funbook-pk Chapter 129 The Struggle for Power Upon Moving into the Liu Family
Chapter 129 The Struggle for Power Upon Moving into the Liu Family
Chapter 129 The Struggle for Power Upon Moving into the Liu Family
At exactly six o'clock in the evening, Jiang Yu's low-key black Audi stopped right at the entrance of the Shunyi villa area.
He deliberately didn't bring a driver today and drove himself. Since their relationship became public, he cherishes these moments of being alone with his partner even more.
The car window slowly rolled down, and Jiang Yu immediately spotted Liu Yifei standing next to the guardhouse.
She changed her outfit, wearing a simple white cotton dress that reached just to her knees, with a loose gray cardigan over it, and white canvas shoes on her feet.
Her hair was tied into a playful bun, revealing her smooth forehead and graceful neck, and she only had a thin layer of lip balm on her face.
"Have you been waiting long?" Jiang Yu leaned over and opened the passenger door for her.
"I arrived just five minutes ago." Liu Yifei gracefully got into the car, bringing with her a faint scent of gardenias. "I timed my departure perfectly."
Jiang Yu turned to the side to help her fasten her seatbelt, a move that brought them very close.
He looked at her face, so close to his own, and suddenly laughed: "Why did you choose to wear this today?"
Liu Yifei blinked, her long eyelashes fluttering like little fans: "Suddenly wanted to act young. How is it? Do I look like a college student?"
Jiang Yu sat up straight again, started the car, but couldn't suppress the smile on his lips: "It's like it, very much like it. But—"
He turned to look at her and said, "You're not old at all, only twenty-one. Why are you pretending to be young?"
"That's different." Liu Yifei tilted her head, looking like she was seriously discussing something. "Wearing a costume is for work, wearing a formal dress is for events, and dressing like this is for everyday life. Besides, I haven't dressed like this in a long time. Usually, I have to worry about being photographed when I go out, but today I just want to be a little willful."
"Sure, why not?" Jiang Yu casually put his arm around her shoulder. "I love you no matter what. You look like a fairy in a gown, and like the girl next door in this. You're beautiful both ways."
The car drove out of the villa area and merged into the evening rush hour traffic.
The sky over Beijing at dusk was a gentle orange-pink, with the clouds edged in gold.
"Oh, right," Liu Yifei suddenly remembered something, "my mom asked me to thank you. This afternoon, three more international brands came to us, one of which is a French brand that she especially liked when she was young. She said she's never seen so many big brands chasing after someone to sign a contract at the same time."
Jiang Yu chuckled: "That's because your commercial value is worthwhile. But if Auntie is interested, we can let her participate in the negotiations. These brand terms are complicated, and it's better to have someone from within the family overseeing them."
The two chatted as their car drove into the Dongcheng District.
Jiang Yu skillfully turned into a narrow alley. The alley was lined with traditional courtyard houses, and occasionally a bicycle would pass by with its bell jingling.
"I've been looking for this place for a long time," Jiang Yu said, carefully dodging pedestrians. "The owner is my college classmate's cousin, a true Chongqing native, and he's been in Beijing for twenty years. The shop isn't big, but the taste is absolutely authentic, and the key thing is—"
He paused for a moment, then added, "It's absolutely private. Everyone who comes here is a regular; no one takes pictures."
Liu Yifei looked out the window at the alleyway gradually darkening, the streetlights lighting up one by one. She hadn't been to this kind of lively, bustling place in a long time.
The car was parked in front of an inconspicuous courtyard gate.
The storefront is small, with only a wooden sign that reads "Li Ji Hot Pot".
"We're here." Jiang Yu turned off the engine. "Don't let the small facade fool you, there's a whole different world inside."
He got out of the car first and went around to the other side to open the door for Liu Yifei.
Just as the two reached the door, the wooden door creaked open from the inside.
The man who opened the door was in his forties, wearing a dark blue apron. He wasn't very tall, and had a warm smile on his face: "Mr. Jiang! You've finally arrived! This must be Miss Liu, right? Oh my, she's even prettier than on TV!"
"Brother Li, this is Yifei," Jiang Yu introduced with a smile. "Yifei, this is Brother Li, the owner of this shop, an old friend of mine."
"Hello, Brother Li." Liu Yifei nodded politely.
