In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

In late August, the summer heat in Beijing had not completely subsided, but the early autumn chill could already be felt in the mornings and evenings.

As the storm of public opinion gradually subsided, after the Kyoto Youth Daily published its exclusive interview, public understanding and support for Yang Guangming's choice of Beijing Film Academy became the mainstream.

The initial surprise and skepticism in the streets and alleys transformed into curiosity and anticipation for the future development of this "special top scorer." After a brief period of uproar, the name Yang Guangming returned to a relatively quiet life.

In the courtyard, the cicadas' chirping gradually faded, replaced by the rustling sound of the autumn wind that began to blow through the courtyard in the mornings and evenings.

Yang Guangming is currently reviewing information about the Venice Film Festival in his study. His visa has been processed, and the trip is tentatively scheduled for the end of August.

Duan Yunfeng helped him contact a travel agency in Hong Kong Island and arranged first class and a well-regarded hotel in Venice with a convenient location.

Just after eight o'clock in the evening, the black, brick-like cell phone suddenly vibrated, the ringtone sounding particularly abrupt in the quiet study.

Yang Guangming glanced at the caller ID; it was Jiang Wen's number.

"Hello, Director Jiang." He answered the phone.

"Light! Where is it?" Jiang Wen's voice came through the receiver. The background was noisy, with the sound of many people talking and music faintly audible.

"I'm at home, looking at information about Venice. Director Jiang, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Come out quickly! We're in Casablanca. Wang Shuo, Feng Xiaogang, Ma Weidu, Xiao Qing, and the others are all here. We're just waiting for you! Come join the fun!" Jiang Wen's voice was filled with the excitement of alcohol, and her tone was enthusiastic.

Casablanca?
Yang Guangming had heard of this name before. It was a well-known upscale karaoke bar in Beijing in the 1990s, considered one of the more popular entertainment venues of that era, frequented by people from the arts and culture circle.

He himself had little interest in such noisy entertainment venues. Having lived through several lifetimes, what kind of sensual places hadn't he seen? In this life, he preferred quiet and elegant environments. Although he had heard of Casablanca, he had never set foot there.

However, since it was Jiang Wen who invited me, and acquaintances like Wang Shuo and Feng Xiaogang were also there, it wouldn't hurt to go and see what entertainment venues were like in this era.

"Who's here?" Yang Guangming asked.

"There are so many people! Xiao Qing, Lao Feng, Master Shuo, Master Ma, Ye Daying, Zhao Baogang... It's quite lively! Oh, and there are two beauties, Xu Jinglei and Xu Qing. You haven't met them yet, have you? Come and get to know them."

Jiang Wen gave her name on the other end of the phone, while Liu Xiaoqing's voice could be heard in the background shouting, "Have Guangming come quickly!"

“Okay, I’ll go over there. Which private room?” Yang Guangming agreed.

"Second floor, the largest private room, 'Paris Hall.' Just come up when you get there; I've already spoken to the person at the door," Jiang Wen said.

After hanging up the phone, Yang Guangming put down the documents in his hand, got up, and walked to the wardrobe.

He changed his clothes, wearing simple black slim-fit trousers and a light gray cotton shirt. It wasn't too formal, but it was also suitable for an evening outing.

Stepping out of the study, he said to Duan Yunfeng, who was reading the newspaper in the living room, "Old Duan, drive me to Casablanca. Director Jiang and the others are there."

Duan Yunfeng put down the newspaper and immediately stood up: "Okay, I'll go get the car right away."

The two stepped out of the courtyard house; night had fallen. The early autumn breeze carried a chill, dispelling the last traces of daytime heat. The streetlights in the alley were dim, and occasionally the crisp sound of a bicycle bell pierced the silence.

The Mercedes-Benz W14 was parked outside the gate, its gleaming black body gleaming with understated luxury under the streetlights.

Duan Yunfeng opened the car door, and Yang Guangming sat in the back seat. The subtle scent of leather inside the car, mixed with the coolness of the air conditioning, kept out the slight chill of the autumn night.

The car smoothly drove out of the alley and merged into the night of Beijing.

In the mid-1990s, Beijing's nights featured more neon lights than in previous years, but they were far from the dazzling brilliance of later years. Most shops along the main streets were closed, with only a few restaurants, karaoke bars, and video arcades still lit up.

As the car traveled east along Chang'an Avenue, passing Tiananmen Square, one could see a sparse crowd of people strolling and patrolling guards. Further on, the Wangfujing area was relatively more lively, but nothing special.

Casablanca's cabaret was located on a relatively quiet street in the east of the city. Entertainment venues of that era rarely occupied overly conspicuous locations.

