Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 544, "Reply, 1982"

Iris Chang stroked her son Chris's head, knowing full well that both she and the private jet with its clearly symbolic paint scheme were "surprises" today. Smiling, she put her arm around Liu Yifei's shoulder.

"Why don't you go take a look at this big toy first? It's a special one for your family of four."

“Okay, I’ll take a look and then come down.” Liu Yifei was already eager to try. She greeted the crew members by the gangway with a smile and boarded the plane with her husband.

A slender and beautiful flight attendant led the aircraft owner into the cabin:

"Good morning, sir and madam. Welcome aboard. It is a great honor to introduce you to the 'Liiiu,' named after your family. Based on the Bombardier Universal 6000, Mr. Lu commissioned the manufacturer to carry out a complete interior renovation, aiming to transform it into a warm, comfortable, and fully functional 'family residence in the sky.'"

Liu Yifei stepped into the cabin with curiosity. The solid wood trim on the cabin door was engraved with fine cloud patterns and felt warm to the touch.

The cabin is decorated primarily in light gray, ivory white, and solid wood tones, complemented by matte metal trim, creating a simple yet understated look.

"The interior design combines simple, modern lines with high-end materials, eschewing excessive ornamentation and emphasizing a balance between function and aesthetics. The deep blue interior walls and white lighting create a calm and sophisticated atmosphere, while the incorporation of wood elements injects a natural warmth, preventing the space from feeling cold."

Xiao Liu turned her head and looked at her husband with a smile, "Luckily, my husband has a good eye for aesthetics. He looks good and doesn't have the air of a nouveau riche."

Lu Kuan's first attempt at a minimalist renovation: "Maybe it's because I'm not rich enough yet, I can't quite grasp the feel of that kind of glittering entertainment city."

"Ha ha!"

The flight attendant led them inside: "In terms of space and layout, the aircraft retains the most spacious advantage in its class compared to the Bombardier Global 6000."

"The front of the aircraft features a fully equipped compact galley and crew rest area, the middle section is the main leisure and meeting area, and the rear section is a private rest cabin with two fixed fully lie-flat double beds."

"All features are designed with comfort, durability, and quietness in mind. Several individual airline seats are equipped with massage and heating functions, and the aircraft is also equipped with an independent four-zone climate control system..."

Even the finest private jet interior can't compare to a luxury mansion in Beiping. However, this "Liiiu" has already reached the pinnacle of combining practicality, aesthetics, and warmth within a limited space.

"It's great. When the family goes out in the future, my mom can sleep here with the baby." Xiao Liu has already made arrangements. "I especially love this cork photo wall and this exploration window. The dad here is so thoughtful!"

This refers to a wall in front of a bedroom that has been covered with photos of the baby and the family, and two windows equipped with high-powered telescopes, clearly intended for a child.

"In the future, the two kids will be able to observe the mountains and rivers of our motherland and the night view under the starry sky from high in the sky, which will inspire their curiosity about the world. That's wonderful."

Lu Kuan smiled and said, "That's the ideal situation. It's also possible that they'll become addicted to electronic products. With mobile phones and computers developing so fast, once they're old enough to use them, the entertainment content of these electronic products will be much richer."

Xiao Liu chuckled: "Heh heh, it's alright, I'll take care of helping them quit internet addiction."

After briefly reviewing the ten-minute incident, Liu Yifei pulled her husband out of the cabin: "Don't keep Sister Chunru and the children waiting. Let's go back first. Are you taking this plane to Canada this time?"

"No, the crew chartered a plane to North America. You can keep the plane at home. It will be more convenient for you to travel around."

"And one more thing." Stepping out of the cabin, Lu Kuan put his arm around his wife's shoulder and whispered, "We have to be careful with foreign stuff. I've already spoken to Yang Rui and asked him to help me find an expert to do a thorough check-up."

Yang Rui was a colonel-level officer in the General Armament Department's aerospace division, which Liu Yifei knew, but what did this so-called physical examination mean?
Lu Kuan, who is always cautious and has a good understanding of how low the West's bottom line is, put it succinctly:

"We cannot entrust safety to others. Our captain is a retired pilot who has found new employment, and the cabin crew are all carefully selected, clean-family-background, full-time Chinese employees."

