Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 394 Night Banquet, New Year, Sublimation (Two chapters combined into one, bonus chapter for the Alliance Leader's pig-shaped Monchhichi)
The three cars turned straight into Dongzhimen Inner Street. The red lanterns on Guijie Street swayed in the cold wind, making the illuminated "Haidilao" signboard even more eye-catching.

There were still more than a dozen customers sitting in the waiting area in front of the 24-hour Nanxincang store.

The group quietly entered the reserved private room, a large room specially set up by the restaurant that could accommodate about fifteen people.

Hu Ge, Wang Baoqiang, and others had arrived a while ago and were chatting with Yang Mi and the others.

"Sisi, the shoe shining and manicure services that Haidilao just launched are really great! Was that your idea?"

Xiao Liu remained unmoved by Yang Mi's flattery, smiling as he said, "Of course not. I just let it go. I invested over 3000 million yuan back then, and I haven't received any dividends yet."

"If there are any benefits, you guys have taken them all, eating and drinking for free!"

Upon hearing this, Baoqiang chuckled and said, "Actually, eating hot pot at home is just as good. I don't know why everyone likes to eat out."

“You don’t understand!” Yang Mi explained to him, “When you go out to eat, you’re looking for a lively atmosphere, just like how young people these days prefer to go to internet cafes to play games.”

"It's more lively when people sit together, chat and laugh!"

"In addition, Haidilao's service is well-known in the catering industry, so those who can afford it are happy to come."

By 2007, Haidilao had essentially established its service model for the rest of the company.

Whether it's free value-added services, personalized care, or a management revolution for employees, they have all gone viral, and they were even featured on "Focus Interview" for publicity and public relations in the first half of the year.

With Liu Yifei's connections, the founders, Zhang Yong and his wife, were also able to use internet tools such as blogs to organize activities and promote their products, resulting in a much better development trend than in their previous life.

Presumably, the listing and financing process in this life will come sooner.

Hu Ge was mixing the dipping sauce in his hand. He wasn't used to the sesame paste from the north, so he only mixed some chopped green onions and small red chilies: "I know Yang Mi likes playing games, she's an internet addict."

"Yeah, Xiao Xu and I often sneak off to internet cafes. Now they're called internet cafes too, and they have private rooms just like hot pot restaurants."

Da Mimi, ever the opportunist, leaned closer to Liu Yifei, who was stirring sesame paste: "Xixi, my boyfriend, Xiao Xu, is also a directing student at the Beijing Film Academy. His family has some connections and resources, and he wants to contribute to Chinese cinema."

Look at what you're saying.

"I'd like to schedule a meeting with a tour guide. Could you help me get in touch with one?"

"Huh?" Liu Yifei was taken aback. "Oh! Okay, I'll ask him when he gets back, but there's a good chance he won't be able to find the time."

“In the first few days after I came back, I would hardly have seen him if he hadn’t taken leave to attend a meeting at the company.”

Xiao Liu's words were half true and half false, but she subconsciously felt that Da Mi Mi had too many tricks up her sleeve and didn't want her boyfriend to worry about these trivial matters.

Her breasts are so big, swaying back and forth in front of me, it's so annoying to look at them!
"Okay, I'll wait for your news!"

Most female celebrities eat clear broth with vegetables, while those who are more indulgent, like Liu Yifei, might add a little sesame sauce.

Male celebrities like Hu Ge were enjoying spicy hot pot with gusto, seemingly unconcerned about the oil affecting their weight. Bao Qiang is not an idol, and Hu Ge has gradually transitioned his image in the past two years.

As for Zhu Yawen and Zhang Ruoyun, there's no need to mention them; neither of them has much of an image to maintain.

Zhang Ruoyun was quite excited at the table. Everyone present was an actor from the Beijing Film Academy, from the same lineage as him. He had also known Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei for a long time.

“Sister Yifei, my dad is going to start a new movie next year, and he will be the producer. I’m thinking of giving it a try.”

Liu Yifei asked, "A TV series? What genre?"

Yang Mi was rather sensitive about topics related to producers and directors: "Xiao Zhang's father is..."

"Director Zhang Jian, you should have heard of that Dream Zhou Club, it's run by his father."

"Oh!" Big Mimi suddenly realized. She had naturally heard of this club; it was very famous in Beijing's literary and artistic circles.

Chen Kaige and Yu Rongguang are vice presidents of the club, Chen Daoming and Zhang Fengyi are basketball players, and Feng Xiaogang, Ge You, Zhao Baogang and others are regulars on the table tennis team.

In short, the opportunity to get acquainted with various big shots in this club is very tempting for an actor with no background.

Yang Mi changed her form of address very naturally and smiled at the second-generation Beijing circle: "Ruoyun, everyone here today is an actress. We are all close friends with Qianqian. We'll think of everyone when we have the chance."

“That’s what I mean.” Zhang Ruoyun put on a childish yet bold air: “It’s an anti-Japanese war drama called ‘Snow Leopard,’ which is mainly a male-dominated drama.”

“My dad wants me to play the lead role, but I don’t think I’m sure I can do it. I’d also like to ask Director Lu for some guidance.”

"If all else fails, like he said, the role is more important than the person. It would be good for me to play a supporting role and get some experience."

Liu Yifei nodded indifferently: "I might not be free recently. When Wen Jie's 'Detective Chinatown 2' premieres in Beiping next month, you can come and join in the fun and ask him while you're at it."

"okay!"

The TV series "Snow Leopard" achieved remarkable ratings in its later years. After its premiere on Hunan TV, it consistently topped the ratings charts for both the month and the year when it was broadcast on other local channels.

The male lead, Wen Zhang, saw his salary jump from 5 yuan per episode to 70 yuan thanks to this drama.

It's worth mentioning that this script was originally designed by producer Zhang Jian for his son, but after careful consideration, including director Du Yuming and others, they felt that Wen Zhang was more suitable.

Hu Ge has a rather detached attitude. With the upcoming seasonal dramas of "Ghost Blows Out the Light" and "Tomb Raiders Notes" series, he is not lacking in resources.

Wang Baoqiang is now considered a semi-film actor. The "Detective Chinatown" series is in its second year, and he is thinking of trying an art film similar to "Cow" like Huang Bo did back then.
Zhu Yawen was quite interested, feeling that his image and temperament were similar to those of a soldier. He took the opportunity to have a couple more drinks with Zhang Ruoyun.

The latter can be considered to have officially integrated into the circle centered around Xiao Liu.

