On the fourth day of the new year.
In the morning, the newspapers went on sale.
“Birth of a Heavenly King!”
“Zhang Ye mightily ascends to summit!”
“Showbiz could be entering new era!”
Many celebrities offer congratulations on Weibo!”
“Zhang Ye reaches new popularity high!”
Switching on the television, it was all news of Zhang Ye as well.
Central TV: “Tonight, A Date with Yan Mei will have a special feature episode. The famous interview host, Yan Mei, shall be taking a step into Zhang Ye’s house to bring everyone the realest side of him. They will be following Zhang Ye around for a day to document his private and work life on camera. Are you ready for Zhang Ye’s first appearance since he became a Heavenly King?”
On Weibo.
“Wow!”
“It’s coming, it’s coming!”
“Haha, A Date with Yan Mei is coming!”
“I’m really looking forward to the interview.”
“Right, I’ve never seen Zhang Ye in his daily life before.”
“It’s his debut appearance on a show after becoming a Heavenly King!”
“I have been watching this show. It’s rather interesting!”
“I just want to see Wu Zeqing!”
“Pfft! Actually, me too. Chief Wu is so beautiful!”
“If Zhang Ye’s wife had abandoned public office to join the entertainment industry, she would definitely be much more popular than this fellow!”
“Hahahaha, agreed!”
“Just for Chief Wu alone, I have become a flamer-turned-fan of the SARFT!”
“Pfft, the interview is with Zhang Ye. Can you guys be serious?”
“They should already be filming it now, right?”
“Let’s wait for tonight to watch!”
“+1!”
…
At home.
It was past 7 AM.
Zhang Ye was up very early today because he had an appointment for an interview. However, he did not expect that Yan Mei and her team would be even earlier. He had just opened his eyes when the doorbell downstairs rang.
“Oh, they’re here?”
“I think so.”
“Can you answer the door, Old Wu?”
“OK.”
Wu Zeqing went to open the door.
Zhang Ye yawned as he made his way down the stairs. He and Yan Mei were already very familiar with each other as they had worked together during the Spring Festival Gala.
Outside the door, a casually dressed Yan Mei was standing there with a smile. Behind her was only a single cameraman. The camera was already on and recording. From the time Yan Mei had knocked on the door, the camera was already recording. They were here to document Zhang Ye’s day at home and work after all, so it would surely be recording throughout the day.
Yan Mei smiled and said, “Chief Wu, happy New Year.”
Wu Zeqing smiled. “You’re here? Come on in.”
The camera focused on her for a short while.
“Ay, sorry to disturb you.” Yan Mei stepped into the house and said with her head lowered, “I have to change into slippers, right?”
Zhang Ye came up to them and said generously, “Hai, there’s no need. Just walk around as you like and treat this as your own home.”
The camera shifted focus to Zhang Ye.
Yan Mei smiled and said, “Director Zhang, I’ll be following you around today. Wherever you go to, I’ll be coming along too. Whatever you eat, I will be having it as well, so please do take care of me.”
Zhang Ye said, “That depends on how big of an appetite you have.”
Yan Mei smiled. “I can eat quite a lot.”
Zhang Ye said, “Then let me think if I should take care of you.”
The few of them laughed.
Yan Mei said, “There’s actually nothing too special about today’s interview, just go on with your daily life as usual and chat with me when you can spare some time. You can ignore me when you’re busy, but I’ll be following and observing you.”
Zhang Ye blinked and said, “Just go on with my daily life as usual?”
Yan Mei nodded and smiled. “Yes, we want to capture the realest side of how you live.”
Zhang Ye turned around and walked away. “Alright.”
“Oh? Where are you going?” Yan Mei was taken aback.
Zhang Ye said, “I’ll head back to bed for another two hours. I usually sleep until 9 AM.”
Yan Mei giggled, “Pfft!”
The cameraman also burst out laughing!
Wu Zeqing grinned. “Ignore him, that’s how he is.”
Zhang Ye was just kidding anyway, so of course he didn’t really head back to bed.
Yan Mei looked at Wu Zeqing. “Is your husband always like this?”
Wu Zeqing laughed and said, “Yes, he’s usually like this, always joking.”
