Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 555 He's not a beast, he can't join us.

On an autumn evening in Vancouver, Emei Peak, deep in enemy territory, felt a mix of emotions.

A month ago, Liu Qin said that you are actually very similar to my father, which was already a bit off-putting.

Later, the old chairman publicly denounced him as a traitor in front of so many leaders, which was actually quite both laughable and pathetic.

So much so that now Harvey says, "You're one of us Jews," and even cites Xiao Liu as an example, implying that he's a beast in human form and doesn't need to pretend anymore...

This is absolutely humiliating.

Even you squid think of me like that, huh?
That's great, it proves I'm still quite safe.

All I can say is that the Berlin Film Festival Best Actor's acting skills and persona disguise are excellent; those who are popular see him as increasingly popular, and those who are disliked see him as increasingly disliked.

Apart from his wife Liu Yifei, no one can figure out his true nature.

Since things had progressed to this point, the washing machine had no choice but to go with the flow and adapt to the situation: "Okay, I'll go back and pack my things first. See you in a bit."

"A smart decision! Finally, we can party together again! I can't wait!" Harvey's chubby face twitched, like a teenage gamer eagerly inviting his roommate to play games together.

The "Chinese Little Immortal" used the "Jewish An Lushan" as a glove for handling miscellaneous matters, winning awards, and smoothing over political and business relationships in Hollywood;

Didn't the "Jewish An Lushan" also use the former as a trump card to do business with other Jewish capitalists?
At least for now, this person wields considerable influence when it comes to entering the Chinese film market or even participating in Asian film projects, as not every company has the global distribution capabilities of Disney.

A simple example is that any Hollywood film, if it has the involvement of film industry giants, will inevitably have import quotas and a prime release date in mainland China determined by China Film Group, which in itself already locks in a large portion of the profits.

The rise of the Chinese film market is not only a domestic consensus, but is also gradually becoming a consensus among the international film industry and capital. The boasts that Mr. Lu made in North America a few years ago are gradually coming true.

Harvey's use of these terms to attract investment undoubtedly gives him a significant advantage in negotiations.

Lu Kuan called A Fei back to the hotel. Jing Tian, ​​who had been waiting for a long time, finally seized the opportunity and ran over. Her little rabbit trembled, making people envious.

"Teacher Lu...I..."

Boss Lu stopped keeping a straight face and glanced at her bandaged arm: "I'm going to New York for a few days. Zhao Fei and Guo Fan will be filming some unimportant scenes for me during these days."

"You should stay in Vancouver and learn from Zhou Xun and the others."

Upon hearing this, Jing Tian became very anxious. The girl had just watched Harvey and his whispered conversation for more than ten minutes. She couldn't hear what they were saying, and of course, she couldn't understand lip reading either.

But considering Harvey's reputation, his lewd smile, and Teacher Lu's reputation...

Well, those things from Teacher Lu are probably all rumors; they shouldn't be believed entirely.

Anyway!

These two are in cahoots, and nothing good ever comes of them!

Jing Tian remembered the secret mission that Sister Qianqian had half-jokingly given her before she left, and coupled with her own selfish motives, she felt she had no choice but to carry it out properly.
"I...can I come with you to New York? It's just on the way."

Lu Kuan looked at her strangely: "Where are you going?"

“I…I also have a house in New York, and relatives there too. I’ll go see them.” Jing Tian had already come up with an excuse. It wasn’t exactly made up, after all, she was a well-connected person who had taken a photo with the governor of Washington just a couple of years ago.

"And the Victoria's Secret show is about to start, I also want to go and watch it. This year there is Chinese supermodel Liu Wen, I want Uncle Lu to arrange a business meeting for me."

Boss Lu understood perfectly well what was going on, but seeing this stubborn girl who was still happy to be scolded that morning, he could only let her be.

"We're leaving in twenty minutes. Take your bodyguards and assistants with you. I have business to attend to in New York, so you'll be on your own."

For the first time today, Da Tian Tian smiled: "Oh! I understand!"

……

Lu Kuan returned to the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel to pack his belongings. He glanced at the time—7 p.m.—and realized it should be noon in Beijing. While folding clothes, he called Xiao Liu.

"Hmm? Filming finished for today?"

"It's over. I'm getting ready to head to New York."

Liu Yifei was overjoyed: "I know! Tian Tian just told me, she's faster than you! Shouldn't you reflect on that?"

She had only made the suggestion that her best friend Jing Tian be a North American electronic eye monitor in a joke, and she had told her husband about it beforehand, so of course she wouldn't hide it now.

Love someone without suspicion; suspect someone and you won't love them.

Boss Lu smiled and said, "I scolded her this morning and she didn't leave. Now she's become thick-skinned. She's got the same attitude you had back then."

