Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 386 Xiao Liu's Return, Top-Level Design, Global Vision (2-in-1 Bonus Chapter for Brother R)
P.S. (Please read the author's note at the end of this article and leave a comment.)

On the afternoon of the 20th, at the Olympic Building.

Xiao Liu's flight arrived at the Capital Airport in the evening, and Lu Kuan continued to work normally in the afternoon.

The monthly Olympic Games briefing proceeded smoothly, but everyone was being extra cautious today.

Today, higher-level leaders will be here to inspect our work.

From the moment he received the notice in the morning, Boss Lu "gathered" all available resources to begin logistical preparations.

Putting aside the reporting process, the most important thing is to do this superficial work well, thoroughly, and solidly!

Starting from the 19th-floor glass curtain wall, wipe the "China Seal" hanging emblem and the red and blue Olympic rings on both sides.

The plaza in front of the gate is paved with granite bricks, and the greenery is arranged in a geometric flower bed layout, with hanging wisteria climbing the metal fence.

Temporary security checkpoints were added on both sides of the revolving door, and bronze plaques of the host cities of previous Olympic Games were inlaid on the marble walls. A huge replica of the "A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains" scroll was hung behind the service counter, and the floor guide lines used the colors of the Olympic rings.

Everything looked so beautiful, except for the dark circles under the eyes of Lu Kuan, Zhang Yimou, and others, which seemed a bit out of place.

However, it wasn't until 2 p.m. that Liu and the members of the Organizing Committee received the news that the leader had an emergency meeting.

Everyone felt both relieved and regretful.

The work report concluded smoothly in this atmosphere.

Leader Liu offered his usual encouragement and support, but before leaving, he chatted with Boss Lu for a few more minutes.

"Xiao Lu, I recently heard from Director Zhang of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense that you have submitted a new application for technological cooperation?"

Lu Kuan's expression froze for a moment, then he smiled and said, "Yes, leader, although the current technological achievements are already quite remarkable, there is always room for improvement."

DJI's ability to surpass the technological progress of its predecessor in a short period of time is inseparable from Lu Kuan's efforts to establish cooperative relationships with national laboratories such as Northwestern Polytechnical University and Beihang University.

While Wang Tao's team's brilliant ideas and technology are certainly valuable, without national support, they would have to make breakthroughs in basic scientific research related to drones step by step on their own.

This is a lengthy process.

Therefore, taking advantage of the Olympic Games, and in accordance with the "Implementation Measures for Licensing of Weapon and Equipment Research and Production" promulgated by the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense on June 15, 2005, Boss Lu asked Leader Liu to act as an intermediary, and the above cooperation was reached.

This set of measures has put my country's "civilian technology for military use" on a legal and standardized track.

The Measures stipulate that the field of national defense science and technology industry will be open to the public, and some qualified non-publicly owned enterprises can officially enter the field of national defense science and technology industry by the end of 2005.

Every question posed by a leader is not uttered casually. Lu Kuan naturally knows what DJI has done, because it was at his behest and driven by him.

Wang Tao was also puzzled.

Leader Liu's expression wasn't particularly solemn; he simply asked in a calm tone, "Are fields like infrared imaging, acoustic detection, and methane gas sensing also being prepared for the Olympics?"

Lu Kuan said awkwardly, "It's just a coincidence. The company has invested a lot of money in this project, and now that we can bring in R&D, we've started the project together."

He naturally had his own agenda, undermining socialism.

However, such personal intentions also stemmed from public motives, and were preparations for the cataclysmic events that would occur six months later.

The breakthroughs in technologies such as infrared imaging, acoustic detection, and, as well as, the payload capacity and multimodal sensor fusion that Leader Liu didn't mention, are all related to search and rescue and early warning.

Infrared imaging and other technologies are used to employ drones for life detection;

The payload capacity enhances delivery capabilities, enabling the delivery of satellite phones, emergency food supplies, and other items to the center at critical moments.

Leader Liu only mentioned it briefly. He knew that Lu Kuan was a seasoned and patriotic young man with a red heart; otherwise, there would have been no possibility of him contacting the national laboratory before.

"Infrared imaging and the like are fine, but this methane gas detection involves the chemical and explosive fields. Even if it's a military-civilian cooperation project, it's still a bit sensitive. Let's just forget about it."

Boss Lu didn't resist; at worst, he would just develop it himself: "Okay, I'll listen to the leader."

Generally speaking, in scenarios such as natural gas pipeline rupture, chemical plant leaks, and coal mine gas spills after an earthquake, a methane concentration exceeding 4% can form an explosive gas mixture.

This small technology could potentially save countless lives.

Leader Liu knew he was reliable; a good drum doesn't need a heavy hammer. This kid was as cunning as a monkey once he got involved, so there was no need for him to waste any more words: "Just work hard for another six months or so. The country will not fail to see your contributions to Lu Kuan. Just do your job well."

"Okay." Lu Kuan immediately smiled and said, "Boss, I need to ask you for leave."

Leader Liu's face hardened: "Why are you on leave again? This time it was because of a meeting. What if the higher-ups launch another surprise attack? How can we manage without you?"

"I'm not leaving Beijing. I just have some things to take care of this afternoon and tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, I'm going to Daxing for closed training for a large-scale program, and I..."

"Oh, your girlfriend is back in China, right? I just heard Lin Ying mention it." Leader Liu looked at him knowingly: "Alright, I have to approve this leave, otherwise you'll bring up being single again."

"Thank you, sir. I'll take you there."

Leader Liu waved his hand and walked towards the elevator, with his secretary following behind: "Don't stand on ceremony with me, get on with your work."

The elevator doors closed, and Lu Kuan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that securing a project with infrared imaging and carrying capabilities wasn't bad at all.

Both of these are drone technology fields that tend to be used for military applications. Infrared imaging is used to identify and detect enemy forces, while payload capacity is used to improve the ability to carry ordnance.

Being able to collaborate with a national laboratory, one should have made some progress in about half a year.

Leader Liu's invitation won't be in vain. If drones can truly play a significant role in disaster relief, the boost it will provide to his career advancement is considerable.

Benefiting others, oneself, and the world is a meritorious act.

Ah Fei came down the corridor with a phone in his hand: "Boss, the event at Wenjie is about to start."

"Okay, let's go."

The Wenjie Building is less than three kilometers away from the Olympic Building. Boss Lu quickly arrived at the conference room of the headquarters, which was already full of distinguished guests.

A banner hung in the center of the spacious conference room stage, which read:

"Extending a helping hand to the disaster area, showing boundless love and responsibility—a warm welcome to the Yunnan Provincial Delegation for guidance!"

This is a humble expression used by Wenjie as the host.

In June of this year, a disaster struck Pu'er, Yunnan Province. Representatives from the "Tangshan" film crew continued to donate money and supplies to help the people in the disaster area overcome the difficulties together.

