HuaYu: The most muscular director in history!

As evening fell, the day's classes came to an end.

Xiang Nan slowly returned to the entrance of the residential area, carrying a lunchbox.

He placed the lunchbox on the windowsill, took out a pack of Chang Le brand cigarettes, tapped one on the pack, and then knocked on the window of the security room.

The window opened, and a thin old man poked his head out.

"Hey, Xiao Nan, got some knife-cut noodles to go again?"

"Yes, Uncle Ge, he loves noodles!"

The old man took the cigarette, lit it without ceremony, and took a deep drag.

"You little rascal, you need to eat more rice; you're still growing!"

"Alright! You go ahead with your work, I'm off."

After greeting Grandpa Ge, Xiang Nan picked up the noodles and headed towards the rented room.

Xiang Nan has lived in this community for some time now and gets along quite well with the security guard, Grandpa Ge. This grandpa is no ordinary man; he is the father of the deputy director of the local police station.

Xiang Nan will eventually have to change his household registration. Two cigarettes can't buy him a new identity, but they can leave a good impression on others.

"Purr..."

In the quiet rented room, Xiang Nan slurped up noodles while opening his laptop.

That's one of the downsides of the early 2000s – going online was a hassle!

You'll need to connect a phone line and enter your internet card account and password. Alternatively, for convenience, you can subscribe to GPRS wireless internet for 1500 yuan per month.

Motorola~

The phone rang suddenly, and Xiang Nan put down his chopsticks to take a look.

"Hello, Mom."

"Xiao Nan, are you done with get out of class? How's university?"

"get out of class has been over for a long time, don't worry." He recalled chatting with his classmates that afternoon. "The classmates were quite enthusiastic. Although I spent two months at Xiao Rizi, there was no generation gap, and we quickly became friends again after returning."

"What is the generation gap?" A middle-aged man's voice came from the phone.

"dad?"

Xiang Nan was taken aback, wondering what was going on today.

His father wasn't the type to care about him. As the first generation of big, goofy guys, his father was the typical "proud and arrogant" type of father.

He doesn't talk much, he bears all the hardships and toil himself, and even when his son got into university, he just hummed a faint "Not bad."

"Dad, is something wrong? Is it about the house?"

"Yes..." Dad's voice stammered on the phone.

"Your mother said this money is for your dowry when you get married."

Here it comes! The inevitable plot device for those who are reborn.

Xiang Nan sighed helplessly, "Dad, Mom, I just can't explain this to you two. I think we only need enough money for the three of us to eat and drink. We're buying a house because the land will appreciate in value later. Buying it now is perfect for your retirement and for my wedding. If we don't buy now, the prices will be much higher in a few years!"

He didn't say anything about becoming a millionaire soon. It's useless to talk about these things with the older generation. You just need to say "it's for my wedding," and they'll immediately spend the money.

He paused, then frowned and asked, "You haven't even started selecting land yet, have you?"

"See, see, I told you we should buy it!"

"That's not... so much money, 300,000, you think you can just buy it because you say 'it's worth it'? You've been wanting to buy it for a long time, haven't you, Xiang Jianguo!"

"Hey—you!"

"Dad, Mom, stop arguing!"

Xiang Nan closed his eyes helplessly and raised his hand to rub his temples.

How can they argue over such a small thing?

Social class is a damn reality!

As the old saying goes: Poverty limits our imagination.

Even if they have money, poor people are hesitant and timid when it comes to spending it.

After another round of reassurance until the noodles were all soggy, he finally hung up the phone.

"What's the point of eating chicken feathers?"

After thinking for a moment, he took out his phone again.

"Beep—beep—"

The busy signal on the phone lasted longer than ever before.

What's going on? It's only eight o'clock, is that girl asleep?

Don't you find me annoying?

……

This is so annoying!

Why did that big log have to attack at this moment?!

Yifei, dressed in a blue Doraemon pajama, was about to do something naughty when her phone rang, startling her half to death.

