Later that morning.

His parents were still not home yet.

He watched television.

Listened to music.

It felt like a pretty good way to spend his time.

Zhang Ye was ready to give himself half a month of break and not take on any jobs for the moment. He would just not bother with anything and rest up for a period of time. Every time he had a major breakthrough in his career, Zhang Ye would do this afterwards. It could be said that this was a habit of his, and the media and citizens had also gotten used to this casual att.i.tude of his. Further, now that Zhang Ye had successfully gained entry into the ranks of the superstars, he would need to rest for an even longer period of time. As the saying goes, to rest is to prepare for a stronger challenge ahead. After he had taken a long enough break, he would go back and continue causing a stir in the entertainment industry. He still needed to think of a way to get to the top of the list rankings, so how could he not recharge first?

Ring, ring, ring.

The calls kept coming. There were reporters seeking interviews and advertisers who bypa.s.sed his agent to get in touch with him directly to invite him to take some commercial filming. Zhang Ye rejected all of them.

He decided to make an announcement on Weibo.

Zhang Ye: "Applying for half a month's leave. I will not be taking any work in this period of time so that I can get some rest. If there are any urgent matters, please contact my agent."

After he posted it, Zhang Ye called Wu Zeqing.

"Old Wu, where are you?"

"I have a meeting today in the suburbs."

"You're so busy on a Sunday too?"

"Is something the matter?"

"I miss you. What time will you be back from the meeting?"

"It should end at around 3 or 4 in the afternoon, but I need to go back to my parents' place first. They arranged a blind date for me again, so I need to go back to sort it out them."

"They're still arranging blind dates for you? Have you told them about us yet?"

"I've brought it up before but did not mention who you were. I told them that I have a boyfriend and that he has a successful career. I also mentioned that you have quite a good character and are a little younger than me. My mother was quite alright with it and did not say anything, but my father was pretty against it. He did not even ask who you were and just objected to it, so I'll still need to work on him a little."

"Hai, that's tough."

"Let me get everything settled here first before I bring you to formally meet my parents."

"Alright, give me a call tonight after you're done with everything."

"OK."

A blind date?

He would have to seize the chance and quickly marry Old Wu. That was what mattered the most!

After hanging up, he continued browsing through Weibo and was met with a bustle of activity.

Countless netizens had replied to his post!

"Applying for leave again?"

"Pfft, Teacher Zhang is so wilful!"

"With your popularity soaring, now's the best time to make more money. Why are you applying for leave at such a crucial time?"

"In all of s...o...b..z, only Teacher Zhang would do something like this!"

"Hahaha, isn't this how he's always been?"

"Not approved!"

"Right, your leave is not approved!"

"I won't agree to it either!"

"Rejected!"

"The reason for your leave request is inadequate!"

"Rejected! Rewrite your application!"

"Heehee!"

Quite a number of people started bantering.

When Zhang Ye saw this, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. You guys aren't even allowing me to take a leave of absence? If I don't take some time off to rest and spend time with my girlfriend, she'll run off soon!

He posted an update to his request for leave. "I've nearly forgotten what my girlfriend looks like. I would like to go and see her, so please approve of my leave."

This was a very famous reason to request leave in Zhang Ye's previous world.

When this was posted, a lot of the media personnel and fellow industry peers were taken aback!

"Ah!"

"Zhang Ye has a girlfriend?"

"Who is it? Who is it!"

"d.a.m.n, this is big news!"

"There was no news about this before though?"

"When did it happen?"

Suddenly, a lot of netizens started disproving him.

"Don't listen to his c.r.a.p!"

"Teacher Zhang just likes to brag and talk nonsense!"

"Hahaha, this leave request has really tickled my funny bone!"

"Pfft, Teacher Zhang. Are you really in such a miserable state? You even forgot what your girlfriend looks like?"

"I don't believe it!"

"The issue here is that you need to have a girlfriend first!"

"What is Zhang Ye's criteria for a partner?"

"Right, don't brag anymore. Tell us your criteria and we'll help introduce someone to you."

"Do you want someone pretty?"

"Long or short hair? Big or small eyes?"

"Teacher Zhang, could you be requesting leave to go on a blind date? I'm cramping up from laughing!"

"My sister is really pretty. Let me matchmake the two of you!"

"What are the things you're looking for? Tell us!"

Zhang Ye's request for leave post had suddenly attracted a lot of attention. He was currently very popular and there was a lot of attention on him. But no one expected Zhang Ye to throw out a poem at the next second. A lot of people who saw it were shocked. The beauty of this poem was simply too intoxicating!

Zhang Ye's Weibo:

Carrying an umbrella, all alone.

Pacing up and down this long, long

rainy alley on my own.

I yearn to meet

a girl who is like the lilac,

resentful and downbeat.

She has all

the colors of the lilac,

the fragrance of the lilac,

the sorrow of the lilac.

Wistful in the rain,

wistful and halting,

she paces down this deserted, rainy alley,

holding an umbrella

just like me,

and just like me she

silently trudges,

aloof, sullen, and brooding.

Silent she approaches,

nearing and casting

a glance like a heavy sigh.

She drifts past

as if just a dream,

as if just a hazy dream, downcast.

As if a lilac

pa.s.sing through a dream,

this woman pa.s.ses by my back;

She silently goes far, farther,

and reaches a toppled fence,

leaving this rain lane.

In the rain's mournful song,

her colors wash away,

her fragrance dissipates.

Gone, washed away, even her

eyes that heavily sigh,

her lilac lachrymose.

Carrying an umbrella, all alone.

Pacing up and down this long, long

rainy alley on my own.

I yearn to meet

a girl who is like the lilac,

resentful and downbeat.

The netizens were dumbfounded at reading it. d.a.m.n, he really could just compose a poem on a whim!

Yet, this was really, incredibly beautiful!

The woman described in this poem was truly beautiful!

All at once, the comments blew up!

"This is the most artistic request for leave that I've ever seen!"

"My heart aches for Teacher Zhang!"

"The woman who's like a lilac has already gone far ahead. Teacher Zhang, hurry up and chase after her!"

"Approved!"

"Approved!"

"You can take your leave now!"

"Teacher Zhang, we'll allow you to go on your break!"

"Hurry and go!"

"Go for it!"

A woman who crossed paths and then headed off into the distance had captivated a lot of the netizens. They did not know which unlucky girl Zhang Ye had set his eyes on, but they definitely had to be supportive of such an important encounter of love!

Only a few people from the literary circle could not resist criticizing Zhang Ye. Their literary upbringing was clearly much higher than the common folks!

Someone from the Writers' a.s.sociation sighed: "What a good poem! But to use such a good poem in a place like this! Isn't, isn't this too great a waste!"

A person from the CFLAC 1 said angrily: "How could the beauty of this poem be so simple? There's clearly a much deeper meaning to it! How could Zhang Ye use something so grand as his request for leave?"

"What a waste of talent!"

"I'm so angered that I laugh!"

"This Zhang Ye! Having all that talent but using it so carelessly! He p.i.s.ses me off!"

One of his poems had once again generated heaps of controversy!

Zhang Ye actually understood much better than them that this was not a poem about a girl. It did not just refer to a lilac girl, but more about the vague hopes and desires of a person. But to Zhang Ye, Wu Zeqing was currently all of his hopes and desires.

In his eyes, Old Wu was that lilac girl.

What can anyone do about that?

Bite me?