Today, leaders from Yunnan Province, who were in Beijing to report on their disaster relief efforts, visited Wenjie Holdings to express their gratitude, accompanied by representatives from the Film Bureau, the Ministry of Culture, and China Film Group.

If it were an ordinary company, provincial leaders would likely not have the time to make a special visit. At most, they would express their gratitude through the provincial party committee office and provide legal and compliant assistance in any future cooperation.

For example, when a film is made in the border region, or when a travel channel records a program, some places should be given reasonable and legal green light policies and supporting measures.

This was clearly a pretense of gratitude, but with a ulterior motive—

They also saw the huge business opportunities that the film "Tangshan" brought to the local area through market-oriented supporting operations.

Thus, this special visit was made to see if there was an opportunity for cooperation.

Secondly, Mr. Lu is really too "generous" with his money. He is very reckless when it comes to charity. He has donated nearly 100 million yuan to build teaching buildings in Sichuan Province.

After all, it's not an economically strong province. Even he would have to condescend to have the opportunity to build good relationships with such big entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and artists.

Inside the meeting room, Han Shanping, leaders from relevant departments, and a distinguished man in his fifties, dressed in a government-issue jacket, sat upright.

This is Gu, the Deputy Provincial Governor of Yunnan Province.

Conversations among people of similar status emphasize small talk and small talk between people of the same level.

Today, Director Tong is attending a high-level meeting. The highest-ranking person present is Old Han, who is a full-fledged department-level official and enjoys the treatment of a vice-minister.

As mentioned earlier, in terms of physical constitution, the golden path is to become a section chief before age 30, a department head before age 40, and a provincial governor before age 48.

In his previous life, Old Han had stagnated at the deputy director level for nine years before finally losing the "deputy" title. By then, he was almost 55 years old, and his future career path seemed to have no future.

The earlier you take that step, the bigger the stage and the more possibilities you'll have.

In this life, thanks to Boss Lu's butterfly effect, Wenjie Holdings has made significant contributions to the domestic film industry in terms of box office figures, industrial reform, and cultural export.

In particular, in 2004, the film "A Home Too Far" helped the company overcome the challenge of foreign films taking the top spot at the domestic box office, breaking the embarrassing situation where foreign films were the highest-grossing domestic films.

This enabled him to enter the normal hearing sequence in 2005. He has been progressing rapidly, and last year he also resolved his abdominal issues. His future is bright.

Therefore, those currently present are of similar rank to Lao Han and Leader Gu, so they can exchange pleasantries.

"Wenjie Holdings truly lives up to its reputation!" Leader Gu stroked the solid wood oval conference table in front of him, which was inlaid with a German BOSCH frameless lifting screen system, and had a fiber optic interface matrix hidden in the desktop.

The large screen above is a Toshiba DLP rear-projection 120-inch main display and four Sony 40-inch LCD auxiliary screens, supporting simultaneous infrared reception of six languages.

"We country folk have never even seen these things before!"

Old Han laughed and said, "Leader Gu, it's not your fault. There are many things that I've never seen or heard of before."

"Sometimes when I pass by the Wenjie Building, I'll stop by and sit with him. It's like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden; she looks around and touches everything, so curious!"

"Haha, I really wanted to ask, but I was too embarrassed to."

Dong Shuangqiang personally refilled the water for the leaders: "Leader Gu and other leaders from Yunnan Province, please don't rush to leave. Our Wenjie Building has seventeen floors, please feel free to visit and give us your guidance!"

"You're too kind, you're too kind." Leader Gu waved his hand: "I mainly wanted to thank President Lu and all the friends in the industry for their help this time..."

"Dear leaders, I'm sorry, the work report just finished, and I'm still a step late despite rushing!"

Before Leader Gu could finish speaking, Boss Lu happened to push open the door and enter, giving the impression that one heard his voice before seeing him.

Everyone turned around, and Director Gu, seeing the young director in person for the first time, scrutinized him closely—

With sword-like eyebrows that reach his temples and a sharply defined profile, he walks with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, exuding an aura of immense power and imposing presence.

Leader Gu nodded secretly. Seeing is believing; he was a man of exceptional talent and profound inner strength.

"Mr. Lu, I've heard so much about you, I'm so sorry to bother you today."

"I was just talking to Mr. Han. We are very grateful to Wenjie for their donation of money and supplies, especially the urgently needed tents and first aid kits, which enabled us to save lives and rebuild homes as soon as possible."

"Including the co-production 'Tangshan' led by General Manager Han and Director Tong, which was released by Wenjie, the previous screenings have provided a lot of people in our southwestern earthquake-prone provinces with popular science knowledge on escape. This is very valuable! Thank you so much!"

Mr. Lu politely shook hands with him: "It's quite a coincidence that these tents and first aid kits were public welfare supplies that were distributed to support earthquake escape publicity when the movie 'Tangshan' was released."

"We purchased too much at the time, and it has been piling up in the company warehouse. This time, we can say that we have helped our fellow countrymen in Yunnan Province in a small way. We are all very honored!"

A thought struck him, and he suddenly turned to Dong Shuangqiang: "Old Dong, what Leader Gu just said gave me a lot of inspiration. It seems that our 'Tangshan' and charity events are still very meaningful."

"You should talk to Gao Jun and ask him to suggest that in earthquake-prone provinces like Sichuan, Yunnan, and Qinghai, we ask Jiahe Cinemas to re-release the films around the Lunar New Year holiday so that we can donate the remaining supplies."

Dong Shuangqiang was taken aback, wondering where this person's sudden idea came from, and could only nod in agreement.

Lu Kuan turned back and shook hands with him firmly: "Leader Gu, please don't stand on ceremony. We are compatriots under heaven, there's no need for words of thanks."

Leader Gu laughed heartily: "Alright, alright, I won't stand on ceremony, Xiao Li—"

Secretary Li stepped forward with a smile: "Boss, the thank-you gifts for our friends in Wenjie have all been prepared. The car has already driven to the company's underground parking lot, and we've brought up a few of them."

Boss Lu naturally had to say some polite words, and then Leader Gu happily introduced to everyone: "Boss Lu, you are all people who are used to the luxury of living in the capital. We are from a poor and remote area, so we brought some local specialties to express our gratitude."

"Leader Gu, you flatter me. I love pristine nature and the natural world the most. Besides, the specialties of our Colorful Yunnan are definitely the best of the best!"

Everyone was a social butterfly, exchanging pleasantries and compliments with each other, genuinely or insincerely, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Secretary Li then gradually brought out local specialties such as Pu'er tea cakes, Xuanwei ham, and flower cakes, all beautifully packaged, attracting everyone's attention.

"President Lu, President Han, look at these! These are all the best things from our Yunnan province. It's just that the alley is too deep; the aroma of our wine won't waft out for a while! Hehe!"

Old Han and Dong Shuangqiang exchanged a glance, both sensing something different in the words and actions of this Leader Gu.

This was not only a well-prepared event, but also one with considerable ulterior motives.