"Alright, alright, please come in, please come in!" Brother Li stepped aside. "We've prepared a private room for you. The one at the very back is quiet."
Passing through the foyer, one is indeed greeted by a hidden world inside.
The courtyard was meticulously maintained, with bamboo and pomegranate trees planted on both sides of the bluestone path, and a small fish pond in the corner where several koi carp swam among the water lily leaves.
The main house and side rooms have been converted into private rooms. You can vaguely hear laughter and conversation coming from the other private rooms, but the overall environment is very quiet.
Brother Li led them through the courtyard to the innermost private room.
Pushing open the door, the interior was small but cozy.
On the wall hang old black and white photos of Beijing, showing a candied hawthorn stall, a shadow puppeteer, and children playing shuttlecock in the alley.
"Sit down, sit down," Brother Li greeted warmly. "The hot pot broth will be ready soon, as usual, red broth, with extra numbing and spicy flavor. The fresh tripe just arrived today, and we also have air-freighted goose intestines, which I've saved for you. In addition, the beef aorta, duck blood, and pig brains just shipped from Chongqing are all the freshest."
Jiang Yu looked at Liu Yifei: "Can you eat pig brains?"
Liu Yifei's eyes lit up: "Yes! I ate it when I was in Chongqing for an event, and it was delicious!"
"Then I'll have them all," Jiang Yu said to Brother Li. "Also, a serving of crispy pork, brown sugar glutinous rice cake, and ice jelly. Oh, and Brother Li, do you have Wei Yi soy milk?"
"Yes, yes, yes, it's chilled!" Brother Li laughed. "Mr. Jiang really knows you, Ms. Liu. This spicy hot pot with chilled soy milk is absolutely amazing!"
Brother Li went out to prepare, leaving only the two of them in the private room.
Liu Yifei looked at the photos on the wall with curiosity: "These photos are really interesting. Look at this one, it should be Qianmen Street in the 1990s, right?"
Jiang Yu leaned closer to look: "Yeah, I went there when I was a kid, it wasn't this commercialized back then."
A heavy cast iron pot, with red oil bubbling inside, chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns bobbing on the surface, instantly fills the entire private room with aroma.
"It smells so good!" Liu Yifei's eyes lit up. "When I was on set, I would often be so hungry at night that I couldn't sleep, and I would crave this. Once in Hengdian, I had my assistant search all over the city for Chongqing hot pot, but all the ones we found were modified versions and didn't taste right."
"There's plenty for today." Jiang Yu took the apron from Brother Li and naturally tied it on Liu Yifei first. "Be careful not to get oil splashed on your clothes."
This thoughtful gesture warmed Liu Yifei's heart.
She looked at Jiang Yu's profile as he bent down to tie the ribbon, the light casting fine shadows on his eyelashes, and suddenly felt that this moment was too beautiful to be real.
As the pot boiled, Brother Li began serving the side dishes.
The tripe was sliced as thin as cicada wings and rolled into a beautiful flower shape on the plate; the goose intestines were pink and translucent and cleaned thoroughly; the beef aorta was cut into comb shapes; the duck blood was as tender as tofu; and the pig brains were served in a small white porcelain bowl, white and tender.
There were also sliced beef, lamb rolls, shrimp paste, bean curd sheets, and green vegetables—a whole table full of food.
"The condiment station is outside, shall I go and make it for you?" Brother Li asked.
"No need, I can do it myself." Jiang Yu stood up. "Yifei, sesame oil, minced garlic, oyster sauce, cilantro, right? Should we add some vinegar?"
Liu Yifei was somewhat surprised: "You still remember?"
Jiang Yu had already walked to the condiment station and said without turning his head, "I remember everything about you."
Liu Yifei sat there, watching Jiang Yu's back, feeling as if something had gently bumped into her heart.
The feeling of being cherished and remembered in every detail is more touching than any sweet words.
Jiang Yu returned with two bowls of seasonings, the seasonings perfectly balanced, with sesame oil at the bottom, minced garlic piled high, and oyster sauce and cilantro in perfect proportion.
"Try it." He pushed the bowl in front of her.
Liu Yifei dipped a little bit with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. Her eyes immediately curved into crescents: "This is the taste!"
How come yours tastes even better than mine?
