Huayu Chunqiu, starting from being adopted by a fairy mother

Chapter 439 Starlight Illuminates the Huangpu River

The setting sun showed no reluctance and descended the mountain without hesitation.

Even with Hugo there, they didn't linger for a moment.

Twenty retro gas lamps lit up one by one on both sides of the wooden boardwalk.

The opening ceremony officially began not in the morning, nor at noon, but at this dusk.

On the LED screen across the Huangpu River, a star trail pattern lit up, and as the song "Night Shanghai" played, the pattern gradually changed from the outline of the ancient city of Chang'an to the skyline of the Bund in Shanghai.

Bai Bing made a slow entrance, and without needing to mute, the entire venue automatically went silent.

Holding a replica meteorite pocket watch, she stood at the edge of the terrace, slowly descending the steps towards the stage, with the darkening river and the neon lights illuminating the opposite bank behind her.

Bai Bing wore a short champagne-colored jacket with delicate silver threads in the fabric, which seemed to be draped in starlight under the reflection of the gas lamps and the river view.

Inside was a long gown with three-quarter length lantern sleeves and adorned with pearl strands. The hemline fell just above the knee, revealing her fair calves.

Her hair was piled low, with a few loose strands at the ends, swaying gently in the river breeze.

The delicate ears were adorned with a pair of pearl studs, each the size of a glass bead, which were very eye-catching.

What a socialite from old Shanghai!

Liu Jing had seen many sides of his assistant, yet his eyes still lit up for her. If the occasion weren't so inappropriate, he would have been tempted to salute her.

clack clack...

The constant clicking of cameras provides material for the media and keepsakes for the audience.

"Xiao Dong is so beautiful." Zhang Min, standing beside her, praised her generously, with a hint of pride in her voice.

Gao Yuanyuan and Bai Bing, her two right-hand women, were both left to Liu Jing by her. Zhang Min felt gratified and proud of all their achievements.

"Dear media friends, sponsor partners, and teachers present, welcome to the opening ceremony of 'My Love from the Star.' I am your time travel guide, Bai Bing. Today, we won't talk about the red carpet, but only about time travel. The starlight of Chang'an five hundred years ago shines tonight on the old villas along the Huangpu River. First, we would like to invite a living encyclopedia, who holds all of Professor Shen Mo's secrets in Shanghai..."

As Bai Bing finished speaking, Zhang Guoli, dressed in a gray Zhongshan suit, slowly walked down the spiral staircase.

An old-fashioned mechanical watch peeked from his cuff, and he held a copy of "Shanghai's Comprehensive Guide to Industries" in his hand. As he passed a retro wall lamp, he raised his hand to adjust the light cord, a practiced movement that didn't seem like it was his first time doing it.

When I arrived at the time-travel phone booth, I paused for a moment and gently touched the "1932" inscription on the booth with my fingertips, as if reminiscing about that time.

The entire audience was very quiet. Good actors can move the audience's emotions, and at this moment, everyone was moved.

Zhang Guoli climbed the steps with steady steps and walked onto the stage.

He plays a lawyer in the film, the only person who knows the male lead's secret.

Bai Bing stepped forward with a bright smile, "Professor Zhang Guoli, your 'Shanghai Business Guide' is a treasure. Does it contain information about Professor Shen Mo's whereabouts in Shanghai five hundred years ago?"

Zhang Guoli smiled and turned the pages of the book, revealing an old black and white photograph. "That's right, this is Avenue Joffre in 1937, now Huaihai Road. Professor Shen rented a house in this area. Back then, he was also a 'Beijing drifter,' only he was drifting in Shanghai."

The atmosphere that Zhang Guoli had built up was broken by his words, and the audience burst into laughter.

"I have a feeling it should be Wuzhishan," Zhao Xiaodao muttered to himself.

She also has a role in the drama, MinA, the assistant to the female lead Su Qianyi, but her screen time is not much.

It's not that Bingbing didn't want to give her more screen time, but Xiaodao was admitted to a junior college program in acting, and she will focus on her studies for the next year.

"You little monkey should be on Five Finger Mountain," Zhang Min said with a laugh. She knew Zhao Xiaodao was one of her own.