The car turned onto a street lined with locust trees on both sides, and after driving a short distance, a three-story building came into view. The building was in a European style, and a neon sign that read "Casablanca" hung at the entrance, its colorful lights shimmering quietly in the night.

There was a small parking lot in front of the building, with seven or eight cars scattered around. There were Santanas, Ladas, and a few minivans. When the Mercedes-Benz W140 drove in, it immediately became the most eye-catching car in the parking lot.

The security guard at the gate, who had been standing there lazily, immediately straightened up and jogged over when he saw the impressive black sedan.

Duan Yunfeng stopped the car, got out first, and opened the car door for Yang Guangming.

Yang Guangming got out of the car and straightened his clothes. The security guard at the door was already greeting him warmly: "Sir, do you have a reservation?"

"The Paris Hall on the second floor was booked by Mr. Jiang," Duan Yunfeng answered on his behalf.

"Oh! Director Jiang's guests! Please come in, please come in!" The security guard clearly recognized Jiang Wen and became even more enthusiastic, quickly leading the two towards the door.

The karaoke bar's doors were heavy, dark wooden doors. When you pushed them open, a mixture of cigarette smoke, perfume, alcohol, and a faint smell of sweat hit you, accompanied by somewhat noisy music and voices.

Yang Guangming frowned slightly, but quickly regained his composure.

Upon entering, you'll find a spacious hall decorated in the so-called "European luxury style" popular in the 1990s.

The wallpaper features gold patterns, and a crystal chandelier casts a warm yellow light. In the center of the hall is a circular stage where a female singer is performing, accompanied by a live band.

A dozen or so booths were scattered around the stage, about half of them occupied. Most of the guests were middle-aged men in their thirties and forties, with a few tables occupied by couples. Beer, fruit platters, and melon seeds were laid out on the tables, and the air was thick with smoke, conversation, laughter, and the clinking of glasses.

Yang Guangming's gaze habitually swept across the entire venue, finally settling on the performance stage.

The female singer performing on stage startled him slightly.

She was a young-looking girl, probably around twenty years old, petite, wearing a white dress, with short hair that revealed her delicate profile. Holding the microphone, she sang with her eyes closed, her voice clear yet with a unique husky quality, making it very distinctive.

Weekly Newsletter.

The name popped into Yang Guangming's mind. Although the boy was much more youthful than he remembered, his unique voice and lively demeanor made him almost immediately certain of his identity.

It was Zhou Xun!

Zhou Xun at twenty was indeed very beautiful, but she also had a lingering naiveté and even looked somewhat like a teenager.

His gaze shifted to the backstage waiting area, where several singers were still sitting, waiting to go on stage. What he saw surprised him even more.

A young man with long hair, plain looks, and even a somewhat "ugly" appearance is holding a guitar and tuning the strings—Huang Bo.

A refined-looking man in a white shirt was sitting on the sofa next to him, looking down at the sheet music—Sha Baoliang.

In the corner, there was a man wearing a denim jacket with slightly curly hair, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, resting. His profile was clearly defined—Wu Xiubo.

Wow, Casablanca is really full of talent. These future stars of the entertainment industry are currently just unknown singers performing in this nightclub.

If this karaoke bar can stay open, in a decade or so, the mere fact that "I used to sing here" will be enough to attract countless customers.

However, these thoughts were fleeting. Yang Guangming had no intention of approaching them. The time wasn't right; these people all had their own paths to follow, and forcibly intervening might not be a good thing.

Duan Yunfeng asked in a low voice, "Guangming, shall we go straight upstairs?"

"Hmm." Yang Guangming withdrew his gaze and nodded.

The two walked through the hall and headed towards the side staircase.

The second floor is relatively quieter, with private rooms on both sides of the corridor, each with a sign that reads "London Hall," "New York Hall," "Paris Hall," etc.

As you walk to the entrance of the innermost "Paris Hall," you can hear laughter and music coming from inside; it's quite lively.

Duan Yunfeng stepped forward and knocked on the door.

Jiang Wen's loud voice came from inside: "Come in!"

Duan Yunfeng pushed open the door and stepped aside to let Yang Guangming enter first.

The private room was quite large, about fifty or sixty square meters.

The decor is consistent with the lobby downstairs, but more luxurious. Leather sofas are arranged in a U-shape, with a huge glass coffee table in the center, piled high with beer bottles, fruit platters, snacks, and several ashtrays.

A large television screen hangs on the wall opposite the sofa, currently playing karaoke, but the volume is turned down low. In the corner is a professional sound system, and next to it is a small dance area.

The private room was indeed crowded and lively.

Jiang Wen and Liu Xiaoqing were sitting on the long sofa in the middle. Jiang Wen was talking into a microphone when she saw Yang Guangming come in. She immediately put down the microphone and stood up: "Oh, young master is here! Come in, come in!"

