Huayu: I'm reborn, but you still force me to be a scumbag?

Chapter 394 A salute to you MFs
At 10:33 a.m., Wu Jing and Lü Jianmin walked out of Chaowai SOHO. The two of them didn't talk much along the way, each with a thoughtful expression.

Only after getting into the car did Lü Jianmin say with considerable emotion, "That's great, Jingzi. After all the hardships, things are finally looking up. I never expected it to be settled so quickly. It seems... you really have high hopes for your movie."

Wu Jing was also in a daze at this moment. He looked at his watch and realized that only half an hour had passed since they went up.

He actually wanted to be more reserved. But the weight that had been pressing on his heart for so long was suddenly lifted, and the feeling of ease and comfort made it impossible for him to suppress the smile on his lips.

Forcing a smile, she said with a slightly distorted expression, "Although things have been settled here, there's still a shortfall of 6000 million, which is still a headache." Although she said that, Ulanara Jing, a distant relative of Dorgon and a descendant of the Plain White Banner, didn't seem to be worried at all.

Lu Jianmin frowned and feigned anger, saying, "Jingzi, if you say that, then you're looking down on your brother. Didn't we agree before? I will definitely support your movie. I may not have much, but I can still come up with 4000 million."

Half an hour ago, Wu Jing would have been eager to kneel down and kowtow to Lü Jianmin, but now he just smiled reservedly and said, "Okay, thank you, Brother Lü. I'll go back and raise the money. After all, as you said before, if I don't invest myself, who will dare to? Let's see how much I have left after I invest."

"What are you saying, Jingzi?" Lü Jianmin exclaimed in surprise. "When did I say that? You're mistaken, you must be mistaken!"

What a load of rubbish! Back then, you sat there with your legs crossed, acting all high and mighty on the sofa, making me feel like a beggar. I'll never forget that.

Dorgon's descendants were certainly not the kind of gentle, humble, and righteous people who would repay evil with good. After that, no matter what Lü Jianmin said, Wu Jing insisted on going back to raise the money first.

The news spread even faster than he had imagined. He didn't know where the news came from, but before noon, it seemed like everyone in the entire circle knew about it.

"Congratulations! They invested 4000 million over there? That's quite a lot."

"Jingzi, you have a lot of influence, hahaha."

"Lu Jianmin? Lu Jianmin's little bit of money is nothing..."

"Actually, our company has also been looking for suitable projects to invest in recently."

"Yes, yes, yes, we can definitely send a copy to our company."

He was overwhelmed with phone calls from all directions, and under these circumstances, it was impossible for him to return to Nanjing. In the office building of his own company, Dengfeng Culture, he spent the entire afternoon working with his cheerful employees to finish the tasks.

After receiving a reply from the lawyer saying they would work overtime tonight to draft the contract and deliver it by tomorrow morning, Wu Jing finally breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back on the office sofa, closing his eyes to think:

"We still need to leave a copy for Mr. Lü, since he was the one who introduced him."

"Director Li Yang...we must prepare a big gift for him after this is done. He is our benefactor, and we must never forget him."

"As for who to get involved with BJ Culture, Juhui Film Alliance, Wanda, Jiesheng, and Enlight Media, that's a real headache... and then there are those bosses from Shanxi and Zhejiang..."

Thinking of this, Wu Jing couldn't help but shake his head.

These film and television companies were like flies that smelled stench... ptooey, ptooey, no, they were like starving people who saw a feast, swarming in and making him feel like he was experiencing both ice and fire.

Think back to the past. Even though he debuted in 95 and has been in the industry for so long, at his peak he could barely be considered a top-tier kung fu superstar. But when these film moguls heard about his subject matter and investment amount, they practically had "You're kidding me" written all over their faces and wanted to sweep him out the door with a broom.

Kung Fu, superstars, whatever. Screw you all.

Unlike now!

Even though they knew Chen Nuo wouldn't be participating, these film and television companies made a complete 180-degree turn in their attitude.

This is truly... truly a case of a person's name being reflected in the shadow of a tree.

Having reached this point at such a young age, what ambitions could he possibly have in this life? If he were in Wu Jing's shoes, he felt he'd be perfectly content eating and drinking, why bother going to America or making a movie? Wouldn't it be better to just live a carefree life, eating, drinking, and having fun every day?