The people sitting nearby all turned their heads and glanced at Xiaodao a few more times. This girl and President Min seem to have a good relationship.

On stage, Bai Bing clutched her chest and said, "Teacher Zhang, this hurts. I'm now one of those people who drift to Beijing."

"It's alright, everyone drifted here, and eventually settled down." Zhang Guoli chuckled, then changed the subject, "I, Teacher Zhang, am here to help Shen Mo keep these old memories safe. Just now, while touching that phone booth, I suddenly remembered a scene from the drama. I called Professor Shen from this booth to tell him that Su Qianyi was going to visit the archaeological site. His first reaction was, 'Don't let her touch the artifacts.' That's typical archaeology brain, no, typical antiquated."

In the play, the male lead is an archaeology professor, which is an adapted version of the character.

“Professor Shen is a figure from five hundred years ago; he’s a living fossil,” Bai Bing replied smoothly, pointing to the old desk next to her. “Professor Zhang always leans against this old desk when he goes on stage; isn’t there a story behind that?”

"No, I'm just getting old, I just want to rest my legs." Zhang Guoli sat down in the chair and massaged his legs.

Bai Bing blinked, finally understanding Sissi's speechlessness at the Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony. Such a big actress, yet she didn't follow her lines.

She was momentarily stunned and speechless.

Zhang Guoli casually picked up the brass table lamp on the table and gently wiped the lampshade. "This lamp was specially found by the crew. It's a German product from 1920. The prop master is very thoughtful."

"How did Teacher Zhang know?" Bai Bing asked in surprise. She remembered that this prop was taken from the warehouse. Could it be an antique?
“I was just guessing,” Zhang Guoli replied, putting the lamp down. “Professor Shen came to my house for the first time and stared at this lamp for a long time. I was really worried that he would steal it. He said he saw the exact same one hundreds of years ago. Today, as the computer is turned on, I’m kind of guarding this desk for him in advance.”

"On behalf of Professor Shen, thank you for your waiting across time and space." Bai Bing was both amused and exasperated. After going around in circles, the old man finally said what he was told. No wonder he didn't become a crosstalk performer; it's hard to find a good straight man.

Zhang Guoli stood up, took a piece of fruit candy from the pocket of his Zhongshan suit, and placed it on the corner of the desk. "This is for Professor Shen. He's been digging all day long. Although he can't dig up a whole basin of soil in two days, archaeology is exhausting. He always forgets to eat, so he needs to replenish his energy with candy."

"Bravo!" someone shouted from the audience.

Zhang Guoli, who had walked to the side, stopped and looked at the man with a smile, saying, "I bet you're the candy sponsor."

Advertisers aren't just selling candy; they include internet giants like Sina, Tencent, and Youku, as well as products like televisions, Samsung phones, and electronics; physical businesses like real estate, building materials, and logistics; and even beverages, clothing, and cosmetics...

Some of these ads are embedded ads, while others are product placements.

The estimated investment is tens of millions, and the advertising revenue is higher than the production cost, which is why the opening ceremony was held in such a grand and unique way.

Amid applause and laughter, Zhang Guoli stepped aside, and Liu Shishi took the stage.

The little lion looks beautiful today, no less so than Bai Bing, who exudes a sophisticated air on stage. Wearing a light blue Suzhou-style embroidered cheongsam with subtle chrysanthemum patterns, she truly embodies a refined and understated elegance.

The little lion, who was still a bit immature when he first debuted, has grown up under the tireless guidance of his senior.

She held a white Suzhou embroidered fan in her hand, the fan surface painted with the night view of the Bund, and walked slowly, each step like a lotus blossom.

In terms of demeanor, no one can match her skill; Bai Bing is far inferior.

When Zhang Guoli walked on the wooden boardwalk, the entire audience was silent.

The little lion moved with light, graceful steps, the gas lamp light reflecting off her cheongsam like wisps of smoke. Every two steps, she gently fanned herself with her round fan. When she passed a phone booth, she seemed about to push the door open, but then hesitated and pulled it back.

