Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 314 Ten Years of Agreement
A string of Chinese knots hangs high in a Chinese family's Douglaston, New York, interpreting the festive atmosphere.

In the restaurant, the round dining table was covered with a red tablecloth with gold flowers, and the chandelier directly above was wrapped with a red ribbon.

On the floor below, a pair of lion dancing dolls are placed facing each other, looking lifelike.

A pair of small Spring Festival couplets were posted on the kitchen door, and red bows were tied on the cabinet handles. The whole house was decorated in red and was filled with a warm and festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival.

Liu Xiaoli happily urged everyone to start eating. She and A Fei sat on one side, looking at the couple of young children opposite, their smiles overflowing.

This literary and artistic worker, who had experienced an unhappy marriage and had been away from his hometown, could of course see the subtle changes in the relationship between his daughter and Lu Kuan after years of tempering and accumulation.

Thinking of how Sissi cried when she first arrived in North America a few months ago, I felt a pang of sadness in my heart.

Love is a fate that every girl cannot escape.

"A Fei, you should eat more too!"

“Eat, eat!”

"Xiaolu, would you like me to have a drink with you?"

Boss Lu waved his hands hurriedly. He had seen Liu Xiaoli's boldness when she was drunk. "Next time, next time. I have an appointment this afternoon and I have a lot of things to take care of."

Liu Xiaoli was dissatisfied: "It's not reasonable for Chinese people to stay away from home during the holidays. You can stay at Auntie's house for the next two days. The guest rooms are ready!"

Xiao Liu actually wanted to ask him to stay, but seeing his expression, he felt unhappy, and the words turned into sarcasm when they came to his lips.

"Oh, Mom, Boss Renlu is the richest man. He must be staying in the presidential suite at the New York Marriott, which costs tens of thousands of dollars a night, right?"

"Don't make things difficult for me."

Boss Lu laughed in silence, Onmyoji Xiao Liu was online again.

"No, I'm going to take Xiao Liu out this afternoon."

He put down his bowl and chopsticks and began to describe in detail the subsequent public relations arrangements.

"The events behind this incident are quite complex, so I won't go into detail for now. I've already arranged matters domestically, and the work in North America is mainly divided into several parts."

"First up is Wendy Deng."

"I have asked Martin to find Alan Dershowitz, the best lawyer in North America, to sue Wendy Deng for defamation."

Alan Dershowitz is a top lawyer famous in New York. He became a professor at Harvard Law School at the age of 28 and has handled various top cases.

Simpson case, Tyson case, Pentagon Papers case, Clinton impeachment case and US presidential election case, etc. He is known as the most successful defense lawyer in contemporary America.

Liu Xiaoli's face turned pale with anger when she thought of that woman. "Yes! She must be punished! She's gone too far, using you to threaten Xixi."

Lu Kuan nodded. "Wendy Deng's status is quite special. News Corporation's influence on public opinion is too strong. We must first sever ties between her and News Corporation."

"Wendy Deng is Murdoch's wife, how do you cut them off?" Liu Yifei couldn't help but feel curious.

I have been influenced by him for many years, and I am used to thinking a few more steps when encountering such things.

Therefore, she did not directly tell the truth about being threatened during the live broadcast today.

Because she didn't know how powerful young directors were in North America.

If the scandal becomes public and everyone is dragged into the disaster, the final result may not be what she wants.

After all, justice in this world must be maintained with fists.

Lu Kuan laughed and said, "Murdoch has two wives. The older wife is News Corporation, and the younger wife is Wendi Deng."

"He sent his concubine to Asia to manage Myspace, hoping to use her identity to enter China."

"In North America, I'm no match for him, but as long as Murdoch wants to enter China, perhaps as a local tyrant I can still cause him some trouble."

There are special ways of doing things in China.

Xiao Liu listened thoughtfully, knowing that he hadn't said many things explicitly.

"I've consulted with Anna Huang. Honestly, suing Wendi Deng this time is doomed to be fruitless. It's just a way to build momentum and protest injustice."

First of all, Wendi Deng did not place Liu Yifei under house arrest or control her personal freedom. In the News Corporation office, she told her she could stay or leave as she pleased.

