funbook-pk Chapter 161 The Scheming Jiang Yu Endorses Shares
Chapter 161 The Scheming Jiang Yu Endorses Shares
Chapter 161 The Scheming Jiang Yu Endorses Shares
The bedroom on the second floor of the Jiang family villa.
At 8:17 p.m., Philippe Carré's award-winning film "Wrinkles in Time" had been playing for 33 minutes.
In the film, the male protagonist walks aimlessly through the streets of Paris. A two-and-a-half-minute long take, accompanied by an obscure monologue, attempts to explore philosophical questions about existence and time.
"So this shot..." Jiang Yu tried to maintain the dignity of a film enthusiast, attempting to explain the director's deeper meaning, "is actually a metaphor for the spiritual predicament of modern people..."
"Mmm." Liu Yifei nodded, her eyes fixed on the screen, but her left hand unconsciously twirled the hem of Jiang Yu's pajamas.
Jiang Yu looked down at the hand drawing circles on his chest, then at his girlfriend's seemingly focused profile, and decided to give up struggling.
"Okay, I admit it." He turned off the movie commentary mode. "This movie is indeed a bit... hypnotic."
Liu Yifei immediately turned her head, her eyes sparkling in the dim light of the desk lamp: "You finally told the truth! I was almost asleep!"
"I thought you'd like this kind of art film," Jiang Yu said innocently. "Haven't you always wanted to broaden your acting range and move into more artistic fields?"
"Art is not the same as being boring," Liu Yifei said confidently. "Besides, I'm on break now and don't want to use my brain."
As she spoke, she snuggled closer to Jiang Yu, finding a more comfortable position.
Jiang Yu took the opportunity to hug her tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head.
The two of them watched the movie quietly for a few minutes, or rather, pretended to watch a movie.
In reality, Jiang Yu's attention was entirely focused on the warm, soft woman in his arms.
Liu Yifei had just taken a shower, and her body smelled faintly of jasmine. Her hair was half-dry and lay on her arms like silk.
She wore his old T-shirt as pajamas, the style of which made her look exceptionally petite.
Liu Yifei's attention... well, her attention was on the third button of Jiang Yu's pajamas.
The button was loose, rising and falling slightly with his breathing, making her itch to pull it off completely.
"Jiang Yu," she suddenly said.
"Um?"
"Your button is about to fall off."
Jiang Yu looked down and said, "Oh, this button has been loose for a long time. My mom said to sew it on, but I always forget."
"Shall I sew it for you?" Liu Yifei looked up at him, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow: "You can sew buttons?"
"Underestimating me?" Liu Yifei sat up straight. "I'm the kind of person who has mended my own costumes on set."
"That's different." Jiang Yu teased her deliberately, "The costumes have a costume designer, you're just pretending to be a costume designer at most."
"Jiang! Yu!" Liu Yifei punched him lightly. "Say that again?"
"I was wrong." Jiang Yu readily admitted his mistake, taking her hand. "But we don't have a needle and thread right now, so we can sew the buttons another day. Now..."
He paused, his fingers gently stroking her wrist. "Shouldn't we focus on the movie?"
Liu Yifei glanced at the screen; the male protagonist was having a seven-minute conversation with the female protagonist in a coffee shop about existentialism.
"I think," she said seriously, "the director probably prefers us to discuss the film rather than actually watch it."
Jiang Yu smiled: "That makes sense."
Then he kissed her.
The first kiss was light, like a tentative one.
Their lips touched lightly, then parted. In the dim light, they looked at each other, their eyes filled with laughter and something else.
The second kiss was much more serious.
Jiang Yu's hand touched Liu Yifei's cheek, his fingertips feeling the delicate warmth of her skin.
Liu Yifei closed her eyes, wrapped one arm around his neck, and stubbornly held onto the loose button with the other.
The movie continued, the French dialogue flowing through the room, but no one paid any attention.
All my attention was on the kiss—its temperature, its depth, and the slight dizziness it brought.
After an unknown amount of time, the two finally separated slightly.
Liu Yifei's cheeks were flushed, and her breathing was a little erratic.
Jiang Yu wasn't in much better shape either. He cleared his throat, trying to regain some composure.
"The movie..." He glanced at the screen, "...looks like it's at a crucial point?"
Liu Yifei glanced over and said, "The male lead is crying."
"Why are you crying?"
"I don't know," Liu Yifei said honestly. "Maybe he finally realized how boring this movie was."
They both laughed.
The laughter sounded particularly clear in the quiet room, carrying a certain unspoken meaning.
Jiang Yu pulled Liu Yifei closer to him, running his fingers through her long hair.
Liu Yifei leaned against his chest and could hear his steady, strong heartbeat.
