Hu Shao Lei walked to the door. His secretary was making an outgoing call and immediately stood up upon seeing him.
Hu Shao Lei said: “Xiao Qi, wait a moment.”
Beijing’s winter wind was particularly strong this year, with many clouds but little snow, and poor air quality.
In the afternoon, after Zhao Ping Jin finished a meeting where he was responsible for escorting leaders, he stepped out onto the Great Hall’s stairs and glanced upward to see dense black clouds pressing down on the red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City.
The leaders couldn’t stay outdoors for long. Zhao Ping Jin accompanied them down the steps. At this moment, the mobile phone of the secretary following not far behind him rang. Shen Min apologized to the leader’s entourage and stepped aside to answer the call.
When they reached the black sedan at the bottom of the stairs, the middle-aged man smiled, his commanding face revealing a touch of familial warmth: “Zhou Er, you may go now.”
Zhao Ping Jin humbly and politely shook hands with the man: “Have a safe journey.”
Guards maintained security along the roadside. The security vehicles departed, opening up the lane. Zhao Ping Jin watched as the black car drove away.
At this moment, the driver brought his official car over. Zhao Ping Jin sat in the back seat, and Shen Min walked to his car door, only then handing him the phone: “For you.”
Zhao Ping Jin glanced at the screen and nodded.
Shen Min closed the car door for him.
Zhao Ping Jin leaned back in his seat, relaxed his body, and then raised the phone, asking with a smile: “Lei Zi?”
Hu Shao Lei complained as soon as he spoke: “You’ve got quite the air about you, can’t even be reached by phone.”
Zhao Ping Jin responded casually on his end: “I was with the leaders, how could I dare answer the phone?”
Hu Shao Lei didn’t want to humor him: “Alright, everyone knows how busy you are, don’t give me that official tone.”
Zhao Ping Jin changed the topic with a smile: “You’re back in Beijing? The other day, Hai Jun came back to visit family and brought several boxes of organic fruit from his farm for us brothers. He especially wanted you to try some.”
Hu Shao Lei was born in the August First Film Studio compound. Back then, Beijing kids were particularly mischievous. Zhao Ping Jin often rode his bicycle with the compound children to catch fish and grasshoppers at the Yongding River. The film studio compound was located near a tributary of the Yongding River. In middle school, Hu Shao Lei was desk mates with Zhang Hai Jun, through whom he met Zhao Ping Jin. Counting back, they had a friendship spanning twenty or thirty years. After graduation, Zhang Hai Jun went to the grassroots level for training, joining an anti-aircraft missile unit in the Hainan defense area, and only came back once every few years. Hu Shao Lei asked with concern: “Jun Zi is back? How long will he stay?”
Zhao Ping Jin tilted his head back and pinched the bridge of his nose: “His wife is about to give birth. He specifically took leave to come back for the delivery. Probably about half a month.”
“I went back last weekend. Why weren’t you around?”
“I had something to attend to.”
Hu Shao Lei said irritably: “I heard you were accompanying your father-in-law’s family to a resort. All of you married men are so whipped.”
Zhao Ping Jin replied with a cheeky smile: “Why don’t you get married too?”
Hu Shao Lei immediately cut him off: “Please don’t! Do you want everyone to jump into the fire pit with you? I have something to discuss, something serious.”
Zhao Ping Jin asked: “What is it?”
Hu Shao Lei asked directly: “That girl’s matter, are you still concerned about it?”
The other end of the phone paused for a second as if the line had been cut.
Hu Shao Lei suddenly felt uneasy and called out: “Zhou Zi?”
Zhao Ping Jin quickly responded. The playful tone was gone, his voice now very calm: “What about it?”
Unable to gauge his thoughts, Hu Shao Lei could only speak truthfully: “I saw her today auditioning for a film script. Old Tang has several actresses in mind, and she’s among them. They say her acting is good, but it seems her face has been altered. Whether she’ll be chosen is still uncertain.”