However, Xiao Liu was willing to fall into the trap in order to seize this opportunity to clear Lu Kuan's name during the live broadcast.

This is a conspiracy.

Even if the evidence is conclusive, it would at best be a crime of defamation. Moreover, Xiao Liu had no conditions to retain evidence at the time. Her confession was the only piece of evidence, which could not form an effective chain of evidence.

At the federal level in the United States at this time, defamation is still a civil offense, and there is not even any criminal legislation, so it is of little significance.

But no matter what, this momentum must be created. Boss Lu, who is sinister and vicious in Chen Kaige's eyes, naturally has other plans.

"Aside from Wendi Deng, the only thing left is to use the influence of public opinion we now have to help Xiao Liu become famous in North America."

"I spoke with the president of Disney this morning and it's agreed that all its television stations, including ABC, will cooperate with our PR plan and act as intermediaries."

"Hong Kong Disneyland, which opened last September, will officially appoint her as its ambassador in a couple of days."

Liu Xiaoli's delight was beyond words. Before she could say anything, Xiao Liu was already jumping for joy: "Then I can go to Disneyland without queuing!"

"If you want to skip the lines, go to Disneyland in California."

"Many tourists leave after the 9: p.m. fireworks show at Disneyland California, so there won't be many people lining up at that time."

Concubine Liu Yi asked suspiciously, "How do you know? You don't look like someone who would go, do you?"

I have been there before, of course in my previous life.

Xiao Liu's attention was attracted by Disneyland. Perhaps the person who was happiest about this news was Yang Siwei.

Following Pepsi, the studio has secured an endorsement from a world-class company, even if it is only regional.

"So where are we going this afternoon?"

Boss Lu smiled and said, "Of course I'm going to pay New Year's greetings."

"Happy New Year? You have relatives in New York?"

"There's a famous designer in the New York Chinese community named Lin Ying, who was the technical advisor for the World Olympic team. I asked her to contact Mr. Zheng Shirong, an old man in the North American Chinese newspaper industry."

"Your popularity in North America is still largely among the Chinese community. Mr. Zheng founded the New York Daily News in New York in the 70s and is very respected."

"In addition to Disney's media power, the power of the North American Chinese community and public opinion circles must also be utilized."

Use legal means to issue a declaration of war to Wendi Deng, cooperate with Boss Lu's domestic public opinion power, and by the way, tie Talang and his sons together to frame them.

In a weak region like North America, the focus is still on leveraging strengths, forming alliances, and waiting for the rise of Facebook, which it has invested in, and Weibo, which it controls.

This Manhattan incident also made Lu Kuan realize that he needed to do more preparatory work on the world stage outside his domestic comfort zone.

"Xiaolu, Auntie won't say anything else. I'll toast you with tea instead of wine."

"You take Xixi to work, I'll cook at home, and we'll have a nice drink on New Year's Eve!"

Liu Xiaoli was particularly touched when she heard that he had arranged everything in detail.

Although it was his daughter who sacrificed herself to save him first, this kind of unwavering and two-way dedication is the most comforting emotional force in this mundane world.

Lu Kuan glanced at the charming and lovely Liu Yifei and said seriously, "Ever since we decided to make this Holocaust film in 2002, we had anticipated many difficulties."

"These difficulties come from within China, from abroad, and even from the creative team of our film itself."

"From the joint letter to the live broadcast, the Japanese right-wing group 'Society for Spreading Historical Facts to the World' is clearly behind this, fanning the flames and colluding everywhere."

The young director sighed: "In a sense, Xiao Liu took the blame for me this time."

"Don't say that. She is the heroine of the movie and this is what she should do." Liu Xiaoli smiled and patted the back of her daughter's hand, feeling proud of her.

Lu Kuan's cell phone on the table rang. He took a look and his expression changed slightly.

Everyone fell silent, listening to the urgent telegram from Peking.

The caller was Zhang Heping from the Olympic Organizing Committee: "Director Lu, Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year, Director Zhang. What can I do for you?"

Zhang Heping said briefly, "Comrade Lu Kuan, please report to the Olympic Building on the North Fourth Ring Road on February 2th. A leader will speak with you."

Boss Lu probed: "I wonder which leader it is?"