"Actually..." Jiang Yu suddenly said, "I had a premeditated plan in choosing this movie."
Liu Yifei looked up: "What premeditated plan?"
"I know it's boring," Jiang Yu confessed. "This way we won't actually have to watch it and can do something else."
Liu Yifei narrowed her eyes: "Director Jiang, you're quite cunning."
"That's called strategy," Jiang Yu corrected, then leaned down and kissed her again. "And clearly, the strategy was very successful."
Liu Yifei wanted to retort, but Jiang Yu didn't give her the chance.
This kiss was deeper, slower, and had a clear purpose.
His hand slid from her cheek to her neck, then to her shoulder, and finally stopped at her waist.
Liu Yifei could feel her heart racing.
Reason told her that this was Jiang Yu's parents' house, and there were two elders downstairs; she should maintain appropriate boundaries.
But emotionally... to hell with propriety, she thought.
They're both adults, and after dating for eight months and seven days, what's meant to happen will happen sooner or later.
Besides, Jiang Yu's kissing skills are really good.
As Jiang Yu's lips moved toward her neck, Liu Yifei gasped softly, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the loose button.
"Wait, wait a minute..." she said, panting.
Jiang Yu immediately stopped, looked up, his eyes unusually bright in the dim light: "What's wrong?"
"A button..." Liu Yifei opened her hand, revealing an innocent white button lying in her palm. "I pulled it off."
The two looked at each other for three seconds and then laughed at the same time.
"Looks like you really want to sew the buttons back on for me," Jiang Yu teased.
"I didn't mean to!" Liu Yifei protested, but then found it funny herself, "It was already about to fall off..."
2
Jiang Yu picked up the button and casually placed it on the bedside table: "Sew it on tomorrow. Now..."
He looked at her again, his gaze deepening. "Where were we?"
Liu Yifei bit her lower lip and suddenly reached out to turn off the table lamp.
The room was plunged into complete darkness, with only the faint light emanating from the laptop screen.
"Speaking of which..." she whispered in the darkness, "the movie is too boring, we need to find something else to entertain ourselves."
Jiang Yu chuckled softly, picked her up, and gently placed her on the bed.
The mattress sank slightly, making a soft creaking sound.
"Your parents..." Liu Yifei still had some concerns.
Jiang Yu lay down next to her, turning to face her. "My parents' habit is that they absolutely won't come upstairs after nine o'clock. Their exact words are, 'Give you young people some space.'"
Liu Yifei blinked in the darkness: "Aunt Zhou is really... open-minded."
"She likes you." Jiang Yu's voice was close, his breath brushing against her cheek. "She even secretly told me before that I should treat you well, or she would be the first to make trouble for me."
This sounds like a final permission.
Liu Yifei's last concerns disappeared, and she took the initiative to lean in and kiss Jiang Yu's lips.
This time, there was no probing; it was straightforward, warm, and candid.
Jiang Yu was very patient and gave her enough time to adapt.
"Are you alright?" he asked repeatedly.
Jiang Yu turned on the bedside lamp, and the dim yellow light filled the room again.
"I'll go get a towel," he said softly, preparing to get out of bed.
Liu Yifei pulled him back: "Wait a minute... let's hug again."
Her voice was languid and hoarse afterward, which softened Jiang Yu's heart.
He lay back down and pulled her into his arms.
The two embraced quietly for a while. Liu Yifei drew meaningless patterns on Jiang Yu's chest with her fingers and suddenly chuckled.
"What are you laughing at?" Jiang Yu asked.
"I was thinking, if fans knew their 'Fairy Sister' looked like this now—" Liu Yifei looked up at him, her eyes curving into crescents, "would their illusions be shattered?"
Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean? You're clearly very beautiful."
"My hair was a mess, I wasn't wearing makeup, and..." She paused, her face flushing again, "...anyway, I don't look like I do on screen."
Jiang Yu looked at her earnestly: "I think you are more real and more beautiful now."
These words were spoken sincerely, and Liu Yifei felt a warmth in her heart.
She snuggled closer to him, finding a more comfortable position.
"What time is it?" she asked.
Jiang Yu reached for his phone and glanced at it: "11:20."
Liu Yifei said, "I should go back to my room."
Despite saying that, she didn't move at all.
Jiang Yu didn't move, but tightened his grip on her arm: "Wait five more minutes."
"Just five minutes?"
"Ten minutes."
"make a deal."
Twenty minutes later, Liu Yifei finally managed to crawl out of her warm bed and Jiang Yu's embrace.
She wrapped herself in the blanket and searched for the clothes scattered on the floor, while Jiang Yu propped his head up and lay on his side on the bed, enjoying the scene.
