Entertainment from Divorce

As they left the State Administration of Culture, the afternoon sun softened, shining through the car window onto Tan Yue with the warmth of early spring. The driver steered smoothly along Chang'an Avenue, the magnolia blossoms along the roadside swaying in the breeze, their pink and white petals occasionally drifting onto the car window before being blown away by the wind.

Tan Yue leaned back in his chair, his mind still replaying the discussions from the meeting.
The eager eyes of the young directors, the sincerity with which Sun Daohao shared his experience, and Ye Wen's expectations for the future of Chinese science fiction all deeply moved him.

Suddenly, a name jumped into my mind without warning—Xu Nuo.

Tan Yue shook his head with a chuckle. In fact, he had seen Xu Nuo in the company elevator and cafeteria in the past two weeks. At the management meeting last Wednesday, the two of them had also talked about the topic of "the linkage between variety shows and movies".

Even though they often met, the two never managed to sit down for a proper drink and chat.

Last time I promised to call him in the cafeteria to "find a place to have a couple of drinks this weekend," but he was busy rushing to finish the overseas release report for "Interstellar" and casually said, "After I'm done with this," but that "after" has been delayed until now.

Not to mention asking about Xu Nuo's recent situation, especially regarding his love life.
At the end of last year, Xu Nuo was still complaining in the break room about his repeated failures on blind dates. I wonder if there has been any new progress in the past two months.

"We work in the same company and can see each other anytime, but we can't even find time to have a drink together." Tan Yue chuckled self-deprecatingly, took out his phone from his pocket, and found Xu Nuo's number.

The call was answered after two rings, and Xu Nuo's cheerful yet slightly teasing voice came through the receiver: "Oh, Mr. Tan, what a rare guest! Did you just get back from headquarters and remember me, this variety show worker? I thought you were so busy that you'd forgotten what the food in the company cafeteria tasted like!"

Tan Yue chuckled, his tone tinged with apology: "Stop being so cheeky. Didn't we meet at the meeting last week? But we really didn't have a proper chat. I've been busy wrapping up 'Interstellar,' preparing for Lin Qingye's film project, and just finished a meeting at the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television today. I haven't had a chance to have a drink with you. So, are you free now? I'll have the driver take a detour to pick you up."

"Drinking?" Xu Nuo's voice rose several decibels instantly, her tone full of surprise. "You're not kidding, are you?"

Tan Yue said, "Just wait."

"Alright!" Xu Nuo's voice was full of excitement. "I know a private restaurant, it's in an alley near the company, it's really secluded, and the food is authentic. I guarantee no one will bother us while we drink and chat. I went there once with the marketing team, the braised pork and sweet and sour fish were amazing!"

After hanging up the phone, Tan Yue asked the driver to adjust the route.

Ten minutes later, the car stopped right downstairs at Xu Nuo's building.

Through the car window, Tan Yue saw a man wearing a black hoodie and jeans standing under the sycamore tree at the entrance, holding a phone and replying to messages. It was Xu Nuo.

He looked a bit thinner than when I saw him in the cafeteria last week, and there was a light stubble on his chin, probably from staying up too late recently for the premiere of a variety show, but his eyes were still full of energy.

Xu Nuo opened the car door and got in, patting Tan Yue on the shoulder in a familiar manner, her tone full of teasing: "A big director is willing to drink with a film review machine like me, that's really giving me face."

Tan Yue laughed and gave him a push: "Stop with that, or I'll throw you off if you keep talking nonsense. What's the program department been up to lately? You said at the last meeting that 'New Generation Singers' was going to start filming next month, how's that going?"

When work was mentioned, Xu Nuo immediately dropped her joking tone, her voice becoming serious: "Don't even mention it, this variety show is almost making me go bald. I originally wanted to invite two top singers to be mentors, but their schedules were too full, and we talked to several but nothing came of it. Later, we had no choice but to adjust our approach and invite established singers and new generation musicians to mix and match. The competition format is almost finalized now, and we'll start recruiting contestants next week, hoping to start filming smoothly next month."

He paused, then added, "But there's also good news. The new media department has helped us with the pre-show promotion. The hashtag #HowDaringAreNewGenerationMusiciansToSing# has already trended twice. Yesterday, several music bloggers even shared our recruitment poster. The level of attention is better than expected. Once the show airs, it might become this year's hit variety show."

Tan Yue nodded, his eyes full of approval: "I trust you to handle things. But don't push yourself too hard. You didn't look too well when I saw you in the cafeteria last time. Take care of yourself, don't really work yourself bald, or it'll be even harder to find a partner later."

