Take a Number

Chen Qi slept for two straight days. Much like a high school senior who had just finished the national college entrance examinations, his brain was quietly formatting itself. When he woke up, he felt like a blissfully naive college freshman all over again. "Ah!" "Sleep and sex really are the best tonics in the world!" Chen Qi woke up, stretched his arms, and kicked his legs, feeling completely revitalized in body and mind. Glancing at his imported Swiss watch, he saw it was already noon. Towel draped over his shoulder, he picked up his washbasin and toiletries and headed out. "Oh, Xiao Chen, washing up?" "Yeah. Teacher, got another shoot today?" "No, no, I could never dare call myself your teacher! Please, carry on, carry on!" This man was an old makeup artist at the studio who had always clashed with him. Today, however, his attitude had completely shifted; though there was still a trace of sarcasm, he no longer dared act loud or brazen. Chen Qi shrugged, washed up, and filled a thermos with hot water. He bumped into quite a few people along the way, and every single one struck the same posture—respect tinged with snark, astonishment mingled with grudging admiration. It was thoroughly contradictory. To save their lives, they couldn't fathom how anyone could earn 4.8 million US dollars. Chen Qi couldn't be bothered with them. He tidied his room and opened the window to let in some fresh air. In early February, Beijing remained chilly. The studio grounds were barren, and the sight of blooming peach blossoms and green willows would have to wait. Yet, with his troubles resolved, his mind was clear and at ease, making even the stark view outside seem poetic. "Ah, now that I've achieved my life goal of getting into Zhongnanhai, I can finally slack off! Slack off! Rot away!" While poking fun at himself, he suddenly spotted Cai Ming and shouted, "Xiao Cai! Xiao Cai!" "Oh, you're awake?" Cai Ming looked up and yelled with exaggerated drama. It happened to be lunchtime, and Liang Xiaosheng was walking over as well. He called out happily, "Xiao Chen, you're awake!" "Whoa! Xiao Chen's awake!" "Good grief, Xiao Chen's awake!" The ground below erupted in a lively commotion. Chen Qi waved from the window, feeling as though he were someone who'd been kicked in the head by a donkey, lay in a coma for three years, and had finally opened his eyes. "..." Suddenly, Gong Xue appeared too. Chen Qi flashed her a hand gesture, then shouted to Liang Xiaosheng, "Old Liang, bring my chair back! And my books—not a single one missing!" He closed the window, deliberately took his time, and only put on his jacket and headed downstairs after dawdling a bit. Hopping onto his rickety bicycle, he saw Gong Xue waiting outside the main gate as soon as he exited the compound. She had a bicycle of her own now, making getting around much easier. The two traveled along familiar roads to No. 6 Lechunfang. With the weather yet to warm up, the construction team had downed tools again. Though the house was being built slowly, it was at least coming together bit by bit. "Xiao Chen—" The moment Chen Qi closed the door and turned around, a warm, soft body wrapped around him. Gong Xue embraced him of her own accord, arms wrapped tightly around him, burying her face into his chest, her voice choked with emotion: "I'm so glad you're all right. I was so scared something would happen to you. You have no idea what these past few days have been like for me. I wanted to go see you, but I was afraid of disturbing your rest..." "All right, all right, I'm in one piece, aren't I?" Chen Qi stroked her hair. Their age difference almost felt reversed. He smiled and said, "I heard you helped out quite a bit, braving the wind and rain. In critical moments, my good sister is the one I can always count on. Thank you so much!" "You're never serious!" Gong Xue blushed, holding back the tears that were about to fall. She gave him a gentle swat on the chest and said, "Don't thank me. You should thank Reporter Yu. She gave her all for you. Why don't you call her your good sister?" "Blech!" Chen Qi made an exaggerated gagging noise. "Our relationship is purely transactional, completely platonic. You might as well say I'm having an affair with Cai Ming." "Cai Ming..." Gong Xue couldn't help bursting into laughter. Not that she thought Xiao Cai wasn't pretty—she was quite good-looking—it was just that the two were an impossible match! It would be like an earthling dating an alien... "There's a smile. Seeing you smile makes it all worthwhile. Everything's in the past now." "Come, sit for a bit!" Chen Qi sat down on a small stool, beaming at her. Gong Xue rolled her eyes playfully, but obediently perched on his