Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 432 Washing Machine: Revolutionary Marriage, Seeking Organizational Opinions

The moonlight slanted across the mountains like water, its silvery glow coating the gravel path with a layer of flowing diamonds.

The two, who had just confessed their love to each other, walked down the mountain side by side, their steps light and quick.

Liu Yifei walked to the right of Boss Lu, whose body was wrapped in bandages. The latter chuckled and teased her, "Are you afraid I'll push you off a cliff, so you're deliberately trying to exploit my weakness?"

Xiao Liu gave the washing machine a coquettish glare. Even though she hadn't worn makeup for two days, her pretty face still had a porcelain-white glow in the moonlight: "That's right, I'm going to kick your crippled leg hard."

"Even if I gave you one hand, you still couldn't beat me, hmph!"

Liu Yifei's heart was still reeling from those words. She skipped and hopped, then grabbed his left arm again, as if she wanted to hang on to him. They walked along, gazing at the dazzling starry sky.

At an altitude of 3000 meters on the plateau, the air is so clear it's almost transparent, and the starlight is several times brighter than in the city.

It's like someone spilled a whole box of broken diamonds, scattering them carelessly on deep blue velvet.

"I always feel like you've deceived me!"

Lu Kuan turned his head to look at her, deliberately sizing her up and down as if scanning his possessions in 3D: "What on your body, inside and out, is there that I haven't gotten my hands on? What else could I possibly lie to you about?"

Liu Xiaolv pinched him hard: "Speak properly, or I'll make sure your hand is honored too."

She then said with a hint of coquettishness mixed with shyness, "You... I'm only just realizing how casual your proposal was. You could have at least picked a bunch of wildflowers from the mountain!"

"I've changed my mind! I don't agree to this marriage!"

Boss Lu was overjoyed: "Really? It's a deal!"

"Actually, I was seriously injured just now, and the atmosphere just happened to be like that."

"If I don't propose, I'm worried that you'll get stubborn and push me off a cliff because of your love turning into hate, and then we'll be finished."

"I have no choice but to submit to you, alas!"

Liu Xiaolv's attempt to tease backfired, and he became enraged, yelling, "You bastard! I'll beat you to death!"

The two figures, laughing and joking, intertwined on the gravel road. The girl's yellow windbreaker looked like a moving little lantern in the moonlight, just like her—pretty and heartwarming.

The girl said haughtily, "Fine, then I'll reluctantly agree, even if you've already proposed!"

"Barely? Ha!"

The washing machine looked at her incredulously: "Liu Yifei, you've really become shameless. You almost gave me altitude sickness from kissing me just now. Is that what you call barely managing?"

Liu Yifei smiled at him: "Hmph, you're just a history book, of course I, a mere woman, can't possibly fight against a behind-the-scenes manipulator like you in the entertainment industry! But facts are facts!"

"You were the first person to like me when I was a teenager, you were the one who confessed your love to me when I was an adult, and you were the one who just proposed to me so passionately."

"And those videos of me confessing my love on my birthday online were all photoshopped by Butian Pictures, they're obviously fake!"

Liu Xiaolv stuck out his tongue and licked his lips again: "Look, this is the evidence. You were the one who took the initiative to bite me. My lips are all chapped."

The two walked to the front of the military camp at the foot of the mountain. Xiao Liu stood prettily under the lights, her almond-shaped eyes blinking and glistening with tears.

"Besides, you just stole my lines. Actually, I was afraid that if I didn't agree, you would push me off the cliff. How could someone as weak as me possibly fight you!"

"Oh right, right! I spend hundreds of millions of yuan a year running a special effects company just to fake your confession video."

"Sure, sure." Washing Machine watched the Berlin Film Festival Best Actress's performance with a smile: "When you grow up, you'll become me."

Liu Yifei raised her eyebrows arrogantly, looking as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and went into the tent with her hands behind her back.