"As for the aircraft that the foreigners bought, if someone wants to cause trouble, they can implant malicious circuits or firmware in key hardware such as processors and communication modules, allowing for remote activation or interference."

"Undisclosed access interfaces or logic bombs may also be reserved in flight control software, navigation systems, or cabin management systems, which could be remotely triggered."

"It is even possible to exploit vulnerabilities that can be remotely used to steal data or interfere with signals by using channels such as satellite communications and terrestrial data links."

"These can all be called backdoors, backdoors that have been left for us by people with ulterior motives. Even if we don't use them, they are still a threat."

Boss Lu laughed and said, "It's not that I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, but the feeling of handing over one's life isn't good. Let's have our own people check them carefully first, just in case."

Time travelers are more afraid of death than anyone else, especially since he currently possesses secrets and sensitive resources that, while he may be safe now, could be enough to arouse fear in the future.

Refer to Malaysia Airlines four years later.

Although Bombardier is a Canadian company, its aircraft's avionics systems and satellite communication modules are sourced from American manufacturers such as Honeywell and Rockwell Collins. If they really wanted to leave backdoors, they would have plenty of opportunities for them during every maintenance and repair.

Liu Yifei was a little confused, but the safer the better, especially given the nature of their work, which would inevitably involve traveling between China, the US, and Europe in the future. It was good to eliminate all suspicious factors in advance.

The two met and exchanged pleasantries with the full-time crew members, and Lu Kuan finally shook hands warmly with the retired pilot.

"You must be tired from your journey, Captain Chen!"

Chen Jianguo, 48, has an honest face: "President Lu, you know who I am. I'm happy to serve Ms. Zhang Chunru. Our jobs are actually the same."

Lu Kuan nodded with a smile, recalling Yang Rui's introduction in his mind:
Chen Jianguo served in the Transport Aviation Department of the 34th Air Division of the Dongda Air Force. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force and served as a flight squadron leader. He was highly skilled as a pilot and was responsible for important missions such as special flights and cargo transport for a long time.

In 2003, the Chinese military downsized its forces, and Chen's unit was affected by this streamlining and reorganization. It was transferred from the Air Force to the newly established Joint Support Force. As a native of Beiping, Chen Jianguo chose to retire and join the civil aviation industry, considering his family and children.

This time, it took Yang Rui a lot of persuasion to convince the person to come over. It wasn't that the person complained about the treatment, but that the work intensity of civil aviation was too high and he couldn't enjoy flying. How many times a month could the richest man's family fly?
This is boring!
It wasn't until just before he left that Old Chen somewhat sheepishly pulled out a few photos. "Ms. Liu, my daughter is so tiny, if it wouldn't be too much trouble..."

"No trouble at all! What's your daughter's name?" Liu Yifei smiled as she took the photo, and the girls from the flight crew also gathered around. This made the top female star, who had just been humiliated by the hateful "laundry detergent" ground staff, quite smug.

As a result, various authentic limited edition autographed items were created, along with the opportunity to take photos together.

Iris Chang's arrival was warmly welcomed by Wenyuhe Mansion. The guest villa rooms that had been prepared in advance, the small outdoor playground that was already taking shape, as well as the cats, dogs, flowers and plants, all became a good remedy for Chris's suffering.

He is also a child of Chinese descent, and perhaps returning to his homeland in such a relaxed atmosphere will allow him to continue to improve.

In the nursery on the second floor, Iris Chang lovingly took turns holding the two babies, kissing one and tenderly caring for the other. She also carefully disinfected and washed her hands in the dedicated restroom, without applying any makeup.

"Sisi, the dimples on the two little ones' faces are getting more and more obvious, and their noses look like they're modeled after you. You're so good at having children!"

Liu Yifei was extremely proud: "From now on, when we go out, everyone will be able to tell at a glance that he is my son."

Iris Chang's interpersonal relationships and habits were quite Westernized, and she spoke very directly: "But her mouth and eyes are like Xiao Lu's, truly combining all your strengths."

