Huayu: Starting from retirement, sweeping across the domestic entertainment industry

On July 4th, a script reading of "The Legend of Canglan" was held.

The air conditioning in the conference room was set very low, and the long table was full of people sitting on both sides.

When Li Ran and Tian Xiwei came in, they glanced around and saw a few familiar faces as well as a few new ones.

He recognized one of the faces; it was General Zhang Linghe, the one who later starred in "Chasing Jade" with Xiao Tian.

He sat in the corner, looking down at the script, occasionally looking up to say a few words to the person next to him, his face wrinkling in layers when he smiled.

How to put it? He's a male god with heavily edited photos, and a wrinkle magnet.

It's probably because I used to be overweight; my skin condition is... well, let's just say it's not great.

There's nothing to brag about in terms of acting skills; it's a blank, expressionless performance with the same face from beginning to end.

Li Ran withdrew his gaze and sat down in his seat.

The reading session lasted for three days. The day after it ended, Li Ran went to Nan'ao Island to visit Liu Haocun on set.

The film "The Four Seas" is currently being filmed here.

When Li Ran arrived, it was already evening. The setting sun dyed the entire island orange-red, and the sea was covered with a layer of broken gold.

Liu Haocun had just finished filming a scene and was resting under a parasol when she looked up and saw two "golden" heads walking towards her.

Leading the way was Liu Haoran, who played her boyfriend in the drama. His blond hair, dyed for the role, was a little messy in the sea breeze.

Li Ran, who came to visit the set, followed behind him. He had somehow dyed his hair back to a dazzling blonde.

Liu Haocun paused for two seconds, her gaze sweeping back and forth between the two. One was the unruly character type, and the other was the exquisite idol type. The contrast was so stark that she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Wang Yanlin, who was drinking water nearby, followed her gaze and chuckled, almost spitting out his water. He then burst into his signature laugh: "Hahahaha! My goodness, these two blondies! Both blondies, but the difference is so huge!"

Liu Haoran scratched his head of blond hair, which he said was "for the sake of the role," and protested, "It's for the character! Bro, I look pretty handsome with blond hair, okay?"

Wang Yanlin showed no mercy, pointing at Li Ran and criticizing Liu Haoran: "You're handsome, but you're not as handsome as Li Ran, okay?"

He stood up, stretched out his arm, and familiarly put his arm around Li Ran's shoulder. He winked at Liu Haocun and said, "Haocun, you agree, right? My little brother Xiao Nian is still the most handsome."

Li Ran plays "Xu Fengnian" in "The Sword and the Brocade", while he plays "Wen Hua" in the drama. The two are brothers who are bound by life and death.

Li Ran was jolted by the hug and could only chuckle awkwardly, "Brother Wen Hua is right..."

After laughing enough, Liu Haocun's gaze fell on Li Ran's exceptionally shiny blond hair. He blinked and slowly asked, "What's going on with you? Why did you dye it back?"

Li Ran sat down next to him and explained, "Ignite Me, Warm You is about to air, right? We need to shoot some promotional photos and magazine shoots. The stylist said this hair color looks better on camera, so to match the promotional period, we dyed it back."

Before long, director Han Han and lead actor Shen Teng finished their discussion and walked over here.

Shen Teng spotted the striking blond head from afar. Approaching, he squinted his comically expressive eyes, sizing Li Ran up and down, and teased, "Hey! Where did this handsome guy come from? Tsk tsk, his looks are almost half as good as mine!"

Li Ran quickly stood up and politely greeted them: "Hello Director Han, hello Brother Teng!"

Han Han, who was more reserved, smiled and nodded to Li Ran: "Li Ran, welcome to visit the set."

He reached out and gently patted Li Ran's arm, his gaze seemingly shifting between Li Ran and Liu Haocun, a knowing smile playing on his lips, but he said nothing more.

Shen Teng didn't stand on ceremony. He plopped down on the folding chair next to him, picked up the chilled watermelon that Li Ran had brought during his visit, and took a big bite. The juice was sweet and refreshing.

He sighed contentedly, then looked at Li Ran and continued his probing: "Li Ran, when you come to visit the set, especially Hao Cun's set, you only bring some fruit and drinks? That's not befitting your top-tier status! Isn't that a bit stingy?"