The audience was extremely noisy, with some shouting for Zhou Zhiruo and others for Long Kui.

clack clack...

The flashes of cameras went off non-stop, everyone wanting to capture this beautiful moment.

The little lion remained unmoved until someone called out "Little Fairy," at which point she lost her footing.

Liu Jing turned to look behind him. There were media reporters, fans and audience members, advertising sponsors, and staff members—all sorts of people. He wondered which scoundrel it was.

Bai Bing quickly stepped forward to help the little lion out of the predicament, "Shishi, your Suzhou embroidery fan is so exquisite! Is it Lin Weiwei's secret weapon? Don't tell me you bought it at the market."

Zhao Xiaodao chuckled. Bai Bing was subtly criticizing her, but she didn't mind at all; on the contrary, she found it amusing.

Xiao Daoren is careful and sensitive; he can distinguish between connotations that are mocking and connotations that are funny.

Liu Shishi gently covered the corners of her mouth with her fan, her eyes crinkling with laughter. The moment she opened her mouth, her demeanor was instantly ruined. Her laughter was hearty, even somewhat mesmerizing. "Hehehehehe... Hello, host, hahaha, hello, Teacher Zhang."

Her smile startled the audience for a moment, but they quickly joined in.

Liu Jing covered his forehead. "My little lion is such a man. Your sense of humor is just as good as Tang Yan's."

"Haha, other girls have a silvery laugh, but she's a barbell." Zhang Min couldn't help but laugh. She knew relatively little about Liu Shishi, and her impression of her was that she was a girl with a weak presence, like a delicate white flower.

"Hehe..." Zhao Xiaodao chuckled to himself.

"Your laughter isn't much better," Liu Jing grumbled. Zhao Xiaodao replied sternly, "Your junior sister is perfect in every way, and you can't say anything about her, okay?"

Bai Bing was also dumbfounded. Girl, don't just laugh, we still have a long line of lines to deliver.

She borrowed the fan from the little lion, "Wow, is this a treasure map? Could it be hiding the Heaven Sword?"

The little lion shook his head, not responding to the joke, but finally remembered his lines, "This fan does have a hidden meaning. In the drama, when Lin Weiwei first met Lao Hu, uh, Professor Shen, she used this fan to cover half of her face while speaking."

"I see. The half-concealed beauty, like a pipa player holding a pipa, can appear gentle without revealing nervousness, and also add a sense of mystery," Bai Bing said, suddenly understanding.

The little lion nodded. "You're right. I was just passing by a phone booth when I suddenly remembered a scene. I called Su Qianyi from inside the phone booth, pretending to care about her, but actually I wanted to find out about Professor Shen's whereabouts."

Zhang Guoli stepped forward, picked up the candy on the table, and handed it to Liu Shishi. "You'd better keep your concern well hidden. Here, have a piece of candy first. Our sponsor just praised us, so we can't let him say it for nothing. I have to take this opportunity to do some advertising."

Liu Shishi, holding the candy, was stunned. She wasn't like Xixi or Bai Bing; her quick wit was rather poor. Zhang Guoli wasn't following the script, and she didn't know how to continue.

“Shishi, Lin Weiwei has suffered too much. Teacher Zhang wants Lin Weiwei to experience the sweetness of life,” Bai Bing quickly interjected.

"Thank you, Teacher Zhang. Actually, Lin Weiwei is quite pitiful. She just desperately wants to be noticed. Like the light in this old house, she's always afraid she's not bright enough. I hope that after filming starts today, I can fully portray her suffering." Liu Shishi spoke sincerely, bowing slightly to the audience, which earned her applause. She then stepped aside.

"Shishi is right, I believe she can perform even better. The next person we're going to invite is someone that Lin Weiwei both envies and cares about. I believe that when she appears, the starlight on the Huangpu River will shine even brighter..." Bai Bing was interrupted by enthusiastic applause before she could finish her introduction.

Fat Bing and Hu Ge made their appearance; one is a dazzlingly popular leading lady, and the other is a hot and sought-after rising star.

The flashbulbs kept going off, making it much more lively than when the other people came out earlier.