"Get lost! You're the one with thick skin. I'm tough as nails, otherwise how could I have made you fall at my feet?" Little Liu laughed. "But don't tell her, or you'll embarrass her even more."

Xiao Liu was reading the script for the first few episodes of "The Book of Peace" when he heard the sound of a suitcase zipper being pulled up. "Why the sudden rush? We have to go to New York overnight?"

"Oh, Harvey contacted a wealthy Jewish businessman who might have some connections in the Pentagon, and asked them to do some public relations."

Lu Kuan did not reveal his true purpose, otherwise how would this be explained?
Honey, I went to the "pre-show Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" to see cleavage and thighs! Is this something I can say?

It's even more inconvenient to talk about the island for now, not because I'm afraid of revealing the prophetic secret that I didn't intentionally hide from her.

It was this cruel and cold-blooded, filthy assembly line of crime scenes that completely objectified, crushed, and discarded people that he instinctively didn't want his wife, who was currently immersed in the warmth of her postpartum family, to touch too soon.

That wasn't something that could be easily summarized as a party or a scandal; it was a whole, meticulously lubricated, and highly efficient devouring machine, powered by billions of dollars and top-level power.

It feeds in vibrant young lives, those who still have hope for the future, especially girls from broken homes, like living sacrifices to a gluttonous feast.

There, they were no longer human beings, but commodities marked with prices, available for free appreciation and trial; living bargaining chips used by the powerful and wealthy to solidify their bonds and exchange pledges of allegiance.

Not to mention there may be even bloodier secrets.

This is a crime scene that can highlight the hypocrisy and filth of Western elites and politicians, and it is also a huge source of political and public opinion.

If crucial evidence can be obtained without putting oneself at risk, the rewards will be revolutionary.

He can work behind the scenes to make various deals, or personally tear down the veil of the old Western moral myths, and place a heavy bet on building a new world order in which culture and morality are no longer unilaterally defined by the West.
-

Harvey had extensive connections with fellow countrymen in North America, and managed to acquire a Dassault Falcon 7X without much effort.

This is Dassault Aviation's flagship private jet, featuring a standard layout for 12-16 passengers and two separate private bedrooms.

"How about it? Lu, although it's not as luxurious as your Bombardier, it's still a pretty good business jet." Harvey and his Chinese friend sat facing each other, sipping whiskey, looking quite relaxed.

Since his initial encounter with this Chinese director five years ago during the filming of "A Home Too Far," their collaboration has been exceptionally smooth. The director's supernatural abilities have astonished this pure materialistic individual who doesn't even fully believe in Judaism.

Amazing.

So much so that when he went to Shanghai a few years ago to attend the Shanghai Film Festival, he made a special trip to the City God Temple to burn incense and pray for a talisman, even though he felt at the time that eating scallion oil noodles, a local specialty, in such a "mysterious religious place" was somewhat disrespectful...

But it's so delicious! (Chapter 282)
Why didn't you come on your own plane this time?

Boss Lu added some more ice: "Oh, that Bombardier is left in China for Yi Fei and the kids to use."

Harvey looked at Da Tiantian, who had just finished getting ready and came out of the bathroom, and winked at the Chinese man in a low voice: "The plane will take 5 hours to get to New York. The biggest bedroom is reserved for you and this beautiful Chinese lady?"

"Hehe, five hours is too short." Boss Lu shook his head in a pretentious manner. "An event for a domestic e-commerce company just ended, and I have to take care of official business."

I appreciate your kindness.

An Lushan, the Jewish man, looked at him with a mocking expression. "What nonsense! Five hours isn't enough for you, is it?"
However, Jing Tian, ​​who had just approached, overheard everything. Her pretty face flushed red, and she couldn't help but say to Lu Kuan in Chinese, "I...I...I'll rest when I get back to New York. I'll just sit outside."

"Haha, the space is yours!" Harvey saw the girl's shy expression and, even though he couldn't understand what she was saying, he tactfully returned to his cabin to rest.

Lu Kuan swallowed a glass of wine to relieve his fatigue, then raised his hand to the cold-faced bodyguard reading a newspaper by the sofa: "Afei, get my computer out."

"Ok."

"I'll go get it!" Da Tiantian had been spinning like a perpetual motion machine all day, and now that she had the chance to be close to him, she was even more excited.

Mr. Lu looked at the flower, which resembled a butterfly flitting among flowers, smiled and said it was fine. He then turned on his computer and asked the maintenance personnel to connect to the communication satellite.

This Falcon business jet is equipped with a satellite communication system, including an onboard antenna and modem, which transmits data by connecting to communication satellites in orbit.