Everyone else turned to look at them too.

Yang Guangming glanced around and, as Jiang Wen had said, they were all familiar faces: Feng Xiaogang, Wang Shuo, Ma Weidu, Ye Daying, and Zhao Baogang. There were also two young women; one had short hair, wore a simple white T-shirt and jeans, and had a cool, aloof air; the other had long, flowing hair, wore a light pink cardigan and long skirt, and had a bright smile in her eyes.

It should be Xu Jinglei and Xu Qing.

"Director Jiang, it's so lively, why didn't you call me over sooner?" Yang Guangming walked into the private room with a smile, and Duan Yunfeng followed behind him, gently closing the door.

"Come on, sit here!" Jiang Wen patted the seat next to her, where Liu Xiaoqing had been sitting. She smiled and moved aside to make room for Yang Guangming.

Yang Guangming walked over and sat down, while Duan Yunfeng naturally walked to a corner near the door and sat down.

"This was a spur-of-the-moment decision," Jiang Wen said, sitting down again and pouring Yang Guangming a beer. "We just arrived not long ago. Come on, have a drink first."

Yang Guangming took the wine glass, but didn't drink it immediately. Instead, he looked at the two unfamiliar faces present and said to Liu Xiaoqing, "Sister Xiaoqing, won't you introduce these two beauties to me?"

Liu Xiaoqing smiled and patted the shoulder of the short-haired girl next to him: "This is Xu Jinglei, a student in the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy. She is a talented woman, good at acting and writing."

Xu Jinglei nodded to Yang Guangming, her smile somewhat shy: "Mr. Yang, hello. I often hear Director Jiang and Sister Xiaoqing mention you."

Her voice was soft, carrying a youthful innocence. Yang Guangming glanced at her; she was indeed as he remembered, possessing a unique气质 (qi zhi, a kind of refined elegance), with a scholarly and aloof air. However, Xu Jinglei was still too naive; she wasn't his type.

"Just call me Guangming," Yang Guangming said with a smile. "You're a senior at Beijing Film Academy, so I should call you senior sister."

"I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it." Xu Jinglei quickly waved her hand, "You are the top scholar, I can't accept that title."

Liu Xiaoqing then pointed to another long-haired girl: "This is Xu Qing, an actress from the Beijing People's Art Theatre, currently filming 'East Side Sunrise, West Side Rain'."

Xu Qing was much more generous than Xu Jinglei. She smiled at Yang Guangming, her eyes curving into crescents: "Hello Guangming, I've heard so much about you. The top scorer in the college entrance exam applied to the Beijing Film Academy, and the newspapers have been full of news about you these past few days."

Her voice was sweet and her smile was bright; she already possessed a certain charm. At twenty-five, Xu Qing was in the transitional stage from naivety to maturity, retaining both the liveliness of a young girl and the budding allure of a woman.

"Ms. Xu, you flatter me." Yang Guangming replied politely, "East Side Sunrise, West Side Rain is Director Zhao's film, so it can't be wrong."

Zhao Baogang laughed from the side, "Guangming, your information network is quite impressive."

"Director Zhao's films naturally attract a lot of attention," Yang Guangming said politely.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Yang Guangming steered the conversation back to the previous question: "Director Jiang, what's going on? Why are these three beauties making such a big fuss about ripping you off today?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wen immediately put on a bitter face and pointed at Liu Xiaoqing, Xu Qing, and Xu Jinglei: "Ask them! I'm really unlucky today, being targeted by these three ladies."

Liu Xiaoqing smiled and continued, "It's the weekend today, so Xu Qing, Jing Lei, and I were playing mahjong. During our chat, we casually mentioned that today is the day Lao Jiang and I... well, the day we got engaged."

When she said the words "engagement," a rare hint of shyness flashed across her face, but she quickly regained her cheerful demeanor.

"We were just gossiping, but Xu Qing and Jing Lei had bad luck playing cards today and lost some money to me. They were upset and insisted that Lao Jiang treat them to a meal."

They said that since it was the day they got engaged, it had to be celebrated properly, with a sense of ceremony, and not just treated casually.

Xu Qing chimed in with a laugh, "Exactly! Director Jiang is usually such a generous person, how could we just have a casual meal on a day like this? We needed a romantic atmosphere. So we suggested coming to Casablanca, to sing, drink, and have some fun."

Xu Jinglei also whispered, "Director Jiang himself agreed, saying there was no problem and he would take care of it."

Jiang Wen spread his hands, looking helpless: "I did promise to treat everyone to dinner. I was thinking we could find a nice restaurant, order a good meal, and have a get-together."

Who knew these three ladies had such high standards? They insisted on coming to a karaoke bar, saying that's what romance is all about. Fine, they'll come, but they also had to invite everyone, saying it's more lively with more people.