Hu Ge was wearing a navy blue knitted sweater, holding a magnifying glass in his left hand and his right hand in his pocket. His expression was serious, devoid of his usual playful demeanor. At that moment, he looked less like an archaeologist and more like a retired cadre.

Fan Bingbing, dressed in a sequined fishtail dress, carrying a rhinestone-studded handbag, and wearing high heels, made a wooden boardwalk look like a red carpet event.

Looking at it from all angles, Bingbing was definitely the most dazzling person there.

The two walked to the phone booth, and Hu Ge bent down to examine it carefully with a magnifying glass, looking quite professional.

Fat Bing leaned against the pavilion, took out his phone from his handbag and took a picture of Hu Ge, deliberately turning on the flash.

The flash was blinding. You can't take pictures of antiques. Hu Ge looked up, shook his head and smiled helplessly, with a hint of indulgence.

Bai Bing stepped off the stage. "Teacher Qianyi, are you secretly filming Professor Shen? Is there a scene like this in the drama?"

Fat Bing put away her phone and shook her handbag. "The first time I met Professor Shen in the show was when I was secretly taking pictures of him at an archaeological site, and he caught me red-handed. He said I was damaging the site. Look at him now, he's even doing archaeology on a phone booth. It seems like antiques are more attractive to him than me."

Hu Ge put away his magnifying glass, walked onto the stage, and looked at the candy on the old desk. "Teacher Zhang really understands me. This must have been saved for me. Professor Shen can't live without candy, and neither can Hu Ge. Last time during the audition, I even suggested to the producer and director that we add a scene where Fan Bingbing gives me candy. Bingbing disagreed, saying she wouldn't give me candy, but rather an archaeological shovel. The producer went even further, saying he would give me pesticide."

"Haha, that's right, it's because you're always so aloof to me in the drama. Today, on the first day of filming, you're dressed like you're dealing in antiques. With you like this, how could I possibly be in the mood to give you candy? I'd only be thinking about which dynasty's tomb we should be digging up today," Fatty Bing said with a grin.

Zhang Guoli picked up the candy and handed it to Lao Hu, saying, "Xiao Hu, here's some candy for you. In the drama, I always say that you haven't learned to take care of yourself in hundreds of years, so how can you take care of others? Today is the start of filming, so you'd better take good care of Qian Yi and make sure she doesn't get lost while filming in Shanghai."

"Don't worry, I know this place like the back of my hand. I could tell where Liu Jing is treating us with his eyes closed," Old Hu said, patting his chest.

"Then I'm really relieved. They're taking me with them tonight, and they haven't eaten yet," Zhang Guoli joked.

"Great! Not only Teacher Zhang, but also all of you here, the producer will treat everyone to pan-fried buns tomorrow." Old Hu was very generous.

Everyone burst into laughter, and Bai Bing joked, "Our boss is so stingy. I've been with him for years, and he's never treated me to pan-fried buns."

Some people in the audience smiled like doting aunts, saying, "You've treated the boss to pan-fried buns quite a bit, otherwise why would the boss treat you so well?"

"Dongdong, I'll treat you to pan-fried dumplings for the rest of my life." Fatty Bing grabbed Bai Bing's hand and poached her right in front of everyone.

"Actually, I like to drink Hu spicy soup, especially the meatball Hu spicy soup from my hometown." Bai Bing smiled and then shouted, "Let's not talk about food anymore, it's making me hungry. Now that all four main creators are here, it's time for our time capsule to make its appearance. Next, please let the four of you seal 'My Love from the Star' into the time of the Huangpu River, and let it flow with the surging river to write our story."

A large box was carried in. Hu Ge put a magnifying glass inside, Pang Bing put a handbag inside, Liu Shishi placed a Suzhou embroidery fan next to the box, and Zhang Guoli opened "The Guide to All Trades in Shanghai" and put it into the box.

The staff brought four specially made copper locks and fastened them one by one to the time capsule, making it look like a time capsule.

With each ring, Bai Bing provided simultaneous commentary: "The first ring locks memories, Shen Mo's five hundred years of past is like a dream. The second ring locks emotions, Su Qianyi and Shen Mo reunite. The third ring locks the game, the world is like a game, fates intertwine. The fourth ring brings high ratings, wishing 'My Love from the Star' a smooth start to filming!"