The internet speed is probably only enough to send and receive emails, browse web pages, and use instant messaging, but in this era it's already considered cutting-edge technology.

Lu Kuan opened a webpage on his computer to browse the data reports from the recently concluded "Double 11 Shopping Festival" in China. However, while waiting for the page to load, he suddenly looked up:
"Go take a nap, I'll work here."

Jing Tian pouted cutely: "Forget it, I don't like that Harvey, it's better to stay away from him."

The cabin of a private jet is usually at the rear. Even if there is some space between you and the passenger, it is still not as safe as being next to the passenger.

"Whatever you say." Boss Lu remained noncommittal, focusing intently on the data from "Double Eleven".

Da Tiantian was too embarrassed to sit directly opposite the man. She rested her chin on her hand, tilted her head slightly, and used the back of her hand to support her fair cheek. Her slender fingers stretched out naturally, touching her soft temples.

Soft light streamed into the cabin, casting a small shadow beneath the girl's long eyelashes. Jing Tian flipped through the script in her hand, and only after he returned from the restroom did she muster the courage to ask:
"Teacher Lu, are you... are you going to Victoria's Secret? I think I just heard it." This was a glimpse of the truth she had gleaned from a small part of the story, except that this Victoria's Secret was not the same as that Victoria's Secret.

"Oh? You understand English?"

Jing Tian frowned, somewhat speechless: "I...I'm a college student, after all!"

"Oh, looks like I'll have to be careful around you. I'll have to speak to Harvey in a Boston accent later, so you can't understand me."

Boss Lu paused, then chuckled and teased the busty woman, "So you don't tell on me to someone again."

"Me!" Jing Tian's pretty face flushed instantly, and she said, almost in tears, "I was thinking that since I was the only one from the crew going to New York with you, I had to tell Sister Qianqian. I didn't mean to..."

Lu Kuan found her flustered appearance quite amusing, so he broke his gentleman's agreement with his wife and brought the matter to light, then looked at her mischievously:
"Jing Tian."

"what?"

"How about I give you another chance?" Boss Lu squinted at her. "To tell you the truth, I'm going to 'Scores,' the biggest strip club in New York, with Harvey."

"You probably haven't been there, have you?" Washing Machine picked up her whiskey, took a sip, and comfortably reclined in her chair, a nostalgic look on her face.
"The lighting was just right, and the air was filled with the scents of fine cigars, expensive perfumes, and hormones. In the center was a huge circular stage, with a gleaming golden pillar that stretched straight to the ceiling."

"On stage, there are blonde girls from Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the locals, wearing battle robes that can hardly be called clothes, twisting their bodies into unimaginable arcs. You can stuff banknotes into the seams of their almost non-existent thongs and then take them to the third floor..."

The young director gently put down his wine glass: "I can't tell you the rest. Anyway, I've told you, but don't tell Liu Yifei."

"Loyalty, do you understand? This is a test for you."

He patted his bottom and got up, seemingly not caring about being a gentleman: "If you're not going to sleep, then stay here. I'll go take a nap."

The stunned Da Tian Tian seemed to have her soul snatched away in an instant. Her mouth was slightly open, and her almond-shaped eyes were wide open as she stared in the direction where the man she admired had left.

It was as if she hadn't yet recovered from the shockwave of those outrageous words, and two little devils were already fighting in her mind!

Red Little Man:

No, I have to tell Sister Xixi about this. His wife just gave birth not long ago and is still at home taking care of the baby. How could he go to a place like that!

What's so interesting about a bunch of big-breasted, big-butt girls? And they're just throwing money at bras and thongs...

Black Little Man:

in fact……

He probably just went to take a look, right? He couldn't possibly do anything real; Teacher Lu is definitely not that kind of person.

If that's the case, wouldn't telling Sister Sisi be ruining their relationship?

Well, Teacher Lu doesn't fancy those dirty women. He's just playing around, only looking and not going in...

no no!

It means "not going up!"
Jing Tian, ​​what are you thinking, you blockhead?!

Da Tiantian slapped her delicate head hard, inexplicably recalling some decadent music she had overheard in the past, which came from her two favorite people, along with their childishness...

The budding flower, now fully blooming, tightly pressed together her shapely legs, making one feel rather parched.
-

Lu Kuan fell into a deep sleep, carrying with him the intense work he had done from morning till night, and the exhilarating victory in the local e-commerce battle thousands of miles away.

According to battle reports:
At midnight on November 11th, Beijing time, Wenjie Mall's first "Double 11 Shopping Carnival" ignited nationwide consumer enthusiasm.