Little Liu said, looking aggrieved, "You...you all dislike my freckles! It makes me so angry, I'm going to pass on my freckles to them too!"

"Hahaha! No, no." Iris Chang saw that she still had the cuteness of a girl after becoming a mother. "It's really amazing that they can resemble you even a third of the time. Regardless of anything else, these two children are already blessed with good looks."

Have you thought about what they should do in the future?

This seems to be the question that every relative or friend who sees Lu Youyou and Lu Ping asks. After all, their family background, appearance, wealth, status, and their interesting parents are sure to pique everyone's curiosity.

“It’s a dilemma, and so is Lu Kuan,” Xiao Liu said with a smile. “We hope they will become successful, no less than their fathers, but we also worry that these expectations will crush the children.”

Liu Yifei said with emotion, "Thinking about what Lu Kuan is going to do and the grand ambitions he wants to realize, I wish I could follow him and help him at all times, and enjoy this process of struggle together."

"But when I apply this to my own children, do I feel like I'm being too harsh on them?"

"After all, everyone has different talents, and some things cannot be forced."

Iris Chang wholeheartedly agreed: "That's how it is to be a parent. I remember reading a sentence in a parenting book back then—"

"Education is not about filling a bucket with water, but about igniting a fire. If you want your children to follow in their footsteps and become artists or entrepreneurs, simply imparting knowledge is useless; the key is to inspire interest and passion."

Liu Yifei nodded: "Yes, just like me. Besides my face, I don't really have much talent as an actor. If it weren't for my interest, I wouldn't be able to stick with it."

"Ouch!" Tie Dan, who was in Zhang Chunru's arms, suddenly kicked her. "He's really strong. Maybe he'll be a soccer player someday!"

"Haha! He ate less than my sister when he was in my belly, but now he's bigger than her and in excellent physical condition."

Liu Yifei had already planned it out: "Once they can walk, we can take them outdoors to play, and let them explore and connect with nature on their own."

"It doesn't matter if you get bumped or bitten by mosquitoes, just don't grow into two weak little things."

Iris Chang gently put Liu Tiedan back on the crib: "It's good that your mother is willing to let him go. Old people are always very protective of their children. My parents have lived in the United States for so many years, and back then they still wouldn't allow this or that."

Xiao Liu said confidently, "When I was very young, I would ride on the back of her bicycle to perform everywhere. After returning to China, no matter how hard or tiring filming was, she never complained. There's no problem with that."

"Even if both of them are a little slow learners, it's good to have a healthy body and a strong will."

Iris Chang chuckled and said, "Children all admire and imitate their fathers. You're saying Xiao Lu's child is a little fool? Who would believe that?"

"Growing up with a father like that, I think he'll be a clever little devil who can outwit even adults."

Whether high intelligence can be inherited may not be scientifically conclusive, but environmental stimuli and upbringing can indeed significantly alter a person's thinking logic.

Lu Kuan's dedication to his career and interests, his management of social relationships, his interactions with relatives, friends, and subordinates, and his attitude and approach to different problems will provide children who observe and emulate him with a clear and concise framework for thinking.

When faced with a problem, I naturally think about what my father did back then.
Their father's life was filled with complex and ever-changing problems, challenges, and ambitions.

This is a much higher starting point in itself. Wealth is secondary; the key is the high margin for error and experience templates that wealth brings to life.

……

The family dinner that evening was simple and unpretentious. The family had a simple meal, and Chef Qiao prepared a table of specialties from Zhang Chunru's hometown, Huai'an.

Huaiyang cuisine originated in Yangzhou and Huai'an.

Iris Chang had tasted this in the United States when she was a child and her elders were still alive, and this time she brought her son Chris to experience it again.

A delighted Liu Xiaoli kept pulling Zhang Chunru to drink, both to express her gratitude for the care Zhang had given her during her time in Chicago and to show her genuine liking and admiration for this patriotic female writer.

"Sister Chunru, this toast is to congratulate you on becoming a visiting professor at the Harvard Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies. May you shine on a new stage once again."

The Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, along with the East Asian Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley, are among the top academic institutions in the West for studying China.