Boss Lu immediately understood. He pretended to be clueless and didn't respond to his boss's words. Instead, he interrupted with Han Shanping, whom he knew well: "Mr. Han, are you being dazzled by all the different options? Don't worry, I'll have these boxes delivered to your car later. This shouldn't count as making a mistake."

Han Shanping immediately put on a stern face: "Go away! You're making fun of me. Do you think I'm so pathetic that I'd be envious of your little bit of food?"

"Hahaha!"

Leader Gu smiled ingratiatingly, but seeing this situation, he knew that if he didn't make his intentions clear, these foxes, big and small, would probably drag the conversation to a standstill today.

He smiled, took a sip of water, and his secretary, Xiao Li, spoke frankly: "Mr. Lu, to be honest, the reason our leader came to your company for this visit and learning is not only to express his gratitude, but also to discuss cooperation with you."

Boss Lu remained calm, knowing that having Xiao Li bring up this topic meant that the other party was prepared not to take the bait.

That way, everyone can act accordingly, and things won't look bad on the surface.

"please say."

Secretary Li was slightly excited: "That's right, we want to cooperate with your company's Wenjie Mall to promote these local specialty products on the platform."

"In addition, if we can cooperate on some cultural tourism projects like 'Tangshan' and shoot film and television works that fit the theme, Yunnan Province is willing to provide considerable funds for you to hold a controlling stake and operate."

Ok?
Lu Kuan immediately thought of "Go to the Windy Place," which was one of the two works his girlfriend from his previous life published before returning to the Chinese entertainment industry, two years before he transmigrated.

If we follow Secretary Li's vision and ideas, and consider the current competitive landscape between the Wenjie Group and Ali and Huayi Groups, promoting the development of e-commerce through this work is a viable option.

The homestays and restaurants featured in the drama, such as Xizhou Baba, Bai ethnic roasted tea, and intangible cultural heritage experiences like tie-dyeing and wood carving, directly stimulated consumption, boosting local homestay occupancy rates and agricultural product sales.

The Yunnan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism linked the TV series "There is a kind of life called Yunnan" with the series, forming a brand communication that deeply integrates "drama-tourism-culture", further enhancing the popularity of Yunnan's culture and tourism.

However, "With Wind" is set against the backdrop of the achievements made after the country proposed comprehensive poverty alleviation, and it carries a certain policy and realistic background.

If you want to operate this project now, you need to make certain modifications to fit the current policies and public opinion.

"Director Lu? What do you think? We can discuss this further."

Boss Lu remained calm: "Leader Gu truly has no weak soldiers under his command. Secretary Li's words are indeed insightful and valuable."

"In fact, after the exemplary role of 'Tangshan' was established, we conducted roadshows in many provinces and communicated with local governments on these matters."

"Actually, although everyone says that our industry is the entertainment industry, which sounds like entertainment to the death and bizarre, both the industry and individuals must always keep up with the times."

“If a private enterprise like Wenjie can leverage policy support and establish cooperation with local governments across various sectors, I think it would be a mutually beneficial arrangement and worth considering.”

Listen carefully to the underlying meaning; Secretary Li wisely chose to remain silent.

Because he knew that it was time for the leader to negotiate terms with the other party.

Holding banknotes in hand, I'd like to ask the world: how many local governments have replicated the success of "Tangshan," achieving both critical acclaim and commercial success, establishing a city's reputation, and even creating a tourist street?

Old Ge from Chengdu was incredibly enthusiastic two years ago.

But what can you bring to the world of Q&A?
Leader Gu chuckled and said, "President Lu is an entrepreneur and artist with a very high sensitivity to policy, which is very rare."

"The state reduced or exempted agricultural taxes in 2005 and proposed the construction of new rural areas in 2006. Our Yunnan Province is an economically underdeveloped province and a major agricultural province. We have gained considerable policy dividends in this round of reforms, and the development potential of the rural market is huge!"

"If we can reach a cooperation agreement, the province will definitely provide the best terms in terms of film and television production, venue rental, and legal tax reductions and exemptions!"

"We will invest in the production of film and television dramas on a 60/40 basis and hold a 40/60 share, giving you a share of the profits. We can also discuss commissions for subsequent sales through e-commerce B2C and C2C channels."

Leader Gu confidently presented his conditions, but they were not much different from those proposed by leaders of other cities.

To put it simply, when filming "The Sky of History" in Nanjing, the conditions provided by Nanjing were much better than this.

Mr. Lu wore a gentle smile on his face, but inwardly he shook his head.

You gave too little.

He has some things he wants, but he's not sure about their value yet and needs to discuss them with Dongzi.

After all, he only has a forward-looking perspective; when it comes to the specific operations in niche industries, he still has to rely on the business leaders he has brought under his command.

Boss Lu is very efficient. He turned his head and whispered to Chen Zhixi to tell Liu Qiangdong to come to the company, then turned to the guests from Yunnan Province today:

"Leader Gu, how many days will you be in Beijing on official business?"

Secretary Li chimed in, "Mr. Lu, our flight is the day after tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll organize relevant personnel from the company to discuss this tomorrow and see which angle is best for both sides to approach the cooperation."

"Leader Gu, tonight I'll be hosting a welcome dinner for all the guests from Yunnan Province. Please make time for it!"

Leader Gu sighed inwardly, knowing that such things couldn't be accomplished overnight, but his expression remained warm: "That won't do. How about we have some Yunnan cuisine at our Yunnan Provincial Government's Beijing office tonight? It's all fresh vegetables air-freighted from within the province. How about we try something different?"

Old Han laughed and said, "Great! We older folks just enjoy eating some light and refreshing leafy greens, and having a couple of drinks. How wonderful!"

He was only there to be the straight man today, but the conversation between the two of them just now made him have some other thoughts.

It was still early, so Leader Gu and the people from Yunnan Province said goodbye at the bottom of the Wenjie Building.

The group left by car, agreeing to have dinner together at the Yunnan Building at No. 17 Zhongguancun South Street that evening.

As the car drove away, Lao Han said impatiently, "Director Lu, I think what Boss Gu proposed is quite reliable!"

"The government is now paying great attention to issues related to agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, and rural revitalization will inevitably be the next major policy direction."

"We artists, through high-quality film and television works, are able to..."

Mr. Lu interrupted him with a smile: "Mr. Han, I know what you want to say. Come with me first."

Dong Shuangqiang watched from the sidelines, secretly amused, and also felt a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing feelings, thoughts, and reflections).

Lu Kuan, who started from scratch and had no background, managed to maintain good relationships with everyone from leaders at the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, to relevant units like the Film Bureau and China Film Group, and even high-ranking officials and powerful cadres in places like Tangshan, Chengdu, Nanjing, and Yunnan Province.

Not much.

He was unaware of the leaders' appreciation for his boss; otherwise, he would have been even more astonished.

In addition to professional and managerial skills, running a business also requires—

This ability to skillfully unite all forces that can be united and to solidify one's foundation within the superstructure is also crucial.

