Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 477 They Finally Became a Couple!

On September 6, 2008, local time in Argentina, a young couple returned to Buenos Aires to watch a World Cup qualifier live.

At River Plate's Monumental Stadium, one of Argentina's two powerhouses, the host nation managed a hard-fought equalizer.

This match continued Argentina's embarrassing record of never winning a home game against Paraguay in the World Cup qualifiers since 1973.

After the match, Diego Maradona, who had chatted amicably with the owner of the club at the Beijing Olympics and received a jersey from him, announced on Twitter that he would succeed Basile as the new head coach of Argentina and lead the team in the 2010 World Cup.

Fans flocked in; when did Maradona start using Twitter?
Opening his homepage, the default open historical footstep record shows that he registered and used it after the Beijing Olympics.

Many football fans, moviegoers, or people who knew Maradona's identity left comments on an account verified as "[Chinese Lu]" under Maradona's newly registered Twitter account last month:

Felicidades, Diego! (Congratulations, Diego!)

This interaction was conducted by Sun Wenwen using his account in North America, and it quickly garnered comments from onlookers both domestically and internationally.

"Are you the road? The road of 'The Sky of History'?"

"Holy crap! You bastard, you've scaled the Great Firewall to America and caught the washing machine alive!"

"It seems that the chief director of the Olympics and Diego forged a deep friendship during the Beijing Olympics. Could Lu make a movie about the Falkland Islands for us Argentinians? The Falkland Islands belong to Argentina!"

"Isn't Lu Kuan and Tian Xian in Hubei Province preparing to start filming? How come he still has time to surf the internet?"

The doubts of the onlookers did not last long. On September 8th, Beijing time, a screenshot from CCTV's broadcast of the game went viral on Zhijie Video.

The broadcasters of the World Cup qualifiers clearly recognized the Olympic Games director and Time magazine's cover star, frequently focusing on the two of them in non-match shots, resulting in this two-minute-plus montage.

In the footage, as the camera pans across the VIP stands of the Monumental Stadium, it unexpectedly focuses on a couple with Asian features—

Liu Yifei, following local custom, wore a blue and white striped Argentina jersey, which she had obviously bought at the stadium shop. The oversized size covered her slender figure, while her boyfriend next to her wore a River Plate home jersey.

When the broadcast camera suddenly cut to the two of them, he was leaning down and whispering something in his girlfriend's ear, which made Xiao Liu suddenly cover her mouth and laugh so hard she bent over. Her hair brushed against his chin like a mischievous fish.

What frustrated and disheartened countless fans even more was that, while in a foreign land, the celestial being seemed to have broken free from the constraints of her celebrity status and was engaging in intimate interactions with her boyfriend without any restraint.

Making a heart shape with their hands for the camera, hugging and kissing after scoring a goal, feeding someone with a traditional Argentine beef pie...

This is seriously dog ​​abuse!
The comments section of the washing machine's Weibo post was once again filled with a fierce online battle, venting the frustrations of fans.

However, while domestic fans were still heartbroken over this "cross-border dog food" (a term used to describe public displays of affection), an even more devastating blow was about to come—the flight of this "national couple" had quietly changed course to Beiping (Beijing).

The two embarked on another long journey, returning to Beijing from the previous location. After a 13-hour flight to Frankfurt for a layover, they then flew back through the European hub, spending nearly 30 hours in the air before finally arriving home in the early morning of September 8th, Beijing time.

Having just appeared at an Argentine stadium a few days prior, no one could have predicted that this would be their last stop in South America.

Given Lufthansa's international reputation and status, it's unlikely they would leak information voluntarily, and even the most well-informed entertainment reporters wouldn't be able to track their flight schedules.

In fact, many of the enthusiastic scenes of "encountering fans" at airports are often carefully planned marketing performances. The celebrity's team leaks the itinerary to the fan club in advance, and even hires professional airport greeters to create a false impression of popularity, which not only consolidates the "top star" image, but also demonstrates the commercial value to the brand.

However, this couple simply had no interest or need for it and just wanted to enjoy their lives.

On the morning of the 9th, Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei, who had just finished a long and tiring trip, were not sleepy. Before 7 o'clock, Liu Yifei was snuggling in her boyfriend's arms and kept squirming like a restless cat.

She opened her eyes happily, feeling clear-headed and more energetic than ever before, even though she hadn't adjusted to the time difference overnight.

The girl reached out and gently stroked her boyfriend's cheek, her voice still groggy from just waking up: "Lu Kuan? Can you still sleep?"

Boss Lu was actually quite tired, and replied without even opening his eyes: "You're like a wind-up caterpillar, keeping me up all night and preventing me from getting a proper rest."

"Haha! I'm so excited, sorry!"

