Chapter 567: The Jiangnan Region Must Be More Artistic

To speak fairly, there is a reason why Masami Nagasawa will become a national-level Japanese actress before Yui Aragaki.

In terms of aptitude alone, she truly has some skill; no matter what Ning Hao conveys to her through translation, she can always understand and digest it quickly. A serious actor, not a hobbyist, performing in an MV is truly a dimension-reduction attack.

Currently still just a model, Yui Aragaki, who hasn't even finished acting training classes, is indeed far behind in this aspect—

Zhou Yi, who was thoroughly trained by Jiang Wen on the set last year, found a sense of superiority for the first time in the child version of Yui Aragaki; he could even guide her in return.

Don't say it's unfair to compare because Yui Aragaki is only fifteen this year; he is only a twenty-three-year-old baby in nominal age!

"Gomen nasai..."

Feeling she might be holding everyone back, Yui Aragaki started apologizing again.

It was hard enough to get a chance to star in an idol MV, yet she was almost crying from her own stupidity...

"Take it slow, it's a small matter. You are young; have confidence in yourself."

In an exceptionally good mood, Zhou Yi unscrewed the cap of a Runtian mineral water bottle, took a sip, smiled, raised his hand to pat the child's shoulder, and spoke English as slowly as possible so she could understand: "I have confidence in you, Gakki.

"You actually have great talent and temperament for acting. No need to be nervous; we have plenty of time."

Speaking, he casually fished a bottle of Runtian from the box behind him and handed it to her, gesturing for her to drink some water to moisten her throat first.

Since going to the Imperial Capital, he hadn't drunk this brand of mineral water for a long time; he missed it somewhat, especially the familiar packaging.

After accepting the water, Yui Aragaki bowed again in gratitude, hugged the mineral water bottle tightly with both hands, then squatted aside to review and mutter to herself.

"Was the place where Zhou Yi Jun studied here?"

Masami Nagasawa, clearly not as timid as her compatriot Yui Aragaki, leaned against the railing outside the school corridor, curiously inspecting this school named directly after the city—its exterior clearly looked old, but the inner walls, classrooms, and such did not seem like they lacked money.

"Yes, this is where I attended high school; it is called Shangrao No. 1 High School."

Scanning the surroundings and glancing at the banner, Zhou Yi spoke with a tone of some emotion.

Having at least become an outstanding alumnus welcomed back to school with a banner, in the future, when students of No. 1 High School look at the school's historical figures introduction, his name and photo will be able to be posted there.

Before him, the previous famous and outstanding alumnus from Shangrao No. 1 High School who went into the entertainment circle was the number one cannon fodder of mainland entertainment in the 80s and 90s that countless Qidian Hua Yu novels wanted to take away, the first generation of mainland Qiong Yao girls, the most beautiful Diao Chan, the wife of Chen the Great Poet, Arthur's mom: Chen Hong.

Yes, Chen Hong was also from Shangrao. However, she was not from Shangrao County, but from Yanshan County.

Zhou Yi initially really didn't know; after all, the era when Chen Hong became famous was somewhat distant for his past life, and the earliest Qidian Hua Yu novels about her only wrote about university.

After attending high school in this life, he saw the name of film and television star Chen Hong in the school's historical introduction; at first, he even thought it was just a namesake.

Masami Nagasawa, who wanted to continue communicating with Zhou Yi, hadn't had time to ask further before that tool director came over and whispered something to Zhou Yi—

"I understand."

Zhou Yi nodded, then turned his head to instruct the two women: "Sorry, the female lead for the MV of my other song has arrived; I must go over to that set to communicate. There will be a dinner tonight; I will open a separate table for you, so don't worry about the language barrier."

Considering both were fifteen or sixteen-year-old half-grown children, when discussing cooperation, Zhou Yi specifically instructed Qian Jiang to let them bring a few assistant friends when they came over; this would also make it convenient to have companions, so they wouldn't be bored when unfamiliar with the place.

"Is she your girlfriend, Zhou Yi Jun? That female lead?" Masami Nagasawa asked curiously—

Yui Aragaki, who had just been reviewing and muttering to herself, immediately looked up, returning a similarly curious gaze.

"No, currently I only have friends."

Turning away, Zhou Yi raised his right hand and waved to the two; under their gaze, he walked away and disappeared around the corner of the corridor...

"Sorry, Zhou Yi, I'm late. Because I didn't sleep well, I accidentally overslept while sleeping in the hotel." Qin Lan, who thought filming had already started, came up and apologized first as well.

"We haven't even had the opening meal yet; it's still early. Today is just a site visit."

Zhou Yi chuckled lightly and gestured with his chin toward the surroundings: "Do you think this looks like a place ready to start work?"

"Then those two...?"

Qin Lan tilted her head, looking toward the teaching building corridor not far away, where Masami Nagasawa and Yui Aragaki were peering out from behind the wall, looking over here.

"Unfamiliar with the place and unable to speak the language, of course we must communicate in advance."

Turning sideways, Zhou Yi waved to the two and joked: "After all, if anything happened to them under my hands, the trouble would be huge, especially since that Masami Nagasawa just helped me promote my new album; the effect is worth several rounds of pre-heating."

Qin Lan pressed her lips into a smile: "If you hadn't said it, I almost forgot. Thank you, Zhou Yi; the broadcast time for 'My Fair Princess 3' has been set; my mission is complete."