Many roles, resources, and opportunities in the entertainment industry are obtained through this kind of "mentorship" system.

The guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely, and Su Chang, Yang Mi, and others took photos and posted them on Weibo to celebrate Liu Yifei's first dinner after returning to China.

The small group, consisting of Liu Yifei's close friends and the Wenjie Artists Group, ultimately failed to make it to the second concert.

Even though she was already an adult, Liu Yifei was still ordered to go home by her mother with a phone call.

Everyone said their goodbyes, except for Su Chang, who went with Young Master Liu to Wenyu River Mansion to "serve him in bed".

"When did Boss Lu buy this house here? Just to keep you, his darling, hidden away?"

"Can't you speak properly? 'Keeping a mistress in a golden house' is now more like 'keeping a mistress hidden away,' okay? How can you be so uncultured?"

Mr. Lu decided to transform this place into a private estate in July or August. Although the main buildings for living have been completed and ventilated long ago, many ground facilities are still under construction.

Therefore, apart from Dong Shuangqiang, who orchestrated the whole thing, none of his relatives and friends know about it yet.

"Is there anything special about this villa area? Why would people choose to stay here instead of living in such nice courtyard houses?"

Liu Yifei covered her mouth and laughed, "You'll find out soon enough, Afei. Let's drop us off at the door later."

"I just ate, so I'm taking a walk to aid digestion."

"Ok."

The night was as dark as ink. The Maybach 62S rolled over the asphalt road along the Wenyu River, the rustling sound of the tires rubbing against the ground like silkworms eating mulberry leaves.

Su Chang pressed his face against the car window, his pupils widening as the manor gate drew near—the copper-plated, carved gate gleamed with a dark gold hue in the moonlight, and slid open slowly like the jawbone of a giant beast.

"What kind of developer is this? They'll go bankrupt if they build doors with such high-quality materials!"

"Where are the security guards? Why aren't there any security guards on duty?"

Liu Yifei smiled without saying a word, then pulled the curious Su Chang out of the car. The chill of the winter night, along with the moisture from the Wenyu River, rushed towards them.

"Alright, welcome to visit, Changchang."

Su Chang stood in confusion at the entrance of what she thought was a villa area: "What? Which building? And why is it so empty inside? Which idiot developer did this? The spacing between the buildings?"

"All."

"what?"

Liu Yifei laughed and said, "Don't you often make fun of Lu Kuan, that nouveau riche? He bought this whole place, and it's being renovated."

"They publicly claim it's a welfare housing area for senior executives of Wenjie, but it's actually all to satisfy the selfish desires of the washing machine company. Isn't that despicable?"

Su Chang's expression was exaggerated: "We've been shouting 'Fight the landlord! Fight the landlord!' for so many years, but I never thought my boss was the biggest landlord. How outrageous!"

"I want to be a landlord too!"

Ah Fei must have already arrived at his main building. He turned on the streetlights and the light strips throughout the manor, and the world in Su Chang's eyes suddenly came to life.

The copper-plated, carved gate closed silently behind us; even the mechanical friction noise as the hinges turned was swallowed up in the stillness.

Moonlight spilled down, making the 70,000-square-meter estate look like an enchanted castle.

The artificial lake was covered with a thin layer of ice, reflecting the glass lamps of the fishing platform on the opposite shore.

The light penetrated the withered stems of the reeds, shattering into gold foil beneath the ice.

The transplanted Chinese scholar tree has gnarled branches, and the Israeli drip irrigation system embedded in its roots is seeping out thin streams. The sound of water gurgling into the ground makes it seem as if the whole land is breathing in the dark.

The main villa, situated on higher ground not far away, was outlined clearly by the stripes of light.

Su Chang wasn't someone who hadn't seen the world, but he was genuinely stunned by the sight before him and unconsciously swore, "Holy crap! It's so damn beautiful!"

"Liu Yifei, I really didn't know you were living such a good life. Is it too late for me to recognize you as my god-sister?"

"Save me a building too, no! Just a room will do!"

She is four months younger than Liu Xiaoli and had previously jokingly referred to herself as Liu Xiaoli's goddaughter.

Liu Yifei laughed and said, "Let's see how you perform. See if you can serve me well tonight!"

Once Granny Su entered the Grand View Garden, she naturally wanted to explore the surroundings.

She sighed heavily again when she saw the newly adjusted smart ceiling of the heated swimming pool slowly close, and the shimmering light spots on the ceiling, like an underwater palace, as the water rippled across the surface.

"Sisi, when I have a baby, you'll be the first person I want to hold."

"what?"

"You're so lucky, may my child benefit from your good fortune."

Liu Yifei covered her mouth and laughed, "Is it really necessary? You're quite wealthy yourself now, aren't you?"

"Besides, these are all extravagant things from the washing machine. He's the most flamboyant one; the only place in the entire manor that I decorated was his living quarters."

The two had barely exchanged a few words when Xiao Liu's phone rang.

"Hurry back, my mom's urging me to go. I'll take you for a walk again tomorrow morning."

Liu Xiaoli hadn't seen Su Chang for a long time either. She held Su Chang's hand and asked about her life and career. Seeing that it was almost midnight, she went back to her own place.

The night at Wenyuhe Mansion was quiet and profound. The lights in the manor gradually went out, leaving only a few ground lamps casting a warm yellow glow.

Liu Yifei and Su Chang were on the bed in the guest room. The mattress was made of German gel memory foam, which Liu Yifei personally selected. It provides good support for the lower back and is very suitable for actors.

Xiao Liu turned to the side and pressed the button to turn off the headboard. The starry night lamp went out, leaving only moonlight filtering through the gauze curtains and casting a thin silver line on the bridge of her nose.

These two best friends haven't slept together in a long time, and they're whispering to each other in bed right now.

What did Fan Bingbing talk to you about today?

"Something really boring, about the road width."

Su Chang asked curiously, "That photo from two years ago on your birthday..."

"is her."

Su Chang was the one who helped her best friend copy the edited video to the large screen backend computer, and she was also the first to know about Xiao Liu's confession plan.

Her relationship with Liu Yifei began during the filming of "The Story of a Noble Family" in 2002. Combined with her relationship with Zhuang Xu, she was arguably the closest person to him besides Lu Kuan.

The moonlight, like crumpled silver foil, seeped in through the gaps in the gauze curtains, spreading a shimmering shallow beach on the double bed.

