Rui Xiaodan left the Public Security Bureau and stood to the right of the entrance, her eyes gazing at the nearby parking lot. The rustling sound of the wind through the leaves filled her ears. On this broad avenue in the city center, pedestrians strolled leisurely and vehicles moved in an orderly fashion. The gentle wind swayed the leaves of the towering poplar trees, creating a picturesque summer scene.
Rui Xiaodan was naturally endowed with striking beauty and an impeccable figure. Her skin was smooth and fair, her large eyes framed by long, misty eyelashes, her pupils gleaming like black jade. Her long, shiny black hair added to her charm. She wore a light blue washed cotton shirt with rolled-up sleeves, revealing her slender arms, paired with well-fitted dark jeans and simple, comfortable casual shoes. This unpretentious, elegant outfit added an ethereal quality to her already captivating presence.
After a moment, a red Santana sedan emerged from the parking lot and stopped beside her. Ouyang Xue got out of the car and said, "The meeting's over? You drive. I've never been to that store."
As Rui Xiaodan got into the car, she said, "I'll be using the car for the next half month. I have time now." She handed the suspension notice to Ouyang Xue before starting the car and driving onto the avenue.
Ouyang Xue glanced at the notice and said, "Xiaodan, you've become obsessed."
Rui Xiaodan remained silent.
After driving for about ten minutes, they stopped in front of a store named "Yafeng Audiophile Sound Shop." Ouyang Xue immediately noticed a large sign by the door: "This store is for sale."
Inside, the store displayed a modest selection of speakers, amplifiers, and CD players, with most of the shelves empty, giving the impression of a struggling business. A bold red sign on the front wall declared, "We fight for perfect sound until the last man standing," evoking a sense of determined resilience.
The owner, Ye Xiaoming, in his thirties, with a clean face and ordinary glasses, had a mix of shrewdness and scholarly elegance. He was repairing an amplifier, his workbench cluttered with multimeters, soldering irons, electronic components, and tools, filling the room with the smell of rosin and solder.
"Boss, I'm here again," Rui Xiaodan greeted as she entered.
"Please sit, please sit," Ye Xiaoming quickly put down his work and welcomed her warmly. "I knew you'd come back after visiting all the audio stores in the city. I'm the only one here specializing in pure music audio systems. What you're looking for can't be achieved with typical home theater systems."
Rui Xiaodan smiled in agreement and sat on the sofa. It was Ouyang Xue's first time there, and she casually browsed the various audio products.
Ye Xiaoming sat opposite Rui Xiaodan and sincerely recommended, "I still suggest the Le Sheng flagship speakers with Slec front and rear amplifiers and the Cerenda Signature CD player. This is recognized as the best configuration in the ten thousand yuan range by experts and audiophiles. Le Sheng is the most authoritative Hi-Fi speaker brand in China, and their flagship model features high-end components, including imported high-frequency units from Germany and patented auto-cooling low-frequency units that withstand high dynamics without damaging the voice coils. This speaker costs 3,900 yuan but outperforms any ten thousand yuan European or American brand. That's a fact in the audio world."
Ouyang Xue interrupted, pointing to several pictures on the wall, "Is this the company you're talking about? Lin Yufeng is the chairman."
Ye Xiaoming, admiringly, replied, "Yes, that's him. Lin Yufeng is a legend in China's audio industry."
Ouyang Xue remarked, "He's quite bold and assertive."
Rui Xiaodan asked, "What's up?"
"Listen to this," Ouyang Xue read aloud, "Le Sheng only has spears, no shields. The flag of Le Sheng always has six words: attack, attack, attack."
Rui Xiaodan laughed, "That's quite assertive."
Ye Xiaoming confidently said, "Choosing the Le Sheng flagship is absolutely worth it. You've listened to this setup repeatedly; the sound quality speaks for itself. If someone hasn't heard this kind of sound in their lifetime, what's the point of living?"
Rui Xiaodan said, "I decided to buy a sound system after listening to a friend's setup. Over the past few days, I've visited every audio store in the city and haven't heard that kind of sound. The simplest way is to get a setup identical to my friend's. Since you're an expert, I'd like you to come and take a look, then replicate it for me."
Ye Xiaoming, in a tone that brooked no argument, said, "No need to see it. I know every serious audiophile in the city. You're experiencing a psychological effect, transforming the sound you heard in a specific environment. It's normal; everyone goes through this to some extent."
