Entertainment from Divorce

The capital city was enveloped by a sudden heat wave.

Sunlight streamed through the double-layered vacuum glass curtain wall of the dazzling entertainment office building, casting dazzling diamond-shaped spots of light on the terrazzo floor of the corridor. The air was filled with a cool breeze from the air conditioning vents, but it still couldn't quell the summer heat.

Tan Yue had just come out of the company cafeteria's private room when he saw the message Chen Ziyu had sent him on his phone and smiled.

Chen Ziyu's appetite was unusually good at lunchtime.

Not only did he eat a small half bowl of brown rice, but he also tried a lot of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and finally drank a small half bowl of the black chicken soup that his mother had specially stewed for two hours.

Tan Yue returned to the eighth-floor executive office area. The corridor was quiet, with most employees taking a short nap at their desks during their one-hour lunch break. Only the tea room was still lit, and the faint sound of water dispensers filling water could be heard.

Tan Yue's office is at the end of the corridor, with a metal nameplate that reads "CEO Tan Yue" hanging on the dark walnut door.

Next door is Chen Ziyu's CEO office, but today Chen Ziyu is at home resting during her pregnancy, and that door is tightly closed, with a red string specially hung on the doorknob that says "Peace and Prosperity".

He took out his keys and opened his office door, and a faint aroma of Pu'er tea wafted out.

There was still a little less than half a cup of the aged Pu'er tea he brewed that morning. The tea had long since cooled down, and fine water droplets condensed on the cup wall, yet it still exuded a mellow, aged aroma. This aroma, mixed with the scent of the sandalwood pen holder on his desk, created a unique office atmosphere for him.

Tan Yue neatly folded the damp towel and placed it on the corner of the desk. He walked to the window and pulled back the off-white linen curtains, letting fresh air flow in through the window gaps.

He stretched, his bones making a slight creaking sound, as he had originally planned to take a half-hour nap on the gray fabric sofa against the wall.

My afternoon schedule was already full.

Tan Yue had just sat down on the sofa, her back not yet fully against the soft cushions, and before she could even close her eyes and adjust her breathing, there was a loud knocking on the office door.

The three knocks on the door were crisp and quick, carrying a hint of familiarity and casualness. Xu Nuo's cheerful yet somewhat hurried voice came from outside the door.

"Hey Tan, are you there? I need to tell you something. Everything's settled with 'Star Creativity Camp'!"

"Come in, the door's unlocked." Tan Yue sat up, pointed to the black leather chair opposite the desk, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

Only Xu Nuo dares to address him like that in the company.

"Just got back from the suburban base? You're all sweaty, didn't you grab a bite to eat at the mess hall?"

The door was pushed open, and Xu Nuo strode in. He was wearing a light blue cotton polo shirt with the top two buttons undone, paired with dark gray casual trousers and white sneakers.

A few strands of his hair were damp with sweat and stuck to his forehead. He was holding a blue leather folder in his hand and a black canvas bag with the words "Starry Dream Camp Preparatory Group" printed on it tucked under his elbow.

As soon as he entered, he put the folder on the table, pulled over a chair and sat down, then picked up the warm water glass on Tan Yue's table and took two gulps.

"Don't even mention it. I was going over the process with the executive director until 1:30. I was worried you might have something to do in the afternoon, so I didn't dare delay and drove straight back. In this awful weather, even with the air conditioning on full blast in the car, it's no use. My back is soaked with sweat."

Seeing his impolite manner, Tan Yue smiled helplessly and poured him a glass of warm water: "What's the rush? It won't make a difference if we eat for half an hour. So, is the program preparation all done?"

"necessary!"

Xu Nuo wiped the sweat from his forehead, his voice full of excitement, and tapped his fingers on the folder.

"The first episode will start filming at 8 a.m. tomorrow! I've been at the studio every day lately, from coordinating the mentors' schedules and setting up the stage to screening trainees and finalizing the process. I haven't had a full night's sleep, but I've finally managed to get it done before the mid-August release deadline required by Aurora Video."

Xu Nuo took a breath and said, "I just checked with the on-site team one last time. The equipment debugging, the students' food and accommodation, and the security plan are all in order. We're just waiting to start filming tomorrow."

Tan Yue tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, and information about the program immediately came to mind.

This is an idol development variety show that the company is focusing on developing this year, targeting the 15-25 year old young audience market during the summer season, and the partner is "Tencent Video", a top domestic video platform.

The other party not only invested a huge amount of production funds, but also promised to provide homepage recommendation resources, but required that it be launched during the summer peak season. Therefore, the preparation and recording cycle was compressed to just two months.