"So fast?"

Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow: "Although I don't really want to say this is because of me, now it seems even if I jumped into the Yellow River, I couldn't wash myself clean."

"You don't look like someone who would jump into the Yellow River."

Recalling that moment she saw on television, Qin Lan smiled: "Anyway, after I finish filming my MV when we return to the Imperial Capital, I will treat you to a meal separately. Do not refuse; consider it my gratitude."

"Being able to have a meal alone with a great beauty is my honor."

"Is that so? How great an honor?"

"The greatest." Zhou Yi made an explosion gesture with both hands: "You know, judging by the momentum reported by the media, there aren't many female stars who still dare to have a meal alone with me now."

Qin Lan was so amused by his exaggerated sarcasm that she couldn't close her mouth.

Not until the entire crew finished work and all went to the restaurant where tables had been booked did the two reporters, who had been snapping photos on the green trees of the No. 1 High School wall, finally struggle down from the tree—

"I didn't expect it; Zhou Yi and this Qin Lan were very familiar before? Didn't they just meet once before?"

"Who knows? Chase them quickly. I always feel these two might have something fishy; after all, those two Japanese women are both under eighteen; someone like Zhou Yi would never touch them, as it would leave solid evidence against him.

"But this Qin Lan is different; rumors say she was pushed out to be given to Zhou Yi..."

Muttering, the two left the school and waved at the intersection—

The master huffed and puffed as he pedaled the yellow rickshaw tricycle over.

……………………

"Cheers!"

Inside the restaurant hall, Zhou Yi, who had booked the place for the day, raised his wine glass high, triggering the staff, who were eating and drinking well, to raise their glasses in heartfelt celebration.

Following Zhou Yi, you eat nine meals a day!

"It has to be Zhou Yi; he is rich and generous."

"Of course; he earns dollars, dollars. Do you know what a US dollar is? It is said that one dollar can exchange for more than eight yuan and forty cents of ours."

"What dollars or not, today we don't talk about dollars; just drink and that's it~"

Many staff members, participating in Zhou Yi's project for the first time, were truly stunned by Zhou Yi's extravagant act of casually renting out the entire venue.

When Zhang Yimou filmed "Hero," the box lunches were for the core crew and the victory banquet only; buddy, your treating everyone equally is making us quite uncomfortable.

Qin Lan was equally uncomfortable.

To be honest, after her best friend's coaxing, she admitted she did indeed have a little improper thought.

After all, anyone would want to catch a golden tortoise husband like Zhou Yi.

But at the same time, she also worried whether Zhou Yi would get handsy with her—say, by taking advantage of filming, of alcohol, or of conversation.

If he did, she wouldn't refuse, after all, that is indeed the price she should pay, but it would just mean the filter she had just built up for Zhou Yi would vanish completely.

Yet, if Zhou Yi truly showed no sign of it, she would feel disappointed.

This is a very contradictory psychology.

It holds both the confidence of being a beauty and the inferiority in facing Zhou Yi.

Especially the kickoff banquet tonight.

She had been waiting to see if Zhou Yi would make an excuse to get drunk, but until the very end, Zhou Yi, with a slight scent of alcohol, kept his eyes clear. When the event finally ended, he didn't even need anyone to support him; he could return to his hotel room all by himself...

Her room was below Zhou Yi's; when the two entered the hotel together and entered the elevator together, Qin Lan had imagined several scenarios.

But those never happened.

When the elevator reached the floor and the doors opened, she, awakened by the chime, instinctively turned back to look at the man as she stepped out—

"Good night."

With his suit jacket draped over his shoulder and one hand in his pocket, Zhou Yi, his shirt cuffs rolled up to his elbows, smiled and offered the blessing.

The elevator doors slowly closed, cutting off Qin Lan's final view.

Back in her room, after taking a shower, Qin Lan, overcome by drowsiness, didn't turn off the lights and fell into a deep sleep on the bed, carrying uncertainty about the future...

"Fighting through the night by lamplight! In the Jiangnan water towns, Zhou Yi and Qin Lan recite poetry and paint for a whole night!"

The next day, Hong Kong's "Sun Newspaper" was the first to print a rather artistic headline, accompanied by photos of the two returning to the hotel and entering the elevator together...

"Qin Lan, the Zhihua handpicked by Qiong Yao. Knowledgeable and reasonable, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, with outstanding dance skills. Good at reading the room, good at pleasing the Old Buddha, very scheming."

"It is obvious that she grasped the essence of the character Zhihua and is extremely pleasing to Zhou Yi."

"The music video she filmed is called 'Writing Poetry for You,' so reciting poetry and painting is not impossible. It's just what kind of poetry is recited and what kind of painting is made..."

On September 9, 2003, stirred up by the "Sun Newspaper," a new couple name that looked rather artistic and quite fit the local atmosphere of the Jiangnan scholar was added to Zhou Yi's rumor CP genre—

Reciting Poetry and Painting!

Huang Xiaoming, far away in the Imperial Capital, looked at this newspaper, his heart trembling and his hands shaking—

On the lit-up mobile phone screen, in the message interface, after he had sent a whole bunch of messages asking about Qin Lan's well-being last night and Qin Lan had replied with a few sentences, the final window she left was a simple sentence: "I'm going to take a shower, I won't talk anymore."