Would they really go to experience life for a movie? Would they even go to a slum?

He went to the military camp, which was tough and tiring, but the American slums were truly a life-or-death situation!
Thinking back to what he had overheard during a casual chat, Wu Jing was filled with a myriad of emotions.

After a while, he finally felt sleepy after not sleeping all night. He was about to lie down on the sofa for a nap when the phone suddenly rang.

The name "Xie Nan" flashed on the screen.

Half a day ago, he would have answered immediately to hear what the other party had to say.

But now, he suddenly lost interest.

"#@!" he muttered to himself, muted his phone, turned over, and went back to sleep.

……

……

On March 23, the day before Chen Nuo left the country, he came to Li Er's home.

Actually, he should have left two days ago if he hadn't been waiting for Gulnazar's visa to come through. But it's better this way; he got to spend two more days in China with his family and woman.

Liu Yifei went with him.

It's a common problem for women: if you don't let her come along, she'll get angry. But if she does come, she'll feel like she's sitting on pins and needles.

After dinner, Chen Nuo said goodbye.

As Chen Nuo was leaving, just as he was about to turn and leave the house, Li Er, who was watching TV with Xiao Chuyu on the sofa, suddenly called him back.

Li Er didn't say much all night.

But at that moment, the plump woman walked over from the sofa, stood next to the shoe cabinet by the door, and said very seriously to him, who already had one foot out of the house, "Be sure to be careful."

Chen Nuo pretended not to see the white hair on Li Er's head and nodded seriously, "I know."

"Since you've already made up your mind to take the job, I won't try to persuade you anymore. Just go there and do your best to film."

"I see."

"...Don't pay attention to what others say. Public opinion is a double-edged sword. Sometimes it's a good thing, but sometimes it's a bad thing. But when you're filming, you must be completely oblivious to what's going on outside."

"know."

"You don't need to worry about the director or the script. As an actor, you only need to focus on how to do your job well, how to act in every scene, and how to deliver every line well."

"clear."

By this time, Liu Yifei had already walked out and was standing silently in the dark stairwell of the Renmin University faculty dormitory building.

Qi Yifei and Qi Yuntian remained silent in the room, while Qi Chuyu, sitting on the sofa, stared wide-eyed at the two people at the door with curiosity.

Did Chen Nuo not understand what Li Er was saying?

He understands.

But he still didn't say anything.

Li Er repeated himself for almost five minutes before suddenly realizing what he had said, and gave a self-deprecating laugh, saying, "I'm really getting old, so talkative. Alright, go ahead. Be careful on the road."

Chen Nuo said, "Goodbye, teacher."

"Ah."

Chen Nuo turned and went out.

As they went downstairs, Liu Yifei said, "When I was in school, I heard that Professor Li was really fierce, but he's actually very kind to you."

"Are you at school? Which school?"

Liu Yifei's eyebrows shot up. "What do you mean?"

Chen Nuo laughed and said, "Have you actually attended school for a whole year in total?"

Liu Yifei got angry and slapped him on the back. "What do you mean, 'no'? Stop talking nonsense."

Chen Nuo felt a sharp pain in his back, immediately grabbed her hand, twisted it behind his back, and pinned her down like a prisoner, scolding her as he went downstairs: "You dare to hit someone, huh?"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Liu Yifei cried out.

"What pain? Chen Nuo didn't believe it at all; he hadn't used any strength." "Did you do anything wrong? Do you still dare to hit someone?"

Liu Yifei's tone softened, "I didn't hit you, I just patted you lightly."

"Stop hitting me! You have no sense of restraint. Your broken palm hurts a lot when you hit someone, haven't I told you that?"

Liu Yifei struggled for a moment but couldn't break free. Still, she retorted defiantly, "That's because you're too delicate. What's it to blame me for?"

"Skin and flesh delicate, huh? Fine." Chen Nuo pressed her down with one hand, while opening his other palm to grab her thick, heavy buttocks and squeeze hard. "Still delicate? Still tender?"

He had already used seven-tenths of his strength, but Liu Yifei didn't seem to be in much pain. Instead, her voice suddenly lowered and became slightly nasal as she whimpered, "Don't use so much force, it hurts."