Liu Yifei curled up in the off-white down comforter, her long, seaweed-like hair scattered on the pillow: "Fan Bingbing confronted me in New York, saying she wouldn't give up."

"The same statement was made tonight, which was quite boring."

Su Chang was startled, displaying a rather anxious tone, like an eunuch more worried than the emperor: "Why?! This is too..."

Xiao Liu laughed and said, "Don't worry about her. If she's so capable, go ahead and use it on the washing machine. Don't talk to me."

"Do you have that much faith in him?"

Liu Yifei was silent for a few seconds: "I don't believe he can change his philandering nature so quickly."

"But I believe that in order not to hurt me, he will restrain his desires and gradually play the role of a good boyfriend."

Su Chang searched her memory: "The last time we slept together and talked was in May 2005. I remember it very clearly."

"He just finished filming a tea ceremony video for Mytube during the day, and then you find out online that he was doing laundry in Cannes again, and you're furious!"

"That day, we were lying in bed like this, the moonlight shining on your cheek, and you told me you wanted to be at your birthday party..."

Liu Yifei chuckled: "Haha, did you think I was stupid back then?"

"It's not just stupid, it's insane. Why would you give up being a top female celebrity and gamble your future like this? But there's nothing we can do about it."

Su Chang laughed and said, "I was just teasing you about your good fortune, but you earned it yourself. Fan Bingbing can't help being envious and jealous."

"She and Yanzi seem to be very daring, but their so-called daring always comes with conditions."

"The premise is to leave yourself a way out, so that you don't end up with no way out after a great victory."

Su Chang reached out and poked her best friend's delicate cheek: "But you're different, you're really risking your life."

"That day I was thinking, you are Zhao Min, right? You should use the move 'Heaven and Earth Together' to fight Boss Lu to the death. It's either success or death."

At this moment, Liu Yifei, in the posture of a victor, sleeps in the love nest of the two of them. Now, when she recalls the impulsiveness of her "youth", she only finds it very interesting.

"Hey? Have you thought about when to marry him?"

Xiao Liu was taken aback: "Huh? This topic seems so sudden."

Su Chang angrily slapped her best friend: "What's the point of dating? You should get married as soon as possible to establish your position and scare away those slutty and cheap women."

Xiao Liu shook his head and laughed, "Don't be so deliberate. Are you going to force someone to date when they're 18, and then force them to get married when they're 20?"

"Am I really that worthless?"

Su Chang had reservations about this. You are an unapproachable fairy in front of others, but in front of the washing machine, you are like a worthless village girl.

Xiao Liu stretched comfortably, turned over, and prepared to go to sleep: "We've been dating for over three months, and everything is so wonderful right now. I just want to keep going at this pace."

"You know I'm actually quite laid-back, but he's been pushing me forward, and now I can finally relax and enjoy life."

"That's pretty good..."

The two women chatted for a while, then their voices gradually faded, and they both fell into a deep sleep.
-
Daxing has an air force unit at Nanyuan Airport, which is also China's oldest military airport. After it resumed operation in 2005, it was operated by China United Airlines, but its military attributes have not been completely removed.

On the 24th, Lu Kuan conducted a closed-loop drill at the Daxing military base to ignite drones. Cai Guoqiang's fireworks display was not very effective due to the low humidity after the rain, and repeated tests were needed, so the drill was postponed for another day.

I didn't get home until the early hours of November 28th.

Pushing open the main building's door, the motion-sensor light in the entryway quietly illuminated, casting his shadow obliquely onto the Italian gray marble floor.

Boss Lu walked quietly. Only an amber floor lamp was lit in the living room, and the light spread across the sofa as thickly as melting honey.

It was late at night, and the girlfriend, who was waiting for her beloved to return home, was asleep on the sofa.

Liu Yifei was curled up in a fluffy cashmere blanket, with half of her white, jade-like calves peeking out from under her nightgown.

She held the remote control loosely in her left hand, hovering over the edge of the sofa, while her right hand remained on Garfield's fluffy tail, still in a stroking motion.

Boss Lu put down his luggage and tiptoed closer, watching the moonlight shine through the gauze curtains of the French windows, casting a soft, glaze-like glow on her profile.

The shadow cast by her eyelashes trembled gently with her breath, as beautiful as a painting.

Unfortunately, Garfield didn't recognize his male owner and hissed and bared his teeth at the stranger until he woke up his female owner.

"Oh! You're back!" Garfield, the cat used to satisfy her need for intimacy, was instantly forgotten. Liu Yifei, with her eyes half-open and half-closed, embraced her boyfriend.

Boss Lu laughed and said, "I was planning to take advantage of you while you were asleep, but this fat cat ruined my plans."

"Really? Then can I pretend to be asleep again?" Little Liu winked at him charmingly, looking like she was asking for his help.

Lu Kuan hugged her and kissed her sweetly: "Haha, absence makes the heart grow fonder, look how well-behaved you are now."

Unfortunately, Liu Xiaolv was obedient for less than three seconds before disdainfully covering his chin: "Your beard is growing way too fast! You've only been here three or four days and you're already looking like a wild man!"

"And you still smell of smoke on you, go take a shower!"

Boss Lu raised an eyebrow at her: "Isn't the sauna room already installed? Come with me to take a bath and steam for a while."

His girlfriend seemed to sense the romantic scene that was about to unfold, and with a slightly flushed face, she patted him lightly: "You go first, I'll get you your clothes."

The sauna at Wenyuhe Manor is hidden on the basement floor of the main villa. The wall panels made of imported Finnish Nordic spruce wood are infused with the scent of pine resin, and the intelligent temperature control panel is embedded in a copper base shaped like an elk antler.

Consort Liu sat on the top of the trapezoidal wooden couch, her hairpins securing her long, coiled hair at an angle, with stray strands sticking to her sweaty nape.

Lu Kuan was adjusting the dry steam mode: "This imported gadget is pretty high-end. Have you used it these past few days?"

Xiao Liu nodded: "I didn't know how to use it, so I just fiddled with it for a bit. The orange blossom scented diffuser next to your hand is the one I changed. Doesn't it smell nice?"

"Hmm, not bad." Boss Lu fully demonstrated his role as a man by changing light bulbs and fixing water pipes, taking care of everything before casually sitting down next to his girlfriend.

Lu Kuan's stomach growled twice, eliciting a coquettish scolding from his girlfriend: "You lecherous devil, you don't even eat and you're already thinking about doing bad things."

Liu Yifei was wrapped in a spruce fiber bath towel, which barely covered her upper legs.

