Chapter 197: Cigarette High Heels Wait A Moment
Backstage.
Director Group.
“Director, director, ratings broke 50%!!”
A staff member monitoring real-time ratings shouted in surprise: “It’s 11% higher than last year’s peak! It’s broken, director, it’s broken!”
The Spring Festival Gala chief director was equally surprised and shocked: “Didn’t Shen Bin and the others’ sketch just hit 40%? It jumped straight up 10%?”
“Yeah, I’m puzzled too… This is too exaggerated. Oh right, I remember now, tonight is the early access finale of 《Xing Ni》! A lot of people are waiting to see Professor Chi and Qian Songyi!”
The director was dumbfounded for a moment, then shook his head with a sigh: “This Chi Ye, he’s really riding a rocket. Look at the influence of his every move now?”
“Ratings are dropping again, 《Blue and White Porcelain》 is over, it’s starting to drop again.”
The staff looked up again: “What do we do?”
“What do you mean what do we do… Where are Chi Ye and Jin Xia? Quickly call them back to their seats, give them more shots! Today, you two just sit properly for me!”
“Okay, I’ll go find them.”
……
Backstage, aisle.
“Teacher Chi, am I pretty?”
Jin Xia held up her ruqun skirt with her small hands, her little face flushed red, peach blossom eyes curved into crescents, the two silk white plums pinned at her temples seemed to come alive, the green jade hairpin tassels swayed lightly, her Wu Nong soft language temperament vivid on paper.
She looked delighted at her own makeup and styling: “It would be great if I could film a costume drama with you.”
Chi Ye glanced at her: “Not very pretty.”
“Hm?”
Jin Xia glanced at him, saw no one nearby, pulled Chi Ye to the corner, leaned in: “Pretty?”
Chi Ye: “……Not bad.”
The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes, sized him up a few times, thought for a moment, suddenly tugged her collar lower, probed: “Pretty?”
“Now it’s pretty.”
Chi Ye nodded in satisfaction.
“……Hmph hmph.”
The Empress Dowager quickly fixed her collar, frowned and lectured: “You reflect properly.”
“Reflect on what?”
“How would I know what you need to reflect on? Just reflect first anyway.”
Chi Ye slanted a look at her, was about to speak when staff from the Director Group over there shouted: “Teacher Chi? Teacher Jin Xia? Come quickly, the live performance seats can’t stay empty, we need your shots, no time left, and you’ll sing 《Unforgettable Tonight》 later, please hurry.”
Chi and Jin: “……”
Damn it, I’ve only gotten this far and someone interrupts?
Chi Ye cursed bad luck inwardly, Jin Xia saw his emotion, thought, leaned to his ear: “Teacher Chi, don’t be sad, I’ll show you properly later.”
Chi Ye: “?!!”
He perked up immediately: “Hey, you better keep your word…”
“Aiya aiya, hurry hurry hurry, no time.”
Jin Xia was just putting on a bold front in front of Chi Ye, not giving him a chance to continue, pushed him forward.
“I recorded it, if you play tricks, I’ll pour gutter oil in your cola later.”
“There’s such a good thing?!”
Chi Ye: “……You’d better really think it’s tasty.”
“……”
The two bantered all the way back to the live performance, and as soon as they sat, they straightened up, looking composed and polite.
Spring Festival Gala shots cut over, the live performance erupted in chaos, audiences in front of TVs screamed, ratings rose slightly.
Not far from their round table, Sheng Ning, Shi Jinwei, Xu Yingying, Yu Yan and others stared at the two with complicated gazes.
《Blue and White Porcelain》…
What a 《Blue and White Porcelain》.
As soon as this song came out, the best program of this year’s Spring Festival Gala was set, and the so-called “beautiful wish” for Chi Ye to flop was utterly shattered.
So infuriating.
“No way, how did he write such lyrics and compose such music in such a short time?”
