Entertainment: 1990

Chapter 41 A Sudden Impulse

After the main force left, the group turned around.

Zhang Yan chose a mid-range hotel and set up two tables for dinner to reward the young men who handed out flyers. Unexpectedly, more than forty people showed up.

Upon inquiry, it turned out that the work was subcontracted at multiple levels.

Unfortunately, they had no choice but to open two more tables at the last minute.

During the gathering, a group of people, led by members of the Black Panther gang, advised Zhang Yan to take it easy, and Jiang Xin even patted her chest and said she would introduce him to female classmates.

We tried to reason with them and offer advice, but they insisted on toasting us.

Even Wang Fei, who came uninvited, joined in the commotion. As expected, Zhang Yan ended up drinking too much, and when he woke up in the morning, he couldn't even remember how he got back to the hotel.

After sobering up, he went to the market and bought three pounds of minced meat and a bunch of scallions, intending to have his mother make a meal of mutton and scallion dumplings, Zhang Fang's favorite.

While her mother was cooking dumplings, Zhang Fang quietly told Zhang Yan that Zhou Tao and Yao Ke had a big fight a couple of days ago.

The incident began when the radio station's leadership suddenly spoke with Yao Ke, wanting to transfer him from the broadcasting department to the arts and literature department. Yao Ke agreed without much thought at the time.

But he forgot that Zhou Tao was counting on him to recommend the radio drama to the broadcasting department. How could they proceed if he was transferred?

So after receiving the news, Zhou Tao had a big argument with Yao Ke. Although Yao Ke kept bowing his head and admitting his mistake, he resolutely refused to go to the leader to retract the order, so the two parted on bad terms.

"You're almost getting married, why aren't you..."

Zhang Yan shook his head repeatedly, but it was none of his business as an outsider to interfere in the affairs of the young couple.

While eating mutton dumplings, Zhang Yan discussed the New Year with his mother. According to Sun Xiaohong, they wanted to take their daughter back to Hengjiang for the New Year.

But Zhang Yan felt that going back and forth was really unsafe, especially during the Spring Festival, which is also the peak season for theft and robbery. If it was just losing money to avoid disaster, that would be fine, but he was afraid of being robbed of money and sexually assaulted.

So Zhang Yan finally decided that he would return to Hengjiang before the New Year to visit his father's close relatives, and then take a bus to Beijing for a family reunion.

The year-end was spent in the capital.

…………

After that, Zhang Yan stayed in the capital for two more days. When he returned to Tianjin, it was already early February, less than half a month before Lunar New Year's Eve.

As soon as he got off the train, Wang Zhongqi, who was there to pick him up, told him some good news: at the strong request of Director Duan of the publishing house, "The Great Detective of the Red Chamber" was scheduled to be officially published in March.

It is estimated that Zhang Yan will receive his royalties around the Lantern Festival.

The first edition sold 100,000 copies, with a net profit of over 50,000 after tax.

Zhang Yan was naturally very happy and celebrated with Wang Zhongqi. Then, he pretended to work at the magazine for a few days.

After the eve of the Lunar New Year on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Yan received his year-end bonus from the magazine ahead of time and took leave to return to his hometown of Hengjiang. Although some people made some sarcastic remarks, as the magazine's top earner, Zhang Yan felt that he was justified.

Before the Lunar New Year, the father and son visited all their close relatives. After paying respects at the graves on New Year's Eve, they took a train directly to Beijing.

We arrived at the rented room.

Zhang Yan was surprised to find Zhou Tao there as well, with red eyes as if he had just been crying.

Upon seeing the Zhang father and son enter from outside, Zhou Tao turned away embarrassedly, rubbed his eyes, and then forced a smile, saying, "You, this great writer, are really disloyal. You clearly used me as a model, so why didn't you think of inviting me to audition for the female lead?"

"I'm just afraid of interfering with your important business."

Zhang Yan exchanged a few banter with her, then took the opportunity to pull his sister aside to ask her what was going on.

"Sister Zhou's attempt to force the issue has failed."

Zhang Fang sighed dramatically before explaining the details.

The couple originally planned to go back to Yao Ke's hometown together during the Chinese New Year to discuss the wedding arrangements, but they had a fight recently.

Zhou Tao wanted to use this opportunity to force Yao Ke to submit, but Yao Ke refused to go to the station leaders no matter what. After many twists and turns, it was already the 26th of the twelfth lunar month when Yao Ke lost his temper and left Zhou Tao alone to return to his hometown.

After hearing this, Zhang Yan felt that the two of them were bound to break up sooner or later.

Although he had some wicked thoughts, he did not intend to replace Yao Ke, so he simply comforted Zhou Tao with a few words.

Actually, the two didn't have much contact usually. Zhou Tao was mainly on good terms with Sun Xiaohong and Zhang Fang.

But ever since he heard about the 'missing person notice,' Zhou Tao felt some empathy for Zhang Yan, thinking that they were both people who had suffered heartbreak, so they became much closer to each other without realizing it.

The five of us had New Year's Eve dinner together that evening.