"Everyone else suffers from premarital depression, but you suffer from premarital mania." The washing machine's large hands gently caressed, kneaded, and picked at the snowball, which innocently changed into various poses.

Xiao Liu was panting slightly from being handled, her face flushed, and she whispered sweetly in his ear, "Why didn't you say I was manic when you were playing with me and changing positions for you to ravish me last night, you little beast..."

Mentioning this topic jolted the washing machine awake; it opened its eyes with amusement and looked at its girlfriend.

This title will become a thing of the past in a few hours.

"When did you buy those clothes? They're really nice."

He bent down and ate the round earlobe, the little beauty in his arms was soft and tempting: "That moon white lace dress is the most deadly, the thin vine-like straps wrap around from the shoulder blades to the waist, and the silk ropes that cross the back look like butterfly specimens."

"Yet you kneel gracefully in the lamplight, the pearl trim partially concealing your nipples..."

Liu Yifei recalled the wolf-like gaze the washing machine had given her last night, secretly pleased with her sexual allure in his eyes, while irritably interrupting the post-coital recap:
"Stop, stop, stop! You've already torn your clothes to shreds, what are you trying to remember?"

Boss Lu laughed and said, "This thing has to be torn, otherwise it's no fun—"

He immediately asked in surprise, "When did you buy all of these? I had no idea. You kept them very well hidden."

"Heh heh, you think you'll be so tough now that you know? I'll just relax and reward you occasionally. You still want to party every night?"

The washing machine smacked its lips: "What a pity, we can only get married once, otherwise we could have that fun every week. I'm already looking forward to what style you'll wear next time!"

He reached out and pinched the girl's pretty face. Actually, her overly innocent face was rather abstinent, but when she went all out in front of him, it was like adding fuel to the fire.

Ultimately, it wrapped itself up like a sugar-coated body, making it irresistible.

"Stop talking nonsense! Get up and wash up, I need to put on makeup today." Xiao Liu left her lover's embrace without any hesitation, pulled up the strap of her torn bathrobe, and covered her small, sizable snow-capped mountains.

"Grandma and Grandpa are elderly people who get up very early. Let's greet them when we have breakfast later."

The woman's relatives arrived two days ago, the same day Liu Xiaoli made several phone calls to inquire after the aurora viewing.

The elderly mother has prepared everything the two need to register their marriage:
Wedding candy distributed to staff of the Civil Affairs Bureau and colleagues, and household registration documents used for processing procedures.

And the two-inch passport photos that were taken beforehand—

It's clear that Lu Kuan's joke on the night of the Olympics, which allowed international reporters to take photos, did not meet the requirements for obtaining a pass.
The young couple also saw the silk dragon and phoenix quilt kept in her room, the five-colored grain bag containing red beans, mung beans, soybeans, black rice, and white rice, as well as other auspicious and meaningful items.

The last few items are not needed for the time being; they represent Liu Xiaoli's own hopes and plans for the future.

In the bedroom, Boss Lu took his clothes and went to take a shower.

Liu Yifei tied her hair up, and for the first time in her life, she took her makeup very seriously.

Normally, I don't care if I'm outshone by someone, even if I'm bare-faced and dressed in shabby clothes, but today is different.

Today, she is determined to outshine all of Beiping!

The girl used her fingertips to apply moisturizing essence in circular motions on her cheeks, allowing her skin to fully absorb the hydration. Then, she used a concealer brush to apply a light pink cream to the under-eye area, creating a natural brightening effect.

Finally, set your makeup with a semi-transparent loose powder, making your face look like a flower petal kissed by the morning mist, revealing its natural texture.

A simple, no-makeup makeup look is now complete.

It's simple because this face has such a good foundation that it looks good with both light and heavy makeup.

The transition between her cheekbones and jawline is smooth, neither too sharp nor too youthful, and it is very good at absorbing natural light and shadow to highlight the three-dimensionality of her facial features;

The connection between the bridge of the nose and the brow bone forms a perfect "double C line," and the height of the root of the nose just supports the folds of the face, making it possible to completely omit highlighting products.

In addition, the natural hairline creates a head-wrapping effect on the face, making the forehead a natural reflector.

Even though Xiao Liu comes from an ordinary family and can't afford expensive cosmetics, her natural beauty is enough to save her owner money.

Liu Yifei took a selfie and posted it in her best friend group and on Weibo, starting this very important day of her life with an unprecedented celebrity work ethic.

However, this photo is so captivating that it makes fans drool, makes young actresses who can hardly compare to her hesitate, and leaves Yang Siwei speechless.

This booming business was exactly what she had hoped for; it was the kind of work attitude that the slightly overweight agent had been longing for in the past four or five years. It just came a little late, as she had already "found another job."