Zhao Ping Jin’s tone suddenly became displeased: “Her face is fine.”
Hu Shao Lei’s heart skipped a beat, and he said diplomatically: “Old Tang also needs to consider the production company’s opinion.”
Zhao Ping Jin asked unhurriedly: “Is the script good?”
Hu Shao Lei was equally straightforward: “I haven’t read the script, but this project is specially approved, an artistic tribute for the national anniversary. It will at least be nominated for all the gold award categories at next year’s film awards.”
After listening, Zhao Ping Jin remained silent for a moment, then responded: “If you need any resources, let Xiao Min know. The role is hers.”
Hu Shao Lei secretly breathed a sigh of relief and answered with a grin: “Got it. With your word, I can handle things better. I’ll make sure to take care of it. Hanging up now.”
“Lei Zi,” Zhao Ping Jin suddenly called out.
Hu Shao Lei halted.
Zhao Ping Jin’s voice was flat and calm: “You don’t need to mention this to others. Just keep it in mind. As long as I can maintain my position, I will look after her for a lifetime.”
Hu Shao Lei was stunned for several seconds before seriously responding: “I understand.”
Huang Xi Tang received the official news while on set in Hengdian.
That afternoon, Xi Tang requested leave from the production team to return to Shanghai. Ni Kai Lun, wearing a loose shirt and flat shoes, took Xi Tang to the Hua Film building to sign the contract.
The morning after signing, when she went to work, fellow actors and colleagues came over to exchange greetings. The director personally approached her and said: “Master Xi, Master Xi, oh my, you seem different today.”
Xi Tang hurriedly replied politely: “The same, the same. You must be teasing me.”
Xi Tang knew the appropriate response. After filming, she treated the entire production crew and fellow actors to a hot pot.
Many important moments in life, when recalled later, actually appear quite ordinary. Xi Tang remembered that it was December 28th. Hengdian was very cold. She sat on set wrapped in a military coat, listening to the background actors chat. Actors are like migratory birds nesting on film sets, with no rest or holidays. On New Year’s Day, more than thirty production teams were still filming.
Before she knew it, another year had passed.
The Central Yuan New Year’s Gala.
A little after seven in the evening, Zhao Ping Jin was in his restroom while Shen Min handed him reports from meetings held a few days ago. He had been away on inspection for the past two weeks and had missed several important meetings. Yu Xiao Ying pushed the door open to look in, saw that he was busy, and went off to socialize on her own. She was a family member of Central Yuan’s upper management and was very familiar with the organization’s personnel. The few times Yu Xiao Ying had seen Zhao Ping Jin before they married were at family gatherings after he joined Central Yuan. However, Yu Xiao Ying had barely spoken to him, because in previous years, Zhao Ping Jin never stayed long at the group’s annual gatherings. As chief engineer in a functional department, he was predictably busy during the New Year holidays and generally left after making an appearance. His uncle was usually accompanied by several lesser members of the Zhao family. But in the last year or two, as a leader, he had to mingle with the people and couldn’t easily leave. Yu Xiao Ying navigated these internal social occasions like a fish in water, even with a hint of secret excitement. In the past, she always accompanied her father; this year was the first time she attended with her husband.
Over half an hour later, an assistant knocked on the restroom door, entered, and said quietly to Zhao Ping Jin: “Director Yu’s car has arrived.”
Zhao Ping Jin stood up. The assistant helped him put on his suit jacket and opened the door. Yu Xiao Ying had just returned, carefully dressed for the occasion, with a touch of crimson on her smiling face.
Zhao Ping Jin smiled gently: “Let’s go out. Father and the others have arrived.”
Yu Xiao Ying obediently took his arm as they left the room.
The venue was set up in the second-floor banquet hall. The red carpet had been laid at the entrance of the first-floor lobby, with the sounds of employees’ excited laughter constantly filling the air. Everyone’s faces were beaming with joy. Yu Wei Min and his wife were being escorted into the banquet hall by a secretary.