Li Ran knew Shen Teng's teasing style, so he readily laughed and said, "My bad, my bad. It's my treat tonight. You can choose any place, Brother Teng, order whatever you want, there's plenty, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Teng immediately turned to Liu Haocun, grinning from ear to ear: "Haocun, did you hear that? This was Li Ran's own initiative to invite us; I didn't force him! Everyone can testify to that!"

A faint blush rose to Liu Haocun's face, whether from the sun or something else, it was hard to tell. She pouted and said coquettishly, "Brother Teng! What nonsense are you talking about! What do you mean 'mine'? You're just making up fodder for rumors between us!"

Shen Teng tossed the watermelon rind aside, wiped his hands with a wet wipe, and his smile became even more mischievous: "Hey! You two, do I really need to fabricate something? Every netizen surfing the internet knows about rumors, right, Yanlin? Haoran?"

Wang Yanlin immediately raised his hand: "I testify, Brother Teng is right!"

He silently added to himself, "There are several other connections within the 'Snow Sword' production team as well!"

Liu Haoran nodded, suppressing a laugh.

Liu Haocun glared at them, pretending to be angry, but couldn't help but laugh.

The sea breeze dispelled the daytime heat, replacing it with a slightly cool touch, gently caressing the open-air barbecue stalls.

Li Ran decisively booked the entire stall and hosted a banquet for the entire film crew. Simple plastic tables and chairs were arranged on the beach, and charcoal fires flickered under the long barbecue grill. The rich aroma of cumin, chili powder, and oil wafted with the sea breeze.

The clinking of beer bottles, laughter, and the murmur of the waves blended together to create a pleasant background sound.

The main creators sat at a separate table, closest to the sea.

Li Ran, Liu Haocun, Shen Teng, Han Han, Liu Haoran, Wang Yanlin... sat in a circle.

The table was piled high with sizzling oysters, scallops, lamb skewers, corn, and a small mountain of ice-cold beer.

After finishing a skewer of perfectly marbled lamb, Shen Teng squinted his eyes contentedly, gulped down a large mouthful of ice-cold beer, and let out a long sigh: "So satisfying! If you ask me, no delicacy can compare to this barbecue and beer. Li Ran, you know how to pick a place!"

Li Ran smiled and poured him another full glass of wine: "I'm glad you like it, Brother Teng."

Director Han Han held a can of beer in his hand, his gaze sweeping over everyone present before finally settling on Li Ran.

He took a sip of his drink and casually asked, "Li Ran, are you interested in making a cameo appearance in 'The Four Seas' this time? Just a small role, not much screen time, just for fun."

Li Ran was picking up a skewer of grilled shrimp when he heard this and paused slightly.

He pointed somewhat embarrassedly to his striking blond hair, which still stood out under the warm yellow light, and laughed, "Director Han, look at my look... it doesn't match the current style of our crew. If I force it in, the audience might be distracted."

Shen Teng immediately nodded vigorously, exclaiming with an exaggerated expression, "That's absolutely right! This isn't just one layer; it's like two completely different art styles!"

He first pointed to his rather "recognizable" face and said in a serious tone, "Only me, with this look and temperament, can barely stand in the same frame as our Li Ran and compete with him."

Then, with a sweep of his arm, he included male celebrities like Liu Haoran and Wang Yanlin, saying, "Look at them, they're all tanned from being at the beach every day, like they just came back from inspecting a coal mine, especially Haoran!"

Liu Haoran, who was being called out, was gnawing on a chicken wing when he heard this and almost choked. He wailed, "Brother Teng! The role requires it! The role requires it! Besides, I have a healthy tan!"

Shen Teng ignored him and continued to plead with Li Ran, "Seriously, Li Ran, if you stood next to Haoran looking like this, people who didn't know the truth would definitely think you were the male lead and he was just a local tour guide driving you around!"

The group at the table burst into laughter. Wang Yanlin slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Director Xiang? Brother Teng, you're giving him too much credit. He looks more like someone caught illegally crossing the border!"

Liu Haoran pretended to throw a skewer at him, laughing and yelling, "That's enough! Can't we just eat in peace?!"

After the laughter subsided, Han Han smiled as well, clearly indicating that he had other ideas.

He leaned forward slightly, tapped his fingers lightly on the beer can, looked at Li Ran, and said in a more formal tone than before: "If a cameo role isn't suitable... then, are you interested in 'Pegasus 2'? Not a cameo, but a role."