Mr. Lu, shirtless, came out of the bathroom drying his hair. Liu Yifei turned to look at him and asked, "Am I handsome?"

"Look at her thighs."

"Get lost. I wasn't going to recite a rhyme with you. Look at my makeup, isn't it beautiful?"

"Ah? Let me take a look." The washing machine walked closer, pinched the little beauty's chin, examined her carefully, and skillfully offered flattery.

"Everyone looks at each other in a beautiful way, and the color of the world is like dust."

"Hehe! Thanks for the compliment, you high-class pervert, but I can't reward you with a kiss, I just put on lipstick." The girl, brimming with feminine desire, stood up, drew back the curtains to feel the caress of the autumn sun in Beiping, and turned back with unwavering conviction:

"Today I'm going to use my good looks to my advantage, so that when you walk with me, people will immediately recognize you as the world's richest man!"

"Huh?" Lu Kuan was buttoning his shirt and didn't immediately understand her wild idea.

It took him a while to realize that she was supposed to be stunningly beautiful, so that passersby would immediately think that someone who could possess such a gorgeous woman must have a wealth and status to match her.

This joke can't be heard by feminists, otherwise it would be self-objectification.

Mr. Lu laughed and said, "Sure, thank you for using this face to increase my wealth. If you don't need to wash your face, I can stay the world's richest man forever."

"Ha ha!"

Xiao Liu suddenly saw his grandmother taking a walk in the manor on the second floor. Excitedly, he pulled Lu Kuan downstairs. This was the first time the two families had officially met.

"mom!"

Liu Xiaoli, who was directing the preparation of breakfast, watched her eldest daughter come downstairs from the second floor in slippers. The hem of her clothes flipped up with the movement, revealing a hint of her jade-like waistline.

With her left hand gripping Lu Kuan's sleeve and her right hand holding onto the stair railing, each step felt as light as walking on clouds.

Behind her, her prospective son-in-law stood tall and straight like a poplar tree. He deliberately slowed his pace to accommodate the girl's excitement and grabbed her waist before she could miss her step, making her giggle.

"Oh, it's so nice to see you all like this," the old mother said with emotion, but she didn't continue. She was reminiscing about her own wedding day when she was young.

"I'm going to the garden to find Grandma!" Liu Yifei made a move to leave, but Liu Xiaoli grabbed her arm. "Don't rush. I'll go and call everyone in. Today is Xiaolu's first time meeting everyone, so we should be more formal."

"Okay!

Lu Kuan reached out and tucked down the two messy tufts of hair sticking up from his girlfriend's head, then watched Liu Xiaoli smile as she left the house.

"Aunt Liu is very polite. She didn't invite us in even though we didn't go downstairs."

Liu Yifei was completely unaware of this until he reminded her, at which point she realized it and simply smiled with her lips pursed.

She knew that her mother was being very proper and that as long as she wasn't married, they were only staying there temporarily.

Whether viewed from the perspective of mutual respect or from the perspective of a more distant hierarchy, there is no reason for someone who is a guest to treat this place as their own place of hospitality and to lavishly entertain relatives.

Liu Xiaoli thought a lot about things. She didn't want to give people something to talk about because of herself or her family. This was to protect and cherish the relationship between her daughter and son-in-law.

But neither Lu Kuan nor Liu Yifei thought that much about it. From the moment she started dating the washing machine, the latter naturally considered herself the mistress of the place.

Whether it's a luxurious mansion or a humble cottage after one day of hardship.

All she wanted was this title and status, to be able to stand under the same roof as him as the mistress of the house.

Lu Kuan put his arm around Xiao Liu's shoulder: "Come on, let's go out and greet them."

"Ok!"

Morning light filtered through the sycamore trees of the manor, casting dappled shadows on the stone path. Lu Kuan led Liu Yifei by the hand through the corridor, and in the distance they saw Liu Xiaoli and her aunt Zhou Wenqiong helping two elderly people with silver hair slowly approaching.

"Grandma! Grandpa!" Little Liu excitedly stepped forward to hug them, and kissed her loved ones cheek to cheek. She was very touched that everyone could be there to accompany her on such a special day.

Witnessing every major event in your life, never being absent—that's the meaning of family.

Grandma was thin and wore a dark green embroidered magnolia-patterned cardigan. She looked at her granddaughter with a kind smile, then turned her gaze to Lu Kuan who was approaching.

Grandpa, dressed in a well-fitting Zhongshan suit, smiled as he looked at the young man walking towards him, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes like ink spreading on rice paper.

"Grandma, Grandpa, this is a wide road."

"Hello, Grandma and Grandpa!"

"Hello! Young man!" Grandpa's voice was loud and clear, full of energy. He patted his grandson-in-law's hand, clearly very satisfied.