He pointed to Wang Shuo, Feng Xiaogang, and others present: "Look, with just one phone call, everyone I could call has come. I'm really... in a bind."

Feng Xiaogang, a cigarette dangling from his lips, grinned slyly: "Old Jiang, that's not right of you. Xiaoqing is lucky to be with you. On the day you got engaged, shouldn't you spend some money to celebrate? Look at us, we dropped everything and came right away after you called, isn't that nice of us?"

“Exactly.” Wang Shuo slowly took a sip of beer. “Our goddess is with you, what’s wrong with you spending some money? Which of us didn’t cancel our dinner engagements to come over? Aren’t you going to show your appreciation?”

Jiang Wen glared at them: "You have the nerve to say that! When I called, you all said you were fine and had nothing better to do. Now you're saying you're giving me face?"

Ye Daying laughed and said, "Old Jiang, since you're here, make the best of it. Today is indeed a occasion to celebrate. We're happy to see you and Teacher Liu together."

Zhao Baogang nodded in agreement: "That's right. It's not easy for a relationship to come to fruition. You should treat me to this meal today."

Ma Weidu, on the other hand, was more practical. He glanced at the empty beer bottles and fruit platters on the coffee table and said, "Old Jiang, since we're all here, stop complaining about being broke. Quickly order some more drinks and snacks, so we don't just sit here doing nothing."

Jiang Wen sighed and waved to the waiter standing at the door: "Bring another dozen beers, and fruit platters and snacks as you see fit."

The waiter responded and went to leave.

Seeing Jiang Wen's expression of "wanting to save face but also feeling sorry for her wallet," Yang Guangming found it amusing and asked, "Director Jiang, stop complaining. Tell me, besides requesting to come to a karaoke bar, what other instructions did the three ladies give?"

Liu Xiaoqing spoke up before Jiang Wen could, saying, "Yes! We said that since it's a celebration today, everyone should bring gifts. Friends get together, have some fun, and give each other small gifts to add to the festive atmosphere."

She pointed to some things piled up in the corner of the coffee table: "Look, everyone brought something. Director Feng brought two bottles of Wuliangye liquor, Master Shuo brought... well, something special. Master Ma gave a small ornament, Director Zhao brought a pack of cigarettes, and Teacher Ye gave a lighter. They're all for Lao Jiang, all from the heart of the group."

Yang Guangming looked at the pile of gifts and, sure enough, there were several bottles of wine, a carton of Zhonghua cigarettes, a wooden horse figurine, and a Zippo lighter. There were also two small medicine bottles labeled "Liuwei Dihuang Wan" (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill).

His gaze lingered on the medicine bottle for a moment.

Feng Xiaogang noticed this immediately and laughed, "See? Master Shuo is the worst. He brought two bottles of Liuwei Dihuang Pills from home today, saying they're for Old Jiang to help him recover."

A burst of laughter erupted in the private room.

Jiang Wen picked up the medicine bottle, both amused and exasperated: "Uncle Shuo, what do you mean by this? I'm perfectly healthy, I don't need this stuff. I think you need it yourself, right? You always keep Liuwei Dihuang Pills at home, tsk tsk, looks like you're a bit weak. Why don't you keep it for yourself and take good care of yourself?"

Wang Shuo remained unfazed: "Old Jiang, don't be ungrateful. I'm doing this for your own good."

Look at you, working day and night while filming, and also worrying about all sorts of things on set. It must be so hard for you.

This Liuwei Dihuang Pill nourishes Yin and tonifies the kidneys, replenishes Qi and nourishes blood, making it perfect for someone like you who is overworked. I brought it for you because you haven't looked well lately.”

"I don't look well?" Jiang Wen touched her face. "I have a healthy rosy complexion! But you, Master Shuo, I've noticed you have dark circles under your eyes lately, and you seem a bit unsteady on your feet. Shouldn't you take a few bottles of medicine first?"

"I was writing a new script, and I was staying up all night," Wang Shuo explained.

Feng Xiaogang interjected, "Brother Shuo, explaining is just covering up. We're all men, we understand. If you really need it, my friend has some Sanbian wine, it's been brewing for several years, and it's very effective. I'll get you two bottles another day."

Ma Weidu chimed in, "I know an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor who has a fifty-year-old wild Cistanche deserticola, which is a top-grade tonic for kidney tonification and aphrodisiac. If you need it, Master Shuo, I can help you ask about the price."

Ye Daying suppressed a laugh: "Yes, yes, Master Shuo's health is the most important thing. We must work together to make sure he gets better."

Zhao Baogang nodded: "That's right. Master Shuo is a pillar of our arts and culture circle, his health can't be compromised."

