Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 331 The Way to Be Strangers

He said only disheartening things the whole way.

But after entering Beijing, Gong Li still had Zhang Yan take her to the old place, clearly hoping that Zhang Yimou would come after her from Hong Kong.

After dropping Gong Li off, Zhang Yan returned to the nearby Guomao Courtyard. He saw lights on in the courtyard from afar. Could it be that Wang Luyao had come looking for him?
But why didn't she call me when she arrived? What if I didn't mind the trouble and went back to my villa in the Second Ring Road?
After parking his car on the side of the road, Zhang Yan tried to push the door open and found that it was ajar, which made things even stranger—if he didn't have a phone call, he couldn't be sure if he would come here that night, so why leave the door open?
Suspicious, Zhang Yan didn't make much of a fuss. He quietly entered the courtyard and crept along the wall to the living room door.

Upon reaching inside, they found Zhou Tao sitting upright on the sofa.

It turned out that she had come to our door.

This woman is way too impatient.

Zhang Yan no longer concealed himself and strode openly into the house. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly noticed that Wang Luyao was also sitting properly on the sofa chair to the side.
As Zhang Yan paused, the two women's gazes met on his face.

"Mr. Zhang, you're back."

Wang Luyao quickly stood up to greet him, while Zhou Tao was a beat slower to get up. He didn't say anything, but just stared at Zhang Yan with a hint of resentment.

In fact, Wang Luyao also harbored resentment, but she dared not show it.

As the saying goes, "If you have too many lice, they won't bite; if you have too much debt, you won't worry." Zhang Yan was momentarily embarrassed in front of the two of them, but he quickly calmed down.

He casually sat down opposite Wang Luyao and asked with a smile, "Why did you two come together? Did you plan to meet, or did you just happen to bump into each other?"

Zhou Tao subconsciously looked at Wang Luyao. Although the two had known each other for a long time, they were not very familiar with each other. It was only when they bumped into each other in this courtyard that they realized each other's 'identities'.

If this happened before the group beating of Yang Lan, Zhou Tao would most likely have already left in a huff.

But after that incident, Zhou Tao's psychological threshold had been greatly raised. Naturally, her relationship with Zhang Yan also quickly deteriorated from a relationship based on mutual affection to one based on self-interest.

Wang Luyao didn't look at Zhou Tao. She was actually a little flustered, feeling that she had accidentally discovered Zhang Yan's affair.

Under normal circumstances, she probably wouldn't be flustered, but having just taken on a job with the dance troupe and been given a role tailor-made for her, she was poised to rise to prominence, so she couldn't help but feel anxious and worried that a mishap might affect her interests and status.

So Wang Luyao quickly shook her head and said, "No, I was just feeling uneasy and wanted to talk to you, Mr. Zhang, about the Beijing Dance Academy's campus recruitment. But when I got here, I found that Sister Zhou was here too."

"Hehe, I just arrived a little while ago, and you're already here." Zhou Tao explained casually, "After all, the show will be officially recorded in a couple of days, and I hope to make some changes that are different from Yang Lan's."

"He Zhe only contacts me for serious business."

Zhang Yan smiled and took an upside-down teacup from the tea tray. Seeing this, Wang Luyao quickly got up, picked up the teapot, and said, "I'll go boil some water."

That's the downside of houses that are usually uninhabited; you have to boil water before you can even make tea.

Wang Luyao went to the courtyard to fetch water, and Zhang Yan turned to Zhou Tao and asked, "Didn't I tell you that we'd talk about this when we meet tomorrow?"

"I miss you, is that not allowed?"

Zhou Tao frowned slightly, her eyes seemingly veiled in mist, her dignified demeanor revealing a sorrowful unspoken longing.

"Too fake."

Zhang Yan sighed, leaned back on the sofa, and said, "I would have believed it two years ago, but now, if I said I believed it, would you believe it yourself?"

Hearing Zhang Yan's tongue-twisting explanation, Zhou Tao finally revealed some genuine feelings, composed himself, and sighed: "This is probably what they call things changing and people being different—I bear some responsibility for this, but it's mostly your responsibility!"

"So you want to hold someone accountable?"

"No, I want you to help me rise to power."

Zhou Tao's gaze was clear and realistic, and it also made their current relationship completely clear.