Dong Shuangqiang personally witnessed Boss Lu's rise to power, saw how he made Liu Zeyu and Zhou Jun disappear without a trace, and even personally participated in submitting his pledge of allegiance.

What Mr. Lu did was simply to follow the trends of the times and industry policies, leverage his strengths to expand the market, and then share it with others.

Whether it was Lao Han, Secretary Zhao of Tangshan, or Leader Liu, they were all like this.

However, throughout this process, whether it was when he was just starting out or now that he has become a behemoth, he has always positioned himself as a collaborator.

Be neither arrogant nor humble, and seek mutual benefit.

It benefits both oneself and others, and benefits the country and its people.

is also like this.

As Wenjie Holdings grew larger and larger, it required him to connect with various parties at all levels and use his personal influence and resources to protect the company.

In the CEO's office, Dongzi was drinking tea, completely bewildered, when he saw Lu Kuan and two others push open the door and enter.

"President Lu, President Han, Old Dong." Dongzi stood up and said with a smile, "Is there going to be drinks tonight? Did you call me back specifically?"

Lu Kuan laughed and said, "There's plenty of wine, enough for tonight. We'll rely on you to drink Leader Gu's arrogant and fierce soldiers under the table!"

Dongzi was completely confused: "Leader Gu, who is that?"

Han Shanping joked, "Leader Gu is the poor guy who's about to be 'extorted and harassed' by your boss."

Dong Shuangqiang chimed in, "President Han, you can't just say things like that. Our Boss Lu would never take advantage of Leader Gu. That's going too far."

Old Han took the cigarette from Dong Shuangqiang, knowing that Lu Kuan had quit smoking, and lit it for himself: "Saying he's extorting money and demanding bribes is not entirely accurate, but it's not far off."

With a smile, Boss Lu led the group to a huge map in the office, marked several locations in Yunnan Province with an erasable marker, and then turned to Liu Qiangdong.

"To make a long story short, Yunnan Province wants to reach a cooperation agreement with us. The specific model is a joint venture to produce films, TV series, or variety shows, regardless of whether it is a movie, TV series, or variety show."

"Like Alibaba, Huayi, and the TV series 'Struggle,' we help them promote agricultural products and handicrafts to go global and boost the tourism industry through this approach."

"You're an expert in e-commerce, do you think it has potential?"

Liu Qiangdong pondered for a moment and said, "We mainly focus on B2C business right now. We can bring in their so-called agricultural and sideline products and gift packaging as merchants. For bulk orders, we still use C2C, which we also have."

He walked to the map: "In the past two years, the mall has been promoting the construction of its own logistics. I have visited Yunnan Province several times. The local bulk commodities such as tobacco, coffee and vegetables mainly rely on traditional exports."

"For e-commerce platforms like ours, premium-quality specialty gift boxes or high-value-added products such as wild mushrooms and Pu'er tea are more suitable."

"As for its significance to us personally, it's rather ordinary."

These days, e-commerce is still in its early stages of development, and the sale of similar high-value-added products through Wenjie Mall is mostly for publicity.

If we disregard the implicit benefits of cultivating good relations with the local government.

Han Shanping felt somewhat helpless; he naturally wanted to facilitate this marriage.

As Director Gu stated, China Film Group's participation in such film and television program productions, as a key and highlight project of cooperation with local governments, naturally earned him considerable achievements as the head of China Film Group.

Even private entrepreneurs like Lu Kuan know how to adapt to policy trends, let alone him?

When Lao Han left the Emei Factory, he gained the appreciation of his superiors by making several biographical films about leaders and predecessors.

He is an expert in this field.

If every aspect can create an impressive atmosphere, coupled with the powerful media tools available, it can make leaders see both the outward appearance and the inner workings of this model.

His so-called vice-ministerial level treatment may be removed in a few years.

Han Shanping knew that the person in front of him was a man of his own mind. Although they were familiar with each other, they were currently discussing the cost-effectiveness of their cooperation internally, and Han Shanping had no reason to interfere.

Even though it was a higher-level unit, Lao Han always regarded Lu Kuan as a collaborator.

He also knew that the high-level leaders this young director was now in contact with were already beyond his own level.

My attitude has naturally been slightly adjusted compared to before.

This matter is optional; in any case, the majority of the funding comes from Yunnan Province, along with various other conveniences, so the quality of Wenjie's film and television works will never be compromised.

Dong Shuangqiang and Liu Qiangdong both looked at their boss in silence, wondering what he was thinking.

The road width is due to the unique geographical location of Yunnan Province.

"Dongzi".

"boss?"

“We are still quite far behind Ali.” Lu Kuan said carefully, “I recently heard some news that Ali is planning to open up a new track called Taobao Mall next year, in addition to Taobao, to specifically target the B2C market where we started.”

Liu Qiangdong was shocked: "What? Where did this news come from?"

Of course, it's news about the beautiful special agent Bingbing; she's the key figure in this strategy (Chapter 370).

Lu Kuan didn't treat Lao Han as an outsider and said in a deep voice, "I've been thinking about how we, as the pursuer and the second largest in the industry, can achieve a leapfrog development."

"Ali's corporate culture, heritage, background, leadership, including the international background and resources brought to him by SoftBank and Yahoo, are comparable to or even slightly superior to ours in some aspects."

“A year ago, we decided to take the path of building our own logistics, which was a gamble. It will take another two years to see the results.”

"But now our competitors, who are already at a certain stage of development ahead of us, are turning their attention to our Achilles' heel. What should we do?"

What can I do?

Dongzi, tell me!

Dongzi didn't know.

Because every step the mall takes now is ahead of its time, it has been ahead of JD.com for several years.

Even the current Ahri has had her development path slightly altered by the butterfly's wings.

Even a strong person like Dongzi needs to continue to struggle in the industry for a while before he can find a way out and a direction.

Fortunately, there was a hook.

Lu Kuan hesitated because he had considered the country's top-level design for the next few years.

The ASEAN Free Trade Area initiative, launched in 2008, has been actively promoted, along with the construction of the Pan-Asian Railway and ports oriented towards Southeast Asia.

Until the ASEAN Free Trade Area was fully established in 2009, as many as 93% of goods were subject to zero tariffs, covering 19 billion people and a GDP of 6 trillion US dollars.

Bilateral trade surged to US$2928 billion, a year-on-year increase of 37.5%, making Dongda the largest trading partner of ASEAN for the first time.

Yunnan Province's geographical location needs no introduction. It is the only province in China that borders three Southeast Asian countries (Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam), serving as a land gateway to Southeast Asia, resulting in a strong demand for cross-border logistics.

"I have an idea, but it's just an idea."

"Could we do cross-border e-commerce? If Ali is taking over our B2C, can't we take over his C2C? Let's start with the Southeast Asian market."

"The B2C and C2C markets in Southeast Asia are currently untapped. Is there any potential to be explored?"

Han Shanping didn't understand, and Dong Shuangqiang only had a vague understanding, but Dongzi, who was well-versed in this matter, had already fallen into deep thought.