"Stop looking!" Liu Yifei blushed and hid her underwear behind her back.
"Why can't I watch it?" Jiang Yu asked matter-of-factly. "Didn't I already watch it?"
"That's different!" Liu Yifei quickly put on her clothes, turned around and glared at him, "Turn around, I need to put on my pants."
Jiang Yu turned around cooperatively, but said, "Anyway, you'll have to take it off again when you get back to your room."
A pillow flew over and hit him on the head.
After Liu Yifei got dressed, Jiang Yu also put on a T-shirt and pajama pants.
He escorted her to the door, and the two lingered there for a while longer.
"See you tomorrow." Jiang Yu kissed her forehead.
"See you tomorrow." Liu Yifei kissed his cheek back, then slipped out of the room like a thief, tiptoed through the corridor, and returned to her own guest room next door.
She closed the door, leaned against it, and finally let out a long sigh of relief.
Touching her burning cheeks, she couldn't help but laugh.
At three in the morning, half asleep, Liu Yifei heard a soft knock on the door.
She groggily got up and opened the door. Jiang Yu was standing outside, his hair disheveled and his eyes not fully open.
"What's wrong?" Liu Yifei asked softly.
"The bed is too big and it's cold," Jiang Yu said, her tone like that of a wronged child.
Liu Yifei paused for two seconds, then smiled.
She picked up her pillow, followed Jiang Yu back to his room, and crawled back into bed.
They fell asleep almost as soon as their heads hit the pillow.
This time, I slept very soundly.
Liu Yifei woke up in the sunshine and warmth.
Consciousness awakens first, followed closely by bodily sensations.
A heat source was pressed against her back, an arm was wrapped around her waist, and even breathing brushed against the back of her neck. The familiar scent made her know who it was without even opening her eyes.
.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Morning light shone through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating the outline of the room; this was not her guest room.
Memories slowly returned.
Last night, in the early hours of the morning, there was a knock on the door, and then...
Liu Yifei turned around gently and met Jiang Yu's sleepy eyes.
He had clearly just woken up; his hair was messy, with a tuft still stubbornly sticking up.
"Good morning." His voice was heavy with sleepiness.
"Good morning," Liu Yifei replied, then asked the question, "How did I get here?"
Jiang Yu smiled and pulled her closer to him: "At three in the morning, someone knocked on my door, saying they couldn't sleep alone."
Liu Yifei frowned: "Really? I don't remember..."
"You were half-asleep then," Jiang Yu kissed the tip of her nose, "hugging your pillow, your eyes barely open, it was so cute. I asked you what was wrong, and you said the bed was too big and you were cold."
Liu Yifei blushed: "Did I really say that?"
"Not a single word was wrong," Jiang Yu confirmed. "Then I carried you in. You fell asleep almost as soon as your head hit the pillow."
Liu Yifei buried her face in his chest and mumbled, "It's so embarrassing—."
"What's shameful about it?" Jiang Yu stroked her long hair. "I'm glad you came to see me."
The two lingered in bed for a while longer.
Jiang Yu's phone suddenly rang. He picked it up and glanced at it: "9:07."
"So late?!" Liu Yifei sat up abruptly.
"It's a holiday, what's wrong with being a little late?" Jiang Yu said lazily, reaching out to pull her back.
Liu Yifei dodged his hand: "Your parents must be up already! And my mom too!"
"So they're even less likely to come up and bother us." Jiang Yu's logic was clear. "At this hour, it would be awkward for them to come up and call us for breakfast."
Liu Yifei thought about it and felt it made sense, so she lay back down.
But after lying there for less than a minute, she sat up again: "No, I still don't feel right. What will your parents think if I sleep so late at your house?"
Jiang Yu also sat up and looked at her seriously: "First of all, my parents like you very much, and you should be able to feel that."
Secondly, they are all open-minded people and know we are serious. Finally...
He paused, then laughed. "You think they didn't know you were here last night?"
Liu Yifei's eyes widened: "You mean..."
"What I mean is, in the adult world, some things are unspoken." Jiang Yu got out of bed, took two clean T-shirts from the closet, and tossed one to Liu Yifei. "Wear mine; you wore yours yesterday. Wash up, and we'll go downstairs for breakfast."
Liu Yifei took the T-shirt and watched Jiang Yu change his clothes in a very natural and confident manner. Suddenly, she felt that her own awkwardness was a little funny.
Yes, we're all adults, what's there to be shy about?
She put on Jiang Yu's T-shirt, which turned into a skirt on her, with the hem reaching mid-thigh.
Jiang Yu glanced back and whistled.
"It looks good," he said sincerely.