"A secret recipe, exclusively passed down to men, not women." Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow.
"And what about me?" Liu Yifei asked deliberately.
"You're an exception," Jiang Yu laughed. "It's a secret passed down only within the family."
The two looked at each other and smiled, then began to cook the vegetables in the hot pot.
"It's so delicious!" Liu Yifei exclaimed, her nose sweating and cheeks flushed. "It's even better than what I had in Chongqing!"
"Brother Li's hot pot broth is a family secret recipe." Jiang Yu scooped a spoonful of shrimp paste for her. "His grandfather's generation ran a hot pot restaurant in Chongqing. Eat slowly, be careful not to burn yourself."
"I haven't eaten this much in ages," Liu Yifei said, picking up a slice of beef. "I usually have to watch my weight, and my manager basically forbids me from eating hot pot, which is high in oil and salt. Today, my mom specifically said that since our relationship is public now, it's okay to gain a little weight, as long as President Jiang doesn't mind."
Jiang Yu couldn't help but chuckle: "She certainly has faith in me. But honestly, you're too thin; you'd look better with a bit more weight. Health is the most important thing."
The two chatted and ate in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
Liu Yifei recounted the amusing incident of answering the phone today: "Shu Chang was the most outrageous. The moment the call connected, she said, 'Comrade Liu Yifei, please tell me the truth! How were you filmed? If you don't explain clearly, I'll come knocking on your door today!'"
'
Jiang Yu asked with a smile, "So what was your answer?"
"I said, Comrade Shuchang, the organization requires confidentiality."
Liu Yifei mimicked her own serious tone from back then, then laughed first, "And then she said, 'Next time I'll personally review President Jiang!'"
"Sure," Jiang Yu readily agreed. "You set the time, and I'll treat her to dinner."
"And then there's Jane Zhang," Liu Yifei continued, "She said she'd write a song for me, and she even had a title in mind: 'The Day We Announced Our Relationship, It Rained in Wuhan.' I said it was too sentimental, and she said, 'You don't understand, this is art.'"
Jiang Yu imagined the scene and laughed out loud: "What about Yao Beina?"
"Sister Bella is the most genuine," Liu Yifei said. "She just said, 'Congratulations on the announcement, cherish it.' Then she asked me if Jiang Yu treats you well, and I said yes. She said, 'That's good. The most important thing is that a man treats you well.'"
"This lady has good taste." Jiang Yu placed a piece of brown sugar glutinous rice cake on her plate. "It's my turn. The company is quite lively today."
He recounted how Zhou Mu set up a betting platform in the technical department: "They bet on when we got together. Zhou Mu bet on after August last year, reasoning that we watched the Olympics together then." He guessed right and won a barbecue.
Liu Yifei asked curiously, "Last August? We had only known each other for a short time then."
"Yeah, that's why I said he got lucky," Jiang Yu laughed. "But Xiao Wang from the design department is the most outrageous. He said he'd be willing to work overtime for a month if he could get your autograph. The receptionist is even more ruthless; she said she'd be willing to work overtime for a week if you came to the company."
"They really said that?" Liu Yifei blushed, a little embarrassed. "I don't have that much charm—"
"Yes," Jiang Yu nodded. "So if you come to the company one of these days, it'll probably cause a commotion. But—"
He blinked. "It's only natural for the boss's wife to inspect the work."
"Who's your boss?!" Liu Yifei muttered softly, her face turning even redder, but she couldn't hide the smile on her lips.
The red oil in the pot continued to boil, and in the rising steam, both of their faces turned slightly red.
Jiang Yu got up and got a chilled bottle of Wei Yi soy milk, inserted a straw and handed it to Liu Yifei: "Drink some, it'll help cool you down."
Liu Yifei took the bottle and drank a big gulp. The cool soy milk instantly relieved the burning sensation on her tongue: "So refreshing—"
"If you can't handle spicy food, don't force yourself." Jiang Yu felt both sorry for her and amused when he saw that her lips were swollen from the spiciness.
"I can eat!" Liu Yifei retorted, picking up another slice of beef coated in chili peppers. "I spent three months in Chongqing, I've already mastered it."
"Yes, yes, yes, Miss Liu is amazing." Jiang Yu gave a thumbs up in agreement.