Just after midnight, server traffic surged to 20 times the usual amount. The technical team urgently expanded capacity to ensure system stability. The "50% Off Crazy Sale" section of the main event venue achieved a transaction volume of over 80 million yuan within one hour. The "Celebrity Limited-Time Bargain" segment, personally planned by Dongzi, boosted sales of Wenjie's self-operated digital products.

In addition to the limited-time discount event by celebrities, Wenjie, Wuyue and other celebrities with good relationships also participated in sharing their purchases. Especially now that "The Book of Peace" has been launched, celebrities and actors who are not from the same camp as the competitors are all giving it face.

Xiao Liu mainly posts pictures of diapers and imported baby formula, all of which are blurred to avoid advertising.
Bingbing genuinely bought all the beauty and women's clothing products she endorsed, openly showcasing them and incidentally advertising for her sponsors.

Jay Chou, Anita Mui, and even Zhang Yimou all had their daughters, Zhang Mo and Zhang Mo, send them a Weibo post about buying the book as a way of showing their support.

With promotional efforts reaching their peak, the total transaction volume reached 250 million yuan by midnight that night, which is about five times larger than the 52 million yuan of Taobao's Double 11 in 2009. The number of new users who linked their bank cards to Alipay exceeded 6.2 million, and the mall's self-built logistics set an industry record of 120,000 orders shipped in 24 hours.

The payment team deserves credit for this achievement, especially the "quick card binding" feature, which was developed and implemented two months in advance. Through in-depth cooperation with China UnionPay, users only need to enter the last four digits of their bank card number, along with their correct name and ID card number to complete the card binding process, reducing the traditional 3-minute process to just over ten seconds.

The results of this iteration far exceeded expectations. The key lies in the fact that Wenjie signed contracts with more than 200 brands for exclusive launches six months in advance, along with celebrity endorsements and Wenjie's omnichannel marketing and promotion. Compared to Taobao's "let's give it a try" attitude in the previous iteration, this was a well-prepared and great battle.

The data is still circulating internally, and Wenjie has not yet released the final statistics. However, various parties in the internet industry who are paying attention to this matter, especially Ma Huateng and Ma Yun, are already getting restless.

The "Singles' Day deals" phenomenon is being hotly debated on the streets, and various media outlets are vying to report on this innovative business practice.

Caijing: Wenjie Achieves Victory in its First Battle of Double 11, Valuation Logic Reconstruction Imminent —

The impressive sales figures achieved by Wenjie Mall during the Double 11 shopping festival are remarkable. CITIC Securities analysis indicates that these figures exceed 15% of Taobao's total GMV for the entire year of 2009. Based on the price-to-sales (PS) valuation method, if it lists on NASDAQ as scheduled next year, its valuation may exceed $150 billion. The exclusive brand partnerships and synergistic celebrity ecosystem create a strong competitive advantage, making it one of the most promising e-commerce companies among Chinese concept stocks.

Nanfang Weekly: Ali held a strategic meeting overnight, with leadership demanding a comprehensive catch-up.

According to insiders, Ma Yun urgently summoned all executives at P9 level and above on the night of Singles' Day, demanding the launch of a "brand direct sales" channel within three months and the initiation of the "Cainiao Network" plan. Of the more than 200 brands previously partnered with Wenjie, 37 have already received exclusive offers. Analysts believe that this wave of B2C transformation triggered by Wenjie Mall will reshape the domestic e-commerce landscape.

China Business Journal: Wenjie Mall is poised for a leapfrog development, potentially reshaping the landscape of Chinese internet companies.

According to sources close to the top management of both companies, the leadership teams met to discuss a "social + e-commerce" ecosystem alliance. This meeting took place three days after Wenjie Mall achieved a sales volume of 2.5 million yuan during the Double 11 shopping festival.

Key issues include: Tencent exchanging its QQ traffic entry point for Alipay shares, and data interoperability between Tenpay and Alipay.

It's worth noting that the cooperation terms proposed by Alipay are significantly more lenient than previously rumored. Given the surge of 6.2 million new users linking their bank cards to Alipay during Singles' Day, Ali may agree to share profiles of small and medium-sized merchants first. Industry analysts suggest this could become a crucial springboard for Tencent's renewed foray into e-commerce, following the failure of Paipai.com in 2006.

……

As the Dassault Falcon crossed time zones, around 4 p.m. New York time, Mr. Lu and Harvey's group stepped off the gangway.

The man, dressed in a casual suit, was full of energy after sleeping soundly for several hours in the cabin. In stark contrast, Da Tian Tian had been tormented by jet lag and conflicting emotions throughout the journey.

Judging from her dejected face and messy ponytail, she could easily be renamed "Jing Ku" (meaning "bitter well"). The phone screen she was holding kept turning on and off, just like her pretty face changing from sunny to cloudy.