"The Olympics were really well organized! The phoenix and the fireworks were absolutely spectacular!"

Mr. Lu patiently exchanged pleasantries, his smile bright and cheerful: "Thank you for your approval, Grandpa."

"Xiao Lu, Xixi must have given you a lot of headaches, right? She was quite mischievous when she was little." Grandma's eyes weren't very bright, but she walked closer to look at him and saw that he was indeed a handsome and refined person.

Mr. Lu smiled and glanced at his girlfriend: "My head doesn't hurt, but my arm does. She often practices boxing with me."

Everyone burst out laughing, knowing it was a joke.

Liu Yifei rolled her eyes at the washing machine coquettishly, warning him not to push his luck and reveal his wicked nature.

Everyone chatted and laughed as they walked into the house. It was supposed to be a meeting of the parents, but the two elderly people, who had only come to know their grandson-in-law from the time of Aunt Zhou Wenqiong's arrival, had long since wholeheartedly approved of the marriage.

Or rather, they never used the guise of caring for their granddaughter Liu Yifei, whom even their daughter Liu Xiaoli couldn't really control, to abuse their age.

I came here to stand with my child as a family member and witness her happiness.

Liu Yue, Xiao Liu's uncle, had just been transferred to work in the banking system in Beijing this year, and soon arrived by car.

As the so-called "neighborhood brother-in-law," he couldn't possibly miss his niece's big day. But to be realistic, wouldn't he also like to get closer to his powerful nephew-in-law?

In traditional Chinese thinking, whether in business or government, fellow villagers and relatives are an unavoidable cause and effect.

Liu Yue had no intention of using his niece to climb the social ladder, nor would he shamelessly drag Liu Yifei down, but maintaining good communication and relationship was the best course of action.

He was led into the living room by Ah Fei, and he didn't forget to turn around and thank the cold-faced bodyguard, who seemed to be a person of importance.

"Uncle, you're so late!" Liu Yifei, who was holding her grandmother's arm, stood up and was about to introduce her boyfriend, who had also stood up, when the latter stepped forward and extended his hand, saying, "Hello, Uncle, welcome!"

"Hey! Good, good, good!" Liu Yue looked at the imposing figure in front of him with a hint of surprise and delight. He reached out and shook hands tightly with Boss Lu, his expression somewhat reserved.

"Well, I'll just call you Xiao Lu now, we're all family from now on! Hehe."

Lu Kuan smiled, understanding the source of his restraint. No matter how close they were, they couldn't escape the barriers of power and wealth that shrouded people in society.

If this is the case even between close relatives, how much more so for a relationship like theirs.

But he had to consider things from Liu Yifei's perspective and show her the warmth due to her family: "Please don't stand on ceremony, please sit down, Qianqian, pour tea for your uncle."

"okay!"

Liu Yue looked at his niece with exaggerated expression, saying, "Qianqian looks so beautiful today! It's true that women dress up for those they love. The thing I remember most about you is the news about you wearing a tattered red cotton-padded jacket."

Xiao Liu's maternal grandparents both burst out laughing when they heard this.

Liu Yifei joked somewhat shyly in front of her family: "That dress is still hanging in the closet. Lu Kuan also told me not to wear it anymore, otherwise the bank will suspect that his company's cash flow has dried up and come to collect the debt."

"Haha!" Liu Yue laughed, seemingly unintentionally. "It's alright, our bank isn't that insensitive. Besides, Wenjie's asset quality is too good. This is Xiaolu being considerate of you, telling you not to be too hard on yourself."

Liu Yifei brought over a teacup and plopped down on the sofa: "Uncle, have you officially arrived in the capital?"

"Yes, I'll be able to see you more often in the future, Sisi."

“That’s great. My mom spends all day tending to her plants, walking the dog, and playing with the cat. You and your aunt should come and keep her company more often.”

Liu Xiaoli took the initiative to introduce him: "Xiao Lu, Qianqian's uncle worked in Beiping a few years ago. He even collaborated with Lao Cheng back then. He spent the last two years working away from home to gain experience, and this time he's back for a promotion—"

She was just trying to pave the way, and her uncle Liu Yue knowingly picked up the conversation: "Oh, I'm currently working in the Enterprise Bureau of the China Development Bank. The bank is undergoing restructuring, and my specific job hasn't been assigned yet."

Listening to his description of the "division of labor," Lu Kuan estimated his age and said, "I heard from Qianqian that you were previously in the provincial banking system in Hubei Province. This time, it must be a transfer with a rank attached, right?"

"Probably... deputy director level? With director-level benefits?"

Liu Yue's smile widened: "I'm now a deputy director. This trip back to head office is like a promotion, and it just so happens to coincide with the upcoming 4 trillion yuan stimulus package. I've been so busy lately."

