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Suning's plan to remake "Lurking" and the character "Zuo Lan" were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up huge ripples in Liu Yifei's heart.

She had to admit that at that moment, she was truly moved.

An opportunity to step out of one's comfort zone, a possibility to leave one's mark on classic works, and more importantly, to achieve this on a relatively pure platform like "Bizarre and Unpredictable," which he controls...

This almost satisfied her deep-seated, secret desire for "free creation".

Looking into Su Ning's confident and sincere eyes, she almost blurted out her agreement.

However, the caution she had developed over many years in the entertainment industry, along with the various aspects she had to consider in her position, made her swallow back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

She lowered her eyes slightly, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath them, concealing her inner struggle.

When she looked up again, her eyes had returned to their usual clarity and calmness, but with an added hint of barely perceptible apology and deep thought.

“Su Ning,” she said, choosing her words carefully, her tone gentle yet firm, “thank you very much for your consideration and invitation. To be honest, the character ‘Zuo Lan’ is very charming, and your concept has also greatly impressed me.”

She changed the subject, her tone tinged with a hint of helplessness: "But, given my current situation and status, I really can't accept roles as casually as before. I need to weigh all aspects, including my team, fans, and market expectations."

She didn't put it very directly, but the meaning was already quite clear.

For a top-tier actress like her, every choice is fraught with peril.

Taking on a role in a remake of a classic is a double-edged sword.

“Lurking is such a classic,” she continued, as if organizing her thoughts. “The versions starring Sun Honglei and Yao Dachen are deeply ingrained in people’s minds. Remakes are prone to being accused of ‘reheating old food.’ If the performance is good, it may be considered expected, and it may even be compared with the original and criticized; but if… I mean if there is anything that is not satisfactory, the pressure and criticism will be enormous.”

She paused, looked at Su Ning, her eyes filled with complex emotions: "Moreover, to put it perhaps inappropriately, even if... even if, with your operational capabilities and resources, you turn this project into a hit, for me personally, aside from the paycheck and temporary buzz, the substantial benefits might be limited. It's more like a 'nice-to-have' project, rather than a 'lifeline' that will allow me to achieve a breakthrough or solidify my position in the entertainment industry."

She laid out her concerns without any pretense or politeness, which made her appear exceptionally sincere.

This is precisely how she treats Su Ning as a friend with whom she can exchange genuine thoughts.

Su Ning listened quietly without interrupting, and her face showed no displeasure.

He understood Liu Yifei's concerns and even admired her clear-headedness.

In this glamorous world of fame and fortune, there are not many people who can maintain such a clear mind.

“I understand.” After she finished speaking, Su Ning nodded, her tone still gentle. “Your consideration is very thorough, which is normal. After all, this is not a small decision. It’s okay, you don’t need to rush to give me an answer.”

He leaned back, displaying great magnanimity: "The project is still in the early stages of preparation, and script revision will take time. You can take your time to consider it, or you can have your team conduct a comprehensive evaluation. Anyway, I will keep the 'Zuo Lan' position for you. If you change your mind or have new considerations at any time, please contact me."

He didn't exert any pressure, and this respectful and patient attitude made Liu Yifei feel even more indebted, while also making her take the invitation more seriously.

"Thank you, Suning," she said sincerely. "I will seriously consider it and discuss it thoroughly with the team."

After chatting for a few more minutes, the sky outside the window gradually turned the colors of dusk.

Liu Yifei checked the time, said she had a video conference to prepare for that evening, and then took her leave.

Su Ning naturally got up to see him off, and the two politely said goodbye at the entrance of the coffee shop.

Watching Liu Yifei get into the car driven by her assistant and leave, Su Ning turned around and walked towards her own car.

After getting into the driver's seat, he didn't start the car immediately. Instead, he rubbed his temples, and for the first time, a hint of undisguised fatigue showed on his face.

For him, chatting casually with Liu Yifei in the coffee shop, which seemed relaxed, actually took far more effort than dealing with the affairs of Daning Capital.

He needs to constantly adjust his state, restrain the scrutinizing sense and speaking habits that he inadvertently reveals as an emperor, and strive to make himself appear like a "normal" modern successful businessman and actor.