Around 10 o'clock, Zhang Yan, following his mother's orders, escorted Zhou Tao home. For some reason, the two of them tacitly remained silent on the way.

As they neared their destination, Zhou Tao suddenly asked, "Great writer, if you were in this situation, how would you handle it?"

Without hesitation, Zhang Yan replied, "I think Yao Ke's transfer to the Arts and Literature Department is a done deal. There's no need to go against it. We can just go with the flow and let him bring your conflict to the station leaders so they can give you a chance." These days, leaders of public institutions often have the responsibility of mediating family conflicts for their employees, so bringing the conflict to the leaders wouldn't seem too abrupt.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Tao's red and swollen eyes immediately lit up, and he excitedly grabbed Zhang Yan's hand, saying, "That's right, how come I didn't think of that?!"

Zhang Yan subconsciously stopped and turned to look at Zhou Tao.

Zhou Tao was also looking up at him, and the atmosphere became inexplicably ambiguous as their eyes met.

Zhou Tao hurriedly let go, but couldn't help but sigh, "If only Yao Ke, that stubborn guy, could be as quick-witted as you."

The resentment stuck in his throat, mixed with the hot breath from his mouth and nose, surged out, spreading out in a misty haze, as if reminding Zhang Yan that there was an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

"Haha, everyone has their own strengths."

Zhang Yan chuckled awkwardly, his fingers twitching slightly, but ultimately he didn't dare to take Zhou Tao's hand.

Besides being somewhat timid, the main reason was fear of taking responsibility.

The road ahead was even more silent.

When they arrived at the small house that Zhou Tao and Yao Ke shared, Zhou Tao stopped and stared into Zhang Yan's eyes seriously, saying, "Don't worry about Zhou Nan anymore. With your talent, you'll definitely meet someone better in the future."

"I hope so."

Perhaps because he had been thinking about this and that the whole way, Zhang Yan felt his lips were dry as he spoke, and subconsciously pursed his lips with the tip of his tongue.

As a result, Zhou Tao seemed to be startled and suddenly took half a step back.

However, she quickly withdrew her steps, her still swollen eyes flashing with an unusual light, and her breathing became somewhat heavy.

This reaction...

Zhang Yan hesitated for a moment, but couldn't resist the urge to take advantage of the situation, so he tentatively stretched his head forward.

Zhou Tao's breathing suddenly stopped. His shoulders shrunk back a little, but he quickly stopped, and his dazed eyes gradually closed into slits.

Perhaps out of spite and revenge against Yao Ke, or perhaps because he felt he and Zhang Yan were in the same boat, Zhou Tao tacitly accepted Zhang Yan's probing.

What's there to hesitate about?
As their lips met, the two embraced tightly, as if they had made a pact.

The kiss came suddenly, yet it was so perfectly timed and intense that both of them were so absorbed in it that they completely forgot they were on the street.

Only when Zhang Yan's hand began to slide down Zhou Tao's slender waist did Zhou Tao suddenly push him away, stammering, "No, we can't... we shouldn't, I... I must be crazy!"

As she spoke, she hurriedly opened the door and slipped inside.

Hearing the sound of the door being locked from the inside, Zhang Yan knew that this sudden impulse would not have a chance to continue for the time being.

So he had no choice but to embark on his journey home in a divination-like manner.

On the way back, Zhang Yan reflected for a moment and felt that he had been particularly restless lately and was always unable to control his desires.

Hey~
Ultimately, it's all Zhou Nan's fault; she ruined her chance to be a devoted lover!
After that day, Zhang Yan never saw Zhou Tao again, probably deliberately avoiding him.

Zhang Yan felt both regret and relief, since he had never intended to replace Yao Ke.

The eighth day of the first lunar month, which is February 22nd in the Gregorian calendar.

Zhang Yan and his father reluctantly embarked on their journey home once again.

After returning to Tianjin, Zhang Yan first extended New Year's greetings to the leaders of the magazine and the television station, and then kept track of the production crew's progress while also paying attention to the publishing process.

Because there are still some things to prepare, the crew has tentatively scheduled to start filming at the end of March. However, Chen Daoming has already returned to Tianjin and even met with Zhang Yan to scout out the filming locations.

With the attention of city leaders, both the scenic area and the hotel have been very cooperative.

The Economic Development Zone government even lent its newly completed office building, which had not yet been officially put into use, to the film crew as a filming location for the Economic Development Zone branch.

This made the director of the Economic Development Zone branch envious, and he half-jokingly complained: "Real police officers are treated worse than police officers."

During this time, Zhang Yan also received a letter from Xiao Tao Hong through the magazine. Apparently, after hearing that Zhang Yan was ultimately "untraceable," the girl specially comforted him in the letter, telling him not to be too sad.

It was early March in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Yan has temporarily focused his attention on the publishing house, eagerly awaiting the money.

One afternoon.

There was a sudden knock on Zhang Yan's door. He thought it was someone from the magazine or the film crew, but when he opened the door, he saw a graceful woman standing outside.

"Chen Hong?!"

(End of this chapter)