On the other side, Zhang Yu and Chu Han Zhou, who had been low-key lately but kept gaining fans, was puzzled: “I don’t even recognize half the lyrics in this song, is his cultural level that high?”
Hua Yichen beside him tugged at his mouth.
“Hey buddy.” Chu Han Zhou asked curiously again: “What was Yue Na thinking back then, why did they release it?”
Young President Liu of Yue Na’s face darkened, feeling stifled.
“Don’t talk, Unforgettable Tonight is about to start, don’t sing it wrong this time.”
A friend from the same company as Chu Han Zhou reminded him. On stage, the last large-scale art show program approaching midnight ended, next was the annual classic grand chorus, all guests on stage together, singing 《Unforgettable Tonight》.
But for such a grand chorus, ordinary audiences clearly weren’t interested.
Jin Xia’s sister found it boring, and while the big TV at home played this scene, she had already pulled out her mobile phone and opened Weibo.
—As expected, Professor Chi and Qian Songyi’s “reunion” in the 《Xing Ni》 finale had exploded across the entire net.
《Blue and White Porcelain》 similarly exploded across the entire net.
At this moment, on the Weibo hot search list, their popularity even surpassed “Spring Festival Gala,” of course… since they themselves were guests of this year’s Spring Festival Gala, so the popularity of #Chi Pan Xia Yu# was approximately equal to that of the Spring Festival Gala.
#Professor Chi Qian Songyi《Blue and White Porcelain》#
#Sky Blue Waiting for Smoke and Rain#
#Chi Ye Jin Xia#
#Chi Pan Xia Yu#
#Porcelain#
Related hot words exploded the hot search list, especially Chi Ye and Jin Xia’s CP fans, and 《Xing Ni》’s CP fans, they had gone crazy.
「Who gets it! The moment Xia Xia took the stage, all my pores opened up, such a surprise!」
「Tearing up, the old CP is attacking me again.」
「Old CP what? Professor Chi and the big star are a match made in heaven!」
「《Blue and White Porcelain》 doesn’t even seem like something a human could write, heard it was only finished before the Spring Festival Gala rehearsal, Ye Zi’s talent is at a level that could make career fans faint daily, how can internal entertainment circle have such a perfect man?!」
「Spring Festival Gala finale 50% ratings value! Advising certain Si Zi and YY family fans not to be shameless, your masters could never reach Ye Zi’s current height in a lifetime.」
「This year’s Spring Festival Gala’s most awesome program, no doubt!」
「Not in China, wasn’t into Chinese culture before, but after hearing this song today, suddenly fell in love with porcelain.」
「Quality idol, well-deserved!」
Although Spring Festival Gala’s reputation has gradually declined over the past decade, due to its deep-rooted reasons, its influence is still undoubtedly the NO1 gala.
Whether global Chinese will watch is unknown, but that night everyone would turn on the TV as background music, plus 《Xing Ni》’s own popularity, there were already many overseas audiences paying attention to this Spring Festival Gala.
So, 《Blue and White Porcelain》 almost as soon as it was sung, like a spark, instantly ignited the entire net + overseas regions.
Yes, not just exploding domestically, overseas, South Korea, Singapore, even little Japan, all heard this song.
Professor Chi turns out to be a music genius too!
This was the first reaction of Southeast Asia audiences and fans who previously didn’t know much and just simply liked “Professor Chi,” followed by an unexpected surprise, feeling they didn’t stan the wrong person.
Is Professor Chi in reality also as “omnipotent” as in the drama?
The influence of 《Blue and White Porcelain》 spread unknowingly.
Cultural promotion is often silent, formless and colorless, but when accumulated to a certain peak, it suddenly erupts, forming huge influence.
Clearly, Chi Ye succeeded, with one 《Blue and White Porcelain》, he successfully completed the “mission” the leader had high hopes for.
The leader was very happy, that night called Jin Zhao several times to express “thanks.”