As they ate, both of them slowed down.
Liu Yifei sipped her soy milk slowly, gazing at the night view outside the window.
"Jiang Yu," she suddenly said, "I'm actually quite happy today."
"Because of hot pot?" Jiang Yu laughed.
"Not just that." Liu Yifei turned her head, her eyes sparkling under the light, "Because I can eat and chat with you like this, without having to hide from anyone. Because I can listen to you talk about things at the company, and I can share my friends with you. Because—"
She paused for a moment, then continued, "Because I feel like we're truly together now, not just dating, but that we've become a part of each other's lives."
Jiang Yu put down his chopsticks and took her hand.
Her hands were soft and slightly hot from eating spicy food.
"Sissi," he whispered, "we'll experience so much more together, meet so many more friends, go to so many more places, and do so many more things. There will be arguments, and there will be reconciliations; there will be difficulties, and there will be breakthroughs. No matter what, I'll always be by your side."
Liu Yifei's eyes were a little moist, and she nodded vigorously: "Yes."
"Alright, stop getting sentimental," Jiang Yu said with a smile, breaking the ice. "Want some more pig brains? This is the last piece, or I'll eat it if you don't."
"Mine!" Liu Yifei immediately snatched the strainer. "It was supposed to be mine!"
The two laughed and fought over the last piece of pig brain, but Jiang Yu eventually gave it to her.
Watching Liu Yifei eat with satisfaction, Jiang Yu felt that this was probably the simplest form of happiness.
With your loved one across from you, you eat happily and laugh brightly.
After the meal, Brother Li brought over some ice jelly and fruit.
The ice jelly is made with brown sugar syrup, raisins, and crushed peanuts, making it refreshingly sweet and perfect for cutting through the richness of other foods.
"Mr. Jiang, Ms. Liu, are you finished eating?" Brother Li asked with a smile.
"I'm so happy, it's really good." Liu Yifei said sincerely, "Brother Li, this hot pot is the most authentic I've ever had in Beijing."
"Absolutely!" Brother Li said proudly. "Next time you come, just let me know in advance, and I'll save you the freshest haor fish, air-shipped from Chongqing. You can't get this anywhere else."
"must."
When it came time to pay the bill, Brother Li refused to overcharge: "Mr. Jiang, you're a regular customer, and you've referred so many clients to me. This meal is on me to celebrate your going public with your relationship!"
In the end, Jiang Yu insisted on paying. Brother Li secretly slipped several packets of homemade hot pot base into the bag: "Take this home. Cook it yourself whenever you want. Come back for more if you need more!"
It was already past 8 p.m. when I left the hot pot restaurant.
The alley was even quieter, with only a few streetlights casting a dim yellow light.
The two walked slowly hand in hand, their footsteps echoing crisply on the bluestone pavement.
"I'm stuffed." Liu Yifei rubbed her stomach. "I'm definitely going to gain weight tomorrow."
"It's better to be a little chubby." Jiang Yu put his arm around her shoulder. "You're too thin, it's uncomfortable to hug you."
"Who told you to hug me?" Liu Yifei said, but she snuggled closer to him.
When you reach the entrance of the alley, there is an old locust tree, and sure enough, there is a small stall selling roasted chestnuts under the tree.
The stall owner was an old man, who was using an iron shovel to stir-fry chestnuts in a large pot. The popping sound of the chestnut shells cracking was particularly clear in the night.
"Grandpa, one pack, please." Jiang Yu took out his wallet.
"Alright!" The old man quickly filled a paper bag with steaming hot food. "Fresh out of the pot, that's when it smells the best."
Jiang Yu took the chestnuts, peeled one open, and found the chestnut kernels to be golden, plump, and steaming hot.
He blew on it and held it to Liu Yifei's lips: "Be careful, it's hot."
Liu Yifei took a bite from his hand, the sweet aroma of chestnut melting in her mouth: "Delicious!"
"That's good." Jiang Yu continued peeling, one for himself and one for Liu Yifei.
The two stood under the old locust tree, sharing a bag of roasted chestnuts, one by one.
The night breeze was cool, and the warmth of the chestnuts and the company of each other warmed my heart.
In the distance, the faint strains of Peking Opera could be heard; it was probably an old man's radio.