Xu Jinglei and Xu Qing blushed as they listened, lowering their heads and smiling with pursed lips.

Liu Xiaoqing laughed heartily and added fuel to the fire: "Brother Shuo, look how much everyone cares about you. How about this, you take all these gifts home and make up for it properly. Old Jiang is in good health, he doesn't need them."

Surrounded by the crowd, Wang Shuo finally couldn't hold back anymore and laughed and cursed, "You bunch of bastards, you're ganging up on me, aren't you? Fine, I'll keep this Liuwei Dihuang Pill for myself. I'll eat it later and grow into a strong young man, making you all envious."

The crowd burst into laughter again.

After the laughter subsided, Yang Guangming spoke up, "Since today is the day Director Jiang and Sister Xiaoqing got engaged, and everyone has prepared gifts, I can't be left out."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the cigarettes and alcohol on the coffee table. "But I see that what everyone is giving are all things for men, cigarettes and alcohol, which are really not very romantic."

As he spoke, he reached into his shirt pocket, as if searching for something. In reality, his consciousness had already sunk into the space, selecting two relatively "understated" pieces from among the daily updated jewelry.

The refrigerator is stocked with jewelry that's updated daily, most of which is priceless—diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and even rare Paraiba tourmalines and alexandrites, often costing hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Giving these as gifts would be too expensive; it would only frighten the recipient and wouldn't fit the current atmosphere of reciprocal gift-giving among friends.

He needs a gift that is reasonably priced, aesthetically pleasing, and not too extravagant.

He quickly selected two black pearls.

Although black pearls are also a rare and precious type of pearl, they are relatively more affordable compared to top-quality colored diamonds and gemstones.

These two black pearls are perfectly round, with a deep luster and a unique iridescent sheen on their surface, making them of exceptional quality.

In wholesale markets, each of these black pearls costs over ten thousand US dollars. If sold in branded jewelry stores, with the added design and brand premium, each pearl could easily fetch over twenty thousand US dollars. For ordinary people, this is already an extremely valuable gift, but Liu Xiaoqing is a celebrity with a substantial income and enjoys collecting jewelry, so she probably won't find it too shocking; it's just barely appropriate.

Yang Guangming pulled a small, dark blue velvet jewelry pouch from his pocket and handed it to Liu Xiaoqing.

"Sister Xiaoqing, I came in a hurry today and didn't prepare anything special. I just happened to have these two little things with me, so please accept them as a small token of my appreciation. I wish you and Director Jiang a happy and harmonious relationship."

Liu Xiaoqing took the jewelry bag with some surprise. When she opened it, two round black pearls lay quietly on the velvet. Under the warm yellow light of the private room, they gleamed with a deep and mysterious luster. The iridescence on their surface changed with the angle of the light, making them breathtakingly beautiful.

She's a connoisseur and has collected quite a few pieces of jewelry over the years; she could tell at a glance that these two black pearls were of exceptional quality.

“This… Guangming, this is too precious.” Liu Xiaoqing’s smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. “Such black pearls, of such high quality, would probably cost over 100,000 yuan each in a jewelry store. Two of them would be 200,000 to 300,000 yuan, the price of a Santana. I can’t accept this gift; it’s too precious.”

As she spoke, she was about to hand the jewelry bag back to Yang Guangming.

The private room fell silent instantly.

Everyone looked at the two small pearls, their faces showing surprise.

Although they knew that Yang Guangming came from a wealthy family, the fact that he casually gave away a gift worth two or three hundred thousand yuan was still beyond their expectations.

Xu Jinglei and Xu Qing, in particular, stared wide-eyed at Yang Guangming with disbelief and... a certain sparkling light in their eyes.

Feng Xiaogang clicked his tongue: "My God, the young master is indeed the young master. He casually throws away gifts worth two or three hundred thousand. I've never seen such a big pearl in my life."

Wang Shuo examined it carefully: "It is indeed beautiful. The luster and the iridescence are extraordinary."

As a collector, Ma Weidu has an even sharper eye: "These should be Tahitian black pearls, perfectly round and flawless, with perfect iridescence. Let alone two, even just one would cost over 100,000 yuan on the market now. If they were set with better craftsmanship and made into a necklace or earrings, the price would increase even more."

Ye Daying and Zhao Baogang nodded repeatedly, their gazes toward Yang Guangming carrying a deeper meaning.

Jiang Wen was also stunned; he hadn't expected Yang Guangming to send such an expensive gift. Although he knew this young master was wealthy, the value of the gift still made him somewhat uneasy.

“Guangming, this…this is indeed too precious. Xiaoqing is right, we can’t accept it. We appreciate your kindness, but we can’t bear to accept something so valuable,” Jiang Wen said sincerely.

