"It's quite nice," Jiang Li smiled. "The overall atmosphere is very relaxing, and the movie fans are so cute."
Seeing her serious answer, Sister Chen couldn't help but smile and poke her head. "I'm talking about Mr. Xiao."
Jiang Li was stunned and averted her eyes uneasily. "Then you should ask him how he feels. I'm just doing my job."
She was stubborn and spoke defiantly. "He's just making a fuss. What if there are domestic paparazzi inside? He might as well not come."
"Seems like you're not very welcome to my coming," the man's voice sounded as he walked towards her step by step. "Do you dislike me so much?"
Seeing this, Sister Chen left with a smile, leaving the two of them some private space.
Jiang Li didn't expect him to follow. She was so shocked that she lost her voice for a moment. "Mr. Xiao, why are you here..."
"I'm asking you," he said casually. "Do you really not want to see me?"
"Not really."
Jiang Li lowered her head and played with the buttons on her cashmere coat with her fingers. "I'm worried that something unexpected might happen. What if..."
Actually, she was happy.
The moment she saw him on the stage, her heart skipped a beat. It was the feeling she only had when seeing the one she loved.
But soon she began to worry again. What if he confessed his love midway? What if they were photographed by paparazzi? Or what if someone made things difficult for him?
Thinking of these, she wasn't that excited and happy anymore.
"There won't be any 'what ifs'," he held her hand. "I've made all the arrangements in advance. You can rest assured."
Jiang Li looked up, her beautiful eyes fixed on Xiao Yanzhi.
"Really?"
"Really."
His promise was like a reassuring pill. The little bit of nervousness and panic in her heart vanished like clouds and mist at this moment.
She felt extremely at ease.
"Didn't you say you had business to attend to? Why did you still come secretly?" Jiang Li asked him, with a hint of joy in her heart.
He said he wouldn't come, but he still showed up.
"You said last time that I had to dress up as a fan and send flowers to hug you," he said, then glanced at her again. "I didn't pull any strings. It was the host who chose me on his own."
Jiang Li blinked. "I'll barely believe you."
Seeing that she didn't trust him, Xiao Yanzhi laughed. "If I had arranged it in advance, I definitely wouldn't have let those two ask questions."
Jiang Li teased him. "What, do you feel threatened?"
"Yeah, I'm threatened by both men and women," he repeated what the host had said. "I just realized today that I not only have to be jealous of men."
Jiang Li laughed so hard that she bent over.
After explaining everything, he slowly stated his request. "I've done as the big star asked. Can I hug you now?"
It was such a romantic thing, but he made it sound a bit purposeful.
Jiang Li was immediately unhappy. "Where are the flowers?"
Xiao Yanzhi understood.
Whether he came or not didn't matter. The important thing was the arrival of the flowers.
He shook his head with a smile and held out his hand in a gentlemanly gesture. "They're in the car. May I ask the beautiful lady if she would like to go and accept my roses?"
Jiang Li was never able to stay aloof for more than three seconds. She quickly placed her hand in his.
Following Xiao Yanzhi to the car, Jiang Li first opened the back door. It was empty inside. Her eyes drooped. "You lied to me."
Xiao Yanzhi led her to the trunk of the car. The moment he lifted it, the trunk was filled with Pink Avalanche roses, so many that they were almost overflowing.
The fragrance assailed her nostrils.
"How tacky," Jiang Li said insincerely, but her eyes never left the bouquet for a moment. Her heart was filled with joy.
"Do you like them?" Xiao Yanzhi asked her. He got the answer from her bright eyes.
She liked them.
The tacky romance, the unhesitating favoritism, the indulgent love that responded to every request, and the sense of security at all times.
She liked them all.
"Take a photo of me?" Jiang Li looked at the roses in the trunk, took out her phone and handed it to him. "I want to take a photo with them."
Jiang Li leaned against the whole wall of flowers and smiled at the camera.
Xiao Yanzhi had studied art and was very good at the composition and proportion of the picture. He captured her beauty in the photo.
"They're so beautiful," Jiang Li looked at the photo and couldn't help but sigh. "Each one is so pretty. I feel ashamed of myself."
Xiao Yanzhi just smiled and said nothing.
There were thousands upon thousands of roses in the world, but only she was the unique rose on his planet.
---
The event ended early. Xiao Yanzhi said he would take her to visit the Lyon Art Gallery. Jiang Li readily accepted and showed great interest.
She also wanted to understand his hobbies.
When getting out of the car, she picked a rose and held it in her hand, saying that she wanted to take it with her to visit the gallery.
Xiao Yanzhi was amused by her behavior and acquiesced to it, allowing that single rose to become the "interrupter" of their date.
The Lyon Art Gallery was very quiet in the afternoon. Tourists in groups would whisper to each other, giving it a special sense of tranquility.
Xiao Yanzhi showed her the statues and walked past one famous painting after another. He rarely commented on anything. Most of the time, he just stood in front of the paintings and admired them quietly.
Jiang Li didn't know much about art, but she was still willing to accompany him and seriously appreciate every piece of art.
"Which one do you like the most?" Xiao Yanzhi turned to ask her.
"Let me think..." Jiang Li recalled the paintings she had just seen. "Monet's 'Charing Cross Bridge'. I think the colors are very dreamy."
The lavender tone was like a thin layer of mist, hazy yet beautiful.
"Monet is really a master of the Impressionist school who is good at using colors," Xiao Yanzhi looked at her appreciatively. "I also admired Monet very much when I was in junior high school. His works make people feel happy."
Jiang Li turned to look at him. "Can you also paint such oil paintings?"
"I haven't painted for a long time," he answered frankly. "I don't have a talent for colors, but I seem to have gained some insights recently."
His world used to be colorless.
And her appearance had become the most beautiful color in his heart.
"But that painting is very beautiful. You've colored it."
Jiang Li didn't explain clearly, but Xiao Yanzhi knew she was talking about the one that had been placed on the bedside in Ruiyuan before. He understood. "So it was you who stole it."
Jiang Li: "..."
When they came out of the art gallery, it was already getting late. The sunset shone on the buildings, dyeing them with a golden afterglow, as if the city was wrapped in fine gold powder.
She was a bit reluctant to leave.
"Do you want to go to the market?" Xiao Yanzhi's lowered eyes locked on her. Looking at the thin afterglow of the sunset on her face, he lowered his head and kissed her. "Or are you tired? I can take you back."
Jiang Li didn't want to go back. She hooked his arm. "Let's go to the market. I'm not tired."
When the car arrived at the entrance of the market, the sunset had completely disappeared, and the night was gradually taking over the sky.
Colorful small lights had been hung on the stalls in the market. The number of customers didn't decrease because of the cold. It looked very lively.
When getting out of the car, Jiang Li exhaled a puff of hot air and rubbed her hands.
"It's really winter," her eyes sparkled, reflecting beautiful lights because of the colorful lights.
"Yeah, it's winter again," Xiao Yanzhi responded. He took out a scarf from the car and tied it around her neck again.