Mr. Lu nodded, but didn't discuss anything further.

In 2008, the China Development Bank was transforming from a policy bank into a joint-stock bank, and its full name after the reform was "China Development Bank Corporation".

After the restructuring, the China Development Bank (CDB) was positioned as a commercial bank, but it still retains the core function of serving the country's medium- and long-term development strategy. Its business scope covers medium- and long-term lending, investment and other businesses, and it no longer undertakes policy banking business.

In other words, the restructured China Development Bank has entered the domestic capital market in a more down-to-earth manner.

On the one hand, it happened to coincide with the country's 4 trillion yuan stimulus plan at the end of the year, becoming the main source of medium and long-term credit for the domestic infrastructure industry.
On the other hand, the restructured China Development Bank (CDB) responded to the State Council's "Opinions on Giving Full Play to the Supporting Role of Science and Technology in Promoting Steady and Rapid Economic Development" by establishing a new credit department for emerging technology industries. This is actually an area where companies like DJI and Butian Pictures could cooperate with the CDB, but Mr. Lu is not yet aware of this, since he rarely had the opportunity to deal with the CDB in his previous life.

Today wasn't the right time to discuss serious matters. Lu Kuan and Liu Yue exchanged numbers, and after finishing breakfast, the young couple left home amidst the blessings of their entire family.

Liu Xiaoli saw the two off by the car window, a smile lingering on her lips: "Xiaolu, Qianqian, it was hard to talk when there were too many people around. Your father has also arrived in Beiping, as have your grandparents. They might invite you to dinner tomorrow."

The unpleasantness of their marriage years ago has long since faded away. However, An Kang was worried that it would be awkward to meet the elders of the An family again, so he made proper arrangements to congratulate his daughter and son-in-law separately.

"Ok."

"Okay, I'll call Dad later." Little Liu replied sweetly, then looked around excitedly and waved to her elderly mother from the car window.

"What's wrong?" Liu Xiaoli asked curiously, leaning closer to listen. Her eldest daughter kissed her on the cheek and said softly, "Mom, thank you."

Looking at her daughter in the car, smiling radiantly as if she were being pampered like a princess, Liu Xiaoli couldn't hold back her tears any longer.

Her thoughts traveled through time, and she vaguely saw the little girl with pigtails from more than ten years ago, wearing a floral dress, tiptoeing under the grape trellis of the old house in Jiangcheng, asking her father when he would come back.

Later, she was left alone, riding her bicycle with her daughter through the streets of Jiangcheng's various theaters.

She once shielded her daughter from all the storms and hardships with her frail back, turning the ups and downs of her journey into a red carpet adorned with flowers in the entertainment industry.

Now, seeing the happiness flowing in my daughter's eyes, all those wounds I stitched up alone late at night, the forced composure, and the careful guidance have all turned into spring mud to protect the flowers.

The most perfect redemption in this world is witnessing the rose you've nurtured with half a lifetime of hard work finally bloom into an even more radiant form under the care of another pair of hands.

She's going to have her own little family soon.

"Everything went smoothly. I'll be waiting for you to come back for lunch." Liu Xiaoli saw the two off by the car window, her smile mingled with tears, an emotion she couldn't shake.
-
As the Maybach left Wenyuhefu and entered the Beijing-Chengde Expressway, Liu Yifei rolled down the window slightly in the back seat to get some fresh air. After calming down a bit, she felt refreshed and relaxed in the autumn scenery of Beiping.

"By the way, which marriage registration office are we going to?" The young woman, who dressed herself up to outshine everyone in Beiping, didn't even know where she was going to get married.

“My household registration is in Bingjiao Wangfu. Gongjian Hutong is in Xicheng District. You can just come with me to Xicheng District.”

Xiao Liu laughed and put her arm around his: "Alright! I'll follow my husband wherever he goes!"

"But what if we cause congestion in the past?"

It wasn't that she was overconfident; it was just that such a scene was almost inevitable unless she disguised herself to avoid being recognized.

It's worth noting that ever since the couple announced their marriage, paparazzi from all over Beijing and all over China have been on the move.

Everyone starts from the same point, knowing only that the two are going to get their marriage certificate in September. They can then secretly find out the two's household registration information to determine which district's civil affairs bureau is more likely to accept the certificate, and thus take precautions in advance.

The idea that "a generous reward will surely attract brave men" was hardly a secret in 2008, because leaking it would not have serious consequences and the responsible party could not be traced.

“We arrived early, completed our business in their internal office, and left immediately. We had already spoken to Secretary Pan beforehand, and he would handle any issues.”

Pan Sen was Liu's chief secretary and was instructed by the latter to personally oversee and assist in this matter, providing conveniences from beginning to end. This was also to reduce public crowds and avoid any unexpected incidents.