As the director of the program department and also his good friend of many years, Xu Nuo has been living at the base almost all this time. When he went to inspect last week, he saw Xu Nuo eating instant noodles shirtless in the monitoring room, and the bloodshot eyes were even more pronounced than they are now.

"The efficiency is good, three days faster than I expected." Tan Yue reached out and picked up the blue folder, his fingertips tracing the gold-embossed words "Preparation List" as he opened the first page, where a detailed list of mentors came into view.

"It's mainly because the team is great, and the departments are supportive." Xu Nuo scratched his head, his tone tinged with pride, but his eyes remained clear-headed.

Tan Yue quickly flipped through the documents, his gaze lingering on the "Risk Contingency Plan" page for a long time.

The above details the possible unforeseen circumstances.

"They've thought of everything very thoroughly; they even included the phone number of the backup power supplier."

He closed the folder, handed it back to Xu Nuo, and patted Xu Nuo on the shoulder.

"Keep a close eye on things during recording, especially the safety of the trainees and communication with the artists, to prevent any mishaps. If you encounter anything you can't handle, such as a mentor suddenly quitting or equipment breaking down, call me anytime, no matter what time it is."

"Don't worry, I've arranged everything!" Xu Nuo took the folder, nodded vigorously, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

"I plan to stay at the base starting tomorrow, eating and living there until the first episode is finished. We've divided into three groups, one for trainees, one for artists, and one for equipment. They'll report the progress to me every night at 10 pm to ensure there are no problems."

"Don't push yourself too hard, take care of your health." Tan Yue frowned as he looked at the bloodshot eyes, his tone carrying a hint of brotherly concern.

"I know, I know, I'm not made of iron." Xu Nuo replied with a smile, a relaxed smile curving her lips, and her tense shoulders relaxed a bit.

After working so hard for so long, I can finally see the results. Half of the weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Hearing my brother's concern now warms my heart even more.

After finishing their work discussion, a brief silence fell over the office, broken only by the gentle hum of the air conditioner and the chirping of cicadas outside. Tan Yue got up and went to the tea station, poured himself a glass of warm water, and watched as droplets slid slowly down the clear glass.

He took a sip and watched Xu Nuo lean back in her chair, her fingers unconsciously twirling the water glass, as if she had something to say but was too embarrassed to speak. So he took the initiative to break the silence.

"By the way, I've been so busy with the show lately that I haven't had a chance to ask you. Your mom called me last time and said she introduced you to a girl. Have you met her yet?"

When blind dates were mentioned, Xu Nuo's smile faded slightly. She shook her head helplessly, put her water glass on the table, and spoke with a hint of self-deprecation.

"How could I have time to meet? Since the start of preparing for this program, I've been either in meetings or on my way to the base every day. I don't get home until almost midnight, and I don't even have the energy to wash up, let alone go on blind dates. The three my mom introduced me to last month, we added each other on WeChat, chatted for a couple of minutes, and then nothing happened. I guess they all think I'm just playing with their feelings."

"That's true, the show's pace is too fast, it's good enough if we can find time to sleep."

Tan Yue nodded, saying understandingly, "But after you're done with this busy period, you should make time to meet her. You're the same age as me, and I'm almost pregnant, while you're still single. How can your mother not be anxious?"

"I know my mom is anxious, but I really don't have time." Xu Nuo sighed, leaning back slightly in her chair, her tone carrying a strange doubt.

Xu Nuo frowned and said, "It's strange, my parents haven't been urging me to come home for dinner lately. Before, they would call me every few days to ask how my blind date was going and when I would bring her home for dinner. But they haven't mentioned it once in the past two months."

“Last time I told my mom I didn’t have time for blind dates, she actually said that work was more important and that relationships weren’t urgent. I started to wonder if they had given up on me.”

Tan Yue couldn't help but laugh, her fingertips lightly tracing the rim of the glass, her eyes showing a hint of understanding: "Maybe your parents see how busy you are with work and don't want to add to your stress. Or maybe they've come to realize that feelings can't be forced; letting things take their natural course is more likely to work out."

"I hope so."

Xu Nuo laughed, scratching her hair with her fingers, and said, "They used to always urge me, and I would argue with them, feeling that they didn't understand me. Now that they don't urge me anymore, I feel a little uneasy, and I always feel empty inside. But it's good this way, so I can concentrate on making the show better and avoid getting distracted."

Tan Yue put down his water glass and said sincerely, "No matter how important work is, it can't put food on the table."

