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

After the banquet ended, the guests gradually left.

The flashes were still going off, and reporters were chasing after the celebrities with their cameras.

Jiang Lai and Andy Lau stood in the lobby, seeing off one person after another.

Back in his hotel room that evening, Jiang Lai counted the days. There were only four days left until the Lunar New Year, but he was too lazy to go back. He thought he might as well stay in Hong Kong for a while.

The next day he contacted Sister Mei and his brother, only to find that everyone was even busier as the Lunar New Year approached.

Andy Lau offered to make time for him, but Jiang said no, he'd rather have a few days by himself. So he didn't contact anyone else and went out alone.

Winters in Hong Kong aren't cold; a jacket is enough.

He wandered aimlessly through the streets, passed by a tea restaurant, went in and ate a lot of Cantonese snacks. The taste was okay, but it was on the sweeter side. For Jiang Lai, who was used to the taste of the North, it was only okay to eat it occasionally.

After finishing his meal, he continued shopping and passed by a record store. He went in, browsed around, and casually bought a few albums by Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui. He didn't listen to music much, but he planned to give them to his classmates later.

Jiang Lai wandered around for a few days, walking a lot, seeing a lot of scenery, and eating a lot of food.

I also bought a necklace for Zhang Ziyi and many gifts for my classmates.

When you get tired of walking around, find a place to sit down, have a cup of milk tea, and watch the passersby.

Hong Kong moves at a fast pace; everyone is in a hurry, as if they are being driven by something.

Jiang Lai sat by the roadside, watching all of this, and suddenly felt that it was all a little unreal.

He recalled that when he was first reborn, he also drove aimlessly around the capital, not knowing what he wanted to do.

Now I feel like I know, but I also feel like I don't.

Jiang Lai was surprised that he had actually started contemplating life.

Maybe they're just bored and have nothing better to do.

He smiled, stood up, and continued browsing.

Lunar New Year's Eve arrived in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Lai called his father and said he was spending the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong and wouldn't be going back.

Jiang's father hummed in agreement and hung up.

Communication between father and son has always been concise.

Hong Kong's streets and alleys are bustling with activity, with the song "God of Wealth Arrives" playing in shopping malls, and people carrying large and small bags everywhere on the streets.

Jiang Lai walked down the street and watched all of this, but felt that it had nothing to do with him.

However, he quite enjoyed the peace and quiet of being alone.

Hua Ge told him that if he had nothing to do, he could go to Wong Tai Sin Temple to burn incense, as it was very effective. For Jiang Lai, who had been reborn, whether he believed it or not was irrelevant, but he still went to see for himself.

The Wong Tai Sin in this temple is not the Wong Tai Sin of folk religion, but the Chi Song Wong Tai Sin, whose real name is Huang Chuping and whose sobriquet is Chi Songzi. He is a deity worshipped in the southeastern coastal region.

Jiang Lai entered the temple, followed the crowd, burned incense, and drew a fortune stick.

The fortune slip reads "Very Auspicious," and the old man interpreting it said that he is destined for wealth and prosperity, and that his career will be smooth sailing.

Jiang Lai smiled, realizing it was as if he hadn't said anything at all, but he still gave the old man a hundred yuan and turned to leave.

The old man hesitated to speak, because Jiang had given him RMB, which he would have to exchange, and that would be too much trouble.

As evening fell, the streets gradually emptied as people went home for their family reunion dinner.

Jiang Laiye simply went back to the hotel, turned on the TV, and wanted to watch the Spring Festival Gala.

I looked around and couldn't find CCTV-1!

He could only watch some Cantonese TV dramas out of boredom.

Not long after, several fireworks exploded outside the window, and as if by signal, Jiang Lai's phone began to vibrate.

He picked it up; it was a text message.

Happy New Year! Wishing you good health, all the best, abundant wealth, and a joyful family reunion in the coming year!

It's obviously a mass message; it didn't even include the sender's name.

Immediately afterwards, the phone started vibrating repeatedly.

One text message after another flooded in, all wishing people a Happy New Year.

Happy Chinese New Year! Wishing you a happy new year, a blessed family, smooth work, and all your wishes come true!

Here's a coat for you: peace in the front, happiness in the back, good fortune in the collar, good luck in the sleeves, joy in the buttons, and warmth filling the pockets. Wear it, and may it accompany you every day! Happy New Year!

Normally, he would only reply to a few of these mass text messages, and that would be it.

He was so bored today that he started replying to messages one by one.

"Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year."

I replied to more than a dozen messages, and my fingers are sore from typing.

My phone vibrated again.

He thought it was another mass message, glanced at it, and froze.

Happy New Year, Lai Zai!

There were no fancy blessings, just a few simple words.

The sender was Maggie Cheung.

Jiang looked at it for a while, then dialed the number directly.

"Feeding?" The voice on the other end sounded a little surprised. "Why are you calling?"

"Nothing much, just received your text message." Jiang Lai leaned back on the sofa. "What are you up to, Sister Manyu?"

"It's okay, I'm just shopping."

Jiang Lai was taken aback. "Huh? Shopping during the Chinese New Year?"

Maggie Cheung smiled and said, "It's too boring to be at home alone, so I had to come out for a walk to clear my head."

"What about your family?"

"They're all overseas."

Jiang Lai hesitated for a moment before saying, "Where are you? I'll come find you."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

"OK."

Zhang Manyu gave an address, not far from where Jiang Lai lived, hung up the phone, changed her clothes, and went out.

