I am not Ximen Qing.

Yang Yulei's dream of a music empire is grand. His partners plan to rent 1,000 square meters of office space across from Sohu in Sanlitun Taikoo Li, near Dongdaqiao. It'll be stylish and impressive. From upstairs, you can overlook the Workers' Stadium and Sanlitun, Beijing's most romantic and passionate area! Beautiful women under the night sky—a paradise for goddesses. As explorers of art, choosing an unattractive woman during a low point is more correct than abandoning the art field itself—a lucky choice.

Song Yu's allure, catering to his desires, was nothing more than beautiful women. Yang Yulei was perfectly aware of this. Nie Xiaoqian was a girl he introduced to Song Yu when he was confused about love. Inspired by this, he was quite generous with his investment in the recording studio. There are so many beautiful women playing music, acting, and singing. Girls today are much luckier than in Ximen Qing's time. If Pan Jinlian were a modern girl, a beautiful woman who could play the pipa and sing lyrics, she would definitely be another Madonna, a hugely popular star.

"Lei, if you have any beautiful girls, remember your buddy."

"What's in it for me?"

"Don't worry, buddy, I'll provide full support for your company's complete budget package service."

"But they are not like Nie Xiaoqian."

"It doesn't matter, the key is that she really has to be a real beauty like Xi Shi, Chang'e, Zhaojun, and Yang Guifei. As long as she is pretty, that's OK."

Pursuing beautiful women is not shameful at all. Song Yu saw that King Xiang of Chu and Cao Mengde were both the epitome of lust, as advocated by the Analects. Only those who are lustful can understand the Spring and Autumn Annals, Zuo Zhuan, Li Sao, Records of the Grand Historian, and Book of the Later Han. A love of beauty is the highest level of attitude towards beauty and the highest motivation for pursuing it. Without a love of beauty, where would the beauty of Jin Ping Mei, Dream of the Red Chamber, and Romance of the Western Chamber come from? There would be no more books of talented scholars and beautiful women like The Peach Blossom Fan, The Palace of Eternal Life, and The Peony Pavilion. Whether it's Wang Sipu, Kong Shangren, Tang Xianzu, or Hong Sheng, they were all Confucian scholars and disciples who truly embodied the spirit of Confucius's love of beauty.

Jia Baoyu, Hou Fangyu, Liu Mengmei, Zhang Junrui, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Ximen Qing—Jia Baoyu watched helplessly as the Twelve Beauties of the Painting of Beauties became alter egos of Emperor Yongzheng. Whether it was Jia Lian, Xue Pan, Jia Zhen, Jia Rong, Jia Yucun, Sun Shaozu, Jiang Yuhan, Prince Shui Jing, or the elusive Jia Zhu, Jia Huan, and Zhen Shiyin, the Twelve Beauties, including Miaoyu and Shi Xiangyun who ended up in the brothel, their fates were uncertain. They were all destined for the Twelve Beauties of Yongzheng, their souls returning to the painting. Their fates, like Baoyu's, like a stubborn stone, like a dream, like a bubble, like dew, like lightning—the beauties in the Diamond Sutra's dream, the dreams of beauties. Jia Baoyu watched helplessly as the beauties entered the painting, becoming its soul. These Twelve Beauties were once a part of Jia Baoyu's life, just as Nalan Xingde's cousin became Emperor Kangxi's concubine.

Zhang Sheng was truly insightful, understanding the nature of love. He considered the pomegranate-red skirt kneeling before the Buddha's temple the epitome of beauty. In truth, Gao Yanei was simply another version of Zhang Sheng. Zhang Sheng's understanding of love and Gao Yanei's infatuation with it were both remarkable. Unfortunately, Lin Niangzi misunderstood Gao Yanei. Both Zhang Sheng and Gao Yanei were genuine infatuated lovers, true romantic playboys like Tang Yin. Throughout the entire Water Margin, only Ximen Qing, Gao Yanei, Zhao Ji, and Dwarf Tiger could be considered normal people. Pan Jinlian and Yan Xipo, who appeared in the story, both met extremely tragic ends, seemingly returning to the era of the Five Barbarian Invasions, where women held a dual nature, both as objects of beauty and as victims of gluttony. For some reason, Lin Niangzi so fiercely died for the chauvinistic Lin Chong—a so-called "love suicide"—even the 800,000 martial arts instructors of Dongjing couldn't have done it.

Wu Song in Water Margin seems to have not yet escaped the allure of his sister-in-law Pan Jinlian's beauty in Jin Ping Mei. This is truly a tragic story. He killed everyone connected to Ximen Qing, so Wu Song's karmic retribution was fierce, neither Buddhist nor Taoist, and neither would accept him.

Lu Zhishen was a true "flower monk," possessing both the heart of a hero rescuing a damsel in distress and the heart of helping others achieve their goals. Therefore, he stopped when he heard the tide and became a true Buddha. He was the only one in the entire Water Margin to enter the world of Mount Sumeru.

