Extracting skills from movies

7 PM, Shanghai.

Girls' Generation's New Year's Eve fan meeting has come to a successful close.

Liu Yifei, along with Yang Mi, Liu Shishi, and Tang Yan, headed to the airport for a direct flight to Changsha that evening.

While waiting for her flight, Liu Yifei looked down at her phone and saw Du Sheng's reply. Her lips twitched, and she instantly wilted.

Yang Mi has a sharp eye; the chat logs clearly show:
"Cousin, we're filming a show in Feichangsha! When are you coming back?"

"Still in Europe, flight for the day after tomorrow."

"Okay, see you the day after tomorrow. Remember to rest well and don't overwork yourself!"

"That's wrong!"

Liu Shishi and Yang Mi exchanged a secret glance, a hint of slyness in their eyes:
"How could someone as thoughtful as Sheng-ge forget that tomorrow is Girls' Generation's fourth anniversary?"

Yang Mi suddenly clapped her hands and said with a smile:

"I understand, Brother Sheng did this on purpose!"

They're definitely preparing something big, wanting to surprise us!

There is some truth to this.

Every year on this day, no matter how busy Du Sheng is, she will always make sure to video call, send gifts, or have a big meal afterwards; she has never missed a day.

But tomorrow will be the fourth anniversary, and he is still abroad, without even a "Happy Anniversary" message.

Liu Yifei, who is usually quiet and reserved, couldn't help but feel down at this moment, and her shoulders slumped.

Hearing her sisters say that, the little flame in her heart rekindled, and she turned to ask Tang Yan:
"Sister Yan, you spoke to your cousin on the phone yesterday. Do you think that's possible?"

Tang Yan sighed and gently ruffled her hair:

"Brother Sheng has been really busy lately. He sleeps less than four hours a day and spends all his other time working."

With "Inception" currently showing in theaters and "Wolverine" and "2012" produced by Miracle Pictures in post-production, he has to keep an eye on all of them.

"It's okay, Sisi. We'll celebrate with our fans tomorrow; it'll be just as lively."

Liu Yifei forced a smile:
"That's true, my cousin is busy with important matters."

I don't have to work tomorrow, so I'll just go back to the office and throw a small party to celebrate.

Yang Mi's eyes lit up, and she immediately offered a suggestion:
"Since I'm free tomorrow anyway, why not find a place to grab a late-night snack tonight and party until the early hours as a warm-up?"

Liu Shishi said softly:

"That's a great idea!"

How long has it been since we went shopping together? Let's take this opportunity to relax!

With Du Sheng absent, Liu Yifei wasn't particularly enthusiastic about the anniversary celebration. However, upon hearing the words "late-night snack," and especially thinking of the numbing and spicy taste of Changsha, her foodie DNA instantly awakened, and she secretly swallowed.

I've been busy filming and promoting lately, and I've been controlling my diet every day. The food is so bland that I'm craving it terribly.

"Where shall we go to eat?"

She immediately perked up:
"Xiao Mi, do you have any strategies?"

How about we go to Beizheng Street instead?

Yang Mi was prepared and waved her hand with a smile:

"Go to Binjiang Snack Street! There are lots of snacks there, and it's right next to the river."

On winter evenings, enjoying spicy food while feeling the river breeze and seeing the night view is much more interesting than Beizheng Street.

Tang Yan immediately responded:

"Let's go to Binjiang! We're tired of the food on Beizheng Street, it's nothing new."

"Okay, I'll do as Xiao Mi says!"

Liu Yifei made the final decision.

After the plane landed, the group walked towards the parking lot.

Liu Yifei turned to the bodyguard captain Zheng Yanling and said:
"Sister Yanling, you should go back to the hotel and rest first."

We have disguise masks from my cousin, so we're perfectly safe. We'll head back after we finish eating.

Zheng Yanling shook her head without even thinking:

"The driver will take the luggage back to the hotel first, and the rest of us will have to go with him."

Even with masks on, it's still not safe for the four of you to be out having late-night snacks.

"That's too much trouble for you guys."

Liu Yifei was a little embarrassed.

"It's not hard."

Zheng Yanling smiled:

"We're hungry too, so let's grab some good food and kill two birds with one stone."

The two cars, one after the other, headed straight for the Binjiang Snack Street.

It was almost 11 o'clock when we arrived, and perhaps because the New Year's Eve atmosphere was still there, the riverside was still packed with people.
It was full of stylishly dressed young people, chatting and laughing, creating a lively and cheerful atmosphere.

As soon as you enter the street, a strong aroma of chili, cumin, sugar, and oil wafts into your nostrils.

Tang Yan's eyes lit up, and she grabbed Liu Yifei and rushed inside:

"Quick, quick, quick! I want to eat stinky tofu!"

Liu Yifei was pulled so hard she stumbled, and laughed as she called out:
"Slow down! Nobody's going to take it from you!"
Be careful, your mask might fall off, or you'll be in big trouble if someone recognizes you!