There was something she was too embarrassed to say!
If you have children in the future, you must instill these undeniable facts in them from a young age, otherwise you'll be so ashamed!
Boss Lu was stopped as soon as he entered the camp.

"Director Lu!" Commander Gu rushed over to inform him upon hearing of his return: "Leader Liu from Beijing just called from headquarters and asked you to speak with him."

"Thank you, I'll go right away." Boss Lu thought to himself, probably because he was sure he was safe and sound, and was urging him to go back and take charge of the Olympic Games.

Leader Liu's steady voice came through the satellite phone: "Comrade Lu Kuan, how are you feeling?"

"Everything is fine, thank you for your concern, leader."

"That's fine then." Leader Liu spoke with a strong voice: "The city has communicated with Chengdu, and they will arrange for you and Gu Yun to return to Beijing from Shuangliu Airport tomorrow."

"You are a hero of the country, and the leaders care about you a lot. The most important thing now is to take care of your health. We can talk about the rest when we get back to the Olympic Building!"

"Okay." Mr. Lu hung up the phone, understanding the situation.

The country has two major events to attend to, and neither can be neglected. The importance of the Olympics is beyond doubt. I was notified in the afternoon that I would be returning to Beijing via Shuangliu Airport the following day.

Why did Leader Liu make another personal call to exchange pleasantries?

The conversation between the two seemed to contain no information at all, but they had already revealed the situation in just a few words.

Some people, prepare to tremble.

On the morning of the 15th, in the airport VIP waiting room.

Due to the "long and short axis effect," the intensity of the disaster in Chengdu's main urban area decreased relatively quickly, resulting in less overall damage, almost comparable to that of Shanghai and Nanjing. There were no large-scale building collapses or serious casualties.

Therefore, Shuangliu Airport, as an important aviation hub in Southwest China, has become the fastest distribution center for entering and leaving Sichuan.

Mei Yanfang's eyes instantly reddened when she spotted Liu Yifei.

She rushed forward and, without saying a word, hugged Xiao Liu tightly, stroking his back forcefully with her hand, her voice choked with emotion: "You really scared me to death!"

Mei Yanfang is 45 years old this year. She started receiving treatment six years ago and has basically recovered, but her energy is not as good as before.

Aside from occasionally giving back to fans by holding concerts, he has devoted himself to charity work, traveling all over the country as a goodwill ambassador for the Wenjie Hope School since 2005.

For Mei Yanfang, who had spent her life searching for love but never found it, and whose family of origin could hardly provide her with any solace, the young couple Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei could almost be considered her family.

The Hong Kong gang leader cupped Xiao Liu's face, her eyes reddening, then turned to Lu Kuan beside her: "Xiao Lu, what happened to your hand?"

Not wanting the atmosphere to become too somber, Boss Lu smiled and gestured towards Liu Xiaolv, saying, "She was a victim of domestic violence."

Liu Yifei didn't treat Mei Yanfang as an outsider either: "That's right, I punched her for being clumsy."

"Well, serves him right." Mei Yanfang knew he was joking, and being a very easygoing person herself, the group immediately sat down with a laugh and drank tea.

"You only told me this morning that Andy Lau and the others haven't come over from the hotel yet, but Lao Fan might be here soon."

Lu Kuan nodded. The donation of the building cost nearly 8000 million yuan. In addition to hiring professional supervisors from abroad to get rid of local personal connections, Fan Jianchuan, a patriotic collector with a pure heart, also worked hard to get things done, cooperating with Mei Yanfang.

It's only been three days since the incident, and the critical 72-hour window for rescue hasn't passed yet. Currently, there are only a few scattered news reports and pictures online about the Hope School standing strong.

Mei Yanfang was also somewhat curious. She certainly didn't think Lu Kuan was someone who would sell his name directly, but as a company, such publicity was perfectly acceptable.

"Xiao Lu, do you want me and Hua Zai to help promote it? We need to visit each of these schools one by one."

