Chapter 461: The Flaming Wild Rose and the Midnight Little Hunter (8400 words)

Chen Nuo arrived at the Capital International Airport at 1:00 PM on January 17, 2011, Beijing time.

This trip was not an easy one.

The flight from LA to Toronto took 4 hours, and refueling in Toronto took 1 hour.

Then, from takeoff in Toronto to Beijing, the total distance was 6,500 nautical miles, or over 12,000 kilometers. The rented G450 had a maximum range of only 4,350 nautical miles, and with poor weather and headwinds along the way, they were forced to stop and refuel twice.

Once in Iqaluit, Canada, and once in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland.

In the end, the entire journey, starting from Los Angeles, took a full 23 hours.

As soon as Guli Nazha stepped off the plane and onto the airport tarmac, she couldn't help but let out a small cheer. Michelle Williams, who was beside her, was the same, quickly muttering about how she had finally returned, how she had been dying for some Beijing mung bean milk, and wondering about the state of the house renovations, mixing Chinese and English quite fluently.

Chen Nuo was the same; he stood on the ground and first stretched, loosening his muscles. But immediately, the bone-chilling air of Beijing drilled into his nose, making him unable to stop himself from sneezing.

There were piles of white snow along the airport runway, looking as if they had just fallen a day or two ago. Just as the flight tower had warned in advance, the outdoor temperature in Beijing today was 12 degrees below zero, a completely different world from the warm, sunny Los Angeles.

"Welcome home."

A voice came, and Chen Nuo turned his head to see a cute girl with a round face wearing an airport suit uniform. When he looked over, her face instantly turned visibly red, as if she had drunk half a catty of liquor. The name tag on her chest read Su Jing.

"Thank you." Chen Nuo smiled and nodded in response.

"Beijing is quite cold, you, do you want to wear more?" the young girl stammered.

Chen Nuo said, "It's fine."

After staying in the country for a long time, one sometimes wants to go abroad and act recklessly, but after staying abroad for a long time, one wants to come back. Chen Nuo had felt this way in both his lifetimes.

Especially since he had lived in Beijing for several years in this life, and he didn't know how many times he had been to the Capital Airport; as soon as he got off the plane, a warm current of returning home couldn't help but well up in his heart. At this moment, being greeted like this, besides the slight pain on his face from the cold wind, his body actually didn't feel that cold anymore.

Perhaps seeing that his attitude was quite good, as she led their group toward the VIP passage for the private apron, the round-faced girl Su Jing suddenly asked softly again, "Mr. Chen, will you be on the Spring Festival Gala this year?"

"Little Su!" another middle-aged male staff member beside her scolded.

Chen Nuo turned to look at Su Jing and smiled, "Why do you ask?"

"Nothing, it's just that many people online are saying... saying you will participate..."

"Little Su!" Before she could finish, she was interrupted by the middle-aged man, who frowned and scolded, "Are you going to go on forever? Mr. Chen, I'm sorry."

The round-faced girl shrank her neck like a startled quail, but still looked at him with anticipation in her eyes.

Chen Nuo looked at the stern male staff member, shook his head, and said, "It's okay."

He glanced at the round-faced girl again and smiled.

However, he ultimately did not answer her question.

The speed of passing through customs was quite fast, as it was an exclusive VIP passage. Although the inspection procedures were all there, because there wasn't much luggage, the entire process from landing to picking up the bags didn't exceed half an hour.

In the FBO pickup area, Qi Yuntian and Li Jing were already waiting there, followed by two drivers and their respective assistants and secretaries, rushing to help with the luggage as soon as they met.

Having not seen each other for nearly two months, Qi Yuntian looked a circle thinner, wearing a wool coat with jeans; it wasn't particularly refined, but it had a kind of unconventional chicness.

The two of them smiled as soon as they met.

"You really did lose weight. I thought it was makeup on TV. Tsk tsk, how many pounds did you lose?"

"About eight or nine pounds. How about you?"