Damn, just as Chen Nuo was about to put in more effort, an old woman with a full head of silver hair suddenly came up from the corner of the stairs on the second floor, looking up at the two people who were bickering with a look of astonishment.

The air grew quiet.

Chen Nuo released Liu Yifei abruptly, smiled at the old man, and said, "Good evening." Then he immediately ran away.

Liu Yifei was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening. Her face flushed red, and she stomped her foot in embarrassment and annoyance. She gave the old man an awkward smile and quickly followed after him.

Chen Nuo ran down to the parking lot, turned around and saw Liu Yifei chasing after him, and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Liu Yifei was furious and rushed over to slap him on the shoulder again. "You still dare to laugh? You're so embarrassing!"

She used a bit more force this time, and Chen Nuo deliberately let out an exaggerated "Ouch!" as she grabbed her wrist, pretending to be angry and saying, "You dare to hit me? I'll teach you a lesson!"

As he spoke, he pulled Liu Yifei to the car next to him, opened the back door, shoved her inside, and climbed in after her. Before Liu Yifei could react, Chen Nuo pressed her down into the seat. She struggled to sit up, shouting, "What are you doing? Let me go!"

But Chen Nuo wasn't about to let go, and he lowered his head to silence her with a kiss. Liu Yifei froze at first, then her body went limp, and her hands, which had been pushing him away, slowly wrapped around his neck.

The air inside the car gradually warmed up, and Chen Nuo's kiss changed from playful at first to tender and deep. His hand slid to her waist and gently caressed her soft skin.

Liu Yifei gave a soft hum, her cheeks flushed red as if they could bleed, her eyes half-open and half-closed, looking at him with a slightly dazed expression.

Chen Nuo chuckled softly, leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Are you still going to hit me or not?"

Liu Yifei bit her lip, her voice barely audible, "I'm not playing anymore..."

This time, Linghu didn't drive; Chen Nuo drove himself.

The car was a 2011 Cayenne 3.0T that Porsche gave him after he returned to China to shoot a new year's print advertisement. Although the performance and configuration have been improved compared to the previous generation, the rear seat space remains the same.

If it were another woman, like Gao Yuanyuan or Tong Liya, there might be some possibility.

But Liu Yifei?

That's because they really can't use their skills.

So they only managed a brief taste on the bus, and finally achieved their goal after returning to Ziyu Villa.

Liu Yifei squinted, a lingering blush on her cheeks, like a kitten that had just eaten, languid and content. She lay on her side, the thin silk blanket only covering her waist and below.

After a while, Liu Yifei opened her eyes, rubbing her lower abdomen and said, "Chen Nuo, what's wrong? I feel a little pain here."

"Ah? Where?"

"Is it...this place?" Liu Yifei moved Chen Nuo's hand to a spot a little below his navel.

Chen Nuo touched it, pressed it, and asked, "Does it hurt a lot?"

"A little bit... I think it must be because you went too deep just now."

"Did I?"

"Yes!" Liu Yifei pouted, dissatisfied. "I told you I don't like that position."

"No, you've been dancing since you were little, so how come..."

Liu Yifei's eyes widened suddenly, and she sat up abruptly: "Me too? Me too?!"

Chen Nuo smiled.

That's how most scumbags are.

After letting something slip, they'll laugh before saying anything at all.

The more natural the smile, the higher the level.

Brother Nuo, that's naturally top-notch.

Before he could even speak, his smile alone made Liu Yifei feel guilty. "What are you laughing at? You said it yourself, I didn't wrong you!"

Chen Nuo sighed, "Xixi, I'm not trying to be mean, but you really..."

Really what?
Chen Nuo actually wanted to say that they were really too smart. But he stopped halfway through his sentence.

So, if Liu Yifei misunderstands, it's none of his business, since he didn't lie. And if things come to light later, he can justify himself.

Liu Yifei snorted, "Is it my fault? Who told you to be so unreliable? Why is the assistant you hired this time so beautiful?"

"She is pretty, but she's a decent person, and she keeps her mouth shut. She's been with me for a few days, and I think she's alright; I could train her a bit."