Jiang arrived shortly afterward.

This is a seaside promenade that winds along the coastline. The lights on the shore are reflected on the sea, and the sea breeze blows gently, carrying the salty smell of the sea.

Jiang Lai looked around but didn't see Zhang Manyu. He took out his phone, ready to make a call, but then put it down again.

A pair of small hands reached out from behind and covered his eyes.

"Guess who I am?" The voice was deliberately low, with a hint of laughter.

Jiang Lai said speechlessly, "Sister Manyu, you're such a grown woman, why are you still playing this?"

The small hands loosened, and Maggie Cheung walked up to him, pouting, "How did you know it was me?"

"I knew it was you the moment I heard the sound of your high heels."

"Then why can't it be another woman?"

Jiang Lai looked even more helpless. Why was it so difficult to talk to a woman?

Maggie Cheung smiled and said, "Alright, I won't tease you anymore."

She wore a beige trench coat over a black turtleneck sweater, without makeup, her bare face radiating a unique charm under the dim lighting.

The two strolled slowly along the seaside promenade. Jiang Lai looked at the shimmering sea and suddenly said, "I know a girl who really loves the sea."

Zhang Manyu turned her head to look at him, "Who is it?"

"You don't know her? Her name is Zhou Xun."

Maggie Cheung laughed, "I know her, isn't she the girl from 'Suzhou River'?"

Jiang Lai was surprised. "You've actually seen this movie?"

"Of course." Maggie Cheung nodded, gazing at the sea. "I really like this movie. The love story of Mada and Mudan is especially touching."

"You also think that's love?" Jiang Lai asked.

"Why not?" Maggie Cheung retorted.

Jiang Lai thought for a moment and said, "I can't explain it. When we were filming, I always felt that Mada didn't love Mudan. But later I slowly realized that it wasn't a matter of love or not. It was that Mada himself hadn't even figured out how to live his life, so how could he love others?"

Maggie Cheung glanced at him. "That's what you thought back then?"

"Yeah, I almost got into an argument with the director."

Maggie Cheung laughed. "And then what happened?"

"Later, the director and Zhou Xun took turns telling me that loving someone doesn't need a reason or logic."

Jiang Lai recalled, "At the time, I thought it was nonsense, but later I found out that it seemed to be true."

The two remained silent for a moment before continuing to walk forward.

The sea breeze brought a cool breeze.

Zhang Manyu put her hands in her pockets, and Jiang Lai walked beside her, neither too close nor too far.

"Do you believe in love?" Maggie Cheung suddenly asked.

Jiang Lai recalled that Zhou Xun had asked him the same question before.

"I believe," he said, "but I think love is something that can't be explained."

"How so?"

"It's like... what you think is true might not be true, and what you think is false might be true."

Maggie Cheung laughed, "What you said is as good as saying nothing at all."

Jiang Lai laughed, "Yes, that's why I can't explain it clearly."

The two walked to a viewing platform, stopped, and leaned against the railing. The sea stretched out below them, and a cruise ship whizzed past in the distance.

"Did you bring cigarettes?" Maggie Cheung asked.

"I brought it."

Jiang Lai took out a cigarette from his pocket, pulled one out, and handed it to Zhang Manyu.

Zhang Manyu took the cigarette and put it in her mouth. Jiang Lai took out a lighter and lit it for her. When it was his turn, the lighter wouldn't light.

He frowned and shook his head, but still missed.

Zhang Manyu looked at him, the corners of her mouth curved up, and she raised her chin, gesturing for Jiang Lai to light the cigarette she had lit in her mouth.

Jiang Lai blinked, looked at the cigarette in his hand, and then at the cigarette in her mouth.

Maggie Cheung, with a cigarette in her mouth, turned her face slightly to the side, waiting for him.

The atmosphere suddenly became strange.

Seeing Jiang Lai's hesitant manner, Zhang Manyu rolled her eyes. "Do I have to feed him to you?"

Jiang Lai gave an awkward smile, lit a cigarette, and leaned over to put the cigarette filter into her mouth.

The flame flickered briefly, and the cigarette was lit.

The two people's faces were very close, and from a distance it looked like they were kissing.

Maggie Cheung turned her head and took a step back, the smoke she exhaled dispersing between the two of them.

Jiang Lai looked ahead and exhaled smoke toward the sea.

The two men each smoked, neither of them saying a word.

The sea breeze blew in, dispersing the smoke and ruffling their hair.

Jiang Lai felt a little awkward for a moment, and took the initiative to ask, "Is none of your family members here?"

Maggie Cheung lowered her head. "My husband is in France."

"And what about your parents?"

Maggie Cheung's expression dimmed slightly. "My parents divorced a long time ago, and they are both living abroad."

Jiang Lai realized he had asked something he shouldn't have, and said, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, it's been a long time," Zhang Manyu smiled. "What about you? Why didn't your girlfriend come along?"

"I went to Berlin for the film festival."

"There are still several days before the curtain falls, why don't you hurry over?"

Jiang Lai shook his head. "I'm not interested in foreign countries. I still prefer China, and besides..."

He gazed at the flickering lights on the dark sea. "And do you believe that our country will soon surpass any other country in the world?"

Zhang Manyu looked at him seriously and nodded.

I believe you.

The two fell silent again, leaning against the railing and looking at the night view over the sea, neither of them saying they wanted to leave.

The night was deep, and the sea was calm.

There was only the wind and the occasional sound of a ship's horn.