Huayu Chunqiu, starting from being adopted by a fairy mother

Chapter 367 Child Bride

Liu Jing didn't know, and even if he did, it wouldn't matter.

Forming alliances and maneuvering was basic stuff for him, and it was normal for women to do the same.

Sisi and Shu sang so well that they worked side by side, even better than Sisi and Tang Yan.

Yang Mi and several others joined forces to fight off the enemy. On the battlefield, they entrusted their backs to the enemy, but off the battlefield, they were no different from ordinary people.

"How is it?" Liu Jing asked, puzzled. His assistant's expression seemed off.

"I haven't had a chance to watch it yet; I just received the video," the assistant explained.

"What's with that expression?" Liu Jing said irritably.

"Jing Tian saw that the pre-sale prices were too low and wanted to buy tens of thousands of tickets to boost her sales, but she got scolded by Qianqian. Then she bought 1111 tickets, and Qianqian scolded her, saying she deserved to be single forever." The assistant smiled strangely.

"That's it?" Liu Jing didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

Sisi didn't want Jingtian to book the entire venue because she didn't want to create any controversy and give Liu Jing another reason to be criticized. She also didn't want to drag Jingtian into the controversy because of this action.

"Ahem, Jing Tian said that her being single is all because of Qian Qian. Recently, the 'Fengjing Love' relationship has become so popular, and if Qian Qian says anything about her again, she will chime in and admit that she is the 'Jing' in 'Fengjing Love'."

"Let's watch the video." Liu Jing didn't want to talk.

The assistant turned on the computer and opened the media player.

"Hello everyone, I'm standing here today out of sheer necessity. I'm sorry to have troubled you all with our family's situation. Recently, the internet has been in an uproar because of a few photos, seriously taking up public resources, and I want to apologize to everyone here. This isn't a press conference; I'd like to take this opportunity to chat with you all, and you can speak freely. I'll first respond to what's happening online, then tell you a story, and finally give you time for questions."

Sister Li began by taking a sip of water to moisten her throat and adjusting the microphone. "I am also a mother, and like all mothers in the world, I love my child. Since Liu Yifei's debut, all sorts of rumors have circulated online. Some people have said that I, as a mother, have failed in my duty, that my daughter has been insulted so much, and I haven't said a word. Did I not want to speak up? Would you believe what I say? Just like what happened these past few days, I originally intended to ignore it as before. But I can't do that this time; those people are relentless. What is the relationship between the two children? You're all so worried and concerned. Liu Jing is not my son, and they are not siblings. What is the relationship between Liu Jing and Qianqian? It's none of your business to gossip. I'm standing here today not because they did anything wrong, nor because I feel guilty. I just want to give an explanation to those who care about and love the two children, and this explanation will only be given once."

A buzz of excitement rippled through the audience, and the reporters gasped in astonishment. This didn't seem like a press conference; it looked more like someone was standing up for their daughter.

Sister Li waited for two minutes, allowing the reporters below the stage to discuss, before patting the microphone and saying, "Everyone, please ask your questions now."

"Just these few sentences? Did you edit this?" Liu Jing looked at his assistant suspiciously. Shouldn't he have gone on for a long time, played the emotional card, talked for half an hour, and then let everyone ask questions?

This press conference was not professional at all; it felt very perfunctory.

"I don't have the time, and I don't know how to edit." The assistant rolled her eyes.

Everyone was intimidated by Sister Li's imposing presence, and for over a minute, no one dared to ask a question. The noisy chatter gradually quieted down, and an awkward silence began to fall.

Liu Jingzheng wondered if things hadn't been arranged properly beforehand. Oh, it started two days early. Sister Li had originally planned to invite some people over: the aunties and grandmothers from the welfare home, her former colleagues from the dance troupe, old neighbors, and teachers from her school…

She didn't see any of these people; Sister Li came alone.

“Ms. Li, hello, I’m a reporter from Sohu. Liu Jing is indeed not your biological son, but it’s said online that he is your adopted son, so he and Liu Yifei are legally siblings. Legal siblings are still siblings, and this kind of behavior is immoral.” A reporter stood up, and the room fell silent.

"This reporter is better than Sister Li; she knows they're siblings," Liu Jing muttered.

The assistant took a deep breath. The boss was really oblivious; he was still concerned with trivial matters at a time like this. But everyone in this family was carefree; the boss, in fact, seemed more normal.