Liu Yifei rolled her eyes at him, but the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile.
The two squeezed into the bathroom of Jiang Yu's room to wash up.
In front of the mirror, Jiang Yu was shaving, and Liu Yifei was brushing her teeth, with foam getting on the corners of her mouth.
Jiang Yu saw it and wiped it off for her with his thumb.
This small, affectionate gesture moved Liu Yifei even more than their intimacy the night before.
True intimacy in everyday life is hidden in these trivial details.
After washing up, the two went downstairs hand in hand.
As I reached the corner of the stairs, I could already hear the television and the conversation between the two mothers downstairs.
"The actor's acting is good, but the script is a bit weak," said Zhou Huiwen.
"Good scripts are hard to find these days," Liu Xiaoli responded. "I'm not very satisfied with the scripts that Yifei Studio has taken on recently..."
The sound stopped abruptly when the two appeared at the living room doorway.
Zhou Huiwen and Liu Xiaoli turned to look at each other at the same time. Liu Yifei subconsciously tried to let go of Jiang Yu's hand, but he held it firmly.
"Good morning, Auntie and Mom," Jiang Yu greeted them casually.
"Mom, good morning, Auntie," Liu Yifei said, her face slightly flushed.
The two mothers exchanged a glance, both with smiles in their eyes.
Zhou Huiwen spoke first: "Good morning. Breakfast is in the kitchen, it should still be warm. We've already eaten and are watching TV."
His tone was so natural, as if it were just an ordinary morning.
Liu Xiaoli added, "The fried eggs might be cold; you can heat them up in the microwave. There's milk and juice in the refrigerator."
"Okay, thank you, Mom/Auntie." The two said in unison.
Liu Yifei breathed a sigh of relief as she entered the kitchen.
Jiang Yu smiled and squeezed her hand: "See, it's not as scary as you think."
"Your mother is so kind," Liu Yifei said sincerely.
"She's only nice to you because you're nice to her." Jiang Yu opened the microwave to heat up some fried eggs. "My mom told me last night that I should treat you well, or she'd be the first to come after me."
Liu Yifei felt a warmth in her heart, hugged Jiang Yu from behind, and pressed her face against his back: "I will treat you well."
Jiang Yu turned around and pulled her into his arms: "I should be the one saying that."
Breakfast was simple: fried eggs, millet porridge, toast, and fresh fruit.
Liu Yifei took a small bite of the golden-brown, crispy edge of the toast while scrolling through her phone with her other hand.
She was wearing Jiang Yu's gray T-shirt, the neckline askew, revealing her delicate collarbone.
Her hair was casually tied into a loose bun, with a few wisps of hair hanging down her cheeks, gleaming with a soft light brown sheen in the morning light.
Jiang Yu sat opposite her, wearing a simple white cotton shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing his smooth forearms.
As the behind-the-scenes boss of Light Chaser Pictures, he looked more like a family man at this moment, if you ignored his overly sharp eyes.
"Pfft!!" Liu Yifei suddenly choked and quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Yu put down his coffee cup and leaned over to look.
The headline on the phone screen read: "Liu Yifei and Jiang Yu were seen together in Wuhan, suspected of living together and meeting each other's parents."
The accompanying photo was taken yesterday at Wuhan Tianhe Airport. Liu Yifei was wearing a black fisherman's hat and a mask, but her signature eyes were still recognizable. Jiang Yu, on the other hand, didn't disguise himself much; his profile was clear, one hand was naturally on her waist, and the other was pushing a luggage cart.
The photos were taken very professionally, with good lighting and composition, and even have a movie still feel to them.
"The photo is alright," Jiang Yu commented objectively. "Much better than the one I was photographed in Hong Kong last time. In that one, I didn't even open my eyes."
Liu Yifei was both amused and exasperated: "Is that the point?! We only arrived in Wuhan yesterday, and we're already on the front page today!"
"Pretty efficient." Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow, took the phone and flipped through it. "Let me see what stories our media friends have come up with this time."
He swiped the screen to browse the article.
Reporters used their imaginations to analyze the couple's clothing and relationship progress, speculated about their upcoming wedding from their airport interactions, and even claimed that "insiders" had already purchased a love nest in Shanghai.
"There's a mistake here," Jiang Yu pointed to a passage of text. "The house we bought in Shanghai is in Xuhui, not Jing'an. The real estate editor isn't professional enough."
Liu Yifei glared at him: "Jiang Yu! Can't you be serious for once?!"
"I'm serious," Jiang Yu said solemnly, handing the phone back to her. "Media professionals should respect the facts. There's a significant difference in housing prices between Xuhui and Jing'an districts; this error will influence readers' judgment."