For Iris Chang, this place allowed her to expand her research focus from the Nanjing Massacre to a broader range of modern Chinese history, overseas Chinese history, and Sino-US relations.

She can even preside over or participate in international academic projects on topics such as the Eastern Front of World War II and the contributions of Chinese people, thus solidifying the foundation of China's discourse power from a historical perspective.

Historically, the Fairbank Institute was embroiled in controversy in 2023 for accepting funding from Taiwan. Why can't there be a foundation established by Iris Chang herself in this life, so that a certain tycoon can continuously cultivate mouthpiece scholars through her inconspicuous identity?
It's important to know that institutions like the Fairbank Institute have long provided policy advice to the U.S. government and businesses, and their academic influence extends globally.

"I was also inspired by you. Just like you said on the phone last time, it is not very meaningful for the people of China and the United States to rely solely on a Confucius Institute to promote Chinese characters and teach Chinese. We still need deeper academic and cultural exchanges."

Lu Kuan smiled and said, "No rush, this can only be done slowly. Besides, we can only be considered a grassroots force. As long as we follow the historical trend at the right time, we can succeed."

For the daunting task of spreading Chinese culture and films in North America, besides what he is currently doing—relying on Netflix to include older Chinese films in its DVD rental packages—the right approach is to first promote recognition and understanding.

This is actually an issue that the official top-level design should consider, and it is also a matter that has been continuously promoted. Every cultural attaché in an embassy has to face such diplomatic tasks to some extent.

Iris Chang's identity, academic background, status, and experience all destined her to be the best candidate for bridging China and the United States.

Furthermore, if we can bribe history professors and experts from major universities across the United States, can't we cultivate our own industry experts and researchers from authoritative institutions?

Zhang Chunru's future mission, which is also her own interest, is to elevate herself from a writer who mainly focuses on a single historical event to a comprehensive cultural ambassador who advocates for the recognition of Chinese history, the promotion of Chinese culture, and the fostering of understanding on a global scale.

She can establish herself in the core academic circles of the United States, while radiating globally through public activities, media creation, and international organization platforms. Her route and her wide business map form a perfect complement of "one high and one low" and "one academic and one popular," ultimately building a three-dimensional, powerful, and unshakable system for the international dissemination of Chinese culture.

Of course, these are all the result of long-term, painstaking work, not something that can be achieved overnight.

However, the time traveler who had initially succeeded in "pacifying the interior" in 2009 and the patriotic female writer who had begun to cooperate with him to accomplish the arduous task had only just begun their journey, but they already had a tacit understanding.

That night, he and Iris Chang talked for a long time in the study until Liu Yifei, who was making tea for them, became drowsy and then they stopped.

On the morning of the 4th, Liu Xiaoli was at home taking care of her child. Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei used the excuse of taking Zhang Chunru to visit Nanjing again and inspecting the set of the film "The Flowers of War" to go to Zeng Wenxiu's tomb in Niushou Mountain, which was half completed.

After giving birth to her son and daughter in May, Liu Yifei had been in postpartum confinement. Later, she was caught up in the Lien-Hsiang mixed-ownership reform battle. It wasn't until just before her departure that the two of them found an opportunity to pay respects to their late mother.

There is a Chinese tradition that one must bid farewell to one's parents before leaving home for a long journey, and if one's parents have passed away, one must sweep and pay respects at their graves.

In agricultural and ancient societies, traveling far from home meant leaving the protection of one's parents and family. Under conditions of low productivity, returning home was a distant prospect, and it might even be the last time one saw the family.

This is a continuation of filial piety and a search for spiritual and psychological comfort.

Lu Kuan and his wife slowly ascended the bluestone steps. Halfway up the mountain, Zeng Wenxiu's cemetery was beginning to take shape, with three layers of vegetation barriers surrounding the cemetery like a green curtain.
The outer layer of thorny holly and purple bamboo intertwine to form a natural barrier, the middle layer of privet and camphor tree canopies stretch into a three-meter-high green wall, and the inner layer of daylilies and white chrysanthemums surrounds the central white marble stele.