"Then who among you has ever heard him call me 'Mom'?" Sister Li retorted.

The reporters exchanged bewildered glances. The "Fengjing Romance" was the hottest news story, and they had certainly investigated the family. In public, it was fine; they had interviewed the family's former neighbors, and Liu Jing had indeed never called out to them.

"Seventeen years ago, I was driving Qianqian home from work when we passed the Jiangcheng Welfare Home. It was near the end of the year, and it got dark early. Around five or six in the afternoon, visibility was poor. Liu Jing was playing on the street, and I didn't see him clearly. I bumped into him with my bike. Liu Jing was three years old that year. He was a bit slow and simple-minded, and the other children at the welfare home called him 'Wooden Head.' I thought I had caused him some kind of aftereffect, so I took him to see a doctor and visited him every week, but I still couldn't stop worrying. My husband suggested that since Qianqian didn't have any playmates, we should adopt him. Qianqian also cried and begged for a little brother. Liu Jing didn't take my surname; his surname was Liu. He lived with us for several years, but he never changed his name. One day, I couldn't hold back anymore and asked him why..." As Sister Li spoke, her voice choked up, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Xiao Dao pulled his buttocks, and Liu Jing's eyes were opened.

He was somewhat bewildered. After thinking carefully, he asked, "When did you ask me that? I have no recollection of it at all."

If I remember correctly, it was you who wanted to adopt me, and Lao An was very reluctant.

If I remember correctly, you weren't very willing when you adopted me; you were just shaken by the strange phenomenon.

Even if you bump into me eight hundred times and Sisi runs away from home ten times, you still wouldn't adopt her if nothing unusual happened.

Judging by actions, not intentions, will lead to a bad person.

Over the years, Lao An and Sister Li have indeed treated him very well; they've been like family to him. He's gradually come to trust them.

Besides, he raised him for so many years, and in the end he ruined their own daughter, even if it was passively done, but that's the fact.

For Liu Jing, Xixi felt more like family than anything else, and also a sense of indescribable responsibility.

“He said that when his parents left him at the gate of the orphanage, they left a note on him, saying they must have encountered difficulties. They said they would come looking for him one day, and if he changed his name and recognized other people as his parents, his biological parents wouldn't have to worry about him anymore. Since then, our family has never mentioned this issue again. Children who have experienced hardship mature early, and he has always been very easy to take care of since he was a child. Liu Jing was later spotted by director Wong Jing and went to Hong Kong to film a movie, shouldering heavy responsibilities at a young age. Now that he has the ability to earn money, he donates money and supplies to the orphanage every year and often pays attention to news there. Every now and then, he would visit the orphanage. He hopes that one day, the parents who abandoned him will take him home. Whenever I see his thin body and the loneliness in his eyes as he gazes into the distance, how can I bear not to let him find his parents?” Sister Li couldn't continue, her eyes filled with tears.

She didn't let the tears fall; she looked up at the sky as if the tears could be turned back.

The room was quiet, and the audience watched her expression with a sense of unease.

The assistant cried and hugged her boss, saying, "You're so pitiful. I never imagined you were like this when you were little."

Liu Jing clutched his chest. How could he forget? Sister Li had also studied acting before. After so many years of experience in the business world, her acting skills had reached a level of natural refinement.

If he didn't know the inside story, he would definitely be as moved as Bai Bing.

In those years, he never thought about his biological parents, nor did he ever mention them. Later, when they were reunited, it was all part of Sister Li's script.

This passage and what follows are also scripted. As Sister Li describes, the characters of the family of four are established.

Liu Jingda is truly impressed. Macau will also be hosting a film festival next year, and the first Golden Lotus Award should go to Sister Li.

Sister Li took a deep breath to compose herself. "My husband told Liu Jing to call him 'Uncle' and me 'Auntie.' I was young then and afraid of sounding old, so I told him to call me 'Sister Li.' That's how many seventeen-year periods are there in a lifetime. For seventeen years, Liu Jing never gave up searching for his biological parents, and my husband, Qianqian, and I also helped him search. Our efforts finally paid off two years ago..."

Sister Li brought up the script, saying that not everyone knew about the family reunion, at least half of the media present were unaware of it.

She had prepared these words two years ago, but only now is she able to use them.

After saying all that, Sister Li concluded, "So, whether from a bloodline perspective or a legal perspective, they are not siblings, uh, they are not related as brothers and sisters. Whatever happens between them is perfectly normal."