Yang Guangming smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "Sister Xiaoqing, Director Jiang, you're too nervous. These two pearls aren't that expensive."

He patiently explained, "The retail price is indeed over 100,000 yuan per piece, but that's the price after the jewelry store adds brand premium and design fees."

My family owns a jewelry store on Hong Kong Island. These pearls were imported in bulk, so the cost price wasn't that high. The two pearls together are only around US$20,000.

"Twenty thousand US dollars..." Liu Xiaoqing murmured repeatedly. At the current exchange rate, it was still a huge sum of money.

"Even at cost price, it's still too expensive," Liu Xiaoqing insisted. "Guangming, I know you're rich, but it's not customary for friends to give such expensive gifts. How am I supposed to repay this favor later?"

Yang Guangming waved his hand dismissively: "Sister Xiaoqing, you're being too polite. You've taken great care of me on set these past few days, and Director Jiang has been both a mentor and a friend to me."

It's only right that I give you a small gift on the day you two got engaged. Besides, pearls suit a beautiful woman, and these two black pearls would be a perfect match for Sister Xiaoqing.

Besides, it just so happened to be out of the way; it wasn't something I prepared on purpose. If you don't accept it, you're disrespecting my small token of appreciation."

He spoke sincerely, with the straightforwardness unique to young people, making it hard to refuse.

Liu Xiaoqing looked at Jiang Wen, her eyes questioning.

Jiang Wen pondered for a moment, then sighed, "Young Master, what are we supposed to say about this?"

He looked at Liu Xiaoqing and said, "Since Guangming has said so, you should accept it. We'll remember this kindness."

Liu Xiaoqing hesitated for a few seconds before finally nodding and carefully putting the jewelry pouch into her handbag: "Well... I'll accept it, alright. Guangming, thank you so much. I really like this gift."

A genuine smile appeared on her face, and her gaze towards Yang Guangming held a newfound warmth and gratitude.

The atmosphere became lively again when everyone saw Liu Xiaoqing accept the gift.

Jiang Wen joked, "Young Master, you can't be biased. I should get a gift too, right? Today is the day we got engaged, you can't just give me one and forget about me."

Yang Guangming looked at Jiang Wen with a helpless smile: "Director Jiang, what are you saying? Even the rich don't have surplus grain. Even if you want to take down the rich, you have to give me some breathing room. A slow and steady approach is the best way."

Liu Xiaoqing laughed loudly: "That's right! Old Jiang, don't stir up trouble. Greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. Young Master has already been generous enough. Two pearls are worth more than you making a movie."

Wang Shuo, however, wasn't about to let the opportunity to tease him slip by. He said slowly, "I just remembered, today seems to be my birthday. I forgot. Young master, shouldn't you give me a belated gift too?"

Feng Xiaogang immediately chimed in, "Although today isn't the day I got engaged, it seems to be the anniversary of my transformation from a boy to a man. Shouldn't you prepare a gift for me, young master?"

A chorus of cheers erupted in the private room.

Yang Guangming looked at Feng Xiaogang, his face showing just the right amount of confusion and curiosity: "Director Feng, I'm still young and don't quite understand what you mean. But I'm very curious, who turned you from a boy into a man?"

He paused, his gaze shifting between Wang Shuo and Feng Xiaogang, and asked innocently, "You two are inseparable, are you Brother Shuo?"

"puff--"

I don't know who burst out laughing first, but then the entire private room erupted in deafening laughter.

Wang Shuo nearly spat out the mouthful of beer he had just taken a sip, coughing violently. Feng Xiaogang, on the other hand, looked at Yang Guangming with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, pointing at him and saying, "Young Master, you...you've gone astray!"

Ma Weidu slapped his thigh and laughed: "Guangming, that's a good question! Old Feng, tell me quickly, who is it?"

Ye Daying laughed so hard he almost fell over: "It must be Master Shuo! They're the best of friends, inseparable all the time."

Zhao Baogang suppressed a laugh: "I think so too. Master Shuo is incredibly devoted to Lao Feng, he even includes him in his scriptwriting, so he'll definitely be the one to help with something this important."

Liu Xiaoqing, Xu Qing, and Xu Jinglei laughed so hard they were shaking. Xu Qing even laughed so hard she fell onto the sofa armrest, tears streaming down her face.

Jiang Wen laughed the loudest, slapping the coffee table: "Old Feng, just confess! Is it Master Shuo? Don't worry, we don't discriminate, we're all in the arts and culture circle, open-minded."

Feng Xiaogang waved his hands repeatedly: "Don't talk nonsense! I wouldn't dare take the blame for such a huge mistake. I was just joking, young master, you're too mean!"