Liu Yifei couldn't help but laugh and playfully punched him: "You're just being cheeky!"
She looked at her phone again, this time noticing the comments section.
The top comment: "Sissi and President Jiang are such a perfect match! A handsome man and a beautiful woman! (By the way, President Jiang's profile is stunning!)"
Second: "It's already been made public, so what's there to 'doubt'? Can't the media come up with something new?"
Third: "A Venice Film Festival Best Actress contender + a Sino-US investment tycoon, what an incredible combination! Is this a novel coming to life?"
""
Fourth: "The two are so sweet. That photo of them holding hands at the airport looks so natural. It's obvious they have real feelings for each other."
Liu Yifei's lips unconsciously curled up, and she continued to roll them down.
Of course, there were also dissenting voices: "Meeting the parents so soon? It's not that easy to get into a wealthy family. Let's wait and see what happens next."
"How long can celebrity relationships last? If they're still this sweet a year from now, I'll eat my keyboard on live stream."
"Didn't Jiang Yu have a rumored relationship with that Korean actress two years ago? How could such a bigwig in the investment world be monogamous?"
"7
"The sour grapes from upstairs are practically overflowing the screen. They're a perfect couple, what right do you, a monster, have to object?"
Jiang Yu noticed Liu Yifei's slight frown and reached for her phone, saying, "Don't look at it anymore. Reading too many of these comments will ruin your appetite for breakfast."
"Actually, it's okay." Liu Yifei picked up her fork and poked at the fried egg. "I'm in a really good mood right now, none of this can affect me."
.
Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, the morning light dancing on her eyelashes, and she radiated a soft glow.
Jiang Yu watched, and couldn't help but lean over and gently kiss her lips.
"You got some ketchup on your lips," he said casually as he stepped back.
Liu Yifei subconsciously licked her lips before realizing what she had said: "You're lying! I didn't eat any ketchup!"
Jiang Yu smiled, a smile that shone especially warmly in the morning light: "I just want to kiss you, do I need a reason?"
Liu Yifei blushed slightly, but said, "Boss Jiang, you're abusing your good looks for improper seduction."
"Oh?" Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow. "Was Miss Liu tempted?"
"..." Liu Yifei turned her face away, her ears turning red, "Eat your fried egg!"
Jiang Yu chuckled softly and picked up his coffee cup again.
There was a comfortable and natural intimacy between them, an atmosphere that only truly loving lovers can have. It didn't need to be deliberately created; it was natural.
Just as Liu Yifei was about to continue working on the toast, Jiang Yu's phone, which was on the table, vibrated.
Caller ID: Cao Guowei.
"Mr. Cao from Sina," Jiang Yu said to Liu Yifei, answered the phone, and casually pressed the speakerphone button. It was an unconscious gesture of trust; he never shied away from discussing work in front of her.
Cao Guowei's cheerful voice immediately came from the other end of the phone, "Mr. Jiang, good morning! I hope I didn't disturb your rest?"
"No, I'm having breakfast." Jiang Yu's tone was relaxed. "Mr. Cao, is there good news calling so early?"
"Great news! Fantastic news!" Cao Guowei's voice was filled with excitement. "First, the Weibo beta testing is complete, and all the data has exceeded expectations! User retention rate and daily active user growth rate are both 15 percentage points higher than we predicted!"
Jiang Yu's eyes lit up slightly: "Not bad. The team has worked hard."
"Of course! Secondly, we plan to officially launch soon. We'd like to discuss the specific timing with you, since Light Chaser Investment is the second largest shareholder, and your opinion is very important."
Jiang Yu took a sip of coffee, thought for a few seconds, and said, "Okay. I'll fly to Beijing next week, and we can discuss it in person. I also have some ideas about product iteration."
"That's great! I've been waiting for you to say that!" Cao Guowei paused, his tone becoming slightly more cautious. "There's a third thing... I might need your help to make a connection."
"you say."
"We'd like to invite Ms. Liu Yifei to be our Weibo spokesperson," Cao Guowei said, his words quickening. "Look, why let the good stuff go to outsiders? Ms. Liu is currently very popular, a contender for the Venice Film Festival's Best Actress award. Even the 'Four Dan Actresses and Two Bing Actresses' in China don't have this international influence. And her relationship with you... cough cough, I mean, wouldn't this collaboration be even more natural?"
Jiang Yu looked at Liu Yifei, asking for her opinion with his eyes.
Liu Yifei, biting into her bread, blinked but didn't immediately express her opinion.
"I'll have to ask Yifei herself for her opinion," Jiang Yu said into the phone. "She's very cautious about accepting endorsements; she needs to understand the product first. Shall I get back to you later?"