"I didn't lose any; I've actually gained weight recently."

"I believe you."

At this time, Guli Nazha stepped forward, standing to the side somewhat reservedly, and greeted softly, "Hello, Mr. Qi."

The usually lively Michelle beside her also suddenly became well-behaved, standing silently next to her, her large, clear eyes even carrying a hint of nervousness.

Watching this, Chen Nuo couldn't help but sigh—the title of "Women's Kryptonite" for Qi really was enduring. But, how did he get along with Luo Rui during that time in Hong Kong?

At the thought of Luo Rui, Chen Nuo's mood couldn't help but sink, and he remembered Angelina's words again.

Through several years of contact, he knew Luo Rui Eisner too well. On the surface, she was as cold as frost, like an Ice Queen, but in reality, she was a person of deep emotion, especially toward Angelina Jolie, to whom she was deeply attached.

"What's wrong?"

After getting into the car, Qi Yuntian started the Bentley and glanced at him sideways, "Missing your woman?"

Chen Nuo chuckled, and before he could speak, Qi Yuntian added, "Don't think about it for now; the Spring Festival Gala side is going crazy. There's less than a week until the New Year, and your program still hasn't been decided. Ma Dong and the others are waiting for you in the office; let's go see them first."

Chen Nuo sighed helplessly, "What exactly is going on now?"

"Actually, it's nothing complicated," Qi Yuntian said while driving, "Just like I told you before, Zhao's song has been decided; this time a solo song was arranged, which I think is pretty good, called 'Haven't Been Home in a Long Time,' and it's already been rehearsed with decent results. But your song still hasn't been decided, and the few they have now... I don't think you'll like them. It's stuck right there."

Qi Yuntian held the steering wheel of the Bentley, his tone very relaxed.

People, once they are holding the steering wheel of a Bentley, actually don't find anything too heavy to talk about.

But Ma Dong was different.

Although he had been in CCTV for many years and his old father was a great figure, rich was rich, but no matter what, to avoid suspicion, the most expensive of his three cars was only a Land Rover worth over a million, still a bit away from the realm of "with a Bentley in hand, the world is mine."

Over the past period, he had truly worried himself gray-haired. He often woke up from dreams in the middle of the night, covered in sweat; in less than three months, he looked visibly thinner.

At this moment, as he sat restlessly in the Huanxin office waiting for over an hour, various thoughts surged in his mind. It wasn't until that familiar face and that familiar figure finally appeared at the door that he finally let out a long breath.

He really was back.

More than a month ago, the "King of Skits" withdrawing from the Spring Festival Gala had become a foregone conclusion. After it was finally made public yesterday, the public opinion pressure he faced could be described as overwhelming. As the chief director of the Spring Festival Gala, the pressure he was under at this moment was simply indescribable; he hadn't even slept last night.

The only way to keep from being scolded and to make the general public forget Zhao Benshan, after thinking it over, was only "him."

Although it had been discussed in Los Angeles that the other party said "if there's a suitable program, I'll do it," the problem was that even the song hadn't been decided yet, so how could they talk about "suitable"?

If the other party just walked away and said they wouldn't do it, what would he, Ma Dong, do?

The Spring Festival Gala was the stage everyone in the national entertainment industry dreamed of, the path to the heavens that countless people wanted to climb on their knees.

But some people were different.

As the chief director, Ma Dong ran around without a moment's rest, treating guests, giving gifts, and dealing with constant unspoken and explicit rules, but no matter how busy he was, he had to clear a few hours today to wait in person.

Just because some people no longer relied on these steps to climb higher.

They returned from a higher place and even had to deliberately step down a bit to ascend your stage.

Ma Dong immediately stood up and greeted him with a face full of smiles: "Mr. Chen, the journey was hard, welcome back to Beijing! You've really worked hard, sitting on a plane for so long without any rest."

Chen Nuo looked at him in surprise, "Director Ma, what's wrong with you? Why have you lost so much weight? Are you on a diet too?"

