msmithbooks Chapter 30 News Broadcast, Kisses, Hugs, and Lifts High
Chapter 30 News Broadcast, Kisses, Hugs, and Lifts High
Evening, at the music and video store.
Li Si'an turned on the TV on the counter and tuned it to Beijing TV. The news started at 7:30. The first few news items were about city meetings and leadership activities, followed by several economic news reports, and then the arts and culture segment.
"The Affiliated Secondary Dance School of Beijing Dance Academy recently held its 1996 graduation performance..."
Tang Yun came downstairs with a rag in her hand. She was going to wipe the shelves, but when she heard the words "Beijing Dance Academy Affiliated High School" mentioned in the news, she stopped.
Zhang Ziyi just pushed the door open and came in, carrying a schoolbag. As soon as she entered, she asked, "Has it aired yet?" She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the picture hadn't appeared on the TV yet.
The screen showed a panoramic view of the auditorium, then cut to the stage.
A scene from "Puppet Show"—Tang Yun squats in the center of the stage, her red dress spread out, while Zhang Ziyi walks out from the side. The camera cuts to Tang Yun's face, then to Zhang Ziyi's hand, and finally to the two of them together.
Zhang Ziyi stood by the counter, her mouth open, but she didn't say a word.
The camera cuts away. Next news item.
Zhang Ziyi turned her head and looked at Tang Yun.
Did you count them?
"What?"
"A few seconds?"
Tang Yun shook her head. She hadn't counted; she stood there, stunned, still not having come to her senses.
"At least half a minute," Li Si'an said.
Zhang Ziyi threw her backpack onto the counter and jumped up and down.
He jumped about half a meter into the air, and his hair was all shaken up when he landed.
Li Si'an leaned against the counter and said slowly, "Your jump shook all the dust out of my shop."
Zhang Ziyi ignored him and just laughed to herself.
Tang Yun was startled by her action, took a step back, and then laughed.
"I'm on TV," Zhang Ziyi said softly, as if confirming with herself, "for half a minute."
"Half a minute should be enough for your mom to recognize you, right?" Li Si'an asked.
"Of course she can!" Zhang Ziyi's eyes lit up like light bulbs. "This time, I don't need to point it out to her; she can find it herself!"
Zhang Ziyi walked to the door, then suddenly remembered something and turned back.
"By the way, when will that cable channel you mentioned be available?"
"Still no news." Li Si'an leaned against the counter. "Producer Sun said he'd contact us later, but it's been several days."
Zhang Ziyi frowned. "Aren't you going to urge them?"
"Why are you rushing me?" Li Si'an said calmly. "They're launching a new program and looking for content everywhere. Our program was the most outstanding at the gala, so who else would they ask if not us? It's like Jiang Taigong fishing—the willing take the bait."
"Are you Jiang Ziya?"
"I'm the fish, waiting for the hook to come to me."
Zhang Ziyi thought about it and felt that it seemed to make sense, but then felt that something was wrong. In the end, she couldn't figure it out, so she put on her backpack, pushed open the door, and went out.
He took a couple of steps, then turned back and shouted through the glass door, "Tell me if you have any news!"
Li Si'an waved his hand.
The store fell silent. Tang Yun remained standing in front of the television, holding the rag in her hand, staring at the screen that had switched to the next news story, without moving.
Li Si'an walked over, took the rag from her hand, and threw it onto the counter.
"Have you seen enough?"
Tang Yun didn't speak, but turned around, leaned against the counter, and looked at him.
"That on BJ News is nothing," Li Si'an said. "If the cable channel can make it happen, the whole dance can be on TV, and that's the real deal."
"They haven't contacted you yet."
"What's the rush?" Li Si'an smiled.
Li Si'an reached for the phone on the counter and dialed. After a few rings, the other end answered.
"Uncle, it's me."
Zhou Weidong hummed in response on the other end of the phone. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, just some good news. We won second prize in the performance competition, and it was on the news on Beijing TV today, for half a minute."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. Zhou Weidong's voice chuckled. "Second prize, and it even made the news? Not bad."
"Also, Beijing Cable TV has a new program called 'Weekend Arts and Culture.' The producer, surnamed Sun, contacted me backstage and said he wanted to invite us to record a studio version."
"Okay, so you guys are seriously going to perform on TV?" Zhou Weidong's tone became noticeably excited. "If you really go on TV, you'll become famous."
Li Si'an leaned against the counter and smiled. "With a station like Beijing Cable, even if you get on, you probably won't become a big name, at most you'll just become a minor one."
"A nickname is still a name," Zhou Weidong said. "You're still so young, take your time."
"Alright," Li Si'an said. "That's all, I just wanted to give you some good news."
"Okay. Remember to call your mom and make her happy too."
"Okay, I'll call her in a bit."
After hanging up the phone, Tang Yun remained leaning against the counter, watching him.
"Your uncle is quite happy," she said.
"Of course." Li Si'an put the phone back. "His nephew is on TV, so he's proud too."
Tang Yun didn't reply, but lowered her head and folded the rag in her hand twice.
Li Si'an walked over, snatched the rag from her hand, and threw it onto the counter:
"Why are you so stubborn with this rag today? You've folded it into something beautiful." After saying that, he pulled Tang Yun into his arms and hugged her.
Her face was pressed against his chest, and she raised her hands to wrap around his neck.
A breeze blew through the corridor, and a ray of light shone through the gap under the roller shutter, casting a thin, bright line on the floor.
The two of them stood there, neither of them speaking. Tang Yun's body slowly softened, and she leaned against him.
After a while, she said in a muffled voice, "Don't you still have to call your mom?"
"No rush," Li Si'an said. "Let's celebrate first."
"How do you plan to celebrate?"
"Give me a kiss, a hug, and lift me up high!"
Before Tang Yun could react, he lowered his head and kissed her.
Her mouth was small, fleshy, and soft like a marshmallow when you kissed it. Li Si'an had one arm around her waist and the other on the back of her head.
Tang Yun's arms around his neck didn't loosen, but her body grew weaker and weaker, and she began to fall.
He had to hold her tightly, his hand sliding from her waist to her lower back, and he lifted her up forcefully to prevent her from slipping down.
They pressed even closer together. Her chest was against his, and he could feel its softness and elasticity even through his clothes.
His heart raced, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
May 10th, it's only a few days until May 10th.
After that day, she would have come of age.
He grew more and more excited as he thought about it, and his kisses became even more forceful. Tang Yun was breathless from his kisses, and she made intermittent, soft moaning sounds, like a kitten's meow.
Her body went completely limp, and she clung to him, only managing to stay upright because he held her.
Li Si'an kissed for a long time before slowly stopping.
He took a breath, closed his eyes, and struggled to suppress the force.
"I'll wait until your birthday," he said, his voice a little hoarse.
Tang Yun was now both ashamed and flustered, frightened by the reaction in her body just now. She twisted her body forcefully, trying to break free from Li Si'an's embrace.
"Don't move, let me hold you a little longer." Li Si'an wrapped his arms around her waist, preventing her from moving.
After a while, Tang Yun's breathing gradually calmed down, and she nestled in his arms without saying a word.
"Tang Yun, let's go shopping at Xiushui Street this weekend."
Why are we going to Xiushui Street?
"I'll go buy you some clothes; your birthday is coming up soon."