She could only follow the man, who was more than half a head taller than her, pouting and looking aggrieved.

"That article in the China Business Journal, right? I saw it." Mr. Lu said, one hand in his pocket, talking on the phone as he walked.

"Isn't it obvious? It's either Old Ma or Young Ma, spreading rumors to test us."

This refers to the lingering news of two companies holding shares unilaterally or cross-shareholdings, and it's obvious who their strategic target is. Lu Kuan instructed Liu Qiangdong on the other end of the phone: "They're not like Liu Chuanzhi. As long as it's normal business competition, you can't really say anything."

"So let's ignore what they're trying to do, maintain our strategic focus, and steadily bring the company to Nasdaq first. But—"

The "bad seed" slept soundly and felt refreshed, his mind unusually active, and he came up with another bad idea.

"Let's assume that these two companies are indeed talking about cooperation, or even a deep cross-shareholding cooperation. Once our Double 11 data is released, Jack Ma should be in a relatively passive position in the negotiations."

"I was thinking, why don't you talk to Zhuang Xu and find a suitable time to release the news about our WeChat project?"

Dongzi, on the other end of the phone, paused for two seconds, then excitedly slapped his thigh: "That's brilliant, Mr. Lu!"

Old Ma is now arguably forced into a strategic corner:

With its payment services lagging behind across the board, the pure e-commerce B2C sector has been firmly shut down by this Double 11, with no possibility of breaking through.

In this situation, even if he were a business tycoon, it would be difficult for him not to be at a disadvantage in negotiations with Tencent.

But right now, for the world of Quest, it's better to have a fox spirit who's been beaten half to death and had its peaches stolen by the penguins.

Is it better to achieve cooperation in the end, but only under conditions of equal strength?
Obviously the latter.

Everyone understands the saying that two tigers cannot share one mountain. If Ma Ying-jeou continues to remain silent, Pony Ma (Ma Huateng) clearly has the ability to unite the two companies into a single force.

But what if Wenjie suddenly announces that it will enter the instant messaging field?
It's like handing a knife to Old Ma, who's been cornered. He can now glare menacingly at the aggressive Young Master Ma.

"You're pretty panicked now, aren't you? Shouldn't we renegotiate our cooperation terms?"

If cooperation between the two companies is inevitable, this move will undoubtedly pull the two sides, whose power is currently unbalanced, back on track, prolonging their negotiation time and increasing the difficulty of their negotiations.

As for whether it will expose WeChat messages—

"My Love from the Star," which was scheduled to premiere after the Lunar New Year, already had product placements, so they wouldn't care about bringing it up a few months earlier, especially since it was just announcing a project concept without any details.

Furthermore, this kind of track is Tencent's strength, and no matter when it is launched, Ma Huateng will copy it immediately.

The fierce battle for mobile communication software in the future is inevitable. Just look at Wenjie's current industry position; every single one of them was earned through real, hard-fought competition.

"Hey, Jing Tian?" After Lu Kuan finished talking to Liu Qiangdong and hung up the phone, he suddenly stopped and turned around, seemingly remembering something.

Da Tiantian, like a top-tier masochist, followed his shadow on the ground and walked forward. Caught off guard, her forehead bumped straight into the back of the man's crisp suit, and her nose hit the fine texture of the cashmere blend fabric, feeling both sore and painful.

The girl staggered back half a step, covered her reddened nose and looked up, her almond-shaped eyes veiled with a thin layer of mist, like a frightened fawn.

"Teacher Lu... what's wrong?"

"Are you alright?" Washing Machine was extremely perfunctory, quickly glossing over this lukewarm concern. "We're leaving soon, where are you going? You only have one bodyguard and one assistant."

"I'll have someone take you there first. You can visit your relatives on your own these next couple of days. I'll call you when I go back from New York."

Mr. Lu's security team was upgraded last time he went abroad. Now that Caixin has exposed most of his wealth, he has to upgrade it again. From round-trip transportation to specific routes, everything has already been taken care of by professional security personnel.

Teasing Da Tiantian was just a silly game, but we still have to bring her back safely. For Uncle Jing's sake, we have to take care of her and make sure nothing else goes wrong.

Hearing this, "Jingku" smiled sweetly again and returned to her original self: "No need, my aunt is waiting outside, let's go straight back to Tribeca."

Upon hearing that it was a well-established area like Tribeca, Boss Lu knew its strength and the excellent security, so he let her go.

"Okay, I'll contact you if anything comes up." Lu Kuan watched Harvey calling to him from afar, not forgetting to give the young girl one last psychological tactic before leaving:

"By the way! Why did your sister Sisi call me just now? Did you tattle on me again?"