"No problem! Looking forward to your good news!" Cao Guowei was quite tactful. "Then I'll send you the internal testing report to your email first, take a look when you have time. See you next week!"
See you next week.
After hanging up the phone, the kitchen was quiet for a few seconds, with only the refrigerator making a soft hum.
"Weibo?" Liu Yifei spoke first. "You mean that 'microblog' you mentioned to me before?"
"Yes." Jiang Yu put down his phone and picked up his fork again. "You can think of it as a short version of a blog, with each post limited to 140 characters. You can post text and pictures, and in the future, when the technology is more advanced, you can also post short videos. Its features are immediacy and strong interactivity, which may change the way information is disseminated."
Liu Yifei tilted her head in thought, a gesture that made her look somewhat adorable: "It sounds a bit like a combination of a blog and a forum?"
"Lighter and more social," Jiang Yu began to explain in detail. "Traditional blogs require lengthy posts and have a high barrier to entry. Forums are topic-centric, not person-centric. Weibo is different; it lowers the barrier to expression, 140..."
Anyone can post a word, a few sentences, or a picture. At the same time, it's user-centric; you can follow others, and others can follow you, forming a social network.
As he spoke, he gradually got into the flow.
This is Jiang Yu's characteristic; he becomes radiant whenever he talks about investment projects he's optimistic about.
Liu Yifei rested her chin on her hand and quietly looked at him.
The sunlight shone from the side, casting a distinct outline on his face.
His eyes were bright, his speech was at a moderate pace, and his gestures were natural yet powerful.
At this moment, he wasn't the Sino-US investment tycoon who gave Hollywood producers headaches at the negotiating table, but a man earnestly sharing his insights.
"...So I think this product has disruptive potential." Jiang Yu concluded, "There are no truly similar competing products in China right now. If Sina can seize this opportunity, Weibo may become one of the most important social platforms on the Chinese internet in the next two to three years."
After he finished speaking, he noticed that Liu Yifei was looking at him with a gentle smile.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Yu asked.
"You're incredibly charismatic when you talk about investing," Liu Yifei said honestly. "Your eyes light up, and your whole person shines."
Jiang Yu coughed lightly, looking unusually embarrassed: "Let's get down to business. What do you think about the endorsement?"
Liu Yifei did not answer immediately.
She picked up her orange juice, took a sip, and thought for a few seconds: "Since it's our own investment, of course I'm willing to support it. But..."
She looked at Jiang Yu seriously, "I can't blindly accept endorsements just because someone is one of my own. I need to truly understand the product, experience it, and feel that it is indeed valuable before I can sincerely recommend it to everyone."
A look of admiration flashed in Jiang Yu's eyes.
This is what he admires about her: after so many years in the entertainment industry, she has always maintained a rare clarity of mind and principles.
"Of course." Jiang Yu nodded. "I'll have President Cao arrange a beta test account for you. You can try it out for a while. If you don't like it, just refuse. It's okay."
"Not at all," Liu Yifei laughed. "I trust your judgment. From Light Chaser Animation Studios to those tech companies you invested in, which one isn't a leader in its industry?"
These words warmed Jiang Yu's heart. He reached across the table and took her hand: "Thank you for your trust."
"However..." Liu Yifei blinked, "The endorsement fee can't be less. Even close brothers should keep clear accounts, Boss Jiang."
Jiang Yu smiled: "Don't worry, President Cao wouldn't dare to mistreat you. We won't let the good stuff go to outsiders, but we won't skimp on the good stuff that's due."
""
When Jiang Yu and Liu Yifei returned to the living room with the juice, Zhou Huiwen and Liu Xiaoli were sitting on the sofa, watching TV and chatting.
A modern romance drama is playing on TV, but the two mothers seem to be discussing something deeper.
66
"So Yifei has to be more careful about the roles she chooses now," Liu Xiaoli said. "Her image has changed since the Venice Film Festival."
"Good scripts are hard to find," Zhou Huiwen sighed. "Old Jiang told me the other day that the people involved in several projects their company has invested in are too impetuous these days."
When they saw the two young people approaching, they paused their conversation.
"Mom, Auntie, there's something I'd like to hear your opinions on." Jiang Yu sat down on the single sofa, and Liu Yifei naturally sat on the armrest, almost leaning against him.
This affectionate gesture led the two mothers to exchange a relieved look.
"What is it?" Zhou Huiwen asked.
Jiang Yu briefly recounted the Weibo situation, focusing on the product's features, market potential, and the circumstances surrounding Cao Guowei's invitation to Liu Yifei to be the spokesperson.
As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Xiaoli sat up straight.
As a manager who has worked in the entertainment industry for many years, she has a keen intuition for business collaborations.