"Jiang Yu," Liu Yifei suddenly said, "I feel incredibly lucky."
Why?
"Because of you." She looked up, her eyes shining like stars in the night. "If it weren't for you, I might still be worrying about resources, still bound by all sorts of rules. You showed me that I can just be an actress, without having to do anything else; you showed me that love can be so simple and beautiful."
Jiang Yu stopped peeling chestnuts and looked at her earnestly: "Qianqian, I'm lucky. Before I met you, my life consisted only of work and goals. You showed me that life isn't just about those things, but also about love, warmth, and the little joys in life."
They smiled at each other and exchanged a kiss under the streetlight, the kiss carrying the sweet scent of chestnuts.
At this moment, there are no cameras, no audience, only each other.
When she got back to the car, Liu Yifei was already a little sleepy.
She leaned back in her chair, her eyelids beginning to droop.
"Take a nap, I'll wake you up when we get home." Jiang Yu turned up the air conditioner temperature.
"Mmm—" Liu Yifei mumbled a sleepy reply and quickly fell asleep.
Jiang Yu drove slowly and steadily, occasionally glancing at her peaceful sleeping face in the rearview mirror.
The storm sparked by the exposure of the relationship lasted for about a week in the memories of the internet.
After all, this is an era of information overload, with new headlines, gossip, and controversies emerging every day. The public's attention is like a spotlight, always chasing the brightest point.
By early April, discussions about Jiang Yu and Liu Yifei had gradually slipped off the trending topics list, replaced by revelations about behind-the-scenes manipulation in a talent show, rumors of a celebrity couple's divorce, and Feng Xiaogang's groundbreaking speech at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Life returned to a certain degree of calm, at least for Jiang Yu and Liu Yifei.
Over the past two weeks, Jiang Yu has developed a new routine: he arrives at the company at eight in the morning to handle emails and meetings; he has a simple lunch in the office at noon, sometimes a set meal brought up by Wang Wei from the restaurant downstairs; he continues working in the afternoon, occasionally with media interviews or business dinners; and at six in the evening, he leaves the company on time and drives to Shunyi.
That villa in Shunyi unknowingly became his second home.
The first time I went to "mooch a meal" was three days after we admitted to our relationship.
That afternoon, he texted Liu Yifei: "What do you want to eat tonight? I'll bring it over."
Liu Yifei replied quickly: "My mom made braised pork ribs and steamed crucian carp, and said she wanted you to come over and eat. She said you're all alone in Beijing, and you probably won't eat well."
So at 6:30 that evening, Jiang Yu rang the villa's doorbell, carrying a box of Daoxiangcun pastries and a bottle of red wine.
The person who opened the door was Liu Xiaoli, wearing an apron and holding a spatula.
"Auntie, I'm sorry to bother you." Jiang Yu said somewhat embarrassedly.
"What are you doing bothering me? Come in quickly." Liu Xiaoli smiled naturally. "Yifei is changing clothes upstairs and will be down soon. Please have a seat. There'll be a soup ready soon."
That meal was very heartwarming.
Liu Xiaoli is a very good cook. Her braised pork ribs are tender and flavorful, and her steamed sea bass is just right. The fish is fresh and tender, and the scallions on top are drizzled with hot oil, making them very fragrant.
"Auntie, your cooking is amazing!" Jiang Yu exclaimed sincerely. "It tastes even better than my mom's."
"Nonsense," Liu Xiaoli said modestly, but her eyes couldn't hide her amusement. "Your mother's cooking is the real deal; this is just home-style cooking. Come on, have some more."
Liu Yifei ate quietly beside him, occasionally putting food on Jiang Yu's plate, a faint smile always on her lips.
At that moment, Jiang Yu suddenly realized that this was the life he wanted: after a day's work, coming home to loved ones, warm meals, and relaxing conversations.
From then on, he would go there to "mooch a meal" almost every day.
Sometimes, if you arrive early, Liu Xiaoli will pull you into the kitchen to help. Although his cooking skills are limited to boiling instant noodles and frying eggs, he can still lend a hand, peel garlic, and pass plates.
"Xiaoyu, hand me that green pepper."
"Auntie, here you go."
"Take a few more cloves of garlic and peel them."
"it is good."
Liu Yifei sometimes joins in, but she really doesn't have much talent for cooking.