Looking at the crowded scene before her, Yang Mi couldn't help but tease:

"It's already this late, why are there still so many people?"
Do the Changsha people not need to sleep?

Although all four members of Girls' Generation wore masks specially made by Du Sheng, their poise and star aura, cultivated since childhood, were undeniable.
Even standing in a crowd, she's still the center of attention, attracting an absurdly high number of people turning their heads to look.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a trendy-looking young man came up to him with a grin and struck up a conversation:
"People in Changsha love this kind of nightlife, especially at night when they eat and get really hyped."

In addition, an extra New Year's Eve fireworks show was added to Orange Isle tonight, which was said to be specially customized and much better than usual.

"This has the best view, so of course everyone's crowding here."

Liu Shishi, who was nearby, politely thanked her.

The young man immediately climbed up the pole:

"Beautiful ladies, are you here for tourism as well?"

How about adding YY (a voice chat feature)?
I know Changshamen'er very well; he'd be no problem being your guide.

"Thank you, but no thanks, I have a boyfriend."

Liu Shishi rejected the offer decisively with a single sentence.

Compared to before, she is now more skillful at refusing people, neither hurting their feelings nor leaving them any room for maneuver.

The young man wanted to say a few more words, but Zheng Yanling reacted quickly, pushing him aside with a sidestep.

Only then did the young man notice that the four beautiful women were followed by "bodyguards," and he immediately made his escape.

Tang Yan watched the whole thing unfold and jokingly remarked:

"Shi Shi's charm is truly irresistible now, I'm even worried about Brother Sheng."

He'd be heartbroken if the beautiful girl he'd raised with such care were to be kidnapped by someone one day.

Liu Shishi looks pure and innocent, which makes her seem "easy to manipulate," and she has always had a constant stream of suitors.

Before she could retort, Liu Yifei had already pulled her forward:

"Stop joking around, we're here to eat, let's hurry up and find a stall to order!"

Yang Mi glanced at her watch and deliberately said:

"Going to the store is so boring, there are too many rules."

Even eating at roadside stalls offers a variety of options.

"That's good, it's been a while since I've had street food!"

Liu Yifei waved her hand and led the way into the steaming food stall.

The four girls ate as they walked, their hands never idle: sugar-coated glutinous rice cakes, spicy snails, stinky tofu, kebabs...

It was almost 11:49 in the blink of an eye, and Yang Mi suggested:
"There are too many people here, blocking our view. Shall we move forward and find a better spot to watch the fireworks?"

Liu Yifei nodded, then suddenly sighed:
“Last New Year’s Eve, my cousin took us to the riverbank to set off fireworks. It was so lively.”

Led by Yang Mi, the four strolled leisurely along the riverbank. Before long, an antique-style pavilion overlooking the river suddenly appeared before them.

Seven stories high, with upturned eaves and upright stone pillars, illuminated by warm yellow lights at night.

The entire building is imposing, as if you have stepped into a bustling night market in ancient times.

Liu Yifei looked up at the plaque and read the words aloud:
"The Attic of the Times".

With a touch of regret, I said:

"We're too late. Otherwise, it would have been so much better to go up and take a look. The view of the Xiangjiang River at night from the top would be absolutely stunning."

Yang Mi pointed to the gate:

"Look, the door's unlocked, and nobody seems to care. Shall we sneak in and take a peek?"

Liu Yifei shook her head:

"Look at all these people on the road, not a single one of them went in. It's probably not open to the public."

There's a sign over there that says it.

It's newly built and will only open after the Lantern Festival.

Let's not cause trouble for others, let's go to the pedestrian street instead.

Yang Mi persisted, pointing to the corner:

"There is a sign, but look over there, the small light sign says 'Fireworks Show Viewing Platform,' which means you can go in."

And look, all the lights upstairs are on; they're clearly still open for business.

Liu Yifei may look simple-minded, but she knows exactly what's going on in her mind.

She recalled the series of events that had occurred that evening:
Before boarding the plane, Liu Shishi and Tang Yan made those suggestive remarks. After landing, Yang Mi took the initiative to suggest having a late-night snack, insisting on going to the Binjiang Snack Street instead of the usual Beizheng Street. Now they're going into this attic...

She had a vague guess in her mind, but she found it hard to believe.

Seeing that Liu Yifei's eyes were off, Yang Mi knew she couldn't hide it anymore, so she simply smiled and pushed her away.
"Don't just stand there, let's go up and take a look. Maybe there's a surprise waiting for us!"

Tang Yan and Liu Shishi exchanged a glance, both unable to suppress their smiles.

They knew this whole thing all along.

Liu Yifei was oblivious, focused solely on going upstairs.

She usually trains her dance and physical fitness, and climbing seven floors is like child's play for her; she reaches the top in just two minutes.

Coincidentally, she had just stood still when she heard the midnight bells ringing in the distance, exactly at midnight.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Fireworks exploded into the sky at Orange Isle, one after another, like pearls strung together in the night sky.

The most amazing thing is that after it exploded, it actually formed four giant roses that slowly bloomed against the black background, which was both beautiful and romantic.