Ma Dong touched his face and said with a bitter smile, "Sigh, don't mention it." He added, "I watched the Golden Globe Awards; the hosting was really good, it was amazing. Did Mr. Chen go somewhere for advanced studies? Haha."

Chen Nuo laughed, "No, that was all the credit of the screenwriting team. Unlike you, I actually want to learn from you how to speak; after all, your eloquence has a family heritage."

"Hahahaha." Ma Dong laughed until his fat face wrinkled, "You are self-taught, which is truly rare. Come, let me introduce you; this is our CCTV's..."

Under Ma Dong's introduction, Chen Nuo shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with the people from CCTV who were present. This time, many people from CCTV came, and added to the Huanxin team, the entire conference room was almost packed.

"Let's begin now." Finally, Qi Yuntian sat at the head of the table on the left, coughed lightly, and said to Ma Dong, who was sitting opposite him: "Director Ma, I have already briefly told Mr. Chen about the basic situation after our communication these days while in the car. Let's get straight to the point now."

"Okay."

A female director from the CCTV directing team spoke up, her voice clean and crisp, "Hello, Mr. Chen, I am the director in charge of song and dance programs. My name is Ha Wen. Next, I will introduce you to the current list of candidate songs for the Spring Festival Gala. This time, we have prepared a total of four."

Ha Wen spoke clearly and with a steady attitude, taking nearly half an hour to detail the names, lyrics, and the meaning and creative background behind each of these four candidate songs.

Afterward, she opened her notebook and played the audio for these four songs in turn.

When the melody of the last song faded into the air, the conference room fell into silence.

Everyone cast their gaze toward the head of the conference table—the young man who was leaning back in his chair, eyes slightly closed, palm covering his forehead, as if in deep thought.

He seemed lost in thought.

Ma Dong opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn't make a sound.

He knew too well—the four songs before him, being able to appear in this conference room today, were each the result of a game and compromise between multiple parties.

Behind them, all involved complex chains of interest, including singer teams, record companies, talent agencies, some high-level leaders in the station, and even the will of certain leaders in the propaganda department.

These things were tangled together like a twist; even those involved couldn't tell how many things were hidden behind a song. Just like that song "Hawthorn Flower" two years ago, even now, no one could clearly say how much money Chen Chusheng, who sang the song, and the music company and songwriters who held the copyright, actually made.

As such, in reality, even he, the chief director, had no way to decide which four songs would appear in this conference room today, and ultimately be read out by Ha Wen for this person to hear.

But how would this person choose?

That was not something any interest group could control.

It could only rely on this person's free will.

In today's China, across the whole country, it could be said that no one dared to say they could make decisions for him.

Chen Nuo didn't think for long; coming back to his senses, he couldn't help but smile and said, "Director Ma, why do the titles of these songs feel a bit grand?"

Ma Dong cursed inwardly, though he didn't know who he was cursing, and smiled, "Mr. Chen, I understand what you mean. But look, we are the Spring Festival Gala after all, and we still have to pay attention to some educational significance."

"Who can I educate?" Chen Nuo said with a smile, "I'm just an actor."

Ha Wen, who had introduced the songs earlier, smiled and said, "You can't say that. The name Chen Nuo, now in the country, is a resounding gold-lettered signboard. Your fans, your moviegoers, these people influenced by you, can be said to be in the millions."

Chen Nuo laughed, "The people I can truly influence, besides myself, probably just count my mom. Even my dad, I can't influence. As for those fans and moviegoers you mentioned... if they could really be influenced by me, they would all be at Tsinghua or Peking University by now."

"Hahahaha."

A burst of joyful laughter suddenly erupted in the conference room.

Ma Dong laughed, "Mr. Chen is really humorous."

"It's not humor."

Chen Nuo still wore a smile, but his tone slowed down. The two naps on the plane hadn't truly let him rest well; jet lag and fatigue were quietly eroding his attention. He could only raise his voice a little and speak clearly so that the other party wouldn't misunderstand.

