Dinner with a beautiful companion was thoroughly enjoyable.
Both Shen Lang and Gao Yuanyuan felt the same way.
Shortly after returning to his basement in the urban village that evening, Shen Lang received a call from Gao Yuanyuan confirming she had arrived home safely.
It had been an interesting encounter and a pleasant introduction.
Exhausted from a long day, Shen Lang quickly fell asleep after washing up.
He slept soundly until morning.
The good news was that he didn't have to work today.
The National Day Golden Week holiday, from October 1st to 7th, offered a full seven days of bliss!
Although there was no military parade this year, the National Day flag-raising ceremony would still be a grand spectacle.
In his previous life, Shen Lang had never witnessed the flag-raising at Tiananmen.
Now, he was in Yanjing, and it was the turn of the millennium.
He absolutely had to see it.
He washed his face, brushed his teeth, shampooed his hair, applied some Dabao moisturizer to his handsome face, changed into clean, presentable clothes, hopped on his 28-inch rod brake bicycle, and set off for Tiananmen before dawn.
At five in the morning, Tiananmen Square was still shrouded in the pre-dawn darkness.
Yet it was already packed with crowds from across the country, all gathered to witness the flag-raising ceremony.
Most had arrived around two in the morning, with a few hardy souls venturing out as early as one.
Regardless of their arrival time, security checks began admitting people around four.
By the time Shen Lang reached Tiananmen Square, all the good spots were long gone.
Standing dozens of meters back, with the crowd completely blocking his view, he couldn't see a thing.
"Well, I'm here now. Might as well soak in the atmosphere," Shen Lang sighed softly, blaming himself for waking up late.
At exactly six o'clock, the faint but rhythmic sound of marching footsteps drifted through the air.
In the distance, the Mighty Powerful Three Services Honor Guard emerged from beneath the Tiananmen Gate Tower, their synchronized steps carrying them across the Golden Water Bridge to the flag-raising platform.
The flag bearer tugged the rope, while the guards unfurled the crimson banner.
As the national anthem played, the red flag slowly ascended.
By the anthem's final note, the flag fluttered proudly at the top of the pole, catching the morning breeze.
Applause and cheers erupted from the crowd.
The atmosphere was electric, something you could only truly appreciate by being there.
Shen Lang felt satisfied, his only regret being that he hadn't bought a camera to capture the moment.
Being at the back had its advantages too—he could be among the first to leave when the event ended, avoiding the crush of the crowd.
"Shen Lang?"
Hearing someone call his name, Shen Lang's first thought was that a fan had recognized him.
He stopped and turned toward the voice.
But all he saw was a sea of heads, shoulder to shoulder, a bustling mass of people. He couldn't pinpoint who had called out.
Suddenly, someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind. He turned to find Gao Yuanyuan smiling brightly at him.
"Yuanyuan!"
"What a coincidence! I never expected to run into you here."
Gao Yuanyuan looked stunning today. She wore a blue baseball cap, a simple leather jacket over a white fitted T-shirt, yellow casual pants with the cuffs slightly rolled up, and stylish white sneakers. Her outfit was effortlessly chic, and a small crossbody bag completed her fashionable look.
The girl beside Gao Yuanyuan was slightly shorter, wearing a baseball cap, black sunglasses, a casual coat, a yellow T-shirt, bright jeans, and black leather boots—a look that was both relaxed and stylish.
"You two already know each other?" the girl asked Gao Yuanyuan, her tone curious.
Shen Lang recognized the woman by her voice. The moment she spoke, her distinctive low, husky voice confirmed it was Zhou Xun.
"I went to his autograph session yesterday," Gao Yuanyuan replied.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Hogging all the fun without inviting me," Zhou Xun teased with a playful snort.
"You said you were recording songs, so I didn't want to bother you," Gao Yuanyuan explained.
"Then hurry up and introduce us," Zhou Xun said with a smile.
"Shen Lang, this is my good friend Zhou Xun—Xun Jie. You know Shen Lang, right?" Gao Yuanyuan introduced them.
"Good friend" was a polite term. They had met while filming Seventeen-Year-Old Bicycle and, since they both lived in Yanjing, occasionally hung out together.
Zhou Xun's eyes briefly swept over Shen Lang's face before she extended her hand. "Nice to meet you."
She wasn't particularly concerned with a man's looks, preferring those with an artistic temperament.
Of course, having both good looks and artistic flair would be ideal.
In her eyes, Shen Lang embodied this perfect combination.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Shen Lang said, shaking her hand with a gentle smile. "What a wonderful day to run into the Best Actress here."
Zhou Xun, known as "Young Master Zhou" in the entertainment world, lived up to her name, radiating both elegance and spirited charm.
Her free-spirited and unconventional nature was widely celebrated.
She approached relationships openly, unafraid to love or hate, guided entirely by her instincts.
The three walked and talked as they grew more comfortable.
After a while, Zhou Xun removed her sunglasses, blinked, and said, "Shen Lang, I've been working on a single lately, but I can't seem to get it right. Any chance you could give me some pointers when you have time?"
Shen Lang replied modestly, "If Xun Jie doesn't mind me being a newbie, I'll certainly give it a try."
At this point, Zhou Xun was likely referring to her song "Drifting."
He had heard it before.
In the original timeline, this song had earned her the Best New Female Artist award at the China Original Music Pop Chart.
The song's creation stemmed from Chen Yaochuan, the general manager of New Sony Records' Chinese Music Department, who often heard complaints that "Mainland China's music scene lacks idols." Determined to cultivate a "heavyweight idol for Mainland China," he personally tailored this single for Zhou Xun.
The original plan was to release the album at the end of September, but Shen Lang's sudden emergence and his string of ten chart-topping hits in the Chinese music scene forced a postponement to mid-to-late October.
Zhou Xun pursed her lips. "Look who's talking. If you're a newbie, what does that make me—the ultimate rookie?"
Shen Lang smiled. "Alright then, just give me a call whenever you need me."
Zhou Xun's eyes darted around. "Are you working overtime today?"
Shen Lang shook his head. "No, I'm taking all seven days of the National Day holiday off. Why?"
Zhou Xun's heart leaped. "Then let's seize the moment! Today's perfect."
Shen Lang had no objections. "Okay, wait here. I'll go get my bike."
He walked into a narrow alley and wheeled out his 28-inch rod brake bicycle, which he had locked to a tree.
Gao Yuanyuan stared in surprise. "This is your ride?" She had expected a car.
Shen Lang patted the bicycle seat. "Yep, it's been with me for four years."
Zhou Xun drawled, "Umm..." "Maybe you should store it somewhere first. New Sony Records' office in Yanjing is quite far—a taxi would be better."
That made sense. Shen Lang pushed the bike back into the alley, relocked it to the tree, and planned to retrieve it later.
The three of them then hailed a taxi and set off.
Zhou Xun was signed with Rongxinda Film and Television Company, primarily focused on film and television. Her music collaborations were with New Sony Records, where she recorded her songs in their state-of-the-art recording studios.