Once, I tried to help cut potatoes, but the potato shreds I cut were of varying thicknesses, some like chopsticks and some like hair.
Liu Xiaoli shook her head: "Forget it, you should just go outside and wait to eat."
"Mom!" Liu Yifei retorted, "I'll get it after a little practice!"
"Once you've mastered it, we'll have to change our dinner to a late-night snack," Liu Xiaoli complained mercilessly.
Jiang Yu, suppressing a laugh, took the knife from Liu Yifei's hand: "Let me do it."
His potato-cutting technique was very professional; his wrist was steady, and his cuts were quick and precise, producing even and long potato shreds.
Liu Yifei stared in disbelief: "How do you know this?"
"I worked in a restaurant during college," Jiang Yu said while chopping vegetables. "I helped out in the kitchen for three months. I didn't learn anything else, but I did master chopping vegetables."
Liu Xiaoli nodded approvingly: "It's good for a boy to know how to cook; he won't go hungry in the future."
And so, the kitchen became a place for the three of them to connect and share their feelings.
Liu Xiaoli teaches Jiang Yu how to cook Hubei cuisine, Jiang Yu teaches Liu Yifei how to cut vegetables, and Liu Yifei is responsible for tasting and praising the food.
The atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant, with constant laughter.
After dinner, the three of them would sit in the living room and watch TV.
Liu Xiaoli loves watching family dramas, Liu Yifei prefers watching movie channels, while Jiang Yu pays more attention to financial news.
The usual solution is to watch the news for a while, then switch to the movie channel, and switch back when the TV series Liu Xiaoli is watching starts airing.
Sometimes Liu Yifei would fall asleep leaning on Jiang Yu's shoulder.
She's been very busy lately. Although she's made fewer public appearances due to the relationship scandal, she hasn't missed a single day of work. She has to read scripts, do physical and martial arts training, and film "GG".
Often, while watching TV, my eyes would close and my breathing would become even and long.
At these times, Jiang Yu would signal Liu Xiaoli to turn down the TV volume and then adjust his posture to make Liu Yifei more comfortable.
He would gently pat her back, like he was coaxing a child.
One night, Liu Yifei woke up in the middle of the night to find herself lying on the living room sofa, covered with a blanket. Jiang Yu was sitting on the single sofa next to her, reading documents, and the light from the desk lamp was very soft.
"What time is it?" she asked groggily.
"11:30." Jiang Yu put down the documents. "Awake? Do you want to go back to your room to sleep?"
"You've been here the whole time?" Liu Yifei sat up, the blanket sliding down to her lap.
"Yeah, I was afraid you wouldn't be able to find me when you woke up," Jiang Yu said naturally. "Besides, you look so beautiful when you're asleep, I can't get enough of looking at you."
Liu Yifei blushed, but her heart was filled with sweetness.
As I visited Shunyi more and more often, "staying overnight" became a natural thing to do.
The first overnight stay was purely accidental. It was raining heavily that day, with thunder and lightning. Liu Xiaoli looked out the window and said, "Xiaoyu, this rain isn't going to stop anytime soon, and it's not safe on the road. Why don't you stay here tonight? The guest room has been kept clean."
Jiang Yu looked at Liu Yifei, who nodded gently: "Okay, stay here."
That night, Jiang Yu stayed in a guest room at the Shunyi villa for the first time.
The room was decorated warmly, and the sheets and duvet covers were new and smelled of sunshine.
The next morning, when Jiang Yu got up, Liu Xiaoli was already in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
Seeing him come downstairs, she greeted him naturally, "Xiaoyu, you're awake? Go wash up, breakfast will be ready soon. Yifei is still sleeping, she won't get up until nine o'clock."
That natural and familiar tone of voice was just like when speaking to family.
Since then, Jiang Yu has been "staying overnight" more and more often.
Sometimes it's because I work too late, sometimes it's because it's raining or snowing, and sometimes—I just don't want to leave.
Liu Xiaoli never asked questions, and always prepared the guest room in advance, along with clean towels and pajamas.
Jiang Yu's belongings gradually filled the villa: a few changes of clothes, a set of toiletries, a few books he often read, and even a spare laptop.
That guest room was becoming more and more like his room.