Her expression was both shy and mischievous, as she curled up on the edge of the spruce chaise longue, her toes unconsciously digging into the wood grain, like a cat dizzy from the heat.

"Hehe, I've been missing you these past few days."

Liu Yifei crossed her arms and glanced at him sideways: "If you can take your hands off my legs now, this might sound a little more believable."

Boss Lu had already played with her from legs to feet, and showed no sign of letting go: "Look at what you're saying, Lao Mouzi and the others are still sleeping at the army base tonight, while I rushed back under the stars and moon."

"I'm just worried that you'll be lonely and bored spending two days alone in your empty room."

Xiao Liu covered her mouth and laughed, "No need, I slept with Changchang yesterday, and the experience was quite good."

"If you're really too busy, I'll allow you to pass by your home three times without going in, that's fine too, haha."

The twenty-year-old girl laughed so hard she trembled, the rising steam making her cheeks flush like the peach blossoms in March, her eyelashes adorned with fine water droplets.

The dim overhead light in the sauna made her lips appear three times more vibrant than usual, and she gently bit her lip with her pearly teeth.

The bugle call to charge sounded, and the flag-raising ceremony began.

Boss Lu opened the glass door a crack to let in some air, and thoughtfully placed two more bath towels on the cedarwood couch: "This is softer, so your knees won't hurt."

"What...what are you going to do?"

The acting coach for a rising star in the Chinese entertainment industry has arrived: "You haven't forgotten Grotowski's 'cat stretch,' have you?"

Liu Xiaolv was manipulated like a clumsy puppet, only turning back to glare at him fiercely before blushing and doing as he was told.

Boss Lu then casually picked up a birchwood ladle, poured half a ladle of water onto the stone stove, and white steam erupted, instantly engulfing the two of them.

Gods fight.

Enchanting celestial music played amidst the hazy mist. Liu Yifei's wet hair clung to her neck, the ends curling into alluring arcs, like the deliberate white strokes left by a calligrapher at the end of a stroke.

The rising steam condensed into two small pools of hot spring water in the hollow of the collarbone, and the undried water droplets rolled down the swan's neck.

After a long while, they finally stopped.

Outside the sauna's floor-to-ceiling glass doors is a 16°C constant temperature mist shower room, with the Swedish Duravit showerhead preset with an Alpine spring mode.

The two sat on a marble bench, and Liu Yifei carefully shaved her boyfriend and washed his body.

Boss Lu laughed and said, "I'll do it myself. You're still panting. Go wash up and rest in bed first."

Xiao Liu wrapped a clean bath towel around her chest, her nose wrinkled into cute little creases, and her eyelashes fluttered with moisture: "I slept for a while before you came back, so I'm not sleepy."

"Oh~ You've been conserving your energy for so long, how come you're still so useless?"

Boss Lu was halfway through flirting when his girlfriend gently kicked him with the back of her foot. Her rounded toenails were a pale pink, like five tiny cherry blossom petals.

"You're not allowed to laugh at me! It's all because you're too..."

"Hahaha!" Seeing how shy and cute she was, Lu Kuan pinched her chin and gave her a brief, indirect taste.

He then took the initiative, tearing open her bathrobe to wash and dry her, before surrounding the playful little bunny and carrying the fragrant and soft beauty back to the room.

Moonlight streamed into the master bedroom through the smart dimming glass, its silvery glow gently draping the couple's bedding like a veil.

Liu Yifei nestled in Lu Kuan's arms, her hair still carrying the damp scent of shower gel, gently brushing against his collarbone with each breath.

How's the company doing these past few days?

"Everything is normal. The monitoring center has found a few minor cases, which are being processed through the proper procedures."

Xiao Liu seemed to remember something: "Liu Qiangdong and Dong Shuangqiang couldn't get through to you on the phone today, but they briefly told me about their inspection of Yunnan Province."

"Oh, I called them back later, it's okay."

Liu Yifei asked curiously, "Why is the logistics base located in Yunnan Province? Shouldn't it be in Chengdu or Chongqing to serve the southwest?"

"Yunnan Province has offered some favorable policies, and we are considering the actual situation of our investigation. We haven't made a decision yet."

Boss Lu made up a lie on the spot, but the truth was that he wanted to avoid next year and rebuild the logistics base of Wenjie Mall in Chengdu and other places.

As for Yunnan Province, if the assessment results show no potential or realistic conditions for cross-border e-commerce, a small-scale investment in a logistics hub can be made as a condition for cooperation, promoting the e-commerce operation of local high-value-added products such as Pu'er tea and coffee.

As for the accompanying film and television works, it will depend on the situation and resources will be invested based on mutually beneficial and equal circumstances.

"Oh, by the way, Yang Mi has a boyfriend named Xiao Xu, and she'd like to ask you to meet him."

“I asked Chen Zhixi to check, and it turns out that the family owns a coal mining company in Shanxi Province and doesn’t have any official status.”

Liu Yifei was quite cautious and didn't want anyone to try to use her connections to make requests, which would only cause her trouble.

"Coal mine owners, we can meet them, but what we lack right now is not money, but relationships with local governments."

“Wanda has accelerated its pace this year. The Tiantongyuan Longde Plaza store will open in January next year. It is estimated that their total number of screens will reach about 230, only 20 fewer than ours.”

Xiao Liu nodded thoughtfully. She wasn't so amateurish as to ask the question of why Wanda Cinemas, with fewer screens, could still maintain a leading market share over Wenjie.

In fact, the output of Wanda Cinemas, which integrates shopping, dining and entertainment and can attract a large number of consumers, is incomparable to that of other cinema chains in terms of single-screen output.

Only through better and faster deployment can we gain a competitive advantage.

As the two chatted, Mr. Lu's fingertips unconsciously twirled around her long hair, his fingertips occasionally brushing against a small mole on her neck, causing her to bury her face deeper into her shoulder.

"It itches..." his girlfriend protested indistinctly, her voice like honey-soaked cotton, softly sinking into his chest.

"Have you rested enough?"

Liu Yifei rolled her eyes at her boyfriend: "No, I have 24 hours to cool down. Let's talk again at the same time tomorrow."

Boss Lu chuckled, speechless: "Huh?"

"You even figured out the cooldown time? But it's okay."

"I have a key that can reset your cooldown timer, but the key might need some lubrication..."

Having already tasted the sweetness, Xiao Liu playfully punched him: "Why are you in such a hurry? It's like you haven't eaten for years."