The young couple set off from Wenyuhe, took the Beijing-Chengde Expressway and then the North Fourth Ring Road. Although they left home before 8 a.m., they still encountered the morning rush hour.

Traffic converges between Jianxiang Bridge and Zhixin Bridge, causing slow-moving traffic.

Meanwhile, throughout the paparazzi circles of Beiping, a piece of news was spreading rapidly and rapidly—

Those two who kissed while watching a game in Argentina have returned home, and something big is bound to happen today—most likely they'll get their marriage certificate!
There is only one basis for judgment: Liu Yifei's vain selfie on Weibo after putting on makeup in the morning.

When did this female celebrity become so proactive in her work? It could be because of that darn washing machine!

In the underworld, there are several paparazzi bases in Beiping:
In the Yansha business district, people usually stake out high-end bars in places like Xingba Road to see if any celebrities are dating, having affairs, or having private gatherings.
Liangmaqiao Apartments, a place filled with a large number of foreigners and celebrities, is where the Faye Wong-Peng Dehua relationship was first exposed;

The villa area on the outskirts of Beijing is usually where wealthy men keep celebrities as mistresses; any photo taken there would be big news.
Finally, there are the long-established paparazzi activity areas such as Lido and the area around the Asian Games Village.

Desperate measures, paparazzi and some print media in Beijing swarmed out, determined to capture firsthand information on the most explosive news since the Olympics.

The sixteen civil affairs bureaus and marriage registration offices in Beiping were instantly designated as "key battle zones" by paparazzi. The best cars, the best equipment, and the fastest photographers were used in Dongcheng, Xicheng, and Chaoyang districts, while informants were simply assigned to keep watch in other non-key areas.

The paparazzi employed tactics akin to the Kuomintang's White Terror, conducting a city-wide manhunt to capture this underground Communist Party couple as quickly as possible.

At around 9:10 a.m., Afei had just turned from the North Second Ring Road onto Xizhimen South Street when he saw a row of cars parked in front of the Xicheng District Government Service Center.

Through the rolled-down car window, one could clearly see a large army of paparazzi dressed in vests. As a key area, this place had been set up by them, waiting to ambush their prey.

Taking advantage of the situation, Afei stopped the car at the corner and turned around to ask, "Boss, are we still going?"

Liu Yifei was astonished. There was no back door to the marriage registration office. If they drove their Maybach in through the front door, she and Lu Kuan would probably be besieged by all sorts of powerful figures by the time they came out after completing the formalities.

Normally, it would be fine; Ah Fei could just step in and scare them a bit, or the local police station could come and help restore order.

It's just that a good day like today isn't suitable for arguments; it's better to stay harmonious and peaceful.

"I'll just make a phone call; I'm too lazy to get entangled with them."

Just as Boss Lu took out his phone, Pan Sen's call came in first, his tone somewhat urgent: "Mr. Lu, where are you?"

“The Xicheng District just called and told you not to go there yet. There are too many reporters there, and the roads are congested. I’m afraid something might happen.”

"Secretary Pan, please make the arrangements. I will wait for your notification."

Pan Sen laughed and said, "Okay! I'll report to my superiors."

Zhengyi Road in Dongcheng District was originally the site of the Prince Su's Mansion and the former Japanese and Benevolent Legation during the Qing Dynasty. It is now the location of the government office.

After receiving a response to his knock on the door, Secretary Pan entered the office.

"Boss, Mr. Lu's side is still surrounded."

The bespectacled leader, Mr. Liu, looked up with a smile: "You refused the favor I offered you, now you're in trouble, aren't you?"

The old leader, whose authority seemed to grow stronger in Pan Sen's eyes, spoke in a relaxed tone: "Go and coordinate with Director Li of the Social Work Committee. The Social Work Committee will issue a 'Special Affairs Handling Letter' to the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, designating the registration office to arrange a separate space for Lu Kuan and his wife to use."

The Social Work Committee is a specialized working body established by Southeast University after 07 to strengthen social development and social governance. Its specific functions will not be elaborated here.

The Social Work Committee and the Civil Affairs Bureau usually work together in the same office. Leader Liu's arrangement is compliant, legal, and highly efficient.

Pan Sen nodded: "Then I'll go find Director Li and Director Zhang and ask the staff of the Xicheng Marriage Registration Office to bring the seal equipment to the Civil Affairs Bureau."

"Okay, go ahead." Leader Liu continued working on official documents, putting his glasses back on. After a moment, he called his secretary back: "Xiao Pan—"

"lead?"

After thinking for a moment, Director Liu capped his pen and said, "Let's postpone today's coordination meeting with several banks by half an hour. I'll arrange for Lu Kuan and his wife to have their driver pick me up later."