Yan Mei asked, “May I look around your house?”
“Sure, please feel free.” Wu Zeqing did not stay with them and headed off to make breakfast.
Upstairs.
Yan Mei and the cameraman came up.
Zhang Ye was brushing his teeth in the bathroom when he saw her coming up. He mumbled with the toothbrush still in his mouth, “Old Yan, you two haven’t had breakfast yet, right?”
Yan Mei said, “Not yet.”
Zhang Ye said happily, “It’s not that I’m bragging, but you should try my wife’s cooking. I guarantee you that you won’t want to leave after today.” He spat out the toothpaste foam without a care, then rinsed his mouth and spat out the water before saying again, “Don’t doubt me; I’m not lying.”
Yan Mei said, looking forward to it, “You’re making me hungry.”
Zhang Ye wiped his face and stepped out in his slippers. “You’re hungry? Come, let’s go.”
Breakfast was ready.
Yan Mei said politely, “Thank you, Chief Wu.”
Wu Zeqing said, “No need to be so polite.”
Yan Mei said, “Do you usually make the meals at home?”
Wu Zeqing smiled and said, “I don’t really have time to cook often. He’s busy with his work and I’m busy with mine as well, so we don’t usually get to have dinner together.”
Zhang Ye was really showing off. “Here, take a bite.”
“Sure.” Yan Mei picked up the chopsticks and tasted the food. She then gave a surprised expression. “This is really too good!”
Zhang Ye laughed heartily. “See, I wasn’t lying, right?”
Yan Mei immediately turned to the camera and said, “It’s not that I’m being flattering here, but this is so good that I could die.”
Zhang Ye boasted, “You still haven’t had a taste of my wife’s specialty dishes. Let’s wait for lunch so that you can find out for yourself what I mean.”
Ring, ring, ring.
At this moment, Zhang Ye’s cell phone rang.
He picked it up and said, “Old Ha, what’s the matter—OK, OK—Yes, I understand. Let’s talk when I get back to the office—alright, sure.”
They hung up.
Zhang Ye said to Old Wu. “Something has come up at the studio. I have to go back to the office for a bit.”
Wu Zeqing asked, “Will you be back for lunch?”
Zhang Ye said helplessly, “I’ll have to see. I might not be able to if it gets busy over there.”
After breakfast, Zhang Ye put on his jacket and left.
Yan Mei and the cameraman followed him into the car.
In the car, Zhang Ye stepped on the accelerator and drove out of the neighborhood. Then, he turned his head to the front passenger seat where Yan Mei was sitting and said, “Sometimes, I feel sorry for my wife. A lot of times after she’s finished cooking, and just as I’m picking up my chopsticks to eat, I receive a call about some urgent matters that I have to attend to immediately. There are times when I really feel like taking a break for half a year, but it’s not something that I can do. People like us who do this for a living, can we really just take a break whenever we want? Are we just going to ignore the viewers? Abandon our work? Disregard the fans? There are so many people waiting to see us, and so many people depending on us for their livelihoods as well, so how can we just drop everything without a care? We have to get to our feet even if we’re paralyzed!”
Yan Mei sighed and said, “I have it a little better than you. My workload is not that great, although it does get quite busy at times and I can’t go home since I travel for work.”
Zhang Ye asked, “Old Yan, are you single?”
Yan Mei smiled and said, “I’m currently single. My marriage broke down precisely because we couldn’t understand each other’s work commitments. I don’t think I’ll settle down again before retirement.”
The atmosphere became a little heavy.
Both of them understood this feeling quite well.
Zhang Ye was driving along when he suddenly started talking to himself.
” Worried my affection breaks my vows, 1
“Still fearful of beauty’s allure in seclusion.
“In this world, who can fulfill both callings?
“Faithful to Buddha, faithful to you.”
Yan Mei fell silent. This poem had mercilessly struck at her heart!
The cameraman also drew in a deep breath.
“Director Zhang.”
“Eh?”
“May I request for a piece of calligraphy from you?”
“What calligraphy?”
“The poem you just recited.”
“Sure, I’ll get someone to send it over to you after I write it down.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”