"For now..."

"Road guide!"

Before he could finish speaking, the glass door to the VIP waiting room was suddenly pushed open, and a stocky middle-aged man strode in.

He was wearing a wrinkled khaki jacket, his trousers were stained with mud, his round face was shiny with oil, and beads of sweat on his forehead slid down his temples into his stubble.

Lu Kuan looked him up and down and chuckled inwardly. Old Fan, you still need to shave your beard, or you might cause a misunderstanding.

Fan Jianchuan, a man of forthright character, warmly shook Boss Lu's hand and said, "Oh dear, I was terrified when I heard the news. Sister Mei told me that you were going back to Beijing to take charge of the work today, so I rushed back from the countryside. Luckily, I didn't miss it."

Mei Yanfang has become quite familiar with this collector over the past two years: "He was originally going to Bryant University in the United States to receive an honorary doctorate, but he quickly turned back after the incident."

She turned to Fan Jianchuan: "Old Fan, have you been to quite a few places these past few days?"

"Yes! I've gained a lot, been deeply moved, and couldn't stop the tears from falling!" Fan Jianchuan said with emotion. "I plan to spend a month collecting the relevant exhibits from the disaster area."

"Whether it's the steel bars from collapsed buildings, wrecked cars, rescue equipment, and by the way—"

Old Fan smiled warmly: "Director Lu, you have to donate one of your drones to us too. We watched the live stream yesterday, it was amazing! It can provide so much convenience!"

CCTV-13's 24-hour news broadcast allowed the entire nation to witness yesterday's scene on the earthen slope outside Maoxian County, coupled with today's news from the front lines:

None of the heroic soldiers, including Colonel Li, were injured or killed. After landing, they transmitted the first disaster report and quickly arrived at the landing point based on the shortwave signal on the drone. They then opened up 10 helicopter landing points in the vicinity to guide the airdrop of relief supplies.

Boss Lu feigned concern: "Old Fan, these things are expensive, tens of thousands per plane. We've already donated over 1000 to the country; we're broke." "No way! Boss Lu, we have a relationship with you... how about you give us a discount!"

Everyone laughed when they saw Fan Jianchuan sweating profusely with anxiety. The latter was also happy to joke with everyone to relieve his frustration.

Besides, he acquired many of his collections through persistent persuasion and negotiation with the individuals involved, so he's used to it.

Lao Fan, with his round face and full beard, suddenly said seriously, "Director Lu, please introduce the designer of your Bird's Nest. I'd like to open a separate pavilion to include our theme of disaster and redemption."

“No problem, that’s easy to arrange.” Boss Lu nodded in agreement; he knew about this themed museum.

In his previous life, he collected more than 5000 folk artifacts in just one month, and officially opened an exhibition on the related theme on the day of the disaster a year later.

The collection is unique, including a blood-stained wedding dress of the deceased couple, the motorcycle used by survivor Wu Jiafang to carry his deceased wife's body back to his hometown for burial, and the pig that looks strong.

Zhu Jianqiang (Strong Pig) was kept in a museum and became a living cultural relic.

There are also the soldiers' blood-stained uniforms stained with mud, the microphones of the leaders who visited the disaster area to express their condolences, and the parachutes of the fifteen parachute warriors.

Fan Jianchuan seemed to recall what he had seen and heard in the past two days because of this topic, and his face looked somewhat pale.

Lu Kuan suggested, "Could we part with this museum and give Wenjie the opportunity to sponsor it?"

"President Lu?" Fan Jianchuan looked at him with surprise, knowing that the richest man was about to spend a lot of money!
Boss Lu laughed and said, "In the past few years, you and Sister Mei have helped to establish the schools you donated. It's all done purely voluntarily, without taking a single penny of compensation."

"You, Lao Fan, are a benefactor who carries firewood for others. To say that you would freeze to death in the wind and snow is a bit of an exaggeration. Consider this a token of our concern from the world."

