Huayu: Reborn in 97, transferring to the Central Academy of Drama's star-studded class

Couples don't stay focused on the movie the whole time they watch it.

The two would hook their fingers together or steal a kiss, especially Jiang Lai's hand, which stayed on a certain spot the whole time, making Zhang Ziyi pant softly, biting her lip to keep from making a sound.

After the screening ended, the two left with the audience. Zhang Ziyi finally breathed a sigh of relief, though her face was still flushed.

Stepping out of the movie theater, a chill hit her face, and she instinctively took Jiang Lai's arm.

"Let's go home," Jiang said.

"I'm not going back, I'll just take a stroll." Zhang Ziyi shook his head.

Jiang Lai naturally had no objections, and the two chatted and laughed as they walked aimlessly.

The young couple, still deeply in love, especially when they had just begun to enjoy each other's company, would talk about anything and everything. Relying on his experience from his later life, Jiang Lai would occasionally tell a few dirty jokes, making Zhang Ziyi giggle incessantly.

Before I knew it, I had walked back to Dongmianhua Hutong. The old locust tree stood there bare, its branches reaching towards the starry sky.

Zhang Ziyi stopped and looked up at the tree.

"What's wrong?" Jiang asked.

"Do you remember?" Zhang Ziyi said softly, "When you first came to the school, you treated the whole class to a meal. I said I would treat you to an apology meal, and you said you would wait until the locust flowers bloomed."

Jiang Lai smiled. "I remember."

Zhou Xun leaned against the car window and rubbed her eyes wearily.

She came to Taiwan to promote her new drama "April Rhapsody". She has been running around for several days and is exhausted.

Huang Lei sat next to her, flipping through the schedule. "There's another press conference tomorrow, and two interviews in the afternoon."

Zhou Xun nodded.

Suddenly, the car radio came on, and the host, speaking in Mandarin with a Taiwanese accent, said, "The new millennium is just around the corner. Dear listeners, have you decided who you'll be spending New Year's Eve with?"

Huang Lei listened, then smiled and looked at Zhou Xun, "Speaking of New Year's Eve, I've heard a saying that whoever you're with when you cross the new millennium, you'll be entangled with them for life."

Then, half-jokingly, he added, "Given our schedules, we'll probably be spending New Year's Eve together."

Zhou Xun didn't reply, continuing to look out the window.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Huang Lei assumed she was tired and didn't say anything more.

The car continued driving, and Fan Xiaoxuan's "I Want Us to Be Together" was playing on the radio.

I remember your habit

He held me with his eyes closed.

It seems like I'm your face, hehe.

I don't know what to do.

Smile at you, cry at you

You say, you say

Should we be together?

The night scene flashed by, and various colorful lights flickered in Zhou Xun's pupils, as if he was thinking about something.

The next morning, Huang Lei went to the hotel restaurant for breakfast but didn't see Zhou Xun, assuming she was still asleep.

By the time we were about to leave for the press conference in the morning, we still hadn't seen anyone.

He found a staff member and asked, "Where's Zhou Xun?"

The staff member paused for a moment, "Ms. Zhou took a flight back to Beijing last night, didn't you know?"

Huang Lei stood there, stunned, for a long while.

Then he laughed and shook his head.

"This girl..."

......

12 month 31 day.

Xidan Commercial Street has never been this lively.

The entire street was brightly lit, red flags were waving, and crowds of people were everywhere.

The dragon and lion dance troupes stretched from one end of the street to the other, the golden dragons tumbling under the lights, accompanied by deafening drumbeats.

A long red cloth was stretched out along the roadside. Staff members said it was the "Century Banner," 1999 meters long, allowing citizens to leave their blessings for the new century.

The students of Class 96 were squeezed in the crowd. Zhang Ziyi was holding Jiang Lai's arm, with Liu Ye and Dang Hao and a few other close friends beside her. Zeng Lai and Hu Jing followed behind. The group of people were laughing and joking, and were being pushed and swayed by the crowd.

"Damn, there are so many people!" Liu Ye shouted at the top of his lungs, standing on tiptoe to look ahead, and all he could see were heads.

The group of people strolled leisurely to the "Century Banner," and Jiang Lai took out a pen and wrote the two characters "Jiang Lai."

Zhang Ziyi smiled and took the pen, carefully writing her name next to it. After thinking for a moment, she drew a small heart to circle the two names together.

"Oh my god, it's so sour!" Liu Ye covered his eyes and leaned back exaggeratedly, only to be pushed away by Dang Hao.

As the group was arguing, Jiang Lai's phone rang.

He took it out and saw that the screen displayed Zhou Xun.

Zhang Ziyi glanced at him, her smile unchanged, but she released her grip on his arm and turned to talk to Zeng Lai.

Jiang hesitated for a moment before answering the call.

"Feed?"

"Where are you?" The voice on the other end of the phone was hoarse, a little breathless, as if someone was running.

"Xidan, celebrating New Year's Eve with classmates," Jiang replied. "What's up?"

There was a few seconds of silence.

"fine."

The phone hangs up.

Jiang Lai looked at his phone, somewhat puzzled.

Zhang Ziyi returned to his side at the right time, without asking anything. Jiang Lai put his phone back in his pocket and put his arm around her shoulder again.

"Look, look! They're setting off fireworks over there!" Zeng Lai shouted, pointing to the sky.

"Bang!"

A giant firework exploded in the night sky, scattering golden light in all directions, followed by red, green, and purple fireworks, one after another, illuminating the entire street.

The sounds of gongs, drums, cheers, and firecrackers mingled together as the crowd surged, everyone looking up at the sky with radiant smiles on their faces.

The fireworks reflected in Zhang Ziyi's eyes, sparkling brightly. She slowly rested her head on Jiang Lai's shoulder.

Jiang Lai looked up at the sky, feeling the joyful atmosphere.

The phoenix flute sounded, the jade pot turned light, and the fish and dragon danced overnight.

Perhaps this is the scene being described.

He lowered his head, preparing to whisper something in Zhang Ziyi's ear, but his gaze passed through the crowd and landed on the other side of the street.

A small, thin figure stood under the tree with red lanterns hanging from it.

She was wearing a black down jacket, her hair was a little messy from the wind, her face was pale from the cold, and her eyes were exceptionally clear under the lamplight.

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Jiang Lai was stunned.

Zhang Ziyi noticed his unusual behavior and followed his gaze.

The two women looked at each other.

The drums and gongs were still ringing, the fireworks were still exploding overhead, and the crowd was still cheering.

But Jiang Lai felt that the world had suddenly become quiet.

Zhou Xun didn't look at Jiang Lai, not even once. She just stood there, quietly watching Zhang Ziyi.

Zhang Ziyi didn't look at Jiang Lai either, but looked at Zhou Xun as well.

She recognized the face, even though she had never actually met the person.

The two women, separated by the streetlights and crowds, neither looked away.

There was no smile, no hostility, not even any expression.