The riverbank was already crowded with young people waiting for the fireworks, and now they were all in an uproar, cheering as if it were New Year's Day.

The fireworks display today is not as flashy as it was in the past. Many people are seeing this spectacle for the first time and are so excited that they jump for joy.

But Liu Yifei didn't even bother to look at the sky.

She spotted that familiar figure at a glance.

All the grievances, doubts, and disappointments of the day surged into my heart like a warm current, and tears streamed down my face.

She rushed over and buried her face in Du Sheng's arms, laughing and sobbing at the same time.

"I knew it!
You definitely haven't forgotten Girls' Generation's fourth anniversary!

Du Sheng laughed heartily, raised his thumb to wipe away her tears, and pulled her to the railing.

He then waved to Tang Yan, Yang Mi, and Liu Shishi, who were slowly coming up from behind, to come over.

Five people huddled together, shoulder to shoulder, looking up at the sky.

He personally arranged the fireworks display, and even rushed back from abroad in advance for it.

Roses bloomed one after another in the night sky, dyeing the surface of the Xiangjiang River with iridescent colors, and even illuminating the faces of the spectators on the riverbank.

The last rose fell, the sky darkened, and everyone thought it was over.

With a loud "boom," another large plume of fireworks shot into the sky, exploding to reveal bright, colorful characters:

Happy 4th Anniversary, Girls' Generation!

The girls looked up at the words in the sky, then at the jubilant crowd below, feeling as if the whole world was celebrating for them, their hearts melting with happiness.

They leaned against Du Sheng, looking at the sky ablaze with fire and the shimmering river, feeling dizzy and as if they were dreaming.

Liu Yifei was the closest to the wall, her body so limp it felt like she had no bones.

When a woman is in love, the fragrance on her body becomes impossible to hide.

Du Sheng smelled the faint scent emanating from her hair, like orchids mixed with a warm fragrance, which was very alluring.

In addition, although she looks thin, she is soft and fluffy when you hug her. Right now, she is in a good mood and her whole body is as soft as a ball of cotton. She feels smooth and comfortable and you don't want to let go.

Du Sheng pinched her flushed cheeks, teasing her on purpose:

"Wearing so much? Your face is so red, but your heart is beating like a drum."

Liu Yifei didn't say anything, but stood on tiptoe and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. She then rubbed her cheek against his chin, smiling with her eyes narrowed, like a well-fed kitten.

Yang Mi, who was holding his arm beside him, couldn't contain herself any longer; her eyes lit up.
"How about... we go back to the hotel?"

Du Sheng smiled and pointed to a spot not far away:

"I booked a river-view room nearby, it's just a two-minute walk away."

Liu Yifei exclaimed "Ah!" and panicked:

"Can't I go back to the hotel I booked?"
I've packed lots of things for you in my suitcase!

"Oh?"

Du Sheng raised an eyebrow:

"What good stuff?"

"There are uniforms, stocking sets, and... some small tools... I've been secretly practicing for a long time..."

Her voice trailed off, and her face turned as red as a ripe apple.

She had prepared for this day with an abundance of "ritual".

Tang Yan and Yang Mi nodded, their eyes full of anticipation. They had clearly prepared a surprise for Du Sheng, just waiting to give him an unforgettable night.

Du Sheng steadied her and held her soft hand:

"There's plenty of time in the future, we can play with those treasures tomorrow night."

Let's start with something romantic tonight, don't tire yourself out!

Seeing his anxious look, Liu Yifei burst out laughing, and all her previous tension disappeared.

She gripped his hand tightly in return, then winked at the other three women:
"Let's go, don't keep someone waiting."

The group chatted and laughed as they walked downstairs, the afterglow of the fireworks still dancing on the river.

Yang Mi muttered to herself as she walked:
"If I had known, I would have just booked this place directly. I wouldn't have bothered to pretend and trick you into coming here."

Tang Yan gave her a push:
"If you hadn't acted so realistically, there wouldn't have been such a big surprise."

Liu Shishi walked at the back, watching the four people in front of her playfully bickering, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.

The river breeze, carrying the smell of cooking, mingled with the girls' laughter, becoming the most touching background sound for this fourth anniversary.

Upon arriving at the hotel, the floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the Xiangjiang River at night, with the fireworks still lingering in the sky.

As soon as Du Sheng closed the door, Liu Yifei hugged him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder:

"Cousin, this is the happiest anniversary I've ever had."

Du Sheng turned around and hugged her, then called to the other three:
"From now on, I'll plan a surprise for you every year, okay?"

"it is good!"

The three of them shouted in unison, their voices filled with happiness.

The warm light inside cast long shadows of several people on the wall, resembling a beautiful painting of bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

The river outside the window flows quietly, as if silently witnessing this sweet and lively night belonging to "Girls' Generation".

.........

Since returning to China, Du Sheng has kept a low profile and hasn't made many public appearances.
However, online discussions about him have never stopped. (End of Chapter)