This kind of self-discipline and switching at the level of consciousness is extremely energy-consuming.

Moreover, he had just experienced a time travel spanning sixty years, and his soul carried an immense amount of memories and emotions.

Although the body has returned to its youthful state, the mental heaviness and sense of temporal dislocation cannot be completely eliminated in a short period of time.

My conversation with Liu Yifei just now was largely fueled by a sense of novelty and interest.

At this moment, as I relax, a deep sense of fatigue washes over me like a tidal wave.

"Traversing countless worlds...it seems it's not such an easy task after all." He muttered to himself with a self-deprecating smile and shook his head.

He started the car and drove directly back to his mansion by West Lake.

He stopped thinking about company matters, stopped pondering the mysterious Nurturing Pill, and even temporarily put Liu Yifei and the "Lurking" project out of his mind.

He went straight back to his bedroom, too lazy to even wash up, and simply took off his coat before throwing himself heavily onto the soft, wide bed.

Almost the instant my head hit the pillow, my heavy eyelids closed, and my consciousness sank into an endless darkness and silence.

He needs a deep, undisturbed sleep to heal the weariness that comes from traveling through time and space, a weariness that originates from the depths of his soul.

……

Su Ning slept soundly, as if he wanted to make up for all the fatigue he had accumulated over the past sixty years, as well as the mental and physical exhaustion he had expended dealing with various matters after returning to the modern world.

There were no dreams, no disturbances, only the deepest darkness and tranquility, as if returning to the very origin of life.

He was awakened by a faint yet extremely appetizing aroma.

That seems to be... the sweet and sour taste of sweet and sour pork ribs? And the fresh aroma of steamed fish?
The warm aroma of rice, mingled with the scent of rice, seeped through the crack in the door and gently stirred his dormant consciousness.

Su Ning opened his eyes groggily. The room was pitch black, and the heavy curtains blocked out all light, making it impossible for him to tell whether it was day or night.

He fumbled for his phone on the bedside table, turned on the screen, and squinted at the glaring light. It was 4:17 PM.

I actually slept from 9 p.m. last night until the evening of the next day?
And the aroma of the food...

A thought flashed through his mind like lightning, instantly bringing him to his senses.

He sat up abruptly in bed, not even bothering to put on slippers, and almost tiptoed into the bedroom door, barefoot, following the scent toward the kitchen.

The closer you get to the kitchen, the stronger the aroma becomes, accompanied by the soft, crisp sound of the spatula striking the wok.

He peeked out and looked toward the center of the open kitchen.

He saw a familiar figure standing in front of the stove with his back to him.

She was wearing a comfortable light gray loungewear set, with a plain apron tied around her waist, and her long hair was casually tied back, revealing her smooth neck.

She was leaning slightly forward, intently tasting the saltiness of the broth in the pot. Her profile, illuminated by the warm kitchen light, appeared gentle and serene.

Who else could it be but Chen Xiaojun?
An indescribable sense of surprise and warmth instantly washed over Suning.

He had assumed she would be busy in Beijing for a few more days, but to his surprise, she had returned without a word and was preparing dinner for him. Without any hesitation, like a leopard spotting its prey, he moved closer silently and quickly, then from behind, he pulled that warm, soft body into a tight, solid embrace!
"Ah!" Chen Xiaojun gasped in surprise at the sudden hug, almost dropping the spatula in her hand.

But the next second, feeling that familiar scent and the strength of her embrace, her tense body immediately relaxed, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up.

Before she could turn around and say anything, Su Ning had already forcefully turned her body around, lowered his head without explanation, and accurately captured her soft lips.

“Hmm…” Chen Xiaojun was caught off guard and made a muffled nasal sound.

She could clearly feel Su Ning's kiss, which was dry and even had a "stinky mouth"—a kiss that showed obvious signs of sleepiness—imprinted fiercely on her lips with an unbridled urgency and deep longing.

This kiss was utterly unskilled, even carrying the dazedness and roughness of someone just awakened, yet it was incredibly real and passionate.

It was as if he wanted to confirm her existence in this way, and also to dispel the loneliness deep in his heart that no one knew after crossing time and space.