The irrigation system under construction meanders along the terrain, and the water mist refracts into tiny rainbows in the morning light. If it weren't for the staff's guidance, a sign for the protected base would have kept outsiders away, and no one would have risked climbing over the thorny vegetation to intrude.

“Nanjing winters are damp and cold, so I had them install antifreeze on the water pipes here, otherwise it would damage the vegetation layers and not achieve the best hiding effect.”

Liu Yifei hugged her husband's arm, boasting, "How is it? Even though it's still a work in progress, it looks pretty good, doesn't it?"

"Good, very good." Lu Kuan felt very pleased. He kissed his wife on the forehead and then began to slowly and deliberately sweep the tombs for his mother.

After a while, the two kowtowed and then sat down on either side of Zeng Wenxiu.

The man pulled out a stack of photos, all of which he had spent a long time choosing last night to bring to show his mother today:
"Mom, this is Youyou, your eldest granddaughter. She's very sensitive to outside sounds. Qianqian said she even pricks up her ears when she hears the military music during National Day celebrations. She's very smart. Don't let her quiet appearance fool you; when she's stubborn, no one can persuade her. Once, she refused to drink from the bottle and insisted on being fed by her mother, crying for quite a while." "This is your grandson Tiedan, whose real name is Luping. He eats, sleeps, and poops well. He's probably every old lady's dream grandson. I'm just worried he'll grow too tall and strong and look like a big, clumsy kid. Take a good look at them; the next time you see them, they'll be big kids."

Liu Yifei looked at her husband's gentle expression, like the surface of a lake shrouded in morning mist, both bright and hazy.

"It's hard to tell who the two little ones resemble yet, but they each have a dimple on each side, which they inherited from Xixi. Their noses are also higher than other babies, so it seems like they'll definitely grow up to be a handsome boy and a beautiful girl."

Lu Kuan confided in his mother: "Only when you raise children do you realize the kindness of your parents. Now I feel the blood ties even more deeply. If I were to make films like 'Shoplifters' or 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' now, the content I present would definitely be more special and timeless."

"At that time, I didn't understand much."

"But I often feel a sense of disorientation now. Sisi and I brought them into this world, and in addition to material conditions, we are also responsible for their minds, conduct, and character. The education and influence of childhood are enormous, and this is something that truly concerns their lifelong happiness."

"I'm thinking back to how you taught me when I was little. It seems there wasn't any particular lecturing, which is why I have so many bad habits and quirks..."

Lu Kuan turned his head and looked tenderly at his wife, who returned a gentle smile. "So I'm still learning how to be a father, but luckily, the children's mother and grandmother are as kind and resilient as you."

"A mother's heart is a child's classroom, and that's absolutely true. So I'm not worried. Even if I can't be with them all the time, I'm sure Sisi will raise two kind children."

The man's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, as if he had swallowed some emotion stuck in his throat, and his fingers unconsciously traced the edge of the tile photo.

He turned to his wife: "Do you want to say something?"

"Yes." Liu Yifei smiled and said, "Mom, I will learn from you. I will take good care of this family, Lu Kuan and the children, and keep them safe and healthy."

"I dare not say how much success Youyou and Luping will achieve in the future, nor do I expect them to inherit much of their father's talent and wisdom. I only hope that when they grow up and enter society, everyone they meet will give them a heartfelt thumbs up."

"Yes, they are indeed the son and daughter of Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei."

As the new mother spoke, she became lost in warm imagination, her eyelashes suddenly trembling and drooping, as if she saw the phantom of her children taking their first steps running past the tombstone.

Then they gradually grew taller and bigger...

The warmth that flows through ordinary days is the eternal light that supports people to move forward. Looking at his gentle and lovely wife, Lu Kuan felt how lucky he was in both of his lives.

"Alright, let's get ready to go."

He put the photo in an envelope marked "4 months and 24 days," placed it in a cleverly hidden compartment under the tombstone, and then rearranged the flowers and offerings, leaving no trace of anything unusual.

Burning photos is considered unlucky, so let's keep her company in this way.

The couple left hand in hand, the fallen leaves on the mountain path rustling under their feet. It was so quiet that only the evening bell of the ancient temple in the distance could be heard. The glow of the sunset enveloped the cemetery, casting a warm hue over the family's temporary farewell.