"May the ratings soar and the filming start smoothly!" the four main creators shouted in unison.

Bai Bing held up the meteorite pocket watch, facing the night view of the Huangpu River, and said, "The moon over Chang'an five hundred years ago shines on the Huangpu River tonight. The main cast of 'My Love from the Star' has gathered, and the gate of time and space has officially opened."

As soon as the words were spoken, the LED screen on the opposite bank lit up with a star trail pattern again, showing the silhouettes of four people, which gradually turned into six large characters: "You Who Came From the Stars".

Fireworks soared into the sky from the riverside terrace, forming a pattern of six large characters.

Ten thousand fireworks illuminated the starry sky with dazzling brilliance.

A thousand star-shaped lanterns illuminate the entire river, casting a crimson glow.

Zhang Min stared at the fireworks, mesmerized. "Wood, you planned this, didn't you? It's so beautiful! Life is as short as these fireworks, so we should live it brilliantly."

"Sister, you guessed wrong. This was planned by the two ice blocks together." Liu Jing was also amazed. How could other film crews possibly manage to pull off an opening ceremony like this?
Is it really okay to curl it like this?

Thinking back to the opening ceremonies he held in the past, they were really quite low-class.

"Does Bingbing have the brains for this?" Zhang Min asked in surprise.

"..." Liu Jing was speechless. A vase isn't just for holding water; it can also hold gold. Don't underestimate a vase.

Back when Zhang Min retired from acting, she opened a clothing store, ran a karaoke bar, and even tried her hand at real estate, but none of these ventures were successful.

While there were factors of sabotage, it was also related to Zhang Min's own abilities and the industry she chose.

Choosing the right industry can make all the difference and help you take off quickly.

Skills can be developed, but if you choose the wrong industry, everything else is wrong.

There are no useless people in this world, only people who haven't found their place.

For example, Liu Jing thinks that Fat Bing is quite good at creating hype and grabbing attention.

"Putting Xiao Dong in the 'My Love from the Star' cast was the right decision," Zhang Min exclaimed, attributing the success primarily to Bai Bing.

Bai Bing is one of the producers of "My Love from the Star," representing the production company, Chunqiu Film & Television. Otherwise, why would she be working so hard, given her usual cautious approach to production?

Many people thought the opening ceremony was over, but there were still interactive activities, the director and producer coming on stage, a group photo of all the actors, media interviews, and the main cast leaving messages. Finally, the meal was provided.

As the fireworks faded and the starlight grew brighter, Zhang Guoli took out an old-fashioned radio and tuned it to a channel playing Shanghainese storytelling. "Xiao Hu, if you're filming in Shanghai, you need to learn a few words of Shanghainese. I'll teach you: 'Hello, friend from Chang'an.'"

Hu Ge laughed heartily, "Teacher Zhang, there's a secret I forgot to tell you, I'm actually from Shanghai."

"Oh, actually I have a secret too, I'm also from Shanghai." Zhang Guoli chuckled, looking at Liu Shishi, and said in Shanghai dialect, "Miss Lin, you are so beautiful."

“Teacher Zhang, you’ve grown into a handsome man.” Liu Shishi replied, she knew a little about it, after all, she had been getting close to Tang Yan recently.

"Oh dear, her pronunciation is better than mine, but unfortunately I didn't understand it."

As soon as Zhang Guoli finished speaking, many people burst into laughter, with Liu Shishi's laughter being the most abrupt.

Fat Bing waved to the audience, "Bingbing will be filming in Shanghai from now on. Everyone is welcome to visit the set on the Bund. I'll treat you all to pan-fried buns."

"Bravo!" the audience shouted in unison, followed by applause.

Director Gao Xixi, producer Liu Jing, and several other actors took to the stage.

Everyone stood in front of the Time Capsule and took a group photo.

Hu Ge suddenly shouted, "For whom do the stars on the Huangpu River shine tonight?"

There was no prior arrangement, and everyone responded in unison, "For 'My Love from the Star'..."

(End of this chapter)