"Impossible! I didn't! I didn't do it!" Da Tiantian tumbled between "sweet" and "bitter," almost cracking her voice from fright at his words.

Boss Lu nodded meaningfully: "That's good. I was just testing it out. I'll watch some Korean movies now and then to learn what loyalty is!"

Da Tiantian watched the man leave with resentment. The admiration and love in her eyes were temporarily replaced by indignation and sorrow. Even the most stubborn person would be driven to a frenzy.

Liu Yifei "played with" her body; this bad man deliberately teased her nerves. What a pair of wicked devils they are!

Da Tiantian misses Youyou and Tiedan, whom she held in her arms last month, even though the latter also "toothlessly" nibbles at her...

But it's still better than their jerk parents, right?!
Jing Tian walked out of the airport with a cold expression. With her fame, she wasn't worried about being recognized or surrounded by onlookers for the time being.

Her bodyguards and assistants had already arranged a business car, but the "aunt" she had been talking about didn't exist at all; the only thing that was true was that she had a house in Tribeca, New York.

"Follow that convoy ahead!" The submissive Da Tiantian, once again acting as the queen in her own domain, instructed the driver in a deep voice: "They are professional bodyguards, don't follow them too closely. Just know which hotel they are staying at, it's better to lose them than to be discovered."

He immediately told his bodyguards and assistant, "We'll take a taxi ourselves, we won't take this car."

Ok……

Once a woman gets into a certain storyline, her IQ can rival that of Einstein, even if she's conducting a detective operation for her boss back in China.

Da Tiantian was still hesitant about what to do. She couldn't tell whether the bad man's words on the plane were true or false. She decided to wait and see where he was going that night.

This time, Boss Lu didn't tell his wife his specific whereabouts, describing the silver party he was going to attend that night as "a public relations dinner with an official from the Pentagon's entertainment office."

It's a white lie, by all accounts. Surely no one will hold a gun to his head and force him to "draw his gun," right?
I've somehow ended up in Vice City again.
-

The Upper East Side is quiet and prestigious under the night sky. At exactly 8 p.m., an unmarked black limousine silently glides into a secluded driveway and stops in front of a seemingly ordinary townhouse.

There was no house number, only an inconspicuous brass doorbell on the side of the door with a pair of minimalist, sleek wings emblem engraved above it, with the words "The Aviary" below.

Considering the environment and nature of the gathering that is about to take place, the name "The Aviary" seems incredibly fitting, even imbued with a kind of condescending, playful morbid humor from those in control.

Victoria's Secret Angels all have wings, or rather, the wings of their dreams. Now, they are all imprisoned in this birdcage, to be played with by the powerful and wealthy.

Harvey explained with ease, "This is an affluent area. Ordinary people can't easily get in. Even just wandering around on the street will get you questioned and taken away by the police."

"There's no security at the entrance, to avoid making a fuss, but it's very safe, especially for the women inside. You can have fun without worry."

Lu Kuan asked curiously, "How do you keep these supermodels quiet? Aren't you afraid of leaks?"

"You'll find out soon enough." The Jewish An Lushan mysteriously kept everyone in suspense, and got out of the car first, arriving at a simple and unadorned villa.

His bulky body seemed unusually familiar at this moment. He didn't ring the bell, but instead nodded slightly towards a hidden camera in the corner of the door.

A few seconds later, the heavy bolt clicked softly, and the door opened a crack inward on its own.

A security guard, dressed in a well-tailored black suit with a transparent communication cable hanging from his ear, appeared silently. He was lean and wiry, with eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

He didn't say anything, but bowed slightly with an impeccable posture, his gaze falling precisely on the black invitation in Lu Kuan's hand. After verifying its authenticity, he stepped aside to make way.

Inside the door was a short, oppressive passageway, dimly lit, with walls covered in dark velvet.

Passing through it, the view suddenly opens up, a stark contrast to the desolation of New York's outside world; the atmosphere of another world rushes towards you—

In the cold, dry air, there was a subtle blend of the rich aroma of expensive cigars, the fragrance of aged cognac, and a kind of... luxurious and provocative warm scent, as if it came from the interweaving of countless top perfumes and then baked by body heat.

“Lu, please come upstairs with me first.” Harvey was as relaxed and at ease as if he were back home. Soon, the two of them saw the debauched scene below, which had been transformed into a huge dance floor, from the second-floor terrace:
The lighting was deliberately adjusted to an ambiguous dim yellow and dark blue, and the countless crystal chandeliers did not shine at full speed, but instead reflected a few fragments of light, barely illuminating the huge circular stage area in the center, which was covered with dark velvet.

The luxurious, warm fragrance in the air became even more intense here, almost solidifying, mixing with the deep electronic music that resonated in the chest, assaulting all the senses.