Pan Sen's heart skipped a beat, knowing that this person was going to come and offer their congratulations in person, but he calmly said he was leaving.

The personal secretary thought she had a good understanding of the status of the richest man in mainland China, but now it seems that she was still a little short.

For Liu, who is now in a higher position, to postpone his official duties and personally attend to offer his congratulations despite potential gossip, is a testament to his considerable influence.

In Xicheng District, Afei turned around and drove towards Workers' Stadium Road, heading straight for the Civil Affairs Bureau office building.

Lu Kuan thought for a moment and sent Zhuang Xu a message, reminding him to pay attention to the situation on Weibo and other websites today, so that they wouldn't crash like last time and waste data.

Although it wasn't intentional hype, why not do it to attract new users?

From blogging to operating microblogs, he and Liu Yifei have been actively involved in the process.

In 2008, the Beiping Civil Affairs Bureau, as the municipal-level competent authority, did not directly undertake the specific function of marriage registration. The execution of marriage registration was delegated to the marriage registration offices under the civil affairs bureaus of each district.

However, today's situation is a bit special. The staff of the Xicheng District Registration Office received personal instructions from the top director and rushed to the bureau with the seal and certificate-making tools.

Around 10 a.m., the Maybach raised the barrier at the gatehouse, which had been notified in advance. Xiao Liu rolled down the car window, grabbed a handful of candy, and stuffed it into the hands of the cheerful gatekeeper.

"That's enough! Thank you, young lady!" The old man didn't actually recognize Liu Yifei, but he recognized the car and the bureau chief who had just come in twenty minutes ago.

The bureau chief's secretary got out of the car and personally copied down the license plate number, instructing him to let the car pass quickly.

Pan Sen had been waiting in front of the building for a long time. He quickly stepped forward and shook hands with Lu Kuan and the other man.

"Secretary Pan, thank you for your hard work."

Pan Sen smiled broadly: "President Lu, please don't stand on ceremony. I'm just doing this as instructed by the leadership, and it's all for the sake of maintaining social order."

He gestured towards the outside of the Civil Affairs Bureau with his lip: "Look, they've all come after us."

Xiao Liu turned around and saw that there were indeed several cars parked one after another on the outer road with their hazard lights on. He wondered how they were so resourceful.

“They must have recognized your car, Mr. Lu.” Pan Sen said helplessly, “Please wait a moment, I’ll call the district security and traffic police.”

Traffic police chased away the car, and public security officers chased away the person.

Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei exchanged a helpless glance. It seemed they should leave through the back door earlier today, quietly get things done, and then make a quick getaway.

With everything in place, the staff of the Civil Affairs Bureau led the two to the director's office. As soon as Boss Lu entered, he saw Director Liu chatting and laughing with a square-faced man.

"Ah! The big director has arrived."

Boss Lu smiled and stepped forward to shake hands with him: "Boss, what are you saying? You've come to personally investigate our marriage situation?"

Leader Liu laughed heartily, introduced him to Director Wang, and then patted Lu Kuan's arm affectionately, jokingly saying:

"Xiao Lu, I just asked Director Wang about the business process."

"If you want to get this certificate today, you need to prove that you and Xiao Liu are not related within three generations and that neither of you has been married before. But those are easy to agree on. My biggest concern is that you don't meet one of the requirements—"

Liu Yifei smiled and asked, "Which one, Leader Liu?"

"Whether it is voluntary or not."

Everyone laughed at this, and Lu Kuan teased him, saying, "You're a highly respected old comrade, how come you still think of me as a landlord and tyrant from the revolutionary era? Why don't you ask Xiao Liu if he did it voluntarily?"

Liu Yifei covered her mouth and chuckled: "I did it voluntarily, but Lu Kuan didn't. I forced him!"

"Hahahaha!" Everyone burst into laughter again, and even Ah Fei at the door couldn't help but smile.

Leader Liu found the young girl amusing and said in a kind tone, "If you're willing, then so be it. If he's being forced, then so be it!"

Mr. Lu took out two handfuls of wedding candy from his girlfriend’s expensive donkey bag and handed them to Director Liu and Director Wang respectively: “My mother-in-law bought these candies and chocolates. They’re only a few dozen yuan a pound when sold loose, which doesn’t violate your principles.”

"Please ignore the part about me being forced!"

Director Wang finally got a chance to interject: "We have to have this candy, boss. We should be the first to get some wedding candy, right?"

Leader Liu chuckled and said, "It shouldn't be. I guess the guard post and Pan Sen at the gate have already eaten."

He was well aware of how down-to-earth his young son and daughter were.

After a few words of laughter and conversation, a staff member knocked on the door and came in, carrying a full set of tools with difficulty.