After a long while, until Chen Xiaojun felt she could hardly breathe and gently pounded his back, Su Ning reluctantly let go, but his arms were still wrapped around her waist, his forehead pressed against hers, panting heavily, his eyes shining brightly.

"Why are you back? You didn't even tell me beforehand!" His voice was hoarse from just waking up and filled with surprise.

Chen Xiaojun's cheeks were flushed, and she was slightly out of breath. She gave him a playful glare and wiped her mouth with her hand. "The things in Beijing were settled in advance, and I wanted to give you a surprise. Who knew that when I got back, that lazy pig was still fast asleep and I couldn't wake him up."

She gently poked Su Ning's chest with her finger. "You have the nerve to say that! Your breath smells like you're sleeping, it stinks!"

That's what she said, but her eyes were full of laughter and indulgence.

"I missed you." Ignoring her "disdain," Su Ning hugged her tighter, buried his face in her neck which smelled faintly of cooking oil and had a familiar body fragrance, and took a deep breath, as if only in this way could he find a real sense of belonging. "I was half asleep when I smelled the fragrance and thought I was dreaming."

Feeling his rare, somewhat dependent behavior, Chen Xiaojun's heart softened completely.

She hugged him back, gently patted his back, and said softly, "Okay! It's not a dream, I'm back. Go wash up quickly, you look like a wild man with a stubble. Dinner will be ready soon, all your favorite dishes."

In the kitchen, warm light enveloped the two embracing, a pot bubbled with happiness, and the air was filled with the scent of home.

At this moment, all thoughts of imperial ambition, system tasks, and business disputes are left behind by this ordinary warmth.

For Suning, who has just experienced a long "dream," this tangible warmth and reality may be the "reward" he needs most and cherishes the most.

……

A warm and satisfying dinner ended in a relaxed atmosphere.

Chen Xiaojun is a very good cook; she makes simple home-style dishes extremely delicious. Su Ning ate with great satisfaction, as if the fatigue of the past few days had been soothed away by the meal.

The maid cleared away the dishes, and the two moved to the spacious living room, where they nestled into the soft, comfortable sofa.

Outside the window, the night view of West Lake was already lit up, with neon lights flashing, creating a stark contrast with the warm tranquility inside.

Chen Xiaojun leaned lazily on Su Ning's shoulder, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility.

Su Ning played with her slender fingers and casually brought up the subject: "Xiaojun, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

"Hmm? What is it?" Chen Xiaojun looked up at him, her eyes asking.

"I plan to remake 'Lurking'." Su Ning directly revealed the core content, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable determination.

"What?" Chen Xiaojun sat up straight instantly, her face filled with astonishment and disbelief. She wondered if she had misheard. "Lurking? Sun Honglei's 'Lurking'? You're going to remake it?"

“Yes, it’s that show, ‘Lurking’.” Su Ning nodded affirmatively, not surprised by her reaction.

"My dear boss Su, are you alright?" Chen Xiaojun reached out as if to touch Su Ning's forehead. "Are you still half asleep? Or did you meet someone today and get upset?"

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and analyzed in a rational tone: "Su Ning, I know 'Bizarre and Unusual' has plenty of funds right now, and you want to do projects. But remaking 'Lurking'? That's too risky! It's a hot potato, no, a tough nut to crack, and you might break your teeth if you're not careful!"

She counted the risks on her fingers, one by one:

"First, classics are hard to surpass! Sun Honglei's Yu Zecheng, Yao Dachen's Wang Cuiping, and Feng Enhe's Station Chief Wu, which one of them isn't deeply ingrained in people's hearts? Audiences have preconceived notions. No matter how well you make it, there will always be people who will nitpick and say it's not as good as the original! It's a thankless task!"

"Secondly, haven't you paid attention to the current state of the spy drama market? It's long past its prime! Audiences are experiencing aesthetic fatigue, and similar themes are everywhere. If you release a remake project at this time, it's easy to be labeled as 'reheating leftovers' or 'running out of ideas'! This will affect the brand reputation that 'Guangguai Luli' has just built up!"