Cross-border e-commerce?

Ali's cross-border e-commerce department is called Yousutong, which was launched in 2010 and also benefited from the post-financial crisis boom.

However, Liu Qiangdong, who is unaware of the future direction of China's policy toward Southeast Asia, clearly does not believe that this big leap is a good way to break through.

Lu Kuan couldn't say that he knew the direction of national policies for the next three or four years. If he wanted to guide his subordinates, he could only use some reasons that everyone knew.

"Before I returned from the United States in September, I heard some bad news: the subprime crisis was getting worse, and even established banks like Lehman Brothers were on the verge of collapse."

"It can be said that the global financial crisis has already begun to emerge. How should the country respond to this round of adjustments?"

Boss Lu smiled at Dong Shuangqiang and said, "I'm not an economic expert. You can ask a professor from the research institute to verify it, but referring to past policies, it's nothing more than the same few things."

"For example, in the case of shrinking European and American markets that were directly hit hard by the financial crisis, we can take advantage of the construction of the ASEAN Free Trade Area to promote export growth to Southeast Asia."

"To achieve the goals of optimizing the trade structure, promoting industrial upgrading, attracting foreign investment, and integrating regional industrial chains, while—"

"This is also an opportunity for us to deepen our diplomacy with our neighbors and demonstrate our image as a responsible major power."

The ASEAN Free Trade Area was designed at the top level starting in 2000 and was officially completed in the last two years. Han Shanping is no stranger to it, as China Film Group also has film export quotas.

In fact, every step of the country's rise has been taken very solidly.

During the global financial crisis that began in 2008, Southeast University not only achieved the aforementioned economic results, but also took advantage of this opportunity to promote the internationalization of the RMB.

By 2010, RMB accounted for 15% of cross-border settlements with ASEAN countries, greatly enhancing our financial influence.

What Lu Kuan wants to do now is still to follow the trend of the times and leverage its momentum to develop itself, to take advantage of the most magnificent and powerful force in the world—

The Chinese nation is rising again, returning to the center stage!

He walked back to the map and circled the key hubs in Yunnan Province several times:
"Based on this, please convene the company's core management team for discussion and invite our external consulting firms and think tanks to provide reference and advice."

"The logistics hub that Wenjie Mall had planned to build in Chengdu has been temporarily shelved, and we are studying the feasibility and comprehensive value of establishing a logistics center in Yunnan Province."

"We need to comprehensively consider the coverage capacity and transportation conditions of the southwestern provinces, as well as the radiating capacity to Southeast Asia." "I'm not an expert in this area. If it's feasible, please let me know which piece of land and which port you need as soon as possible, and I'll coordinate it!"

“For example, Ruili on the China-Myanmar Highway, Honghe across the Hekou Port, and Kunming are also strategic locations, and we cannot let them go.”

Dong Shuangqiang frowned and said, "They're going back to Yunnan Province the day after tomorrow, so I'm afraid there won't be enough time."

Boss Lu chuckled and said, "Don't worry, let them wear us down for a few more days, it won't matter when we go back."

"Ideally, we could use this land for free upfront, with payments split evenly over a certain period. Other policy incentives and tax breaks are standard practice, to say the least."

"In addition, we request that the Yunnan Provincial Government provide convenience for our cinema construction. We should prioritize acquiring the land we have our eye on, and Wanda should take a step back."

Old Han burst into laughter: "Isn't that right? Isn't that right? Didn't I tell you?"

"Your boss is the kind of thief who never leaves empty-handed. How could he possibly pull out just a loose thread when he reaches into someone's pocket?"

"It's mutually beneficial. If we get a three- to five-year tax exemption or free land, our investment can also increase the local GDP, so they won't lose out either."

"If the film and television project cooperation yields results, it will greatly benefit the image of the entire province and the tourism industry in places like Dali and Ruili."

Lu Kuan suddenly turned to Lao Han: "President Han, China Film Group will definitely join in. We will jointly distribute the film, strive to broadcast the TV series on CCTV, and the second run can be on Travel Channel."

“If you participate, you have to contribute. President Han also needs to help us apply for some cultural and public welfare projects similar to last year’s Torch Program, so that we can get some reasonable and legal tax reductions, especially for cultural development fees.”

"Besides, we're a large and established company, and we don't have enough funds. Could China Film Group help us advance the money?"

Old Han's smile vanished abruptly. He had barely finished laughing when the thief reached into his pocket.

This isn't just stealing, it's robbery!

Dong Shuangqiang smiled and put his arm around Lao Han's shoulder: "President Han, I'll have to toast you a few more times tonight to thank the higher-ups for their strong support!"

"Go away, did I agree to that? We've barely gotten here and you're already clinging to me?"

Everyone laughed, then carefully reviewed this tripartite cooperation.

The land was provided by Yunnan Province, the money for film and television production came from Yunnan Province and China Film Group, and the taxes were reduced or exempted by the two companies together.

From beginning to end, Wenjie simply transferred the fixed assets originally intended for investment in Chengdu and other places to Yunnan Province.

Because covering it now is pointless.

This move was naturally concealed by the visionary within a well-reasoned corporate strategy, so as not to arouse suspicion from the outside world.

Han Shanping suddenly thought of something: "Don't you already have a plan, the rough outline of this film and television work?"

"Well, almost."

"Movie?"

"TV dramas or variety shows offer more opportunities for product placement, which helps us achieve our goal of promoting local cultural characteristics."

Mr. Lu considered carefully and said, "Let's talk to the Yunnan Provincial Government first, and then organize the scriptwriting department of Wenjie Film and Television to compile the scripts and plans. There's no rush."

Old Han remarked with emotion, "The companies under Wenjie Holdings can complement each other. Coupled with your strong film and television production capabilities and publicity tools, similar collaborations with Yunnan Province are entirely replicable!"

Dong Shuangqiang laughed and said, "I was just thinking about this too. We are at a huge disadvantage compared to Wanda in terms of land acquisition right now. If this cooperation is successful, there is great potential for the future."

Lu Kuan smiled without saying a word; wasn't this also his purpose?

Wanda, a behemoth that has yet to make much of a splash, is bound to be a formidable competitor in the future.

Because everyone shares the same goal: theaters, distribution, film production, including breaking into Hollywood.

To make up for our shortcomings and reverse our disadvantages, we must accumulate small steps and small streams like today.

At 6:30 p.m., the banquet hall of the Yunnan Provincial Government Office in Beijing was bustling with activity.

The banquet was lively with toasts and laughter. Old Han dodged the drinks and asked Jie Fang and the others to have a brawl with the people from Yunnan Province, and then they fought each other in pairs.

Leader Gu is a seasoned veteran of alcohol, and he's not intimidated by young guys like Boss Shanglu.

High-ranking leaders generally don't engage in drinking contests, as it would be beneath them, but it depends on who they're with.

