Chapter 140 Listen to You
"Yes, I fell in love with you at first sight many years ago, but... I didn't realize it at that time. It was only when I saw you this time that I realized these feelings. Li Meng, we have similar experiences. I originally wanted to spend time together and cultivate and strengthen our relationship during this reunion, but "Shan Hai" is a program after all. I admit that I have private feelings. I am afraid and... anxious."
Guan He's drooping eyelashes cast a butterfly-like shadow under his eyes. His fingertips unconsciously stroked the hem of his clothes. He tried hard to suppress his pounding heart, "Li Meng, I'm not asking for an answer from you. I just want to tell you that I'm serious. It's okay if you don't want to interact with me in front of the camera. We can wait until the show is over. Can you give me a chance to be with you?"
After saying that, Guan He didn't have the courage to look at Ren Limeng's expression at the moment. He turned around and wanted to leave in an unknown direction, as long as he could leave.
"Brother Guan He, thank you so much. I believe you, but we are really not suitable."
Ren Limeng withdrew her gaze and looked seriously at Guan He in front of her, watching his expression change from shyness to confusion.
"I just asked you what you like about me. I just wanted to know what you think of me."
She spoke softly. Even though she knew that Guan He's words might contain some real emotions, Ren Limeng's attitude did not change at all. Perhaps only she herself knew that her patience and gentleness at the moment were only due to her consideration of the upcoming cooperation this week. As a guest on the same team as the second public performance, she had to stabilize Guan He.
But Ren Limeng is very tired now.
Recording, practicing, live broadcasting, singing, and hosting, a day of high-intensity work can be said to be a perfect performance. Even though Ren Limeng has no time to turn on her mobile phone, but just by the subtle changes in the attitudes of people around her, Ren Limeng has guessed the rave reviews online, but... she just didn't impress her mother.
Ren Limeng mustered up the courage to chase after her, thinking that she would not be disappointed. But at this moment, she really wanted a hug from her mother instead of continuing to work with a fake smile.
Whether Guan He's love at first sight was motivated by lust or was sincere, he didn't even notice her tiredness at the moment. How could Ren Limeng not respond perfunctorily when he chose such a moment to confess his love?
"Li Meng, of course you're wonderful in my eyes. You always shine brightly on stage, whether you're singing or hosting, it's unforgettable. In my eyes, you're brave, confident, gentle, and kind... I'm a little lost for words, but I think every beautiful word in the world can be used to describe you. I'm not exaggerating, that's just how you are in my eyes."
Guan He became more and more hesitant as he spoke, staring at Ren Limeng's gentle and watery eyes. He was at a loss, his pupils wandering, sometimes looking at the stone floor of the square in front of him, and sometimes staring at the black toes of Ren Limeng's shoes.
"But Brother Guan He, I'm just an ordinary person."
Ren Limeng's voice was still very gentle, with traces of emotion and sadness. "Thank you for your kindness. I'm not as good as you described. Most of the time, I am also afraid, confused, trapped and anxious. This is the real me. Our meeting may be too wonderful. The me in your eyes is filtered, but a lot of it may just be your imagination. I'm really sorry that I may have disappointed you."
Ren Limeng politely attributed the reason for the rejection to herself. The older she got, the more her so-called true self was hidden behind layers of smiles and was no longer easily revealed. Even she sometimes seemed much calmer and more composed, and she almost forgot the suppressed emotions in her heart.
But more often than not, Ren Limeng is very clear that behind the dignified and generous host image she deliberately creates on the show, she is not that beautiful. She just accepts this reality and learns to get along with all of her.
Love at first sight is a very beautiful word. Even though we are separated by a strange distance, we can always add all our imaginations of beautiful things to the person we fall in love with, as if the person we fall in love with at first sight fits our fantasy. Ren Limeng can understand Guan He because she has been like that too.
Even worse than Guan He.
Across the mottled light and shadows of the lights around the stage, Ren Limeng looked at Shen Xingzhi from afar, who was lying in the shadows at the bend in front of her. He seemed to be looking over as he stood under the tree, his eyes cold and deep, and the shadow of the tree hid all his expressions.
For a moment, the familiar face made Ren Limeng unconsciously dazed. She was probably the same as Guan He back then, falling in love at first sight, but Guan He was braver and more mature than her.
The eighteen-year-old girl could only clumsily try every possible means to get close to him, but she was luckier than Guan He, or she put too much effort into it, because back then she seemed to gradually glimpse a corner of Shen Xingzhi's true self, and the more she understood, the more moved she became.
Ren Limeng's answer to Guan He now was more of a reason to politely refuse.
Noticing the hesitation in Guan He's eyes, Ren Limeng smiled gently. She nodded slightly and said goodbye, then walked around Guan He from the other side, preparing to go back and continue putting on makeup. She had already wasted too much time tonight and it was time to return to the show.
"Li Meng, I won't give up."
Guan He's voice suddenly rang out from behind. Ren Limeng paused slightly, but didn't stop. Behind her, Guan He gradually answered firmly and loudly, "I'm not disappointed. Then let's get to know each other again. It just so happens... we are both ordinary people."
"Li Meng."
"Brother Xingzhi."
The place where Chen Xingzhi was was the only way back. Ren Limeng walked past quickly with a normal expression and was stopped by Chen Xingzhi who was leaning against a tree. Ren Limeng greeted him with a smile, and quickly glanced at Chen Xingzhi, noticing a white cigarette on his slender fingertips.
