At 21, Gao Yuanyuan was in the prime of her youth.
She exuded a pure and adorable charm, embodying the quintessential youthful beauty of a teenage girl.
Her round, lovely face framed crescent-shaped eyes with full aegyo sal, her features radiating youthful vitality and bashful sweetness.
No wonder she was the perennial runner-up goddess on Hupu, her beauty was simply breathtaking.
Especially in an era before widespread cosmetics and beauty filters.
Her natural, dewy skin made her beauty utterly genuine.
"I... I recognize you," Shen Lang blurted out.
How do I explain this?
Gao Yuanyuan hadn't yet become famous.
His mind raced.
Got it!
"You're the Clear Kiss Girl, right?"
"Ah~"
Gao Yuanyuan's cheeks flushed crimson. Her large eyes blinked shyly as she murmured, "Y-yes, that's me."
During the summer of her senior year of high school, she had visited Wangfujing Bookstore with classmates. Her striking appearance caught the eye of an advertising agency, leading to numerous commercial shoots over the next few years.
In September of that year, during the Olympics, her gum advertisement gained widespread attention.
Since no one knew her name, she became known as the "Clear Kiss Girl."
Gao Yuanyuan had filmed numerous advertisements, but only this one had become a sensation. Even now, she couldn't quite understand why this particular ad had struck such a chord.
Seeing that he had managed to get away with it, Shen Lang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Surprise followed. Gao Yuanyuan was actually waiting in line for his autographed album.
"I like... I like your songs. Could you sign this for me?" Gao Yuanyuan pulled her album from her backpack.
"Of course." Unexpectedly, Shen Lang had only written the first stroke of his surname, "Shen," when his pen ran out of ink, leaving the character incomplete. "Let me grab a new pen and sign a fresh copy for you," he offered.
He took a new pen and album, signed it, and handed it to Gao Yuanyuan.
"Thank you." Gao Yuanyuan's smile was dazzling, her two small tiger teeth adding to her charm and making her appear even more playful and lively. She glanced at the unfinished album Shen Lang had taken away. "Could I have this one too?"
Shen Lang smiled faintly, the corners of his lips curving upward. "Sure."
To Gao Yuanyuan, his smile radiated youthful charm, his eyes crinkling into an irresistible crescent shape.
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Gao Yuanyuan left happily, clutching her autographed album.
Shen Lang watched her retreating figure, deeply moved.
Can you believe it? Gao Yuanyuan has become my fan.
He chuckled softly and resumed the autograph session.
About half an hour later, the event finally concluded.
If it had gone on any longer, my hand would have given out.
Shen Lang stood up and stretched luxuriously.
"Thank you all for coming."
He pulled his backpack from the desk drawer, then took out the autographed albums and packs of Zhonghua cigarettes he had prepared earlier. He distributed them to the security guards who had worked tirelessly throughout the day.
"Shen Lang, you're too kind," one of them said.
"It's just a small token of appreciation. You worked hard today."
You can't skimp on social niceties, no matter where you are.
Shen Lang helped tidy up the reception hall before leaving. As he stepped out of the building, a voice called out, "Shen Lang!"
"Gao Yuanyuan? You haven't left?" he asked in surprise.
"I..." Gao Yuanyuan's face flushed crimson like a ripe apple. Her lips pressed into a tight line, forming a right angle. After a moment's hesitation, she mustered her courage and asked, "Can I have your contact information?"
Shen Lang was genuinely surprised. Then he smiled. "QQ or phone number?" Before he could finish, he added, "Phone number would be better. I rarely use QQ."
He had bought a mobile phone specifically for this purpose.
The Motorola V998, commonly known as the "Palm Treasure," was a clamshell phone released this year. It was one of the lightest phones available at the time, supporting calls, text messages, and vibrating alerts.
It cost over 4,000 yuan.
There was no activation fee, but a prepaid balance of 500 yuan was required.
The global roaming monthly plan cost 50 yuan, with both incoming and outgoing calls charged at 0.6 yuan per minute.
Since she didn't have a home or a computer, Gao Yuanyuan only used QQ occasionally at internet cafes, making it practically useless.
"Okay," Gao Yuanyuan nodded.
"1352345****," Shen Lang recited as he wrote the number on a piece of paper.
"Thank you," Gao Yuanyuan said happily, carefully tucking the paper away.
"Have you eaten?" Shen Lang asked.
"Not yet," Gao Yuanyuan answered honestly.
"Me neither. Let's grab something together. My treat," Shen Lang said with a smile.
"Wouldn't that be a bother?" Gao Yuanyuan asked hesitantly.
"Not at all. Are you afraid I'm the big bad wolf who'll kidnap you?" Shen Lang joked.