lap. Another round of intimacy followed, lips and tongues intertwining. After a long while, Gong Xue caught her breath and raised her head. "Is this whole ordeal really behind you? Won't there be more trouble?" "That chapter is closed. If trouble comes, it'll be new trouble. Next, I'll still be making films, though things will probably be quite different from before. I'll have plenty of free time for a while, so I can keep you good company." "Sigh, I don't really understand what you want to do. Either way, I'll support you. I just..." Gong Xue hesitated, swallowing the rest of her sentence. What she wanted to say was: *I feel like you're moving faster and faster, and I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up.* She came from an intellectual family and was cultured and thoughtful herself. She knew that if two people developed too vast a gap in their outlooks and careers, estrangement and friction were bound to arise. A twenty-one-year-old guy who had made nearly five million US dollars—what kind of woman could stand beside him? *** Editor He Chengwei of *Story Session* had come to Beijing again. Accompanying him was a deputy director of Shanghai Film Studio named Wang Lingu. After news of *Tai Chi* broke, Shanghai Film Studio had immediately reached out to *Story Session*, hoping to get in touch with the author and secure the adaptation rights to his martial arts stories. They had known about this humble magazine for a long time, but had never thought much of it. Things were different now. Even though *Tai Chi* hadn't yet screened domestically, anyone with eyes could see that a massive boom in martial arts films was coming. Looking closer, they realized the water was right by their pavilion—a priceless treasure sat right on their doorstep! "On this trip to Beijing, you must secure those adaptation rights. What's more, find a chance to speak with Chen Qi in private, and tell him this and that..." Wang Lingu recalled the instructions Director Xu Sangchu had personally given him before his departure, not daring to be careless in the slightest. He was well aware of Chen Qi's importance. As for He Chengwei, his purpose was even simpler: raise Chen Qi's remuneration! Dust-covered and weary, the two arrived in Beijing. After finding their lodging, they immediately rushed to Beijing Film Studio, only to be blocked right at the main entrance. An old woman stood there leading several people, dominating the scene and pointing right at a man's nose, scolding him fiercely: "You still dare claim you're from China Film?! Where did you get the nerve? Don't think I don't know—I've investigated everything! It was you bastards who sent our Xiao Chen in! Let me tell you, a bunch of us signed a joint petition. You won't get off easy! "Who am I? "I'm your grandma! "Qianmen Dashilar Sub-district Committee! Xiao Chen's workplace, his direct leadership! "You've got the gall to show your face here? Get lost, double-time! As long as this old woman is standing here today, you won't take a single step through this gate! Are you leaving or not? Are you leaving or not?!" "Grandma... no, Auntie, you've misunderstood!" The man put on a miserable face. "Disciplinary action has already been taken against the comrade who made the mistake. I'm here to see him on official business today. Please, let me through." "Not happening! Didn't you hear her? Get lost, double-time!" The old man in the reception office was watching the commotion from the side. He exchanged a look with Auntie Wang, feeling an instant mutual affinity and shared admiration, as if meeting a kindred spirit far too late. Left with no choice, the man had to leave. Auntie Wang, like a victorious general, held her head high and strode into the compound with chest puffed out. He Chengwei, Wang Lingu, and a few others moved to follow, but the old guard suddenly stepped out to block them. "Let us in!" "How come she got to go in, but we can't?" "She's his direct supervisor! What are you lot here for? Do you think just anyone can walk into Beijing Film Studio? The director said too many people are looking for Xiao Chen, and it's severely disrupting normal studio operations! Visits have to be done in batches! "First register with me here, then come back tomorrow!" The old man waved his hand dismissively. "Go take a number!" He Chengwei didn't mind, but Wang Lingu registered with deep indignation, cursing inwardly: *That old codger Wang Yang gets a bit of sunshine and thinks he's the center of the universe. What's he flaunting? So earning foreign exchange makes you hot shit, huh?... Fine, it really is hot shit.* Then he remembered his mission. Buying adaptation rights was small potatoes; poaching the talent was the real prize!