his lips curled up unconsciously, and a hint of imperceptible tenderness and expectation flashed in his eyes.
Everyone is a prophet of fate, and every coincidence is inevitable. The plane gradually rose into the air amidst bursts of roars, the midnight flight carrying his worries and expectations, heading east.
Jin Lang took out his eye mask, put on noise-canceling headphones, and tried hard to fall asleep in the dim cabin.
He closed his eyes. His body and mind were exhausted, but his central nervous system was like a wild horse that had broken free from its reins, extremely excited. His brain was still running at high speed, and the vortex of his thoughts continued to expand.
He first planned to use the green channel to make an appointment for Li Xin to have a follow-up examination at the best cardiology department in northern Beijing; then, after Zhang Yi returned to China, he asked him to contact his acquaintances as soon as possible to arrange for Li Xin to have a comprehensive physical examination.
Also, thanks to Liu Yuwei this time, I still need to find a suitable way to express my gratitude when I return home. Besides thanking her, the most important thing I should do is apologize and ask for forgiveness for my previous outrageous words and actions...
The thoughts in Jin Lang's mind were one after another, like a nimble fish, shaking its head and tail, swimming and rushing freely in the river of reality and memories.
…
After graduating from high school, on a summer day filled with the chirping of cicadas, Liu Yuwei took the initiative to invite Jin Lang to the small basketball court, revealing the depression and frustration brought about by family changes.
That nearly abandoned field seemed to become a secret base for the two to connect, and it naturally witnessed the beginning of their friendship. For a long time afterwards, the two would chat on QQ from time to time, sharing bits and pieces of their lives and studies.
From having his precious MP3 stolen by monkeys in Mount Emei during his graduation trip to discussing whether Snape protected Harry out of love or guilt.
From the long plum rain weather that troubles northerners to the thick smog in northern Beijing that makes it hard to breathe.
He lamented that he would definitely visit Barcelona someday to take a closer look at Gaudí's three-piece set. She quickly sent him a report about Zaha Hadid. The saying, "The world has 360 degrees, why limit ourselves to straight lines?" and the saying, "Straight lines belong to man, curves belong to God"—something with a certain exotic similarity.
Jin Lang gradually realized that no matter what they talked about, this good friend could always hit the nail on the head about what he was thinking.
Liu Yuwei once half-jokingly said, what a coincidence, everything you like, I am also interested in.
Later, as the feelings between the two gradually became clearer, he realized that those seemingly insignificant coincidences had traces buried in the corners of time.
…
In the early days of their relationship, Liu Yuwei once half-jokingly and half-tentatively asked Jin Lang when he started to like her.
He did not give a very clear answer at that time. Seeing the light in her eyes dimming little by little, he organized his words a little clumsily, but his words still failed to express his meaning.
He didn't know the exact moment when their friendship began to tip over into love. He often felt an indescribable pain if they didn't contact each other for a day, but he also figured it was probably because he'd gotten used to it.
The first time Jin Lang experienced the heart-pounding feeling described by everyone was during the National Day of his junior year.
Just a month into school, he had already promised his family he wouldn't return to the Acropolis during the holidays. Coincidentally, a teacher for one of his courses mentioned a field trip to Guizhou to conduct research in ancient villages, and Jin Lang volunteered to go along. However, after a long journey, from train to bus, he had just arrived in the small southwestern county and settled into a simple hotel when Jin Lang received a call from his father. His voice was trembling with anxiety, and he told him something had happened to Li Xin and urged him to return home immediately.
Jin Lang's father ran a trucking company and, during his busy weekdays, also made deliveries himself. He happened to be driving his truck to a service area on a highway when he received a call from a neighbor saying that Li Xin had suddenly collapsed and been taken to the hospital. He had already arranged for someone to pick up the truck, but there was no way he could instantly teleport back to the Acropolis.
After hanging up the phone, Jin Lang's mind was in turmoil. He thought that none of his relatives on either side of the family were in downtown Weicheng. It would take time for his uncles and aunts to get to the hospital after receiving the news. If something really happened, there would be no one at the hospital to help make a decision.
A light suddenly flashed through his mind, and he remembered that Liu Yuwei had said before that she would go home to celebrate her grandmother's birthday during the National Day, so he called her directly.
After taking the bus, changing to a plane and then a train, it took a whole day to get back to the Acropolis.
When he arrived at the hospital, wheeling his suitcase, the sun hung high in the sky like a ripe orange, its setting sun cautiously glimpsing into the ward through the corridor window.
The metal handle still retained the warmth of the day's sunlight and felt warm to the touch. Pushing the door open, he saw a slender figure swaying on the curtain.
Jin Lang couldn't help but lighten his steps and approached the bed step by step.
Liu Yuwei was leaning over to check the drip rate of the liquid in the IV tube. The warm yellow evening sun illuminated her profile, a few strands of hair accidentally falling out of her loose ponytail, and the fine hairs on her cheeks flickered in the halo of light.
As if she felt someone was watching her, Liu Yuwei subconsciously turned her head. The moment their eyes met, she smiled faintly.
My heart seemed to skip a beat inexplicably at that moment.
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