If he encounters the richest man in mainland China who can bring change and opportunities to the development of Yunnan Province, he has to drink this wine for public and private reasons, as well as for the sake of emotion and reason.

However, both of them were shrewd and knew what they were doing, so they stopped there and no one else would offer them drinks.

The meal lasted until nine o'clock in the evening. Seeing that everyone was still in high spirits, Boss Lu checked his watch.

almost.

"Leader Gu, friends from Yunnan Province, it's really unfortunate that I have to leave early today. My apologies."

Leader Gu asked curiously, "Does President Lu have any other friends meeting up tonight?"

"Oh, my partner is coming back from abroad, I'll go pick them up at the airport."

Leader Gu and the others were somewhat amused and exasperated. Given his position within the system, he rarely heard such an excuse for leaving a dinner party.

It's too ridiculous.

Secretary Li was perceptive; he got up and came over: "President Lu, please try some of Yunnan Province's specialties, Mengzi's Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles, before you go."

"After drinking so much alcohol, a sip of hot soup will make me feel much better."

"Okay, okay, thank you!"

Boss Lu took the premium rice noodles that Secretary Li served him. The purple clay bowl was filled with boiling goose soup, and the thin slices of Xuanwei ham rolled into cloud shapes in the heat.

It is then served with Shiping tofu skin and Mengzi grass sprouts.

As expected of you, Beijing Liaison Office! The food is always authentic and delicious!
Boss Lu drank a cup of apology wine and left leisurely.

Leader Gu politely saw him out, then returned to his seat with some reflections:

"This is truly the first time I've met someone like this."

"This person is accomplished in his career and ingenious in his art. I never expected that he would be so devoted and deeply affectionate in his love life as well!"

Leader Gu's words instantly silenced everyone.

At this table, he's probably the only one, an old man in his fifties, who doesn't go online or watch the drama unfold.

Did you know that Lu Kuan is not his real name?
However, as the highest-ranking person at the table, everyone had to suppress their laughter and couldn't expose him.

Doesn't Boss Gu have any pride?
Doesn't Boss Lu have any pride?

Let this beautiful misunderstanding continue.

Old Han pursed his lips tightly to control his expression and took the initiative to raise his glass:

"Everyone, let's pay our respects to the deeply affectionate and unpredictable CEO Lu and learn from him."

"study!"

"study!"
-
Around 10 p.m., at Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport, Liu Yifei and her mother had just pushed their luggage cart through the customs channel when they could see a huge crowd of people waiting to pick up passengers outside the glass wall.

Liu Yifei's return date and flight information are certainly kept confidential, but it's not uncommon for airline employees to sell celebrity schedules.

Even in the early days of the Chinese entertainment industry, news of fanatical fans hacking into airline systems to find out an artist's flight schedule was commonplace.

As soon as Liu Yifei's flight information appeared on the electronic screen, Exit D of Terminal 3 instantly turned into a boiling pot of porridge.

Nearly a hundred fans crowded the glass enclosure, holding up banners with classic stills from shows like "Chinese Paladin," "Zhu Xian," and "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," creating a scene that looked like a moving photo wall.

Two girls in school uniforms knocked over Starbucks paper cups while rushing to get to the front, and a macchiato spilled brown spider webs on the ground. The security chief's roar came through the cleaner's walkie-talkie.

Before the fairy sister could even be seen, the scene was already in complete chaos.

A fangirl, carrying a large Canon telephoto lens, charged ahead in an exaggerated manner. The lens cap was even knocked off and rolled into the gears of the moving walkway. Behind her, the fans formed a wedge-shaped charge with her as the spearhead.

The term "station sister" originated in South Korea. After TVXQ debuted in 2003, fan sites began to take shape, and the earliest station sisters emerged who worked voluntarily, with the main purpose of spreading information about their idols.

Even now, with the rise of the traffic economy and its integration into the industry chain, these are still just a group of enthusiastic fans born from the widespread adoption of digital cameras and the internet, and they are also influential figures in the fan community.

"Sissi!"

"Fairy sister!"

These two names were the most common on set, and there were also quite a few other names for the characters such as Zhao Ling'er and Lu Xueqi. It seems that every drama is very good at drawing people in.

The mother and daughter, who were standing at the corner without showing their faces, were astonished. Liu Xiaoli watched as her daughter hung up the phone and hurriedly asked, "Are you surrounded?"

"Yes, he was recognized before he even reached the glass door and got chased for a while, hehe." Liu Yifei found it amusing to think of his helpless and embarrassed appearance.

The elderly mother knew how to love her daughter. She took the Burberry plaid scarf from Liu Yifei's neck and slung it over her shoulder, then transferred Liu's fisherman's hat and sunglasses to herself.

"Alright, today your old lady will take the fall for you. Experience what it's like to be a big star!"

Liu Xiaoli was wearing a honey-colored Heritage trench coat that her daughter had bought for her in New York. The double-breasted gold buttons dazzled under the terminal's spotlights.

With sunglasses and a fisherman's hat, he really does look quite convincing.

No, it's reversed; it means using the real to confuse the fake.

After all, Xiao Liu came from her belly.

Liu Yifei smiled and pinned the rainbow-colored hair clip from her own hair to her elderly mother's hair. Looking at her from left to right, she thought that there wasn't much difference between them.

"Thank you for your trouble, Mom. Mia will accompany you later."

"Alright, hurry up and go back to your lover, or you'll turn into a butterfly in a second."

Xiao Liu playfully kissed her on the cheek: "Heroic Mother! Goodbye!"

Mia took all their suitcases, and Liu Xiaoli followed behind the tall female bodyguard, walking at a leisurely pace.

This gives fans ten meters away time to notice you, a tactic used to lure them away from their prey.

Female celebrities naturally have small faces. Liu Yifei turned up the collar of her trench coat to cover the lower half of her face, and her sunglasses covered the upper half of her face as she watched her mother walk towards the exit.

"Is that Sissi?"

"Hmm? He seems a little shorter, but that female bodyguard is right! I saw her at Hong Kong Disneyland!"

A few leading influencers and burly fan site admins glanced to the side, instantly drawing the attention of all the bandwagon fans. However, Mia's tall figure blocked their view, making it difficult for them to see clearly.

"It should be! That hair clip was given to us by the station manager of Yifei Fairy Residence, it must be Xixi!"

Even the temporary security guards dispatched from the airport were of no use, as the surging crowd of fans knocked down two rows of metal barriers.

The sound of metal clashing triggered a chain reaction, and more than twenty people rushed over from a distance. A girl in high heels stumbled and fell, but was helped up by her best friend.

However, everyone's face was full of enthusiasm, like the fearless Boxers, ready to bring the "Sissi" who had returned from studying abroad to justice.

Security personnel shouted "Keep the passageway open" through a megaphone, but Liu Xiaoli was stopped by several women from the same flight before she even reached the exit.

"Excuse me, are you Sisi? I really like you! Can we take a picture together?"

After seeing the true face of the woman in the trench coat in front of him.