"Even if the new building is a joint venture between our two companies, you won't have to spend a single penny."

Lao Fan's eyes immediately reddened, not because he was distressed about the small amount of money, nor because he was overjoyed to receive a gift from the richest man.

He joined the army to serve his country in his youth, later became a public servant, spent all his family fortune to fulfill his dreams, and published many works on the theme of the War of Resistance against Japan.

He also made a will, deciding to donate all his personal property to the country after his death, which makes him worthy of being called a righteous man.

The horrific scenes of the past few days flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern, already making this man from Sichuan feel deeply distressed.

The reason I was so moved at this moment was that I saw the same pure heart in the young man opposite me, and I felt that I was not alone on this path.

"Mr. Lu, I really don't know what to say!" Old Fan slapped his thigh twice: "My heart is truly warmed!"

He stood up solemnly and said, “I can’t represent the people of Sichuan Province, but whether it’s donating buildings, drones, or museums, I, Lao Fan, have nothing to say but to bow to you.”

As soon as Fan Jianchuan stood up, Mei Yanfang and Liu Yifei also stood up. How did things suddenly become so serious?
Boss Lu quickly grabbed him: "What are you doing all this for?"

"Sichuan is full of brave men, and there is no army without Sichuan. The people of this land have shed enough blood for the country, and money is just the smallest token of their gratitude."

The man from Sichuan Province stammered for a long time, unable to utter a word, and could only sigh: "Director Lu, once I've finished this museum, in a few years I, Lao Fan, will build you a film museum!"

Is this a cultural version of a shrine to the living?
Xiao Liu became interested and said with a smile, "I can sponsor it! But I require the museum not to overly embellish it; it must be objective and truthful!"

"For example, if someone was promiscuous in their youth, at least it should be mentioned in their introduction. We can't just let it go and call it history later."

Everyone burst into laughter, and the previous somber atmosphere instantly dissipated.

Lu Kuan's trust in Fan Jianchuan was naturally due to his impeccable reputation in his previous life.

Furthermore, after the national tragedy, the residential communities built by his real estate company in Dujiangyan, which was severely affected by the disaster, remained standing because they strictly adhered to construction standards, and more than 1000 households were safe and sound.

It can be said that it is a monument to his noble character.

After chatting for a while, Lao Fan raised the same question as Mei Yanfang: the publicity of the Wenjie Hope School teaching building.

However, he understood the situation in mainland China better than Mei Yanfang, and cautiously advised, "Mr. Lu, I suggest that the school's issues be addressed primarily through word-of-mouth publicity. There are indeed some things that are not convenient to say, but based on my visits to various places this time..."

Fan Jianchuan paused for a moment, and seeing that Liu Yifei and Mei Yanfang were not outsiders, he said in a low voice, "Our building is too durable! None of the places I went to had any problems."

"A common man is innocent, but he is guilty of possessing a treasure. Some people just can't stand seeing others do well, especially when you're the one who slaps them in the face."

"You still need to rush back to deal with the Wenjie matter, plus all the public opinion resources you control..."

Old Fan, who had served as the deputy mayor of Wuliangye City, confided: "President Lu, public opinion can be a fearsome thing. It's best to avoid suspicion and not be too high-profile."

Liu Yifei and Mei Yanfang, who were standing next to each other, exchanged a glance, recalling what Lu Kuan had just said when he was interrupted.

Clearly, he and Fan Jianchuan share the same understanding.

"Don't worry, Lao Fan, I won't cause myself any trouble. As long as these buildings can serve their purpose, that's fine." Boss Lu himself also took a "reputation will spread naturally" approach to this matter.

This golden statue of the Buddha of Ten Thousand Families is absolutely inevitable, but there's no need for him to make a big fuss about it.

Too much of a good thing can be bad, and it can lead to disaster.