"Haha, it's Leader Liu. Come back quickly, Comrade Xiaolu. Stop hanging around outside. It's still warm at home."

These words obviously had a hidden meaning, and Boss Lu was moved when he heard it.

This is the final selection of members for the Olympic creative team. There are 20 to 30 team members. The only ones who can be personally interviewed by Leader Liu are either directors or chief consultants.

After hanging up the phone, Xiao Liu couldn't help but ask excitedly, "Are you going to be the chief director of the Beijing Olympics?"

"Not necessarily! It's just a conversation. Leader Liu will talk to several people."

From the moment he accepted the bid, Zhou Jun tried to stop him, intending to use Liu's father's scandal to dismantle Wenjie Holdings and take over Blog.com before he could establish his reputation.
Kasai Xiong stopped him, wanting to overshadow this Holocaust film that was destined to appear on the world stage through the concentrated outburst of negative information;

Wendi Deng stopped him and cleared the biggest obstacle for Huayi, in which she had invested, in advance. Unfortunately, she failed at the last minute and was defeated by that color.

After all the turmoil, we have finally come to this point.

After lunch, the young director took Xiao Liu out to pay New Year’s greetings.

The destination is not far away, in the town of Oyster Bay on the north shore of Long Island.

The two got out of the car and saw from afar that at the end of the quiet path, in front of an antique Chinese-style building, Lin Ying was already waiting for him.

"Xiaolu, why are you here so fast?"

Lin Ying came forward with a beaming smile: "This must be Concubine Yi, right? I'm so proud of you."

She hugged Xiao Liu with appreciation. Lu Kuan asked her to introduce Zheng Shirong to him, so he naturally told her some of the inside story. Lin Ying couldn't help but sigh on the phone.

Concubine Liu Yi also smiled brightly: "Thank you, Sister Lin."

"Let's go, Mr. Zheng has been waiting for you."

Lin Ying explained as they walked: "The old man is almost 90 years old. He only feels a little more energetic after lunch every day and can talk to you for a few more words."

"I've already explained the general situation to his eldest son, and there shouldn't be any problem."

"By the way, he's also seen your film 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'. He's seen it more than once, and it's said that the aerial battle scene brought him to tears."

Zheng Shirong was born in 1916. He fled to Shanxi after the July Incident. After graduating from National Central University, he went to work for the Ta Kung Pao in Shanxi.

He once served as secretary to Chen Yi, a former high-ranking official of the Kuomintang. Chen Yi received mixed reviews in later generations. He was the executioner of the 228 Incident, but was also posthumously recognized as a patriot for instigating Tang Enbo to rebel against the "normal".

The main reason for my visit this time is that Zheng Shirong worked at the New York Times for thirteen years and also helped China News Service gain a foothold in North America. He is an old media person with feelings.

Through his influence in the New York Chinese community, the North American Chinese community and the media, and together with Disney's media power, he will try his best to gradually eliminate the negative impact of this incident involving Concubine Liu Yi.

As for the tears that came from watching the air battle in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", Boss Lu also understood it. He had been feeling the hardships of the times since the July 7 Incident.

I have experienced countless studies, paperwork and battles, from the mainland to Taiwan and then to North America. I have wasted so much time in my life that I must have deep feelings about that period of history.

The female designer paused, then said hesitantly, "There's just one thing. Mr. Zheng's eyesight is blurry now, and he can't see people clearly. His consciousness may be a little hazy at times."

He is over ninety years old, how can he not be confused?

Boss Lu nodded and said to Liu Yifei, "Xiao Liu, be good when you go in later. This is a patriotic Chinese with feelings."

Concubine Liu Yi nodded: "Yes, I understand."

"Sister Lin, did you design this yard?"

"Yes, it was renovated a few years ago." Lin Ying gave them a brief explanation.

"The floor is paved with green tiles, the roof is a hip roof and a gable roof, and the ridge is decorated with exquisite Chinese ridge beasts, symbolizing good luck and good fortune."

"The exterior walls are beige bricks with dark grey brick carvings. The carvings include traditional motifs such as plum, orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum, fortune, wealth, longevity and happiness, which are also popular with the elderly."

Boss Lu smiled and said, "Very good. Did you get the inspiration from the manuscripts of Mr. Liang and Mr. Lin?"