He emphasized the word "participate" slightly.

The laughter and chatter at the table unconsciously subsided.

Liu Haocun looked at Li Ran, Shen Teng raised an eyebrow, and even Liu Haoran and Wang Yanlin looked over.

Everyone can tell that this means he is at least a significant character, rather than just someone who makes a brief appearance in a few scenes.

Li Ran was indeed taken aback; he hadn't expected Han Han to extend an invitation in this way on this occasion.

He quickly composed himself, put down his skewers, straightened his posture, and replied sincerely, "Director Han, look at what you're saying. How could I not be interested in a production of 'Pegasus's' caliber? I doubt any actor wouldn't want to participate."

He paused briefly, not immediately agreeing, but instead gave a slightly apologetic and cautious smile: "However, regarding the specific schedule, I still need to go back and carefully check the existing arrangements with the team before I can give you a definite answer."

Han Han nodded in understanding; he appreciated this kind of cautious approach of not blindly agreeing but considering the practicalities first.

He provided more specific information: "I understand. The project is still in the preparation and script revision stage, and filming is expected to officially begin in the second half of next year. Is the timing a problem for you?"

In the second half of next year, Li Ran's thoughts shifted slightly.

Filming for "The Legend of Canglan" is expected to take more than three months, and the e-sports themed web series, which will be produced in collaboration with director Zhang Yimou, will have a similar production cycle.

As for the show "Qingqing's Daily Life" that he had previously been approached to discuss, he has made it clear that he will not participate.

Taking it all into consideration, the schedule for the second half of next year is indeed currently available, and could even be considered quite valuable.

He felt more confident, and the slight smirk on his face turned into a more reassured and bright smile.

He picked up a beer can and held it up to Han Han: "If it's the second half of next year, I should be able to coordinate the timing. Thank you, Director Han, for giving me this opportunity."

Han Han raised his own wine jug and lightly clinked it against his, a pleased smile of agreement on his face: "Then it's settled for now. I think this role is very suitable for you."

"Make sure you reserve the time slot for me."

With a soft "crack," the jars collided.

Seeing this, Shen Teng sighed dramatically, picked up a string of enoki mushrooms, and said sourly, "Hey, see? This is the treatment of a top star! Big directors personally invite them, and they still have to wait in line for their schedules."

"Actresses like us, past our prime, are practically begging directors to give us a job. Director Han, look at me! Is there any suitable role for me in 'Pegasus 2,' one that could ride on Li Ran's popularity? Even a minor role would be fine!"

His words made everyone laugh again, and the formal atmosphere from before instantly dissipated.

Han Han laughed and scolded, "What, do you think I'd kick you out of the game?"

Li Ran quickly clasped his hands together, making a pleading gesture towards Shen Teng: "Brother Teng! Please don't flatter me. I'm nothing compared to you. You're a man standing at the top of the domestic box office, and I'm hoping to work with you more in the future, to ride on your box office appeal and have you help me out! Director Han, don't you think so?"

Han Han smiled and sipped his wine, remaining noncommittal.

Liu Haocun glanced at Li Ran, a slight smile playing on his lips, and lowered his head to eat the shrimp Li Ran offered him.

Liu Haoran and Wang Yanlin started another round of teasing each other.

……

After the dinner, Li Ran and Liu Haocun returned to her hotel together.

The hotel room door closed gently behind him. Liu Haocun leaned against the door, not rushing inside, but instead raising his eyes and looking at Li Ran's striking blond hair, which was still noticeable in the indoor light.

She looked at him for a few seconds, then suddenly stepped forward, reached out, and gently ran her fingertips through the strands of hair on his forehead, with a hint of teasing: "The little blondie is still the more pleasing to the eye."

Li Ran let her fingers run through his hair, sighed helplessly, and raised his hand to rub his hair: "Why does everyone like my blonde hair so much? It's like they've discovered a treasure..."

There was no impatience in his tone, but rather a mixture of amusement and exasperation at this unusual attention.

Liu Haocun tilted his head, blinked his doe-like eyes, and pretended to think.

She pursed her lips, seemingly choosing her words carefully: "Hmm...maybe it's because this hair color, on you, creates a strangely contradictory feeling?"

She tried to describe him, "He looks like a pampered, aloof young nobleman, yet he also has a bit of... well, cynicism, or perhaps an irreverent disregard for others' opinions? Quite captivating."