"Hey, you're bringing up blind dates again!" Xu Nuo glared at him, pretending to be angry, then sighed. "To be honest, I've been on three more blind dates in the last two months, but it still didn't work out. There was a girl I got along with quite well; she works in planning at a cultural company, so she's in the same industry as us. But she thought I was too busy, saying I didn't even have time to go to the movies with her, so it all fell through."

Tan Yue patted him on the shoulder, her tone comforting: "Don't worry, fate can't be rushed. You're so outstanding and knowledgeable, you'll definitely meet someone who understands you and supports your work. Didn't you mention in the break room last time that your mom introduced you to a teacher? Nothing came of it?"

"Don't even mention it, we only met once." Xu Nuo waved her hand helplessly. "The teachers are free on weekends, but I have to work overtime to review the sample videos. The second appointment never came. My mom is pressuring me to get married every day now, and I'm almost afraid to look at WeChat."

As they were talking, the car had already driven into a quiet alley.

The alley is lined with quaint courtyard houses with red lanterns hanging at the entrances. Occasionally, elderly people sit in the doorways basking in the sun, exuding a leisurely, down-to-earth atmosphere.

The driver stopped in front of a courtyard house with a wooden sign that read "Yuelaiju". There was no conspicuous sign at the entrance, only a small copper bell hanging on the door knocker.

"We're here, this is it." Xu Nuo got out of the car first, pushed open the courtyard gate, and a faint aroma of food wafted out.

There are several pomegranate trees in the yard. Although they haven't sprouted yet, they already exude a sense of vitality.

A waiter in a blue shirt came up and said with a smile, "Mr. Xu, your reserved private room is ready. This way, please."

The two followed the waiter into an elegant private room. The room was furnished with antique-style tables and chairs, and a traditional Chinese ink painting of landscapes hung on the wall. In the corner, there was a small stove with a pot of hot tea simmering on it, creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere.

"How about it? This place is pretty good, isn't it?" Xu Nuo sat down in a chair, picked up the menu and handed it to Tan Yue. "It's close to the company, only a ten-minute drive away, and it's quite secluded, so we don't have to worry about being photographed by reporters. Last time, the people from the marketing department said that many people in the industry like to eat here. Let's drink until we drop and have a good chat tonight."

Tan Yue took the menu, smiled and nodded: "It's really good, much quieter than the private rooms in the company cafeteria. Just like you said, let's have a braised pork, a sweet and sour fish, a few vegetable dishes, and two bottles of Erguotou."

The waiter wrote down the order and turned to leave.

With only the two of them left in the private room, the atmosphere instantly became more relaxed.

Xu Nuo poured Tan Yue a cup of hot tea, her tone tinged with curiosity: "By the way, how was the meeting at the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television today? Did they talk to you about 'Interstellar' again? I saw online that this movie is almost becoming the benchmark for domestic science fiction, and even the interns in our department are talking about it."

Tan Yue took a sip of hot tea, the warmth going down his throat: "It was alright. The main discussion was about the development of domestic science fiction. Director Ye was worried about too many bad films trying to ride the wave of popularity, so he asked me and Sun Daohao to share some experience and guide the industry. Director Sun was there too, you remember him, right?"

"Remember, of course I remember!"

Tan Yue nodded. "Director Sun talked a lot about the difficulties facing domestic science fiction, such as insufficient funding, technological limitations, and how to integrate local elements into science fiction. These have given me a lot of inspiration." Xu Nuo clapped his hands in deep agreement: "You're absolutely right! Before, I always thought about inviting top celebrities to boost the show, but then I realized that the audience cares more about the content. Just like our company's 'Newcomers in the Workplace' last year, we didn't invite any top celebrities, it relied entirely on real workplace stories, and it still became a hit."

The two chatted back and forth, from science fiction movies to the variety show industry, from company project planning to the current state of the industry, and the atmosphere became more and more lively.

Soon, the waiter brought in the dishes. The braised pork was a bright red color and had a rich aroma. The sweet and sour fish was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and was drizzled with a sweet and sour sauce, which looked very appetizing.

"Come on, let's stop chatting and have some drinks and food!" Xu Nuo opened a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), poured a glass for Tan Yue and himself, the liquor was clear and exuded a mellow aroma. "This glass is for you, congratulations on Interstellar's box office surpassing 5 billion!"

Tan Yue smiled, raised his glass, and clinked it against his.

The two drank it down in one gulp, the spicy liquor sliding down their throats and bringing a burning warmth.