"Then we'll have to disturb the director's work, shall we?"

Director Wang waved his hand hastily: "We're all serving the people, so what's this talk about disturbing you?"

Liu Yifei smiled and took out a two-inch passport photo that she had taken in advance from her Miu Miu chain bag. The female staff member who came from Xicheng District took the photo with a smile and immediately started to make the certificate.

With Leader Liu and Director Wang standing nearby, how could she possibly be so oblivious as to follow the usual procedures?
However, Xiao Liu, an "experiential learner," didn't want to miss these parts: "Um... let's do it all over again! I want to keep it as a souvenir."

She turned around and handed her phone to the cold-faced bodyguard: "Ah Fei, can you record this for me?"

"Ok."

Leader Liu and the others smiled and gestured for Director Wang, Secretary Pan, and others to leave, leaving the remaining work to the two newcomers.

This is their time.

Even though the location had changed from the marriage registration office to the office of the director of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Xiao Liu still felt her heart pounding violently in her chest, like a butterfly about to take flight.

She turned to look at Lu Kuan, her eyes meeting his smiling gaze, and reached out to intertwine her fingers with his.

The kind-faced woman proceeded methodically: "Please show both parties' original household registration booklets and ID cards."

"Okay." Xiao Liu placed all the documents on the table.

"Okay, the man is over 22 years old and the woman is over 20 years old. Are you two direct or collateral relatives within three generations?"

No, no.

"Do either of you have any other marriages currently in effect?"

"No," "No"

"Are you both willing to become husband and wife?"

Yes, yes

The older woman handed over two sheets of paper: "These are the 'Application for Marriage Registration Statements.' Please fill them out separately, declaring that you are voluntarily marrying."

Xiao Liu calmed down and carefully went through the marriage procedures, stroke by stroke.

For her, this was no less significant than her grand wedding day.

With each stroke of the pen across the paper, the girl reconstructs her identity—an anchor in a legal sense.

The two silently completed everything. The stamp made a dull "click" as it pressed onto the red booklet, and the lady at the registration office handed them the marriage certificate with a smile.

"Congratulations on becoming a legally married couple."

"Thank you!"

The marriage registration process in 2008 did not include the oath-taking ceremony, so the clerk and Ah Fei left temporarily, leaving the couple alone in the office.

Liu Yifei picked up the two bright red marriage certificates, handling the edges with the care of a rare treasure. A stray strand of hair fell down her temple, swaying beside her cheek.

She turned to look at Lu Kuan, who was also looking through the pages; his status had changed from boyfriend to husband.

The girl blinked her wet, phoenix-shaped eyes and asked in a sweet, innocent tone, "Is it harder to understand than a script? Why does it take so long to read?"

Lu Kuan glanced at her sideways and said, "This is my first time taking this; it's new to me."

"From beginning to end... the first time?" Little Liu pouted cutely and asked a question that outsiders might not understand.

“It’s the first time.” Boss Lu looked at her, his gaze calm and focused.

"You are my first love and my only wife."

Liu Yifei looked at the man in front of her with red eyes. The slight downward curve of her eyes was incredibly gentle. Her eyes, which usually carried a sharp edge, melted into spring water at this moment.

As the word "wife" rolled across his tongue, his Adam's apple seemed to bob involuntarily, as if he were swallowing some unspeakable emotion.

Xiao Liu, now a married woman, cupped her husband's face in her hands, her emotions surging uncontrollably at that moment.

“从2001年12月21号此生第一次见到你，到2008年9月9号我们结为夫妻，一共2454天。”

"You were a teacher, a boyfriend, and now a husband."

"From today onwards, I will be the endless beauty in your script, the unfading negative on your film."

Liu Yifei's fingertips traced the curve of his brow bone, her voice as sweet as honey:
"You taught me to recognize every frame of light and shadow, and now I will spend the rest of my life capturing you. No matter where the camera turns, my pupils will always only hold you as the focus."

"These eight years are just the prologue; our main story has only just begun. Lu Kuan, I will always be your one and only actress." Xiao Liu smiled, revealing two dimples filled with her love and sweet tears.

"Cut!" The man looked at his wife with a bright smile: "This take is done, but I'm going to make you do it for the rest of your life."

Sunlight streamed across the window sill, casting soft outlines of two embracing shadows, eternally imprinted on the film of time.
-
On September 9, 2008, at 11 a.m., Weibo, which was on high alert, finally saw that its own Director Liu had posted a blog post and immediately went into high alert.

A photo of someone holding their marriage certificate, along with a few words of self-reflection.

2001/12/21至2008/9/9。

Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye. The threads of fate have interwoven, eventually leading me to your surname.

@LuKuan: From now on, I am your Vitamin Qian!
(End of this chapter)