Rui Xiaodan said, "Maybe. But if you're sincere about this deal, that's the only way."
Ye Xiaoming hesitated and asked, "Is your friend wealthy?"
Rui Xiaodan firmly replied, "Yes. But what does that have to do with you selling audio equipment?"
Ye Xiaoming said, "As you've seen, Hi-Fi audio can't sustain itself here; low-end audio is still mainstream. My store is up for sale. If you want a decent setup, I might make some profit. May I ask, what's the approximate cost of your friend's system? And what's your budget?"
Rui Xiaodan said, "That system costs tens of thousands. My budget is 40,000. The issue isn't money; it's whether you can replicate it."
Ye Xiaoming was intrigued and confidently said, "There are fewer than 20 audio systems over 30,000 yuan in the city. I know them all. I might recognize your friend on sight. Don't worry about sourcing; if it exists, I can get it."
Ouyang Xue, growing impatient, said, "Let's go then."
Ye Xiaoming grabbed his keys, pulled down the metal shutter, locked up, and got into the car.
As soon as the car started, Ouyang Xue said, "Drop me off at the store first. This could take a while, and the store will be busy soon. I won't be going."
Rui Xiaodan agreed, "Sure, I'll come to the store for dinner after I'm done."
After dropping Ouyang Xue off at Venus Hotel, Rui Xiaodan and Ye Xiaoming drove to the Nan Village community and parked below Ding Yuanying's building before heading up to the fifth floor.
Climbing the stairs, Ye Xiaoming said, "I haven't been to this place before, so I might not know them."
Rui Xiaodan knocked on the door.
After a moment, the door opened, and Ding Yuanying greeted them politely, "Miss Rui, please come in."
Rui Xiaodan said, "Sorry to bother you, Mr. Ding. I've brought the owner of an audio store to look at your setup. I'd like to buy a similar system, if you don't mind."
Ding Yuanying said, "Not at all, go ahead."
As soon as Ye Xiaoming stepped in, he was awestruck by the audio system before him. He stood there, stunned, unable to hide his astonishment. He moved around the setup like a worshiper, inspecting every detail, gently touching the smooth surfaces of the equipment, and lightly tapping the speakers' cabinets, as if examining a rare antique.
He wanted to lift one of the bookshelf speakers to gauge its weight but refrained. However, just looking at the robust speaker stands, he could imagine their heft.
He marveled at the audio rack, which had 12 compartments, seamlessly crafted from solid wood with steel supports, appearing almost monolithic and ingeniously designed for both strength and elegance.
Rui Xiaodan, observing from the sofa, thought, "This is the difference between a layman and an expert."
Ye Xiaoming, thoroughly impressed, asked, "Mr. Ding, can we listen to it?"
"Of course," Ding Yuanying replied, retrieving a CD.
Ye Xiaoming selected a disc and handed it to Ding Yuanying, "Let's listen to the first track."
Ding Yuanying skillfully operated the equipment, turning on 10 devices in succession, each emitting a pleasing green light.
A rendition of Sarasate's "Zigeunerweisen" for violin and orchestra filled the room, its intricate melodies captivating every corner. Rui Xiaodan felt as if her soul had been electrified and then submerged in a tidal wave, her heart resonating with the pure, moving, rich, and expansive sound she had been desperately seeking.
During the music, Ye Xiaoming stood behind the sofa, directly facing the audio system, entranced even after the track ended, reluctant to leave.
Rui Xiaodan asked, "Did you get a good look?"
Ye Xiaoming, returning to the front, examined the CDs on the rack, scrutinizing each one as if trying to uncover a secret. He quickly replied, "Yes, I did."
Rui Xiaodan stood and thanked Ding Yuanying, "Thank you, Mr. Ding. We'll be going now."
Ye Xiaoming stepped forward, "Mr. Ding, I'm Ye Xiaoming from Yafeng Audiophile Sound Shop, not far from here. Please visit sometime. Also, may I borrow your Mutter violin CD for a few days? I'll return it promptly."
Rui Xiaodan thought, "This shop owner is shrewd, already trying to establish a connection."
"Sure," Ding Yuanying said, handing the CD to Ye Xiaoming.
Ye Xiaoming, delighted, said, "Thank you, thank you. Goodbye then."
Before leaving, Ye Xiaoming shook Ding Yuanying's hand again, then departed with Rui Xiaodan.