"Because I've talked about this issue before, telling them to study hard, not just once, but in several interviews. But the result you see is that no one listened, no one took it seriously. So, Director Ma, it's better if you don't see me as that important."

The whole room went quiet.

A moment later, Ha Wen laughed and asked, "So, Mr. Chen, your meaning is that these four songs are all not good, right?"

Chen Nuo said, "It's not that they aren't good. The songs are all good songs, and they sound quite comfortable. For example, 'Chinese Dragon' is very nice to listen to. But I still want to try some other styles. So if you have other candidates, I think you can continue to bring a few more over to see. Haha, I know time is tight, but good food is worth the wait."

He laughed twice, looked around, and seeing no one following his laughter, he shut his mouth.

Ha Wen smiled and added, "Mr. Chen, you're right, good food is worth the wait. But our time is indeed very tight now. Today is already the 17th, and there are only six days left until the Spring Festival Gala. And you haven't participated in a single rehearsal yet. I remember we signed an agreement."

Chen Nuo nodded and said, "Yes, I remember. The strategic cooperation agreement with your CCTV, I signed it myself."

He paused, tilted his head, and asked, "And then?"

Ma Dong’s face flushed red all of a sudden.

Ma Dong laughed and said, "I understand what you mean. Indeed, indeed, it’s the New Year, so it should be more relaxed and festive. What kind of songs do you like? Do you have any requirements for the musical style? We’ll go back and reconsider right away, and get a new song list to you as soon as possible."

"Me? I like things a bit simpler," Chen Nuo said, smiling again. "The simpler it is, the faster I can practice it."

"Oh, is that so? That’s rare, truly rare." Ma Dong gave a thumbs-up with an admiring look on his face. "Alright, we’ll head back now and get it organized for you as soon as possible."

……

……

Chen Nuo is neither a "great man" nor a "petty man."

He feels that he is just an ordinary person. Of course, he loves this land, but this kind of love is something that cannot be put into words.

It’s not because he is unwilling to say it, but because he has always felt that—once some things are said in front of the public in a way that is too direct and too loud, that sincere emotion instead loses its flavor.

Just like a man proposing to his beloved, holding a grand ceremony with fireworks, music, and friends and family watching... It cannot be denied that such grandeur is a form of expression, but at the same time, it also signifies the loss of something else.

—That deepest, quietest, and most private true affection that originally belonged between two people.

This is not the way he likes.

If he were willing, he could say the three words "I love you" with such deep affection that no woman in the world could remain unmoved. Yet, he truly rarely says it out loud.

It is the same principle.

Besides his awkwardness and stubbornness regarding the word "love," there is another point: Chen Nuo feels—

It doesn't matter if he says it abroad. After all, in the eyes of outsiders, Asian faces all look the same; some might not be able to tell, and might even think he is a Japanese devil. So if he says it once, twice, or three times, he doesn't feel tired, nor does he feel it’s pretentious. In any case, there will always be foreigners who don't know him.

But to have him sing "I Am a Chinese Dragon" at the Chinese Spring Festival Gala... to be honest, excuse him, he really feels there is no need for that.

For one, he is not a compatriot from Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan; for another, he doesn't really intend to immigrate; and thirdly, it’s a holiday, so let the children have a rest.

"So, if you still don't end up choosing one, what will you do?"

"Forget it, I guess."

"Forget it? Didn't you sign an agreement?"

"Yeah, but what can I do if I can't find one? It’s just a framework strategic agreement. This thing, if you take it seriously, it’s real; if you don't take it seriously, it’s just a piece of waste paper."

Chen Nuo shoveled two more mouthfuls of rice fiercely, and while chewing, said, "Alright, don't talk about that anymore. Tell me about you, how have you been lately?"

Gao Yuanyuan sat opposite him, the restaurant lights gently spilling onto her face, outlining her silhouette with a soft halo. She looked a bit like a character walking out of an old movie—gentle, quiet, and possessing a kind of indescribable sense of detachment.

