You Are Deep in The Stars

Liu Chunchun never dreamed that the opening of his painting exhibition would attract so many people.

He laid half-dead on the hospital bed, one arm and one leg suspended, tears filling his eyes with excitement.

Bai Xi stood before the hospital bed, expressionless, holding up his mobile phone. The screen displayed a crowded exhibition hall, bustling with tourists, students, reporters, and cleaning staff darting around to collect empty water bottles. A security guard held a loudspeaker to maintain order, while the nearby Monet exhibition continued to buzz with activity.

“Have you seen enough?” Bai Xi inquired. “I need to go pick someone up.”

“Just five more minutes,” Liu Chunchun pleaded, reluctant to let him leave.

Bai Xi’s icy demeanor finally softened, and he smirked as he retorted, “Call me dad.”

Liu Chunchun, devoid of moral integrity, complied, “Dad.”

Bai Xi’s frigid expression eased into a smile as he playfully scolded, “Enough!”

After a moment, Liu Chunchun, puzzled, questioned, “Why are all my viewers old aunties?”

Bai Xi, unfazed, replied, “It shows that in our city, the artistic sophistication of old aunties surpasses that of the internet celebrity anchors you admire.”

Liu Chunchun slapped the bed decisively with one hand and declared, “From now on, I will only love old aunties.”

“Okay, time to sleep,” Bai Xi declared, pocketing his phone. “Old San and the others will visit you tonight, but I’ll go.”

“Okay, Brother Bai, focus on your work. Don’t worry about me,” Liu Chunchun said earnestly, sitting up slightly. “And thank you for organizing this exhibition.”

Bai Xi patted his shoulder with a smile, then turned and exited the ward.

.

“Mr. Bai,” the secretary called as they reached the parking lot, “Should we wrap up the art exhibition? I can cover the team leader’s wages, and they’re waiting in line at an internet-famous fried dough stand.”

“Cancel it,” Bai Xi replied nonchalantly, tossing his phone onto the passenger seat.

The secretary breathed a sigh of relief and quickly signaled to the team leader. These days, whether it was a milk tea shop or an art exhibition, attracting crowds was easy. Especially with the appeal of Liu Chunchun’s unknown paintings, the elderly patrons enjoyed the indoor comfort, complimentary mineral water, and air conditioning. They even asked if there would be future exhibitions. They genuinely praised the artist and expressed their fondness for his work.

The silver sports car gracefully turned right through the city, carving a beautiful arc before getting stuck in the sea of private cars, taxis, and buses.

September, with college freshmen returning to school and ongoing subway construction, only exacerbated the traffic congestion with ubiquitous blue fences lining the roads.

Bai Xi glanced at his wristwatch. The hands swayed left and right like little ghosts before finally trembling towards three forty – ten minutes before the previously agreed time. It appeared like a static painting before him, amidst heavy traffic. Bai Xi’s temples throbbed with pain, prompting him to dial the reserved mobile number.

But it was shut down.

He tried again.

Still powered off.

.

As time ticked by, Bai Xi finally reached the exit, a full hour after 3:50. A throng of people rushed out of the station, carrying luggage, live chickens, and fruits. The air was thick with various sour smells, fermented by the hot and humid afternoon sun, making one feel dizzy.

Bai Xi took two steps back, seeking a ventilated position. His crisp gray shirt was now soaked with sweat, his shoes trampled countless times, and his trouser legs stained with unknown children’s rubbish. It was difficult to maintain a good mood when the person had not yet arrived, so he impatiently unbuttoned his shirt and made another call.

No surprise, it was still shut down.

With no other option, though reluctant, Bai Xi had to call the old man who was on vacation.

“The number you dialed is turned off.”

Bai Xi began to wonder if today was World Shutdown Day, an environmental protection initiative. Just as he contemplated his next move, a commotion erupted at the other end of the train station.

“Catch the thief!” someone shouted.

Bai Xi looked up and saw a tall man rushing through the crowd, swiftly lifting someone and tossing them into the air at a 45-degree angle.

Onlookers scattered, leaving a large open space for the thief to land. Shocked, Bai Xi rushed forward and, just as the thief’s head was about to collide with the tiles, he rolled and embraced him, cushioning his fall.

There was a dull crash, and the crowd gasped in unison.

“Pain.”

“Don’t move!” The police arrived and cuffed the two individuals on the ground.

Bai Xi: “…”

Quickly, he flashed his ID and stated, “Officer, I’m a good Samaritan.”

But no one believed him. After all, he had flown to the thief’s rescue in front of everyone, leaving them to speculate that he was either an accomplice or a crazy person.

Bai Xi pointed to the burly hero who acted bravely and admitted, “I was afraid he would beat the thief to death.”

Considering the angle of the thief’s landing, he was indeed at risk of breaking his neck or suffering a concussion. The police asked Bai Xi, “Do you know this hero?”

“Yes,” Bai Xi replied. “I’m here to pick him up. His name is Han Zhuo.”

The policeman took the ID card from the hero, it was Zhou Jinshan.