As it approached 10 a.m., Mei Yanfang, Fan Jianchuan, and Afei all tactfully went to the side to chat, giving the young couple time to say goodbye.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, filtering through the thin mist and casting a soft, pale gold hue on Liu Yifei's hair.

Today she was wearing a simple white T-shirt and light-colored jeans, clearly already in volunteer mode, ready to throw herself into the disaster relief work without makeup.

Boss Lu tucked a stray strand of hair behind the girl's ear and gently rubbed the small mole on the tip of her nose with his fingertip, causing Xiao Liu to shyly grab his hand, afraid of being seen.

A lecher is a lecher; he's adept at subtly creating romantic moments in public, stirring up the hearts of young girls.

"So, should we go through the proper procedures or just take the plunge?"

"Don't even think about it. Gu Jun and the others are over there. Don't do anything reckless, or you'll embarrass yourself."

Having been dating for over a year, Xiao Liu feels relaxed and comfortable with her boyfriend in private, but she's not quite open enough to kiss Xi Cheng passionately in front of outsiders like Gu Jun.

She cautiously tiptoed and pecked him on the lips, then quickly withdrew her head like a cat that had stolen a dried fish, her ear tips turning a faint pink.

Boss Lu told Liu Xiaolv, "Don't be reckless. There are many other ways for you to help others."

“Yes, I know.” Liu Yifei took his hand. “There’s a large-scale charity gala called ‘Dedication of Love’ on CCTV on the 20th. I’ll go back on the 19th.”

"Sister Mei assigned me to mainly tell stories, play games, and provide psychological counseling to children. I can do this job."

"I know there's a lot going on with the Olympics, but try to avoid staying up late."

Xiao Liu joked, "You're already five or six years older than me. Once you've aged into an old man, people will say you're an old cow eating young grass."

The washing machine has a thick skin: "What's wrong with dating younger men? They're delicious, I love it."

He pulled her into his arms again, his warm palms pressed against the girl's back, and he could clearly feel her steady heartbeat. He held her tightly for a moment, then let go.

As the boarding announcement came on, Boss Lu extended his hand, his gaze resolute yet gentle, like a comrade from the War of Resistance: "Revolutionary partners, with different roles."

In keeping with the style of the model opera, Xiao Liu stood tall and straight like a bamboo shoot, her slender waist straight, and solemnly grasped his hand, her eyes shining with determination: "Let's go our separate ways and serve our country!"

"Remember, safety first. Revolutionary work requires a healthy body, and—" Boss Lu raised his eyebrows slightly, a mischievous smile flashing in his eyes, "You can report the important matter of your revolutionary partner's marriage to the organization now. Please ask Comrade Liu Xiaoli for her opinion!"

"This time I'm really going to kidnap someone's daughter. I have to follow the organization's principles, otherwise the organization will blame me and use the hoe she used to grow flowers to hoe me..."

"You know, I'm not good at running."

Liu Yifei pursed her cherry lips slightly, her dimples appearing and disappearing: "I understand. Based on my judgment, Comrade Liu Xiaoli will agree in principle."

"But regarding your past, especially your personal conduct, I need to conduct further investigation and consideration!"

The washing machine frowned: "Fine, I'll go back to Beijing right now to silence them. Dead men tell no tales."

Xiao Liu tilted her head, a strand of her black hair playfully falling beside her porcelain-white cheek, and raised an eyebrow teasingly, "Kill them all? Can you even kill them all? You'd probably dull the blades by now, wouldn't you?"

Boss Lu curled his lip: "Of course, even Qincheng Prison might not be able to hold them all."

Liu Yifei instantly lost her composure, lightly patting his arm and squinting as she scrutinized the reformed scumbag:

"I don't care about anything else, but before we get married, you must tell me who you're going to kill!"

Huh? You're serious?

The washing machine stared at her expressionlessly, and she was terrified!

(End of this chapter)