She smiled lightly, "How else could I be? Staying at home with my mother."

"Didn't you say you were going to film a movie?"

"We’re in talks, but I’m not very satisfied with the scripts." She sipped some water, her tone flat. "There aren't many art-house films now, and I’ve grown tired of filming commercial movies."

Chen Nuo nodded and picked up another chopstick of boiled meat slices. Perhaps it was because he hadn't eaten Chinese food in a long time, but he was truly conquered by the Sichuan dish cooked by Gao Yuanyuan, a Beijing native.

Fresh, fragrant, numbing, and spicy—honestly, it tasted better than what his mother made.

At the same time, he also knew that Gao Yuanyuan was speaking from the heart. This person is quite different from Yang Mi; of course, that’s not to say one is definitely right, just that their personalities are different. This woman is not the type who can just keep churning out trash for money.

Although in the two years of 2010 and 2011, in order to pay for her mother’s medical treatment, she filmed several mediocre commercial movies, such as *Don't Go Breaking My Heart* and *Love in Space*, and even made a cameo in *Beginning of the Great Revival*.

But deep down, she is still a very artistic young woman.

She loves watching art-house films and loves filming them too. Even her usual hobbies are just planting flowers at home, reading books, and the like. Among the female friends around him, she should be the most sentimental and the one who dislikes socializing the most.

The last time they met was before he went to the United States to film *Drop*—speaking of *Drop*, James Pritzker finally seemed to have moved past the grief of his father’s passing, saying that the post-production of the film was done and they could meet up after he went to the United States.

It’s been almost a year, and finally being able to see the finished film, Chen Nuo didn't feel particularly excited.

He has become somewhat accustomed to similar things in the film world.

A film, logically speaking, goes through preparation, filming, post-production, and release, a process of about a year, but there are often various factors that lead to the film being shelved or delayed.

Just like *Chinese Workers*, just like *Drop*, or back then, *No Man's Land*.

It is also like the relationship between people—

During this year, whenever he returned to the country and had free time, the other party was either filming or busy with her mother’s affairs. In any case, there were always various reasons that led to the two of them being unable to meet.

This time, he finally had a little time before the New Year, and it just so happened that Gao Yuanyuan’s mother had gone to her aunt’s place for the New Year, so both of them had a day of free time.

After leaving the company, he made an excuse to cancel other appointments and came here specifically to see her.

Both of them were silent for a moment, Gao Yuanyuan watching him wolf down his food with a smile.

In the room, one could only hear the light clinking of chopsticks against the bowl, the sound of his chewing, and the distant clamor of the Jingcheng night outside the window.

Gao Yuanyuan suddenly asked him, "What kind of song do you actually want to sing?"

Chen Nuo thought for a moment: "The kind of song that allows me to finish singing quietly without feeling like I’m in a promotional video."

"That’s quite a high requirement."

"Is it high?"

"It is."

Chen Nuo doesn't belong to the artistic crowd. Although he felt Gao Yuanyuan’s words had a hidden meaning, he couldn't quite taste it at the moment. He chuckled and continued to eat.

After finishing three bowls of rice in a row, Chen Nuo finally put down his chopsticks.

And then the guilt set in.

Gao Yuanyuan asked with a smile, "What’s wrong?"

"Sigh, I’m on a diet, I shouldn't have eaten so much."

"A diet?" Gao Yuanyuan raised her voice.

"Yeah..."

Chen Nuo explained a little, and Gao Yuanyuan couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh as she listened, "So that’s it, no wonder I thought you looked a bit thinner."

Chen Nuo said with dissatisfaction, "A bit?"

Gao Yuanyuan’s eyes curved completely, her long, dense eyelashes like two little brushes. She let out the hearty laugh of a Beijing girl and said, "If I had known, I would have reminded you to eat less. Are you full? Then go sit on the sofa for a while, I’ll go wash the dishes."