Jin Zhao was also very happy, but… when seeing Chi Ye and Jin Xia together on CCTV Second Channel for an interview after 《Unforgettable Tonight》, suddenly not so happy, mood complicated.
……
After twelve o’clock.
Spring Festival Gala basically ended, but most people hadn’t left.
Chi Ye and Jin Xia received an interview from CCTV Second Channel.
Joining them for the interview were also Lao Peng, who seeing Chi Ye’s career getting better day by day was completely anxious and wanted to climb Spring Mountain but nearly ended up on Liang Mountain, internal entertainment circle’s number one literature top scholar Chu Han Zhou, and a certain Huang Xing Yiren.
The five sat in the studio’s live broadcast room, the studio’s ratings visibly rising.
Host Xiao Ni first asked Lao Peng and Huang Xing Yiren a few questions.
Asked Lao Peng: “Do you feel the Spring Festival Gala stage is particularly big, so you tried your all to attract the audience’s attention?”
Lao Peng’s face a bit awkward, stammered: “Such a big stage, indeed a bit nervous.”
Asked Huang Xing Yiren: “If there’s a parallel universe, what would you be doing now?”
Huang Xing Yiren’s face sallow: “Probably… probably watching Spring Festival Gala at home.”
The host satisfied, then skipped Chu Han Zhou, asked the protagonists #Chi Pan Xia Yu#.
As for why not ask Zhang Yu…
This was Chu Han Zhou’s own request, he just came to show his face and smile, no need to ask him.
“We just heard 《Blue and White Porcelain》, this song is really beautiful, heard Chi Ye you only completed this creation recently, where did you get the inspiration to create such an excellent song?”
Chi Ye thought, said: “I think it has something to do with the 《Xing Ni》 script.”
“Oh?”
Everyone perked up with interest.
Chi Ye explained: “Because there’s a plot in 《Xing Ni》 about Professor Chi and Qian Songyi’s previous life, one setting is Professor Chi likes collecting porcelain, knowledgeable in antiques, when I wrote that plot, I specially researched a lot of porcelain knowledge.”
“The more I learned, the more I felt this culture is beautiful, this beauty perhaps not referring to any specific thing, but the beauty of time.”
“Beauty of time?”
The others looked sideways, the Empress Dowager’s eyes sparkling.
Xiao Ni puzzled: “Why say that?”
“Porcelain is China’s brilliant treasure to the world, with deep cultural heritage, the inspiration for 《Blue and White Porcelain》 besides porcelain, actually also ‘people’.”
Chi Ye gave the “official explanation”: “Winding lotus spirals up from the bottle base, banana leaf patterns unfold at the neck, cloud cranes flap wings to fly, landscapes unfold thousands of miles in inches, every line hides the tempering of thousand-degree kiln fire, and the craftsman’s breath lightness and heaviness.”
“So, in a certain instant, I felt, when the craftsman lifts the brush, the tip isn’t dipped in paint, it’s time.”
Everyone slightly stunned, Peng Chen looked dumbfounded at Chi Ye, as if not recognizing him at all.
Chu Han Zhou: What the hell is he saying, can he speak human?!
……
Jin Family Home.
The old master is old, after hearing 《Unforgettable Tonight》, went back to his room to rest.
Other friends and relatives at Jin Family Home still in the living room, at this moment, hearing Chi Ye’s answer on TV, all slightly stunned, looked at each other.
The aunt surprised: “This… so good at talking?”
The other aunt composed: “Chi Ye’s eloquence has always been pretty good.”
Jin Mu glanced at her, thought you’re so smug for what.
Jin Zhao’s face a bit dark—he noticed his precious daughter’s gaze at Chi Ye!
Pride, admiration, unconcealed joy.
Speaking of, with your current popularity and career, staring at him so blatantly, won’t it make fans explode?
In the crowd, instead Jin Ming, who always “looked down on” Chi Ye, suddenly gained new respect for him upon hearing this.