Liu Yifei was taken aback. She felt that there was something strange about the logic in the man's words, but as someone who knew how to do fortune telling online, she couldn't figure out what was wrong with him.

Unable to come up with a solution, I changed the subject.

"Then...why...Kosugi this time...?"

Liu Yifei finally mustered up her courage and asked the question that had been nagging at her for days. Her hesitant, fragmented sentences stemmed entirely from—a sense of guilt.

Liu Yifei knew she shouldn't be thinking like this, but she just couldn't control herself.

When she started dating Chen Nuo, everyone assumed it was after Chen Nuo and Janice Man broke up.

But only she knew that things weren't that simple.

The sudden public announcement of Chen Nuo and Janice Man's breakup was already suspicious. As a close friend, she always believed that they hadn't really broken up.

And what about her?
If she hadn't been photographed by paparazzi that time, and Chen Nuo hadn't taken the initiative to make their relationship official to help her clear up the public pressure, would they have ended up like this today?

Liu Yifei knew the answer was definitely no.

So, even now, she still feels like a dishonorable third party, having ruthlessly stolen him from Wen Yongshan. She's not afraid to face any other woman in the world, but just saying the name Wen Yongshan feels like a thief mentioning the original owner of this body.

Fortunately, the man's next words eased her embarrassment.

Chen Nuo said naturally, "Of course it's because she's suitable. I considered it from many aspects. If I were to recommend someone for this role, I would definitely have to consider the artists from my own company. And in terms of English speaking, that eliminated Zhao Liying and Zhang Xinyu. Then, regarding language, although you and she both have no problem, but..."

"But what?" Liu Yifei asked.

"But the level of fame doesn't match. In Japan, I heard people say that newspapers are calling you the second Ryoko Hirosue. After the drama you filmed this time got the number one rating, the executives of TBS even sent you a letter of thanks."

“Sisi, you’re a big star in Japan now. Do you think you can play a minor role in an independent film? Even if I agreed, Li Jing and your mother would definitely not agree.”

Liu Yifei recalled how "Tokyo Mystery" defied expectations, steadily climbing through the fiercely competitive Tuesday morning primetime slot in Japan, starting with a disastrous 5.2% rating and eventually achieving a glorious 13.1% to become the second-highest-rated show in its time slot. She couldn't help but smile smugly. "Okay, I got it. So, will you and Kosugi have any kissing scenes in it?"

"Yes, there are kissing scenes and bed scenes. To be honest, they're quite explicit. I'll probably have to show my butt."

"Ah!!!" At this moment, Liu Yifei no longer cared about Wen Yongshan. She sat up abruptly, exclaiming in disbelief, "Really?!"

"Really."

Liu Yifei stared at Chen Nuo for a while, and after confirming that he wasn't joking, she suddenly felt a pang of jealousy.

The thought of having to share something she originally enjoyed with the whole world should make her, as his girlfriend, angry.

But as an actress herself, what could she say? Especially when she recalled what Li Er had said before, she opened her mouth but couldn't utter a single word.

Finally, still unsure, she asked, "Is it just my butt?"

"nonsense!"

……

……

Actually, even the buttocks might not be the only factor.

This was just something that happened when he was chatting with James. The director asked him what the maximum level of exposure he could accept was, and he said his buttocks.

That's it.

The reason Liu Yifei said it so decisively was obviously to change the subject.

On March 24, Chen Nuo took Linghu and Gulnazar to Japan.

On the plane, Gulnazar repeatedly told herself not to make a fuss and not to act like a country bumpkin, but she still couldn't help looking around.

Although she had a passport, it was because her modeling agent had suggested she get one, saying there might be job opportunities in Thailand. However, she later quit her part-time modeling job to audition for a dance troupe, so she never used it.

So this trip was not only her first time going abroad, but also her first time flying business class.

Enjoying the spacious seats and service of ANA's business class, Gulnazar was both excited and eager to share her feelings with someone.

However, turning her head and looking at the dark, thin face of the man sitting next to her, she quietly shut her mouth again.

Chen Nuo's bodyguard and driver was also arguably the person Mr. Chen trusted most. At the company, apart from General Manager Qi, no one dared to order him around; even General Manager Li would address him as "Brother Linghu."

To her, he could only call Linghu Brother.