As the vehicle drove away, a ginkgo leaf swirled and landed on the windshield, like a farewell kiss from the mountains.

……

Because her young child still needed his mother, Iris Chang stayed in Jinling temporarily, while Lu Kuan and his wife took a flight back to Wenyuhe Prefecture that very night.

Lianxiang underwent mixed-ownership reform in August, successfully cracked down on bandits in September, and began the handover process of Lianxiang's mobile phone and Damai.com in early October.

Having clarified the question of "where to go" for the future under this special historical period, and after visiting his mother and telling her about the baby, Boss Lu is also preparing to set off for North America to begin the final filming of "Ball Lightning".

Filming started in March, but was delayed for nearly half a month due to my wife's pregnancy and childbirth and the restructuring of Lianxiang. If there are no special circumstances, I will not be able to return to China until before the Chinese New Year.

After finishing filming and handling official business in the United States, I then focused on editing and post-production, aiming for a non-competitive screening or even premiere at Cannes in 2010, and began promotional activities for its global summer release.

As night deepened on the eve of his departure, only a warm yellow wall lamp remained in the bedroom of Wenyuhe Mansion.

Liu Yifei's half-wet long hair was spread out on the pillow, and her fingertips gently traced the outline of her husband's brow bone, as if she wanted to engrave every inch into her memory.

Lu Kuan lowered his head and kissed away the moisture from the corner of her eyes. This was the tenderness after the savagery, as if he wanted to knead all the longing for the next few months into this moment of intimacy.

The humidifier by the bedside emitted a misty vapor, blurring the overlapping figures.

“You must remember to think of us, the three of us…” Xiao Liu said with reluctance. “When my mind went blank just now, I was thinking that it seems like we haven’t been apart for too long since we came back from the Oscars at the beginning of last year.”

"You'll be gone for two or three months this time. When I return to work, it might be several months before we see each other again."

Before parting, the clingy young woman, her clinginess amplified, reached for the cat toy, gazing at her husband with dreamy eyes, biting her lower lip, "I want more..."

Even two physically strong and passionate young people, their conquests still had limits. However, the night breeze of Wenyu River Prefecture on this night truly witnessed their sweet intimacy.

The two of them almost forgot about the time. The washing machine, seeing its wife exhausted from eating, contentedly played with the millstone.

"Are you worried about me, or do you want me to be trembling with fear when I board the plane tomorrow?"

A blush spread from her cheeks to behind her ears as Liu said coquettishly, "Yes! I'm just worried about you! There are so many shameless, slutty girls in America!"

"Look at you, she just has a bigger chest than you, don't discriminate against white people," Boss Lu laughed. "Don't you have eyes that can see a thousand miles, ears that can hear the wind, and the Skype check-up technique?"

Liu Yifei teased, "Jing Tian? She wouldn't betray me, but if you really turned into a beast, would she still be able to withstand your toying?"

"I don't even need to use any sweet talk, I'm already smitten with you... Humph!"

The young woman cupped her husband's face in her hands and said, "These are all jokes. You need to take care of your health. You're getting older every day. Don't watch videos like you used to when you were young, staying up all night."

"You can't live without eye drops now, your eyes are always sore and uncomfortable."

"Liu Xiaolv, you're so hypocritical!" Washing Machine exclaimed dramatically, "You weren't worried about my health when you were saying 'I want it, I want it' just now, but now that you're full, you're starting to create a protective wife persona for yourself?"

"How hypocritical!"

"Get lost! I don't know who's been acting like a dog, telling me to change this or that..." The young woman slapped away the big hand on her buttocks: "Take it off! I can feel the bruises from your pinching. I didn't feel it before, but now it hurts like hell."

The washing machine shamelessly chuckled, "Hehe, I can't control myself! Anyone could..."

"Try to avoid your mother-in-law when you shower these next couple of days, okay? Don't let her see us, or she'll think we're playing some kind of fun game... It's just that sometimes we can't help ourselves..."

Liu Yifei, clutching the washing machine's thick skin, said shamelessly, "Now you know how to be shameless? Every time I throw away those shredded pieces of cloth you tore up, I have to act like a thief, afraid my mom will find out!"