"This kind of new platform carries great risks, but also great opportunities," Liu Xiaoli analyzed. "If it really succeeds and becomes a mainstream social media platform, then the first celebrity to endorse it will reap the biggest benefits, as users will become deeply attached to the platform. But if it fails..."
"There's no loss if it doesn't work out," Zhou Huiwen chimed in. Although she wasn't in the entertainment industry, as Jiang Yu's mother, she had been exposed to business investment for many years and had her own insights. "Yifei is very cautious about accepting endorsements now. For this kind of emerging product, we can sign a short-term contract to test the waters. And since it's an investment by Jiang Yu's company, the cooperation terms will definitely be more favorable."
Liu Yifei nodded: "That's what I think too. And I trust Jiang Yu's judgment."
She said it so naturally. Jiang Yu remained calm on the surface, but inside he felt as if he had been gently tickled by a feather, a warm and pleasant sensation.
All three ladies looked at him.
"President Cao said Weibo can be launched anytime, but I'm thinking we need to choose a memorable day." Jiang Yu turned to look at Liu Yifei, "How about launching it on your birthday?"
Liu Yifei was taken aback: "August 25th?"
"August 25th..." Jiang Yu did some mental calculations. "There are still more than ten days left. There's enough time. Product refinement and pre-launch promotion both require time."
Liu Yifei's eyes widened, and she suddenly understood what he meant: "You mean..."
"Let's launch Weibo on your birthday," Jiang Yu said with a smile, his eyes gentle. "It'll be much easier to remember that way. And for you, it's not just a birthday gift, but also a milestone in your career. You'll become the first spokesperson for this product of our time."
The living room was quiet for a few seconds.
Zhou Huiwen was the first to react, clapping her hands and exclaiming, "That's a great idea! It's very memorable and will definitely generate buzz!"
Liu Xiaoli nodded slowly, her eyes shining: "If it works out, it would indeed be an excellent marketing opportunity. Birthday + new product launch, a natural hot topic. Media coverage can then revolve around this, with Liu Yifei's 22nd birthday launching alongside a new era social platform."
Liu Xiaoli saw all the potential value of this idea almost instantly.
Looking at Jiang Yu, Liu Yifei felt a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her.
This woman is not only shrewd and astute in business, but she can also combine cold, hard business decisions with such a romantic touch in the important moments of her life.
"Isn't this too deliberate?" she asked softly, both to Jiang Yu and to her two mothers.
"Business operations are all about generating buzz and attention," Jiang Yu analyzed rationally, his eyes gentle. "And this is indeed a good time. For you, your 22nd birthday is an important milestone; for Weibo, the first day after launch needs maximum impact. It's a win-win situation."
He held Liu Yifei's hand, his fingers gently stroking the back of her hand: "Of course, if you feel it's not suitable, we can choose another day. This is just a suggestion."
Liu Yifei shook her head.
She looked into Jiang Yu's eyes, and saw not only the shrewdness of a businessman, but also the tenderness of a lover.
"No, I feel great." She took a deep breath, as if she had made an important decision, "It's just that the pressure is a bit much."
What if the product doesn't take off? Wouldn't that be a waste of a good day?
"Then let it succeed." Jiang Yu said casually, his eyes filled with unwavering determination. "I have confidence in Weibo, I have confidence in President Cao's team, and I have confidence in you."
Liu Yifei's last bit of hesitation disappeared, and she looked at the two mothers, whose eyes were full of encouragement and support.
"Then it's settled." Liu Yifei sat up straight, her tone firm. "I'll take this endorsement. The Weibo launch date... will be August 25th."
"That's great!" Jiang Yu happily kissed her cheek. "I'll call President Cao back right now and tell him about this idea."
He got up and walked towards the balcony, his steps light and quick.
Watching her son's retreating figure, Zhou Huiwen smiled and said to Liu Yifei, "This child gets excited whenever investment is mentioned. You wouldn't believe it, when he was little, he didn't eat any snacks or buy any toys for three whole months just to save up for a game console."
Liu Yifei asked curiously, "What was his first game console?"
"Microsoft," Zhou Huiwen recalled, "He was only thirteen years old at the time..."
""
On the balcony, Jiang Yu dialed Cao Guowei's number.
The phone was answered after two rings, and Cao Guowei's voice came through: "President Jiang? You have news so quickly?"
"Mr. Cao, Yifei has agreed to be the spokesperson," Jiang Yu said bluntly. "However, she needs to try the product first. Is that alright?"
"No problem! Absolutely no problem!" Cao Guowei said repeatedly. "I'll arrange for someone to send over a beta test account right away—the latest version, the best experience!"