"Sissi, who is it?"

Yifei glanced at the bathroom. Judging from her mother's shower time, she should be taking a bath by now, right?

"Harassing phone calls!"

She craned her neck to respond, while her big eyes darted around, secretly glancing at the suitcase.

Her secret stash is in there!

She glanced back at the bathroom door one last time, then tiptoed, picked up her pajamas, and walked toward her suitcase.

Those few steps felt like an eternity.

She slowly squatted down in front of the suitcase, her Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily.

Waaaaah... I could be in a spy movie now, you damn blockhead, let's see how you repay my kindness.

"Sizzle—"

The sound of a suitcase zipper made her eyelids flutter. She didn't turn around, but slowed down her movements.

As the suitcase was opened, its contents came into view.

The clothes and such were already put in the closet; there were only some document folders inside, containing some contracts and agreements.

She quietly flipped through the pages until she found a red booklet. Just as her fingers touched the booklet, she suddenly heard the sound of running water from the bathroom.

She grabbed the red booklet with a start, and in a few breaths restored everything. After she finished, she sat back on the bed, her little heart pounding in her chest.

"Click—"

The bathroom door opened, and Liu's mother came out, drying her hair.

"Sweetie, it's your turn to take a bath."

"Um……"

Yifei picked up her clothes and then took her phone from the pillow.

Why would you take your phone while showering?

"I want to hear some songs."

Why is your face so red?

"I just exercised."

Liu's mother didn't say anything more; it's normal for children to be a little mischievous.

Sisi, that girl, was just as unruly on set, always causing trouble or being loud and boisterous.

Seeing her mother go to blow-dry her hair, Yifei took her clothes to the bathroom. In the bathtub, Liu's mother had already thoughtfully filled the tub with water for her.

In the hazy mist, Yifei slowly took off her clothes, her fair body appearing and disappearing in the mist.

Although her small body is still quite young, her pert back and long, beautiful legs are still eye-catching.

She lay down in the bathtub and let out a long sigh of relief.

I've got the passbook. The next step is to say goodbye to my mom and go back to Kyoto to record the song.

My mom was against it before, but she suddenly agreed last month. I don't know why.

Hmm... just ask around!

Yifei turned around, picked up her phone from the stool, opened someone's contacts, and started typing away.

"Why did Mom suddenly change her mind and agree to my leave request? Did... did you say something?"

"Beep beep beep..."

The text message ringtone soon sounded.

"So fast?" Yifei frowned slightly.

"Has he been waiting for me all this time?"

[Big Wood: I merely had Brother Chen, acting on behalf of Sony, send a formal letter.]

"Oh! Is that so?"

In the bathtub, Yifei's big eyes darted around a few times, and a blush crept onto her fair face.

She raised her right hand, her slender white little finger tapping her chin lightly, the movement creating ripples in the water, revealing glimpses of her tiny pigeon...

"Heh heh heh, wouldn't you say that's using the emperor to command the feudal lords?"

Clicking send, Yifei held her phone in her left hand, quietly waiting for Xiang Nan's reply, completely unaware that her bankbook had already been discovered by Liu's mother in the room.

[Big Wood: I used a little trick, otherwise I would have had to wait until 05 to get in touch with you!]

"Well……"

The pink on her face suddenly began to turn crimson.

"W-what do you mean?!"

Yifei pouted, her phoenix eyes brimming with shyness.

[Liu Yifei: Ahem! I've already got my little stash of money, but I can't lend it to you directly. We need to sign a contract, and there will be interest!]

Inside the rented room, Xiang Nan's lips curled into a smile.

What an awkward change of topic.

"Okay, but there has to be a time limit for the interest, right? Oh, and today's my birthday, so you have to give me a discount, right?"

"Beep beep beep..."

[Liu Yifei: Huh? It's your birthday today!]

"So how much of a discount are you going to give me?"

[Liu Yifei: Hmm... how long do you want to owe me?]

Xiang Nan twirled his fingers and silently typed out three words...