"No, no," Gao Yuanyuan quickly waved her hands.
"Then let's go. There's a hot pot restaurant down the street with excellent lamb," Shen Lang said, naming the place to ease her concerns.
"Thank you," Gao Yuanyuan replied with a sweet smile, her hesitation gone.
Soon, Shen Lang arrived at Wu Ji Old Beijing Hot Pot Restaurant with Gao Yuanyuan, a ten-year-old establishment.
It was peak dining time, and seeing customers arrive, a service staff member rushed over with a wide smile, warmly greeting them: "Would you prefer a table inside or outside? It might be a bit crowded inside, but it's cooler outside."
The Mid-Autumn Festival had passed, and the weather was indeed cool.
Shen Lang was fine, but Gao Yuanyuan was dressed lightly and would likely catch a cold in the chilly breeze. He immediately replied, "Inside, please."
"Right this way," the service staff member said, leading them inside.
The interior was packed, a testament to the restaurant's popularity. Extra tables and chairs had been squeezed in to accommodate the crowds.
They found an empty table by the floor-to-ceiling window and sat down. The service staff member approached with a notepad and asked, "What would you like to order today?"
Having dined here twice before, Shen Lang didn't bother with the menu. He confidently ordered, "Your signature mutton hot pot. Start with a pound of mutton, then a plate of tofu, a plate of mushrooms, and a mixed vegetable platter with cabbage, spinach, and lettuce."
After jotting down the order, the service staff member asked, "Anything else?"
Shen Lang turned to Gao Yuanyuan. "Is there anything else you'd like to order?"
"That's enough," she replied. "I can't eat much."
"We only have rice for the main course," the service staff member added.
"That's fine," Shen Lang nodded.
The service staff, noticing the handsome man and beautiful woman, assumed they were a young couple and turned to Shen Lang. "Would you like something to drink? We have beer, baijiu, and wine."
Shen Lang caught a hint of amusement in the staff's eyes. Getting someone drunk on their first meal together? That wouldn't do. As the saying goes, First time's awkward, second time's easier, third time's for drinking. "No alcohol for me," he replied.
The staff tore off the order slip. "Please wait a moment."
Gao Yuanyuan's head was already spinning, even without alcohol. Not only had she met her favorite singer, but he recognized her and even invited her to dinner. It was luckier than stepping in dog poop on the way out. Now that she was here, she couldn't resist asking the question that had been nagging at her. "Can I ask you something?"
Shen Lang looked at her, curious about her question. But seeing her adorable expression, he couldn't resist teasing her. "I'm single. No girlfriend."
Gao Yuanyuan froze.
Shen Lang chuckled. "Just kidding. Go ahead and ask."
But his words "I'm single. No girlfriend" still echoed in Gao Yuanyuan's ears. "Ah, I... I wanted to ask how you write those songs. Are they based on your own experiences?"
It was the very question she and Zhou Xun had discussed that night.
The question stemmed from Shen Lang's age. The emotions expressed in his songs seemed beyond what someone his age could have experienced.
Shen Lang knew this was a question many wanted to ask, and this was his first time answering it: "Whether it's my experiences, your experiences, or anyone else's, they can all become material. Inspiration is simply imagination, and imagination is the source of all creativity."
Gao Yuanyuan understood.
Then, Shen Lang asked earnestly, "Can I ask you a question?"
Gao Yuanyuan nodded.
Shen Lang teased her, "Do you have a boyfriend?"
Gao Yuanyuan blushed and shook her head, about to answer.
Shen Lang cut her off: "You're too trusting. You tell people everything. You're easily deceived, you know." Before she could react, he continued, "Are you currently signed with an agency?"
Gao Yuanyuan shook her head again. "No."
"Did you already forget my warning?" Shen Lang's lips curled into a faint smile, his eyes casually glancing across her face. "Well, if I ever want you for a music video, I can just contact you directly, right?"
The conversation jumped so abruptly that Gao Yuanyuan was caught off guard. After a moment of stunned silence, she nodded. "Mm-hmm."
"Make way, your hot pot and mutton are here."
In the hearts of Yanjing locals, hot pot with mutton ranks second only to Peking duck.
An authentic Old Yanjing hot pot experience requires a large copper pot heated by charcoal, traditional sesame dipping sauce, and most importantly, tender mutton with no gamey taste. For the discerning palate, a clove of pickled garlic is also essential.
Gao Yuanyuan, a native of Yanjing, understood this well.
Shen Lang, an outsider, also understood it perfectly. After all, he was a true foodie. If he hadn't become a music teacher in his previous life, he would almost certainly have been a restaurant owner.
With this shared passion, their conversation flowed effortlessly, and they found themselves growing closer with each passing moment.