Only Ximen Qing embodies true feelings, the warmth and coldness of human relationships, and genuine love and affection.

"Ah, I am not Ximen Qing. I have gone beyond the scope of the script and am now purely philosophical."

"Mr. Yang, aren't you going to write anymore?"

"No, one year won't do, two years won't do, it has to be written in three years. I'm not Ximen Qing, a pure philosopher. If it can be written and performed in a small theater, it will be OK if it can be adapted into a movie script."

"why?"

"For no particular reason, this is a decision I made, and I'm carrying it out."

"Mr. Yang, we're not trying to make things difficult for you. We know you've definitely secured funding, so we don't care about the novel's philosophy. We'll listen to you; you're the North Star, the soul of the company. If you say it's pure philosophy, then it's pure philosophy. However, the more Mr. Yang understands Ximen Qing, the more our team wants to become Ximen Qing. He's too outstanding, too perfect. As a man, he's too responsible. This is a book that clearly speaks ironically. It uses the style of the Spring and Autumn Annals, Zuo Zhuan, and Records of the Grand Historian, achieving the pinnacle of aesthetics in pure fiction—a realist magical realist sutra."

"This perspective is correct. Whether it's a movie, a script, or a story, as long as the best storytelling method can express that I am not Ximen Qing, that philosophy itself, and the philosophy of life and dealing with people is presented, then it's OK."

Zhang Sheng spent the entire day drinking non-stop at the Tian Shang Tian Roast Duck Restaurant. Quite coincidentally, Dr. Henry seemed quite curious about the development of Zhongguancun. He proactively called Zhang Sheng, wanting to experience firsthand the actual situation of IT innovation and entrepreneurship in Zhongguancun. Zhang Sheng quickly called Song Yu, asking if Dr. Henry had changed his mind about him again. Zhang Sheng told Song Yu that he was a man who loved women and enjoyed chasing after them.

"The doctor is developing a goddess AI robot. He wants to know what kind of girls you like, and he also asks me what kind of girls I like."

"Isn't this just being bored out of your mind?"

"How is it just boredom? This kind of goddess AI robot is custom-made. Talking about love and romance is too tiring, expensive and laborious. Once the doctor's goddess AI robot is successfully launched, it can create an Eve for Adam who is not tempted by the snake. True selfless love will not lead to the problem of Paradise Lost, nor will Eve betray Adam."

"You came to me just for this?"

"And that Lin Xiaoqing you told me about the other day, the one you're head over heels in love with, the doctor is very interested in her."

"Wait, Song Yu, is the Doctor here in Zhongguancun to steal my woman?"

"That's not what I meant. Nie Xiaoqian and the doctor are good friends now."

"Didn't you say the doctor likes men?"

"He likes women too, but the doctor still thinks Nie Xiaoqian isn't pretty enough to arouse his interest."

"Aren't you angry, Song Yu?"

"Why are you angry? I want to laugh."

"What are you laughing at?"

"Think about it, the doctor's thought process is too complicated. Who knows what kind of trick he's up to this time? I'll play along and do him a favor. But Nie Xiaoqian is stuck with me because the doctor doesn't think much of her."

"You're amazing. Then you thought of Lin Xiaoqing. What if the professor falls for her?"

"What good is it if he likes her? There's no way Lin Xiaoqing could like the doctor. If she did, how exciting would that be? You need to be more open-minded. You should also let the doctor take a look at Lin Xiaoqing. If sparks fly, you won't lose out either way."

"Isn't this ridiculous? It's a prank."

"Yes, that's the effect I want. Love is in vain. People are just having fun with you. He knows a lot of foreign companies that need office supplies and IT equipment. He can introduce you to them easily, enough to keep you entertained for half a year. The cost of love and romance is not low either."

"Lin Xiaoqing is even harder to book than Shi Qianqian; she's very slippery."

"Idiot, Lin Xiaoqing definitely wants to learn English. The professor can teach Lin Xiaoqing English for free."

"And me? Am I supposed to be a third wheel?"

"No, I'm going to the Goddess AI Robot Ball with two couples, the Romeo and Juliet Night party."

What was his purpose in doing this?

"An experiment."

"What are you testing?"

"The goddess AI machine is more suitable for lovers than women; it won't betray love."

"Are you out of your mind?"

"Do you want to make money? If you don't, you're crazy. Participants get a bonus. It's just one night, you get paid, food and drinks, a grand ball and concert, with all sorts of love games like White Swan, Black Swan, and Spartacus. There are also literary salons and conferences, and the art hall is full of master-level figures. You can learn to paint, mural, make blue and white porcelain, ironwork, and create abstract paintings on-site, as well as the theory of the birth of the beauty of color."

What if she doesn't go?

"You have to be brave when pursuing a girl. Be proactive, invite her to a private place, and then half-heartedly accept her advances and love will be OK."