"Honestly, I'm quite envious of you."

Xu Nuo placed his hands on the table and continued sincerely, "He has achieved great success in his career, his company has become a second-rate company in the world, his film won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, his family is happy, and now he is going to be a father. He is definitely a winner in life."

Xu Nuo leaned back on the sofa, lost in thought, and said, "Sometimes I wonder when I'll meet the right person, start a small family, have someone to cook with when I get home from get off work, and go grocery shopping together on weekends, instead of coming home to an empty house every day."

"You'll encounter it eventually; it's just a matter of time." Tan Yue looked at the expectation in his eyes.

Tan Yue took a sip of tea and said, "Once this program is over, slow down and don't push yourself too hard. Go out and meet up with friends more often; you might just meet the right person."

"Don't be too picky, and don't be too hasty. Relationships are about fate, mutual understanding and tolerance, not one-sided compromise."

"Okay, I understand. Thanks, Lao Tan." Xu Nuo nodded vigorously, feeling a warm glow inside.

Although the two often joke around, Tan Yue always gives him the most practical advice when it matters. This kind of brotherhood is more precious than anything else.

The two chatted for a few more minutes, their conversation ranging from blind dates to daily life, from work to future plans.

After chatting for a while, Xu Nuo raised his wrist to check his watch. The hands were already pointing to 1:40 PM. He quickly got up and picked up the folder and canvas bag on the table.

"Old Tan, it's getting late. I need to hurry back to the base to double-check the equipment setup so we can start up on time tomorrow."

"Okay, be careful on the road, drive slowly, it's too hot, don't drive too fast." Tan Yue nodded, his gaze inadvertently falling on a dark red gift box in the corner of the desk.

That was a Da Hong Pao tea that a friend had specially sent me last time. The packaging was exquisite, with the words "Premium Da Hong Pao" printed in gold on the gift box. Inside was a sealed tea canister, and the aroma of the tea could be faintly smelled through the wrapping paper.

He's been busy with work and taking care of Chen Ziyu lately, and hasn't had a chance to open it and drink it yet.

As Xu Nuo walked to the door, she noticed the deep red gift box. Her eyes lit up instantly, and she stopped in her tracks. Turning around, she smiled and said, "Hey, Lao Tan, this box of Da Hong Pao tea looks pretty good."

Tan Yue paused for a moment, then smiled and pointed to the gift box: "Take it if you want it. I have a lot of other teas here. If you like them, I'll have my friend send some more next time."

"Thanks, Lao Tan! That's really kind of you!" Xu Nuo happily strode to the desk, grabbed the dark red gift box, stuffed it into her canvas bag, patted the bag as if afraid Tan Yue would change his mind, "Then I won't be polite. After the first episode is recorded, I'll definitely treat you to a good meal!"

"Alright, hurry up and go, don't delay things." Tan Yue waved his hand with a smile, "Remember to eat on time, don't always eat instant noodles."

"Okay! I'm off!" Xu Nuo waved and strode out of the office, her steps lighter and her back view carrying a hint of joy.

Not only did I successfully complete my work report, but I also managed to steal a box of top-quality Da Hong Pao tea. I couldn't be happier.

Watching Xu Nuo's departing figure, Tan Yue shook his head helplessly, but a smile remained on his lips.

Xu Nuo was his college classmate. After graduation, they worked together to build their business from a small studio to the current Brilliant Entertainment. They are not only business partners but also brothers who would risk their lives for each other.

He picked up the warm water on the table, took a sip, and thought to himself that once Xu Nuo finished this program, he would definitely help him find a suitable girl so that he could find his own happiness as soon as possible and no longer have to work hard alone.

The office returned to quiet. Sunlight streamed through the windows onto the gray fabric sofa, warm and inviting, carrying a touch of afternoon laziness.

Tan Yue walked to the sofa, sat down, closed his eyes, and prepared to take a half-hour nap to recharge for the afternoon's work.

However, the plot of the Three-Body Problem script involuntarily surfaced in my mind.

However, he quickly forced himself to calm down, took a deep breath, and temporarily suppressed these thoughts.

The most important thing now is to get enough rest. Only by resting well can I better handle the work in the afternoon, go home early after get off work to be with Chen Ziyu, and have enough energy to continue polishing the script of "The Three-Body Problem".

He adjusted to a comfortable position, rested his arm on the sofa armrest, and, accompanied by the faint chirping of cicadas outside the window and the gentle hum of the air conditioner, gradually drifted off to sleep. (End of Chapter)