Wow…

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause. This wasn't just narration; it was a full-fledged speech. Her words weren't particularly eloquent, but her emotions were overflowing.

Her descriptions were deeply moving and relatable, allowing many to vividly imagine the scene.

As the sun sets, a few crows perch, a cold wind blows, and a little boy, only a few years old, sits on a cold stone...

This is a picture of the assistant, who is filled with pity for her boss.

So, to Liu Jing's surprise, the assistant's impression of her improved slightly. "Is it really okay for an agent to be so sentimental?"

After the initial excitement subsided, Sister Li sighed softly, "I made a mistake again. Qianqian is a year older than Liu Jing, but I always thought they were siblings. When they were little, Qianqian was quite mischievous, while Liu Jing was more mature. He took care of Qianqian like an older brother. My husband and I are often away from home. As long as Liu Jing is home, we never worry about the two little ones' safety. If anyone bullies Qianqian, Liu Jing stands up for her. If Qianqian doesn't do well in her studies, Liu Jing tutors her. Liu Jing has practiced martial arts since he was little, waking Qianqian up before dawn every morning. He's practiced rain or shine for many years. Because of this, they both have very healthy bodies. Every time Liu Jing comes back from filming, he brings bags and bags of gifts, most of which are for Qianqian. Qianqian gets quite angry about this because most of those gifts are tutoring materials and test papers..."

Hahahaha...

The whole audience burst into laughter. Ms. Li's unexpected turn of events was quite surprising.

"Sigh..." Bai Bing sighed, feeling envious. Why don't I have a brother like that?

"Ms. Li, I'm a reporter from Sina.com. I'm sorry, I apologize in advance. We visited your former neighbors without informing you."

Sister Li smiled slightly, "It's okay, you're not the first, nor will you be the last."

The reporter smiled and said, "Your old neighbor said that you raised Liu Jing as a child groom."

"Pfft..." The assistant burst into laughter through her tears. She felt that this word was about to become the boss's new adjective, the last one that everyone recognized as "theft by the boss."

"Haha, that's not true at all. Although he doesn't call me 'Mom,' he's like my own child. The two of them grew up together, and we've had a close relationship since they were little. We've watched Liu Jing grow up. He's an impeccable person—honest, filial, intelligent, kind-hearted, talented, hardworking, and understanding. I wholeheartedly support him and Qianqian being together, and I hope to receive everyone's blessings." Sister Li smiled gently, her initial sharpness completely gone.

Threats, warnings, reminiscences, tenderness—Bai Bing's eyes lit up. What came next? She needed to learn.

"Ms. Li, I'm a reporter from ** newspaper. Liu Yifei is a very excellent actress and a very good girl. We all hope that she can find a good partner. However, there have been many rumors about Liu Jing online recently. Could you please clarify them?"

"Hey! Liu Jing is a very sensible kid. He's focused on his creative work and doesn't care much about relationships. Take Liu Shishi and Yang Mi, for example. I really like those two girls; I almost took them in as goddaughters four or five years ago. I even introduced a few girls to Liu Jing, but he found me annoying and said there was no chemistry. Shishi and Liu Jing met during the casting for 'The Book and the Sword,' when they were only fourteen or fifteen years old. They're very good friends. Yang Mi and Liu Jing met while filming 'King of Beggars,' about fifteen or sixteen years ago. They later became high school classmates and are now university classmates. They have a deep friendship, both as friends and classmates. By the way, the director of 'King of Beggars' just made 'Painted Skin,' which is currently showing in theaters. I'd like to take this opportunity to advertise it and hope everyone will support it." Before Sister Li finished speaking, the whole room burst into laughter.

"President Li, you forgot about Fatty Bing!" someone shouted from the audience.

"Zhang Min treats Pang Bing and Yuan Yuan like her own younger sisters. When the three of them met, Liu Jing was just a little kid. They are grateful to Zhang Min and treat Liu Jing like their own younger brother, taking care of him a lot over the years..."

"She's using this opportunity to definitively settle all your relationships," Bai Bing remarked.

Listening to the gentle voice in the video and watching the increasingly relaxed atmosphere in the room.

I've truly witnessed something new today. Experience really does pay off; this is what it means to lie without batting an eye—it's even more convincing than the truth itself.

"Is my good days coming to an end?" Liu Jing smiled bitterly. Sister Li was ruthless when she made her move.

Focus, focus, you absolutely must focus!

