Chapter 00176: Take a Number
# Take a Number
Chapter 176
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 176: Take a Number
Chen Qi slept for two whole days.
He was like a high school student who had just finished his exams, his brain quietly resetting itself.
When he woke up, he felt like a clear-headed but slightly foolish college student.
"Ah!"
"Sleep and love are the best nutrients!"
Chen Qi woke up, stretched his arms and legs, feeling refreshed both physically and mentally.
He glanced at his Swiss-made watch—it was already noon.
He grabbed his basin and toothbrush, threw a towel over his shoulder, and headed out.
"Hey, Xiao Chen, off to wash up?"
"Yeah, Teacher, you got another gig?"
"Don't call me teacher, I’m not worthy! You go ahead, you go ahead!"
This was an old makeup artist from the studio who had always been a bit hostile toward Chen Qi.
But today, his attitude had shifted.
Though he still had a bit of a sarcastic tone, he didn’t dare to be too loud about it.
Chen Qi shrugged and went about his business, washing up and fetching a pot of hot water.
He ran into quite a few people, and each one had the same attitude—respectful but with a hint of sarcasm, shocked but also reluctantly impressed.
It was a strange mix.
They couldn’t wrap their heads around how Chen Qi had managed to earn $4.8 million.
Chen Qi couldn’t be bothered with them.
He tidied up his room and opened the window to let in some fresh air.
It was early February, and Beijing was still cold.
The studio grounds were bare, with no sign of the peach blossoms or willow greens that would come later.
But with his troubles behind him, Chen Qi felt lighthearted, and even the bleak scenery seemed to have a certain charm.
"Ah, I’ve achieved my life goal of getting into Hai Zi. I can just coast now! Coast! Coast!"
As he was muttering to himself, he suddenly spotted Cai Ming and called out, "Xiao Cai! Xiao Cai!"
"Oh, you’re awake?"
Cai Ming looked up and shouted dramatically.
It happened to be lunchtime, and Liang Xiaosheng also came over, happily saying, "Xiao Chen, you’re awake!"
"Wow! Xiao Chen’s awake!"
"Goodness, Xiao Chen’s awake!"
The commotion below was chaotic.
Chen Qi waved from the window as if he had just woken up from a three-year coma after being kicked in the head by a donkey.
"..."
Suddenly, Sister Gong Xue arrived.
Chen Qi gestured to her and then shouted to Liang Xiaosheng, "Old Liang, bring my chair back! And my books, not a single one missing!"
He closed the window, deliberately taking his time before putting on his coat and heading downstairs.
He hopped onto his old bike and, as soon as he left the compound, he saw Gong Xue waiting outside.
She now had a bicycle too, making it easier to get around.
The two of them rode off to Lechun Lane, No. 6.
The weather hadn’t warmed up yet, and the construction crew had slacked off again.
The house was being built slowly, but at least it was making progress.
"Xiao Chen~"
As soon as Chen Qi closed the door, he was enveloped in a warm, soft embrace.
Gong Xue hugged him tightly, her arms wrapped around him, her head buried in his chest.
Her voice was choked with emotion:
"I’m so glad you’re okay. I was so scared something would happen to you. You have no idea how I’ve been these past few days. I wanted to come see you, but I was afraid I’d disturb your rest..."
"Alright, alright, I’m perfectly fine."
Chen Qi stroked her hair.
The age difference between them seemed like it should be the other way around.
He smiled and said, "I heard you helped out a lot too, running around in the wind and rain. When it really mattered, my good sister came through. Thank you!"
"You’re so shameless!"
Gong Xue blushed, holding back the tears that were about to fall.
She lightly punched him and said, "Don’t thank me. Thank that reporter, Yu. She went all out for you. Why don’t you call her your good sister?"
"Yuck~"
Chen Qi made an exaggerated gagging sound.
"We have a purely professional relationship, no romantic feelings whatsoever. You might as well say I’m having an affair with Cai Ming."
"Cai Ming..."
Gong Xue couldn’t help but laugh.
It wasn’t that she thought Cai Ming wasn’t pretty—she was quite attractive—but it just didn’t seem right.