The men inside all wore masks of different styles, yet all equally exquisite and ornate.

Venetian-style feathered masks, gold masks studded with rhinestones that only cover the area around the eyes, understated matte black masks...

The masks concealed most of their identities, but instead focused attention and desire on their bodies. Dressed in expensive casual clothes, they leaned relaxed in the surrounding booths, holding wine glasses, as if watching a silent auction.

The items up for auction, of course, are the Victoria's Secret supermodels in the center of the venue.

The latter is not about scantily clad figures weaving through the crowd, which would be too low-class, but rather about living, breathing works of art, cleverly "placed" within the venue.

Some of them were lounging in twos and threes on huge velvet couches, their postures languid, wearing extremely form-fitting sequined dresses or exquisite lingerie that felt like a second skin.

Their long legs and slender waists gleamed healthily in the dim light. They spoke in hushed tones, their eyes occasionally drifting to the surrounding guests, carrying a submissive, wait-to-be-sold-for-a-price air.

Some perform slow, provocative, silent acts on the central stage or smaller platforms around it, in rhythm with the music. These are not intense dances, but rather fluid, flowing body movements, with each stretch and turn deliberately showcasing the body's perfect curves.

His gaze was unfocused, as if he were immersed in his own world, yet he precisely responded to every greedy look cast from the audience.

The immersive environment was incredibly captivating. Lu Kuan, who had long since reformed, smiled as he watched the lewd scene unfold before him. Indistinct yet pleasurable whispers and the crisp clinking of wine glasses began to permeate his ears.

They are enveloped in an omnipresent, deep, and captivating background of electronic music noise, enticing visitors from the depths.

"Haha, there's no place this interesting in the East, is there?" Harvey looked at the smiling Chinese iron porcelain with a smug expression. "This is just the opening act; the real fun is yet to come."

"The masks are one aspect. Another aspect is that our phones will be handed in before we go off the field. Each person will have a small walkie-talkie with the receiver in the hands of the bodyguard. If there is any problem, we can communicate by pressing the button to ensure safety."

Jewish An Lushan laughed and said, "Unless you want to show off, no one, including the supermodels here, will say a word. You can have fun tonight without worry."

"Very good, you've thought of everything." Boss Lu nodded and smiled, his gaze catching a familiar face. "Is that Miranda Kerr?"

Miranda Kerr, an Australian supermodel, is known for her infectious sweet smile and deep dimples. She is one of Victoria's Secret's most iconic angels and has only been in the industry for two or three years.

However, her most representative characteristic is her nickname "billionaire harvester," as she divorces and divides assets in various ways, eventually turning herself into a billionaire, yet Western tycoons still flock to her.

This constitutes price gouging and price manipulation.

To this great artist, Mr. Lu, these Western supermodel faces are all pretty much the same. Compared to Eastern beauties, they look like limestone sculptures and aren't really to his liking. Only Miranda Kerr has any distinctive features.

"Haha! Looks like you did your homework beforehand, Lu!" Harvey laughed heartily. "I'll tell Leslie later that, since this is your first visit, she should go directly to your room to wait for you, how about that?"

"Oh, no rush." ​​Boss Lu waved his hand. "Let's chat with your interesting Jewish friend first."

His main purpose in coming today was to meet Leslie, the Victoria's Secret boss who co-founded the island with Epstein; everything else was just a matter of improvisation.

Looking at the vibrant, alluring figure before him, with her voluptuous breasts and ample hips, Boss Lu sighed softly—

Even if every single one of them is an "elite monster" chosen from among thousands, with an epic wife at home, the legend of my washing machine has vanished.

Harvey was not surprised by the choice of the wide road and gladly led the way.

The two walked through the noisy and confusing main hall and headed towards a more secluded corridor at the back. The soundproofing here was excellent, instantly shutting out the noise of the party behind them, leaving only the silence of the thick carpet swallowing all footsteps.

Harvey pushed open the heavy wooden door, and Leslie, who was behind the desk, and Epstein, whom Boss Lu had seen in the news in his previous life, who was "suicided," stood up at the same time.

The Victoria's Secret CEO, with his hair meticulously combed and a cigar in his hand, greeted us with a smile: "Harvey, it seems you've brought us a truly distinguished new friend."

His gaze slid towards Lu Kuan, his smile deepening. "Welcome to Birdcage, Lu. I hope the 'birds' downstairs haven't disappointed you."

"You'll only know how it tastes after you've tried it." Boss Lu smiled and shook hands with him, then looked knowingly at the man beside him and asked, "And this gentleman is?"

“Oh, Jeffrey Epstein, a top investor,” Leslie introduced. “Jeffrey, this Asian tycoon needs no introduction, right?”

