The two of them, as if signing a contract, laid out the details of the betrothal gifts, dowry, the location of the marital home, and the frequency of visits to each other's parents after marriage.
Finally, they settled on the fourth day of the second lunar month next month for the official wedding ceremony.
Because the wedding was arranged hastily, there were many things to attend to, leading to frequent meetings between Lu Mingzhe and Fang Shuya.
They needed to discuss wedding attire, choose the style of their wedding photos, decide on the time and location for the shoot, and draft the guest list.
Fang Shuya wanted to personally oversee every detail and insisted on his input. It was as if he had to go through everything he hadn't experienced when he married Chen Jiaojiao.
Fang Shuya was like the happiest princess and bride in the world, dreaming of romance every day.
In the past, Lu Mingzhe would never have had the patience to accompany her.
But now, he felt that this was also quite good.
Having someone chattering away, willing to share their feelings and fill the emptiness in his heart.
Although it lacked passion and had more trouble and a sense of inevitability, this was how one should be when getting older, wasn't it?
Zhan Beijue and Jiang Nanfang returned to the country on the sixth day of the first lunar month and started working on the eighth.
At the end of the first lunar month, they learned that Lu Mingzhe was holding a wedding.
That evening, Zhan Beijue invited Lu Mingzhe out to meet. Lu Mingzhe didn't want to go.
He could guess what Zhan Beijue would say with his eyes closed.
"If you have anything to say, let's just say it over the phone."
Although some things were not suitable for a grown man like Zhan Beijue to say, as one of Lu Mingzhe's few friends, he felt obligated to remind him.
"There's nothing to say. Lu Mingzhe, I just want to ask you one thing: do you know what you're doing?"
"Of course I know. I know very well, clearer than ever before, and I will never regret it."
Hearing the firm tone in his voice, Zhan Beijue felt there was no need to waste any more words.
"We are both men, and a man's word is his bond. Since you've said so, I won't beat around the bush."
"I will attend the wedding, and I will continue to be your friend. But I hope you won't do anything that makes me look down on you in the future."
"No matter what, you have no right to ruin a woman's life."
You have no right to ruin a woman's life.
Lu Mingzhe mulled over this sentence repeatedly.
That's right.
So he would marry well and live a good life.
He would no longer let the women around him suffer because of his irresponsibility.
---
Chen Jiaojiao and Xiang Yang stayed in Harbin for seven days before returning to Nancheng.
Xiang Yang's filming assignments began again, and Chen Jiaojiao also needed to prepare for the new year's work. They both became busy with their respective tasks.
Due to the mortgage and the significant expenses from their trip, Xiang Yang put a lot of pressure on himself.
He asked his agent to help him take on more work, wanting only to earn money, a lot of money.
"There are many ways to make money, but I'm afraid you'll be too tired and can't handle it."
"I'm only 20, what can I not handle? You don't need to worry so much, just help me introduce opportunities."
The agent immediately joked with him.
"You know, after shooting a perfume advertisement with a certain celebrity last time, someone actually took a liking to you and wanted to bring you into the entertainment industry."
"It's just that I thought you were still studying, lacked experience, and your personality wasn't quite suitable."
"If you accidentally offend a big shot, not only will you gain no benefit, but it will also be difficult to develop your career later, making it a loss. So I didn't give a definite answer."
"Xiang Yang, if you really want to make money, there's no path more suitable than entering the entertainment industry. Do you want to try?"
It wasn't that Xiang Yang didn't want to try, but he lacked confidence.
"I can't sing, I can't dance, and I don't have any outstanding special skills..."
"As long as you are well-behaved, can act, are handsome, and young, that's already a special skill."
"I'll listen to you, Sis. I'll do whatever you arrange. As long as I can make money, I'll do anything."
"Why are you suddenly so short of money? You'll do anything, and you trust Sis that much?"
"Of course, I trust you. You said our destinies are intertwined. If I don't trust you, who else can I trust?"
Xiang Yang was worried. "Renting is too difficult. I want to buy a house in Nancheng recently. I can't wait."
The agent nodded. "I understand. Life is hard when you're renting. Sis has been through that time too. Alright, I'll keep an eye on it. If they ask about you again recently, I'll directly agree to it."
"Okay, thank you, Sis."
Less than two days later, good news arrived.
After the filming ended that afternoon, the agent wanted to take him to a grand event.
"The person mentioned you casually again yesterday, and I praised you profusely, which is how I got tonight's invitation."
"The opportunity is yours to grasp; whether you can seize it depends on yourself."
"Be attentive, speak sweetly, and have high emotional intelligence. My future in the industry depends on you."
Xiang Yang agreed and secretly messaged Chen Jiaojiao, saying he had a social engagement tonight and would be back late.
He changed into the trendiest clothes of the season, got all cleaned up, and his agent took him to a luxurious club that resembled a palace.
Xiang Yang's eyes were opened today.
He never imagined a club could be so high-end.
It was as spacious as his own living room, able to accommodate dozens of people at once without feeling crowded.
And there were so many handsome men and beautiful women.
The so-called rich women at the center of attention were not like his traditional impression of old, ugly, unfashionable women who only knew how to throw money at people, but rather well-maintained, elegant women whose every move exuded the charm of years of experience.
Xiang Yang thought he was the only one who got an invitation. Upon entering and standing in the crowd, he was so squeezed he could barely see the front, realizing how intense the competition in this industry was.
He watched as the two main hostesses of the evening greeted the agents and mingled warmly before everyone took their seats.
They began to introduce themselves one by one.
It was like participating in a talent show, with everyone preparing flowery speeches to make a good first impression on the judges.
When it was Xiang Yang's turn, he hadn't prepared anything, and he couldn't say those kinds of words, so he simply stated his name.
"Is that all?"
The beautiful woman with long hair looked at him and smiled.
"You're quite good-looking. Just a bit introverted. Can you tell us what your special skills are?"
Special skills?
Others could sing, dance, or play instruments. Xiang Yang thought for a moment.
"I'm obedient."
"What did you say?"
"I said my special skill is obedience."
With a "whoosh," everyone in the room burst into laughter, and the woman also laughed.
"I underestimated you. I thought you were introverted and honest, and wouldn't be good with words, but I didn't expect you to have such a trick."
"Can you show me how obedient you are?"
Xiang Yang nodded. "What do you want me to do, Sis?"
The woman with long hair turned to the one with short hair. "I'm asking you, what do you want him to do?"