"Isn't it your fault? Who could resist someone so charming? Would you even be a man?"

He showered his girlfriend with flattery, making her feel like a dazed kitten. Under the silk quilt, her cold insteps pressed against Lu Kuan's warm ankles, like vines finding a tree to lean on, half-heartedly, half-coerced, yet still seduced.

Having not eaten dinner, Boss Lu could only gnaw on the cherries on the ice cream cake to quench his hunger.

The night wind swept across the Wenyu River, shattering the moonlight in the reeds, leaving only the steady breathing of the two men in the master bedroom.

No sleep for one night.

After a brief separation, the young couple's happy cohabitation life officially got on track.

Mr. Lu still prioritizes the Olympic cause, and together with Zhang Yimou and the creative team, they continuously discuss, innovate, and improve the cultural performance programs.

In fact, from the two rounds of bidding for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics, to the discussions throughout 2006, and finally to the final push that began in 2007, almost no program was able to be preserved intact.

Even the best programs, under the brainstorming sessions and clear instructions from superiors, inevitably require some minor adjustments.
Any changes require an immediate assessment of personnel and material budgets, followed by a procurement list with the assistance of the costume and props department.

Therefore, the bidding and negotiation work, which requires the most time and effort, is ultimately entrusted to him. The one who signs the documents and is responsible to the Organizing Committee is always the chief director.

With a total budget not exceeding 8.2 million RMB, it's not good to spend too much money, nor is it good to leave it unspent; it's just that the latter is less likely.

Liu Yifei has completely transformed into a white-collar worker. Every day, Afei would first take Boss Lu to the Olympic Building, and then drive two kilometers further to take her to the Wenjie Building.

Director Liu, who strikes fear into the hearts of everyone at Wenjie Holdings, clocks in for work, and every instruction issued from the monitoring center makes those who play dirty tricks tremble with fear.

In addition to rigorously investigating corruption, assessments of the administrative efficiency of various subsidiaries and oversight of dereliction of duty have also been put on the agenda.

The key issue is that this female celebrity in the Chinese entertainment industry is someone who can never be controlled and who holds supreme authority, which is very frustrating.

If you can't change the company or the environment, then you can only change yourself.

In just one month, the work atmosphere and morale of the entire group have been completely renewed.
-
The essence of pleasure is the transcendence of time. When the mind and senses are filled with ultimate beauty, the torrent of neurotransmitters alters the perception of time.

Therefore, happy times always pass quickly. For example, a couple's happy month of living together will soon be over by the end of the year.

On the evening of December 31, 2007, Mr. Lu invited the core management team of Wenjie Holdings, artists, and directors.
Jaylen flew in from Taiwan to prepare for the roadshow for "Secret".

Mei Yanfang, who served as the charity ambassador for the rebroadcast of "Tangshan" during the Lunar New Year season, had a dinner party with Xiao Liu's best friends and acquaintances in Beijing at a luxury mansion in Wenyuhefu.

The group toured, strolled, and chatted in the manor.

In front of the main villa, Da Mimi greeted the host excitedly: "Director Lu, it's been a long time!"

"Hello, Yang Mi." Boss Lu nodded to her and said gently, "I heard from Qianqian that your boyfriend wants to meet me. Your family is in the coal mining business, right?"

"Ah...yes, hehe." Da Mimi seemed a little awkward.

Just as she was thinking of subtly releasing her sexual tension in front of him, she mentioned that she was already taken, and the spell was immediately interrupted.

I wonder if "someone else's girlfriend" is a plus for a washing machine...

"Do you have time recently? It's a private party today, so I didn't bring him along."

Boss Lu nodded: "Next month, for the premiere of 'Detective Chinatown 2,' bring him along for a chat, otherwise I'll be going abroad soon."

"Okay, no problem. He's also from the directing department at Beijing Film Academy and he admires you a lot..."

Liu Xiaoli was directing the nanny to prepare dishes and fruits inside the house when she looked up and saw Da Mimi laughing and jumping around. She felt uncomfortable and made an excuse to leave.

"Xiao Lu, everyone from your company is in the conference room. I'll have someone send some fruit over."

Boss Lu turned around and said calmly, "Okay, Auntie, thank you for your hard work."

He glanced at his watch: "We need to have a short meeting. Why don't you and Sisi show everyone around? We can have dinner together afterwards. It should be about the same time."

Liu Xiaoli shook the water off her hands, smiled and agreed, then turned and went upstairs to find her silly daughter.

As someone who's been through it all, the mother felt she had to give her daughter a little reminder, even if it was just a cynical thought, it wasn't a big deal.

Like the other guests who had the opportunity to visit before, Liu Yifei led everyone on a leisurely stroll along the Wenyu River, exploring the private estate that covers more than 7 square meters in the dim light of dusk.

The heated swimming pool, caged court, tennis court, and other facilities that began renovations at the end of July have all been completed. The various functional areas are arranged in a well-organized manner, basically meeting the living needs of the wealthy resident of Datuhao Road.

Su Chang, who had previously visited the Grand View Garden, pointed to a white house and asked in confusion, "Is this the only one here? What's it used for?"

"This is the spa center." Liu Yifei led everyone inside, looking at the various professional equipment with a somewhat speechless expression:

"That's a Hocoma underwater treadmill from Switzerland, used for sports rehabilitation."

He then pointed to the bathtub-shaped object to the south: "That's an Asahi Kasei microbubble bathtub, used to promote blood circulation after exercise."

Xiao Liu thought for a moment, feeling a little embarrassed, and said awkwardly, "I've only used these two so far. To be honest, I don't know much about the others. They're probably related to exercise recovery."

Da Mimi exclaimed in surprise, "These are all things we've never seen before. The richest man is really something else!"

"Does it work? I'd like to get one too." These words came from Jeremy, whose ankylosing spondylitis has been a persistent problem, requiring frequent physical therapy.

"It's alright, Sisi comes to exercise and recover every day."

Liu Xiaoli glanced at Yang Mi without showing any emotion, recalling how "lively" Yang Mi had been when she greeted Lu Kuan earlier, and smiled nonchalantly:
"When she was a teenager, she got so into those wire work and action scenes that she developed some hidden injuries that she needs to take care of."

"Xiao Lu specifically sought out the old Chinese medicine doctor, Mr. Xia, who used to live in the courtyard house, for physiotherapy, and also bought these rehabilitation equipment from a professional sports organization abroad."

"We don't know what it's for either. A professional coach he brought from abroad will come and give us some pointers in a couple of days."