"A noble young master? And unrestrained and unconventional?" Li Ran raised an eyebrow, deliberately putting on a stern face. "So, when I have black hair, I don't have this kind of aura?"

"Usually..." Liu Haocun drawled, a sly glint in his eyes, and finally couldn't help but laugh. "The first time I saw you, in the audition room, you were sitting there quietly, and you really had the air of a 'gentle gentleman.' I thought you had a really good temperament."

She paused, then her smile widened, revealing a hint of her white teeth. "But after a while, I realized that this so-called gentle and refined gentleman was actually just a childish little devil who occasionally acted silly..."

"Liu Haocun!"

Li Ran's face instantly fell, and he feigned a fierce expression, "Did your Chinese teacher teach you PE?"

Seeing his discomfiture, Liu Haocun laughed even harder, his eyes curving into crescents.

After laughing enough, she became a little more serious, but her doe-like eyes still shone as she looked at him and asked softly, "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Seriously, what made you suddenly decide to visit the set today?"

Li Ran walked to the small refrigerator, took out two bottles of water, handed one to her, opened the other, took a sip, and casually asked, "Does a boyfriend need a special reason to visit his girlfriend on set?"

He leaned against the table, looking at her. "I missed you, so I came. Why all the 'whys'?"

Liu Haocun took the water, but didn't drink it. He simply pressed the cool bottle against his cheek.

She nodded, her tone equally casual, even somewhat nonchalant: "Oh, I see."

She raised her eyelashes, her clear gaze meeting his eyes, and asked her next question in a soft but clear voice: "So... Li Ran, do you dare to officially announce it now? Say, 'Liu Haocun is my girlfriend.'"

The room fell silent for a moment, with only the faint sound of the air conditioner blowing air.

Li Ran looked at her, then suddenly chuckled, a hint of self-mockery in his voice: "Official announcement? And then what? Trying to be like that 'silly deer' from back then, showing some 'real man' responsibility, only to watch your popularity plummet, your resources dwindle, and go from top-tier influencer to 'former top influencer'?"

He shook his head, his tone complex, "Cunzi, it's not that I'm afraid, it's that we both know the consequences. I don't care, but can you withstand this test?"

Liu Haocun listened quietly, not getting angry when he mentioned the well-known example of a career setback caused by the exposure of a relationship.

Instead, she smiled, a smile that contained understanding, but also something else entirely.

She walked up to him, tilted her head back, and softened her voice, yet it carried a strange certainty: "Whether you learn from him or not, you're still my man."

These words fell softly, like a feather, yet struck Li Ran's heart heavily.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he avoided her overly bright gaze, remaining silent for a few seconds.

When he spoke again, the topic shifted to a more somber direction, and his voice lowered: "Cunzi, about your family's matter... was everything resolved cleanly afterward? There weren't any lingering issues, were there?"

Liu Haocun's relaxed smile slowly faded. She knew what Li Ran was talking about. When they went home together for the Lantern Festival, he had discussed with his father how to handle the aftermath.

After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice calm: "Didn't you have a deep talk with my dad during the New Year? You said everything that needed to be said and analyzed."

She looked at Li Ran and continued, "The compensation was actually paid in full according to the amount ordered by the court after I finished filming 'One Second' and received my salary."

"Later... I listened to you and privately asked someone to pay an extra sum of money, which wasn't a small amount. The other party accepted it and signed a settlement agreement and a confidentiality agreement. Legally, it's already settled."

Li Ran nodded, but his brows did not completely relax: "The legal matter is settled, but public opinion and public sentiment are another matter."

"Every step you take in the future, this matter may be brought up again and interpreted from a more distorted perspective. The dirty water that was splashed on you will not disappear just because of a letter of forgiveness."

His concerns were obvious.

"I know," Liu Haocun interrupted him, his tone resolute.

She walked back to him, raised her head, and her eyes, no longer soft as before, revealed a stubborn clarity and unyielding determination. "I know there will be criticism, and many people will always look at me with prejudice, but I'm not afraid."

She paused, her voice lower but more determined, "I will act well, let the characters speak for themselves, and take it one step at a time. I will eventually find my way."

Then, she looked at him, and in those eyes that the media always praised as "clear as a deer's," her reflection and complete trust were now visible.

