Sun Li had always said she didn't want to buy a car, but once they actually got one, she was genuinely happy. In this way, she was like many women—saying "no, no" with their mouths, but the longing in their hearts was impossible to hide completely.
Although Beijing traffic was terrible, Sun Li and Zhou You weren't annoyed. After all, two people with nothing to do were happy just being together, no matter where they were. Sun Li treasured every moment with Zhou You; sometimes she wished the traffic jam would last forever, stretching on until the end of time.
Zhou You was actually curious why Sun Li liked blue. In his mind, pink was for women and blue for men. "Why did you pick this blue one instead of another color?"
"Oh, I didn't think much about it. Zhang Yiming chose the black one, and I didn't want red. The weather's too hot, and red just looks irritating. Blue is nice—it feels calming," Sun Li explained casually as she drove.
Alright, Zhou You realized he might be overthinking things.
"Teacher Miao Xia invited you to dinner tonight. She's been wanting to thank you. Ever since you did the soundtrack for 'A Bite of China,' she's become famous and even got promoted to associate professor."
"Sure, it doesn't matter who's treating. I'll cover it tonight. She's been looking after you lately. Is studying tough?" As the car came to a stop in traffic, Zhou You grabbed Sun Li's hand and started massaging it.
"It feels great. Back when I first graduated from college and opened a music instrument shop with a friend, it was actually pretty exhausting. The mental stress was high, and we could barely recruit any students." She couldn't help but laugh, shooting Zhou You a glance. "If it weren't for some fool coming to learn the flute, we might have gone under." She squeezed his hand tightly. "Now it's so relaxed, and I really enjoy this state. Only someone who's struggled in society knows how wonderful it is to focus solely on learning."
Zhou You looked at Sun Li, her gaze a bit dazed, and knew she was speaking from the heart. "Focus on driving—people behind us are honking."
You couldn't mess around in the car; it was too easy for things to go wrong. As for those who drove while fooling around inside, Zhou You truly admired their fearlessness.
Stop and go all the way, they finally reached the neighborhood. "I guess we'll only use the car for long trips. Since my daily commute to study is so close, I don't really need it. But we'll keep it here. From now on, when you come to Beijing, I'll pick you up."
Zhou You found the ride comfortable, but Sun Li was a bit frustrated by the traffic.
"What do you want for lunch? Should we eat out or at home?" Sun Li asked.
"I drank too much last night and feel a bit off. Let's eat at home. You can make me some noodles," Zhou You said. He had indeed had a bit too much to drink the night before, mainly because he was too happy and couldn't stop.
"Alright, wait a moment. I worked up a sweat driving. Let me take a shower first, then I'll make you noodles," Sun Li said as she headed to the bathroom. Summer was too hot; even the slightest movement left you drenched in sweat.
To give Zhou You a little boost, Sun Li made him abalone and seafood noodles for lunch, piled high with toppings.
After finishing the bowl, Zhou You was sweating profusely from the heat. "Ah, that was so satisfying! Great cooking!"
...
Miao Xia was a bit conflicted. She had planned to treat Zhou You to dinner tonight, but a friend from the Beijing Film Academy contacted her. Somehow, through roundabout channels, this friend knew she was acquainted with Zhou You and wanted her to introduce them that evening.
At first, Miao Xia wanted to refuse. After all, this dinner was specifically to thank Zhou You, and inviting someone else would seem insincere. But the other person was a close friend she interacted with regularly and who had helped her many times.
"Alright, what's the main reason you want to see him? Tell me so I have a sense of it," Miao Xia asked. If it was too difficult or complicated, she wouldn't dare risk it, as that could easily offend Zhou You.
"I'm planning to make a movie and want to see if President Zhou is interested," the other person said.
"So you're looking for him to invest. Wait a moment, let me ask my student first, then I'll get back to you. I can't guarantee anything 100%," Miao Xia said, playing it safe.
After hanging up, she sent a message to Sun Li, briefly explaining the situation and asking her to pass it along. Miao Xia could have called Zhou You directly, but she used a little trick—going through Sun Li would have a higher success rate.
After hearing about it, Zhou You didn't mind. Since it came through Miao Xia, he had to show face and meet the person. As for investing, that depended on the project.
Seeing Zhou You agree, Sun Li quickly replied to Miao Xia.
"Brother You, Teacher Miao is now an associate professor. Next year, she can take on graduate students. She's already told me she'll take me directly," Sun Li updated him on Miao Xia's latest progress.
"That's great. For the graduate entrance exam, once the advisor is set, you're basically halfway there." That made it even more important to treat her to dinner tonight.
In the afternoon, Zhou You and Sun Li went to Miao Xia's training studio. Zhou You mainly wanted to see Sun Li's latest progress—whether her skills had improved. Since Sun Li had left, Zhou You had been practicing the flute less often.
When they arrived, Miao Xia wasn't there. Sun Li didn't mention it, as the training center was large. Since Sun Li trained there every day now, she was very familiar with the place and went straight to her own designated space.
"Play the flute first. I don't want to hear the drums right now."
"Alright, I'll play a few for you. Listen and see how my rendition of 'Partridge Flight' differs from before," Sun Li said, then began to play.
This time, Zhou You closed his eyes, wanting to soak in some musical inspiration. As he listened, he imagined the partridge bird soaring near and far, high and low, vividly depicting its free flight in the sky, reflecting people's boundless longing and pursuit of a happy life. The quiet opening gave a sense of mystery, and the gradual crescendo and decrescendo made the sound full of vitality.
After it ended, Zhou You couldn't help but applaud. Even as an outsider, especially now that he had just started learning, he could hear the difference. Through this period of professional training, Sun Li's performance level had improved further.
Then Sun Li played a few more pieces for Zhou You, who listened with rapt attention. Music was like that—it could relax the mind and cultivate the soul.
After a while, Miao Xia arrived, just in time for dinner. The three of them went to a nearby restaurant.
"President Zhou, I'm truly grateful. The soundtrack for the 'A Bite of China' documentary last time benefited me greatly. Words can't express my thanks. From now on, Sun Li's matters are my matters," Miao Xia said as soon as she walked in, expressing her gratitude.
"Teacher Miao, you're too kind. It's your professional skill that made it work so well," Zhou You replied modestly.
Since they arrived early, the other person hadn't shown up yet. Miao Xia felt a bit embarrassed, as she was the one who had arranged this. Fortunately, after a short wait, a woman with a very intellectual look walked in. Miao Xia quickly stood up to introduce her.