"Okay. Also, I have an idea I'd like to discuss with you." Jiang Yu paused, "How about we set the launch date for Weibo on August 25th?"
There was a silence of about three seconds on the other end of the phone.
"August 25th?" Cao Guowei's voice was filled with doubt. "Is there any special consideration behind this date?"
"That day was Yifei's birthday," Jiang Yu said calmly.
Another silence followed.
Then, Cao Guowei's voice suddenly rose eight octaves, brimming with barely suppressed excitement: "My God! President Jiang! This idea is brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Birthday + new product launch, the buzz! The reach! My goodness, we don't even need to buy trending topics, it's naturally number one!"
Jiang Yu moved his phone a little further away, waiting for Cao Guowei to finish his excitement.
"President Jiang, you are truly..." Cao Guowei gasped for breath, "A business genius! No, no, no, this isn't just business, it's art! The art of marketing! A birthday is a hot topic in itself, Liu Yifei's birthday is an even bigger hot topic, plus the launch of a new product, three hot topics combined! The volume, the attention! My God, I'm already imagining the grand spectacle on that day!"
"Calm down, Mr. Cao." Jiang Yu couldn't help but laugh. "So you think there's enough time?"
"There's enough time! Absolutely enough time!" Cao Guowei spoke rapidly. "Ten days is more than enough time for us to do a complete pre-launch promotion. We can design a countdown campaign, releasing a little product information every day to maintain the buzz. Then, a week before the launch, we'll officially announce the spokesperson and launch date to ignite public opinion. On launch day, Ms. Liu will post the first Weibo message, a perfect combination of birthday wishes and product promotion!"
He was completely absorbed in the presentation and began to speak eloquently about the promotional plan.
Jiang Yu listened quietly, occasionally responding with a word.
The sunlight streamed onto the balcony, warm but not scorching.
From this angle, he could see Liu Yifei chatting with her two mothers in the living room.
She smiled happily, her eyes curving into crescents.
At that moment, Jiang Yu felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
"...So, Mr. Jiang, it's settled then!" Cao Guowei finally finished speaking. "Launch date: August 25, 2009."
Damn! Spokesperson: Liu Yifei! I'll adjust my schedule immediately and start preparing!
"Okay," Jiang Yu said. "Have someone draft the endorsement contract and send it to my email. I'll take a look at it first. As for Yi Fei's agent, I'll have my mom handle the details."
"No problem! It'll be a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Jiang!"
"It's a pleasure working with you."
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yu stood on the balcony for a while.
He suddenly remembered a professor saying something many years ago when he was auditing classes at the USC business school: "True business success is not about how much money you make, but about how much value you create and how many people's lives you change."
Weibo might be able to change some things, Jiang Yu thought.
At the very least, it makes connecting people easier.
As he turned back to the living room, all three women looked at him at the same time.
"It's all settled," Jiang Yu announced, walking over to sit down next to Liu Yifei. "President Cao strongly approves of this idea. Weibo's official launch date: August 25, 2009. Ms. Liu Yifei, from today onwards, you are the founding spokesperson for Weibo."
Liu Yifei's eyes lit up, as if filled with starlight: "Really?"
"Really." Jiang Yu grasped her hand. "The contract details will be finalized soon. Also, President Cao insists on giving you 0.1% equity. He says that the founding spokesperson should have shares."
Liu Xiaoli asked in surprise, "Equity?"
"It's not much, it's symbolic," Jiang Yu explained. "It represents their sincerity. And I believe that the future value of these shares will far exceed the current endorsement fee."
Zhou Huiwen glanced at the clock on the wall: "Oh, it's almost eleven. What do you want for lunch? Sweet and sour pork ribs? I remember Yifei likes that."
Liu Yifei was even more surprised: "How did Auntie know?"
"Jiang Yu said it." Zhou Huiwen glanced at her son, smiling broadly. "He gave me a detailed list of everything you like to eat, don't like to eat, are allergic to, and have preferred flavors. He even wrote down how much sugar and milk you add to your coffee and what brand of shampoo you like to use."
Liu Yifei was stunned and turned to look at Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu was unusually embarrassed and touched his nose: "I just... jotted it down."
"Was this just a side trip?" Liu Yifei felt a warm, tender feeling wash over her, as if bathed in lukewarm water. "Jiang Yu..."
"Oh dear, young people are so mushy," Zhou Huiwen laughed as she stood up. "I'll go tell Auntie to add sweet and sour pork ribs and steamed sea bass for lunch. Xiaoli, could you help me check the menu?"
Liu Xiaoli understood and stood up: "Okay. Let the two young people be alone for a while."
The two mothers tacitly left the living room, leaving the space to them.
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