Chapter 00114: Hands and Feet
# Hands and Feet
Chapter 114
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 114: Hands and Feet
"Really? 'Romance on Lushan Mountain' is going to be released?"
Sure enough, the gloom in Gong Xue's eyes vanished, replaced by a dazzling sparkle.
"Of course! I saw it outside the Grand View Building. I'm not sure about other theaters, but it should be out in July. According to the schedule for 'Tai Chi,' we'll be in Henan by then. I'll take you to see it."
"Mm-hmm!"
Gong Xue nodded repeatedly, completely forgetting the unpleasantness of the day. 'Romance on Lushan Mountain' was a film she had been eagerly anticipating.
"By the way, I went to the Overseas Chinese Store today. This is for you."
Seeing her mood improve, Chen Qi seized the opportunity to hand her the gift.
Gong Xue didn’t even glance at it, gently pushing it away with her small hand and shaking her head.
"I don’t want it. You don’t need to buy me things."
"It’s imported skincare products. I got them especially for you."
"I’ve saved up some money now, and I don’t really go out much. I don’t need anything this fancy. Why don’t you give them to your mom instead?" she suggested.
This was the first time Chen Qi had to convince someone to accept a gift.
"You helped me with 'The Art of War and Divination.' We’re co-creators, so the royalties should include your share. But giving you money directly felt awkward, so I bought you something instead. You just helped me with two scripts today. If you don’t accept this, it’s like I’m stealing your share. I won’t be able to ask for your help in the future."
"Well..."
Gong Xue hesitated, but Chen Qi forcefully placed the gift in her hands.
She finally relented, saying, "Thank you, then. Imported stuff sounds expensive. Please don’t buy me anything like this again."
"Money is meant to be spent. You can always earn more later... There’s also a pair of leather shoes inside. I bought size 36. What size are you?"
"Shoes?"
Her face flushed as she whispered, "I can wear size 36."
"Great!"
By now, her mood had completely lifted.
Chen Qi continued, "The film bureau came to question me. I talked to the two officials, and they agreed the complaint was ridiculous. They won’t investigate further, so don’t worry."
"Honestly, I’m used to it. I’ve been called in for questioning before. I’m just a bit upset. I just joined the Beijing Film Studio, and this happens. I haven’t even offended anyone."
"The Beijing Film Studio isn’t an easy place to navigate. You need to be mentally prepared. Life is like climbing a mountain. Some people go ahead, some lag behind. Some persevere, some give up halfway, and some get so caught up in the scenery that they forget their original goal. Along the way, you might face countless mockery and malice. But when you reach the summit, you’ll find all those people beneath you. At that point, you won’t care about the gossip anymore. You’ll feel like you’re standing above the world, as if you could pluck the stars from the sky. The sea stretches to the horizon, and the mountain peak is yours to conquer!"
"..."
Gong Xue’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
She smiled and praised, "Look at you, even your comforting words are so poetic. They’re soothing and impressive. You could turn that into a poem."
Huh, that’s a good idea!
I could create a Chinese version of 'Chicken Soup for the Soul,' or maybe steal Wang Guozhen’s thunder.
As he mused to himself, Gong Xue sighed, "But the level you’re talking about is too high. I’m just a small actress who’s just stepped into the world of film. When will I ever reach the summit?"
"Set your goals! Step one: become the most popular actress at the Beijing Film Studio. Step two: become the most popular in the country. Step three: become the most popular in Asia!"
"You’re getting more and more outrageous..."
Gong Xue shook her head.
"It’s getting late. Should we head back?"
"There’s one more thing."
"What?"
"I comforted you, but I also need to criticize you a bit about today."
Chen Qi cleared his throat and spoke seriously, "When I ran into you earlier, you didn’t tell me what was wrong. You just ran off. Were you hiding in your room crying?"
"I..."
"You’re great in every way, except for one thing. You overthink things, keep everything to yourself, and let it eat away at you. That’s not a good habit. In the future, if something’s bothering you, you need to speak up."
Gong Xue was someone who internalized everything.
Chen Qi, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.
At the slightest hint of trouble, he’d go all out to make others deal with it.
He never let himself suffer in silence.
"That’s just how I am. I know it’s not good... Alright, I’ll talk to you about things in the future. I’ll remember everything you’ve said. Thank you for all your encouragement."
"Oh? How are you going to thank me?"
Chen Qi looked at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"How do you want me to thank you?"
"How about this?"
Gong Xue thought he was joking, but he suddenly stepped closer.
They were now so close that they could feel each other’s warm breath.
She panicked and stepped back, her back hitting a lamppost.
The dim light swayed gently, casting shadows that danced between them.
"Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen~"
Seeing Chen Qi move even closer, she murmured nervously, turning her head away and using her hands to block him.
Chen Qi tested the waters but, seeing her reaction, decided not to push further.
He stopped but reached out to hold her small hand.
"Let go!"
"People will see!"
She struggled a few times and finally broke free, her face flushed with embarrassment.
She was both angry and flustered, unsure which emotion was stronger.
All she knew was that he had been unusually bold today.
What made it worse was that the guy was still grinning at her, showing no remorse for what he’d done.
"I’m leaving!"
She turned and walked away, but after a few steps, she turned back.
"Don’t you dare do that again, or I’ll ignore you!"
With that, Gong Xue walked off, soon breaking into a light run.
Her words were firm, but her hurried steps left a trail of flustered shadows behind her.
"Tsk, tsk!"
Chen Qi rubbed his nose.
He was certain that if he had been a bit more forceful, he could’ve sealed the deal.
But he was also mindful of the times they lived in.
If anyone had seen them, he could’ve been accused of being a hooligan—a crime punishable by execution.
Look at this! The epitome of a delinquent urban youth, a disgrace to the educated youth.
If they shot him today, it’d serve as a warning to everyone else!
...
Back at the guesthouse, it took Gong Xue an hour to calm down.
By then, she had already tried on the pair of light brown, low-heeled, soft-soled leather shoes.
They were delicate and stylish, making her look quite fashionable.
The color and style suited her perfectly, and she loved them.
She walked around the room a few times before taking them off.
Then she looked at her feet and suddenly remembered: That guy always seemed to be staring at her feet...
What was wrong with him?
Next, she examined the skincare products.
No woman could resist these kinds of things.
The foreign brands were all labeled in English, but Chen Qi had thoughtfully added small notes: This is for washing your face, this is for moisturizing, this is for dark circles, and so on...
There were also two lipsticks, which she didn’t dare use, but she was quite fond of the lip balm.
She tried it on her lips and then tucked it into her bag to carry with her.
After a long while, she finally lay down, but sleep eluded her.
As soon as she closed her eyes, his face appeared in her mind.
That little rascal was getting better and better at stirring her emotions.
And today, he’d even gotten handsy.
After spending so much time together, she didn’t shy away from her feelings.
But there was always a barrier in front of her, holding her back and making her feel deeply insecure.
"But I’m several years older than him!"
"He’s so young and talented, with a limitless future ahead of him. But me..."
(End of Chapter)