The influence of the food documentary "A Bite of China" has grown increasingly, and more people are becoming aware of it. But Zhou You, being behind the scenes, only received a few calls from acquaintances when it first became popular, and things gradually quieted down afterward. This is exactly why Zhou You prefers to stay behind the scenes. Those celebrities who step into the spotlight lose their freedom wherever they go, greatly affecting their lives and life experiences.
In the blink of an eye, it was June, and final exams were over. Thanks to the popularity of the food documentary and Zhou You's deliberate guidance, he had shared a lot of documentary knowledge with his classmates and recommended many excellent documentaries. While they still had many changes ahead, understanding more about society and gaining more knowledge would make their future paths smoother. Zhou You also maintained his record of never failing a course. If his department were to evaluate the most popular teacher now, Zhou You would likely be on the list.
After finishing his tasks, Zhou You set off for Shanghai. He was going to attend the documentary film festival he had been looking forward to—though calling it a documentary film festival wasn't quite accurate; it was more of a documentary screening event. When he arrived in Shanghai, Zhao Yun insisted on picking him up, and there was no stopping him.
"Brother Yun, this makes me a bit uncomfortable," Zhou You teased as he got into the car. "While I still can pick you up, I'll do it a few more times. Otherwise, in a few years, even if I want to, I won't have the chance," Zhao Yun sighed. "Teacher Zhou is getting more impressive by the day. The projects you invest in keep getting better. My documentary is almost finished too, but I have no idea how it'll turn out," Zhao Yun said, feeling uncertain. "Don't overthink it. Don't forget your original intention. Why do we make documentaries? If it wins awards and spreads well, great. If not, keep a balanced mindset," Zhou You advised, noticing Zhao Yun's wavering mentality. "Exactly. How many hobbies and ideals get slowly tainted by other interests, losing their purity, until we gradually lose interest. What a sad thing that is," Zhao Yun said, feeling a pang of resonance.
It was like that story: kids playing and making noise in front of an old man's house. The old man gave them money to buy snacks. Later, he said he had no more money to give, and the kids felt they were losing out by playing there, so they stopped. The old man regained his peace. Originally, the kids played and made noise for their own enjoyment, driven by internal motivation. The old man, by giving them money, turned it into playing for money. When the money stopped, the kids forgot they had originally played for fun, not for money. Playing was once driven by internal reasons—the desire to have fun. Later, it became about gaining money, an external reason. When the external reason disappeared, so did the hobby. Don't forget your original intention, and you'll achieve your goals.
Zhao Yun didn't yet know that Zhou You had bought a house in Shanghai. This time, Zhou You asked Zhao Yun to drop him off at the new neighborhood and invited Xiao Bai over for a meal together. Zhao Yun had met Wang Fangfang before, so seeing Xiao Bai surprised him a bit, though he didn't show it. After all, he had seen a lot working at the TV station, and besides, he couldn't be entirely sure about the relationship between the two. Regardless, it was Zhou You's freedom, and he had no right to interfere. Zhou You introduced Xiao Bai to Zhao Yun to reassure her and also for emergencies—if something urgent came up, she wouldn't be left helpless.
"Xiao Bai, this is Zhao Yun. Just call him Brother Yun. He works at Shanghai TV Station," Zhou You introduced. "Hello, Brother Yun. I hope you'll take care of me in the future," Xiao Bai stood up and greeted Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun quickly stood up as well: "Just let me know if you need anything. Zhou You is still my benefactor." Zhou You laughed heartily: "Brother Yun is a straightforward guy. Don't bother him for no reason. But if you can't reach me in an emergency, go to him. Brother Yun is very reliable." He piled on free compliments one after another, leaving Zhao Yun a bit dizzy.
"Brother You, are you coming with me to the documentary exhibition tomorrow?" Zhao Yun asked, unsure of Zhou You's intentions. "Of course. Without you to lead the way, I wouldn't even know where to find the place, let alone the door," Zhou You said, noticing Xiao Bai's curiosity. "There's a documentary festival these two days. I mentioned it to you before. Do you want to come along and check it out?" Xiao Bai's eyes lit up with excitement as she stared at Zhou You: "Can I really go? Won't it interfere with your plans?" Seeing her eager look, Zhou You quickly replied: "There's nothing to interfere with. I'm just here to have fun. I don't do much serious work all year." Even Zhou You couldn't help but laugh at his own words. Thinking about it, his investments only took a few days and were done quickly. Most of his time was spent leisurely eating, drinking, and having fun. No wonder he felt so happy.
Zhao Yun pursed his lips and couldn't help saying: "You're way too relaxed as a teacher. You have money and free time. I don't know how many people envy you."
"Brother Yun, is there a license plate lottery in place now?" Zhou You noticed the roads weren't too congested yet, and the neighborhood came with a parking space that was always empty, which felt like a waste. If he could get a license plate now, he'd do it quickly to avoid future hassles. "There's been a lottery for a while, but the chances of winning are pretty high now. If all else fails, you can find a scalper—it's fast," Zhao Yun explained. Zhou You was taken aback. An international metropolis was indeed different. Regardless, he still needed to buy a car, at least for emergencies.
"Brother Yun, do you have time this afternoon? Want to come with me to buy a car? With a local like you guiding me, I'll feel at ease." "Even if I don't have time, I'll make time. Since you, Boss Zhou, have spoken, how dare I disobey?" Zhao Yun didn't have much to do anyway, so accompanying him for a trip was fine.
After the three of them ate, they took Zhao Yun's car to a 4S dealership. "Xiao Bai, is there any car you like? You'll be the one driving it mostly, so your opinion matters," Zhou You said in the car. Xiao Bai was stunned: "I don't really care. I'm not picky about cars. Besides, taking the subway to work is convenient now. Driving would actually be slower." "It's fine. Having a car parked there means you can drive it whenever you want, or leave it if you don't. Do you have your ID with you? We'll register it under your name." Zhao Yun drove silently, saying nothing. He didn't understand the world of the wealthy, nor did he want to.
Given Zhou You's cautious and reliable nature, and seeing that Xiao Bai had no specific preferences, he directly said to Zhao Yun: "Head to the Volvo dealership." As far as he knew, Volvo was known for its high safety standards.
When they arrived at the dealership, Zhou You immediately took a liking to the SUVs, but he hesitated when he looked at Xiao Bai's height. "Xiao Bai, go ahead and test drive one." Xiao Bai didn't hesitate and test-drove several SUVs. Although she was petite, the SUVs offered a broader view and were relatively safer.
Seeing that Xiao Bai was satisfied, Zhou You asked the salesperson: "Do you have the XC60 or XC90 in stock?" "Sir, only the XC60 is available now. The XC90 might require a wait." At that point, Xiao Bai chimed in: "The XC90 is too big, and it's a seven-seater. The XC60 is just right—five seats and easier to drive."
Meeting again feels like the first time, and to the end, there will be no resentment.