"Please design one for me when you have time. I guess I'll have more opportunities to travel to North America in the future."

Buying land with permanent ownership in America is a good choice, as it allows you to own property in Los Angeles and New York, two of the film, political and cultural centers of the United States.

Xiao Liu glanced at him and thought that he really liked to settle down and had a special liking for the Chinese style.

Four years ago, when I came back from the Cannes Film Festival, the first thing I did was to buy a courtyard house.

The three of them chatted and laughed as they entered the main hall. Walking on the Chinese-style solid wood floor, they saw Mr. Zheng sitting on a mahogany chair with his eyes narrowed.

The old butler stood quietly by and gently woke him up.

From the layout of the house to the behavior of the old housekeeper, it really reflects the living habits of people in the early 20th century.

"Hmm? You're here, right?"

The old man had gray hair and chicken skin, and his eyes were slightly cloudy. When he saw the road widening with his eyes wide open, he slammed the chair and said, "Li Ming! You are Li Ming!"

Everyone was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. The old butler came forward and gave them a look to express his apology.

The young director smiled and stepped forward to shake hands: "Hello Mr. Zheng, I'm Li Ming."

"Xiao Liu, come and say hello to the old man."

Concubine Liu Yi stepped forward and said, "Hello, Mr. Zheng. My name is Concubine Liu Yi. I wish you a happy Chinese New Year!"

Zheng Shirong was attracted by her voice, and squinted his eyes to look at the little girl carefully. She had beautiful eyebrows, phoenix eyes, pretty face, and quite a classical temperament.

"Who are you...?"

"Oh! You are Li Ming's lover Lucy, why aren't you wearing a cheongsam?"

This refers to Zhang Manyu's adult appearance in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" when she was still in Shanghai.

For people of Zheng Shirong's generation, cheongsam may be the most beautiful dress for Chinese women, dignified, elegant, gentle and reserved.

Lin Ying was overwhelmed. She and Zheng Shirong's grandson were schoolmates. Both were top families in the New York Chinese community and they often interacted with each other.

The old man was fine when he was eating, but why did he become confused again now?

"Grandpa, this isn't a movie! And in the movie, Li Ming's lover is played by Zhang Manyu!"

"The young man's name is Lu Kuan, and the girl's name is Liu Yifei. I told you about them while we were having dinner. Would you like to take a closer look?"

Zheng Shirong waved his hands at her: "Impossible, how could my eyes mistake someone for mine?"

He seemed to suddenly regain some spirit, and raised his chin towards the old housekeeper: "Old Lin, tell them my story!"

"Eh!"

Housekeeper Lin was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and Lin Ying sighed helplessly. It was obvious that this was a regular program, and she had heard it countless times since she was a child.

"In 1940, Mr. Zheng took the exam for the Ta Kung Pao and could memorize an entire page in a quarter of an hour."

"Later, he worked as a staff member and personal secretary for General Chen. Both Chiang Ting-wen and Chiang Bai-ri praised my husband highly, saying he had a unique skill."

"Anyone I have ever met will never be forgotten. Even if they are from a young child to an octogenarian, I can still say that."

"Later, even Mr. Chang recognized his outstanding talents and recommended him to be the director of the Quzhou Pacification Office..."

Steward Lin recited scriptures in an eloquent manner, and Boss Lu listened with great interest, while Concubine Liu Yi was stunned.

"Hahaha!" Zheng Shirong scratched his white hair: "It's obviously Li Ming and Lucy."

He stood up with the help of a cane and moved closer to observe the width of the road. "That's right, you, Li Ming, have become younger again. How come you've become over 20 years old?"

"And you, little girl."

Zheng Shirong muttered, "You're different from Li Ming. You're growing up slowly, but not fast enough!"

He pointed to the width of the road and said, "You have to hurry up and catch up with him. Go even faster, hurry up..."

Xiao Liu felt a little amused and confused. Of course he was getting old. Everyone gets old.
But why did Zheng Shirong, who was good at judging people, see Lu Kuan as getting younger?

Hurry up and catch up with him?
She did know that the hero and heroine in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" walked towards each other through the passage of time, and only became a couple after their souls had deeply connected...