"Something feels wrong."

"What's wrong?"

"Is there a prank by the doctor inside?"

Since Qianqian is so adorable, this adoration can make Zhang Sheng lose himself in the romance of "The West Chamber," and in his dreamlike state, he even fosters the love between a pair of graduate students. The beautiful female undergraduate from Sun Yat-sen University and the graduate student about to enter postdoctoral studies, having spent too much time in their studies, particularly enjoy listening to Zhang Sheng's nonsense. Of course, this nonsense is also based on a foundation of worldly desires. The cost of this actor's self-cultivation is no less than performing a scene from "The Story of the Thorn Hairpin" in a small theater. Zhang Sheng's mind is consumed by nothing but making money, his mind is filled with maximizing profits from his clients, and he counts money from morning till night, endlessly counting money, like a bank employee watching and listening to the crisp sound of banknotes being counted… the sound and rhythm soaking into his soul, the stench of money nourishing his soul. But these lovers like this worldly soul, and it seems Zhang Sheng has become Mephistopheles, wanting to create a sense of satisfaction for his lovers, and insisting on signing a contract—lovers who can sell their souls, absolutely satisfying their worldly desires. Ah, Satan's power at least convinced Lovers that Zhang Sheng had genuinely gone to great lengths for love, even serving them a table full of fine food and wine. The couple left satisfied. He wouldn't spout empty rhetoric; that would only harm the young man. He squinted at the thin-lipped waitress, his soul already intoxicated by wine and women, possessed by the same spirit as Ximen Qing. Any woman he saw was like a fairy descending to earth, a love story of the Weaver Girl and Chang'e flying to the moon—they were all driven by love and romance.

Springtime colors abound, apricot blossoms fall like rain, peony petals sway gently. Even the most amorous drunkards and wine connoisseurs often encounter unexpected romantic encounters. They want to call Song Yu and Wang Xiaolin immediately, but they already have their own spaces. They meet Lin Xiaoqing and go to McDonald's in Wudaokou. Whenever they drink too much, they eat a Big Mac – the best hangover cure – along with a large glass of iced cola. They eat and drink incessantly, as if starving. They think of Wagner and Nietzsche's works, and occasionally even speak fluent English.

What surprised him most was that Lin Xiaoqing hadn't refused Zhang Sheng's invitation. This was truly a stroke of luck, though rather awkward. On the second floor of the McDonald's, he ran into Jinghua, his wife, and his sister-in-law again. The sister-in-law's gaze seemed to radiate Medusa's fury; disgust was etched on her delicate face. Thankfully, he received another call from Li Meng, and the female internet cafe manager at the training school complained about persistent computer problems, insisting Zhang Sheng come immediately. Something felt off. He asked Jinghua if he hadn't gone to Samsung's headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. He replied yes, he was going to live in South Korea next week.

What could I say? Then, I strolled along Wudaokou Street with Lin Xiaoqing, feeling a deep sense of regret for losing my sister-in-law's love. We went to Yakexi near the north gate of Tsinghua University for barbecue, and even the unlicensed taxi driver created a lively atmosphere. Lin Xiaoqing became more lively, and she and Zhang Sheng shared a large mug of beer, grilled lamb kidneys, and grilled lamb legs—what a wonderful nightlife! Then, Lin Xiaoqing and Zhang Sheng went to an underground dance hall on the university campus. They danced slow waltzes and other waltzes. Zhang Sheng was naturally suited to disco, but when it came to more artistic dances, he regretted not dancing properly with the girls in his department in a university classroom. It was a little awkward. After leaving the campus, they went to a nearby two-story Sichuan hot pot restaurant for authentic spicy hot pot. The more they ate, the more relaxed and carefree they became, and the more they drank, the more enjoyable it was.

The most beautiful and romantic night markets in Beijing are found in places like Wudaokou, where you can go for drinks at a foreign salon. It's almost entirely filled with international students from language institutes, exuding exotic charm and diverse cultures. Rock and blues beats, Bob Dylan from Hema Epic, and various Western bands blend together to create a heavy metal art taste. Then there's the bar for international students at Yenching University, where Xia Jinshi got completely drunk. Under the Beijing night sky, a gentle, tipsy buzz, a state of blissful intoxication where you lose yourself, becomes silent and somewhat drunk. This is a characteristic of Beijing's nightlife: a relentless pursuit of a phoenix-like rebirth through the restless release of desire.

I entered a dreamlike state, where a green train sped across the land like a long, green dragon, accompanied by the metallic hum of the tracks and carriages—a beautiful, mechanical rhythm. Outside the window stretched the foreign landscape of my homeland, click-clack, click-clack… I met a sports university student and a young man from Taiwan, who talked about experiencing the beauty of spring in the north and the snow-covered wonderland, saying they only wanted to admire the snow. They also said that Japan's snow country wasn't pure, filled with the hypocrisy and heartlessness of Japanese cherry blossoms.