“Wonderful! This young man has poetry and books in his belly, his demeanor forms its own style and backbone, every gesture reveals uncommonness, truly a formidable successor.”
Jin Family Home crowd: “?!”
His wife saw, felt it embarrassing, snapped: “Speak human!”
Jin Ming’s face instantly red, pointing at the crowd: “You all… disgraceful to culture!”
Now looking, none of you deserve to be Chi Ye’s “family”!
A bunch of worldly people! Bumpkins!
And why is Chi Ye’s fancy words “eloquent,” but mine is “speak human”?!
His wife could tell his thesis defense color at a glance, so lowered voice to scold: “Wait till you write a 《Blue and White Porcelain》, then talk.”
Jin Ming furious: “I’m not an artist, what would I… write!”
“You’d better not leak.”
His wife glared at him.
Jin Ming: “……Face.”
“Got it, shutting up.”
“……”
……
Second Channel interview ended.
Chi Ye and Jin Xia walked out of the studio, to the parking lot, Sister Mi already waiting nearby.
“Teacher Chi, you’re really not coming home with me for New Year?”
Jin Xia looked at Chi Ye reluctantly: “If you have nowhere for New Year, come back with me.”
“I have a place for New Year.”
Chi Ye shook his mobile phone: “I plan to call mom and dad later, haven’t contacted for a long time, kinda miss them.”
“……Alright then, see you after New Year, I’ll miss you.”
Jin Xia glanced at his mobile phone, paused, then leaned over: “Every morning and night, send me WeChat on time… I won’t let you do it for nothing, I’ll send you red envelopes!”
Chi Ye nodded immediately: “Red envelopes fine, but transfers better, large amounts.”
Jin Xia glanced at Sister Mi who kept looking over, waved: “……I’m off, Teacher Chi.”
“Bye bye.”
“Mm, Happy New Year, Teacher Chi.”
“Happy New Year.”
After Chi Ye spoke, Jin Xia turned and walked to Sister Mi, about to get in the car.
Bang bang!
Bang bang bang!
The fireworks that had already gone off a round after singing 《Unforgettable Tonight》 exploded again, colorful fireworks instantly bloomed into huge golden stars, layered petals scattering like shattered gold, lighting up the entire night sky.
“Go on, see you.”
Chi Ye waved.
“Mm… Teacher Chi, you were so handsome today!”
After saying, Jin Xia didn’t wait for Chi Ye’s response, closed the car door.
The sedan drove off.
Chi Ye watched the vehicle leave, then lowered his hand, a bit dazedly looking at the fireworks phantoms in the night sky, gradually withering and dissipating.
—He has no mom.
The original host was from a divorced family, mom gone, dad also missing abroad without news.
But to not make the Empress Dowager feel guilty, he didn’t tell her, because with the Empress Dowager’s personality, if she really knew his family situation, she definitely wouldn’t go back to Shanghai today.
But if not going back, the old master sees her only a few times a year, whether for the family or her personally, it would be very upsetting, and the Empress Dowager who likes grandfather most would definitely keep feeling guilty.
So Chi Ye said he would contact family.
But this phone call is to the void, call parents from another world?
Thinking of this, Chi Ye’s originally unperturbed emotions suddenly felt a bit melancholic.
Yeah, he not only has no wife, seems he has no relatives either.
Click clack clack…
Suddenly, behind him came the sound of high heels hitting the ground.
Chi Ye startled, subconsciously turned back.
Saw Sheng Ning lighting a lady’s cigarette, phoenix eyes quietly looking at him: “What are you looking at? Looking for mom again?”
Chi Ye raised a brow: “Looking for daughter.”
“……”
Sheng Ning this time unusually didn’t get angry or retort, just quietly smoked, didn’t speak, didn’t leave, like an instinctive habit, every year at this time, she would stand nearby for a while.
Doing nothing, just quietly staying.