"Alright, go ahead."

Gao Yuanyuan said so, but she didn't go immediately. Instead, she first brewed a cup of tea and placed it on the coffee table in the living room for him to drink slowly while he waited, before heading into the kitchen.

The television was broadcasting the evening news on CCTV-1, and it happened to cut to an interview about the Spring Festival Gala. In the frame, a middle-aged male singer wearing a trench coat was being interviewed. Chen Nuo didn't really recognize him, but he was clearly one of the participants in this year’s Spring Festival Gala.

He watched for a little while, but his attention gradually drifted, and his gaze couldn't help but float toward the kitchen again.

This apartment was bought by Gao Yuanyuan herself, a small high-rise, on the 11th floor, with over 110 square meters of interior space. The location is on the edge of Tuanjie Lake in Chaoyang District. The residential complex is large, the landscaping is beautiful, and most importantly, the privacy is good—there are only about twenty households per building. Chen Nuo has been here twice and only met a kind-looking little old lady in the elevator.

Looking from where he was sitting, he could just see Gao Yuanyuan’s back in the kitchen.

The heating in the house was set just right, and it was very warm inside. The woman wasn't wearing much—a pair of tight-fitting jeans paired with a white wool sweater. Her waist was slender, and she looked very graceful. Her high ponytail swayed left and right behind her head with her movements.

Gao Yuanyuan not only cooks well, but she is also extremely efficient with housework. In less than five minutes, she had finished washing the pots and dishes, wiped her hands on the apron featuring Hello Kitty, hung it behind the kitchen door, and walked out.

Chen Nuo was a bit stuffed and was wondering if it would hurt his stomach if he started exercising later.

But he didn't expect Gao Yuanyuan to suddenly ask, "Do you want to go out for a walk?"

……

To be honest, taking a walk in Jingcheng in January is definitely not a good idea.

Although it wasn't late yet, just past seven, the sky was already pitch black. The howling cold wind swept across the land, passing through the bare branches of the trees and skimming over the residual snow on the roadside, blowing onto one’s face and cutting like a knife, making it sting.

However, precisely because of this, the pedestrians on the street were all wrapped up tightly with scarves, masks, and hats, making Chen Nuo and Gao Yuanyuan look like just two ordinary passersby.

"Is there anything else you’re doing besides attending the Spring Festival Gala this time you’re back?" Gao Yuanyuan asked.

Chen Nuo remembered that when he went to Nanjing a while ago, Zhang Xiaofei had mentioned planning to hold a class reunion at the end of the year, but she hadn't contacted him until now.

It makes sense; even for old classmates from ordinary universities, it’s hard to get together, let alone their class in the acting department.

The people in their class have all been doing quite well since graduation. For example, Yuan Shanshan—he often sees her playing the female lead in various period dramas when he scrolls through Weibo. Her fan base is growing, and she occasionally posts photos from the set or selfies. Her style is bright and beautiful, completely unlike the slightly shy, ordinary girl she was in class back then.

There’s also Wang Meng, who has a good relationship with Yuan Shanshan, and even Jing Tian, who is two years their junior, all gradually making a name for themselves in the entertainment industry.

As actors, their schedules are shockingly packed. The works, interviews, and endorsements presented to the audience are actually just the tip of the iceberg. Behind the scenes, there are countless magazine shoots, business announcements, brand events, auditions, and rehearsals. All of these require a huge amount of time and energy, yet they are often difficult for outsiders to truly understand.

Being able to squeeze out time to get together is truly too difficult.

Chen Nuo shook his head and said, "No, just finish the Spring Festival Gala stuff, and then I have to go to the United States again."

Gao Yuanyuan said in surprise, "In such a rush? Going again?"

"Yeah. To present an award. The Santa Barbara International Film Festival in California, USA, ever heard of it?"

"…… Heard of it. Did you win an award?"