She added softly, as if it were the most self-evident thing in the world: "Besides, don't I still have you?"

These words dispelled the last trace of gloom between Li Ran's brows.

He let out a long, silent sigh of relief, and finally revealed the first carefree, gentle smile of the night.

He reached out and ruffled her hair, then gently pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her head.

"Yes, you have me," he said softly.

A brief but warm embrace.

A moment later, Li Ran released her, patted her back, and said in a normal tone, "Alright, you smell like barbecue. Go take a shower."

Liu Haocun, however, remained motionless.

She blinked, and suddenly, without warning, lightly jumped up, her arms expertly wrapping around his neck, her legs hooking around his waist, and she hung steadily on him like a koala.

"Carry me." She buried her face in the crook of his neck, her voice muffled, with a hint of coquettishness in her nose, her warm breath brushing against his skin.

Li Ran instinctively supported her, stabilizing their figures.

He was already used to her sudden "ambush" and tantrums, but a helpless yet indulgent smile appeared in his eyes.

"You're so lazy, go ahead and be lazy." He said this, but his arm steadily supported the person, and he turned around and walked towards the bathroom.

The light cast long, overlapping shadows of the two people onto the soft carpet of the hotel room, creating a tranquil and intimate atmosphere.

The sea outside the window continues its tireless ebb and flow, while this small world inside the window temporarily isolates it from all the storms, leaving only a peaceful space.

……

The afternoon sun on Nan'ao Island was particularly generous, brightly bathing the entire filming location. The sea breeze, still carrying a salty and damp scent, blew through the busy crowds on set.

After seeing Li Ran off, Liu Haocun returned to the film set alone. The faint sense of loss in his heart was quickly washed away when he stepped into the familiar and noisy film set environment, and he put on the standby state unique to actors.

As she approached the rest area, she heard a familiar, teasing voice calling from afar: "Haocun! Over here, over here!"

Liu Haocun looked in the direction of the sound and saw Shen Teng sitting under a large parasol, legs crossed, holding a script in his hand but not reading it, waving at her with a smile, his expression clearly showing "malicious intent".

She walked over, sat down on the folding chair next to him, and picked up her water glass: "What's up, Brother Teng? Did you need something?"

Shen Teng leaned closer, looked around, lowered his voice, and adopted a mysterious tone: "Li Ran... left? Flew away?"

Liu Haocun unscrewed the lid of his cup, took a sip of water, nodded, and said in a casual tone, "Yeah, I just saw him off. He has other plans for tomorrow."

Shen Teng clicked his tongue, leaned back in his chair, smacked his lips, and sighed, "Top stars are top stars, they're always so busy."

"This trip to visit my girlfriend on set was only about 24 hours at most, right? It was a quick visit and a quick departure, just like filming an idol drama."

Liu Hao put down his water glass, his expression unchanged, even showing just the right amount of doubt, and corrected him, "Brother Teng, you're talking nonsense again. What girlfriend? We're just ordinary friends who have a good relationship. We've worked together and get along well."

"Come on!" Shen Teng gave him a dismissive look, his small eyes gleaming with a sly glint. "Still playing along with my act? Just friends?"

He leaned forward, lowered his voice, and said with a smug satisfaction at exposing the lie, "On May 520th, at Happy Valley in Beijing, wearing a hat and mask, but that figure, that way of walking, that girl standing next to Li Ran—can you honestly say that wasn't you, Liu Haocun?"

Liu Haocun's heart skipped a beat; he hadn't expected Shen Teng to even know this.

But she showed no sign of panic. Instead, she shook her head and even smiled, her doe-like eyes revealing complete composure: "No! Brother Teng, you must be mistaken. It was my birthday that day, and I was with my family."

She paused, then suddenly imitated Shen Teng, leaning forward slightly and threatening in a similarly sly tone, "Brother Teng, if you keep spreading rumors about me and Li Ran like this, then I can't do anything... I can only talk to others about how you two were in that corner when Sister Ma Li came to visit you on set last time..."

"Hey! Stop! Stop!"

Shen Teng seemed to have been stepped on, and he quickly waved his hands. The teasing look on his face instantly turned into tension. Although he was still smiling, he was obviously a little nervous.

"You silly girl, why are you bringing up old grievances and making things up out of thin air? Ma Li and I have a revolutionary friendship! It's completely innocent, as clear as day! What could possibly be going on? You can't go around spreading rumors!"