Wang Shuo finally stopped coughing and wiped his glasses: "Guangming, you look honest, but you're cunning. I've figured it out. You're in cahoots with Lao Jiang, ganging up on me. If you pin this on me, how will I ever be able to face anyone again?"

Yang Guangming looked completely innocent: "Brother Shuo, I really don't know. I was just asking out of curiosity."

"What are you so curious about!" Wang Shuo laughed and scolded. "You'd better stay away from Lao Jiang in the future; you won't learn anything good from him!"

The crowd laughed and joked for a while before gradually calming down.

At that moment, a commotion arose in the lobby downstairs. Through the crack under the door of the private room, faint cheers and whistles could be heard.

Jiang Wen walked to the door, opened it, listened for a moment, and then turned around and said, "The singer downstairs has changed; it seems quite lively."

Feng Xiaogang also stood up: "Let's open the door and listen to the singer's performance. The singers in Casablanca are quite good. I've been here twice before, and I thought it was alright."

Through the glass wall, everyone looked down into the lobby.

Standing on the stage at this moment is Huang Bo.

He changed into a slightly more formal suit, but it still looked somewhat comical on him.

He was holding a guitar and singing a catchy song, but his appearance was too "ordinary," even somewhat "ugly," and the audience's reaction was not enthusiastic.

Halfway through the song, a middle-aged man in a floral shirt and slicked-back hair in the booth area stood up, beckoned to a waiter, said a few words, and then took out his wallet and pulled out a few bills.

The waiter nodded, jogged up to the table, and whispered a few words in Huang Bo's ear.

Huang Bo stopped singing, but the accompaniment continued.

He smiled, nodded to the middle-aged man, and then said into the microphone, "Thank you to Brother Li at table number six for requesting a song! Brother Li requested 'Northern Spring' and even sent a flower basket worth 100 yuan! Thank you, Brother Li!"

Sparse applause rang out from the audience.

Brother Li seemed quite satisfied and said something loudly again.

The waiter ran up to the stage again to relay the message to Huang Bo.

Huang Bo's smile remained unchanged, but a hint of difficulty flashed in his eyes.

He spoke into the microphone with undiminished enthusiasm: “Brother Li said he especially likes ‘Northern Country Spring’ and wants me to sing it on my knees, saying that it will feel better and better express the deep emotions in the song.”

There was a moment of silence in the audience, followed by some whispers.

At the entrance to the private room, Jiang Wen frowned: "This request is a bit excessive."

Feng Xiaogang also shook his head: "Singing in nightclubs isn't easy; you can meet all sorts of people."

Liu Xiaoqing and other women also showed expressions of disapproval on their faces.

Downstairs, Huang Bo was silent for two seconds, but his smile became even brighter.

He spoke into the microphone with a sincere and natural tone: "Brother Li requested my song and even sent a flower basket, so he's my benefactor. As the saying goes, one should only kneel to heaven, earth, and one's parents. Brother Li asking me to sing on my knees is giving me face, so I should kneel."

Upon hearing this, Brother Li in the audience wore a smug smile.

But Huang Bo changed the subject: "But, Brother Li, looking at your face, with your full forehead and square jaw, you look like someone destined for great wealth and honor. And look at your height, you must be over 1.8 meters tall, right? You're truly a handsome man."

He paused, touched his face, and said self-deprecatingly, "Look at me again, I'm ugly and pathetic, like a potato that has come to life. The difference in our appearances is too great. If I insist on marrying you, no one will believe me."

A low chuckle came from the audience.

Huang Bo continued to smile, his tone becoming even more sincere: "How about this, Brother Li, do you think we should get a blood relationship test done first? Once the results come out and prove that we are indeed related by blood, I will definitely kneel down and sing for you, I can sing all night long!"

If I were to insist on kneeling down to beg for your hand in marriage, wouldn't that be taking advantage of you? Don't you think so?

After he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence in the audience, followed by a burst of laughter.

Brother Li was also stunned, then pointed at Huang Bo and laughed so hard he almost fell over: "Fine! You know how to talk! No need to kneel, no need to kneel! Bloodline test? I don't have a son as big as you!"

Huang Bo quickly bowed and said, "Thank you for your understanding, Brother Li! Then I'll stand up and sing 'Spring in the North' for you!"

The music started playing again, and Huang Bo sang with great enthusiasm, which greatly enlivened the atmosphere in the audience.

At the entrance of the private room, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

Jiang Wen exclaimed, "This guy is quick-witted and knows how to talk. If it were an ordinary person, they wouldn't have gotten through this today."

Feng Xiaogang nodded: "Yes, singing in a nightclub isn't enough; you also have to know how to handle all sorts of messy things. It's not easy."

Wang Shuo also commented: "He's a talented person. He reacts quickly on the spot and speaks with tact, neither offending the guests nor losing his own dignity."

