In 2001, the new year finally arrived with the ringing of the bells.
Laila hadn't expected to go to the East with Roy and Quentin so soon, and the reason was that the theater construction in the East was progressing too rapidly.
Ironically, Quentin, someone who was meticulous when it came to money, had made an erroneous estimate about the pace of construction in the East. He hadn't anticipated the high efficiency of the people in the East. He had initially thought that their level of automation was lower, so their construction speed would be slower compared to the West.
However, he was shocked to receive a notification that all the tasks he had arranged in advance had already been completed. He was amazed and discovered a term - "Shenzhen Speed." It turned out that people in the East had a record of constructing a new floor every three days in the 1980s.
If it weren't for his own project being completed so quickly, he would probably have thought it was just a widely propagated rumor. Who would have thought it was real? And it happened right before his eyes.
"What an incredible place," Quentin said with a wry face after parting from his beloved fiancée. He had thought he could carry out his arranged tasks until Janet gave birth.
He couldn't continue to stay and stop the project. Therefore, he had to return to the East ahead of schedule and work with his team to determine the next construction sites.
Laila thought it wouldn't hurt to go early and take Roy along. Abel had to return to Hollywood for school, and with the household staff already back, they could adequately care for him.
As the Chinese New Year approached, the Eastern nation was already undergoing some changes. For example, in certain places, they had hung red lanterns. Although the Chinese often said that the New Year's atmosphere was diminishing, it still retained a distinctive charm in the eyes of foreigners.
When Roy disembarked from the plane, he found that everything he saw was entirely different from his preconceived notion of the East. The spacious waiting area, the well-dressed people – where was the poverty he had seen in the media before?
Was this really the East? It could be any developed country in the West, right?
Laila had been watching his expressions since they landed, and when she saw his wide-eyed astonishment, it was as satisfying as sipping a cold beverage on a scorching day.
"Surprised, huh? Just wait; I guarantee you'll be even more amazed later," she said with a smug smile as she walked ahead.
Roy couldn't help but retort, "It's not like it's your property. Why are you so pleased?"
Her cheeky comeback made Laila glare at him in frustration. "I'm happy!" After all, she had spent thirty years as an Easterner in her previous life. Why couldn't she show off a bit?
Quentin chuckled behind them. It seemed that Laila really loved the East. She seemed like a completely different person after arriving here.
"Don't stray too far; someone will come to pick us up," he warned. As he spoke, he spotted someone at the exit holding a sign with his name on it. It was one of his team members he had left in the East, along with a young local.
After introductions, the group headed to their pre-arranged hotel.
Prices in the East were much cheaper than in the West, and since Laila wasn't short of money, she naturally didn't skimp on their accommodations. She booked the best rooms at the finest hotel near the national TV station.
Although the national TV station had promised to cover her airfare and accommodation, she had declined. She had come on a private plane, and the cost of the round trip and the presidential suite for half a month wasn't a small sum.
Spending so much money and then asking for reimbursement would make people think she was being extravagant, and she wasn't a fool who would ruin her good impression in others' eyes over a small amount of money.
Although she refused the TV station's accommodation arrangements, she accepted their offer of a translator and guide. When exploring here, having someone familiar with the situation was essential. Scamming foreigners was a universal practice, and now that Laila was sporting a Westerner's face, her fluency in Chinese didn't change the fact that she was a foreigner in others' eyes.
The next day, Laila took Roy to the national TV station. They received a warm welcome, especially from Vice Director Wu Mo, who seemed eager to keep them close and tell everyone that they were brought in by him.
It wasn't just politicians who liked achievements; those in the entertainment industry also needed accomplishments to move up. Laila and Roy's presence could be considered his achievement, as he had personally invited them from Hollywood across the Atlantic.
Laila's arrival alone had already made him happy. Knowing that Roy would be joining them made him grin from ear to ear for several days. In the East, because of Laila's visit in 2000, she received a lot of publicity, which greatly increased her popularity. But in Asia and even around the world, Roy is more famous.
Whether it was through Burberry's promotional photos, their film projects, or the song he brought to the world during the Super Bowl, he had gained a lot of fans.
"Director Moran, about this performance, I have a small suggestion. I'm not sure if you'd be interested," Wu Mo said somewhat nervously to the two of them in the lounge.
"Please go ahead," Laila said, slightly surprised. She gestured for him to continue.
"It's like this. In the Spring Festival program, there's a skit, and I think we can incorporate your songs into it."
It was a proposal that Laila hadn't expected. In her memory, there didn't seem to be a skit in that year's Spring Festival program that could accommodate her song.
Seeing her not outright rejecting the idea, Wu Mo explained further, "In simple terms, it's a skit about supporting education. A young man is hesitating about whether to follow his girlfriend to teach in a rural area. He had originally intended to go with her but was discouraged by the challenges. However, in the end, his longing for his girlfriend led him to board the train to the mountainous region. On the train, he meets two foreign teachers, which is where you both come in. You'll create some humorous situations on the train. As the journey progresses, he is moved by their dedication and decides to stay."
Laila nodded, understanding the concept. It sounded like the skit would be more appealing to a broader audience than just a song performance. The songs featured in the Spring Festival program were typically orthodox, positive, and melodious, which might not be favored by younger viewers.
In contrast, a skit had a different appeal. It used simple and relatable language, and abundant humor, and could entertain people of all ages. If they only performed songs on stage, the audience might remember that the music was pleasant. However, by adding a skit's plot, there would be more memorable elements.
"Sounds good," Laila replied. "We're willing to participate in the skit. It'll be a new experience for us."
Wu Mo was pleased with her response and said, "That's fantastic! I'm sure it will add a unique and entertaining element to the Spring Festival program. Thank you for your cooperation."
With their participation confirmed, they discussed the details and started planning for the collaborative skit, which would be a blend of entertainment and meaningful storytelling.