One evening in early April, the three of them sat in the living room chatting after dinner.
The TV was broadcasting entertainment news, which mentioned the controversy surrounding Feng Xiaogang at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
"Director Feng's words are quite straightforward," Liu Xiaoli commented. "But it's true, Hong Kong audiences do have prejudices against mainland films."
Liu Yifei leaned on Jiang Yu's shoulder and said lazily, "When 'The Witch' was released in Hong Kong last year, the questions the media there asked were quite—subtle. They kept emphasizing that Wang Zhi was a mainland actress, as if it were something that needed to be explained."
Jiang Yu gently stroked her hair: "So it's not easy for Lu Yang's 'The Witch' to gross nearly 40 million at the Hong Kong box office. It was a purely mainland production, directed by a mainland director, and starring mainland actors. The fact that it achieved this result in the Hong Kong market shows that the film itself is of high quality."
"Speaking of which," Liu Yifei suddenly remembered something, "my agent Rou told me that several Hong Kong directors have recently submitted scripts to me, wanting to collaborate. What do you think I should do?"
"It depends on the quality of the script," Jiang Yu said. "Don't accept a role just because it's directed by a Hong Kong director, and don't reject one just because it's directed by a Hong Kong director. The key is whether the story and the role suit you."
Liu Xiaoli nodded: "Xiaoyu is right. Yifei, your position is different now, the choice is in your hands. If you're going to choose, choose the best."
So, on the first weekend of April, Liu Yifei and Liu Xiaoli went to Suzhou.
This is Liu Yifei's first public appearance since her relationship was exposed. Although it was just a promotional video shoot, it marks the first step for her to return to normal work.
On the morning of their departure, Jiang Yu got up early and drove them to the airport.
At the security checkpoint, Liu Yifei seemed a little reluctant to leave: "It'll only be two days, I'll be back soon."
"Okay, call me when you arrive." Jiang Yu hugged her. "Focus on your work and don't overthink it."
"You too, don't always work overtime," Liu Yifei advised.
After seeing Liu Yifei and her daughter off, Jiang Yu returned to the company and suddenly felt that the office was a bit empty.
I'm used to going to Shunyi for dinner and chats in the evenings, so suddenly being single again is a bit of a shock.
Wang Wei keenly sensed her boss's change in mood, and when delivering documents that afternoon, she specifically said, "Boss, Miss Liu has only been gone for half a day, and you're already thinking about her?"
Jiang Yu looked up at her: "Is it that obvious?"
Wang Wei laughed: "You've checked your phone eight times today. Usually, when you're working, your phone is on silent and face down on the table."
Jiang Yu laughed at himself: "I'm used to it. Okay, go ahead and get busy."
However, the more you suppress longing, the stronger it becomes.
Jiang Yu didn't go to Shunyi that night; Liu Yifei wasn't there, so there was no point in him going.
I ate takeout in my apartment and looked at some documents for a while, but I felt like something was missing.
Finally, he sent Liu Yifei a text message: "Have you arrived yet?"
She replied almost instantly: "I've arrived and I'm at the hotel. It's raining in Suzhou, a light drizzle, it really feels like the Jiangnan region."
The accompanying photo showed the night view from the hotel window: black tiles and white walls, a light drizzle, and lanterns casting a warm yellow glow in the rain.
Looking at the photo, Jiang Yu suddenly missed her terribly. They had only been apart for less than twelve hours.
He replied, "Take care to keep warm and don't catch a cold. Hope the filming goes smoothly tomorrow."
"Okay, you too, go to sleep early."
Putting down his phone, Jiang Yu walked to the window.
The night sky in Beijing was clear, with no rain and only sparse stars.
He thought that when Liu Yifei came back, he would take her to eat at that newly opened Suzhou cuisine restaurant, which he heard was very authentic.
Over the next few days, Jiang Yu devoted himself entirely to his work.
The preparation for the Chasing the Future Fund has entered a critical stage. The fund, worth one billion US dollars, needs to plan its investment direction, assemble a management team, and establish a risk control system.
There are endless meetings and reports to read every day.
Meanwhile, the controversy sparked by Feng Xiaogang continues to escalate.
Hong Kong and Taiwanese media persisted, publishing several reports to argue from various angles that "the unpopularity of mainland films with Hong Kong audiences is due to their own quality issues."