"No, it’s Nolan. He won the Master Award there this time, and the organizing committee invited me to go over and present the award to him..." After Chen Nuo finished speaking, he waited for a while, and seeing that Gao Yuanyuan didn't respond, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "What’s wrong?"

Behind the scarf covering her face, Gao Yuanyuan made a sound like a sigh, "Nothing, it’s just that hearing you talk about your affairs, I feel it’s quite unreal. When I think about it, just yesterday I was watching your video at the Golden Globe Awards, and yet now I’m actually walking with you. It really feels like a dream."

Chen Nuo chuckled, "I feel like what you’re saying right now sounds just like dream talk."

Gao Yuanyuan let out a muffled laugh again, "I didn't." After saying that, she added, "Can I hold your arm while we walk?"

See, this kind of caution in details is the unique temperament of an artistic youth.

If it were Liu Yifei, she definitely wouldn't ask and would just tell Chen Nuo to hold her; Tong Liya wouldn't either—the Xibe girl is gentle and obedient and never takes the initiative to make requests. As for Angelababy, the style of a Hong Kong girl is even more direct; she might have naturally taken Chen Nuo’s arm as soon as they stepped out, without feeling there was any need to "ask for permission."

Only Gao Yuanyuan would suddenly say something like that.

Chen Nuo had to say helplessly, "You can."

Gao Yuanyuan laughed lightly again, slipped her hand into his arm, and pressed her body closer. If they looked like just friends with a good relationship a moment ago, then at this moment, if they were photographed by paparazzi, it probably wouldn't be easy to explain.

The two walked quietly for a while, and Gao Yuanyuan suddenly said, "A new bar opened nearby, do you want to go sit for a while? It’s quite quiet, and there are usually few people, so no one will recognize you."

Chen Nuo really didn't understand what was up with this woman tonight, but since they were already out, he didn't want to be a killjoy, so he agreed, "Sure."

So the two changed their route, and under Gao Yuanyuan’s lead, they passed through several small alleys, turning left and right, and arrived at a quiet old street. Just as she said, the street was very quiet, most of the shops were already closed, and only one small bar had dim yellow lights on, with a neon sign flickering in the night. The name was also quite strange, just called "Go."

A wooden stand stood at the entrance of the bar with a poster pasted on it, but the poster wasn't pasted firmly, and the corners had already collapsed, flapping in the wind. That poster covered the person’s face and name, revealing only a line of advertising copy: "Music Special: *About a Story of Wandering*, Performance Time: January 15th to 30th, starting at 8 PM. Open during the New Year."

Gao Yuanyuan pushed the door open and led Chen Nuo inside.

The interior of the bar was not large, with a few round tables in the middle and a circle of booths along the walls. The lights were dim, and a small stage was set up in the center. At this moment, a young man in his twenties was holding a guitar, tuning the microphone, and preparing to sing. Hearing the movement of the door opening, he looked up at the two of them. His appearance couldn't be called outstanding; he was the quite ordinary type.

Chen Nuo and Gao Yuanyuan sat in the corner of the bar, neither of them taking off their scarves or masks right away.

However, the young girl who came over to take their order must have seen all sorts of strange people, as she didn't show a hint of surprise, smiling as she placed the drink menu in front of them and said in a Beijing-accented Mandarin: "To celebrate Brother Zhao coming to perform here today, tonight from 7 to 9 is happy hour, and everything in the house is half price."

Chen Nuo looked down at the drink menu, feeling deeply skeptical of the server's claim.

What half price from seven to nine?

This place is probably half price twenty-four hours a day.

He flipped through a few pages; names like "Flaming Wild Rose" and "Midnight Little Hunter" sounded unreliable just by their titles. He figured the bartender just mixed some fruit juice with a splash of vodka or rum, and they dared to sell it for 120 or 140 yuan a glass? Is this Jingcheng? It's more like New York!

If they didn't offer a fifty percent discount, it would be a miracle if they sold anything at all.

That little tavern in Yulin, Chengdu—he remembered, how much did a glass of wine cost there at that time?

(End of chapter)