The little girl's cheeks were flushed with random thoughts. She couldn't help but turn her head to look at him, but unexpectedly found that the man's face was a little pale.

The expression on his face, which had just been listening with great interest, became even more profound and reserved.

Liu Yifei suddenly thought of the hug after the birthday party.

As if he had used up all his energy for the day, Zheng Shirong sat back on the mahogany chair in the main hall, leaned his back against the cushion, and dozed off drowsily.

"Ah!" The old housekeeper sighed, "Miss Lin, it seems that this is all we can do today. If you have anything to say, please talk to the eldest master."

Lin Ying gave the young director a wry smile, and the latter waved his hand: "Then we'll take our leave first."

He pulled out his phone and asked Ah Fei in the car to bring in the gifts. After a few pleasantries, they finally exchanged greetings. Lin Ying had no choice but to drive them to the home of Zheng Shirong, the eldest son. The two sides had a close conversation and agreed on a series of cooperation agreements.

There are circles everywhere. Liu Yifei will have many trips in North America in the future, and her base is mainly composed of the 500 million Chinese community in North America.

With the Liang and Lin families represented by Lin Ying and the Chinese newspaper leaders represented by Zheng Shirong, it can be said that there is a safe haven in this land.

Once you enter the circle, you have to maintain relationships on your own, using local ties, interests, and so on.

After the matter was done, when Ah Fei drove to Douglaston's house, it was already getting dark.

Liu Yifei nudged Lu Kuan lightly with her arm in the back row. "What's wrong? You seemed a little distracted this afternoon?"

"Really? Thinking about something."

Boss Lu came back to his senses and joked, "I'm thinking about how to deal with those little ants when I return home in a couple of days."

Xiao Liu was in a particularly good mood that afternoon. She rolled her eyes at him and said sweetly, "It's New Year's! Don't think about those bad guys. They'll spoil the fun."

"The road is wide! How about we go get some fireworks?"

"Can fireworks be set off in New York?" Boss Lu's thinking might still be stuck in his previous life, and he felt that the environmental protection requirements in such a metropolis should be quite strict.

Xiao Liu said excitedly: "Mom asked, it's OK!"

"Okay, Ah Fei, let's go to Chinatown first."

"okay!"

The Spring Festival in New York State is a legal holiday, and the ban on firecrackers was abolished in 2004, and the restrictive measures of later generations with fixed times and locations were adopted.

Since the Spring Festival in 2005, different organizers have set off hundreds of thousands of firecrackers in Lin Zexu Square, located in front of the Qilin Shiguo and the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, and there will also be fireworks displays in the evening.

Boss Lu took the excited little girl into the densely packed Chinatown of New York, where there are nearly 500 Chinese shops, making it the largest Chinatown in the United States.

Restaurants, jewelry stores, teahouses, art malls, and antique shops abound.

As the sky gradually darkened, young men and women, slightly disguised with scarves, walked through the bustling Chinatown.

Perhaps it was because she felt safe around someone, the little girl held a cup of hot coffee and wandered around like a butterfly, wanting to try everything and buy everything.

Lu Kuan followed her with her bag to pay. At this moment, Liu Yifei truly returned to the innocence and cuteness of her eighteen-year-old age.

No need to deal with the daunting task of raising funds and running a Twitter project to fight against an unbeatable time traveler;
There was no need to be cautious in dealing with a cunning and treacherous huntress like Wendy Deng, fearing that she or he would fall into a trap;

She no longer had to read the Holocaust materials that made her tremble with fear and unable to bear to finish reading, and she no longer had to cry before she could speak.

Wrapping up my coat tightly, I walked silently along the wide road behind her, and couldn't help but think of Zheng Shirong's "supernatural" words today -

Faster... Faster...

She was indeed pushed forward by herself in this life.

She has gained more sophisticated acting skills, top-notch physical foundation for performance, superior film resources and an extremely smooth development path.

But at the same time, a lot was lost.

The young director was very glad to see her innocent and naive nature at this moment. Besides the fullness of her mature soul, her youthfulness and innocence were even more precious.

"How is it? Is it enough?"

Xiao Liu went on a shopping spree. Lu Kuan and A Fei were almost covered with fireworks and firecrackers. At this moment, a match could send them to the moon.