"Oh, Sisi's mom! Well, actually I've been a fan of yours for twenty years, and my affection for Sisi is just a coincidence..."

When Liu Xiaoli finally arrived at the arrival gate, unable to dawdle any longer, the fans were stunned.

However, the people behind are still pushing forward, and the people in front can't get out, thus forming a stable dynamic equilibrium.

To make her flight more comfortable, Liu Yifei, wearing flat shoes, had already blended into a tour group and slipped out of the crowd from the other side.

She glanced at her mother, who was "enjoying" the treatment of a big star on her behalf, and then happily headed to the underground parking lot to meet her boyfriend.

The fans of more than twenty websites, including Yifei Xianju and Liu Yifei Chinese Website, who were caught in a dilemma, looked at Liu Xiaoli speechlessly, while she greeted them with a gentle smile.

"Kids, go home and go to sleep."

Liu Xiaoli delivered a devastating blow with a laugh: "Qianqian and her boyfriend went back, they're probably on the airport expressway by now."

"what!!!"

The arena erupted in wails.

Aunt Liu! Your calling us "children" is so heartwarming, but this boyfriend of yours makes us feel like we've fallen into an ice cave!

However, it was the male fans who were heartbroken, looking at Liu Xiaoli with utter despair.

Female fans have already embraced this couple with the attitude of "if I can't resist, I'll just enjoy it."

Men hate washing machines, but women only envy Xiao Liu.

He's a genius director, the richest man, and the chief director of the Olympics. What are you thinking?

I'd be willing to be Sisi's maid!

"Aunt Liu, when is Qianqian getting married to Director Lu?"

Before Liu Xiaoli could answer, a college student with acne interrupted her: "What are you saying! What are you saying!"

"That's right, don't talk nonsense, Aunt Liu won't agree."

"Yes, I disagree too."

"Me too!"

Liu Xiaoli covered her mouth and laughed: "Let them do whatever they want, I can't control this."

She had just received a signed book when she found it a little funny: "Young man, do you want me to sign Liu Xiaoli or Liu Yifei?"

When the male college student heard that Liu Yifei was getting married, he felt utterly heartbroken and said bitterly, "Aunt Liu, I'll sign you! I'll be your fan starting today!"

"Aunt Liu, you...you're not getting married, are you?"

The audience burst into laughter, making the veteran dancer blush deeply.

"Go away! This kid." Liu Xiaoli didn't bother arguing with the college students; in her eyes, these fans were adorably silly.

The heroic mother lured the tiger away from the mountain, and Princess Sissi had already turned into an excited chatterbox in the car.

"You have no idea how clever I am. I borrowed a little red hat from an auntie in the tour group and slipped out without anyone recognizing me."

"I feel so sorry for my mom. I just talked to Mia on the phone and heard that her hand is cramping up from signing autographs."

Boss Lu laughed and said, "That's great. I'm planning to sign her to Wenjie and let her debut right here. What do you think?"

Like a chick protecting its mother hen, Xiao Liu angrily retorted, "You capitalist, you'll stop at nothing!"

"Don't harm others, come at me!"

The car stopped as soon as it entered Wenyuhefu. Afei immediately turned around to pick up Liu Xiaoli and the other person. The drive from the airport only took 15 or 20 minutes.

When he rushed back, the newly debuted dancer might not have been able to get away yet.

Liu Yifei's older sister fans and auntie fans have all become Liu Xiaoli's daughter fans.

In late November, the north wind was already biting in Beiping. At around 11 p.m., the Wenyu River was covered with thin, brittle ice. Liu Yifei's cashmere scarf brushed against Lu Kuan's hand, sparking static electricity.

"It's too cold, let's go inside quickly. Don't get cold."

"Hmm~"

This is a coquettish tone of denial, first in the second tone and then in the fourth tone. It implies that love makes even water taste sweet, and clearly the young girl is also in love and not afraid of the cold.

The Spanish-imported wrought iron railway lamps were placed every fifteen meters, their warm light reflecting off Liu Yifei's pearl earrings and flickering with her steps.

Liu Yifei stopped and looked up at the wide road. The warm yellow light filtered through the Spanish wrought iron lampshade and condensed into an amber spot on the tip of her nose.

At that moment, she felt an immense sense of peace and joy.

Finally home.

Although he had made several trips back and forth in the past two years, this time he completely resolved all the issues in the United States.

I got my diploma, dealt with the Twitter issue, spent a few days with Iris Chang, and also sold the house in Chicago.

Before returning home, she followed her boyfriend's instructions and visited Michelle, an old neighbor from Hyde Park.

However, her Black husband, who is obsessed with fame and fortune, did not have time to meet with this Chinese-American actress.

Now, they're finally back.

He left two years ago with regret and endless sorrow, and when he returned, he was with his lover, with whom he had become one in body and soul.

Life's experiences filled her with emotion. She tilted her head back with tender affection, her eyelashes casting a gentle, trembling arc of shadow on her eyelids, like the curve of a black swan folding its wings.

Are you happy I'm back?

"I'm happy."

Liu Yifei wrapped her arms around his neck, the coral color of her lipstick still visible in the lines at the corners of her lips: "Really? When I get back, someone will be keeping an eye on you."

"Your filth, your sluts and monsters will soon be exposed!"

Mr. Lu said helplessly, "I live a more austere life than a monk now. You can check the goods tonight if you don't believe me."

His girlfriend chuckled, "We can't get a test now. Have you forgotten my due date?"

"Hmm..." Washing Machine looked annoyed. Counting the time she spent in Italy last time, it seemed to have been these past two days. It wasn't that she was deliberately teasing her.

Liu Yifei saw him take out his phone and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Book a ticket and send it back to America for you," Boss Lu teased her in a serious tone.

"Well..."

Because of the thick winter clothes, Liu Yifei was too lazy to hit him, so she jumped onto the washing machine and bit him instead.

It was precisely because of her long, beautiful legs that she could effortlessly wrap her arms around her boyfriend.

The metal buckle of the leather ankle boots dig into his lower back, and the force with which his arms hooked around his neck caused them to stumble half a step.

Lu Kuan instinctively supported her buttocks and legs, his palms sinking into the soft texture of her denim through the fabric of her jeans, while two sharp creases appeared at the knees of her trousers.

Liu Yifei took a bite as a form of revenge but couldn't bring herself to bite harder. The couple, who had been separated for more than two months, were now cuddling under the streetlights of a private estate on the banks of the Wenyu River.

Xiao Liu suddenly felt something cool and refreshing hit her eyelashes: "Wow! It's snowing!"

Lu Kuan opened his eyes, and the fine snowflakes shattered between their intertwined eyelashes. A snowflake landed right on her slightly parted lips, and as it was swept away by her tongue, it turned into a glistening liquid, spreading the sweetness of her coral lipstick.

Just like her mood right now.

Do you remember the first time we got soaked in the snow together?

He was about to continue chewing on his girlfriend's washing machine when he was taken aback.

Damn it, another killer question.