Mainland media also countered by pointing out box office data for Hong Kong films in the mainland, noting that "Hong Kong films' box office revenue in the mainland is also declining year by year."
This war of words escalated and even affected the entire film industry.
One commentator wrote: "This is not just Feng Xiaogang's problem, but a struggle for discourse power between the mainland and Hong Kong film industries. In the past, Hong Kong films held an absolute advantage, but now that the mainland market has risen, mainland filmmakers naturally demand more respect."
Jiang Yu paid attention to these discussions, but did not participate.
Light Chaser Pictures' strategy is clear: focus on creating quality content and let their work speak for itself.
The success of "The Witch" in Hong Kong has proven that quality content can transcend regional prejudices, and that's enough.
Time flew by and it was Friday, April 9th.
As Jiang Yu was reviewing an investment report on artificial intelligence chips near the end of the workday, Wang Wei knocked on the door and came in.
"Boss, Chairman Han Sanping of China Film Group is here and says he wants to see you."
Jiang Yu was taken aback. Han Sanping? The chairman of China Film Group, a leading figure in the Chinese film industry, why would he suddenly come to Light Chaser Holdings to find him?
Logically, you should contact Jiang Xuerou for anything related to the movie.
"Please invite Chairman Han in." Jiang Yu closed the report, stood up, and straightened his suit.
A few minutes later, Wang Wei led Han Sanping into the office.
"Chairman Han, what a rare guest!" Jiang Yu greeted him with a handshake. "Please have a seat. Wang Wei, make some tea, use the Longjing tea from my cabinet."
"Mr. Jiang, I apologize for the intrusion and for disturbing you." Han Sanping sat down on the sofa, his attitude very polite.
"Not at all, it's an honor for us at Chasing Light to have Chairman Han here." Jiang Yu sat down opposite him. "I wonder what brings Chairman Han here today—"
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Han Sanping explained his purpose: "It's like this, China Film Group has a new film, 'Nanjing!'"
The movie "Nanjing!" is about to be released, and we'd like to invite Mr. Jiang to the premiere. It's scheduled for next Friday evening at the CPPCC Auditorium.
Jiang Yu's first reaction was to refuse. He rarely participated in these kinds of activities, partly because he was busy, and partly because he disliked socializing.
But the title "Nanjing! Nanjing!" made him hesitate. He had seen this movie in his previous life. It was directed by Lu Chuan and had a very heavy subject matter, but the way it was filmed was off-track.
"This movie—" Jiang Yu carefully chose his words, "is it the one directed by Lu Chuan?"
"Yes." Han Sanping nodded. "Director Lu Chuan has been preparing for four years, and China Film Group has given it our full support. This is a very meaningful film, and we hope that more people can see it."
Jiang Yu remained silent for a few seconds.
"Okay, I'll go," Jiang Yu said. "You can have your staff coordinate with my assistant regarding the specific time and arrangements."
Han Sanping smiled and said, "That's wonderful. It's our honor to have President Jiang here. Also—"
He paused for a moment, then continued, "Actually, besides inviting you to the premiere, there's something else I'd like to discuss with Mr. Jiang today."
O
"Please speak."
"It's about Chinese films going global." Han Sanping leaned forward. "Mr. Jiang, your Light Chaser Pictures has been very successful in North America, attracting Hollywood capital and establishing distribution channels. In recent years, China Film Group has also been trying to promote Chinese films abroad, but the results have been less than ideal. So we'd like to learn from Mr. Jiang's experience and see if there's any possibility of cooperation."
Jiang Yu understood.
Han Sanping's visit today is a pretext for inviting me to the premiere; his real purpose is to discuss cooperation.
But that's normal; that's how the business world works—you have to seize any opportunity.
"Mr. Han, you're too kind," Jiang Yu said. "Light Chaser Animation does have some experience in North America, but we're still exploring. If China Film Group is interested, we can discuss this in detail sometime. However, it might not be convenient today; I have a meeting later."
This is a polite way of saying goodbye.
Han Sanping was a seasoned veteran, so he naturally understood.
He immediately stood up: "I understand, Mr. Jiang is busy. In that case, I'll have someone send over the premiere invitation, and we can discuss the collaboration at another time."
"it is good."
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