Ma Weidu: "These days, nothing is easy."

Yang Guangming quietly watched Huang Bo on the performance stage downstairs, and a sense of emotion welled up in his heart.

The future movie star is currently singing in a nightclub to make a living, and has to smile and use his wit to resolve the difficult situations faced by customers.

This is life; everyone has to go through hardships at the beginning.

After Huang Bo finished singing his song, he bowed and left the stage, and the audience erupted in fairly enthusiastic applause.

Yang Guangming walked back to the sofa and sat down, then waved to Duan Yunfeng, who was sitting by the door.

Duan Yunfeng immediately stood up and walked over, bending down to ask, "Guangming, what are the arrangements?"

"Did you bring the checks?" Yang Guangming asked.

"I brought it." Duan Yunfeng took out an exquisite leather check folder from the inside pocket of his suit.

Yang Guangming took the check holder, opened it, pulled out a check, asked Duan Yunfeng for a pen, and began to fill out the check.

Everyone in the private room fell silent and looked at him.

Yang Guangming filled out the check and handed it to Duan Yunfeng: "Go and tip the singer who just sang."

Duan Yunfeng took the check, glanced at the number, and nodded without any change in expression: "Okay."

He turned and walked out of the private room.

Feng Xiaogang asked curiously, "Young Master, how much did you reward him?"

Yang Guangming said calmly, "Ten thousand."

A collective gasp filled the private room.

"Ten thousand!" Jiang Wen exclaimed in surprise. "Just for a nightclub singer?"

In this day and age, what does 10,000 yuan mean? It's the equivalent of four or five years' salary for an average worker.

Even in upscale nightclubs like Casablanca, customers typically tip singers only a few dozen or a hundred dollars. A generous tip of two or three hundred dollars is considered quite generous. Tipping ten thousand dollars is unheard of.

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "I think he handled things well just now. He's quick-witted. These days, talented people are rare. Ten thousand yuan is nothing to me, but it might be a considerable sum for him. Let's just consider it a good deed."

He spoke casually, but everyone understood the implication.

This is not an ordinary tip; it is an appreciation, an investment, and a leader's early attention to potential talent.

Ma Weidu nodded: "Guangming has good judgment. That singer was indeed quick-witted and eloquent. People like that can get along well anywhere."

Ye Daying: "Young Master is kind and righteous."

Zhao Baogang didn't speak, but his gaze toward Yang Guangming held a deeper thoughtfulness.

Liu Xiaoqing exclaimed, "Guangming, your generosity... I'm speechless."

The way Xu Jinglei and Xu Qing, the two young women, looked at Yang Guangming had completely changed. They were no longer looking at a rich "young master," but at a "person" with a vision and breadth of mind beyond his years.

Downstairs, Duan Yunfeng found Huang Bo, who had just stepped down from the stage.

Huang Bo was drinking water backstage when he saw Duan Yunfeng approaching, and he looked puzzled. Duan Yunfeng's clothes and demeanor clearly indicated that he was no ordinary person.

"Mr. Huang?" Duan Yunfeng asked politely.

Huang Bo quickly put down his water glass: "It's me. And you are?"

Duan Yunfeng handed over the check: "Our young master greatly appreciated your performance; this is a tip."

When Huang Bo took the check and saw the number on it, his hand trembled so badly that he almost dropped it.

“One…ten thousand?” His voice changed, and he looked up at Duan Yunfeng, his face filled with disbelief. “Sir, are you sure you didn’t make a mistake? This…this is too much.”

Duan Yunfeng smiled professionally: "That's right, it's ten thousand. Our young master said you handled it very well just now, that you're quick-witted. You can keep the money, don't think about it."

“But…this…” Huang Bo looked at the flamboyant signature on the check. Although he didn’t recognize it, he could tell that the signature was of an extraordinary character. “Could you tell me which guest this is? I would like to thank him in person.”

Duan Yunfeng shook his head: "Our young master said there's no need to thank me. Just focus on singing your song."

He paused, then added, "Our young master also said that talent is rare these days, and he hopes you can persevere."

After saying that, Duan Yunfeng nodded to Huang Bo, turned around and left.

Huang Bo stood there, holding the 10,000 yuan check, motionless for a long time. The other singers backstage gathered around, and were all stunned when they saw the amount on the check.

"Hiroko, who is this? Such a big spender!"

"My God, ten thousand yuan! You're rich!"

"Were they guests from the private rooms upstairs? I just saw someone come out of the Paris Hall."

Huang Bo took a deep breath, carefully folded the check, and put it into his pocket. He looked up at the direction of the private room on the second floor, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

There was gratitude, there was awe, and there was also an inexplicable driving force. (End of Chapter)