As soon as Brother Linghu boarded the plane, he closed his eyes to rest, showing no intention of speaking to her. Gulnazar had no choice but to shut up, take out an English dictionary, and start reading.

After that, they spent two days in Japan.

Gulnazar feels that she not only needs to learn English, but also needs to practice her Chinese.

Otherwise, she really couldn't find any adjectives to describe how she felt during those three days.

Seeing something in the news and experiencing it firsthand are two completely different things.

Just like a media headline might say, "Chen Nuo arrives at Tokyo Narita Airport and is greeted by a large number of fans." That's all there is to the headline, along with some additional text and a couple of pictures.

That's all.

The people in the article, amidst the deafening screams and cheers in the airport terminal, the frenzied atmosphere that seemed to threaten to overturn the entire terminal, could not comprehend the crazy scene of fans holding colorful support signs, crowding together just to catch a glimpse of someone.

Gulnazar was truly stunned. If Linghu hadn't been holding onto her sleeve and pulling her forward without any mercy, she really wouldn't have known what to do.

Later, through newspapers, magazines, and television news, she finally managed to understand why this was the case.

As a country that has just experienced a huge disaster, the entire nation is living in constant fear.

In this situation, the arrival of this person seemed to immediately put the Japanese at ease, making them feel that they had not been abandoned by the world.

"Chen Nuo, Tokyo has arrived! Fuman Zeku's Airport Station."

"Asia's future, Japan's hope after the earthquake."

"Japan after the earthquake, I am grateful and touched by Chen Nuo's visit."

"Chen Nuo's visit, the disaster area's courage and Yuan Ji."

"スターの日, earthquake disaster recovery のシンボルに."

Headlines like these have been seen everywhere in Japanese newspapers and on television news over the past two days.

Although Gulnazar doesn't recognize katakana in Japanese, she can roughly understand the meaning behind the titles based on the few scattered kanji characters.

As a result, every step he took in Japan was accompanied by fervent adoration. Wherever he went, countless fans and passersby would follow him.

Gulnazar can only say that it seems like the whole of Japan, or at least the whole of Tokyo, feels like they've gone mad.

This caused their originally planned three-day trip to be changed to two days at the last minute.

Even if they didn't leave, they couldn't do anything and could only stay in the hotel.

While changing her flight, Gulnazar listened with a touch of envy as Linghu fluently spoke in English to the American Airlines operator on the phone. She silently resolved to improve her English so she could accomplish more.

It wasn't just that Mr. Chen was guarding the door for his friends when they met.

……

……

On March 28, 2011, Chen Nuo's flight landed at Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans.

Including the transfer time in New York, the total flight time was 17 hours.

James Pritzker and Allison Graham both came to the airport to pick him up.

Upon meeting, James gave Chen Nuo a big hug and said, "Sorry, brother, I didn't listen to you."

Chen Nuo laughed and said, "I completely understand. If I were you, I would also be tempted."

James chuckled and said, "Yeah, Richards Theron only needs a $200 million salary, OMG, I can't help but be tempted."

Next, Chen Nuo introduced his new companion to Alison and James: "Gulnazar".

Although she was slightly surprised that Chen Nuo had brought such a young girl with him as an assistant, Allison didn't say anything. In the end, she took Linghu and Nazha and got into her rented car.

Chen Nuo then got into the film crew's car driven by James.

Arriving in the peaceful and tranquil seaside city of New Orleans from Japan, Chen Nuo instantly felt a sense of relief.

Although he was already used to certain situations, the enthusiasm of the Japanese people during this trip to Japan still caught him somewhat off guard.

I feel like I've been chased around like a mouse these past two days. Not only can I not go to the geisha house, but the twin sisters were only brought here by Takeshi Kitano and had a brief meeting with him at the hotel, which lasted no more than half an hour.

Not enough, really not enough.

Christopher Nolan, who had just finished post-production on Inception, was very pleased and called to praise him, saying that his fearless actions made the film more likely to be a box office success in Japan.

He was fearless, even at the risk of his life.

He only knew from his previous life's experience that the Great Kanto Earthquake wasn't powerful enough to sink Japan.

Next, Chen Nuo had a comfortable chat with James Pritzker in the car about the upcoming scenes and his future plans.