Yu Xiao Ying walked forward and happily took her mother’s arm: “Mother, you look beautiful tonight.”
Yu Xiao Ying’s mother smiled and pinched her daughter’s face, but spoke to Zhao Ping Jin: “Zhou Er, it must be tiring working at year-end?”
Zhao Ping Jin smiled and replied: “It’s manageable.”
He then turned and politely addressed: “Director Yu.”
Yu Wei Min nodded with a smile.
Beside Yu Wei Min was the newly appointed Disciplinary Committee Secretary following the headquarters’ organizational reform, who said cheerfully: “Old Yu, look at your family. It truly makes one envious.”
Zhao Ping Jin shook his hand: “Secretary Bu, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
At ten past eight, after the guests had walked the red carpet, the host introduced the opening, and the program performances began. Yu Xiao Ying sat in the front row with Zhao Ping Jin seated properly beside her. His handsome, lean face revealed a cold, hard profile like white jade in the changing light.
Even among all the Beijing boys she knew, Zhao Ping Jin was considered top-tier in both appearance and family background. Having such a man as her husband made Yu Xiao Ying truly feel fortunate. Additionally, she was quite satisfied with her recent life. Zhao Ping Jin spent more time with her at home. Although he was busy and spent much time working on the study when at home, once he returned in the evening, he generally didn’t go out again.
Yu Xiao Ying knew he didn’t have anyone else outside.
This fact reassured her.
Before they married, Yu Xiao Ying knew he had girlfriends, though she wasn’t sure exactly how many. But she knew that those girls outside were different from people of their family background. No matter how much Zhao Ping Jin liked to play around, once married, he would dutifully fulfill his responsibilities as a husband.
This psychological defensive line of hers was due to her mother-in-law, Professor Zhou.
Professor Zhou had made her position clear: the Zhao family recognized only her as their daughter-in-law. She knew her son’s character best. The rule passed down through generations of Zhao men was that they were extremely family-oriented. Look at the old master in his youth, traveling north and south in the army, a lifetime of military service, yet his wife was the original spouse—something quite rare among founding generals. The old lady couldn’t recognize a single character but was very virtuous, serving her parents-in-law at the old home in northern Shaanxi, and giving birth to an eldest son who died young. She only came to Beijing in ’48 and lived a harmonious life with the old master. The feelings between his grandparents were something Zhao Ping Jin had witnessed and remembered.
Professor Zhou told Yu Xiao Ying that she needn’t worry about how many rumors surrounded Zhao Ping Jin before marriage; after marriage, his devotion to his wife would be absolute.
He had fulfilled this.
Yu Xiao Ying knew clearly in her heart that marrying him was the most secure choice. In families like theirs, a peaceful and amicable relationship between husband and wife was a form of dignity.
She understood that Zhao Ping Jin grasped this principle even better than she did.
During a pause in the music on stage, Yu Xiao Ying leaned close to his neck and whispered in his ear: “In a couple of days, it will be the Laba Festival. I received the gift list from Xiao Min for this year. For those sent from home, do you have any special instructions?”
The moment she leaned in, Zhao Ping Jin’s hand resting on the chair’s back trembled slightly, but he quickly controlled it. He inclined his body slightly, maintaining a proper posture, and responded gently beside his wife: “Follow Xiao Min’s lead with the family gifts, and for the new ones for your parents this year, choose whatever you like.”
Yu Xiao Ying gave him an obedient smile.
Zhao Ping Jin sat up straight without showing any emotion, turning his face to watch the host on stage. His left hand gently held the back of Yu Xiao Ying’s hand. Without looking, he knew that the directors seated nearby, the group’s subordinates, the reporters and photographers in the front row—all the people surrounding him—were watching him and Yu Xiao Ying. The drama here was far more fascinating than what was happening on stage.