The unlit cigarette was like a toy in Shen Xingzhi's hand, the cigarette body slowly spinning between his fingers, drawing a charming yet dangerous arc.
"There are a lot of people inside, come out and have a cigarette."
Noticing Ren Limeng's gaze, Shen Xingzhi explained lightly, looking at Ren Limeng with some inquiry, "Guan He likes you."
The light and affirmative voice seemed nonchalant, but the tightly locked gaze revealed a bit of concern after all. His jawline was as taut as a fully drawn bowstring, his Adam's apple rolled slightly, and his fingertips unconsciously stroked the cigarette body hovering at his fingertips.
"Brother Xingzhi, why are you so concerned about my personal affairs?"
Near the program recording area where the actors gathered, Ren Limeng lowered her voice, with a half-smile in her eyes and a hint of scrutiny.
"Ren Limeng, are you playing dumb with me again?"
Chen Xingzhi and Ren Limeng's smiling eyes kept meeting in the air. Their deep eyes carried some ambiguous and dangerous aura, which completely broke the invisible bottom line they were secretly testing.
Not far away, the various noises of the busy production crew were intertwined in the night sky of the ancient city all the time, but they could not break the sticky tension stagnant in the air between the two people's confrontation.
Shen Xingzhi raised his eyebrows lazily, half leaning against a tree. The moonlight slanted across his perfect profile, creating some soft curves in his cold and hard outlines. There was thicker ink in Shen Xingzhi's eyes than the night in the distance. His dark pupils concealed some aggressiveness, which was silent but could not be ignored.
Ren Limeng finally couldn't help but slightly pursed her lips. Her eyelids trembled slightly, and her gaze suddenly turned to the program crew not far away. Her tone was somewhat pretended to be cold and hard, "Chen Xingzhi, you should take care of your own private affairs first. There are so many people here tonight, aren't you afraid that someone will secretly take pictures of the top star smoking?"
Ren Limeng knew in her heart that the cigarette at the tip of Chen Xingzhi's finger had not been lit, but he was just playing with it. It was very likely that Chen Xingzhi was worried about the crowds of people watching him. But in a moment of helplessness, she had no choice but to find this matter to change the subject, as if this could cover up the momentary throbbing in her heart.
It must be because of Guan He’s confession and the influence of the top streamer. She was definitely not confused by Chen Xingzhi!
"Smoke less, I don't want to collect your body yet."
Seemingly calm, she quickly threw out a cold remark, without even looking at Shen Xingzhi. She raised her neck and feet and just wanted to go back quickly, as if she could pretend that nothing had happened.
Behind him was Shen Xingzhi's leisurely tone, the cold tone was still there, but with an unconcealable smile, "I'll listen to you."
Listen to her! She shouldn't talk too much!
Even at the celebration party, amidst the clinking of glasses, the three words "I'll listen to you" seemed to still linger in Ren Limeng's mind, like a lingering spell, shaking her heartstrings so much that even she, with such great skills, couldn't concentrate.
"Li Meng, you and Captain Liu are the heroes of today! On behalf of the Meixiang Theater, I must toast you again! Huangmei Opera is lucky to have you!"
Xu Kai stood up with a smile on his face and drank the full Huangmei wine in the glass generously. Although the three major Meixiang troupes lost in the afternoon, the Huangmei Opera in Mei City can only be described in one word today: win.
The results of this afternoon's live broadcast are out. In addition to Team Shen Xing being the most popular, related terms such as Huangmei Opera, Meixiang Theater, and the three/four major theater troupes are also at the top of the hot searches on major social platforms. The sudden influx of performance cooperation invitations in the evening made Xu Kai feel the reality of this matter.
He and Meixiang Theater almost took a gamble by inviting the "Mountains and Seas" program to record in Mei City during Huangmei Week. As it turned out, his bet was right. Xu Kai's eyes were full of excitement and his words were filled with uncontrollable excitement.
This celebration banquet was also specially prepared by him on behalf of Meixiang Theater. Although the name of the program team was listed, in fact, the person Xu Kai wanted to thank most was the "Mountains and Seas" program team. At this moment, sitting at the table above Xu Kai was director Dong Zhu. After Xu Kai toasted Ren Limeng and Captain Liu, he immediately toasted Dong Zhu again.
Ren Limeng relaxed slightly and twirled the wine glass in her hand, watching the lively scene of Xu Kai and Dong Zhu complimenting each other. This should be the first party in the past two weeks that the program crew did not record. Meixiang Theater and the program crew booked the largest hotel in Fan County and opened more than a dozen large private rooms to entertain the guests and all the front- and backstage staff of today's performance.
As soon as Captain Liu entered the room, he cheerfully invited all the photographers who were still recording to celebrate together. Unable to resist everyone's enthusiastic invitation, almost the entire program crew sat at the dining table and put away all the recording equipment.
Although the alcohol content of Huangmei wine is not high, it is still strong enough after one cup after another. Ren Limeng believes that Dong Zhu would not want such a drinking table scene to be preserved by anyone. Instead of insisting on recording it, the program crew might as well be worldly-wise for once.
Meixiang Theater is already high-profile enough, so smart program directors will naturally choose to keep a low profile.
Sitting in Ren Limeng's box were Dong Zhu, who represented the program team, four guests from the team, the heads of the four major troupes, and Xu Kai, Li Chuyue, and Han Tai from Meixiang Theater. Everyone was happily circling and toasting each other. Han Tai and Li Chuyue, who were sitting at the bottom, had a whole box of Huangmei wine placed beside them.
Ren Limeng looked down with a smile.
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