Boss Lu was speechless: "If you don't want to blow up the United Nations headquarters in the East Side of Manhattan, these should be enough."

"Haha! Don't talk nonsense, or that African-American police officer on patrol might hear you."

At eight o'clock in the evening, we returned with a full load.

Liu Xiaoli received a call in advance and had already prepared the food, so she didn't need her daughter, the chef, to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner.

"Cheers~~~"

"Happy New Year~~~"

The Spring Festival Gala replay was playing on TV, and the song "Three Lucky Treasures" became the best footnote to this unique New Year's Eve dinner.

Ah Fei also made an exception and started drinking, and Boss Lu clinked glasses with him frequently.

Fighting side by side all over the world in recent years, he is the closest person to Lu Kuan. He can be entrusted with all matters that can and cannot be made public.

Liu Xiaoli insisted on drinking two glasses with Lu Kuan, and her face immediately turned red again. She looked at her daughter joking with him humorously and laughed from ear to ear.

During the Spring Festival in 2003, Xiao Liu's father was also present. He had just restored Liu Yifei's citizenship, and everyone gathered together to celebrate the Spring Festival.

Three years later, the scene was almost repeated.

The old mother was really smiling today and couldn't hide the joy in her heart.

On this day, from the hell to heaven at the Fox Center, to the young man in front of me who had already arranged everything in advance, and the lively and agile state that Sissi was visibly in. . .

"Xiaolu, three years ago you were a fledgling director, but now you've almost won all the awards at European and American film festivals and are the richest man in the country."

"Our Sissi is the same. She went from being a clueless little girl in 'The Golden Age' to a grown woman who can stand on her own feet."

The old mother suddenly felt a little sad: "Time flies so fast!"

"It's great to see you young people full of energy and determination to make progress. It's really great."

Xiao Liu hugged his mother's arm and said, "Oh! You talk like you're in your seventies or eighties."

"Look at your face, it's even younger than mine!"

She playfully winked at Mr. Lu, who was peeling shrimp: "The Mr. Lu you're talking about said it publicly on the show, I'm the ugliest in my family!"

"I'm a little bit inferior to you!"

"Damn! You kid, you're talking nonsense!" Liu Xiaoli's eyes, which had just turned red, curved again, and she was about to toast with the young director generously.

Concubine Liu Yi snatched her wine glass: "You take a break, I'll drink it for you!"

"You? You can drink?" Boss Lu sneered.

"Who are you looking down on? I had two glasses of rum before going to Forks today, isn't that all right?"

Boss Lu looked at her doubtfully. The rum was also around 38 to 40 degrees, not much different from the ten-year Wuliangye on the table.

"Xixi, are you serious?" Liu Xiaoli was a bit of a fierce girl from Northeast China when she was young, and she didn't try to dissuade her for a while.

During the holidays, adults at home just drink a couple of glasses of wine to join in the fun.

Xiao Liu said seriously: "Really? Give it to me."

Boss Lu's expression was exaggerated, and he said solemnly, "This is your first glass of baijiu in Liu Yifei's life. I want to accompany you well with this glass."

"I did it, you can do whatever you want!"

"Wait!" Xiao Liu took out her uniquely shaped N93 and raised her eyebrows at him coquettishly: "I want to record it, will you give it to me?"

The little girl pouted and returned to her willful and capricious look that had not been seen for a long time.

Boss Lu sneered: "Please do as you please."

"A Fei, you take the photo!"

Ah Fei smiled and nodded as he took the phone: "Okay! Let's start!"

In the retro filter of the old Nokia, festive Chinese knots are hung high in the villa of Douglaston, New York, and the red background of the Chinese character "Fu" and the bright gold cutting pattern at the entrance complement each other.

Liu Yifei carefully walked over to the young director with a glass of wine in hand, cleared her throat, and said jokingly to the camera: "Ahem, today is New Year's Eve 2006, and this is Douglaston."

"I recorded this video today so I can watch it again ten years from now in 2016."

She turned to Boss Lu and said, "Mr. Lu Kuan, I wish you can realize your dream in ten years and become the world's greatest film master, bar none!"