The elderly mother turned to her eldest daughter and asked, "Xiao Lu said she was providing services for that British football team... what's their name again?"

“Chelsea, we call them Chelsea in Cantonese.” Mei Yanfang smiled and put her arm around Liu Yifei’s shoulder: “You two are getting along really well, you’ve even brought in the experts who do rehabilitation for top players.”

Even with Jay Chou's girlfriends teasing and joking around, Liu Yifei, who doesn't usually show affection in public, blushed a little: "He's the kind of person who values ​​his life the most, so he's making a big deal out of nothing with me. Actually, I just have some minor neck problems."

Mui Yin-fong laughed and said, "You're still young and don't know the consequences. Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung's joints are aching terribly on rainy days."

"You'll definitely have action scenes to film in the future, so don't leave any health problems behind, or you'll suffer when you're old."

"Furthermore, women need to nourish their vital energy, which is also good for your future baby."

She then turned to Liu Xiaoli, and the two oldest women present chimed in, "Xiaoli, Xiaolu is so thoughtful. Qianqian is going to have a good life from now on."

"Yes, yes, it's so nice to see them like this." The old mother couldn't stop smiling, secretly praising the Hong Kong big sister for her sharp ears and eyes.

Liu Yifei blushed deeply at the mention of "baby." She still couldn't understand why Mei Yanfang and Liu Xiaoli, both over 50, had such an obsession with and expectation for the next generation.

Especially for Anita Mui, who spent her life searching for love but never found it, the blow of being diagnosed with cervical cancer in later life was immense.

She didn't agree to the abortion at first because she wanted to have her own child.

Jay Chou chimed in, "Looks like we need to work harder to make money. When are Ah-Kuan and Sissi getting married? We can't even afford a wedding gift without a red envelope worth tens of millions."

Tang Yan said timidly, "Brother Jielun, if you put it that way, we'll have to earn money for almost ten years to afford to attend Qianqian's wedding..."

Su Chang frowned: "I don't think it's too late for her to get married at 30."

Xiao Liu gave her a light slap on the bottom with a slight frown.

Su Chang, rubbing his backside, sneered, "See? She's getting anxious, she's getting anxious!"

Everyone present laughed good-naturedly.

Xiao Liu chatted and laughed as he led everyone away from the spa and continued walking along the cobblestone path.

Yang Mi deliberately lagged behind the group, her fingernails unconsciously digging into the quilted pattern of her Chanel bag chain, her gaze fixed on Liu Yifei's delicate profile.

Da Mimi's lips twitched slightly, then tightened into a taut line.

She had just smiled more sweetly than anyone else, but the flame of jealousy in her heart could not be extinguished.

Like Bingbing, she was a chosen one in the entertainment industry; without ambition, she wouldn't have achieved her later success and status.

That's understandable; who doesn't want to improve?
Especially after seeing this 70,000-square-meter estate, a secluded gem in the heart of the world's top political and economic center, Da Mimi desperately wanted to take its place.

Thinking about her boyfriend, who was not exactly mediocre but was still worlds apart from Lu Kuan, she was almost obsessed.

Looking at her best friend, who was as happy as a flower, she couldn't help but think maliciously—

How wonderful it would be to wear Liu Yifei's pajamas, to the bedroom she personally decorated, and to make love with the strong and muscular Boss Lu!

As the group passed the east side of the manor, Mei Yanfang pointed to what appeared to be a vegetable garden and asked, "Xiaoli, is this your territory?"

The elderly mother smiled and said, "Yes, actually I'm not very good at these things, I'm still learning."

Su Chang's jealousy was practically overflowing: "Qianqian, a former national 'Five-One Project' award-winning dancer, personally grows vegetables for you to eat."

What good deeds did you do in your past life?

Liu Xiaoli waved her hand and laughed, "It's not that exaggerated. It's just that I don't always have to follow Qianqian around anymore. She just plays around at home when she has nothing to do."

"It's such a small place, not tiring at all."

Liu Yifei said helplessly, "My mother saw on the news that there was some kind of black-hearted meat in Xinle, Hebei Province, and Sudan Red incident in red-yolk duck eggs. There was also pesticide poisoning in the rapeseed in her hometown in Northeast China. In short, a whole bunch of things!"

"So she set up this vegetable garden, and I even doubted whether she could actually grow crops."

The 2007 incident did expose many food safety problems, and the well-known milk and gutter oil incidents that followed prompted the enactment of the Food Safety Law in 2009.

For wealthy families like these who have no financial worries, focusing on their health and food safety becomes their primary concern.

Lu Kuan and Xiao Liu both had their own careers to attend to, so Liu Xiaoli, who had nothing else to do, began to take care of these trivial matters.

From the meat, eggs, milk, and vegetables at home to the medical-grade air purification system that equips the entire house, it's all done in one go.

This can be considered as the elderly mother contributing her remaining energy.

Liu Xiaoli patted her daughter lightly: "I'm just learning. I've never done these things in my life. I'm just worrying about you two."

The group continued walking and visited the director's professional-grade audio-visual creation space, including the editing room and virtual production studio equipped with Dolby Atmos.

It features a custom-designed soundproof 7.1 surround sound private cinema, a temperature- and humidity-controlled wine cellar, and an eco-friendly glass greenhouse where Liu Xiaoli grows flowers.

After a grueling 40-minute tour, everyone shared a common sentiment—

Putting everything else aside, when it comes to enjoying life, no one can surpass her.

In the conference room, Boss Lu glanced at his watch and finally asked Ning Hao, "Where should we hold the premiere?"

"Let's have our 4K cinema in Wangfujing. It's a big place and has become a landmark now."

"Dong dong!"

Before Lu Kuan could speak, a crisp knock on the door interrupted him, and a pretty head with a bun hairstyle peeked in:

"Hmm... Should we stop for a moment and talk after we finish eating?"

Mr. Lu glanced at his subordinates' expressions, then reluctantly closed his notebook: "Alright then, we'll do as Director Liu says."

Everyone laughed.

The night sky over Wenyuhe Mansion unfolds like a silken ribbon, and the lights of the main building reflect on the artificial lake like scattered gold.

Crystal wind chimes hang from the branches of the century-old Chinese locust tree, tinkling gently in the evening breeze and harmonizing with the clinking of glasses among the guests.

The restaurant's long table was laden with a fusion of Chinese and Western delicacies, and everyone chatted and laughed, with bursts of laughter frequently erupting throughout the meal.