Zhang Yan wasn't surprised at all. The brawl targeting Yang Lan changed a lot of things, not only his relationship with Zhou Tao, but also his relationship with Tao Hong.

While lamenting how fleeting fireworks are and how easily feelings fade, he asked with a smile, "So what happens after I help you rise to power? Should we then part ways?"

Zhou Tao had actually considered breaking up with Zhang Yan, but things hadn't even started yet, so how could she admit it in front of Zhang Yan?

She then crossed her legs, revealing a glimpse of white skin beneath her long skirt, and crossed her arms, saying, "How could that be? If I climb higher, do you think I'll overflow your height? Besides, this isn't something that can be accomplished in a day or two." From this body language, it was clear that she was now more wary of Zhang Yan.

Zhou Tao quickly realized this himself, so he subtly lowered his arms and took the initiative to ask, "What's going on between you and Wang Luyao?"

Zhang Yan also spoke the truth without hiding anything: "The process was a bit tortuous, but the relationship is just as you guessed."

Zhou Tao was silent for a moment, then tentatively asked, "What about tonight?"

Zhang Yan shrugged and said, "Of course, it's to help you all rise to power."

There are ways to maintain a distance even when you're not in a close relationship.

Without emotions, there are fewer scruples, allowing one to purely pursue sensory stimulation.

Zhou Tao's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. After all, practice makes perfect. Since it was clearly an exchange of benefits, there was no need to be too pretentious.

At this moment, Wang Luyao finally returned, carrying a kettle in her left hand and an electric kettle in her right. She deftly plugged it in and then sat back down opposite Zhang Yan.

After sitting down, she first glanced at Zhou Tao, who had no expression, and then asked Zhang Yan, "Mr. Zhang, how should I talk to them when I go to the Beijing Dance Academy?"

Actually, she had already asked this question a couple of days ago. Bringing it up now was just an act in front of Zhou Tao. Although the two guessed each other's relationship with Zhang Yan after meeting in the courtyard, they hadn't really broken the ice yet.

Zhang Yan went along with her and repeated what he had said before. Then, before Zhou Tao could ask any questions, he shared his thoughts on "Zhengda Variety Show".

Firstly, in terms of clothing, when "Zhengda Variety Show" first aired in 1990, the clothing of the hosts and guests could be said to have led the fashion trend, but it seemed a bit outdated in 94.

In addition, "Zhengda Variety Show" used to broadcast foreign-made scenic films or movies, but starting with the "Jiangxi Special" at the end of last year, it is clear that they want to try producing their own.

However, this progress was interrupted because Yang Lan went abroad ahead of schedule—of course, the large expenses were also a factor.

Zhang Yan suggested that after Zhou Tao takes office, he should propose to the program team to restart the local episodes, and after accumulating enough experience, they could also go abroad to film.

In addition, following the example of "Chinese Poetry Competition", an elimination system will be introduced in the guest guessing segment, and a quarterly champion and annual champion system will be established.

Zhou Tao listened with great interest, but Wang Luyao let it go in one ear and out the other, constantly feeling sleepy.

After Zhang Yan finished speaking, she quickly interjected, "Mr. Zhang, Sister Zhou, it's getting late, you see..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clearly a reminder to Zhou Tao that it was time to retreat.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Tao indeed stood up.

Wang Luyao also got up, but found that Zhou Tao didn't go out, but instead walked towards the bedroom.

"Sister Zhou, what's wrong...?"

Zhou Tao turned around and asked frankly, "I'm going to make the bed, do you want to come along?"

"what?!"

Wang Luyao was immediately stunned. She had been with Chen Hong for several years, but she had never experienced sleeping in the same bed with her before.

Seeing her stunned expression, Zhou Tao smiled and walked into the bedroom.

At this moment, Zhang Yan also stood up: "How about I take you home?"

"Uh~"

Wang Luyao hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "Does Sister Hong know?"

"What do you say?"

Zhang Yan didn't answer but asked a question instead.

Wang Luyao had no idea, but judging from the situation today, if she backed down, wouldn't she be inferior to Zhou Tao in the future?
So he gritted his teeth and recklessly declared, "Then I have to be at the front of the line!"

(End of this chapter)