The latter also smiled and agreed with her: "Thank you for your good words."

"Ms. Liu Yifei, I hope you can realize your dream and become a world-class movie queen in ten years."

Xiao Liu looked dissatisfied: "No one?"

"There are so many best actresses, how can there not be one?"

The little girl said sweetly: "No! Think of one that is perfect for me!"

Boss Lu looked at her meaningfully, then lowered his head and whispered something into the little girl's ear.

Concubine Liu Yi opened her beautiful eyes wide and looked up at him in disbelief, biting her lower lip, her eyes sparkling and her cheeks flushed.

"Fuck you! I'll beat you to death!"

Boss Lu only felt a dull pain in his chest again and quickly changed the subject: "Drink, drink."

"Come on, finish this one, there's still one more!"

Xiao Liu gave him a coquettish look, picked up the cup and drank it all in one gulp, her face turning red in an instant.

I don’t know if it’s because of the wine or the person.

The old mother smiled at the side, still wondering what the two had just whispered to each other.

"Okay, we've almost finished eating, let's go set off the fireworks."

There was already a sense of gunfire outside, so the sensible Ah Fei and the old artist chose to stay in the house and watch the fireworks.

Today, eighteen-year-old Liu Yifei dragged Lu Kuan out.

The little girl decided to start by playing with some small gadgets, but the night wind was blowing so hard that she tried to light a cigarette with her lighter several times but failed.

"Come here and help me block the wind."

Xiao Liu's suicide at the Fox Center that morning was quite heroic. Lu Kuan decided to let her do what she wanted today, so he came over and pulled up his coat to shield Liu Yifei from the wind.

I don't know if it was the whispers in my ear that touched my heart, or if it was the alcohol in my throat that took away my composure.

Under the faint flames and dim street lights, the girl's cheeks were even more charmingly rosy, extremely attractive.

The young director drank almost a pound of white wine today. Looking at the beautiful cheeks and cherry lips so close to him, his eyes flickered. Even though it was freezing cold, he still felt inexplicably hot.

When the flowers are in bloom, they must be picked. When can I pick them?
The night was as dark as ink, and more and more fireworks joined this exotic starry sky. Concubine Liu Yi had a lot of fun and used up all her stocks.

Boss Lu clicked his lighter idly, "We're done. Shall we go home?"

Xiao Liu complained, "It's not even 12 o'clock yet? There's going to be a fireworks display in the town square later."

Seeing her still red cheeks, Lu Kuan asked, "Are you drunk? Why are you so excited?"

"It's just a few glasses of wine?" Xiao Liu said proudly, "Maybe I can drink better than you!"

"Okay, you have ambition."

Boss Lu could tell at a glance that she was indeed a bit "drunken concubine".

Although he hasn't reached the point of being unconscious, this endless madness says it all.

The two sat on a bench in the Douglaston town square. There was no clock striking twelve, but suddenly the sound of firecrackers and fireworks served as a tool to tell the time.

The night sky was instantly dyed with colorful light, shining brightly and dazzlingly, like a fairy's colorful clothes enveloping the world.

The cold wind was biting and piercing her flesh and bones. Concubine Liu Yi's excitement had subsided a little at this moment. She only felt a little cold and could not help but move closer to the width of the road.

"Is it cold? You can't be exposed to the wind after drinking."

Concubine Liu Yi pouted in dissatisfaction: "Shouldn't you take off your clothes and let me wear them now?"

Boss Lu sneered, "What kind of plot are you watching written by a third-rate screenwriter?"

"I have a suggestion. If you don't hit me, I can..." He opened his coat and gestured, asking the girl's opinion.

Concubine Liu Yi stared at him for a few seconds and said, "You'd better behave yourself."

The warmth and softness of her body were in my arms, and although there was thick clothing between us, it finally created a long-lost warmth and tenderness in this biting cold wind.

“Actually, I’m under a lot of pressure right now.”

Lu Kuanqi asked, "What pressure?"

"This role, this role played by Sister Chunru."

Xiao Liu's throat churned, his mouth dry from the alcohol. "The closer I get to her, the more I spend time with her, and the more information I read about her, the bigger the gap between us becomes."