After their sweet moments, the young couple joked around for a while, and before parting, they seemed to be indulging in the sentiment of "when shall we trim the candles by the west window together?"

Xiao Liu recalled how Liu Xiaoli had specially taken the baby next door to care for him, giving the young couple some space, and said with some longing:

"Now that the baby is five months old, he can steadily lift his head 45 to 90 degrees. When you come back next time, the smart baby will be able to say simple words like 'daddy,' 'mommy,' and monosyllabic words."

"After nine months, they will be able to go from standing with support to walking independently, and there will be a change almost every day."

She buried her head in her husband's neck, the warmth of their skin touching bringing her peace: "You have to think of them, think of me. I don't want you to miss out on their growth."

"We video chat for five minutes every night. I'm afraid it will hurt their eyes if it goes on for too long. I want to teach them to call me 'Dad' first, so that you, you cunning woman, don't beat me to it!"

"Hehe, maybe Grandma will be the first to learn it," Liu Yifei laughed. "Grandma Liu is talking about it to Youyou and Tiedan every day now."

The good son-in-law sighed, "The dancer has worked very hard. It seems like she just raised you and now she has to take care of the next generation. You should take care of her health and let her rest when she needs to. It's not like we don't have a nanny."

“She has to agree, right? Because the baby has given up the farm, and if it weren’t for the fact that I still need to breastfeed, she might give up me too.”

Liu Yifei laughed and said, "I'm always thinking about how long Youyou's legs are. She'll definitely be beautiful when she dances. I'll have her learn to dance to cultivate her temperament. Instead of entertaining people, she can exercise her body on her own."

"And then there's Tie Dan, that tall and handsome young man. I wonder how many female classmates he'll charm when he goes to school!"

……

Perhaps the couple themselves didn't realize that since the arrival of Youyou and Tiedan, their lives seemed to have been infused with a completely new rhythm.

Whether it's conversations when receiving guests, heartfelt farewells at Zeng Wenxiu's grave, or whispered conversations in the quiet of the night, those mundane, milky daily moments always quietly take center stage.

Just as the morning mist of Niushou Mountain nourishes the newly planted grass and trees, the joy and concern of being a parent have long since silently seeped into every crevice of their lives.

On the morning of the 5th, Boss Lu took the entire crew to North America. Since the Capital Airport was not far from his home, Jing Tian, ​​Zhou Xun, Huang Xiaoming and others came to have breakfast before leaving together.

After a heartfelt farewell kiss with her husband, Liu Yifei did not see him off. As she watched everyone leave, she felt a strange void in her heart, and she couldn't muster any energy to do anything that day.

New mothers who are breastfeeding are still under the influence of pregnancy hormones, and their beloved partners, whom they miss dearly, are about to be in a foreign country, so they can't help but feel down.

After feeding Youyou and Tiedan that evening, Xiao Liu tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. She got up and went to the study, where she found her husband's movie archives on the bookshelf.

It mainly contains the creative traces of a movie from conception to completion, with each movie consisting of thousands of pages of materials.

Project proposal, scene breakdown script, literary script, shot storyboard, art concept art, cinematography style guide, shot list, script supervisor's report, director's log, and everything else...

Like Bingbing, as an actor who is relatively unfamiliar with directing, Xiao Liu's favorite things to look at are the storyboards and character drawings he makes.

Before appearing in the eyes of the audience and on the camera, all the various characters—beautiful women, wealthy people, villains, high-ranking officials, heroes, and so on—first leap off the page in their most essential spiritual form.

With just a few strokes, he seems to be able to capture the essence of the character. The vitality in those lines, the stories in the eyes and brows, and the class in the folds of the clothes all seem to breathe.

Starting with *Whiplash*, Xiao Liu saw himself as a waiter and Jay Chou holding drumsticks with bloodied hands. Then came Feng Yuanzheng and Zhou Xun in *Shoplifters*, but after searching for a long time, he couldn't find Bingbing playing the female student in the brothel. (Chapter 288)
Liu Yifei's long hair was loosely tied behind her ears, with a few strands falling beside her cheeks, which were illuminated by the light and turned a light gold.