If this is announced so widely, it will really have to go underground in the future. It seems we need to solidify our various identities and statuses.

If he continues to act recklessly as before, not only will Xixi and Sister Li lose face, but netizens will also condemn him.

They've been so kind to you, and you still go around having affairs. Aren't you a modern-day Chen Shimei (a notorious figure in Chinese folklore known for abandoning his wife)?

"Your coffin lid is about to burst open," Bai Bing chuckled.

She had already been definitively judged, labeled as Liu Jing's assistant, so there was no room for further thought.

Yang Mi and Liu Shishi are different; they will definitely feel bad when they find out.

She suddenly had an idea: tonight she would invite these girls to a karaoke bar and sing "Sad Pacific Ocean" to let them vent. Keeping negative emotions and sadness bottled up for too long is bad for their endocrine system.

"Remember to burn paper money next year on this day." Liu Jing wasn't angry; he was just saying it casually to his own people.

"Hehe, I'll burn it the day after tomorrow." Bai Bing's eyes were full of charm, content with what she had, so she was very happy, which made Yang Mi and Liu Shishi very unhappy.

She has a very proper attitude towards herself, and everyone can tolerate her. Moreover, as long as the boss doesn't abandon her, everyone has no choice but to tolerate her, even Liu Yifei.

Don't you see that the secretaries, assistants, or helpers of those big shots all have a special status, and even the wives and principal wives have to show them respect?

"Bury me a few more wives; my wish for three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines has not yet been fulfilled."

"You can't even handle Yifei, let alone Qierfei," Bai Bing mocked.

“You’re getting bolder and bolder,” Liu Jing threatened.

Bai Bing smiled, listening to Boss Li's story, her heart filled with pity for her boss. Poor child, her childhood was so miserable.

She pinched the boss's cheek. "I suddenly realize that Boss Li's indulgence of your womanizing might be a way to better control you. Poor kid, your life is completely dominated by those two. The day Qianqian has a child, you'll be completely controlled by three generations of them. Decades later, who knows, Qianqian's child might even challenge your authority..."

Enraged, Liu Jing pinned his assistant to his lap and gave her a good beating. "Chen Dong, I've got your life completely under my thumb. I don't know if they're going to start a revolution or not, but you're trying to rebel!"

"Boss, you're exuding an aura of dominance."

The two were joking around, and the video was still playing. After a few questions, a reporter asked about "Under the City Wall," "Ms. Li, you held a press conference to explain the issue of the 'Scenery Love' project. Is it because everyone is boycotting 'Under the City Wall'?"

Sister Li responded, "Forgetting the Holocaust is tantamount to a second Holocaust; forgetting history means betrayal. Liu Jing never intended to make money when he made this film. Before filming, he told me that tens of millions of dollars would be taken away and would never come back. If the film loses money after its release, I won't say anything more; at least it will make everyone remember this shame. If the box office revenue is profitable, then all the proceeds, including the principal and interest, will be donated to build the Iris Chang Memorial Hall. Today, I'll add one more thing: if this film earns one million, the Fengjing Charitable Foundation will contribute another one million. If it earns ten million, or even a hundred million, we will still follow suit..."

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. Bai Bing groaned, "My God, money makes the world go round. She's just throwing money around."

With good looks, leisure time, money, and a past, Yang Mi, you deserve to lose.

Even if there were ten more Yang Mis, it wouldn't be enough, let alone Yang Mi.

"Liu Jing often says that making money is for spending, for charity, for meaningful things, and there is no limit to how much money you can spend. I think this is quite meaningful, so on behalf of Kangmei, Jiahe, Chunqiu, and Huayang, I would like to say that we will follow suit without any limit."

The applause was thunderous and lasted for a long time.

"I take back what I just said. President Li is creating a statue of you!" Bai Bing exclaimed in surprise.

"Give it to me." Liu Jing held out his hand.

"What?" Bai Bing was stunned. She glanced at the car window; you couldn't see in from the outside, but you could see out from the inside. "Now? Are you even letting me eat...?"

The assistant fumbled around, saying, "This costume is so hard to take off..."

Snapped……

Liu Jing slapped his assistant's hand away. "You slut, give me Lao Wu's information."

"Find it on the computer yourself." Bai Bing was furious. How dare you call me a pervert? You've always been like this.

“Hey…” Liu Jing glanced sideways.

"Go play by yourself, goodbye." The assistant stormed off.

(End of this chapter)