Epstein now works as an international financial advisor and is keen to portray himself as a "genius" and "philanthropist." He donates to schools such as Harvard through his foundation and often boasts about his close relationship with figures like Stephen Hawking.

“Of course I know the way! Great artist!” Epstein immediately stepped forward, a signature smile spreading across his face—a smile that was slightly shy, even scholarly, and humble.

"Your achievements in the film industry, especially your contribution to the art of film, are truly remarkable." He greeted us with a gentle tone and a slow pace, conveying a deliberately cultivated sense of approachability that puts people at ease.

"I've always believed that true value is only realized when top-tier wealth is combined with top-tier artistic and scientific achievements. I've heard Harvey mention you before, and I'm so glad to finally meet you in person!"

Boss Lu, ever the expert at flattery, retorted, "There's a wise proverb about you Jews that has left a deep impression on me—"

"A true friend is another self."

“Harvey and I have been partners for many years, and perhaps I will have some interaction with Leslie and Mr. Epstein in the future.”

He smiled broadly, his gaze shifting between Epstein and Wexner, his tone impeccably sincere.

Harvey and Leslie beamed with pride that artists of their caliber and wealthy Easterners also held Jewish culture in such high regard!
They truly are a nation of equal wisdom to ours!
Epstein, though he made polite remarks, didn't really care.

The reason is simple: he had long since demystified the glamorous political and business figures, royalty, and government officials who were active in the public eye.

In the shadows of this world, the masses will never see their animalistic side, not even their collaborator Leslie knows the full picture.

Except for myself.

The group exchanged pleasantries and chatted for a while, covering a wide range of topics, but always revolving around the core themes of power, capital, and influence.

They discussed the new global capital flows after the financial crisis, with Leslie, as a retail tycoon and apparel mogul, reflecting on the subtle changes in the consumer market;

Epstein, feigning profundity, mentioned the "special funds" he managed for certain "mystery clients," speaking vaguely yet intriguingly. The topic then shifted to the policy direction regarding the Black Sea;
Harvey excitedly shared the relentless lobbying and quid pro quo between Hollywood and Washington.

Then, the Jewish An Lushan winked at Epstein with some eagerness: "Hey buddy, have you got any new art pieces in your collection lately?"

“Especially the younger ones.” Harvey gestured to the Asian tycoon beside him and teased, “Artists like Lu have milder tastes and prefer younger vintages. I know that habit better than anyone, haha!”

Upon hearing this, Boss Lu simply smiled, picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and didn't drink a single drop.

Epstein's smile vanished slightly, a barely perceptible hint of wariness flashing across his face.

According to declassified files from later generations, it wasn't only in 2019, when the news finally broke, that a clue about the island was revealed. There are no secrets that stay hidden forever; he had been reported several times before.

For example, last year he reached a highly controversial plea agreement with federal prosecutors, admitting to two misdemeanors and avoiding possible life imprisonment, thus continuing to evade justice by exploiting loopholes in the U.S. justice system.

Even though this Eastern director was so friendly to Jews and Americans, and had been an ally of Harvey for many years, Epstein still instinctively harbored some ulterior motives.

“Harvey, as you know, the art market hasn’t been doing well lately, and I haven’t been back to the museum for two months.”

“Louis, Harvey just mentioned that you’re very interested in Miranda Kerr.” Epstein suddenly turned to the handsome, wealthy Asian man before him:

"I would like to invite you to enjoy the feast tonight and let these darlings of the spotlight have the honor of serving you."

“This is Miranda’s first time here. Believe me, Lu, her dimples will be as deep as black holes and draw you in.”

"As for what Harvey said... if you're interested, I'll arrange it as soon as possible, how about it?"

Boss Lu cursed Squid inwardly for being cunning and treacherous. These words were clearly a tactful test to confirm that he was indeed a lewd scoundrel who had colluded with his side.

To enter the squid's even dirtier next circle, you must first show your beastly side.

To avoid arousing suspicion from the old squid, he made a couple of jokes, then straightened his suit, stood up, and left amidst the polite farewells of the three men.

Boss Lu took the black mask from a blonde waitress and put it on, feeling the cool leather against his skin, as if it were a thin layer of disguise, throwing him into this furnace of desire and money.

He was like a calm observer, his expression hidden behind the mask. Walking in this boiling sea of ​​desire, he felt that this extreme luxury and decadence was like a pot of syrup that had been cooked for too long.

It's so sweet it's almost bitter, so dazzling it's almost rotten.

"Sir, we've arrived. Miranda is waiting for you inside."

"Okay, don't bother us."

After thinking about "Liu Cuiping" at home, Emei Peak pushed open the door and entered.

(End of this chapter)