If word gets out, it will be hard to explain to the jealous woman at home. More importantly, gossip is a powerful force, and both of them have families...

Seeing Shen Teng's slightly nervous expression, Liu Haocun felt reassured. A sly smile appeared on his face as he slowly said, "Really? But I clearly saw that when you two parted, you hugged more than once, and for quite a while..."

Shen Teng blushed, coughed twice, and forced an explanation: "That, that was... a sentimental hug! Yes, a sentimental one! A comradely one! Celebrating the success of the performance, reflecting on the passage of time, is that wrong?"

He quickly waved his hand, deflecting the dangerous topic, "Alright, alright, I'm scared of you. Let's not talk about this anymore, I won't tease you two anymore, okay?"

Liu Haocun, seeing that he had succeeded, nodded and picked up the script, pretending to flip through it.

Shen Teng glanced at her expression, rubbed his hands together, put on a smile, and spoke in a tone that was almost ingratiating: "Well... Hao Cun, I do have a small favor to ask you for."

Liu Haocun looked up from the script, genuinely surprised: "Help? Brother Teng, you're a box office king with billions in earnings, a pillar of Happy Twist, what could you possibly need a small actor like me to help with?"

She didn't think Shen Teng had anything really difficult that required her help.

Shen Teng chuckled and cut to the chase: "Well, our Happy Twist is currently preparing a new movie, a comedy, and the cast is pretty good. There's a character in it, not a big role, but quite outstanding, a young and handsome cameo."

"I was thinking... Li Ran is close to you, right? See, could you pass on a message for me and ask if he'd be interested in coming over for a bit? It's just a few days of filming, it won't take up too much of his time."

Liu Haocun was even more puzzled. He put down the script and said, "Weren't you right there at dinner yesterday? Director Han invited him to participate in 'Pegasus 2.' Why didn't you just ask him directly then? That would have been much more formal."

Shen Teng scratched his head, his smile now tinged with a touch of shrewdness and seasoned shrewdness: "Well, that's... our first formal meeting. We're not that close yet, so it would be too abrupt to speak up directly."

He gave a vague explanation, without going into details. He, Shen Teng, had been in the industry for so many years and had his own way of judging people and things.

Li Ran is more than just a top star. Judging from his manners, speech, and the fact that he was able to quickly receive a personal invitation from a director of Han Han's caliber, his connections are probably quite extensive.

Asking through Liu Haocun, who is "one of our own," is more tactful and easier to get things done than asking directly. This is the art of interpersonal relationships.

Liu Haocun listened and nodded thoughtfully.

"Okay, I'll ask him later. But I can't guarantee anything, his schedule is pretty full, it depends on his own arrangements and wishes."

Shen Teng immediately beamed and slapped his thigh: "Hey! That's right! Our newly crowned 'Zhang Yimou Girl' really has influence and her words carry weight!"

Liu Haocun glanced at him helplessly: "Brother Teng, if you keep joking about me with that title, I really won't care anymore."

"Okay, okay, I won't say anymore, I won't say anymore." Shen Teng quickly suppressed his smile and made a gesture of zipping up his mouth.

After less than two seconds of silence, he seemed to suddenly remember something and asked casually, in a conversational tone, "By the way, lately... you two, well, your relationship seems pretty stable, right? Nothing's been going on, has it?"

Liu Haocun nodded subconsciously, his tone natural: "Yeah, it's pretty stable. What's up, Brother Teng?"

As soon as she said it, she suddenly realized what she had said, her doe-like eyes widening instantly as she looked at Shen Teng.

Shen Teng's face was already beaming with a smug and mischievous grin, as if he had just gotten his hands on someone. He dragged out his words, "Oh... it's pretty stable... good, good."

He emphasized the word "stable" very much, then slowly stood up, dusted off non-existent dust, put his hands behind his back, and imitated the tone of an old scholar by shaking his head.

"Yeah, just friends, stable relationship...no problem!"

After saying that, without even looking at Liu Haocun's face, which instantly turned red and puffed up with anger, he leisurely hummed an off-key tune and sauntered away with his pigeon-toed gait.

Liu Haocun was left sitting alone under the parasol, facing his retreating figure, feeling both ashamed and annoyed. After a long while, she finally let out a disgruntled "humph"...