Night in the Dream Valley

The train arrived at Yiwu at noon. After a quick lunch at the station, I took the express to Heng Dian.

I finally arrived at Heng Dian Town at 3 pm. I found a family hotel on Wansheng North Street and called the number Le Yao left me.

Perhaps Le Yao was busy at the moment and didn't pick up my call. I sent her another message and told her, I'm at Heng Dian. Tell her to pick me up quickly.

Le Yao didn't reply for a long time. I wasn't in the mood to go out either. I just lay on the bed in the hotel and looked for a magazine to read.

The window of my room faced west. After a while, I saw the setting sun. The sunlight was gently lying on the blanket beside me. The air was filled with a lazy smell. I yawned and fell asleep.

When I woke up, the sky was already dark. Le Yao finally replied to my message. She asked me to look for her at the Imperial Garden in Ming Qing Palace. Her crew is filming there. Several big shots have scenes today and said they would help me get autographs.

In fact, she wanted to go, but she really didn't have much cash on her. The travel expenses had to be claimed back home. Spending more than a hundred yuan to meet a few big shots was a waste. She could only reply to her regretfully. Waiting for her outside the scenic area.

At sunset, there were still many extras waiting outside the scenic area for the crew to summon them. Their eyes were numb and filled with desire. I really saw the hardships of life in them, but no one was born to live in such torment. However, there were so many people who were struggling and suffering, such as me and these extras who were waiting.

I squatted beside an extra and chatted with him while waiting for Le Yao.

The sky gradually darkened. I had already seen several cars from the production team driving out of the scenic area, but I still did not see Le Yao's shadow. They could not help but mutter in my heart, this f*cking woman, could there be a night scene tonight?

Just as I was feeling suspicious, I saw Le Yao, who was wearing a Qing Dynasty court dress, at the entrance. She seemed to have not had time to change into her costume as she stood at the ticket service and looked around.

I got up and walked towards Le Yao. She finally noticed me and ran towards me with a smile.

Le Yao held my arm and said with relief, "I've finally transmigrated back!"

I removed her hand from my arm and chuckled, "Please behave yourself!"

Le Yao held my arm again and asked with a happy tone, "Little Yangzi, tell me the truth. Why did you come all the way to Heng Dian to find me?"

"Definitely not to be your son-in-law." I pushed Le Yao to the side.

"Then I'll send you to the Internal Affairs Bureau to be a eunuch." Le Yao pinched my waist as she spoke, but she still had a smile on her face. She seemed to be in a good mood.

I was in pain from her pinch and reprimanded her seriously, "Stop fooling around. Act properly and be obedient!"

"What will happen if I don't be obedient?"

"F*ck you!" I said with a darkened face.

"Haha!" Le Yao laughed and said, "Zhao Yang, I like to see you being so serious, yet you say such hooligan words!"

...

I accompanied Le Yao to the hotel she was staying in to change her clothes. The two of them wandered on the streets of Wansheng North Street. Although Le Yao had not yet become famous in the entertainment industry, there were still passersby who cast their eyes at her. I felt that she would become famous sooner or later. She was not only beautiful but also very popular. Her acting skills were superb. At least I had the misfortune to experience it.

At this time, I didn't mention the purpose of this trip to Le Yao. I always felt that this was a very difficult and destructive thing for her. It was better to enjoy the relaxation and freedom before the night came.

It was my first time in Heng Dian, so I couldn't help but look around while walking on the street. Le Yao was only interested in some snacks on the street and asked me what I wanted to eat from time to time.

As the crowd walked to the end of the street, Le Yao suddenly pulled me back and pointed to a barbecue shop on the street, "Zhao Yang, let's go eat barbecue."

I looked at the barbeque shop and saw that it was overcrowded. I said, "There are too many people. Let's eat somewhere else."

"The more people there, the more delicious! You don't know, do you? This barbeque restaurant was very famous. When Fan Bingbing came to Hengdian to film, she waited in line for more than 20 minutes just to try the barbeque here." Le Yao said as she dragged me towards the store.

"Wait for 20 minutes! Fan Bingbing is also so stupid!" I didn't want to leave. It wasn't that I didn't want to eat barbecue, but I didn't want to wait.

"She's not stupid, she's a foodie!" Le Yao corrected me.

I still refused to move.

Le Yao suddenly looked behind me excitedly and shouted, "Eh? Fan Bingbing..."

I subconsciously turned my head and Le Yao took the opportunity to drag me into the shop with brute force. She mocked, "Look at how eager you are to turn your head. Did you break your neck?"

"If Fan Bingbing really broke it, I would be happy too!" I glared at Le Yao, but I was fooled by her acting skills again.

"Useless!" Le Yao said as she pressed herself against the chair while she went to line up to order food.

While we were eating, the night had already arrived. Le Yao and I drank Sprite and ate barbecue. We had a good appetite. I drank a big mouthful of Sprite and wiped the sweat on my forehead, "I ate so much, but why didn't I taste Fan Bingbing?"

Le Yao looked at me with disdain and replied, "Are you stupid? You're eating barbecue, not Fan Bingbing!"

I was speechless for a while before saying, "Pretend I didn't ask…"

Le Yao smiled at me proudly and said, "I love seeing you helpless against me… Hurry up and eat. After eating, we'll go to Dream Valley for a walk."

...

At 7:30 p. m., Le Yao and I arrived at Dream Valley, one of Heng Dian's scenic spots. After entering the scenic area, we found that the night here was almost a world made of light and shadow. Although it was not the peak season for tourism, it was still very lively. Leyao and I walked around and finally sat on a wooden bench under the Ferris wheel to rest.

I closed my eyes to rest and didn't like the dim lights there. When I opened my eyes, I found that Le Yao also had her eyes closed.

I poked Le Yao and asked, "Why are you closing your eyes?"

Le Yao still closed her eyes and answered with longing, "I imagine this place to be a stage surrounded by lights, and I'm standing in the center of the stage as a star…"

I always knew what Le Yao's dream was, and I also knew how essential opportunities were for a newbie who graduated from a film academy. In fact, in terms of pursuit, Le Yao and I were worlds apart. That was why she liked the blurry light and shadow here, while I was infatuated with the crystal clear city.

The Ferris wheel was still spinning in the air with all kinds of people on it. I was a little entranced as I watched…

I didn't know when Le Yao held my arm and snuggled in my arms. I was immersed in her rare gentleness.

"I'm very happy to be with you." Le Yao said softly as she leaned into my embrace.

This time, I didn't push Le Yao away. Actually, it wasn't bad to let her lean on me like this. At this moment, there was no lust overflowing for me. There was only the warmth of relying on each other.

I seemed to rely on this warmth and hugged Le Yao tightly. The faint perfume on her body was inhaled into my lungs along with the coolness of the night. After a short moment of clarity, I was in a daze.

A drop of warm tears fell on my hand. Le Yao hugged me even tighter and said to me with a sob, "Zhao Yang… I'm really tired and helpless here... I have to pay attention to other people's expressions every day, afraid of unspoken rules, afraid of the scheming in the production team… Only when I lean in your arms will I feel like I can rely on someone!"

Le Yao's words made me feel a little terrified. I'm already on the verge of collapse in the wind and rain, how can you rely on me?

I had no words to comfort her, but I used my hand to wipe away the tears on Le Yao's face. Other than lending my shoulder to her, I couldn't do anything else for her.

The wind that had been blowing finally weakened a little. Le Yao left my body and looked at me, asking, "You must have something to find me this time, right?"