It was like an Earthling dating an alien...
"You’re laughing, that’s good. It’s all behind us now."
"Come sit for a bit!"
Chen Qi sat down on a small stool, grinning as he looked at her.
Gong Xue rolled her eyes but obediently sat on his lap.
They shared a few more intimate moments, their lips and tongues entwined.
After a while, Gong Xue looked up, breathless, and asked, "Is this really over? There won’t be any more trouble?"
"It’s done. If there’s any trouble, it’ll be new trouble. From now on, I’ll just focus on filming, but it’ll be different from before. I’ll have some free time to spend with you."
"Sigh, I don’t really understand what you’re doing, but I’ll support you no matter what. I..."
Gong Xue hesitated, swallowing the rest of her sentence.
She wanted to say: I feel like you’re moving too fast, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep up.
She came from an intellectual family and had her own education and ideas.
She understood that if two people’s understanding and career paths diverged too much, it would inevitably lead to misunderstandings and conflicts.
A 21-year-old who had earned nearly $5 million—what kind of woman could stand by his side?
…………
He Chengwei, the editor of *Story Collection*, had come to Beijing again.
Accompanying him was a deputy director from the Shanghai Film Studio, named Wang Lingu.
After *The Tai Chi* was released, the Shanghai Film Studio immediately contacted *Story Collection*, hoping to secure the adaptation rights for the martial arts story.
They had known about this little magazine for a while but had never paid it much attention.
Now, things were different.
Even though *The Tai Chi* hadn’t been released domestically yet, it was clear to anyone with eyes that a wave of martial arts films was about to hit.
So, they thought, why not take advantage of the opportunity? There was a treasure right in their backyard!
"This trip to Beijing, we must secure the adaptation rights. Also, find a chance to have a private talk with Chen Qi. Here’s what we’ll do..."
Wang Lingu remembered the instructions given to him by the studio director, Xu Sangchu, before he left.
He didn’t dare to slack off, knowing how important Chen Qi was.
He Chengwei’s purpose was simpler: to raise Chen Qi’s manuscript fees!
The two of them hurried to Beijing, found a place to stay, and immediately rushed to the Beijing Film Studio.
But when they arrived at the gate, they were stopped.
An old lady, leading a group of people, was standing there, berating a man:
"How dare you say you’re from China Film! You’ve got some nerve! Don’t think I don’t know—I’ve found out everything! It was you lot who got our Xiao Chen into trouble! Let me tell you, we’ve written a joint letter, and you’re not getting away with this! Who am I? I’m your grandma! The head of the Qianmen Dashilan Neighborhood Committee, Xiao Chen’s direct supervisor! How dare you show your face here again? Get out of here! As long as I’m here, you’re not getting through this gate! Are you leaving or not? Are you leaving or not?"
"Grandma... no, Auntie, you’ve got it all wrong!"
The man looked miserable.
"The person who made the mistake has already been dealt with. I’m here today on official business. Please let me through."
"No! Did you hear that? Get out of here!"
The gatekeeper, an old man, was watching the scene with amusement.
He exchanged a look with Auntie Wang, feeling like they were kindred spirits.
The man had no choice but to leave.
Auntie Wang, like a victorious general, strode into the compound with her head held high.
He Chengwei, Wang Lingu, and a few others tried to follow, but the gatekeeper stopped them.
"Let us in!"
"Why can she go in, but we can’t?"
"She’s the direct supervisor. Who are you? Do you think you can just waltz into the Beijing Film Studio? The director said there are too many people looking for Xiao Chen, and it’s disrupting the studio’s normal operations. You’ll have to come in batches! First, register with me. Come back tomorrow!"
The gatekeeper waved his hand.
"Take a number!"
He Chengwei didn’t mind, but Wang Lingu was fuming as he registered.
He cursed inwardly: That old man Wang Yang, give him an inch and he takes a mile.
What’s he showing off for? Just because he’s making foreign currency, he thinks he’s hot stuff...
Well, okay, he *is* hot stuff.
He thought about his mission again.
Securing the adaptation rights was one thing, but poaching Chen Qi was the real prize!
(End of Chapter)