He hesitated for a second or two, and he already felt the long legs around his waist getting tighter.

If he makes any mistake, this beautiful snake might strangle him to death.

"I remember! During the Chinese New Year!" The brainstorming session started again. Snow usually falls around the time of the Chinese New Year.

Liu Yifei burst out laughing: "Look at you! You're so silly."

"It was New Year's Eve in 2003. I was with Jay Chou and Sister Mei at the CCTV studio for the Spring Festival Gala. After it was over, we went back to the courtyard house together."

"Later, I pretended to sprain my ankle, and you carried me from the studio to the east exit."

Boss Lu retorted confidently, "So you are! You were plotting something against me back then!"

"Tch! Taking advantage and then acting innocent!"

"Drip!"

The car headlights in the distance switched from high beams to low beams, and as they slowly approached, the smiling old mother looked at her two young children with satisfaction.

"You guys keep going, keep going."

"Hold me tighter, don't get cold."

Xiao Liu's pretty face flushed red, and she shyly let go of her long legs, jumping off her boyfriend: "Female celebrity, you're back?"

Liu Xiaoli got out of the car and joked, "Your mom got injured while signing autographs for you, so you'd better give me a few million to get rid of me."

Liu Yifei said playfully, "That's not right. I heard from Mia that you only signed your own name, so why should I pay you?"

"You heartless brat!" The old mother was about to hit her in anger, but Liu Yifei dodged her with a smile.

"Ha ha!"

The group chatted and laughed as they entered the villa, where Chef Qiao had already prepared a sumptuous feast.

"Aunt Liu, I just had a business dinner tonight. You must not have eaten well on the plane. Please eat more."

Liu Xiaoli found this "prospective son-in-law" pleasing to the eye, praising him repeatedly. Looking at the dishes on the table, it was clear that he had put thought into them.

Sweet and sour pork, stir-fried tofu with green peppers, braised pork ribs with pickled cabbage, steamed Wuchang fish, and Huangpi Three Delicacies.

Xiao Liu also noticed something was amiss: "Chef Qiao, you've changed careers? Why aren't you cooking Huaiyang cuisine anymore?"

Old Qiao hadn't seen this young celebrity, who was about the same age as her daughter, for a long time. She enjoyed the meal very much: "I learned some simple Northeastern and Wuhan dishes to give you a change of pace."

"Please give me some feedback if you don't like it."

After saying that, he brought out two bowls of noodles: "Mr. Lu said that dumplings are served before getting on the bus and noodles are served upon getting off. I have served you two small bowls of plain noodles. Please enjoy."

Liu Xiaoli, whose ancestral home is in Northeast China and who later moved to Wuhan, was moved at that moment.

This wasn't some casual excuse to try something different; it was a genuine respect and care shown towards Liu Yifei, treating her like family.

Some people are quite reserved in their emotions, and may even unconsciously hide them, but they always inadvertently reveal a corner of warmth.

Even this small corner is incredibly precious.

She had watched Lu Kuan grow from a penniless Taoist priest to who he was today.

From skepticism to trust.

From the unsolvable paradox of worrying about his dissolute behavior and his daughter's unwavering devotion, to now being able to entrust him with complete peace of mind.

Liu Xiaoli never directly asked her daughter how he would settle his past romantic entanglements.

Just like Liu Yifei never asked Lu Kuan how to handle his relationship with Fan Bingbing, or other women she knew or didn't know.

it is more than words.

Liu Xiaoli was a little tired after the long flight, and her appetite wasn't very good due to her age. She had a simple dinner and then went back to the next room to rest.

Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei saw her off at the door. The outside world was already quite bright and clear, covered in snow.

Liu Yifei reached out and brushed the half-finger-thick layer of snow off the wrought iron railing: "I really look forward to waking up to a world covered in silver tomorrow morning!"

The sloping roof of the main villa cuts into the night sky, its tiles covered in frost, looking from a distance like it's covered in a layer of meringue frosting.

The two stood at the doorway, their breath steaming in the air. The faint hum of the heating pipes inside the walls could be heard, and the triple-glazed windows created an invisible barrier around the heating.

With the elderly mother gone, the main villa in Wenyuhe Mansion once again became a private haven for the young couple.

Safe, quiet, and cozy.

Boss Lu nodded: "We had predicted several heavy snowfalls, but none of them came. The actors who rehearsed at the Bird's Nest at night were overjoyed."

"Who knew it would snow as soon as you got back? Looks like we'll have to get some cleaning done tomorrow."

Xiao Liu rolled her eyes: "Is it my fault? I feel like you're unhappy that I came back with my period, and you're implying that you want to send me away?"

"How could that be? I even took a day off tomorrow specifically..."

Liu Yifei exclaimed excitedly, "You're accompanying me? That's great! How about we go shopping for home furnishings again tomorrow? I just looked around, and I feel like something's missing!"

Mr. Lu smiled and said, "I went to the company specifically for a meeting. The Lunar New Year film season is about to start, and I'm going to discuss the plans with them."

Seeing the little fist coming at him, he quickly hugged his girlfriend, who was about to lose her temper from being teased: "It's only for half a day. Come with me to familiarize yourself with the business. Otherwise, how can we supervise them?"

"You'll take office right after the film festival, once the New Year is over."

Xiao Liu blinked and said, "Okay..."

A gust of cold wind made her shiver, and she snuggled tightly into her boyfriend's arms.

The riverside manor, situated on higher ground, boasts a world-class security system and two professional bodyguards, Afei and Mia, who are always on guard.

Not to mention the importance of his personal safety as the chief director of the Olympics.

Snowflakes gradually dotted this small world, a world that belonged only to them.

Thinking of Lu Kuan's relentless work schedule, she felt both heartache and helplessness.

I just stood there silently gazing at the private estate before me, feeling a pang of emotion.

She had never lacked food or clothing since childhood; in modern parlance, she was financially independent before she was even twenty.

But if she were merely an actress, she would want to find peace and quiet amidst the hustle and bustle of the world's top political and economic centers, and safely possess such an inconspicuous and unassuming "private territory."

It's very difficult.

Which real estate developer in such a prime location doesn't have a deeply entrenched background?

Why did you manage to snatch up a prime piece of land in my newly opened development?
If Dong Shuangqiang hadn't used Boss Lu's name and his own connections to operate, and hadn't followed all the legal and compliant procedures and used various shells, it wouldn't have been possible for things to go so smoothly and for any future troubles to be eliminated.

Whether it's his immediate personal enjoyment, his grand business aspirations and ambitions, or his leaps forward on the path of art.

All of these require persistent and unremitting efforts.

Fortunately, I'm back now, and we can walk hand in hand together.

Liu Yifei looks forward to continuing to play a more important role in his life.

The night was long, and Boss Lu's anticipated night of passion was thwarted by the sudden bloodshed.

He was gently bound by his girlfriend like an octopus, and slept peacefully as the first snow of winter fell in Beiping outside the window.

(End of this chapter)