Dongzi was born in northern Jiangsu, specifically in the Suhuai-Xu region of Jiangsu Province.

This place borders Shandong and Henan provinces, where drinking is very common, so I became the most active person at the banquet tonight, toasting everyone around.

After a few rounds of drinks, he tapped his glass like a madman and walked over to Liu Yifei: "Director Liu, I have to toast you again."

"Although the company has undergone a major internal restructuring recently, Wenjie Mall has experienced the fewest problems."

"But it's obvious to the naked eye that everyone's work efficiency has improved significantly. To put it bluntly, even the clerks' bathroom breaks have been shortened considerably!"

Everyone burst into laughter. Jiang Beichun glared resentfully at the conspicuous man. Everyone at the table was very intelligent; who didn't know the meaning behind his words?
One is to build a closer relationship with the future boss's wife, and the other is to demonstrate your control over your subordinates and the company to the boss.

Xiao Liu stood up gracefully and clinked glasses with him: "Thank you, Mr. Liu, for your support of my work."

"Hey, that's only right!" Liu Qiangdong waved his hand magnanimously: "Everyone, you may not know this."

“Three years ago, Mr. Lu came to my storefront in Zhongguancun and offered me a job in e-commerce. Ms. Liu was there with me that time.”

"Later, we started with a huge disadvantage of being a latecomer and competed with Taobao, which also began with the merchandise for the movie 'A Home Away'."

"This movie won the record for the highest box office in our country, and it also helped Wenjie Mall gradually get on track in terms of brand awareness, scale, and B2C model."

Dongzi turned to look at Liu Yifei, who was patiently waiting for him to express his feelings: "We usually have many opportunities to drink with President Lu, so let him take a break today. I'll toast Miss Liu separately."

"Although 2008 was the first year to bear the brunt of the financial crisis, we will definitely forge ahead and create new glories—"

He paused, then laughed and said arrogantly, "Kill Old Ma!"

Everyone, including senior executives from Wenjie and celebrity directors present, burst into laughter, marveling at Mr. Liu's social skills and wit. Look at what he said!
Looking back on the past, gazing at the present, and striving for the future!
Dongzi tilted his head back and downed the full four ounces of baijiu in his wine glass. Then he turned the glass upside down to show everyone: "Director Liu, you are a lady, please make yourselves at home."

Xiao Liu remarked with emotion, "President Liu's words were truly touching."

"To be honest, I don't think I'm qualified to sit in this position as the director of the monitoring center."

"Everyone here is a hero who built this Wenjie Holdings edifice with their own hands. How can I, an actress who has never been involved in any specific business, be the one to supervise you all?"

She glanced at Lu Kuan, who was smiling but silent: "But since the leader has made this arrangement, I have no choice but to bite the bullet and do it."

"The monitoring center has indeed done some things over the past month, but we will always remember our responsibilities and mission, which is to help everyone do a good job, not to blindly undermine us."

"If I have offended anyone in any way, please forgive me!"

Liu Yifei raised her glass with a radiant smile: "I can't hold my liquor, I'll only drink half, please don't mind, Ms. Liu."

Half a cup is still two ounces, how could Dongzi let her drink so much? Just as he was about to raise his hand to stop her, Liu Yifei had already swallowed half a cup without changing her expression.

These words were spoken with humility, a broad perspective, and a sense of self-deprecation, while also elevating the reputations of the general managers of the subsidiaries.

This slightly eased the tense atmosphere in the company that everyone was on edge lately.

Everyone present secretly admired her, thinking that perhaps only a woman of such talent and beauty could be the mistress of this mansion; she was truly a woman of exceptional taste.

Several subsidiary general managers were also getting restless. Led by Jiang Beichun of Focus Media, whose backyard had recently been in the most trouble, they made a statement and then stood up together to drink their glasses.

The atmosphere was lively and the sense of community was very strong.

The ideal is to be close without being familiar, and distant without being estranged.
Leaders and subordinates need to maintain an appropriate distance, neither too distant nor too intimate, but prolonged absence can easily lead to imbalance.

Because of his job as an Olympic Games director and film director, Mr. Lu is often absent from the company, so this dinner with the core management team is still very meaningful.

With the addition of spokesperson Liu Yifei, who frequently appears at the company, it's as if she were there in person.

Liu Xiaoli felt immense pride and joy as she watched her daughter, whom she had raised single-handedly, now fully capable of standing on her own.

Beautiful, confident, strong, calm in the face of adversity, elegant and poised.

Looking at the smiling man beside her, the old mother knew that he was also responsible for the change to some extent.

It is the encouragement, setbacks, and hardships brought about by Lu Kuan's subjective and objective experiences, along with his life experiences in China and abroad over the past few years, that have shaped Liu Yifei into who she is today.

Su Chang, Tang Yan, Zhang Liangying, and the others could only look on with envy at the side of their best friend that she had never shown to them before.

He secretly sighed to himself that there was indeed a barrier between them.

People are shaped, not given; Liu Yifei's experience is unique and cannot be replicated.

As for Da Mimi, she drank her wine with a smile on her face, her heart filled with even stronger desire for her boyfriend's father to quickly enter the entertainment industry so that she could also experience the life of a rich wife.

As long as you're in this position, who's worse than whom?
The nine-tailed fox Da Mimi of later generations was indeed quite skilled at making money; she had that ability.

With his girlfriend and subordinates all expressing their opinions, the boss certainly couldn't back down.

Like Liu Qiangdong, Lu Kuan stood up and swept his leg, returning the favor by filling all his subordinates' wine glasses with wine, earning a round of applause.

To be honest, neither tobacco nor alcohol are good things, but the trend that has been formed over thousands of years is impossible to eradicate.

Lu Kuan has quit smoking and rarely drinks alcohol now, because there are no longer many people or things that can make him drink himself into oblivion.

But on this occasion, he is a leading figure who will continue to lead the company through the major cycle of the financial crisis and face the complex situation of future invasion by black money and internet funds.

This drink is definitely going to be shared with my subordinates.

Hydrangea vines hung from the second-floor terrace of the main house, and cosmos flowers planted by Liu Xiaoli drooped in the night dew, creating an exceptionally warm atmosphere in the banquet hall.

The guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely until late into the night.

Someone will naturally clean up the mess. Liu Xiaoli, who had drunk a few extra glasses of wine in her happiness today, went to rest early, leaving the young couple to take their usual stroll in the manor.

