Ai Xiaodong picked up a piece of glistening, oily, and reddish beef and said enthusiastically, "Eat, eat, eat, Teacher Ye!"
As he spoke, he ignored Shang Yechu and began to slurp and munch on his food all by himself.
Ai Xiaodong was so engrossed in eating that Shang Yechu couldn't get a word in edgewise. Shang Yechu could only watch helplessly as he ate with his mouth full of grease, swallowing hard in resentment.
"The second most hated profession in the world is writer," Shang Yechu thought coldly. "The first is boxer."
After finishing their hotpot, Ai Xiaodong checked the time. Just as Shang Yechu was about to speak again, he said, "It's almost time, Teacher Ye, I'll be going now."
"What is Teacher Ai busy with?"
Ai Xiaodong took a few sips of tea to rinse his mouth and said, "There's a fireworks display tonight."
The fireworks display was packed with people, and Ai Xiaodong wasn't worried about his feet being trampled... Shang Yechu was wondering when he looked down and realized that Ai Xiaodong was actually wearing leather shoes.
No wonder it smelled so bad; leather shoes make feet sweat and worsen athlete's foot. Ai Xiaodong didn't care about anything else, all for the sake of appearances.
The "Anna Doraemon" crew's vacation ends tomorrow. If they don't catch Ai Xiaodong this time, who knows when they'll be able to catch him again. Besides, the Shunnan fireworks festival is a grand event. Thinking of this, Shang Yechu smiled and said, "What a coincidence? Teacher Ai, we just happen to be going the same way."
Ai Xiaodong rarely showed a surprised expression, as if he was astonished that there was someone like Shang Yechu in the world who would not give up until he achieved his goal—and who had even pestered him.
After a long pause, Ai Xiaodong nodded: "Okay."
Shang Yechu felt a surge of secret joy, but then she saw Ai Xiaodong take out a pair of earphones from his pocket and slowly clip them to his ears.
Shang Yechu: "..."
------------
The fireworks display was incredibly noisy, with a sea of people everywhere, as if the whole world had gathered there. It was nearly midnight, yet the venue was so packed that you couldn't even insert a chopstick.
Ai Xiaodong and Shang Yechu squeezed into the crowd, feeling the electrifying atmosphere. The fireworks display wasn't supposed to start until midnight, and people eagerly looked up at the sky, waiting for that moment.
The exciting moment has finally arrived.
The countdown echoed throughout the venue. Shang Yechu glanced to the side and saw that Ai Xiaodong had taken off his headphones at some point.
"five--"
"Four--"
"three--"
"two--"
"one!"
Fireworks roared into the sky, creating a magnificent sea of flowers in the night. The colossal statue, towering into the sky, was instantly illuminated by the fireworks, its compassionate eyes gazing upon the world.
Ai Xiaodong looked up for a long, long time, until the fireworks dimmed, before slowly lowering his head. His face was expressionless, yet he looked inexplicably gentler than usual.
Shang Yechu looked up for a long time. The night dew was deep, and his breath fogged up the glasses he used to disguise his face. Shang Yechu simply took off his glasses and pulled off his mask, revealing a face that would cause a sensation in broad daylight.
None of the revelers around her noticed her.
She was determined to talk to Ai Xiaodong about "The Heavenly Emperor," but he always managed to dodge the question with various excuses. Now that Ai Xiaodong was silent, it should have been a good opportunity to strike up a conversation, but in that instant, Shang Yechu suddenly didn't want to speak.
Ai Xiaodong read aloud from his novel: "Perhaps 129,600 years later..."
A warm yet sorrowful atmosphere hung in the air.
The two walked silently through the bustling crowd. After walking for some time, Ai Xiaodong suddenly said, "Do you know why Lao Shao is dissatisfied with you?"
Shang Yechu's expression turned serious. Suppressing his surprise and doubt, he asked in a curious tone, "Why?"
"Of course it's because I threatened him," Shang Yechu added in her mind.
Ai Xiaodong stepped on the snowflakes and said slowly, "You care too much about others."
What kind of nonsensical talk is this?
“God doesn’t care about people. Only people care about people,” Ai Xiaodong said in a low voice.
Shang Yechu couldn't help but ask, "Is this Teacher Shao's opinion, or yours?"
“It’s mine,” Ai Xiaodong said. “Old Shao believes that the Heavenly Emperor should have compassion for his people. For example, when the rebels sacrifice themselves, he should feel their heroism and sorrow, and even lend a helping hand. But I told Old Shao: ‘You’re wrong, He doesn’t care.’”
Ai Xiaodong stopped and looked at Shang Yechu: "That's the reason. I've watched some of your plays over the past few days. You acted with too much humanity. Lao Shao said that actors like you who still retain humanity are very precious, but 'He' doesn't need them. You don't seem to have played a completely inhuman character yet, so Lao Shao is unsure and therefore worried."
Even someone as ruthless as Emperor Pingzhao was a man with a strong desire for power.
Having desires is human nature.
“Of course, there are other reasons,” Ai Xiaodong shrugged, “but I don’t remember.”
Shang Yechu seemed to understand something, but was also puzzled. She had been rambling on for ages, and Ai Xiaodong wouldn't say a word, so why was he suddenly spilling the beans now?
Why are you telling me this?
Ai Xiaodong exhaled and rubbed his feet on the ground through his leather shoes: "Maybe it's because today is a good day."
A chill ran down Shang Yechu's neck, and she realized that it had started snowing lightly.
Ai Xiaodong waved his hand: "Alright, I've told you everything I know. Don't come looking for me again."
Ai Xiaodong's figure flashed into the crowd and disappeared.
The air was thick with the sounds of voices, and fireworks lit up the night sky. Snowflakes fell softly to the ground, melting in the blink of an eye.
Shang Yechu suddenly wondered: I wonder what Yang Huanyi is doing now?
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