"...This is what I want to do next."

James was clearly surprised at first, but his expression gradually returned to calm as he confirmed, "So you need two weeks, right?"

"Probably so."

"Excuse me, Chen, I wanted to ask, did you use this method when you were filming in the past?"

"Yes, sometimes, most of the time."

"Twilight too?" James asked curiously.

Chen Nuo laughed heartily, "You're very funny, James."

James Pritzker laughed along, "Thank you for the compliment. But I think I'm still a bit lacking compared to you. At least I couldn't make Harvey Weinstein feel like he'd eaten shit with a joke at the Oscars."

"Ha ha ha ha."

Both of them laughed, and the carriage was filled with a happy atmosphere.

"Alright, although I know you've had a long journey and are very tired, I don't want to keep you from resting. However, after we finish eating, I still want to take you somewhere."

James winked at Chen Nuo, "I think you'll be very surprised."

……

A wealthy and powerful second-generation rich kid is unlikely to take people to a good place at 9 pm.

"Red Lanterns".

According to James, it's the hottest and wildest private club in New Orleans right now.

To become a member here, applicants not only need to be recommended, but also undergo rigorous background checks or "social value assessments," and even have their charitable donation records reviewed.

Do you think that's ridiculous?

However, despite how high-end it was, when Chen Nuo and James, accompanied by several bodyguards, walked through that heavy wooden door, they still smelled the same strong odor as other nightclubs—a mixture of perfume, alcohol, and tobacco.

James and his companion sat down in the VIP box on the second floor.

At this moment, Chen Nuo took off his baseball cap and mask and looked himself up and down.

For 2011, this "red lantern" certainly looked pretty good.

The dim lighting cast an ambiguous red glow, and a row of retro red lanterns hung on the wall. They weren't the Chinese kind, but more Japanese-style. The light from the lanterns cast dappled shadows, making the whole place look bizarre and surreal.

However, the most eye-catching person in the entire venue right now is undoubtedly the pole dancer on the central stage, who is wearing a sequined bikini and twisting his waist and shaking his hips.

She had long, bright red hair, was quite tall, with straight, shapely legs and a slender, supple waist without an ounce of excess fat; her skin was a smooth, bronze color.

At that moment, the woman was swaying her body to the rhythm of the music, giving the impression of a nimble water snake, which drew cheers and whistles from the audience.

"So, do you like it?" James shouted.

Chen Nuo nodded: "Yes."

Yes my foot.

If he were really 25, it might be yes, but unfortunately he isn't.

If James Pritzker only brought him to see this, he might as well have gone to bed early at the hotel.

After all, he's starting his "transformation program" tomorrow, so he needs to get plenty of rest tonight.

James must have sensed his insincerity, because he laughed and said, "Don't you recognize who she is?"

SHE? Chen Nuo was taken aback and turned his gaze back to the dancers in the center of the stage.

Then--

He was shocked.

WTF! ?
Only after careful consideration did he recognize her this time.

The dancer in the bikini is none other than the female lead in their movie!

She had heavy makeup on her face and a red wig on her head. Under the dim light, she looked completely unrecognizable.

Unless someone points it out, even if someone else thinks it looks similar, I would absolutely not believe it.

This wild dancer who brings pleasure to the masses with her body is none other than the South African babe, Oscar-winning actress, and globally popular sex symbol, Charlize Theron.

“Crazy? Doesn’t it seem crazy?” James Pritzker yelled in his ear.

This time, Chen Nuo nodded sincerely.

James said, "When she told me, I thought it was just a whim. But guess what? She's been coming in and dancing for three hours every night for the past week, just like a real fucking stripper."

"Jesus God, I originally thought she had gone mad. But I never expected... that you're the same, Chen!"

"Hahaha, you Oscar-winning guys are all fucking crazy, aren't you? For a movie, you motherfuckers will do anything, right?"

After James Pritzker finished speaking, he took a big gulp of wine.

Then, the fat man burst into laughter, raising the bottle in his hand to Chen Nuo, "Thank God I was born into the Pritzker family, which gives me money, the opportunity to be a director, and to bring you all together."

"I love you motherfuckers."

"Salute to you!"

(End of this chapter)