The moonlight was like gauze, and Liu Yifei walked with unsteady steps, almost hanging in the wide arms of the road.

Her cheeks were flushed like peach blossoms in March, her almond eyes were misty, and her eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings covered in dew.

"Lu Kuan—" She suddenly stopped, poking his chest with her finger, and said coquettishly, word by word, "How come you have three heads!"

Mr. Lu looked at his girlfriend with amusement, recalling how she had just been drinking happily with Chen Zhixi, a girl from Northeast China.

"Have you been secretly practicing your drinking capacity behind my back? How come you can drink so much now?"

A night breeze blew by, and Liu Yifei shook her head, clearing her mind somewhat.

"No... The first time I drank alcohol was the morning Wendy Deng forced me to do a live broadcast. After that, I drank with you."

"Aren't you feeling uncomfortable?"

Liu Yifei shook her head: "I don't feel uncomfortable, I just feel hot and dry all over. I don't feel anything when the cold wind blows. Is my face very red?"

Boss Lu gave her a thumbs up: "Great job, women really are made of water."

Seemingly remembering something, he leaned close to the girl's ear with a lecherous grin and said, "Especially you, with your fairy-like constitution! It's just that the sheets suffer..."

Liu Yifei couldn't stand him teasing her about this. The thought of how she couldn't help herself at the last moment made her feel incredibly ashamed.

"Bang! Bang!" She swung her little fists and gave him a good beating.

Perhaps he was a little excited from drinking, because this time he didn't just take a sip; he went all out, hitting hard and really going for the kill!
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! You're trying to murder your husband!"

"You haven't leveled up yet, you're just boyfriend for now, okay?"

Liu Yifei looked up, and the lights along the Wenyu River cast a soft, honey-colored glow on her flushed cheeks.

When she tilted her head back, her eyelashes were glistening with tiny drops of water, whether from the night dew or the thin sweat from the alcohol, she couldn't tell. Her almond-shaped eyes were misty, and a blush of peach blossoms spread out at the corners of her eyes.

It was as if someone had dipped their fingertip in rouge and smeared it all the way from their eyelids to their temples.

The Drunken Beauty was so beautiful that it was irresistible.

"Well..."

Taking advantage of the chaos, Boss Lu grabbed her wrist and used his usual trick to kiss his girlfriend's soft lips.

Can't beat you in a fight, but can't you even kiss you?
Even if it's not from a close family, it will make you weak all over!
The moment their lips touched, their breaths mingled.

Lu Kuan's nose brushed against her cheek, sending a slight shiver through her.

A barely audible hum escaped Liu's throat, like a kitten's whimper, melting into the mingling breaths.

After a long rest.

Liu Yifei's eyes seemed even more hazy than when she was drunk, her lips glistening, and as she slightly opened and closed them, she exhaled white mist that condensed into fleeting wisps of cloud in the cold air.

"You lecherous scoundrel! You're so filthy and wicked, you have no conscience!"

Boss Lu helped her wrap her coat tighter: "There's nothing I can do. Even in court, this would be considered self-defense."

"If I don't do it this way, I'll be beaten to death by you, you heroine."

The girl glared at him, embarrassed and annoyed, and slapped away An Lushan's hand that was reaching into Yukiko: "Is this how you defend yourself? Shameless!"

Mr. Lu said sheepishly, "It was an accident, an accident."

"As you know, my main job is as a Taoist priest. Seeing these two 'ominous signs' in your life, I couldn't help but want to help you dispel them."

Liu Yifei burst out laughing: "You'd better stop talking now, or Laozi will strike you with lightning if he hears you. Don't drag me into this."

"Aren't you happy now? This whole place is yours from now on?"

Xiao Liu's expression changed drastically. After drinking, she couldn't control her emotions. Her slender white fingers suddenly gripped Lu Kuan's collar, and the silk shirt wrinkled messily between her fingers.

She reached out and touched the other person's cheek absentmindedly, her voice sweet and cloying: "I'm not happy! You think I care about this place? What I care about is you!"

The washing machine got goosebumps: "Ugh~ It's so sour! Have you been mentally corrupted by the Qiong Yao manuscript at the Bazaar Charity Night? I can't stand this!"

"What's with the sour talk! I'm serious!"

Slightly tipsy, Liu Yifei was incredibly alluring. She stared at him with her beautiful eyes wide open, her gaze moist and misty, yet surprisingly bright.

The girl pouted her bright red lips, begging for a kiss, when suddenly a loud bang rang out in the sky!
The two turned their heads to look, and in the distance, scattered fireworks burst open one after another, their brilliant light dyeing the night sky along the Wenyu River into a flowing brocade.

Liu Yifei was stunned for a few seconds before she reacted:

Is it 12 o'clock yet?

"The road is wide! It's 2008!"

Another burst of silvery-white fireworks shot into the sky with a sharp whistling sound, exploding like countless tiny diamonds scattering across the sky.

The trajectory of the falling light was reflected on the unfrozen surface of the Wenyu River, making the entire river appear as if it had transformed into a flowing Milky Way.

The reborn person from the future was somewhat excited, and couldn't help but murmur, "Yes, it's 2008, finally it's 2008."

It has been eight years since I came into this world.

This year saw the painstaking creation of "The Sky of History," the heart-wrenching tragedy, and the world-renowned Beiping Olympics—

They will all, like the dazzling fireworks and the roar of explosions before our eyes, inevitably take center stage in history.

Fortunately, this time, I can participate in a different way.

Do your best, and you will have no regrets.

The night wind howled, making Liu Yifei, who was drunk, shiver.

Lu Kuan unbuttoned his coat, pulled her close to him, and then buttoned it up.

The girl pressed her smooth forehead against her boyfriend's chin, rubbing against him gently like a spoiled kitten, snuggling into his warm embrace as they watched the dazzling fireworks together.

The two became like conjoined twins, their hearts pressed tightly together in the same spot.

At this moment, they did not speak, but their breaths rose and fell in harmony, their eyes filled with clusters of light that were constantly being extinguished and reborn.

Xiao Liu turned around with difficulty, looked up at Lu Kuan's profile illuminated by the fireworks, and saw his own reflection in Lu Kuan's pupils—

The dreamlike scene of their eight years of knowing, understanding, and loving each other flashed before her eyes. The slightly tipsy girl suddenly felt a shiver of excitement, as if her blood had turned into honey, stickily enveloping every nerve.

"The road is wide."

"Ok?"

"Go back, I want to make love to you."

"it is good."

(End of this chapter)