A faint smile played on her lips as her gaze lingered among the lines. Sometimes she raised an eyebrow at the exaggerated movements of the figures in Lu Kuan's paintings, and sometimes she held her breath at the delicate portrayal of a particular gaze.

Her occasional pauses on a sketch, gently tracing the pencil marks, seem to allow one to touch the heart and soul that the young director poured into his creative process through the paper.

Huh?
Liu Yifei's fingertips suddenly stopped on the drawing, the shadows from the pencil strokes felt slightly warm under her fingertips.

Those lines suddenly twisted and deformed, transforming into the biting cold wind of the Nanjing Bridge archway in 1982:

She saw a young Zeng Wenxiu, wrapped in a faded cotton-padded coat, holding a crying baby in the snow; her frostbitten fingertips contrasted sharply with the baby's clenched little hands. (Chapter 361)
The image was like an ice pick piercing her temple, causing a sudden burst of inspiration mixed with a sharp, aching pain deep within her mind.

The solemnity at Zeng Wenxiu's grave today, the secret her husband had told her about past and present lives, and the warmth of their family of four—all these intertwined and collided in her mind, ultimately coalescing into a clear thought—

Can I film this story and give it to him?

Liu Yifei became more and more excited as she thought about it!

From God's perspective, 1997 in different times and spaces:
Ten-year-old Liu Yifei reluctantly accepted the reality of her broken family and timidly began a new journey in a foreign land. At that time, she did not know that she would soon meet the man who would be her lifelong partner.

Fifteen-year-old Lu Kuan watched with tears streaming down his face as his adoptive mother Zeng Wenxiu passed away, thus beginning a dark fairy tale in modern society.

He didn't know at that time that his heart, which had been as hard as iron after two lives of lonely walking, would be captured by this tough and kind girl after his rebirth.

Yup!

Why can't she use the pseudonym "Liu Yifei" in the story, travel back to when she was 10 years old, and redeem the soul that was about to be shattered by her mother's death?
Just as Lu Kuan suddenly barged into her life in this life, she also wanted to break into his world in that fictional time and space!
Suddenly, a rough idea came to me. All that was left was to refine the logic and worldview of the entire film and complete this story filled with Liu Yifei's personal touches.

The son, Lu Ping, can play the young Lu Kuan, and the daughter, Youyou, can play herself back then.

She's going to play Zeng Wenxiu, another woman who loves him with her life.

Because of this wild idea, Liu Yifei suddenly felt flustered on this night after their separation, but it was obviously too difficult a task for her.

Looking at the thousands of pages of materials her husband has for each of his films, can she do it herself?
Xiao Liu recalled what Zhang Yimou and Lu Kuan said when they were discussing film techniques at DJI the day before yesterday: even top actors need to understand the director's mindset.

The top female star gritted her teeth and decided to treat this as training. Even though she couldn't claim to have any directing or screenwriting skills right now, time was always on her side.

To fulfill my wish of sharing the stage with my two children and letting them experience their father's life, I must at least wait until Youyou and Tiedan grow up.

That's at least ten years.

Thinking of her husband, who should be over the Pacific Ocean at this moment, many thoughts intertwined in Liu Yifei's mind.

She picked up the herbal tea and took a sip. The hormones from her lingering breastfeeding period stirred a gentle turmoil in her veins. This original work, which could integrate life, love, reincarnation, destiny, and family, made her tremble under the lamplight late at night.

Hmm... First, I need to write this story down. The actress hesitated for a long time, pen in hand. What should I call this movie, which I can probably only give to my husband when he turns 40?
Looking back at the timeline of their lives, she discovered that this heartwarming story began in 1982 when Zeng Wenxiu discovered Xiao Lukuan under the Jinling Yangtze River Bridge...

What I need to do is to explore and question from the perspective of a time traveler, and change the fate of Lu Kuan in that story.

Since it is a gentle inquiry and questioning...

The wife's pen trembled so much it almost tore through the paper, and a line of solemn text appeared on the page.

Reply 1982.

(End of this chapter)