"She is knowledgeable, strong-willed, and has countless shining points. I'm really afraid that I won't be able to portray this character well and let her be overshadowed."

"We encountered so many difficulties, and so many people didn't want you to make this movie during this period, but you finally got through it with all the hardship."

"With so many Hollywood stars playing foreign supporting roles, I'm worried that I, as the leading actress, won't be able to interpret the role well enough."

I don’t know if it was because of this dreamy and warm environment that made her sad, or because her emotions after drinking were unexpectedly affected, but Liu Yifei choked up a little.

The twists and turns during this period, the obstacles and difficulties that she had to overcome with great difficulty, became a huge pressure on her shoulders that she found difficult to let go.

She's like the last runner in a 400-meter relay race.

The team including Lu Kuan cleared all obstacles for the filming of the movie, and she began to worry whether she would fail due to her own lack of ability.

The young director sighed inwardly. The pressure on and off the set of this film was enormous. Even though Liu Yifei had been through a lot with him over the past few years, he couldn't help but feel timid.

What she needs at this time is encouragement.

Seeing that Lu Kuan didn't say anything for a long time, Xiao Liu looked up at him with tears in his eyes.

"Will not."

The young director said seriously, "I've seen a lot of footage of Sister Chunru. She has given many inspiring speeches on different occasions."

"The most chaotic and dangerous time was when we were attacked by thugs during a book signing in Times Square in 98."

"This scene wasn't originally written into the script. I was afraid you didn't have that kind of acting intensity, and forcing it wouldn't be beautiful, so I chose another scene."

He lowered his head and met Xiao Liu's clear eyes: "Now I have changed my mind."

Boss Lu asked her to sit up straight from his arms, put his hands on Xiao Liu's shoulders, and said word by word seriously: "Your performance today really surprised me."

"Whether as a person or an actor, you are a noble in spirit and a warrior in action."

"To be honest, if you were asked to play this role before, it was because you look similar to her, have similar experiences growing up abroad, or because you can attract more young moviegoers and promote patriotism."

"But now, from a director's perspective, I can say responsibly that you are fully capable of handling this role."

"You have a clean and tough soul just like her."

"Your defense of this film on live television today is just like Zhang Chunru's steadfast resistance to the right wing back then."

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. I believe you can perfectly complete this role. This will be a transformation in your acting career."

Concubine Liu Yi stared at him blankly, the fireworks rising into the sky highlighting his angular profile.

The frustrations and education she had experienced in the past few years were still fresh in her mind. She had never expected to hear such high praise from a young director.

Boss Lu looked at Xiao Liu, whose slender shoulders shrugged slightly and tears streamed down her face, and teased with a malicious smile, "What's more, there's me?"

"Even if you are a pile of shit, I can still turn you into a flower."

Xiao Liu, who was inexplicably moved, suddenly lost his composure and started crying and laughing at the same time, without noticing that a bubble of snot had squeezed out of his nose.

Boss Lu had a look of disdain on his face like an old man on the subway. He quickly picked up Xiao Liu's own scarf and wiped it clean on her stained face.

"You are the shit!"

The young director was beaten by the King Kong Barbie with her pink fists and fled in panic.

　The previous chapter said to write more interactive content, and I received your suggestion.

　　Next, Taro, Wendy Deng and others are killed. This should be the process before and after the two of them filmed a movie together. There will be a period of smooth plot (probably).

　　The struggle was brought about by the movie, and once it was resolved, filming would naturally begin.

　　I would also like to share my sincere thoughts: the foreshadowing is the condiment, and the climax is the main course. If you think the main course in Chapter 313 is delicious, the condiments also played a role. Don’t be too disgusted with the condiments, but I may have put too much condiments before, and I will pay attention to it.

　　There are also many book lovers who skip around reading the book because of different tastes. This is normal, but when you make a mistake, you can go and look at the chapters you skipped to first. The logic of everything should be explained very clearly, and there should be many foreshadowings and the like.

　　For example, in Chapter 312, the protagonist reads Xiao Liu’s diary, which involves the changes in their emotional states. If you don’t read it, some parts of the following will feel abrupt.

　　Please give me a monthly ticket!
　　Thanks to the brothers who contributed to Chapter 313. I will find time to update it!

　　Thank you for your support!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)