Xu Nuo picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in her mouth, squinting her eyes in satisfaction: "This tastes so authentic! It's much better than the braised pork in the company cafeteria."

Xu Nuo poured another glass of wine for the two of them and said, "Speaking of which, what do you think about the idea of ​​'crossing variety shows and movies' that I mentioned to you at the last meeting?"

Tan Yue's eyes lit up: "I've been thinking about this idea! We didn't have time to discuss it in detail at the last meeting, but I think it's feasible."

After a few rounds of drinks, both of their faces flushed.

As Xu Nuo got into the mood with her drink, she brought up the topic of blind dates again, her tone tinged with helplessness: "Do you think there's something wrong with me? Every blind date seems pretty good, but it always ends up falling through. My mom is going crazy with worry. Last week she even said she was going to arrange a special blind date event for me, so I could meet three girls in one day."

Seeing his frustrated expression, Tan Yue couldn't help but laugh: "You're fine, you're just too focused on your work. The planner from that cultural company complained that you were too busy, but she didn't appreciate you. Think about it, you're working so hard to make the show better and to provide a better life for your future family. That's a strength, not a weakness."

“That’s what they say, but my mom doesn’t think so.” Xu Nuo sighed, picked up her wine glass and took another sip. “She always says that no matter how good your job is, it’s not as good as having someone who cares about you by your side. Sometimes I think about whether I should put my work aside and spend more time on my relationship. But when I see the variety show project I’m working on, I can’t help but get into it again. You know, making variety shows is like raising children. From planning to broadcasting, you can’t relax for a moment.”

Tan Yue patted him on the shoulder, her tone serious: "Work and relationships aren't contradictory; the key is to find a balance. You can delegate some trivial matters to your subordinates, such as having the deputy director review the sample videos for you, so you can have more time for yourself. If you meet a girl you like, be proactive; don't always wait for her to make the first move."

Xu Nuo nodded, a hint of relief in her eyes: "You're right, I was being too stubborn. I'll try to balance work and life from now on."

The two drank again in one gulp, and laughter echoed throughout the private room.

Before we knew it, the two bottles of Erguotou were empty, and the sky outside the window was gradually darkening.

Tan Yue checked the time; it was already past 8 p.m. Although he was still somewhat reluctant to leave, considering that he had to go to work the next day, he could only suggest that they call it a night.

"We had a really good time drinking today!" Xu Nuo stood up, staggered a bit, and was supported by Tan Yue. "It's been a long time since we've had a drink and chat like this. Although we see each other often at the company, I always feel like there's a work barrier between us, so it's not as relaxing as it is now."

Tan Yue was also a little dizzy, but still retained a sliver of clarity: "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future, let's get together often. I'll have the driver take you home first, send me a message when you get home."

The driver first took Xu Nuo home.

When Xu Nuo got off the bus, his steps were still a little unsteady.

He waved and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I'm fine. I'll text you when I get home!"

After watching Xu Nuo walk into the building, Tan Yue then told the driver to drive him home.

As the car drove through the night, the streetlights cast dappled shadows on his face through the windows.

He leaned back in his seat, replaying his conversation with Xu Nuo in his mind, his heart filled with warmth.

Even though we work in the same company and are busy with work every day, as long as we sit down and have a drink, our brotherhood remains the same.

It was almost 10 p.m. when I got home.

The living room lights were still on, and Chen Ziyu was sitting on the sofa reading documents. When she saw Tan Yue return, she quickly got up to greet him: "You're back? You drank quite a bit, didn't you? I made you some hangover soup, drink it while it's hot."

Tan Yue was deeply moved when he smelled the aroma of the hangover soup.

He walked over, hugged Chen Ziyu from behind, rested his chin on her shoulder, and said with a hint of alcohol in his voice, "You still love me the most. I had a great time drinking today, it's been a long time since I've felt this relaxed."

Chen Ziyu turned around, helped him take off his coat, and said with a smile, "Your face is all red from drinking. Sit down and have some hangover soup. I've already heated it up; it'll make you feel better."

Tan Yue sat on the sofa and accepted the hangover soup that Chen Ziyu handed him.

The warm soup slid down my throat, relieving the burning sensation from the alcohol and making me feel much better.

Tan Yue watched Chen Ziyu's busy figure, her heart filled with happiness.

At the same time, Xu Nuo returned to her home.

He opened the door, and the house was pitch black, with only the faint light from the motion-sensor light in the entryway.

He staggered into the bedroom, and without even taking off his clothes, collapsed onto the bed, quickly emitting even snores. (End of Chapter)