"Third, what about the return on investment? For such a big-budget spy drama, costumes, props, sets, post-production—everything costs money. To avoid being outdone by the original, you'll definitely have to invest even more. But what about the returns? TV stations are now so strict about their acquisition prices, and online platforms are shrewd too. If the ratings and reviews don't meet expectations, it'll be a huge loss!"

Chen Xiaojun became more and more agitated as she spoke, genuinely concerned for the company and Suning: "Suning, we have so many excellent original scripts to develop, why do we have to step into this minefield? How about we switch to another project? Even if you suddenly feel like playing another role yourself, can't we find a safer script?"

Seeing Chen Xiaojun's cheeks flush slightly with anxiety, Su Ning did not interrupt her. He waited until she poured out all her worries in a rapid-fire manner before he smiled slightly and reached out to pull her back to his side.

"Are you done talking?" he asked calmly.

"That's all! Anyway, I don't agree!" Chen Xiaojun leaned against him angrily, her attitude clear.

“Xiaojun, I am aware of all the risks you mentioned.” Su Ning spoke slowly, gently stroking her long hair with his fingers. “However, when you look at the problem, you only see the risks, but you don’t see the huge opportunities behind them.”

He adjusted his posture to allow himself to express his views more clearly:

"First of all, you say that classics are hard to surpass. That's true, the original is a classic. But why should we think about 'surpassing' it?"

He countered, “We are trying to ‘reshape’ and create a ‘Lurking’ that reflects our times. The original version was limited by the filming conditions, censorship environment, and audience acceptance at the time, and some parts could actually have been done better, with richer details and more complete character arcs.”

His gaze was deep, as if he could already see the finished product: "We have better technology, more abundant funding, and a more open creative environment. We can retain the essence of the original... such as the tense and exciting atmosphere of espionage, the complex human struggles, and the power of unwavering faith, while telling the story in a more delicate way, shaping the characters in a more three-dimensional way, and restoring the texture of that era more realistically. This is not challenging the classic, but paying tribute to the classic and reinterpreting it from the perspective of the new era."

“Secondly,” he continued, “you say the spy drama market is sluggish, and remakes are just ‘reheating leftovers.’ But from another perspective, the name ‘Lurking’ itself has unparalleled brand recognition and buzz! It’s a huge, free publicity gimmick! We don’t even need to spend much on advertising; just announcing ‘Lurking’ is being remade’ will immediately attract attention and discussion across the internet, whether it’s anticipation or pessimism, the hype will skyrocket! How many times less effort is that than promoting a completely new, unknown IP from scratch?”

"As for the return on investment," Su Ning smiled confidently, "I never expected to make quick money from this drama. What I want is the brand effect of 'Guangguai Luli'! If we can successfully remake the classic IP 'Lurking' and gain recognition from both the market and the audience, what does that mean? It means that we at 'Guangguai Luli' have the ability to handle top-tier projects and reshape classics! The brand premium and industry status that comes with this are something that no amount of investment in ordinary dramas can buy! This will be a milestone for us to establish ourselves as a top-tier production company!"

He cupped Chen Xiaojun's face in his hands, looked into her eyes, and his tone softened but remained firm: "Xiaojun, you can't just look at immediate profits and losses when doing business. Some projects have strategic significance that far outweighs economic benefits. 'Lurking' is such a project. There are indeed risks, but the opportunities are even greater. I believe in our judgment and I believe in the capabilities of our team."

Chen Xiaojun stared at him, listening to his clear and insightful analysis, and her initial opposition gradually wavered.

She had to admit that Su Ning's vision and courage always went further and thought deeper than hers.

What he saw was not an insurmountable peak, but a broader view that could be seen from the top.

"But..." She wanted to say something more, but her tone softened.

“No buts.” Su Ning gently interrupted her. “As for the copyright issue, arrange for someone to make contact as soon as possible and secure it. Leave the rest to me.”

Seeing that familiar, resolute glint in his eyes—a gleam that no one could change once a decision was made—Chen Xiaojun knew that he had made up his mind about this matter.

She sighed softly, but ultimately chose to believe him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Alright... You're the boss, so you call the shots. I'll have someone contact the copyright holder tomorrow."

...(End of chapter)